Bollstrom v. Duplex Power Car Co.

175 N.W. 492, 208 Mich. 15, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 538
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 22, 1919
DocketDocket No. 98
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 175 N.W. 492 (Bollstrom v. Duplex Power Car Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bollstrom v. Duplex Power Car Co., 175 N.W. 492, 208 Mich. 15, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 538 (Mich. 1919).

Opinion

Sharpe, J.

The Duplex Power Car Company was organized in 1909, and exercised its corporate powers until its assets were sold to the Duplex Truck Company on November 20, 1916. There has been much litigation relative to its affairs. The facts in this case will be better understood by a reference to the cases which have been considered by this court: Hill v. Town, 172 Mich. 508 (42 L. R. A. [N. S.] 799); Town v. Duplex Power Car Co., 172 Mich. 519; Toles v. Duplex Power Car Co., 202 Mich. 224; and Garber v. Town, ante, 1.

The plaintiff was one of the patentees of the device for a 4-wheel drive which distinguishes the truck that the company manufactured; 2,500 shares of stock were allotted to him for his interest in the patent. Previous to February 21, 1913, he had by transfer reduced his holding to 1,743 shares. A suit had been brought by some Chicago parties to whom stock had been sold and the plaintiff made a party thereto. This had been settled by the defendant Town, who was then a stockholder in the same corporation. At a stockholders’ meeting, held on April 21, 1913, at which plaintiff was present, the record shows the following:

“Mr. Town as attorney in fact for the stockholders reported that he had effected a settlement with the defendants whereby upon the payment by him of the sum of fourteen thousand ($14,000.00) dollars they had assigned to him for the benefit of the complainant stockholders 6,885 shares of stock, together with the [18]*18mortgage held by Farlin H. Ball, as trustee, and all claims they might have against the company.
“Mr. Town reported that the expenses incurred in consequence of litigation, receivership and maintenance would approximate about ten thousand ($10,000.00) dollars, and that while there was sufficient.assets, if properly handled, to take care of this indebtedness, yet in his opinion the $10,000.00 expenses should be taken care of by the sale of stock to those who had pledged to pay their pro rata of this expense.
“Moved by R. A. Garber, supported by Brown, that complainant stockholders be asked to subscribe as much more stock as they now held, to liquidate these expenses, for which a double amount to that subscribed be issued them.
“Carried unanimously.
“Mr. M. Bollstrom stated that it would be impossible for him to pay for his quota of stock, and after some discussion he offered to shrink his- stock back to the complainant stockholders, to pay his pro rata of litigation and maintenance expenses.
“On motion duly made his proposition was unanimously accepted.”

Agreeably to such proceedings, plaintiff surrendered 582 shares of his stock to the corporation, and the other stockholders took additional stock as provided for in the minutes of such meeting. It is now the claim of the plaintiff that he was induced to make such surrender by the false and fraudulent representations of the defendant stockholders and that this transfer on his part should be set aside. We consider this claim at this time as it is entirely disconnected with the other questions presented. In disposing of it, the trial judge said*

“Without going into this claim with specific exactness, but passing on, it is only necessary to state that it is the judgment of the court.that the plaintiff has entirely failed to establish any fraud practiced upon him as to that settlement, or any wrong done to him in that matter. He was not asked to do more than he ought as matters then stood, and he did not do more [19]*19than he ought., Relief under this claim as asked for by plaintiff cannot and should not be granted.”

We have carefully read the testimony on which plaintiff relies. The value of the stock at that time was problematical, and, as plaintiff attended many meetings thereafter, being for a part of the time a director, and in no way questioned the good faith of the transaction until he filed the bill of complaint in this cause on March 21, 1917, we are content with the conclusion reached by the trial judge relative thereto. Lewless v. Railway Co., 65 Mich. 292, 303.

The stock involved in the litigation referred to (6,-885 shares) was transferred to the defendant Town as trustee and for some time thereafter voted by him as such. At the meeting held on April 21st, a board of directors was elected which included the defendant Town, and at a directors’ meeting, held on the same day, he was elected president of the corporation. It appears from the allegations in the bill of complaint, supported by the proofs, that thereafter Mr. Town was not only the executive head of the corporation but practically in charge and control of all its affairs.

In the summer of 1916, it became apparent that additional capital was needed to make the business a success.^ In September and October*, an effort was made to' interest certain Detroit and New York parties.

In October, 1916, Town began negotiations with Louis Rowley, of Lansing, for the sale of the property of the corporation to certain parties living in that city. This deal was practically consummated on or about the 24th day of that month, though not reduced to writing until the 30th. On that day, Mr. Town entered into a written contract with Harry M. Lee and eight other Lansing citizens, who will hereafter be spoken of as the Lansing syndicate, for the transfer to such syndicate, when formally organized into a [20]*20corporation, of “all the property, franchises, rights, privileges, assets and good will of the Duplex Power Car Company of Charlotte, Michigan, and all its patents or rights in patents by license or otherwise.”

Town represented that there were outstanding 15,-500 shares of stock in the car company, of a par value of $10 each, and the Lansing syndicate agreed to pay to the holders of such stock two shares of stock in the corporation to be formed by them for each share so held in the car company, or, at their option, $20 per share for such stock, being double the par value thereof, and to assume and pay all obligations and indebtedness of the car company. At the same time, the following agreement was entered into and signed by Mr. Town and all of the members of the Lansing syndicate :

“This agreement, made this. 30th day of October, 1916, between Frank P. Town of Charlotte, Michigan, party of the first part, and Harry M. Lee,.G. W. Hewitt, Harry F. Harper, Elgin Mifflin, W. H. Porter, E. S. Porter, J. Edward Roe, James H. Robinson and H„ E. Bradner, all of Lansing, Michigan, parties of the second part, witnesseth as follows:
“Whereas, the parties of the second part purpose and intend to organize a corporation for the manufacture and sale of motor power trucks, and it is their purpose and desire when said company is organized, to purchase all the property, franchises, rights, privileges, assets and good will of the Duplex Power Car Company of Charlotte, Michigan, and all its patents or rights in patents by license or otherwise; and
“Whereas, the party of the first part agrees to acquire possession and control of not less'than three-fourths of the outstanding stock of the said Duplex Power Car Company, and that when he so acquires the same, he shall deposit the same with some bank in Charlotte agreeable to second parties with proxies if so desired.

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Bluebook (online)
175 N.W. 492, 208 Mich. 15, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 538, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bollstrom-v-duplex-power-car-co-mich-1919.