Banks and Banking: Guaranty Claim – Lay Witness – Handwriting Evidence

Farmers State Bank of Northern Missouri v. Huffaker (MLW No. 58903/Case No. WD68861 – 11 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Howard, J.)

Where a bank employee testified as a lay witness to establish that a wife signed a guaranty making her liable for loans taken out by her husband, a judgment upon a jury verdict in favor of the bank on its guaranty claim is affirmed because the bank established a sufficient factual basis for the employee’s familiarity with the couples’ signatures, so the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling the wife’s objection to admission of the testimony, and the court also properly allowed the testimony of a handwriting expert.

Judgment is affirmed.

Farmers State Bank of Northern Missouri v. Huffaker (MLW No. 58903/Case No. WD68861 – 11 pages) (Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Howard, J.) Appealed from circuit court, Andrew County, Jackson, J. (Nicholas K. Robb for respondent) (George S. Miller for appellant).

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