Andrew v. Farmers State Bank

236 N.W. 392, 212 Iowa 329
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMay 5, 1931
DocketNo. 40456.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 236 N.W. 392 (Andrew v. Farmers State Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Andrew v. Farmers State Bank, 236 N.W. 392, 212 Iowa 329 (iowa 1931).

Opinion

De Graff, J.

There is but one question involved, and that relates to whether the stockholders, defendants and appellees, were liable to an assessment for stock owned by them in the Farmers State Bank, of Logan, after the institution closed its doors and went into the-hands of a receiver. For some years before June 14, 1928, the Farmers State Bank, of Logan, was ail Iowa banking corporation, duly organized and operating. While the bank was thus existing and operating, the Iowa state superintendent of banking, on December 26, 1927, under authority of Section 9246 of the 1927 Code, ordered the bank directors to levy an assessment of one hundred per cent on the stock because the institution’s capital was impaired. Complying with that order, the bank directors, on January 22, 1928, levied the assessment as provided by Section 9247 of the same Code. Notices of that assessment were duly served upon the stockholders, who, in response thereto, delivered to the institution money, checks, and notes for the purpose of paying the assessment ordered by the superintendent of banking.

It is contended, however, by the stockholders, appellees, *331 that the delivery of the said notes, cheeks, and money was made upon the express condition that the stockholders would not be liable for another assessment under Section 9251 of the 1927 Code. To state the thought differently, appellees claim that the notes, checks, and money were delivered to the bank to be held by it in trust until it could be determined whether the institution would remain a going, solvent concern. If it could not continue as a solvent bank, appellees assert the money, checks, and notes were to be returned to them.

This contention on the appellees’ part, of course, is denied by the appellant. The superintendent of banking, now receiver of the institution, says that there never was such an agreement with the stockholders; that neither he nor the bank ever had such an agreement with them. Consequently, the appellant maintains that the stockholders delivered the notes, checks, and money into the bank in compliance with the assessment made January 22, 1928, under Section 9246, supra. However that may be, the bank failed on June 14, 1928, and the superintendent of banking was duly appointed receiver of the institution. He is now the appellant.

So, in compliance with Section 9251, the appellant commenced the present proceeding to collect from the appellees one hundred per cent on the stock held by each for the benefit of the bank’s creditors. Section 9251 of the 1927 Code contains the following language:

“All stockholders of savings and state banks shall be individually liable to the creditors of such corporation of which they are stockholders over and above the amount of stock by them held therein and any amount paid thereon, to an amount equal to their respective shares, for all its liabilities accruing while they remained such stockholders.”

By way of defense to the present action, the stockholders, appellees, interpose the alleged conditional agreement aforesaid. To overcome that defense, appellant not only denies the agreement’s existence, but further alleges that if it does exist the same is void because such understanding is against public policy and gives rise to an ultra vires contract. Evidence upon those issues is set forth in the abstract. Manifestly the superintendent *332 of banking did not agree to the conditional delivery of the notes, checks, and money.

A more serious question arises, however, concerning whether the bank itself made such an agreement with the stockholders. Many of the facts and circumstances rather indicate that such an agreement was not made, but for the purposes of this case, we shall assume, without deciding, that the agreement did exist. Nevertheless, there is a reason why appellees’ defense is not sufficient to prevent a judgment against the stockholders for a one hundred per cent assessment under Code Section 9251, supz'a. Such reason does not include the reply predicated upon public policy or an ultra vires contract.

This reason may be explained by the use of two hypotheses: First, it is assumed that the zzotes, checks, and mozzey were paid in satisfaction of the first assessment under Section 9246 of the Code; and, second, it is supposed that the notes, checks, and money were not so deposited but were given to the bank in trust to carry out the purposes alleged by appellees.

I. If the notes, checks, and money were paid into the bank under an assessment to repair depreciated capital under Section 9246, then such payment does not preclude another assessment under 9251 of the same Code. Leach v. Arthur Savings Bank, 203 Iowa 1052; Andrew v. Farmers Trust & Savings Bank of Charles City, 204 Iowa 243; Andrew v. Bevington Savings Bank, 206 Iowa 869; Andrew v. Peoples State Bank of Humboldt, 211 Iowa 649. After the assessment was made on January 22, 1928, for the purpose of supporting the impaired capital, the bank cozztinued as a going concern until June 14, thereafter. Many things might have happened in the interim to change the institution from solvency into insolvency. Hence, if the money, notes, and checks in question were paid under that assessment, the same were given to the bank for the purpose of repairing its depreciated stock rather than for liquidation purposes under Section 9251 of the 1927 Code. During the discussion in Andrew v. Peoples State Bank of Humboldt, 211 Iowa 649, supra, reading on page 658, we said:

“For the purpose of applying Section 9251, a bank is deemed solvent while it is a going concern. As a going concerzz it remains in full control of its assets and administers the same *333 by its own corporate officials. Tbe liability of tbe stockholder under Section 9251 accrues when the corporate bank ceases to be a going concern. Up to that point of time the corporate bank pays all demands upon presentation. When it fails to meet such demands, its doors close.”

Predicated upon the same premise is our statement in Andrew v. Bevington Savings Bank, 206 Iowa 869, reading on pages 873 and 874:

“Complaint is made because the district court allowed the second assessment under a record not justifying the same. More definitely, appellant’s objection is that the bank transacted no business during the interim between the first assessment and the court’s designation of the receiver. Thus the proceeds of the first assessment, he says, were for mere liquidating purposes. Only one object can authorize that assessment, and this is to strengthen the impaired capital, as contemplated under Section 1878 of the 1897 Code (now Section 9246 of the 1927 Code). However, substantiation exists in the record for the conclusion that, when the assessment was made, there was no thought of winding up the bank’s affairs; but, on the contrary, the idea undoubtedly was to restore the impaired capital so and in order that the institution could continue as a going concern. Business was transacted during the period mentioned. Clearly, then, the first assessment was not authorized or made for mere liquidation purposes.

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Related

Younkin v. Rubio Savings Bank
284 N.W. 151 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1939)
Andrew v. Bronson Savings Bank
265 N.W. 113 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1936)
Andrew v. Farmers State Bank
256 N.W. 298 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1934)
Bates v. Clarion Savings Bank
252 N.W. 138 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1934)
Andrew v. State Bank of Swea City
242 N.W. 62 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1932)

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Bluebook (online)
236 N.W. 392, 212 Iowa 329, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/andrew-v-farmers-state-bank-iowa-1931.