Opinion

Vincent v. First Alabama Bank

  • 770 So. 2d 86
  • 1998 WL 737936
Court
Court of Civil Appeals of Alabama
Filed
Oct 23, 1998
Status
Published
Author
Crawley
On the bench
Crawley, Monroe
Cited by
5 cases
Authority
More cited than 15.1%

The opinion

I must respectfully dissent from that portion of the opinion holding that the release signed by Vincent when he closed his safe-deposit boxes was ambiguous. The Bank argues that the release, which states that the Bank is released from "all liability," entitled it to a judgment as a matter of law. I agree. The release is in no way ambiguous. See, generally, Regional Health Servs., Inc. v. Hale County Hosp. Bd., 565 So.2d 109 , 111 , 113 (Ala. 1990) (discussing ambiguity in release language). A customer like Vincent signs a release when he closes his safe- deposit boxes; therefore, the customer would have no further relationship with the Bank regarding those safe-deposit boxes. The plain language of the release document releases the Bank from all liability in connection with the safe-deposit boxes; this language clearly includes any liability for past negligence regarding the now closed safe-deposit boxes. I would reverse *Page 92

the judgment and remand with instructions for the trial court to enter a judgment as a matter of law in favor of the Bank.

Thompson, J., concurs.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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