Olson Manfg. Co. v. Rex Motor Co.

170 N.W. 64, 203 Mich. 470, 1918 Mich. LEXIS 609
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 27, 1918
DocketDocket No. 57
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 170 N.W. 64 (Olson Manfg. Co. v. Rex Motor Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Olson Manfg. Co. v. Rex Motor Co., 170 N.W. 64, 203 Mich. 470, 1918 Mich. LEXIS 609 (Mich. 1918).

Opinion

Ostrander, C. J.

This is a proceeding instituted by judgment creditors of the Rex Motor Company, who have made said company and Charles H. Riopelle, Eliza J. Riopelle, his wife, William J. Frasier, Alfred Robinson, and Frank Lemerise defendants. The company was incorporated in December, 1918, with an authorized capital of $75,000, with 7,500 shares. The declared purpose of the corporation was to manufacture, buy, sell, and deal with automobiles, automobile motors, transmissions, etc., and to carry on a general manufacturing and mercantile business at Ford, Wayne county, Michigan. Some, perhaps all, of the original incorporators had become interested in an attempt to develop and apply what appears to have been a novel idea in motor cars — a front wheel drive — and before the incorporation of the Rex Motor Company had spent some time, perhaps a little money, in this behalf. They capitalized their optimism, some labor, a little property and credit. At the hearing, one of them testified that—

“The blue prints of the front wheel drive and the blue prints of the motor are all that is left of the assets of the company for the general creditors now.”

The same witness testified further:

“There was considerable experimental work done on this motor prior to the incorporation of the company by Mr. Blumstrom, Mr. Frasier and Mr. Lemerise. Before the organization we got together and planned for a factory site, and started to get material for building. We started the latter part of October, 1913, and prior to the time of incorporation I worked with the carpenters getting the material and getting the stuff on the ground. Mr. Lemerise,- • Mr. Frasier, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Blumstrom also did the same work. They had drafted designs for the engine and the motor [472]*472prior to the time of the incorporation and the five of us continued in this experimental work after the incorporation.”

Of the capital stock, one-half, or $37,500, was subscribed by Riopelle, Frasier, Lemerise, Robinson, and Charles Ii. Blumstrom, in equal amounts. None of them paid in any cash, but Frasier, Robinson, Blumstrom, and Lemerise contributed certain personal property valued at $8,090, and Charles H. Riopelle contributed a parcel of real estate valued at $4,500. The personal property was later on mortgaged to Frasier, who assigned to another, not a party here; the mortgage was foreclosed and the property sold. The real estate was mortgaged to Mrs. Riopelle for $6,500, and her mortgage has been foreclosed.

It is a contention of the plaintiff creditors that as to them and other creditors these mortgages were void, and that the court should so declare and treat the property, real and personal, as assets of the company for their benefit. This contention the court determined adversely to them, and upon a review of the testimony, which will not be set out here, we decline to disturb the judgment of the trial court. It may, however, be said, in this connection, that the person who has apparent title to the personal property is not brought upon the record, that it is clear that Mrs. Riopelle advanced the money represented by her mortgage, that the corporation had the benefit of it, and that she is not shown to have participated in any purpose, if her husband and other shareholders had the purpose, to cover up assets of the company in fraud of creditors.'

It is a further contention of plaintiff that some of these defendants should pay for the stock they subscribed for for the benefit of creditors of the company, and the court, being of this opinion, found that there is due from Charles H. Riopelle upon his original subscription $3,000. As he had purchased the [473]*473stock and interest of Alfred Robinson, the further sum of $5,480 was found to be due from him on that account, and, as he had also purchased the stock of Frank Lemerise, the sum of $5,470 was found to be due from him on that account — the total of these being $13,950. It was found that William J. Frasier is indebted to the company upon his stock subscription $5,480. The court also found there is due to certain judgment creditors of the Rex Motor Company — to Olson Manufacturing Company, $5,223.21, to Swope-McCracken Company, $68.18, to Advance Pattern Works, $309.25, to Knott & Jarlus Company, $158.01, exclusive of interest and costs in each case. As to defendants Robinson, Lemerise, and Mrs. Riopelle, the bill is dismissed. Defendants Charles H. Riopelle and William J. Frasier are ordered to pay plaintiffs’ claims “in proportion to the amount of their indebtedness to the Rex Motor Company as herein set forth,” together with the costs of suit. Eliza J. Riopelle is given costs in the sum of $20. The bill was taken as confessed by defendant Frasier. Defendant Charles H. Riopelle and plaintiff Olson Manufacturing Company appeal from the decree.

Riopelle’s contention, briefly stated, is, that on the admitted facts liability for unpaid subscriptions to the capital stock cannot attach.

The court accepted the recitals in the articles of association as to what was in the first instance contributed by the associates, giving appellant credit for $4,500 for his real estate and Frasier, Robinson, Blumstrom and Lemerise credit each for one-fourth of the value of the personal property contributed. This personal property consisted of—

“Mahogany patterns for the manufacture of motor and transmission covering the entire construction of motor and transmission, all being located at 268 Junction avenue, Detroit, $2,250; one 14% h. p. sample [474]*474and model motor and transmission now in operation and located at 268 Junction avenue, $2,350; drawings, tracings and blue prints covering all designs relating to the construction of motor and transmission, same being located at 268 Junction avenue, $2,800.00; tools and jigs located at 268 Junction avenue, $690; total valuation of which said property is taken, $8,090.00.”

The incorporators never paid in anything more. What they did of record, is evidenced by the following:

“A special directors’ meeting, village of Ford, Michigan, August 31, 1914. Special directors’ meeting called by the president for the purpose of allotting stock to the five incorporators in the sum of $20,000 for their services in completing the Rex Front Wheel Drive. Moved by Frank Lemerise, that the 20,000 stock be issued to Charles H. Blumstrom and in re-, turn have same assigned over to William F. Frasier, $4,000; Charles H. Riopelle, $12,000 worth; $4,000, Alfred Robinson to C. H. Riopelle; $4,000, Frank Lemerise to Harry Riopelle; balance, $4,000, to Charles H. Riopelle’s shares in said front wheel and friction motor drive automobile known as Rex Friction Front Wheel Drive. Supported by Charles H. Blumstrom, Lemerise, Frasier, and Riopelle, carried unanimously.”

Concerning this, Mr. Riopelle testified:

“My own share according to that was $4,000. I think it was paid for in services, time and money expended since the date of incorporation. . We credited up this stock $20,000 and reported it as additional value of patents and so forth.. I had turned in real estate to the value of $4,500, which left $3,000 according to the books. I got $4,000 in value here in stock. I did not charge up to the company the $1,000 difference because I thought the stock was good. It was all right at that time in August, 1914. That was the same month we put a mortgage on the property to pay a note and our other little indebtedness.

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Related

Olson Manfg. Co. v. Rex Motor Co.
180 N.W. 411 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1920)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
170 N.W. 64, 203 Mich. 470, 1918 Mich. LEXIS 609, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/olson-manfg-co-v-rex-motor-co-mich-1918.