in october 1998, somerset valleybank notified alfred hauser, president of hauser co. that the bank has begun to received what appeared to be hauser co. payroll checks, none of the payees are hauser co. employees, however, and hauser had not written the checks or authorized anyone to sign them on his behalf
automatic data processing , inc. provided payroll service for hauser co. and used a facsimile signature on all its payroll checks. hauser told the bank not to cash the checks
in early 1999, robert triffin, who deals in negotiable instrument, bought 18 of the checks, totalling more than $8800, from various check cashing agencies. the agencies stated that they had cashed the checks expecting the bank to pay them
each checks was payable to a bearer for a fixed amounts, on demand, and did not state any undertaking by the person promising payment other than the payment of money
each check bore a facsimile drawer's signature stamp identical to hauser co.'s authorized stamp.
each check had been returned to an agency marked "stolen check" and stamped "do not present again"
when the bank refused to cash the checks, triffin filed a law suit in a New Jersey state court against hauser co. Were the checks negotiable instruments? why or why not?
