Kline v. Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.

Trial judges, as a rule, are cast in appellate briefs in one of two roles, viz. they are either somewhat short of astute or, at least for the purpose of the particular appeal, a combination of Coke, Blackstone, Marshall, Holmes, Brandéis and Cardozo. This appeal is no exception. The appellants 1 view the trial judge as having committed error piled upon error while the appellee, 2 true to form, extols his wisdom.

At the root of this appeal lies the issue of whether the appellants should be held personally liable for the payment of the full amount of a deed of trust note executed between a…