Hurley v. Universal Clay Co.

213 S.W. 28, 278 Mo. 408, 1919 Mo. LEXIS 103
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedJune 3, 1919
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 213 S.W. 28 (Hurley v. Universal Clay Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hurley v. Universal Clay Co., 213 S.W. 28, 278 Mo. 408, 1919 Mo. LEXIS 103 (Mo. 1919).

Opinion

"WALKER, J.

This is an appeal from the overruling by the Circuit Court of Jackson County of a motion to set aside an order approving a receiver’s report of sale.

A suit bad been instituted in said circuit court by plaintiff as a shareholder, for the appointment of a receiver for the defendant, the Universal Clay Company. The petition alleged that the individual defendants, who were in official and actual charge and control of the property of the company, had not paid for their capital stock therein and had so wasted and mismanaged its affairs as to render the appointment of a receiver [410]*410necessary to protect the remaining assets from being dissipated and lost. The prayer asked that said der fendants be enjoined from any further participation, official or personal, in the conduct of the business or management of the property of the company, and that the receiver appointed be directed to take charge of its entire property, enforce the payment by defendants of the capital stock subscribed for by them, and for general equitable relief.

The individual defendants, answering, denied the allegation of waste and mismanagement, and declared that the stock held by them had been paid for in full; that at the time plaintiff became the owner of stock in the company, which was in 1915, two years after its organization, and at all times thereafter, he had full and complete knowledge of the organization of the company, the manner in which its stock was paid and the condition of its business and affairs; that after so acquiring.said stock plaintiff, by his attorney, inspected the stock book and minute books of the company and its articles of incorporation, and thereafter presented the certificates of stock so acquired for registry in his own name; that at the time plaintiff acquired said stock active operations at -the plant of the company had ceased; that ever since said date no action had been taken by these defendants except that which was absolutely necessary to protect and preserve the property.

These defendants further stated that the company had no money with which to operate its property or to pay its debts; that the company cannot be operated with profit in its present condition; that it has an unsecured indebtedness of approximately $71,000, on account of moneys loaned and advanced to it, in addition to a deed of trust for* the principal sum of $33,890.35, now a lien upon its property.

The defendants therefore, prayed the court to be relieved of the demands of plaintiff; that a reference be had to determine and liquidate the indebtedness of the company, and that the receiver appointed be directed [411]*411to sell the property, pay the debts, and for such other and further relief as to the court shall seem just and proper.

After a hearing on the application of the plaintiff for the appointment of a receiver, with the consent of defendants, who were all present either in person or by counsel, the application was granted and a receiver was appointed. After qualifying by giving bond as required, he was directed to take charge of the property of the company and report his proceedings to the court, and apply from time to time for such further orders and decrees as might be deemed necessary. Under this order the receiver took charge of the property, and thereafter reported, among other things necessary for the information of the court, that he had found the company’s business at a stand-still, and its plant inoperative; that it was burdened with debt, with no money on hand, and that the plant, consisting of kilns and other instrumentalities for the manufacture of fire bricks, was in a dilapidated and worn out condition, and that the implements and machinery were obsolete. That he had found the company to be wholly insolvent and unable to discharge its indebtedness; that its attempted operation would but involve it more deeply in debt and that a sale of the property, which consisted principally of a tract of land from which the clay products had been obtained, would be necessary to a realization of anything of value for the stockholders from the assets. The receiver therefore asked that an order be made for the salle of the property, the terms and conditions of same to be submitted to and approved by the court before the sale was consummated.

Thereafter, on the 19th day of October, 1915, all of the parties, plaintiff and defendants, being present by their respective counsel, the receiver’s report was taken up and evidence heard thereon; after a consideration of same the court found, so far as pertains to the matter here at issue: “That the property of said company is encumbered by a deed of trust now amount[412]*412ing to about $34,000; that in addition to said deed of trust said company is indebted in the sum of about $80,000; that there is no money on hand to pay said indebtedness; and it was ordered that the said report of the receiver be, and is, approved; that he be, and is hereby, authorized to borrow money for current expenses, and to give receiver’s certificates therefor; that the property and plant of defendant, Universal Clay Company (describing it), be sold at public or private sale, to the highest and best bidder for cash, or on such other terms as he can best secure.; that said receiver negotiate with and seek purchasers for, and advertise the sale of, said property in such newspapers or publications as in his discretion will give such sale due publicity; that he hold the bidding open until the 1st day of January, 1916, at which time he shall proceed to sell said property to the highest and best bidder as aforesaid, but not' for a less sum than $-, said sale to be reported to this court for confirmation.”

On the 19th day of January, 1916, the receiver presented to the court his report, wherein he stated that he had endeavored, by advertising, correspondence and personal negotiations, to obtain bids for the property ; that he had been able to secure but one bid, which he submitted to the court. The receiver further stated that he Relieved “that further effort on his part to find a purchaser of said property will be of no avail, and he recommends that the bid herewith submitted, to-wit, that of Phil R. Toll, for $76,000, on the terms therein stated, be accepted, and that he be ordered to make a receiver’s deed therefor.”

The report further stated that the receiver and his attorney, in the endeavor to carry out the orders of the court, had visited and personally inspected the property of the Universal Clay Company, and had looked after its affairs carefully and diligently. There were present in court on this occasion the receiver and his attorney and the attorneys for defendants, Rut neither plaintiff nor his attorney appeared.

[413]*413Before any proceedings were had with regard to said report, or sale, one of the attorneys for defendants called plaintiff’s attorney on the telephone, and reminded him that the sale was to take place that day, and that the receiver was in court, and about to take up the question of the sale and its consummation. That counsel for plaintiff stated that the bid should remain on file, so that plaintiff mig’ht object to same; that counsel for defendants stated that it was the circuit judge’s opinion that under the order, the sale should be made on that day; thereupon counsel for plaintiff stated he did not'know whether he would appear; thereafter, before any proceedings were had, he called counsel for defendants over the telephone, stating that 'he did not care to' come down. This testimony is undisputed.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Alper v. Posin
363 P.2d 502 (Nevada Supreme Court, 1961)
Savings Trust Co. of St. Louis v. Skain
131 S.W.2d 566 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1939)
Tooker v. Missouri Power & Light Co.
80 S.W.2d 691 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1935)
State Ex Rel. McKinney v. Davidson
286 S.W. 355 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1926)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
213 S.W. 28, 278 Mo. 408, 1919 Mo. LEXIS 103, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hurley-v-universal-clay-co-mo-1919.