Bresette v. Bresette

296 A.2d 185, 130 Vt. 414, 1972 Vt. LEXIS 292
CourtSupreme Court of Vermont
DecidedOctober 3, 1972
DocketNo. 113-71
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 296 A.2d 185 (Bresette v. Bresette) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Vermont primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bresette v. Bresette, 296 A.2d 185, 130 Vt. 414, 1972 Vt. LEXIS 292 (Vt. 1972).

Opinion

Shangraw, C.J.

This is a petition brought by Elwin L. Bresette, plaintiff, during September 1969, seeking a declaratory judgment and other equitable relief. He was later joined in this litigation by his two sisters, Vivian Gannon and Olive Williams, as parties plaintiffs.

On July 31, 1962, Wilbert Bresette died intestate, and at that time he was married to the defendant, Rose Bresette. He then had three children by a former marriage, Elwin L. Bresette, Vivian Gannon and Olive Williams.

Mr. Bresette operated an incorporated plumbing and heating business in Montpelier, Vermont, known as United Plumbing and Heating, Inc., and at the time of his death he owned 750 of the 811 outstanding shares of stock of the corporation.

Between August, 1962, and December, 1966, the defendantappellee, as administratrix of the estate of Wilbert Bresette, and as president of the corporation, operated the plumbing and heating business and sold off its personal and real property.

The petition alleged the defendant committed numerous improprieties by improperly disposing corporate assets, by failing to render an accounting of corporate funds, and by failing [416]*416to pay the corporation for her personal use of a portion of the corporate real estate.

It was agreed by the parties to submit to Waldo C. Holden, Esq., of Bennington, Vermont, as a Master, the following issues:

1. Accounting of the assets of the United Plumbing and Heating, Inc., from August 1962, until the corporation ceased to do business.
2. To determine the validity and the facts in connection therewith concérning the sale of the corporate assets both real and personal.
3. To find facts in connection with any rights of the plaintiff, Elwin L. Bresette, as a minor stockholder in the United Plumbing and Heating, Inc.

Accordingly, a rule of reference was issued to Attorney Holden on April 12, 1971. Master Holden took evidence and on May 20, 1971, he issued his Findings and Report.

On June 7, 1971, the report of the Master came on for hearing before the court. All parties were then represented by counsel. No request was made for further evidence nor were any exceptions taken to the report. In fact, it was accepted without objection by all parties. The report of the Master was accepted by the court, and on July 6, 1971, the presiding judge issued a decree.

The decree states that the sales of the personal property and real estate of United Plumbing and Heating, Inc., by the defendant were proper and substantially complied with the provisions of the law. It also provides that the defendant has accounted for all of the corporate assets and liabilities and expenditures of monies therefrom in connection with the corporation from August 1962 until it ceased to do business.

The decree continues by stating that the defendant, in connection with the business dealings of the corporation, has improperly expended for her own use the sum of $4,385.35. All other sums expended by the defendant, between the period August, 1962, and April 30, 1971, in connection with the corporation were determined to be proper and in conformity with the law.

Finally, the decree directed that the defendant, from the above indicated sum of $4,385.35, pay to the plaintiffs in ac[417]*417cordance with their stock interest in the corporation, the following: Elwin L. Bresette, $1,092.00, and to Vivian Gannon and Olive Williams, each the sum of $975.00.

The above decree of July 6, 1971, was amended by a Judgment Order dated July 16, 1971. This amendment provides that from and out of the corporation savings account of $4,351.92 in the Montpelier National Bank, that, in accordance with the stock interest of the plaintiffs, the defendant was ordered to pay Elwin L. Bresette the sum of $1,001.64, and to Vivian Gannon and Olive Williams, each the sum of $894.32.

Plaintiff, Elwin L. Bresette, has appealed to this Court from the above Judgment Order of July 16,1971.

No objections were made to the Master’s report. It was accepted by the court and is conclusive of the facts in issue so submitted under the rule of reference to the Master. Luce v. Brown, 96 Vt. 140, 141, 118 A. 530 (1922).

No briefs were filed by Vivian Gannon or Olive Williams. Plaintiff, Elwin L. Bresette, contends in his brief that the final orders of the court deviate from the Master’s report and fail to allow him to recover certain amounts.

The report reveals that the defendant made personal withdrawals from the business amounting to $4,385.35. Bresette makes claim for this total sum. By the decree of July 6, 1971, the court determined that such withdrawals were improperly expended by the defendant for her personal use. In considering Mr. Bresette’s stock interest in the corporation, the court, in its decree, directed payment to him by the de-r fendant of $1,092.00. He presents no argument why he should be entitled to the entire sum of $4,385.35 nor does there appear any legal justification for such claim. The claim is without merit.

Paragraph 6 of the Master’s report reveals that the defendant continued to occupy the apartment, rent free, after the death of her husband, Wilbert Bresette, until the real estate was sold December 20, 1966, a period of 219 weeks. Thereafter she continued occupying the apartment, paying a monthly rental of $75.00 to the owners. It is the appellant’s contention that, as fair rental, this created an indebtedness by de[418]*418fendant to the corporation of $4,106.25 for which she should account.

The business was operated primarily by Wilbert N. Bresette, until his death on July 31, 1962. The Bresettes occupied, rent free, four rooms on the ground floor. Two other rooms on the ground floor of the building were used for purposes of the business. An upstairs apartment was rented to others. Following her husband’s death, the defendant was in charge of the conduct and liquidation of the business.

The Master’s report contains no statement as to whether or not the occupancy of the apartment by defendant was proper for business purposes. Its use by the defendant may have been necessary and proper, as part of defendant’s compensation, in winding up the affairs of the corporation. Her weekly salary was $50.00. In the absence of a finding that her occupancy was unrelated to the corporate business, it must be presumed that the defendant acted properly for business purposes and incurred no indebtedness to the corporation for this occupancy. The defendant is entitled to the benefit of the presumption of regularity. Capital Garage Co. v. Powell, et al., 96 Vt. 145, 149, 118 A. 524 (1922).

Next, appellant contends that the defendant has not accounted for $5,098.21 that she took in while managing the corporate business. Finding 7 of the Master’s report states that the “avails” from winding up the business “were deposited to the United account.” This statement supports paragraph 3 of the Decree of July 6, 1971, which states: “That Rose M. Bresette has accounted for all of the corporate assets and liabilities and expenditures of monies therefrom in connection with United Plumbing and Heating, Inc., from August 1962 until such time as said corporation ceased to do business.” “Findings of fact shall not be set aside unless clearly erroneous. . . .

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Bluebook (online)
296 A.2d 185, 130 Vt. 414, 1972 Vt. LEXIS 292, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bresette-v-bresette-vt-1972.