Central National Bank v. Newton Steel Co.

22 N.E.2d 428, 61 Ohio App. 57, 15 Ohio Op. 83, 1937 Ohio App. LEXIS 361
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 4, 1937
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 22 N.E.2d 428 (Central National Bank v. Newton Steel Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Central National Bank v. Newton Steel Co., 22 N.E.2d 428, 61 Ohio App. 57, 15 Ohio Op. 83, 1937 Ohio App. LEXIS 361 (Ohio Ct. App. 1937).

Opinion

Nichols, J.

Central National Bank of Cleveland and H. ft. Harris, as trustees under the first mortgage and deed of trust of The Newton Steel Company, securing $3,866,000 of 7 per cent bonds now outstanding, filed their petition in the Court of Common. Pleas of Trumbull county against The Newton Steel Company to obtain judgment on the bonds and to foreclose the mortgage. William O. Williams, as Treasurer of Trumbull county, and David Thomas, Clerk of the Common Pleas Court of Trumbull county, were made defendants, the petition alleging that they claim some interest in the mortgaged property and praying that they be required to set up whatever claims or interest they may have, or be forever barred from asserting the same.

On August 1, 1936 (being the answer day named in the summons served upon the defendants), Essie J. Weisberg, by her attorney, Abraham L. Pomerantz, who represents that he is a member of the Bar of the state of New York, filed a motion for leave to intervene as defendant in the action, and tendered with the motion her answer and cross-petition wherein she alleged that she is a stockholder of defendant, The Newton Steel Company, and that she is intervening on behalf of herself and on behalf of all other stockholders of The Newton Steel Company similarly situated, in the right and for the benefit of the steel company.

On the same day, August 1, 1936, The Newton Steel Company filed its answer to the petition of plaintiffs, admitting the execution of the bonds and mortgage, the amounts' claimed by the plaintiffs to be unpaid and in default, and admitting the ownership of the property described in the petition, and that plaintiffs, as *59 trustees, are duly appointed. The answer then alleged that the defendant corporation was unable to pay the principal or interest on the bonds, but asked that if a decree should be entered and the property ordered sold it should be given an opportunity, if then able to do so, to avail itself of the provisions of Section 11588, General Code (the Best Act), and have a sale postponed upon compliance with the conditions set forth within that act. The answer denied all allegations of the petition inconsistent with its prior statements and concluded with a prayer that the interests of The Newton Steel Company and its stockholders be fully protected.

Neither the motion of Essie J. Weisberg to intervene, nor the answer and cross-petition tendered there-, with, denied or questioned the validity of the bond issue or the amount of bonds in default, but alleged that subsequent to the issue of the bonds and deed of trust or mortgage securing the same, the Republic Steel Corporation, a corporation under New Jersey laws, acquired and now owns all of the bonds secured by the deed of trust and also owns approximately 80 per cent of the stock of The Newton Steel Company; and further alleged that, by reason of its ownership of such stock of The Newton Steel Company, Republic Steel Corporation controls The Newton Steel Company, designates its directorate and executive officers; and that certain of the officers and directors of The Newton Steel Company are directors or officers of Republic Steel Corporation and receive substantial compensation and bonuses from Republic Steel Corporation.

It is further alleged that by reason of certain understandings and agreements between the directors and officers of the two steel companies it was arranged that The Newton Steel Company would default on the bond issue upon its maturity on January 1, 1935, and that the Republic Steel Corporation would thereupon acquire all of the outstanding mortgage bonds; and, *60 in substance, it was set forth that the officers and directors of The Newton Steel Company have failed and refused to interpose any defense to the action or to take any steps to prevent the foreclosure sought by plaintiffs; that the net worth of The Newton Steel Company over and above all its obligations, including the bonds secured by the mortgage sought to be foreclosed, exceeded $5,000,000 as of December 31, 1935, and it was requested that, pursuant to Section 11588, of the Ohio General Code (the Best Act), hearing be had and sale of property covered by the mortgage be postponed and proceedings to enforce the debt secured thereby be restrained until such time as the court may believe to be just and equitable.

For a second, separate and distinct affirmative defense, the answer tendered by Essie J. Weisberg repeated the allegations of certain paragraphs of the answer, and further alleged that prior to August, 1933, The Newton Steel Company was engaged in the business of producing cold-rolled sheets for the automobile, refrigerator and other industries; that on or about August, 1932, Corrigan, McKinney Steel Company acquired approximately 75 per cent of all of the outstanding stock of The Newton Steel Company, and thereafter these two companies had interlocking officers and directors, and Corrigan, McKinney Steel Company designated the directorate and policies of The Newton Steel Company; that thereafter and until about September, 1935, the business and affairs of The Newton Steel Company were managed for the benefit of its parent company, Corrigan, McKinney Steel Company rather than for the benefit or in the interest of The Newton Steel Company or its minority stockholders. Further allegations are made to the effect that The Newton Steel Company purchased practically all of its steel and commodity requirements from Corrigan, McKinney Steel Company at a price fixed by the latter and by reason of the *61 control exercised by the parent company, The Newton Steel Company did not attempt to obtain competitive bids for its steel and commodity requirements; and that accordingly the transactions between these- two companies during the years 1932 to 1935 resulted in large profits to Corrigan, McKinney Steel Company and large losses to The Newton Steel Company.

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Related

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52 N.E.2d 852 (Ohio Supreme Court, 1944)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
22 N.E.2d 428, 61 Ohio App. 57, 15 Ohio Op. 83, 1937 Ohio App. LEXIS 361, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/central-national-bank-v-newton-steel-co-ohioctapp-1937.