McDaniel v. American Druggists Insurance Co. (In re National Buy-Rite, Inc.)

11 B.R. 196, 33 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 751, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3670
District Court, D. Georgia·Decided May 28, 1981·No. Bankruptcy No. 80-00309A; Adv. No. 80-0231A·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

ORDER

HUGH ROBINSON, Bankruptcy Judge.

This matter comes before the court on plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment filed September 5,1980. Having considered the motion, the briefs and supporting documents submitted by the parties, the deposi[197]*197tion of defendant Timothy A. Siler and the pleadings on file the Court makes the following decision.

FINDINGS OF FACT

National Buy-Rite, (“Buy-Rite”), was a corporation engaged in the business of providing buying services to its members. It was required by the law of the state of Georgia to maintain a surety bond payable to the Governor of Georgia to cover any losses sustained by its members as a result of Buy-Rite’s fraudulent misrepresentation or breach of contract. American Druggists’ Insurance Company, (“American Druggists”), served as a surety for Buy-Rite pursuant to a contract entered into on August 14, 1979. The liability of American Druggists was limited to $25,000.00. By the terms of a “Collateral Security Receipt and Agreement” entered into by these two parties Buy-Rite was required to deposit $12,-500.00 with American Druggists to secure American Druggists’ liability under the surety contract.

Timothy A. Siler, (“Siler”), and Lawrence D. Mabry, (“Mabry”), guaranteed certain obligations owed by Buy-Rite to Sumner Communications, Inc. The guarantees were executed on August 17, 1979, a time when both Siler and Mabry were directors and officers of Buy-Rite. In connection with this transaction Buy-Rite pledged as security for the guarantees the $12,500.00 deposit held by American Druggists. In a letter dated August 24, 1979 Siler notified American Druggists of the security interest claimed by Siler and Mabry.

Buy-Rite filed a petition under Chapter 7 of Title 11 of the United States Code on January 31, 1980 and William G. McDaniel, (“Plaintiff”), was appointed trustee. On March 19, 1980 Plaintiff commenced the instant adversary proceeding to recover the $12,500.00 security deposit held by American Druggists.

The above-stated facts are undisputed. Siler contends that American Druggists holds the deposit as bailee, therefore Siler’s letter of August 24, 1979 was sufficient to perfect the security interest of Siler and Mabry. Plaintiff argues that American Druggists is not a bailee, therefore Siler’s letter was ineffective to perfect a security interest in the deposit.

APPLICABLE LAW

Generally a security interest in money is perfected by the taking of possession thereof by the secured party. Ga.Code Ann. § 109A-9-304(1); In Re: Atlanta Times, Inc., 259 F.Supp. 820 (N.D.Ga.1966) affirmed Sanders v. National Acceptance Company of America, 383 F.2d 606 (5th Cir. 1967). However, Ga.Code Ann. § 109A-9-305 provides:

“A security interest in letters of credit and advices of credit (subsection [2][a] of section 109A-5 — 116), goods, instruments, money, negotiable documents or chattel paper may be perfected by the secured party’s taking possession of the collateral. If such collateral other than goods covered by a negotiable document is held by a bailee, the secured party is deemed to have possession from the time the bailee receives notification of the secured party’s interest. A security interest is perfected by possession from the time possession is taken without relation back and continues only so long as possession is retained, unless otherwise specified in this Article. The security interest may be otherwise perfected as provided in this Article before or after the period of possession by the secured party.”

The issue presented in this case is whether American Druggists is a bailee. Because there is no definition of bailee in Article 9 of Title 109A1 it is necessary to refer to state law to determine what is necessary to create a bailment. See Heinicke Instruments Company v. Republic Corporation, 543 F.2d 700 (9th Cir. 1976).

[198]*198Ga.Code Ann. § 12-101 defines a bailment as follows:

“A bailment is a delivery of goods or property for the execution of a special object, beneficial either to the bailor or bailee, or both; and upon a contract, express or implied, to carry out this object and dispose of the property in conformity with the purpose of the trust.”

An essential element of the bailorbailee relationship is the actual or constructive delivery of property to the bailee who thereby acquires independent and temporarily exclusive possession of the delivered property. Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company v. Baker, 118 Ga. 809, 45 S.E. 673 (1903); Davidson v. Ramsby, 133 Ga.App. 128, 210 S.E.2d 245 (1974). A bailee acquires no title in the property he holds as bailee. His interest is limited to a right of possession for which he may maintain an action if this right is impaired. Ga.Code Ann. § 12-102; Lockhart v. The Western and Atlantic Railroad, 73 Ga. 472 (1885); Macon Dublin and Savannah Railroad Company v. Heard Brothers, 27 Ga.App. 382, 108 S.E. 481 (1921); United States v. One 1946 Mercury Sedan Automobile, 100 F.Supp. 957 (N.D.Ga.1951) affirmed United States v. Frank Graham Company, 199 F.2d 499 (5th Cir. 1952).

In cases where it was held that a security interest was perfected in goods held by a bailee, the bailee was a third party who did not assert an interest in the bailed property. Illustrative cases include In Re: Copeland, 391 F.Supp. 134 (D.Del.1975) modified 531 F.2d 1195 (3rd Cir. 1976) (security interest in stock held in escrow by a trust company); Barney v. Rigby Loan & Investment Company, 344 F.Supp. 694 (D.Idaho 1972) (security interest in checks held in trust by the debtor’s attorney); In Re: Miller, 545 F.2d 916 (5th Cir. 1977) cert. denied 430 U.S. 987, 97 S.Ct. 1687, 52 L.Ed.2d 382 (1977) (security interest in paintings and sculptures consigned to an art gallery); and Gamble v. Hinds, 8 U.C.C.Rep. 3 (Cal.App.1970) (security interest in stock held in escrow by a law firm).

The fund involved in the instant case was delivered to American Druggists by Buy-Rite pursuant to a document entitled “Collateral Security Receipt and Agreement”.

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McDaniel v. American Druggists Insurance Co. (In re National Buy-Rite, Inc.), 11 B.R. 196, 33 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 751, 1981 Bankr. LEXIS 3670 (gad 1981).

11 B.R. 196 (McDaniel v. American Druggists Insurance Co. (In re National Buy-Rite, Inc.)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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