Lone Star Life Ins. Co. v. Shield

228 S.W. 196, 1921 Tex. App. LEXIS 694
CourtTexas Commission of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 23, 1921
DocketNo. 174-3198
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 228 S.W. 196 (Lone Star Life Ins. Co. v. Shield) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Commission of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lone Star Life Ins. Co. v. Shield, 228 S.W. 196, 1921 Tex. App. LEXIS 694 (Tex. Super. Ct. 1921).

Opinion

TAYLOR, J.

The Lone Star Life Insurance Company, plaintiff in error, sued L. L. Shield, defendant in error, upon a promissory note for $2,000. There was pledged with the company to secure the payment of the note a certain collateral vendor’s lien note, but no redress of any character was asked against the collateral. The court peremptorily instructed a verdict in favor of the company for the amount of the note, interest, and attorney’s fees. The Court of Civil Appeals reversed the judgment of the trial court and rendered judgment in favor of defendant in error. 202 S. W. 211.

Defendant in error pleaded the following defenses against the note:

First. That it was void because given by Shield to the company in consideration of the issuance and delivery to him of 10 shares of its capital stock subscribed for by him.

Second. That the company sold all of its assets without the consent of defendant in error, and abandoned the corporate enterprise.

Third. That the execution of the note was procured by reason of false and fraudulent representations on the part of the company and its agents.

Fourth. That defendant in error executed the note on certain conditions that were, not complied with.

Plaintiff in error by supplemental petition pleaded a general denial, estoppel, the four years’ statute of limitation, and that Shield had by his conduct waived his right to urge the defense of fraudulent misrepresentations.

The evidence presents no material conflicts, and consists principally of the stock subscription contract, the correspondence of the parties, stock certificates and stubs, copies of the minutes of the stockholders’ and directors’ meetings, and the testimony of Henry Hamilton, secretary of the company, and defendant in error.

The subscription contract was entered into February 3, 1910, between L. H. Morgan & Oo. and defendant in error. The latter, in consideration of the promise of Morgan & Co. to endeavor to accomplish the organization of the company on or before December 3, [197]*1971910, and to defray the expenses thereof, subscribed to 100 one-tenth shares of the capital stoc-k of plaintiff in error company, agreeing to pay therefor the sum of $2,000, $1,500 to the company, and the sum of $500 to Morgan & Co. The payment of the $600 was to be concurrent with the making of the contract, and the $1,500 was to be paid at any time after February 15, 1910, immediately upon receipt of notice from Morgan & Co. that the capital stock of the insurance company had been subscribed and a designated part thereof had been paid in. The $1,500 was to be paid in money or in, securities satisfactory to the insurance department of Texas. The subscription contract further provided that no representations or agreements other than those printed therein should be binding upon Morgan & Co. or the insurance company. A $500 note was executed and delivered to Morgan & Co. by Shield pursuant to the terms of the agreement, and was transferred before maturity to the Commonwealth National Bank of Dallas. Upon the execution of the subscription contract, Coke W. Hark-rider, one of the parties acting for Morgan & Co., wrote Shield a letter of confirmation, in which he stated that Shield’s bank would be made depository for all sales of insurance made in his section.

The correspondence in evidence reveals that beginning April 14, 1910, negotiations were in progress for' some time between Shield and the insurance company looking to an adjustment of a controversy that had arisen respecting the payment of the balance of $1,500 due by the terms of the stock subscription. The company on June 14th wrote Shields expressing its willingness to accept vendor’s lien notes, the title of the land being good, in lieu of cash for the $1,500 balance, provided the notes did not represent more than 50 per cent, of the value of the land securing their payment. In the same letter Shield was advised that, while he had been elected a director of the company, he had not qualified to serve as such by paying his subscription for stock. On August 9th the company forwarded a blank note to Shield offering to issue the stock and attach to it his note. Shield replied August 13th refusing to execute the note, claiming it was not in accordance with the terms of the original contract. On September 24th Shield made a compromise offer of settlement, and on the 2Sth the company made a counter proposition, which was accepted. On October 3d the company forwarded to Shield his blank note for $2,000 dated October 1, 1910, due in five years, interest payable at 5 per cent, per annum, and directed him to execute the note and return it, together with the land notes which he had agreed to give to secure its payment. The company agreed that upon receipt of the notes, appraisement of the land, etc., it would issue the stock, send it to Shield, and take up his $500 note to Morgan & Oo., which he had transferred to the Commonwealth National Bank.

On October 5th Shield wrote the company inclosing his note and certain notes collateral thereto; also an appraisal of the land. On October 7th the company replied acknowledging receipt of the notes, and requested that abstract of title to the land upon which lien was reserved be forwarded to the company. In closing the letter the company advised Shield that—

“Our stock is now fully paid up, and we expect to be writing insurance in a very short time.”

After the notes had been received the company wrote Shield suggesting closing the deal in such manner as to give him time in which to arrange his collateral, the abstract not having been received. Shield thereupon went to Dallas, and on November 30th executed and delivered to ’the company the note sued on. He gave also a collateral note for $2,480, the payment of which was secured by a vendor’s lien on land. While thp transaction which was consummated by the giving of the note sued on constituted legally a new contract, it was in material respects identical with that proposed in the company’s letter of September 28th, the material part of which is as follows:

“The company will however be willing to take your personal note for $2,000.00 to run for five years at five per cent, interest per annum, payable annually, same to be secured by vendor lien notes in accordance with the requirements of the Insurance Department, and issue you ten full shares of the capital stock of the company and pay off the $500.00 note, provided there is no past due interest or protest feps or attorneys’ fees due on same.
“Again, we have a little spare money at this time and if you will close up along these lines, we will deposit $2,000.00 with your bank. This deposit to be subject to check at any time and not to draw any interest:
“Of course, when we got to doing business in your country, you can be of great assistance to its with your influence and acquaintance and we are not overlooking the fact that this is true. You ought to be willing to leave it to the good judgment of the management of the company to see that your bank gets the benefit of the business done in that part of the state, and we believe that you will, knowing the men as you do who are chiefly interested in the company.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
228 S.W. 196, 1921 Tex. App. LEXIS 694, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lone-star-life-ins-co-v-shield-texcommnapp-1921.