Grausman v. Porto Rican-American Tobacco Co.

122 A. 815, 95 N.J. Eq. 223, 10 Stock. 223, 1923 N.J. LEXIS 724

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: November 19, 1923
• Status: Published

Opinions

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Kalisci-i, J.

The bills filed by the complainants in this ease in the court below sought to enjoin the Porto Rican-American Tobacco Company from submitting to a stockholders’ meeting and for the action of the stockholders thereon a certain resolution of the directors dated May 10th, 1923, providing for an amendment to the certificate of incorporation in the respects set out in the resolution, and which amendment the complainants complain threatens to impair their vested rights, as owners of stock of the corporation.

A rule to show cause why a preliminary injunction should not be granted, together with a temporary restraining order, was allowed in the court below and the matter came up for a hearing, on the verified bills' of complaint and answering affidavits, before Vice-Chancellor Bentlejr, who entered upon a consideration of the merits, dissolved the restraining orders and refused a preliminary injunction, from which orders the complainants appealed.

The facts and the reasons for refusing the preliminary injunction are set out in the opinion of the vice-chancellor. Although we arrived at the same result that he did we do not base our action upon the views expressed by him in his opinion, which views are predicated upon a consideration of the meritorious question which in our opinion was not properly before him for decision. We therefore refrain from expressing an opinion upon the merits. We think the intervention of the court of chancery was prematurely sought. We turn to the resolution adopted by the directors of the respondent company and we find that after setting forth the plan and details of the proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation the resolution makes a condition precedent to the plan going into effect that a special meeting of the stockholders be called, for the -purpose of considering and talcing action on the resolution for the amendment and increase of capitalization of the certificate of incorporation, and that due notice of such meeting be given, and that upon obtaining the assent in writing and approving vote of the stockholders of the company, as required by law, the certificate of incorporation be amended and the board of directors be authorized and empowered to issue stock as hereinabove provided, and that in the event of the certificate of incorporation being amended and the capital stock of the corporation increased, &c., the board of directors snail take such steps, &e.

A fair reading of the resolution makes it quite plain that it lacked the essential element of such finality that one could properly say that there was imminent peril confronting the complaining stockholders of their suffering irreparable injury. For, in the first place, a meeting of all the stockholders was to be hold for the purpose of considering and taking action on the proposed plan. Secondly, that only upon obtaining the assent in writing and approving vote of the stockholders of the company, as required by law, was the plan to become effective.

Now, it is difficult to perceive how can it be said with any degree of reasonable certainty that after a consideration by the stockholders of the proposed plan at the meeting, that is, after having discussed it, that it would be adopted. It may be rejected. Those who had given their prbxies, in advance, committing themselves to the plan as proposed may change their minds before the meeting takes place and revoke their proxies. The complainants themselves may change their attitude towards the adoption of the scheme, after the matter has been thoroughly discussed at the meeting, or they may effect a change therein so as to meet their views. That such a course is within the range of probability' was significantly exemplified when, at the argument before us, it was announced by counsel of complainants that several of the latter had withdrawn from any further contest.

If the resolution of the board of directors had not contemplated prospective intervening acts of approval and satisfaction on the part of the stockholders, before the resolution was to become a finality, namely, that the proposed plan should be considered and approved by them according to law, or if, upon the fact of the resolution, it appeared that it contení plated the commission of a fraud upon a statute of this state, as was the situation in Riker & Son Co. v. United Drug Co., 79 N. J. Eq. 580; then, of course, a sufficient basis would have existed for the interference of a court of equity.

In the present case the resolution expressly provides that the plan should be considered and approved by the stockholders of the company according to law, and we must, therefore, assume, in the absence of anything to the contrary, that it is the intention of the board of directors to comply with the statute and the law as declared by this court, regulating the matter, and to properly protect the vested rights of stockholders.

If there are any cases in our reports where the court of chancery had entertained jurisdiction in this class of cases before there was final action of the corporation (cases of fraud excepted), and such cases were heard, on appeal, by this court without comment by it on the propriety of bringing the suit, it is quite likely that the absence of any comment or action by this court was 'due to the fact that the question was not stirred by counsel or the immaturity of the cause escaped the observation of the court.

While it is true that counsel in the present case have not objected to the progress of the suit by the complainants herein, the court on its own motion is induced, to take notice of the situation and to take action thereon, because it thinks it highly imprudent and unwise to decide questions of law postulated upon anticipatory acts of the corporation, which acts may never take place.

The function of the court is to apply legal principles to the facts as they exist and are before it, and not to. anticipatory facts, which may or may not come into being; for if this were otherwise a court would constitute itself, virtualty, as advisory counsel in the cause before it, and in consequence destroy the value and stability of its decisions.

Therefore, upon the ground that the bills of complaint were prematurely filed, the order in each case denying a preliminary injunction is affirmed, with a direction t.o the court below that the bills of complaint be dismissed without prejudice.