Jennings v. Imperial Bank

Opinion

ROTH, P. J. On February 28, 1977, appellant filed her complaint in six counts for recovery of a bank deposit, for money had and received, for conversion, for emotional distress, for breach of implied covenant of good [898]faith and fair dealing and for declaratory judgment. Respondent demurred generally as to each alleged cause of action and the trial court sustained without leave to amend. The appeal is from the order entered April 7, 1977, dismissing the complaint.

Appellant had on October 31, 1973, deposited the sum of $25,000 with respondent for which she received respondent’s “Personal Savings Certificate” in the form:

thereafter on three occasions, March 1, November 11 and December 8, 1976, she did present, offer to surrender and endorse the certificate to respondent who on each occasion refused to accept the certificate as presented and did not make payment thereof.

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In support of its demurrer, respondent asserted appellant was the holder of a time certificate of deposit (T.C.D.) which could only be redeemed within a 10-day period following its maturity date and that accordingly respondent’s refusal to pay was justified. Because each alleged cause of action rested upon the same foundation, it was further argued, all must fail. The trial court’s ruling sustained the demurrer “per moving party’s points and authorities.”

We note that: “Our only concern in this case is whether plaintiff has succeeded in stating a cause of action. In assessing the sufficiency of a complaint against a general demurrer, we must treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded. (Scott v. City of Indian Wells (1972) 6 Cal.3d 541, 549 [99 Cal.Rptr. 745, 492 P.2d 1137]; Daar v. Yellow Cab Co. (1967) 67 Cal.2d 695, 713 [63 Cal.Rptr. 724, 433 P.2d 732].) Furthermore, we bear in mind our well established policy of liberality in reviewing a demurrer sustained without leave to amend: ‘the allegations of the complaint must be liberally construed with a view to [899]attaining substantial justice among the parties.’ (Youngman v. Nevada Irrigation Dist. (1969) 70 Cal.2d 240, 244-245 [74 Cal.Rptr. 398, 449 P.2d 462]; see also Scott v. City of Indian Wells (1972) supra; MacLeod v. Tribune Publishing Co. (1959) 52 Cal.2d 536, 542 [343 P.2d 36]; Lemoge Electric v. County of San Mateo (1956) 46 Cal.2d 659, 664 [297 P.2d 638]; Matteson v. Wagoner (1905) 147 Cal. 739, 742 [82 P. 436]; Code Civ. Proc., § 452.)” (Glaire v. LaLanne-Paris Health Spa, Inc. (1974) 12 Cal.3d 915, 918 [117 Cal.Rptr. 541, 528 P.2d 357].)