National American Corp. v. Weinbaum (In re Weinbaum)

11 B.R. 128, 24 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 308, 1981 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14673
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. New York
DecidedApril 27, 1981
Docket80 Civ. 2679
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 11 B.R. 128 (National American Corp. v. Weinbaum (In re Weinbaum)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
National American Corp. v. Weinbaum (In re Weinbaum), 11 B.R. 128, 24 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 308, 1981 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14673 (E.D.N.Y. 1981).

Opinion

[129]*129MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER

COSTANTINO, District Judge.

This is an appeal from a decision rendered by Chief Judge Albert Párente of the Bankruptcy Court denying the discharge of the bankrupt, Leonard Weinbaum.1 (“Weinbaum”). After a hearing on this adversary proceeding which was commenced by a creditor, National American Company (“National American”), Judge Párente concluded that Weinbaum’s discharge must be denied on the following basis: (1) Weinbaum’s gift to his son-in-law and his daughter of 175,000 shares of National American stock within several weeks of filing for bankruptcy violated section 14(c)(4) of the Bankruptcy Act in that Weinbaum intended “to hinder, delay or defraud his creditors” by the transfer; and (2) Weinbaum “knowingly and fraudulently [made] a false oath ... [in a] ... bankruptcy proceeding,” in violation of section 14(c)(1) of the Bankruptcy Act. After reviewing the record on appeal, this court concludes that Judge Parente’s findings of fact were not clearly erroneous and that his application of the law was proper in all [130]*130respects. Accordingly, the decision of the bankruptcy court is affirmed.

The relationship between Weinbaum and National American commenced in 1976 when Weinbaum, the owner of fifty per cent of Edward J. Moore Sons, Inc., contracted to sell and did sell his interest in this company to National American in exchange for 275,000 shares of National American’s restricted stock with 175,000 shares being taken in Weinbaum’s name and 100,000 shares being taken in the name of Weinbaum’s wife, Shirley Weinbaum. Thereafter, in early 1977, Weinbaum instituted suit against National American and several of its officers in the Southern District of New York alleging a breach of the 1976 contract, and requesting both money damages and an order rescinding the contract. In early September 1979, every prayer for relief, save one, was denied, and judgment was entered on counterclaims against Weinbaum in the sum of $59,000. On September 28,1979, Weinbaum filed his petition in bankruptcy.

The dispute before this court involves the transfer of the 175,000 restricted shares of National American stock. Weinbaum maintains that he neither transferred nor concealed the stock in violation of section 14(c)(4), and that he made no false statements in any bankruptcy proceeding in violation of section 14(c)(1). It is undisputed that Weinbaum did not list the shares as an asset in his bankruptcy petition, but according to Weinbaum, he did not own the stock on the date he filed for bankruptcy, nor did he own the stock within a year of the filing date. Notwithstanding the fact that Weinbaum retained physical control over the stock until the early part of September, 1979—approximately two weeks prior to the bankruptcy filing and about the time a judgment for $59,000 was entered against him in the Southern District—Weinbaum contends that he gave the stock to his son-in-law Matthew Firman (“Firman”) and his daughter, Mrs. Sharon Firman as a present shortly after their wedding in April 1977.2 The crux of the case, therefore, turns on two issues, to wit: (1) whether Weinbaum made a valid inter vivos gift, and (2) the time when that gift was effected.

There are three requisites for a proper inter vivos gift: donative intent, delivery to the donee, and acceptance by the donee. Matter of Szabo, 10 N.Y.2d 94, 217 N.Y.S.2d 593, 176 N.E.2d 395 (1961); Matter of Van Alstyne, 207 N.Y. 298, 100 N.E. 802 (1913). In determining whether Weinb-aum actually transferred the 175,000 shares, Judge Párente examined the following factors before concluding that a valid gift was neither made nor intended:

(1) as noted, Weinbaum retained physical control over the stock for no explainable reason until September 1979, several weeks before filing for bankruptcy;

(2) in addition to retaining dominion and control over the stock, Weinbaum executed a proxy for the 175,000 shares on September 4, 1979 without asking either Mr. Fir-man or his daughter to sign the proxy;

(3) from the date the stock was allegedly transferred in 1977 until the actual physical transfer in September, 1979, the transfer agent was never informed of the gift although he was told to make arrangements for a sale or transfer;

(4) while the suit against National American was pending, Weinbaum allegedly transferred the stock, but he neither informed the court of the transfer nor did he amend his demand for relief, even though ownership of the stock was a requisite to rescinding the contract; and finally,

(5) in 1977, the year the gift was allegedly made, Weinbaum failed to file a federal gift tax return in violation of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) § 6019.

The bankrupt Weinbaum now challenges Judge Parente’s conclusion on the ground that Weinbaum’s course of conduct did not tend to negate an inter vivos gift. First, Weinbaum argues, U.C.C. § 8-309 does not [131]*131require any notification to the transfer agent to transfer stock to another party. Second, although section 6019 of the IRC requires the filing of a gift tax return in certain circumstances, it does not negate a valid gift. Third, Weinbaum. maintains that he asked Firman and his daughter if he could sign the proxy, and they agreed. Finally, Weinbaum states that he was unfamiliar with the pleadings in the suit in the Southern District, and consequently, did not know that the rescission relief was requested, and thus, he did not know that it had to be withdrawn.

The bankrupt is correct in arguing that, taken individually, these factors do not necessarily negate an inter vivos gift. Nonetheless, when Weinbaum’s conduct is examined in the totality of the circumstances, it clearly exhibits an intention to retain both ownership and control over the 175,000 shares. See Matter of Szabo, supra; Vincent v. Putnam, 248 N.Y. 76, 161 N.E. 425 (1928). Moreover, Weinbaum’s conduct also leads this court to the inescapable conclusion that Weinbaum specifically transferred the shares of National American in early September, 1979 to defraud his creditors.

While it is clear that the intent to defraud must be actual, not constructive, In re Pioch, 235 F.2d 903 (3d Cir. 1956); In re Vecchione, 407 F.Supp. 609 (E.D.N.Y.1976), Weinbaum’s course of conduct, see In re Freudmann, 362 F.Supp. 429 (S.D.N.Y.1973); aff’d, 495 F.2d 816 (2d Cir.), cert. denied sub nom., 419 U.S. 841, 95 S.Ct. 72, 42 L.Ed.2d 69 (1974), i. e., the continued retention of the shares, the exercise of dominion and control over the stock, and the time of the alleged transfer, clearly establishes that Weinbaum executed the transfer in September, 1979 with the specific intent to defraud his creditors. Consequently, discharge of the bankrupt must be denied under section 14(c)(4). In re Cadarette, 601 F.2d 648 (2d Cir. 1979); Robinson v. Mann,

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
11 B.R. 128, 24 Collier Bankr. Cas. 2d 308, 1981 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-american-corp-v-weinbaum-in-re-weinbaum-nyed-1981.