Brief Fact Summary. Gina Chin & Associates, (Petitioner), brought suit against First Union Bank, (Respondent), alleging that Respondent was negligent when it accepted checks drawn on Petitioner’s account bearing both forged signatures of the drawer and forged indorsements of the payees. Petitioner appeals summary judgment in favor of Respondents.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. U.C.C. Section:3-404 and Section:3-405 allow the drawer to seek recovery for a loss caused by the negligence of any person paying the instrument or taking it for value based on comparative negligence principles. All participants in the process have a duty to exercise ordinary care in the drawing and handling of instruments and that the failure to exercise that duty will result in liability to the person sustaining the loss.
Since the trial court decided this case on demurrer, we will consider as true all material facts alleged in the motion for judgment, all facts impliedly alleged, and all reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the alleged facts.
View Full Point of LawIssue. Whether a drawer may use U.C.C. Section:3-404 and Section:3-405 against the depositary bank in a double forgery situation.
Held. Yes. A drawer may seek recovery from a depositary bank where the signature of the drawer is forged under U.C.C. Section:3-404 and Section:3-405.
Discussion. Nothing in the statutory language indicates that where the signature of the drawer is forged, the drawer cannot qualify as the “person bearing the loss.” Nor is it the case that the drawer is otherwise precluded from recovering from a depositary bank. Therefore these sections are applicable in double forgery situations. Since the motion alleges that the acceptance of he forged checks by Respondent was negligent and in contravention of established banking customs and standards and was due to the negligent failure of Respondent to supervise its employee, it is sufficient to state a cause of action under U.C.C. Section:3-404 and Section:3-405.