Herriges v. Doloras Cigar Co.

8 La. App. 215, 1927 La. App. LEXIS 668
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedNovember 14, 1927
DocketNo. 9782
StatusPublished

This text of 8 La. App. 215 (Herriges v. Doloras Cigar Co.) 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
Herriges v. Doloras Cigar Co., 8 La. App. 215, 1927 La. App. LEXIS 668 (La. Ct. App. 1927).

Opinions

OPINION

JONES, J.

In this case plaintiff, on April 7, 1923, sued defendant, a Louisiana corporation, alleging it was indebted to her in the sum of One hundred twenty-one and 50-100 ($121.50) Dollars for money loaned with legal interest from October 15, 1922, until paid. She attached to and made part of her petition a resolution of the board of directors acknowledging inability of the corporation to pay its indebtedness and a statement showing the assets and liabilities of said corporation. The Court, upon said showing, ordered the corporation to show cause why a receiver should not be appointed.

On the same day defendant appeared' through its President in court and filed an answer admitting the facts set forth in the petition and in the resolution which was attached to and made part of the petition of plaintiff in these proceedings.

[216]*216Thereupon, the Court, on April 7, 1923, appointed Madison T. Woodward, receiver, and required . a bond of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) Dollars.

On April 12, 1923, an order was signed by the Court directing an inventory to be taken.

On April 25, 1923, Madison T. Woodward, having complied with the requirements of law as receiver, petitioned the Court to adjust certain claims with the creditors of said corporation, which petition being unopposed after having remained placed on the order book for the required length of time was duly approved by the Judge.

On April 26, 1923, the receiver had homologated the inventory taken in said proceedings, which showed the assets, appraised at Fifteen hundred twenty-three and 20-100 ($1523.20) Dollars.

On May 9, 1923, the Phoenix Box Manufacturing Company, Ltd., filed a petition of intervention, and third opposition, alleging that the Doloras Cigar Company, Incorporated, and Frank D. Franklin, M. Truman Woodward and Emilie L. Suarez, individually and solidarily, were indebted to it in the sum of One hundred eighty-three and 45-100 ($183.45) Dollars as a balance due for boxes sold and delivered to defendant.

This petition also contained the following allegations:

(1) Capital stock of corporation was never fully subscribed or paid for.

(2) Corporation began business before fifty per cent of capital stock subscribed had been actually paid for and contracted debts for more than twice amount of paid up capital.

(3)That Mrs. Suarez was not a creditor and her appointment as receiver was null, because corporation had not been legally cited and was never legally incorporated.

Intervenor then prayed for citation on the corporation, on Franklin, on Suarez and on Woodward, individually and as receiver; that the judgment appointing receiver be set aside and there be judgment in her favor and against the corporation and all three members thereof severally and in solido.

To this petition an exception of no cause of action was filed and overruled on July 25, 1923.

On July 31, 1923, receiver filed his quarterly account showing net profit for three months ending July 16, 1923, amounting to Eight hundred eight and 11-100 ($808.11) Dollars.

On October 13, 1923, the corporation filed an answer admitting the claim of intervenor, but denying the other allegations. On the same day each of the incorporators filed answers averring that corporation was legally incorporated and receiver duly appointed, because Mrs. Suarez was a bona fide creditor in the amount claimed in her original petition.

On November 12, 1923, the receiver prayed for permission to sell the assets as business was not proving profitable and the petition being unopposed after having been upon the order book ten days, the Court, on November 27, ordered the assets sold at public auction.

On February 18, 1924, receiver petitioned this Court for permission to sell assets at private sale for One hundred fifty ($150.00) Dollars, as no bid had been made at public auction. Again after placing petition on order book, waiting ten [217]*217days for opposition in vain, the Court ordered assets sold at private sale for One hundred fifty ($150.00) Dollars and' sale was made accordingly.

On November 24, 1924, receiver filed his final account showing the following:

Cash balance on hand ----------------- $229.38
Privileged claims _____________________________ 353.90
Old accounts receivable ------------------- 378.30
Total ordinary claims _____________________ 6812.42

Among the ordinary creditors are listed the Phoenix Box Co. for One hundred eighty-three and 45-100 ($183.45) Dollars and Mrs. Suarez for One hundred twenty-one and 50-100 ($121.50) Dollars.

To this account two oppositions were filed, one by the City for licenses ' and taxes and one by intervenor herein. On January 25, 1925, account was approved so far as not opposed, but no distribution of funds has been made.

Meanwhile, this intervention was tried and on July 9, 1924, there was judgment dismissing the petition and intervenor has appealed.

Intervenor has never insisted on his objection to the citations and to practice followed in appointing the receiver, for the record shows these objections have no merit whatever.

The contention that Mrs. Suarez was not a creditor is refuted by the fact that the corporation in its answer admits the indebtedness.

In this Court earnest contention. is made that incorporators are individually liable because the so-called corporation failed to comply with Act 267 of 1914, the general corporation statute in following particulars:

(1) It did not record in the Mortgage Office a list of the assets delivered to the new company by the old partnership for which seventy shares of stock was issued in violation of Section 3.

(2) Fifty per cent of stock subscribed was not paid in before it began business and it incurred liabilities greater than the amount paid in violation of Paragraph C, Section 2.

It is further contended that subscribers are personally liable to unpaid creditors' in an ■ amount equal to unpaid balance on the stock under Section 12 and these three directors are severally liable for failing to make proper reports to Secretary of State in further violation of Paragraph C, Section 2.

The record shows the following facts:

Doloras Cigar Company was incorporated on January 19, 1922, by act before W. M. Gurley, notary public, and charter was recorded in Mortgage Office on January 30, 1922. Capital stock was fixed at Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars, represented by One hundred shares of One hundred ($100.00) Dollars par value.

Frank D. Franklin signed for thirty-three shares.

W. T. Woodward signed for ten shares. Emile L. Suarez signed for thirty-two shares.

Woodward paid Five hundred ($500.00) Dollars cash and got his friend, Boswell, to pay Five hundred ($500.00) Dollars for him.

These three subscribers were declared the directors and officers, Woodward being president; Suarez, vice-president, and Franklin, secretary.

On February 1, 1922, the directors voted that the corporation purchase from Franklin and Suarez for seven thousand ($7,000.00) [218]

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8 La. App. 215, 1927 La. App. LEXIS 668, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/herriges-v-doloras-cigar-co-lactapp-1927.