Fuselier v. Hudson

93 So. 2d 266
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedFebruary 4, 1957
Docket4346
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 93 So. 2d 266 (Fuselier v. Hudson) 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
Fuselier v. Hudson, 93 So. 2d 266 (La. Ct. App. 1957).

Opinion

93 So.2d 266 (1957)

Wheeler FUSELIER
v.
Sam HUDSON.

No. 4346.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, First Circuit.

February 4, 1957.
Rehearing Denied March 25, 1957.

C. W. Berry, Jr., Oakdale, for appellant.

Alva Jones, Oakdale, for appellee.

LOTTINGER, Judge.

The trial judge rendered written reasons for judgment in this matter which we herewith set out in full:

*267 "This is a suit by Wheeler Fuselier against Sam Hudson for $400.00, the par value of 16 shares of preferred nonvoting stock in the Oakdale co-operative Dairies, Inc. of Oakdale, Louisiana. The defendant purchased the assets of the corporation by deed dated January 22, 1952 and recorded May 20, 1952, which deed was executed by a liquidator of the corporation. The deed which is in evidence as Exhibit P-3 states that the sale was made and accepted in consideration of $14,850.00 the balance due on two mortgages which were assumed by Sam Hudson.

"Practically all the testimony was introduced for the apparent purpose of showing that the defendant had agreed to pay the preferred shareholders as a part of the consideration for the assets of the corporation. Defendant objected to the introduction of any evidence to alter the terms of the contract of sale above referred to and all of the testimony was introduced over his objection. This constitutes one of the defendant's primary defenses, his argument being that the deed was given by a liquidator of the corporation; that there is no allegation nor was there any proof that the liquidator intended to have the preferred stockholders paid for their stock. The court concluded that the parol evidence was admissible under the rule cited by plaintiff's counsel which holds that a parol agreement which does not contradict the writing, but merely covers an additional and collateral undertaking is admissible. Dwight v. Linton, 3 Rob. 57; New Orleans & Carrollton Railroad Co. v. Darms, 39 [La.] Ann. 766, 2 So. 230; McConnell v. Harris Chevrolet Co., Inc. [La.App.], 147 So. 827; and Brandin Slate Co. v. Fornea [La. App.], 183 So. [572], 573. There is also a rule of law providing that the real and true consideration for a sale may always be shown where a consideration is expressed, even though the consideration may be different from that expressed in the deed. Morris v. Monroe Sand & Gravel Co., 166 La. [656], 659, 117 So. 763; Queensborough Land Co. v. Cazeau [x], 136 La. [724], 734, 67 So. 641; Ruston Brick Works v. Heard [La.App.], 177 So. 494; Dartez v. Meaux [La.App.], 44 So.2d 146, [147].

"Defense counsel further urged that [LSA-] Revised Civil Code Article 2278 which prohibits parol evidence for the purpose of providing any promise to pay the debt of a third person is here applicable. However, this article is inapplicable where the promisor has a material interest in making the promise, and receives consideration therefor. In such an instance the promisor binds himself to pay the debt, making his own obligation the primary obligation. Coreil v. Vidrine, 188 La. 343, 177 So. 233; Collier v. Brown, 19 La. App. 567, 141 So. 405; Wallenburg v. Kerry, 16 La.App. 221, 133 So. 823.

"At the time when the defendant was negotiating for the purchase of the corporation's assets the corporation was facing liquidation. It could not obtain enough business to pay its overhead and certainly was unable to take care of the mortgage notes on its indebtedness which totaled approximately $15,000.00. However, the corporation had valuable assets as is revealed by the testimony of its president that it had received an offer of $25,000.00 from a large dairy concern in another city.
"Under these circumstances on November 10, 1951, the Board of Directors of the Corporation leased the plant and facilities to the defendant with the plan that a sale would be consummated within six months. At 7:30 P.M. on December 10, 1951, a meeting was held in a restaurant in the City of Oakdale *268 to which all the preferred stockholders were invited.
"Mr. Hudson, the defendant, Mr. C. W. Berry, Jr., Mr. Alex L. Stevens, Mr. J. M. Johnson, Mr. Sullivan Aguillard, Mr. J. J. Brooks, Jr. and other preferred stockholders attended this December 10, 1951 meeting which was presided over by Mr. Wesley Dyer, president of the Co-op. The plaintiff, Mr. Wheeler Fuselier, did not attend, however, he talked to the defendant immediately following the meeting as defendant was leaving the restaurant.
"Mr. Sam Hudson, the defendant, testified that it is his recollection that at this meeting he offered to pay the preferred stockholders 50¢ on the dollar if they would present their certificates to him within one year from the date of the meeting. If the preferred stockholders were willing to let Mr. Hudson have the use of their money he would pay them 100% of their investment plus 2% interest after both mortgages were retired and only in the event that the business was making money. In other words, it was Mr. Hudson's position that the preferred stockholders could take 50% cash or if they elected to gamble on the success or failure of the business, they would receive 100% of their investment plus 2% interest if the business was successful and nothing if the business was a failure. Mr. Hudson's position is that the business was a failure; that the plaintiff did not submit his stock certificates for cancellation at 50¢ on the dollar on or before December 10, 1952; that, therefore, defendant is not indebted to the plaintiff.
"Mr. Alex L. Stevens testifying on behalf of the plaintiff, stated that he owned some of the corporation's preferred stock; that he had never been paid for said shares; that he made some memorandums during the meeting of December 10, 1951; that it was his impression that if the stockholders did not desire to accept 50¢ on the dollar in full payment for their certificates, that the stockholder would receive 100% of his investment plus 2% interest within two or three years after the outstanding mortgages were retired; that this amount would be due regardless of the success or failure of the business.
"Mr. Wheeler Fuselier testified that he talked to the defendant immediately following the meeting of December 10, 1951; that at that time plaintiff told defendant that he would not sell his stock at 50¢ on the dollar; that Mr. Hudson told him that he would receive an interest bearing note for the stock; that he has never offered to surrender his stock at 50¢ on the dollar.
"Mr. Wesley Dyer testifying on behalf of plaintiff, stated that he was president of the corporation and presided over the meeting of December 10, 1951; that
"`Mr. Hudson agreed to pay fifty cents on the dollar then for stock—for these certificates, or if the people that held these certificates or the bidders then or who ever it was held them— held these certificates wanted to let him continue using their money, that he would give them a note and pay them two percent interest until he could pay them for their stock.
"`Q. And was the note to be the fifty percent of the stock or the face value? A. No, it was to be for the face value.'
"That he received cattle from defendant in payment for his $1100.00 worth of preferred stock; that in his opinion the cattle were worth $1100.00. When being cross-examined by counsel for defendant, Mr. Dyer testified as follow?:
*269 "`Q. Now, think back, Mr.

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93 So. 2d 266, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fuselier-v-hudson-lactapp-1957.