{ "id": 1320407, "name": "Carter v. Union Printing Company", "name_abbreviation": "Carter v. Union Printing Co.", "decision_date": "1891-06-13", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "576", "last_page": "584", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "54 Ark. 576" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "27 Penn. St., 416", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "42 Minn., 327", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Minn.", "case_ids": [ 750772 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/minn/42/0327-01" ] }, { "cite": "44 N. W. Rep., 198", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "114 Mass., 37", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 722264 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/mass/114/0037-01" ] }, { "cite": "11 Wall., 96", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "Wall.,", "case_ids": [ 3412536 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/us/78/0096-01" ] }, { "cite": "12 Or., 322", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Or.", "case_ids": [ 2286162 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/or/12/0322-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 Pa. St., 153", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa.", "case_ids": [ 550056 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/pa/114/0153-01" ] }, { "cite": "22 How., 380", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "How.", "case_ids": [ 1137363 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/us/63/0380-01" ] }, { "cite": "37 Md., 522", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 1839367 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/md/37/0522-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 U. S., 6", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "57 Miss., 602", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Miss.", "case_ids": [ 8840488 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/miss/57/0602-01" ] }, { "cite": "20 Md., 764", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "35 N. J. Eq., 501", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.J. Eq.", "case_ids": [ 774770 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nj-eq/35/0501-01" ] }, { "cite": "54 Md., 429", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 1832534 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/md/54/0429-01" ] }, { "cite": "103 U. S., 498", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1522235 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/us/103/0498-01" ] }, { "cite": "91 U. S., 56", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5647484 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "60, 61" } ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/us/91/0056-01" ] }, { "cite": "47 N. Y., 225", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 509469 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ny/47/0225-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 McCrary, 96", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "McCrary's Cir. Ct. Rpts", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "59 Md., 599", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 1038934 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "604" } ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/md/59/0599-01" ] }, { "cite": "20 N. W. Rep., 764", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "31 Fed. Rep., 676", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "year": 1880, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "44 Barb., 625", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Barb.", "case_ids": [ 1945454 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/barb/44/0625-01" ] }, { "cite": "69 Pa. St., 334", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa.", "case_ids": [ 1026347 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/pa/69/0334-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 McCrary,. 92", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "McCrary's Cir. Ct. Rpts", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "17 Ohio St., 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ohio St.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "91 U. S., 60", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "7 Atl. Rep., 514", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "13 Pac. Rep., 161", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "20 Fed. Rep., 181", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "42 N. W. Rep., 926", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "119 U. S., 343", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 8299815 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/119/0343-01" ] }, { "cite": "42 Minn., 327", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Minn.", "case_ids": [ 750772 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/minn/42/0327-01" ] }, { "cite": "11 Wall., 96", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "Wall.,", "case_ids": [ 3412536 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/78/0096-01" ] }, { "cite": "91 U. S., 56", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 5647484 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "60, 61" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/91/0056-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 821, "char_count": 16012, "ocr_confidence": 0.746, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.853665827518642e-08, "percentile": 0.41776663427095556 }, "sha256": "73e7f349c06776bab03cf7f9d28f592f7c87b370150ad07fb8c2e1d586b2126f", "simhash": "1:3b1a844509277013", "word_count": 2826 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:10:43.544850+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Carter v. Union Printing Company." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Hemingway, J.\nIn February, 1886, the Union Printing Company was organized as a corporation with a paid capital stock of $10,000. In June following its stock was increased to $30,000. Munro and Van Valen subscribed for $15,000 of the new stock and McMurtry for the remainder, they having given to him $3500 of their own to induce him to take his. He paid on the stock for which he subscribed $353\u00b0. and bound himself'to pay the balance, $1470, on call. He became the president of the company, and continued as such until the 2d of September following, when his resignation was tendered and accepted. On the same day the following proceedings are shown by the minutes of the directors\u2019 meeting, to-wit:\n\u201ccalled meeting of the board of directors.\n\u201cLittle Rock, Ark., September 2, 1886.\n\u201c At a meeting of the board of directors of the Union Printing Company, called by direction of the president and held at its place of business, on the 21st day of September, 1886, the following named directors were present: J. Erb, F. L. Munro and J. M. Wade.\n\u201c President A. McMurtry being absent, the vice-president took the chair, and called the meeting to order. The readr ing of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed with. The following was read, and, upon motion of Mr. J. Erb, was unanimously adopted:\n\u201c Whereas, There has heretofore been issued to A. Mc-Murtry certain stock in this corporation amounting to $8500, upon which the sum of $5000 purports to have been paid thereon, but in fact there has been but the sum of #3530 paid thereon, and leaving the sum of $1470 due and unpaid, and which was to be paid at the time of issue; and, \u201cWhereas, The said McMurtry now fails and refuses to make such payment, but has offered and agreed to accept the sum $3530 as purchase of said stock; and,\n\u201c Whereas, This corporation is in need of immediate funds, and can resell the said stock so as to realize the sum of #1470;\n\u201c Now, therefore, The said offer of said McMurtry is hereby accepted, and the president of the corporation is authorized and empowered to buy said stock and have the same transferred to the corporation, * * * not for the purpose of retiring the same, but for the purpose of reissue and resale for the benefit of the concern. And the said president is hereby authorized and fully empowered to enter into, on the part of the company, such contract and negotiations, and to make such securities, by mortgage of property of the concern, as will secure to the said McMurtry the purchase price of said stock and will perfect the purchase of said stock, and to do and perform all such matters and things as in his judgment may be necessary to carry \u2022out the purpose of this resolution.\n\u201c Whereas, This corporation is in need of money to meet \u2022certain liabilities due therefrom; now, therefore, be it\n\u201c Resolved, That the president of this corporation be and he is hereby authorized and fully empowered to borrow of any one who is willing to lend the same the sum of $1470, and to execute to such lender the obligation of this company, and to procure any and all securities, personal or \u25a0otherwise, or to make a mortgage upon the property of this. company, in such way and manner as may to him, the \u2022said president, seem right and proper, to secure the said loan.\u201d\nIn pursuance of these resolutions the company borrowed .$1470 from R. C. Lynch, a brother-in-law of McMurtry, and executed to Lynch and McMurtry\u2019s representatives, he having died, a mortgage on all its property to secure the sum .so borrowed, as well as the amount agreed to be paid to McMurtry.\nAbout the time when the company was organized, the plaintiff entered into a contract with it whereby it became bound to pay him for service to be rendered. He subsequently brought suit for a breach of that contract, and on the 28th of November, 1888, recovered judgment in the sum of $1344.20. Execution was issued on the judgment and returned nulla bona, whereupon this suit was brought for the purpose\u2014among others\u2014of requiring McMurty\u2019s representatives to pay to plaintiff a sufficient part of the Amount unpaid on his stock to satisfy the judgment.\nIt appears that on the original stock of $10,000 no cash was paid. The incorporators owned a lot of printing presses- and material, and this was contributed in payment for the-original stock. The property contributed had been purchased for $3000, of which a balance of $2000 was unpaid and secured by mortgage on the property. Before this suit was brought a suit had been instituted wherein a decree was rendered for the sale of the company\u2019s property under the two mortgages above referred to ; a sale was had and a sum realized insufficient to pay the first mortgage. Upon the-hearing in this case the chancellor dismissed the bill, and the plaintiff has appealed.\nIn design and effect, the transaction between McMurtry and the company amounted to an agreement for a cancellation of his stock subscription by returning to him what he-had paid in and releasing him from liability for unpaid installments. We proceed to inquire whether the company-had the right, as against its creditors, to release him from his liability. If it had not this right, the plaintiff is entitled to recover the amount of such liability; and as counsel stated in the argument that it was sufficient to satisfy his-claim, we may waive other questions discussed. The creditors of a corporation have a right to look to its property for the payment of their claims, and to object to any disposition of it in fraud of their rights; and this right extends as well to claims due it as to its property in possession. Upon this question the Supreme Court of the United States has used the following language: \u201c The capital stock of an incorporated company is a fund set apart for the payment of its debts. It is a substitute for the personal liability which subsists in private co-partnerships. When debts are incurred, a contract arises with the creditors that it shall not be withdrawn or applied, otherwise than upon their demands, until such demands are satisfied. The creditors have a lien upon it in equity. If diverted, they may follow it as far as it can be traced, and subject it to the pay-meat of their claims, except as against holders who have taken bona fide for a valuable consideration and without notice. It is publicly pledged to those who deal with the \u25a0corporation, for their security. Unpaid stock is as much a part of this pledge, and as much a part of the assets of the company, as the cash which has been paid upon it. Creditors have the same right to look to it as to anything else, .and the same right to insist upon its payment as upon the payment of any other debt due to the company. As regards creditors, there is no distinction between such a demand and any other asset which may form a part of the property and effects of the corporation.\u201d Sanger v. Upton, 91 U. S., 56, 60, 61.\nThat the rule announced is correct, is not controverted; but counsel argue that it does not apply to this case. The reason assigned for their contention is that plaintiff\u2019s debt \u2022was contracted before the stock was increased, and they argue, as a correct legal proposition, that the unpaid subscription of a stockholder is not held as a fund for the benefit of those creditors whose claims arose prior to the issuance of the stock and without reference to or reliance upon it. They cite several cases in support of the rule \u2022contended for, but we do not think they go to the extent \u2022claimed. In those cases the corporations had parted with the stock upon terms that gave them no claim against the \u25a0subscribers, and it was held that if a corporation issue new shares of stock after, the claim of a creditor arose, he, not having dealt with the company on the faith of any capital represented by such shares, can not insist on the contribution, by the holders, of a greater amount of capital than the \u25a0corporation itself could claim from them. First National Bank v. Gustin, etc. Co., 42 Minn., 327. But they further hold that if a stockholder were indebted to a corporation for unpaid installments of stock, this claim would be an asset of the company which, in case the company became insolvent, any creditor might resort to for the purpose of satisfying his demand. Ib.; Coit v. Gold Amalgamating Co., 119 U. S., 343. The distinction is illustrated in the case of New Albany v. Burke, 11 Wall., 96-106, where the court sustained a release of a claim for subscription, and Judge Strong, in delivering the opinion, said : \u201cNo doubt the subscribed capital stock of a corporation is a fund held by it in trust for its creditors, as is also all its other property ; and had the railroad company released without equivalent consideration, or given it away, its action would have been fraudulent and might have been set aside by a court of equity.\u201d So we think the plaintiff may attack the release, if it was fraudulent; and that conclusion brings us to the next inquiry.\nWas the company in such a condition financially as would entitle it to make a voluntary release of this claim as against its creditors ? If so, it could have made any other voluntary disposition of an equal amount of its property. As we view the evidence, it was not in a position to bestow bounty upon anyone. It began business without a surplus, and had continued it without accumulation. For its original stock of $10,000 it took a lot of mortgaged secondhand printing presses and machinery at three times its former cost, charged with a lien for two-thirds thereof. Upon an increase of its stock, a subscriber who paid in property of questionable value gave $3500 of his stock to induce McMurtry to subscribe for $5000 of the stock, and pay $3530 in cash on his subscription. The minutes of the directors\u2019 meeting show that the company was in such financial straits that it was willing to release a claim for $1470- and mortgage its property for $3530 in order to acquire $8500 of its stock, and by sale of it realize $1470. These circumstances clearly foreshadow the ultimate sale of its effects for a sum less than the paramount lien. If not absolutely insolvent, it was seriously embarrassed; and any gift of its property was prejudicial to its creditors. It is earnestly insisted that we should not determine this cause upon the ground of the company\u2019s insolvency when the release was made, because there was no allegation of. such insolvency in the complaint. The complaint alleged that there was an unpaid balance upon McMurtry\u2019s subscription, and this was denied by the defendant. The proof clearly shows that there was an unpaid balance unless it was released by the transaction of September 2, and upon it the defendant must rely. To overcome the force of the defense, the plaintiff was at liberty to make any proof which tended to show that the release was invalid, among others that it was executed in fraud of the company\u2019s creditors; and of this fact we think the proof is conclusive.\nBut it is contended that the transaction was not prejudicial to the company\u2019s creditors, because, while it gave up a claim against McMurtry, it obtained an equivalent sum of money from Lynch. The reason assigned does not, it seems to us, justify the conclusion. In the first place the loan from Lynch was an independent transaction with a different person, and has no bearing upon the arrangement with Mc-Murtry; but in the next place, if the money had been advanced by McMurtry, it could not change the result, for it was advanced and received as a loan, and not in payment of a liability. The company\u2019s note, secured by mortgage upon its property, was given for it, and a decree of foreclosure subsequently rendered upon it in a suit to which McMurtry\u2019s representatives were parties. Having been treated as a loan, and charged upon the company\u2019s property, first by mortgage and afterwards by decree, it is now too late to contend that it was a satisfaction of McMurtry\u2019s liability.\nThat the result will entail a hardship upon McMurtry\u2019s estate is probable; but that is not a consideration in determining the questions presented. The result flows, by the provisions of law, from his relations with the company, and courts could not, if they would, change or restrain the effect of such provisions, designed as a protection to those dealing with corporations.\nThe judgment will be reversed, and a judgment rendered here for the amount of plaintiff\u2019s debt, with interest and the cost of the action at law, provided it does not exceed the sum of $1470 with interest thereon at 6 per cent, after the bringing of this suit; in such event the recovery will be limited to the amount last stated.", "type": "majority", "author": "Hemingway, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Morris M. Cohn for appellant.", "House & Cantrell and Sanders & Watkins for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Carter v. Union Printing Company.\nDecided June 13, 1891.\nCorporation\u2014Release of subscription.\nA voluntary release of a stock subscription by an insolvent company is a. fraud upon its creditors, whether their claims arose before or after the-stock was issued.\nAPPEAL from Pulaski Chancery Court.\nDavid W. Carroll, Chancellor.\nMorris M. Cohn for appellant.\n1. The judgment against the company is binding on the stockholders. Morawetz on Priv. Corp. (1st ed.), sec. 619 j Thomp. Liability Stock., sec. 329.\n2. The wrecking of the company by McMurtry and his-associates, while they were directors and officers, made them iable in damages to its creditors. Mansf. Dig., sec. 984; 42 N. W. Rep., 926; 20 Fed. Rep., 181; 13 Pac. Rep., 161 7 Atl. Rep., 514.\n3. Capital paid in means cash, under secs. 968-971,. Mansf. Dig.; 91 U. S., 60; 17 Ohio St., 187; 1 McCrary,. 92; 69 Pa. St., 334; 44 Barb., 625.\n4. But if the stock could be paid for in property, it. should have been shown to be actually worth the amount subscribed. Const., art. 12, sec. 8 ; Morawetz (ed. 1882),. sec. 374; note to 31 Fed. Rep., 676; Green\u2019s Brice\u2019s Ultra Vires (Am. ed. 1880), 142; 20 N. W. Rep., 764-7; 59 Md., 599, 604; 69 Pa. St., 334; Bates, Lim. Part., secs. 47, 48,. 54; 47 N. \u00a5., 225.\n5. The arrangement between the corporation and the-stockholders could not relieve McMurtry from paying his. stock, at the expense of the creditors. And this does not depend upon insolvency. 91U. S., 56; ib.,\u00e1f\u00a1\\ ib.,6g; 103, id., 508; Taylpr, Corp., sec. 545 ; Angel\u00ed & A., Corp., secs. 600, 603 ; Boone, Corp., sec. 112; Mor. on Corp., secs. 109,. 112, 781, 824; 1 McCrary, 96; 59 Md., 599; 47 N. Y., 225,. 232; Wait, P'r. Conv., sec. 369.\n6. The company could not cancel unpaid stock, or buy it in after insolvency at the expense of creditors. Mansf. Dig., sec. 981; Wait, Insolv. Corp., sec. 582 ; Morawetz (1st ed.), sec. 589; Boone, Corp., sec. 141; Thompson, Liability of Stock., sec. 205; 91 U. S., 56, 60, 61; 103 U. S., 498 ; 54 Md., 429; 35 N. J. Eq., 501 ; 20 Md., 764; 57 Miss., 602.\n7. Insolvency and fraudulent conveyance may be proved by circumstances. 95 U. S., 6; ib., 22; 5\u00b0 3I4! 42; Pom. Eq. Jur., vol. 2, sec. 973, p. 511; The doctrine as to increase of stock is the same. Ib.; Morawetz on Corp., sec. 831 ; 37 Md., 522.\n8. One stockholder maybe sued. 22 How., 380; ior U. S., 205; 114 Pa. St., 153; 12 Or., 322; Thompson on Liability of Stock., secs. 354\u20145\u20147-\nHouse & Cantrell and Sanders & Watkins for appellee.\nr. A corporation has the power to purchase its stock where there is no fraud. In this case the stock was not merged or reduced. Cook on Stock, etc., sec. 311; 11 Wall., 96; 2 Morawetz, Corp., sec. 841; Thompson on Liability of Stock., sec. 134; 6 Cent. L. J., 109; 114 Mass., 37.\n2. The unpaid subscription of a stockholder, when his stock is subscribed and issued after the debt is contracted, is not a trust fund for the benefit of such creditor, because he does not contract upon the faith and credit of such stock. 2 Morawetz, Corp., secs. 832, 833; 44 N. W. Rep., 198; 42 Minn., 327; 119U. S., 343.\n3. Stock can be paid for in property such as is necessary to carry out the object and purpose of the corporation. Cook on Stock, etc., sec. 13; 27 Penn. St., 416; 6 Cent. L. J., 109 ; Mansf. Dig., sec. 973.\n4. Insolvency is not alleged nor proven." }, "file_name": "0576-01", "first_page_order": 602, "last_page_order": 610 }