In the Matter of Samuels & Co., Inc., Bankrupt. Curtis R. Stowers v. James S. Mahon, Trustee, and C. I. T. Corporation

483 F.2d 557, 13 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 124, 1973 U.S. App. LEXIS 7289
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
DecidedOctober 31, 1973
Docket73-1185
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 483 F.2d 557 (In the Matter of Samuels & Co., Inc., Bankrupt. Curtis R. Stowers v. James S. Mahon, Trustee, and C. I. T. Corporation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In the Matter of Samuels & Co., Inc., Bankrupt. Curtis R. Stowers v. James S. Mahon, Trustee, and C. I. T. Corporation, 483 F.2d 557, 13 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 124, 1973 U.S. App. LEXIS 7289 (5th Cir. 1973).

Opinions

INGRAHAM, Circuit Judge:

Since 1921 packers and stockyard men in interstate commerce have been subjected to remedial federal legislation and regulation. This appeal stems from the bankruptcy of one such regulated packer, Samuels & Co., Inc., of Dallas, Texas. The issues raised, however, all question the priority of liens between a class of cattle raisers who sold their cattle to Samuels & Co. and C.I.T. Corporation, which financed their purchase.

Prior to its filing a voluntary petition for an arrangement under Chapter XI of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C. § 701 et seq., Samuels & Co. had purchased cattle under a “grade and weight basis,” and C.I.T. had financed those purchases secured by a floating lien on Samuels’s inventory and other property. The cattle thus sold were delivered to the bankrupt, who slaughtered the animals. The carcasses were permitted to cool and were then inspected, graded and weighed. Samuels would then issue its check for the purchase price and further process the meat into finished products. This system is common to the meat packing industry and its conditions are spelled out by regulation published in 9 Code of Federal Regulations. C.I.T. became insecure in this plan upon learning that Samuels intended to file a plan of arrangement under Chapter XI. Thus on May 23, 1969, it refused to advance additional funds for cattle purchased. On the same day Samuels filed its plan of arrangement which ultimately led to an adjudication of straight bankruptcy in April of 1970. Appellants, representing a class of cattle sellers whose cattle were delivered to Samuels before May 23, 1969, and who had received checks in payment therefor but whose checks were returned unsatisfied, filed claims for the amount of the purchase price with the bankruptcy court. That class of cattle sellers asserted a first priority lien and their position was opposed by C.I.T., asserting the superiority of its lien on Samuels inventory.

The bankruptcy court ordered a receiver to dispose of the easily spoiled meat and meat by-products but to hold the proceeds of sale pending resolution of the conflicting claims of the cattle sellers and C.I.T. The referee ultimately held the cattle sellers’ interests to be paramount and subordinated C.I.T.’s lien. C.I.T. sought review in the district court, which reversed the referee, holding:

(a) That C.I.T. had a perfected lien in Samuels’ inventory and other property;

(b) That the cattle delivered by May 23, 1969, and represented by the dishonored checks, were properly includable in Samuels’ inventory, i. e., that C.I.T.’s lien had attached.

(c) That the class of cattle sellers had delivered goods subject to a reservation of title which, under the Uniform Commercial Code as en- ' acted in Texas, was the mere reservation of a security interest which had not been perfected before C.I.T.’s lien attached. See Texas Business and Commercial Code § 9.312(c), V.T.C.A.

The class of cattle sellers appeal. We reverse.

The facts are undisputed. The question is one of law concerning priority of liens in bankruptcy established under the Uniform Commercial Code: Is the [560]*560reserved purchase money security interest provision, Texas Business and Commercial Code (U.C.C.),

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Bluebook (online)
483 F.2d 557, 13 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 124, 1973 U.S. App. LEXIS 7289, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-the-matter-of-samuels-co-inc-bankrupt-curtis-r-stowers-v-james-ca5-1973.