Hough v. Speede

300 So. 2d 239, 1974 La. App. LEXIS 3359
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedSeptember 4, 1974
DocketNo. 12377
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 300 So. 2d 239 (Hough v. Speede) 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
Hough v. Speede, 300 So. 2d 239, 1974 La. App. LEXIS 3359 (La. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinion

AYRES, Judge.

This action by plaintiff, a shareholder and director of the Sibley Road Drive Inn, Inc., instituted not only in his own behalf but for and on behalf of the corporation, against the defendants, Ralph J. Speede, Leon G. Bolen, and Thomas R. Koonce, the other three shareholders and directors, arose out of certain alleged fraudulent acts and activities of defendants in the formation and conduct of the business of the corporation, which acts allegedly resulted in a personal loss to plaintiff as well as a loss to the corporation.

The losses asserted to have been sustained by plaintiff individually are itemized as $15,000.00 paid for 60 shares of the capital stock of the corporation, $1,750.00 as unpaid salary, and $30,000.00 as anticipated salary at $600.00 per month due him as manager of the business. On behalf of the corporation, it would appear that claim is asserted for either $30,000.00, as the value of the shares of stock issued to the three defendants, or for $40,000.00 in corporate funds allegedly wrongfully distributed to defendants out of a loan obtained by the corporation from Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company of Louisiana. The payments in the distribution were allegedly made for and in the personal interest of the defendants, particularly to pay indebtedness and obligations personally and individually owed by them.

For a cause of action, plaintiff alleged that defendants Speede and Bolen promoted the creation of the aforesaid corporation and conspired to acquire the ownership of two-thirds of the shares of the capital stock thereof without payment therefor; that they with defendant Koonce dis[241]*241bursed the proceeds of the aforesaid loan for their personal benefit without authorization and contrary to an understanding between them and plaintiff that the proceeds would be used to pay off an equipment lease-purchase agreement; and that plaintiff purchased one-third, or 60 shares, of the capital stock for a price of $15,000.-00 in cash on the representation of the defendants that he would have employment as manager of the business to be conducted at a salary of $600.00 per month in addition to his share of the profits and an opportunity to purchase the business out of the profits.

During the pendency of these proceedings, the defendant Speede died and his widow, as administratrix of his estate, was substituted as a party-defendant. Bolen, never served, is not a party to this action.

In answer to plaintiff’s demands, defendants denied any wrongdoing or a conspiracy on their part to defraud plaintiff, affirmatively alleged adequate payment by the three defendants for the shares of corporate stock issued to them, and asserted that plaintiff was a party to all proceedings, in which he acquiesced, and that he is thereby estopped to claim any damages as a result of the activities in which he participated.

Defendants in reconvention alleged mismanagement on the part of plaintiff as manager of the corporate business, which mismanagement allegedly resulted in ultimate failure of the enterprise. They accordingly sought damages against plaintiff to the succession of Speede in the amount of $29,170.28 and to Koonce in the sum of $9,139.72, as well as damages to the corporation in the amount of $50,000.00.

After trial, there was judgment rejecting plaintiff’s individual demands as well as those for the use and benefit of the corporation. Defendants’ reconventional demands were likewise rejected. From the judgment thus rendered and signed, plaintiff alone has appealed. Defendants neither appealed nor have they answered plaintiff’s appeal.

The facts upon which this action is predicated, briefly stated, are that Speede and Bolen, owners of a tract of land comprising 20 acres, more or less, on the Sibley highway within or near the corporate limits of the City of Minden, promoted the construction of an A. & W. restaurant or sandwich shop. On a portion of the tract adjacent to the highway, comprising an area of .64 of an acre, they proposed to erect a building for the operation of the business.

To carry out their purpose, a corporation was created with Speede as president and Bolen as secretary. The corporation had an authorized capital of 180 shares. Sixty of these shares were sold to plaintiff for $15,000.00 cash. He was employed as manager to operate the business. Speede and Bolen were scheduled to receive 120 shares, or two-thirds interest, in the corporation for providing the premises and the building to be used in the operation of the business. They contracted with defendant Koonce, an experienced contractor, to erect the building in accordance with plans furnished and required by the grantor of a franchise for its operation. Accordingly, for the construction and services rendered, Koonce was issued 40 shares of the capital stock originally allotted to Speede and Bolen and constructed the building. A franchise for the business was obtained as was the necessary equipment for its operation.

The equipment was secured on a lease-purchase agreement with Bish Leasing Company, Inc., for a total specified rental of $44,572.80, payable in 60 consecutive monthly installments of $742.88 each beginning on March 11, 1968, with the exception that the first and last four of the installments were payable in advance. The indebtedness under the lease-rental agreement was accordingly reduced to $40,858.-40.

[242]*242Plaintiff’s testimony that the loan of $40,000.00 obtained from Kilpatrick Life Insurance Company was for the purpose of paying for the equipment under the aforesaid lease-purchase agreement is not supported by other testimony. The loan, however, was expended and disbursed as follows :

Minden Bank & Trust Co. — to apply on the mortgage of Speede and Bolen covering the 20-acre tract from which the .64 of an acre was taken for the business site $15,900.00
Life and Casualty Insurance Company of Tennessee — premiums on insurance policies covering the lives of the incorporators 230.55
Thomas R. Koonce — construction costs of the building to the extent of 14,967.40
Ralph J. Speede — for filling-in and improving the lot 8,902.05

We find no merit in plaintiff’s contention that the three other defendants were issued their shares of stock without consideration or for an inadequate consideration. As noted above, Speede and Bolen provided the lot and secured construction of the building. The cost of the building was paid for by the issuance and delivery to Koonce of 40 of the 120 shares of capital stock originally allotted to Speede and Bolen. Koonce constructed the building. Thus, it must be concluded that all shares of stock were issued for an adequate consideration.

Plaintiff next complains of the alleged wrongful distribution of the proceeds of the aforementioned loan. As already noted, the distribution included $15,900.00 to the Minden Bank & Trust Co. to apply on a mortgage of Speede and Bolen covering the 20-acre tract from which the business site was taken, as well as $8,902.05 paid to Speede for reimbursement of costs in excavating, filling-in, and otherwise improving the lot. These items were alleged to have been personal obligations of Speede and Bolen. However, it must be noted that in the deed to the lot from Speede and Bolen to the Sibley Road Drive Inn Inc., it is recited that:

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Related

Fincher v. Claiborne Butane Co., Inc.
349 So. 2d 1014 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1977)
Hough v. Speede
303 So. 2d 185 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1974)

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Bluebook (online)
300 So. 2d 239, 1974 La. App. LEXIS 3359, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hough-v-speede-lactapp-1974.