Ensley Bank & Trust Co. v. United States

61 F. Supp. 317, 33 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 1592, 1945 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2172
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Alabama
DecidedApril 17, 1945
DocketNo. 5171
StatusPublished

This text of 61 F. Supp. 317 (Ensley Bank & Trust Co. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ensley Bank & Trust Co. v. United States, 61 F. Supp. 317, 33 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 1592, 1945 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2172 (N.D. Ala. 1945).

Opinion

MULLINS, District Judge.

This cause came on to be tried upon the facts by this Court without a jury and up[318]*318on consideration and pursuant to Rule 52, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, 28 U.S. C.A. following section 723c, the Court finds the facts specially and states its conclusions of law thereon with direction for the entry of the appropriate judgment as set forth below:

Findings of Fact

1. This is a civil action under the Tucker Act by Ensley.Bank & Trust Company, a dissolved corporation, against the United States for the recovery of $4,587.65, plus interest, federal income and excess profits taxes for the years 1933 and 1934.

2. Plaintiff was duly incorporated under the laws of Alabama, as the Bank of Alabama, on August 14, 1906, for the purposes of engaging in the General banking business in the Ensley District of Birmingham, Alabama. The banks in that district depended largely on the steel business and suffered seriously from the 1929 depression. As a result of this situation the Bank of Alabama was compelled to discontinue its operations and began liquidating its affairs in 1930. In December, 1930, the Bank of Alabama sold its assets to the Ensley National Bank of Birmingham Alabama, the Ensley National Bank assuming the liabilities of said Bank of Alabama.

3. In 1932, on account of further adverse conditions it became apparent the Ensley National Bank could no longer safely conduct a banking business and its business and affairs were liquidated in the following manner:

The Ensley National Bank obtained authority from its stockholders for a voluntary liquidation of its affairs. On July 16, 1932, the First National Company of Birmingham, Alabama, an affiliate of the First National Bank, Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham Trust and Savings Company organized the Western Holding Company, Inc., and loaned money to that corporation with which money Western Holding Company, Inc., purchased all except the directors’ qualifying shares of stock of the Bank of Alabama. On July 18, 1932, the Ensley National Bank by written contract appointed the Bank of Alabama as its liquidating agent or trustee. On October 4, 1932, the name of the Bank of Alabama was changed to Ensley Bank & Trust Company. The Bank of Alabama continued as a legal corporation under the name of the Bank of Alabama and Ensley Bank & Trust Company (hereinafter called plaintiff) from August 14, 1906, to September 30, 1935. On September 30, 1935, plaintiff was duly dissolved under and pursuant to the laws of Alabama. Plaintiff existed as a legal corporation from September 30, 1935, to September 30, 1940, under the provisions of Section 7069, Code of Alabama 1923, Code 1940, Tit. 10, § 110, and pursuant to a decree entered in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama, on May 17, 1940, and pursuant to Section 7069, Code of Alabama 1923, plaintiff’s corporate existence was extended for a period of five years from September 30, 1940. During all times mentioned herein the principal place of business of the plaintiff was located at Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama.

4. From and after July 19, 1932, and throughout the years 1933 and 1934, and subsequent thereto, plaintiff engaged in the general banking business in that part of the City of Birmingham, Alabama, known as Ensley. The First National Bank of Birmingham, and the Birmingham Trust & Savings Bank were both engaged in the general banking business in the downtown section of Birmingham, Alabama. The First National Company of Birmingham, an affiliate of the First National Bank of Birmingham, and the Birmingham Trust & Savings Bank in an effort to save the banking business in Birmingham from the catastrophe anticipated on account of the failure of the Ensley National Bank caused and induced the plaintiff to enter into and execute with said Ensley National Bank on July 18, 1932, a written contract. On February 1, 1933, plaintiff and Ensley National Bank executed a completed contract.

5. The contract between plaintiff and Ensley National Bank contained the following pertinent provisions effective as at the beginning of business on June 19, 1932. Ensley National Bank appointed plaintiff as its liquidating agent, plaintiff agreeing to assume and pay off and discharge on demand all of the debts, liabilities, commitments and obligations of National Bank, direct or contingent with certain specified exceptions not here material. The National Bank agreed to pay plaintiff the amounts of liabilities, indebtedness, commitments and obligations of said Ensley National Bank “hereby or hereafter” assumed by plaintiff and in addition to pay plaintiff as compensation for its services under the contract or as interest on the amount of the indebtedness (at the election of plaintiff from time to time) an amount equal to [319]*3198% per annum on the amount of the indebtedness from the effective date of the agreement. As additional compensation plaintiff was to receive an amount equivalent to one per cent on amounts not assumed which was to be paid on account of services in effecting renewals or extensions or otherwise dealing with pledged property. Plaintiff was also to receive reimbursement for its expenses, court costs and other expenses of the liquidation. The amounts of compensation or interest would be computed on the average daily balance of liabilities of Ensley National Bank not discharged by realization out of assets or property of said Ensley National Bank, and were payable monthly from the first proceeds received out of such assets or property or at the option of plaintiff could be added to the liability of Ensley National Bank to plaintiff under the contract.

The obligation of Ensley National Bank to plaintiff was to mature upon demand by plaintiff after two years of the effective date of the contract, the right being reserved to plaintiff to call on Ensley National Bank for payment when that was deemed necessary in order that suits against stockholders could be filed within the period of the statutes of limitations. Under the contract Ensley National Bank sold, assigned, transferred and set over to plaintiff its good will and banking business without consideration therefor except the execution of the original and completed contract and the commencement of the performance of duties devolved upon plaintiff under the contract. The cash and cash items were assigned to plaintiff for its use in discharging the liabilities of Ensley National Bank. The obligation of Ensley National Bank to plaintiff under the contract was secured by the transfer, conveyance, mortgage, pledge or hypothecation to plaintiff of all the assets, business and property of Ensley National Bank except the corporate franchise of Ensley National Bank and membership in the Federal Reserve System. Only cash transferred to plaintiff or realized out of the assets and property was to be considered as being in payment or discharge of the obligation arising from Ensley National Bank to plaintiff and all other transfers, conveyances, mortgages and pledges were deemed to be executed and accepted as security only for the indebtedness of Ensley National Bank to plaintiff. Plaintiff was to proceed with the liquidation as promptly as possible and apply the net proceeds of collection, etc., upon the indebtedness of Ensley National Bank to plaintiff.

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

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
61 F. Supp. 317, 33 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 1592, 1945 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2172, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ensley-bank-trust-co-v-united-states-alnd-1945.