Anderson v. Tway

143 F.2d 95, 1944 U.S. App. LEXIS 3014
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedJune 12, 1944
Docket9250
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 143 F.2d 95 (Anderson v. Tway) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Anderson v. Tway, 143 F.2d 95, 1944 U.S. App. LEXIS 3014 (6th Cir. 1944).

Opinions

SIMONS, Circuit Judge.

My brothers agree with all of the views herein expressed except in respect to the admission of certain evidence which, in my judgment, it was error to receive and so prejudicial to the cause of the receiver as to require reversal and remand of the cause to the District Court for retrial. They disagree also with the view that the newly discovered evidence submitted to the court upon petition for rehearing, had such material bearing upon the issues as to require its submission to the jury upon a retrial. It lollows, therefore, that in respect to such matters the opinion is but my own and will not control decision.

This is the latest case to reach us in the long series of controversies involving the activities of the National Bank of Kentucky and the Banco-Kentucky Company, including, among others, Atherton v. Anderson, 6 Cir., 86 F.2d 518, reversed 302 U.S. 643, 58 S.Ct. 53, 82 L.Ed. 500; Atherton v. Anderson, 6 Cir., 99 F.2d 883; Anderson v. Abbott, 6 Cir., 127 F.2d 696, reversed 321 U.S. 349, 64 S.Ct. 531, and Laurent v. Anderson, 6 Cir., 70 F.2d 819. While the cited cases involve the liability of officers and directors of the bank for violations of the National Banking law or for negligence, and double liability of BancoKentucky and its shareholders, because of ownership of bank stock, the opinions therein tell the history of the bank and the nature of its operations, explain the purpose and plan of Banco’s creation, and so free us of the necessity of repeating much of the story as it bears upon the instant controversy.

The present case is the result of an effort of the bank’s receiver to recover on a $50,000 promissory note given by Tway to the bank to enable Tway to purchase 2,000 shares of Banco stock, the bank agreeing to accept the stock as sole collateral for the note. When both Banco and the bank failed, Tway refused payment and defended the suit which followed, on the ground that the giving of the note and the purchase of Banco stock constituted a single transaction into which he was induced to enter by reason of the fraud of the bank in falsely representing to him its financial status and in concealing from him material facts impairing it, such facts being important because the greater part of Banco’s assets consisted of stock in the bank. The issues were submitted to a jury, a verdict was returned for Tway, a motion for new trial, based upon newly discovered evidence, overruled, and judgment followed.

The receiver assails the defense of fraud on numerous grounds. He says there was no susbtantial proof of the alleged misrepresentations or fraudulent concealment; that fraud may not be asserted as a defense to a note but only by way of counterclaim or separate suit for damages; that Tway knew that the alleged misrepresentations, concealment, the promotion of Banco and sale of its stock, were ultra vires the powers of the bank and knowingly participated; that in any event he ratified and acknowledged liability after becoming aware of the true situation; and that his defense is barred because in conflict with the position taken by him as a defendant in Anderson v. Abbott, supra, the stockholders’ assessment suit. The receiver also challenges the judgment because of errors by the trial court in the admission of incompetent and prejudicial evidence, errors in instructions to the jury and the court’s abuse of discretion in overruling the motion for new trial based upon newly discovered evidence material to the issues involved.

Under familiar principles we consider the evidence in the light most favorable to the party who prevailed at the trial. Banco-Kentucky Company was incorporated on July 16, 1929 under the laws of Delaware. It issued a prospectus setting forth that its stock would be exchanged for outstanding stock in the National Bank of Kentucky and the Louisville Trust Company, represented by trustee participation [98]*98certificates, at the rate of. two shares of Banco for one share of bank stock with an original subscription price of $25 for each of its shares. Tway’s story is that Thieman, vice president of the bank, a lifelong friend whose judgment he had habitually sought on important matters, began in July or August of 1929 to interest him in the purchase of Banco stock, giving him a glowing description of the possibilities of a company able to engage in transactions prohibited to banks. He furnished him with a copy of the prospectus, advised him he did not need any money because the bank would lend him the entire purchase price on the security of the stock, that a Chicago investment house had subscribed for 250,000 shares at $25 per share and wanted more, and that after October 1st he would have to' pay more than $25 for the stock. October 1st Tway yielded to Thieman’s importunities and agreed to take 2,-000 shares of Banco. The transaction was consummated at the bank. It was there that Tway signed a subscription blank, executed a four months’ note to the bank for $50,000, an assignment of the stock with power of attorney to transfer it, and a counter check payable to Banco-Kentucky for $50,000. All of the papers were in the handwriting of the discount clerk who stamped the name of the payee on the check with a stencil kept for that purpose by the bank, and stamped thereon Banco’s endorsement to the bank. The bank credited Tway’s checking account with the proceeds of the note; charged it with the check; and credited Banco’s account with $50,000. Tway’s subscription and power of attorney were delivered by the bank to the Louisville Trust Company as Banco’s transfer agent, temporary certificates as issued were delivered to the bank, and permanent certificates, when substituted, were also delivered to the bank. Tway never had possession of the certificates. They remained in the possession of the bank until the appointment of the receiver, and thereafter passed to the possession of the receiver.

The officers and directors of the bank promoted the formation of Banco. They all exchanged their participation certificates for Banco stock and most of them bought additional shares. Tway’s only information as to the condition of the bank was its general reputation, the reputation of its officers and directors, the statements of Thieman, and the published statement of the bank which showed a capital of $4,000,-000, surplus of $2,000,000, and undivided profits of approximately $235,000. He had no information as to the plan for the formation of Banco or concerning its financial structure except what was derived from its prospectus and Thieman’s representation. He had no knowledge of the facts and circumstances subsequently disclosed respecting the impaired assets of the bank, an impairment which vitally affected the value of its shares and therefore the value of Ban-co stock. Tway executed three renewals of his original note, the last being the one here involved, dated October 2, 1930. At the time of each renewal he paid interest to the date of maturity. He received four quarterly dividends of $400 each on the 2,000 shares of Banco stock, the last in October, 1930. When he renewed his note or received dividends, he had no more information concerning the bank and its condition than he had at the time he purchased the stock and executed his original note.

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Anderson v. Tway
143 F.2d 95 (Sixth Circuit, 1944)

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Bluebook (online)
143 F.2d 95, 1944 U.S. App. LEXIS 3014, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/anderson-v-tway-ca6-1944.