National Surety Co. v. Hurley

153 N.W. 740, 130 Minn. 392, 1915 Minn. LEXIS 591
Supreme Court of Minnesota·Decided July 16, 1915·No. Nos. 19,355—(229)·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

Taylor, C.

The firm of Thomas Fitzpatrick and son became financially embarrassed, and, on March 12, 1908, conveyed their property to Luther S. Cushing, Fred S. Berry and William Poppenberger in trust to convert the same into money within two years from that date, and to apply the proceeds thereof in the payment of their debts in the manner prescribed in the trust deed. The property so conveyed included the sum of $8,000 in money and the real estate hereinafter mentioned. By contract in writing all their creditors became parties to the trust agreement and bound thereby. The trust deed [394] described 22 parcels of real estate, and, after enumerating tbe incumbrances and lienable claims against each parcel, provided that the proceeds of such parcel should be applied in satisfying the incumbrances and lienable claims against it, and that the surplus, if any, remaining after satisfying such claims, should be placed in the general fund for distribution among the unsecured creditors. It also provided that so much of any secured claim as should not be satisfied out of the security, should be considered as an unsecured claim and be paid pro rata with the other unsecured claims.

Within the two years prescribed by the trust deed, the trustees converted all the property into money and had the greater portion of the proceeds in their possession in cash. The purchasers of certain parcels of the property, however, required certain things to be done before accepting the title, and deposited the purchase price for such parcels in the bank to be delivered to the trustees as soon as the title appeared clear.' The requirements of these purchasers were complied with and all these amounts were delivered to the trastees in and prior to August, 1911. In April and May, 1911, the trastees made an apportionment among the creditors of all the funds, including those not then turned over to them by the bardes. There was some contention that the trustees had not properly apportioned the funds, ■ and they declined to make any payments until either all the creditors had agreed to the apportionment in writing and directed them to make payments in accordance therewith, or the matter had been determined in court. An agreement approving this apportionment and directing the distribution of the funds in accordance therewith was drawn up and dated May 5, 1911. Some of the creditors signed this agreement in May, others in June and others at later dates. A few did not sign it at all. Some of the larger creditors gave a bond to the trustees indemnifying them against the claims of the creditors who had not signed the agreement and thereupon all the funds were distributed according to the apportionment of May 5.

Joseph A. Hurley was one of the creditors of the Fitzpatricks and held lienable claims against them amounting to over $9,000. In the division of funds made by the trustees on May 5, 1911, the sum [395] of $3,792.38 was apportioned to him. In June, 1911, plaintiff brought suit against Hurley, and subsequently recovered a judgment for the sum of $1,293.50 therein. On June 21, 1911, plaintiff garnished the above named trustees. They appeared and disclosed that according to their books they had the sum of $3,792.38 belonging to Hurley. Not satisfied with the disclosure, plaintiff, by leave of court, served and filed a supplemental complaint. While the matter was pending upon this supplemental complaint, and on April 25, 1912, Hurley was adjudged a bankrupt, and O. A. Bettingen was appointed trustee in bankruptcy of his estate. Bettingen as such trustee appeared and served and filed a complaint in intervention, in which he claimed the fund involved in the garnishment proceeding; and the present controversy is whether he as trustee in bankruptcy is entitled to all the money in the hands of the garnishees belonging to Hurley, or whether plaintiff, under its garnishment, is entitled to sufficient thereof to satisfy its judgment. The garnishees disclaiming any interest in the controversy made an application to be permitted to pay into court the money in their hands belonging to Hurley. This application was granted. They had previously paid a small claim against Hurley, and paid the remainder of the money, amounting to the sum of $3,349.02, into court and were discharged.

The intervener contends that the amount which Hurley would receive out of the trust property could not be determined until the trust had been wound up and an accounting had either in court or by mutual agreement out of court; and that at the time of the service of the' garnishee summons his interest in the property depended upon a contingency and for that reason could not be reached by garnishment. The statutes provide:

“The service of the summons upon the garnishee shall attach and bind all the property and money in his hands or under his control belonging to the defendant, and all indebtedness owing by him to the defendant at the date of such service, to respond to final judgment in the action.” G. S. 1913, § 7862.
“All moneys and other personal property, including such property of any kind due from or in the hands of an executor or admin[396] istrator, and all written evidences of indebtedness, whether negotiable or not, or under or overdue, may be attached by garnishment; and money or any other thing due or belonging to the defendant may be attached by this process before it has become payable, if its payment or delivery does not depend upon any contingency; but the garnishee shall not be compelled to pay or deliver the same before the time appointed by the contract.” G. S. 1913, § 7863.
“No person or corporation shall be adjudged a garnishee in any of the following cases:
1. By reason of any money or other thing due to the defendant, unless at the time of the service of the summons the same is due absolutely, and without depending on any contingency.” • * * * G. S. 1913, § 7864.

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

National Surety Co. v. Hurley, 153 N.W. 740, 130 Minn. 392, 1915 Minn. LEXIS 591 (Mich. 1915).

153 N.W. 740 (National Surety Co. v. Hurley) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Sprinkler Warehouse, Inc. v. Systematic Rain, Inc., d/b/a GPLAWN.com
880 N.W.2d 16 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 2016)
Sprinkler Warehouse, Inc. v. Systematic Rain, Inc., d/b/a GPLAWN.com
859 N.W.2d 527 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2015)
Rintala v. Shoemaker
362 F. Supp. 1044 (D. Minnesota, 1973)
Nostdal v. County of Watonwan
22 N.W.2d 461 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1946)
In re Unit Oil Co.
50 F. Supp. 264 (D. Minnesota, 1943)
National Automatic Tool Co. v. Goldie
27 F. Supp. 399 (D. Minnesota, 1939)
Boyum v. Jordan
178 N.W. 158 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1920)