Mitchell v. Mann

255 S.W. 980
CourtTexas Commission of Appeals
DecidedNovember 28, 1923
DocketNo. 479-3873
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 255 S.W. 980 (Mitchell v. Mann) 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
Mitchell v. Mann, 255 S.W. 980 (Tex. Super. Ct. 1923).

Opinion

BISHOP, J.

On December 16, 1910, the defendant in error, O. D. Mann, executed the following stock subscription obligation, to wit:

“Whereas, Commonwealth Organization Company, of Fort Worth, Texas, are promoting the organization of a Casualty, Bonding & Accident Insurance Company, to be incorporated in pursuance of the laws of the state of Texas, under the name of Commonwealth Bonding & Accident Insurance Company, or such other name as may be selected, with an authorized capital stock of three hundred thousand dollars, and a paid-up capital of at least two hundred thousand dollars, paid up and free from organization expenses, all in accordance with a printed prospectus issued by them and delivered to me.
“And whereas, by their acceptance of this subscription said Commonwealth Organization Company agree to endeavor with all reasonable diligence to accomplish on or before December 31, 1910, the organization of said corporation with capital stock fully paid as aforesaid, they to defray all expenses of the organization and incorporation.
“Now, therefore, I do hereby subscribe for fifty (50) one-tenth shares of the par value of ten dollars each, of the capital stock of said Commonwealth Bonding & Accident Insurance Company, and agree with said company and the said Commonwealth Organization Company, to pay therefor the sum of .two thousand dollars, as follows: The sum of seventeen hundred and fifty dollars, I agree to pay in money or securities satisfactory to the Insurance Department, with 6 per cent, interest,' to said Commonwealth Bonding & Accident Insurance Company or its trustees at Fort Worth, Texas (which goes to capital and surplus), at any time after November 1, 1910, immediately upon receipt of notes from said Commonwealth Organization Company that its capital stock has been subscribed in good faith in amounts and at rates netting the company at least two hundred thousand dollars of capital in the aggregate when paid. The remaining sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, I agree to pay, and. do pay concurrently with this subscription, to the said Commonwealth Organization Company, in consideration of their agreement hereinbefore recited, and in lieu of any further or other contribution to expenses of organization and incorporating said company.
“No conditions, representations, or agreements other than those printed herein shall be binding on Commonwealth Organization Company or the Commonwealth Bonding & Accident Insurance Company.”

At a meeting of the subscribers to the capital stock, an overwhelming majority being present, represented in person and by proxy, the name of the proposed corporation was changed to that of the Commonwealth Bonding & Casualty Insurance Company and the place of incorporation changed from the state of Texas to the then territory of Arizona and the company actually incorporated in the territory of Arizona, and this corporation carried defendant in error on its books as subscriber to the capital stock and as a stockholder of 50 shares from June 30, 1911, to appointment of receiver.

[981]*981On March 11, 1911, defendant in error executed a proxy authorizing John Scharbauer, H. P. Branhan, and M. H. Mills, jointly and severally, to vote for him at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Commonwealth Bonding & Casualty Insurance Company for the election of directors and upon such other questions as should come before such annual or special meetings.

There is nothing in the record to show when the subscribers’ meeting was held at which the change of name ahd place of incorporation was agreed on. However, this must have been prior to the execution of the proxy, for the proxy, authorizes a vote at meetings pf, stockholders of Commonwealth Bonding & Casualty Insurance Company, which clearly shows that the name had already been changed.

Thereafter on June SO, 1911, defendant in error executed his promissory note payable to the order of Commonwealth Bonding & Casualty Insurance Company at .Fort Worth, Tex., for the sum of $1,750, with 6 per cent, interest per annum from date payable annually as it accrues, and due June SO, 1915, and reciting that to secure same he had deposited or pledged as collateral security two vendor’s lien notes and 50 shares of Commonwealth Bonding & Casualty Insurance Company stock, and providing for .the usual 10 per cent, attorney 'fees.

The plaintiff in error, J. W. Mitchell, receiver of tjie Commonwealth Bonding & Casualty Insurance Company, filed suit against defendant in error, O. D. Mann, in the district court of Tarrant county, describing the note as above described, except the date of the note is given as January 30, 1911, and the due date as January 30, 1915, and setting out the vendor’s lien notes given as collateral security and praying for judgment for the amount of said note, with interest and attorney fees, and foreclosure of lien against said collateral. In a second count in his petition he alleged that defendant in error, on the 30th day of January, 1911, subscribed in writing, for capital stock in said company of the value of $1,750, agreeing to purchase that amount of its capital stock whereby he became liable to pay it said amount, which defendant in error had failed to pay, and prayed that if he should fail to recover on said note that he have judgment for amount due on said stock subscription.

On the 13th day of April, 1921, plaintiff in error filed his amended petition setting up said note as set out in his original petition except that it was alleged to be of date June 30, 1911, and due June 30, 1915, and attached to said amended petition as an exhibit the note sued on. He also in his amended petition set up the stock subscription agreement describing same and alleging its true date and attaching same as an exhibit to his said petition. In his amended petition he alleged that before the incorporation of Said company the name had been changed to Commonwealth Bonding & Casualty Insurance Company, and on March 23, 1911, it was incorporated under the laws of the then territory, but now state, of Arizona, instead of under the laws of Texas; that this was all done with the knowledge and consent and acquiescence of defendant in error and all other subscribers to capital stock; and that thereafter, with full knowledge of all the facts in the premises, defendant in' error fully ratified and affirmed the change of name and its incorporation under the laws of Arizona instead of under the laws of Texas, and prayed for judgment as in his original petition.

Defendant in error demurred generally, and specially excepted to the amended answer on the ground that same on its face showed that both the stock subscription contract and note were barred by limitation at the time of, and prior to the filing of'plaintiff’s amended petition on April 13, 1921, and also excepted to 'the action of the court in allowing plaintiff in error, on his motion, to file said amended petition as of date September 18, 1916. Defendant in error also denied generally all the allegations in said amended petition, and pleaded the statute of limitation as to both said stock subscription contract and note, He also alleged said company was incorporated under the laws of Arizona and not under the laws of Texas; that neither said note nor subscription contract was ever delivered to said company, or intended to be so delivere’d with his consent, and asked that both be canceled.

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Bluebook (online)
255 S.W. 980, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mitchell-v-mann-texcommnapp-1923.