Gutherie v. Thomas Built Homes, Inc.

The dramatis personae of this litigious drama are as follows:

Melvin Gutherie (plaintiff-appellant) is a lumber dealer. He does his banking, or at least part of it, at a branch of the Bank of the Commonwealth. Paul Custer is the manager of the branch bank (not a party litigant). Joe Panackia is president of Thomas Built Homes, Inc. (a named defendant, as is Joe Panackia personally). Roy H. Brown, doing business as Roy H. Brown & Company, is a named defendant. Panackia, Thomas Built Homes, and Brown are sued jointly and severally.

Trial was to a jury. The court granted a partial summary…