Birmingham National Bank v. Roden

97 Ala. 404

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: July 1, 1892
• Status: Published

Opinion

COLEMAN, J.

— The object of the bill as originally framed was to compel the defendant bank to register the plaintiff as a stockholder for forty shares of stock in the bank stock-book. After answer and plea by the bank which averred as a defense that all the shares authorized to be issued by its charter, had been issued, before the filing of complainant’s bill, the bill was amended so as to pray as alternative relief, that the bank be required to pay the value of the stock, and the dividends declared thereon, as compensation in lieu of the stock.

The respondent demurred to the bill, upon the ground that plaintiff’s remedy at law was full and adequate; and by answer as a defense alleged that plaintiff’s subscription contract for stock was illegal and void in this: that the agreement between Boden the subscriber for the stock, and Jno. W. Beed, the promoter of the corporation, and after-wards, its president, was to the effect that the subscription was not to be paid for in cash, as required by the statute, but only by the* notes of Boden. As a further defense the answer averred that the bank had issued its full amount of shares, and that any further issue would be ultra vires.

It sometimes happens, says Mr. Pomeroy, in his Equity Jurisprudence, that certificates are issued to the wrong person without the consent or fault of the true owner. In such cases, says the author, it is well settled that although the law may give some remedy, as that of damages, equity has jurisdiction to decree that the corporation replace the stock upon its books, and issue new certificates to the original owner, or if it is unable to do this by reason of its not having, or being able to procure any shares, to pay the value of the stock. — Pom. Eq. § 1412. And in Cook on Stock and Stockholders § 579, it is declared that: “A bill in equity may be maintained by a bona fide purchaser of stock, against the corporation to compel a transfer of the stock upon the corporate books,” and in the same work in § 74, it is said: “A subscriber for shares of stock, in case the contract of subscription was regularly entered into, may, if the corporation refuse to issue him a certificate, have his action in equity for specific performance, or he may recover of the corporation in assumpsit, the value of shares at the time of the demand.” — Cook on Stock and Stockholders, § 74.

We have frequently decided that although the proof may show that the specific relief prayed for in a bill for specific performance can not be granted, the bill may be retained for compensation, if the party is entitled to, relief, and the remedy at law is inadequate to afford complete justice. Powell v. Higley, 90 Ala. 103; Allen v. Young, 88 Ala. 338 ; Moses v. Scott, 84 Ala. 611; Cowan v. Sapp, 81 Ala. 525; Aday v. Echols, 18 Ala. 353.

“When the impossibility of a specific performance is disclosed at the hearing and the suit was brought by the plaintiff in ignorance of such fact, the court will award the remedy of damages.” — 3 Pom. Eq. § 1410.

It is very clear that when a corporation has lawfully issued the full amount of stock authorized by its charter, no court can compel a further issue. Cases sometimes arise in which a recovery in damages would fail to compensate fully one entitled to stock, and yet the court would be without power to order a further issue, on account of the fact that all the stock authorized by its charter had been issued. The rule adopted by the Massachusetts courts in such cases, it seems, is to require the corporation to issue the stock to the person entitled to it but in order to prevent an illegal over-issue it must purchase an equal amount of shares in the market, while in other Statés compensation may be awarded in lieu of the stock. — Cook on Stock and Stockholders, §§ 284, 390, 391, and note ; Machinist Nat. Bank v. Field, 126 Mass. 345.

Wliile the authorities are numerous in support of the proposition, that upon the refusal of a corporation to issue certificates of stock, to a subscriber, who is entitled to receive them, or where the shares of the proper owner have been wrongfully detained or converted by the corporation or by an individual holder, he may have his remedy by appropriate action in a 'court of law, it is well settled that as against the corporation he may by bill in equity enforce a specific performance by having the stock registered in his name or compel the issue of certificates of stock to him, or in the alternative if the corporation is unable to perform its contract, have his remedy by compensation in damages. The principle which accords compensation as an alternative relief on bills filed for specific performance is well recognized in this State. We are of opinion that the power of a court of equity is the better adapted to administer complete relief and justice in such cases between the parties. The overruling of respondent’s demurrer to the bill of complaint was in accord with these principles, and must be sustained.

We hold also that the plea of ultra vires, in which it is averred that the bank had issued all the stock authorized by its charter, presented no defense as against plaintiff’s right to compensation prayed for as alternative relief. The court in the case at bar awarded compensation in lieu of the stock and the plaintiff is content to take compensation, instead of the specific stock. He has not complained or appealed. If the facts stated in respondent’s plea and answer, and which were intended to raise the question of the validity of the subscription contract, presented a valid defense, we are satisfied from an examination of the evidence, that the defense has not been sustained by legal proof. It is undisputed that Boden subscribed for forty shares of the stock, and was one of the subscribers who associated together for the purpose of organizing the bank. The original organization certificate in the comptroller’s office of the Treasury Department shows this, and that he was a shareholder of forty shares. In the absence of evidence of forgery, fraud or mistake, we think evidence conclusive on him and the corporation, that he was a shareholder, at the time of its organization, and responsible as such to the corporation and its creditors, and was entitled to the benefits of a shareholder. — McHose v. Wheeler, 45 Pa. St. 40. It is true that no certificate of stock was ever issued to him, and there is no proof that his name was entered in the stock book of the company as a shareholder. Neither was indispensable to constitute- Mm a shareholder. The certificate is mere evidence that the holder thereof is a shareholder, a mere muniment of title, but is not the stock itself. — Cook supra § 10. The true owner of stock maj^ compel the corporation to place his name on the stock-book and also issue to him a certificate of the stock to which he is entitled. The organization certificate was dated April 7th, 1887, was filed in the comptroller’s office, April 16th, 1887, and according to the testimony, the bank was regularly organized for business April 23rd, 1887. Up to this time, the evidence shows that Eoden was a shareholder, as much so, as any member of the association, for it seems from the evidence that no certificates of stock were issued to any stockholder earlier than perhaps the 17th of May, following its organization.

On the 26th day of May certificates were issued to Jno. W. Eeed, who was then president of the bank, as the owner of 305 shares. The proof is sufficient to show that the 40 shares subscribed for by Eoden were included in and were a part of the 305 shares for which certificates' were issued to Eeed, and he was entered on the stock-book as the owner of 305 shares.

The respondent bank does not pretend to question the validity of the certificates for 305 shares issued to Eeed; in fact it insists that all the authorized stock has been properly issued, and that Eeed was entitled to 305 shares. We need not stop to comment here on the fact of Need’s insolvency, and his indebtedness to the bank and the resources of the bank to secure itself against loss depends in a great measure, in upholding the regularity of the issue of the certificates for 305 shares to Eeed.

We have no reason to doubt that 50 per cent, of these shares were paid for by some one at the time of filing the original certificate of organization, and under respondent’s own theory and proof, the entire amount must have been paid for in cash before the issue of the certificate for the 305 shares of stock. The answer avers that all the shares have been issued, and are now owned by bona fide holders, and that dividends have been declared and paid upon them to the proper owner. Did Eeed pay the cash for tRe 40 shares subscribed for by Eoden for which he received certificates, and if so when, and did he pay on his own account, or for Eoden? On the 7th of March, 1887, Eoden executed to Eeed his note for eight hundred dollars, and on April 5th, he executed a similar note for twelve hundred dollars each bearing interest from date. These two notes equal in amount 50 per centum of his subscription for forty shares of stock. The certificate of organization bears elate April 7 th, two days later, and which certificate represented that fifty per centum of the stock had been paid for in cash. May 23, Boden executed his other note to Beed for two thousand dollars, interest from date, an amount equal to 50 par centum of the stock, and on May 26th, three days after, a certificate for 305 shares, which included .the forty shares subscribed for by Boden, was issued to Beed. These three several notes were endorsed by Beed to' the bank. These original notes have all been taken up by Boden, and from time to time the debt renewed, and extended, and the renewal notes made payable directly to the bank, and the proof shows that large amounts have been paid in money upon these notes at different times by Boden to the bank.

The bank now holds Boden’s notes, representing an unpaid balance of the original debt to Beed, and it is admitted, at the present time, is prosecuting a suit against him upon them in the Circuit Court. That the original notes became the property of the bank by endorsement from Jno. W. Beed, the payee, is undisputed, and were renewed by Boden by notes made payable to the bank. Boden testifies, and this evidence is not controverted, that when Beed solicited his subscription as a shareholder, he told Beed that the money market was tight and he did not care to become a subscriber, and that Beed agreed to arrange for the money, and upon this understanding he subscribed for the stock. When called upon for the first payment of 20 per cent. Beed told him the bank was not organized and he cou'ld not lend the bank’s money, but “that he (Beed) had money which he could lend me and then the notes would be turned over to the bank and I cordd then make my arrangements with the bank.” The note for $800.00 with interest was then executed by Boden to Beed, payable on the 9tb of July. This note was endorsed by Beed to the bank, and on the 9th -of July after the bank was organized taken up by Boden, a payment made on it, and a new note executed payable directly to the bank. On the 5th of April with the same understanding with Beed the second note for $1,200.00 was executed, making the 50 per cent, required to be paid in, and on the 7th of April, two days later, the certificate of organization was duly made out, and filed in the Treasury Department with Boden as a shareholder of forty shares, and on this certificate representing that fifty per cent, of the stock was paid in, the bank was chartered with Boden as a charter member. The proof satisfactorily shows that both the bank and Boden have recognizecl Boden’s liability on these notes since they became the property of the bank. It could make no difference with Boaen whether he continued to owe Beed, who agreed to advance the money for him, or the bank to whom they were transferred by Beed. Boden’s ability to pay is not questioned, and he offers in his bill to pay the balance due.

Against the objection of the plaintiff, Ansien, the cashier, was permitted to testify that when Beed, the president of the bank, endorsed the notes to the bank, no consideration passed to Beed, and that in fact no money was paid for the stock subscribed for by Boden. It is not shown that this information was ever conveyed to Boden.

Without at this time considering the competency of such evidence under the facts of this case, it is evident, from the proof, that Boden has acted fairly and in good faith throughout the whole transaction. Beed agreed to advance him the money, and upon this agreement the notes were executed and made payable to him. Before the last 50 per centum was called for Boden applied to the cashier of the bank for receipts to show that the first 50 per cent, payment had been made, and the cashier executed to him in due form receipts for the proper amount showing that 50 per cent, of his subscription had been paid for in cash, and that he would be entitled to certificates of stock as soon as the remainder of the subscription was paid for. But what is the attitude of the bank from an equitable standpoint, taking the testimony of the cashier to be true? The bank received the notes from Beed, with a full knowledge that they were given for Boden’s subscription for stock. It parted with no consideration to Beed or otherwise for them. It has collected from Boden large sums of money on these notes and is now seeking to compel him to pay "by suit at law the remainder, and at the same time is attempting to repudiate the consideration for which they were given. The bank gave Boden no notice that his subscription for stock had not been paid for, but executed receipts to him showing the contrary to be true. In addition, it attempts to uphold and justify as lawful the issuance of certificates of stock to Beed for these forty shares, knowing at the same time, that Beed had not subscribed for them, that he had paid nothing for them, but that Boden had subscribed for tbem, and held the receipts of the cashier, evidencing as a fact that he had paid his subscription, and was the lawful subscriber and owner of the stock. The bank had been duly incorporated and organized for more than two years before the present bill was filed, and the subscription list, and the certificate of organization and charter as we have stated, all show that Boden was a subscriber and shareholder. He had made, and the bank had received many payments upon notes given by him to Beed, who had agreed to advance the money for him. There was nothing unlawful or against public policy in the agreement between Boden and Beed. Boden seems to have acted in good faith. He was made to believe that his subscription for stock had been duly paid, and with a full knowledge of all these facts, the bank issued to Beed a certificate for 305 shares, including the forty shares subscribed for by Boden, and now insists that the stock was legally issued to Beed, and that its possession is that of a bona “fide holder. This could not be true, unless fifty per centum of the Boden subscription had been paid for in cash.

The bank under the facts, is in no position to avoid its responsibility to Boden as a subscriber for stock upon the grounds that Beed did not in fact advance the money for Boden.

The defense that Boden authorized the bank to issue the certificates of stock to Beed, so as to enable Beed to borrow money upon them, concedes that Boden was the lawful owner of the stock, and. the burden is upon the bank to make good this theory of the defense. With the exception of a few declarations of Beed made in the absence of Boden, and of which he had no knowledge, and which should have been excluded as mere hearsay, there is no evidence to sustain this theory of the defense. There is positive evidence that no such authority was given to Beed by Boden. The issue of the certificate of stock to Beed for the 40 shares subscribed for by Boden, was unauthorized, and the bank must bear the consequences.

There is no error in the decree, none at least, of which appellant has cause to complain.

Affirmed.