Doolittle v. Morley

292 P.2d 476, 77 Idaho 366, 1956 Ida. LEXIS 308
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 13, 1956
Docket8260
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 292 P.2d 476 (Doolittle v. Morley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Doolittle v. Morley, 292 P.2d 476, 77 Idaho 366, 1956 Ida. LEXIS 308 (Idaho 1956).

Opinion

SMITH, Justice.

Respondents (with later substitutions, Doolittle v. Morley, 76 Idaho 138, 278 P.2d 998) commenced this action as provided by I.C., sec. 30-137 against appellants for summary judicial review and confirmation of an alleged corporate election of directors, of respondent Rathdrum State Bank.

Respondents contend that such election was legally accomplished at a special meeting of the stockholders of respondent bank held September 16, 1954. Respondent and shareholder Byrne noticed such special meeting to be held for certain purposes including “to consider and act upon the proposal to remove the present board of directors of this Corporation, and to elect a new Board of Directors in case the present board is removed.” The record of the proceedings had at that meeting reflect the-vote for removal of appellants and others,, and election of the hereinafter named respondents, as directors. This litigation resulted when appellants refused to deliver the properties of respondent bank to the allegedly newly elected directors.

*369 Appellants by their answer deny the legality of the action taken at such special meeting of shareholders, designed to remove the directors in office and to elect new directors.

The trial court’s resulting judgment and decree made November 8, 1954, confirmed such election; decreed that appellants and others were removed as directors and respondents Byrne, Doolittle, Bradbury and Faubion, Jr., were duly elected as directors, but since Byrne had resigned as an elected director, that respondents Doolittle, Bradbury and Faubion, Jr., were directors so elected.

The appeal from the trial court’s decree, and appellants’ assignments of error are designed to test the legality of such election. Appellants contend that the trial court erroneously ruled that Idaho’s general corporation laws, I.C., Title 30, governed the proceeding, i.e., removal of the directors in office and election of directors in their stead. The rulings of the trial court which raise this question read as follows:

“That the statutory provision of removal of directors of a state bank under Section 26-407, Idaho Code, is not an exclusive method.
“That Section 26-214, Idaho Code, with respect to the application of the general corporation laws of the State of Idaho to banks and banking is applicable and particularly Section 30-139, Idaho Code, paragraph 4, providing for the removal of a director by two-thirds vote of the stockholders at a special meeting for that purpose. The proceedings held herein were in conformity with that applicable law.”

I.C. sec. 26-407, a part of the Bank Act, I.C.; Title 26, reads:

“Any director, officer or employee of any bank found by the commissioner to be negligent, dishonest, reckless or incompetent, shall be removed from office by the board of directors of such bank on the written order of the commissioner, and if the directors neglect or refuse to remove such director, officer, or employee, in event any losses accrue to such bank thereafter by reason of the negligence, dishonesty, recklessness or incompetency of such director, officer or employee, such written order of the commissioner shall be deemed to be conclusive evidence of the negligence of the directors failing to act upon the same as herein provided in any action brought against them, or any of them, for recovery of such losses.”

The powers of inspection and supervision of such institutions are legislatively delegated to the Commissioner of Finance of the State of Idaho by said Act. Lloyd v. Diefendorf, 54 Idaho 607, 34 P.2d 53. The quoted statutory provision, while *370 in -aid of those delegated powers, does not clothe the Commissioner with the absolute power to remove a bank director, officer or employee for cause; for even though the Commissioner may have issued his written order of removal, the bank’s board of directors, under penalty of civil liability for losses, may refuse to heed the Commissioner’s order. Further, no power of removal by the Commissioner is to be found in the general corporation laws of this state.

The internal affairs of a banking institution may properly call for the removal of a director; but since that power is not vested in the Commissioner, is it vested in the bank’s corporate structure? In order to answer that question we must examine both the Bank Act and the general corporation laws. The Bank Act does not within itself provide for removal of a bank director. However, the Act does not purport to be a body of corporate law complete within itself relating to the corporate structures and corporate powers of banking institutions, for I.C. sec. 26-214 of the Act reads:

“Except as otherwise provided herein, the general corporation laws of this state shall apply to all corporations organized and operating under this act.”

I.C. sec. 30-139, subd. 4, a part of the Business Corporation.Act, reads:

“A director may. be removed'by two? .thirds-vote of the. shareholders,or members at a special meeting for that purpose called in the manner provided in subdivision 2 of section 30-133.” .

The Bank Act provides that the articles of incorporation of a banking corporation shall conform to the requirements of the general corporation laws, except as otherwise provided in the Bank Act. Such Act does not contain provisions relating to special meetings of shareholders of a banking corporation. Articles of incorporation of such a corporation and amendments thereof must be approved by the Commissioner of Finance of the State of Idaho; before certain required filings of record are made. I.C. secs. 26-203 and 26-204. The Eighth Article of respondent bank’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended and approved by the Commissioner, contains provisions relating to special meetings of the shareholders, as follows:

“Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, special meetings of the stockholders may be called for any. purpose at any time by the Board of Directors or by the holders of at least 10% of the then outstanding shares of any class. Every such special meeting shall be called by mailing, not less than ten days before the time fixed for the meeting, to all shareholders of record .entitled,to act and vote at such meeting, at their- respective addresses as shown on the books of the Corporation, a notice stating the purpose of the meeting. *371 Such notice may be waived in writing. Provided, however, that the stock of the Corporation may not be increased except at a meeting of shareholders held after at least thirty days notice.”

The pertinent portions of I.C. sec. 30-133, subd. 2, a part of the Business Corporation Act, provide:

“Special meetings of the shareholders may be called at any time by the board of directors.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Gillihan v. Gump
99 P.3d 1083 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 2003)
State ex rel. Higginson v. United States
912 P.2d 614 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1995)
In Re Srba Case No. 39576
912 P.2d 614 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1995)
George W. Watkins Family v. Messenger
797 P.2d 1385 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1990)
Brown's Tie & Lumber Co. v. Chicago Title Co. of Idaho
764 P.2d 423 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1988)
Byrne v. Morley
299 P.2d 758 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1956)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
292 P.2d 476, 77 Idaho 366, 1956 Ida. LEXIS 308, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/doolittle-v-morley-idaho-1956.