Henderson v. Tillamook Hotel Co.

148 P. 57, 76 Or. 379, 1915 Ore. LEXIS 289
CourtOregon Supreme Court
DecidedApril 27, 1915
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 148 P. 57 (Henderson v. Tillamook Hotel Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Oregon Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Henderson v. Tillamook Hotel Co., 148 P. 57, 76 Or. 379, 1915 Ore. LEXIS 289 (Or. 1915).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Harris

delivered the opinion of the court.

It is claimed that the circuit judge was disqualified, and that he should have declined to preside at the trial. In support of their contention the defendants point to the fact that on January 22, 1914, they filed a motion to secure a ruling on the alleged disqualification of the presiding judge; the motion being accompanied by affidavits to the effect that he was a party in interest. It appears from the record that the trial judge had subscribed for one share of the capital stock of the defendant corporation; that his subscription had not been fully paid; and that on January 14, 1914, two [386]*386days before tbe commencement of tbe suit, he sold all bis interest in tbe stock subscription to tbe plaintiff, Henderson, wbo on January 21st following paid to tbe company tbe balance due on tbe subscription.

1. Being a suit in equity, tbis cause is tried de novo in tbis court on the entire record as made by tbe parties in tbe nisi prius court. Tbe litigated questions are decided here on tbe facts as we learn them from tbe evidence and tbe admissions made in tbe pleadings. Tbe question of tbe alleged disqualification of tbe circuit judge is neither a persuasive nor a determinative factor in tbe conclusion to be reached by tbis court on tbe merits of tbe dispute between tbe plaintiff and tbe defendants. The appellate tribunal is not prevented from deciding tbis cause on tbe record brought here, even though it be conceded that tbe circuit judge was disqualified.

2. While tbe objection raised by tbe defendants is not an element of tbe case calling for decision here, we note, however, in passing, that although a technical disqualification was not shown to exist within tbe contemplation of Section 956, L. O. L., because all right to tbe share of stock subscribed for bad passed to tbe bands of another person, wbo bad paid tbe balance due on tbe stock subscription at tbe time of filing tbe motion, nevertheless, under tbe circumstances, it would have been more in keeping with prudence and a fine sense of impartiality if tbe presiding judge bad declined to try tbe suit.

3. Tbe defendants complain because an injunction was issued without an undertaking being given or required. Neither tbe restraining order made on January 16, 1914, nor tbe one issued on January 22d provided for tbe giving of an undertaking, and none was required until February 10th. Even though tbe re[387]*387straining order was made by the judge, upon his own motion, as stated in the order dated February 10,1914, nevertheless the statute required the giving of an undertaking. We read in Section 417, L. O. L., that:

“An injunction may be allowed by the court, or judge thereof, at any time after the commencement of the suit and before decree. Before allowing the same, the court or judge shall require of the plaintiff an undertaking, with one or more sureties.”

The terms of the statute are imperative, and command the court or judge to require an undertaking before allowing an injunction pendente lite.

4. The appointment of a receiver made by the court on May 5, 1914, is questioned by defendants. The record discloses that on January 17, 1914, the plaintiff filed a motion for the appointment of a receiver. The motion and the accompanying affidavits were served on the individual defendants on January 17th., together with a notice that the motion would be presented on January 20th. From all that appears in the record the application for a receiver was not presented on the date designated, and the next step seems to have been taken on January 22d, when defendants filed affidavits in support of their claim that the presiding judge was disqualified. A restraining order was issued, and the accountants were appointed on January 22d. On January 27th an order was made directing the defendants to pay the accountants, and, if need be, to borrow money to make such payments. The defendants on February 7th moved to dissolve the restraining orders, and thereafter, on February 10th, the plaintiff was directed to file an undertaking in the sum of $500 on account of the issuance of the injunction. Not having paid the accountants, an order was made by the court on May 1st, commanding the defend[388]*388ants forthwith to procure funds by loan or otherwise and deposit the same with the clerk of the court for the use and benefit of the accountants. The defendants having refused to comply with the last-mentioned order, the court, on May 5th, appointed a receiver. It clearly appears from all that transpired and from the recitals contained in the different orders that the appointment was prompted by the refusal of the defendants to pay the accountants, and that this was the controlling feature causing the appointment. The affairs of the Tillamook Hotel Company on May 5th were not in a worse condition than on January 22d. The refusal of the defendants to pay the accountants in obedience to the orders of the court did not furnish ground for a receivership. Under all the circumstances, as we read the history of the litigation, a receiver should not have been appointed. It is proper to add, however, that from a careful examination of the record we find that the appointment of the accountants was made under conditions which warrant the conclusion that both plaintiff and defendants sanctioned the selection of the accountants and approved the amount of the compensation fixed by the court; and, in view of the circumstances stated, the corporation should have paid Gaylord and Carlton.

5. The main grievance of plaintiff is that P. J. Worrall, by reason of his conduct, has acquired the reputation of being a quarrelsome, dangerous and disagreeable man, and, on account thereof, the hotel lost much patronage. We gather from the evidence that the hotel in question is better furnished and'equipped than any other one in Tillamook. If any loss of patronage could properly be traced to Worrall, at least some information would be afforded by the hotel register. The company commenced business July 18, 1913, and the [389]*389number of guests registering during that month was 142, qnd during the subsequent months as follows: August, 815; September, 377; October, 382; November, 444; December, 320; January, 90; February, 298; March, 363; April, 357; and the first four days in May, 35. Nearly all the persons who registered were assigned rooms, but some guests took meals only. It will be observed that, with the exception of August and January, the patronage was practically the same. The business done in January is accounted for by the fact that the train service was tied up nearly all of that month. No doubt, Worrall’s conduct, which was not at all times exemplary, gave rise to some discussion, but the conditions are not sufficiently grave to warrant the court in removing him from the management of the business, especially in view of the fact that Worrall and his wife have invested $17,100 of their money in the property, and have loaned the corporation the additional sum of $6,500. The evidence does not warrant the claim that P. J. Worrall is seeking by fraudulent or other means to depreciate the value of the stock. Although books of account were not kept with as much care and completeness as might be desired, still the plan employed afforded means of knowing how much was received from the dining-room, the rooms and the bar; and the disbursements were evidenced by checks.

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Bluebook (online)
148 P. 57, 76 Or. 379, 1915 Ore. LEXIS 289, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/henderson-v-tillamook-hotel-co-or-1915.