Coleman v. La Salle Creosoting Company

129 So. 2d 311, 1961 La. App. LEXIS 2089
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 17, 1961
Docket230
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 129 So. 2d 311 (Coleman v. La Salle Creosoting Company) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Coleman v. La Salle Creosoting Company, 129 So. 2d 311, 1961 La. App. LEXIS 2089 (La. Ct. App. 1961).

Opinion

129 So.2d 311 (1961)

James E. COLEMAN, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
LA SALLE CREOSOTING COMPANY, Inc Defendant-Appellant.

No. 230.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

April 17, 1961.
Rehearing Denied May 9, 1961.

*313 Ward-Steinman & Crenshaw, by Irving Ward-Steinman, Alexandria, for defendant-appellant.

Gaharan & Richey, by L. W. Richey, Jena, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before TATE, FRUGE and CULPEPPER, JJ.

FRUGÉ, Judge.

This suit was instituted by James E. Coleman, owner of four shares of stock in the defendant corporation, to appoint a receiver for the corporation per LSA-R.S. 12:752(11). LSA-R.S. Section 752 provides the grounds for appointment of a receiver. It provides that:

"All district courts may appoint receivers to take charge of the property of corporations, and of the property of foreign corporations actually located herein under the following conditions: * * *
"(11) At the instance of any shareholder when a majority of the shareholders are violating the charter rights of the minority and putting their interests in imminent danger."

The facts are substantially these: LaSalle Creosoting Company, Inc. was organized in May, 1957. The initial stock issued was in the proportions of 40% to George D. Cobbs, 40% to James E. Coleman, and 20% to Thomas Bell. James E. Coleman, who worked as an inspector at a creosoting plant, conceived the idea of creating a creosote plant of his own. Since he was unable to finance the project, he discussed the proposition with Mr. Cobbs. Cobbs became involved in the project as the financial backer thereof. With Cobbs furnishing the capital, construction was begun of a creosoting plant. The corporation was incorporated and Mr. Cobbs was elected President; Coleman, Vice-President; and Thomas Bell, Secretary. Coleman (who was employed by another creosoting plant) assisted with the construction of the defendant plant and gave general supervision and advice. The record further reveals that Coleman acted as general manager of the corporation, supervising the work and as salesman, and that Bell assisted him in those endeavors. In the beginning none of the officers were paid, or employed directly by the corporation. However, a few months later, Coleman was required to resign his position with his employer and devote full time to the work of the defendant-corporation. His salary was fixed at $350 per month. His salary with his former employer was approximately $450 per month ($100 of which was reimbursed car expenses). Records of the corporation were kept at the business establishment of Mr. Cobbs, who operated another business (not associated with the defendant corporation). During the lifetime of the corporation Mr. Cobbs furnished money, evidenced by interest bearing notes, and signed by Mr. Cobbs personally. The testimony is to the effect that Mr. Cobbs loaned approximately $41,000 to the defendant company during the period in question.

In the early part of June, 1960, Mr. Cobbs, as President, called Bell and Coleman into his office for an informal meeting. At that time he asked both Coleman and Bell to surrender their stock to him. However, Coleman refused to do so. Cobbs gave as his reasons for wanting the stock that the business was not making money and that he had to have all of the stock in the corporation for the purpose of financing the corporation. That is, that he could no longer borrow on his name as he had his personal property mortgaged as much as the banks would allow, and he was being pressed for and needed money. On June 24, 1960, Cobbs again called Bell and Coleman into his office and another informal *314 meeting was held. Minutes of this meeting were kept and they show that all informalities were waived. The minutes show that it was moved and seconded that the stockholders take up their subscriptions and that if any stockholder did not pay the amount required to perfect his stock subscription, the stock would be sold to others. The Articles of Incorporation show that Cobbs had subscribed to forty shares; Coleman to forty shares; and Bell to twenty shares. The Articles further show that Cobbs had paid for four shares; Coleman, four shares; and Bell two shares. These minutes also show that seven days notice (as required by the Articles of Incorporation) was to be given to Cobbs, Coleman and Bell to purchase the remainder of their stock subscription. In order to complete the purchase of subscribed-to shares Cobbs had to purchase 36 shares at a cost of $3,600; Coleman 36 shares at a cost of $3,600; and Bell 18 shares at a cost of $1,800. The minutes also show that it was resolved, that since it was necessary to have more funds, that seven days notice be given to purchase and pay for another stock issue, to be issued proportionately to preemptive rights and that for stock not purchased during this seven days, any stockholder or other person would be permitted to purchase the stock. (See LSA-R.S. 12:28.) The offer was that Cobbs was to purchase an additional sixty shares, at a cost of $6,000; Coleman, sixty shares at a cost of $6,000; and Bell, thirty shares at a cost of $3,000. The notice, per the Articles of Incorporation, was duly sent and received. On July 16, another meeting was called by President Cobbs at which the result of the notices (sent out pursuant to the resolution of the corporation at the meeting of June 24, 1960) were tabulated. Coleman received no notice of this meeting. At this meeting Cobbs purchased the thirty-six shares of stock to complete his original stock subscription, and the additional sixty shares; said purchase was evidenced on the books of the corporation as a credit on the indebtedness of the corporation to Cobbs. Coleman, who had been notified to take up the stock subscription and to purchase the extra shares to be issued failed to appear at the meeting, and/or to accept the terms and provisions of his signed subscription. At this meeting it was moved and seconded that Nettie Knippers Cobbs be allowed to purchase his (Coleman's) thirty-six shares originally subscribed to by him, and the prorata amount of sixty shares additionally offered to him for the sum of $9,600. This purchase was also to be evidenced on the books of the corporation as a credit on the indebtedness of the corporation to Cobbs. Bell exercised his subscription pledge and purchased the eighteen subscribed-to shares and the additional thirty shares; this purchase was evidenced on the books of the corporation as a credit on the indebtedness of the corporation to Cobbs. At this meeting, Cobbs was also authorized to borrow whatever funds were needed to keep the corporation solvent and to pledge the assets of the corporation; if Cobbs had to personally warrant money borrowed, the corporation agreed to reimburse Cobbs for any amounts and warrants paid by him.

On July 19, 1960, another meeting of the corporation was held. Coleman was not notified of this meeting. This meeting was called to discuss finances, additional financing, and the issuance of stock per the Articles of Incorporation, and subsequent stock subscriptions and to amend the original Articles of Incorporation. At this meeting a motion was passed to amend the Articles of Incorporation for the purpose of dropping Coleman as agent for service of process; to change the capitalization of the corporation to $25,000; to name the new directors and their terms of office; to add a provision that stockholders could express themselves by majority vote, and to list the total stockholders as of that date.

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Bluebook (online)
129 So. 2d 311, 1961 La. App. LEXIS 2089, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/coleman-v-la-salle-creosoting-company-lactapp-1961.