Orkney v. Valley Cement Co.

261 P.2d 114, 43 Wash. 2d 338, 1953 Wash. LEXIS 317
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 22, 1953
DocketNo. 32465
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 261 P.2d 114 (Orkney v. Valley Cement Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Orkney v. Valley Cement Co., 261 P.2d 114, 43 Wash. 2d 338, 1953 Wash. LEXIS 317 (Wash. 1953).

Opinion

Schwellenbach, J.

During 1948, there were two competing cement companies in Yakima; Valley Cement Company, Inc., hereinafter called “Valley,” and Insul Block and Concrete Manufacturing Company, Inc., doing business as Pioneer Concrete Company, hereinafter called “Pioneer.” Eugene J. Auve was president of Valley, and J. W. Orkney was president of Pioneer. Because of the unsatisfactory [339]*339testimony of both Auve and Orkney, we shall, in relating the facts, confine ourselves to the written documents introduced in evidence, supplemented by the testimony of the above-mentioned witnesses where such testimony appears to be uncontradicted.

In the fall of 1948, Mr. Orkney approached Mr. Auve with the view of merging the two companies. This appeared rather attractive to both of them. Valley had financial stability, and Pioneer had a gravel pit and some trucks. However, Pioneer was in quite serious financial difficulties. It had several creditors, some of whom were threatening to sue, and the R.F.C. held a $60,000 mortgage on its equipment, which it, in all probability, would foreclose.

Notwithstanding these facts, and as a result of the negotiations, an agreement was entered into on November 26, 1948, between the two companies, acting through their respective officers, to merge into a new corporation to be known as Valley Pioneer Cement Company. There is no question but that the agreement to merge was entered into in good faith. The agreement provided for the contribution by each company of certain assets and cash, and that the new company .should issue fifty-one per cent of its stock to Valley and forty-nine per cent to Pioneer. Under the terms of the agreement, Pioneer was required to contribute its cement plant and its sand and gravel plant, and all property used in connection therewith; $9,800 worth of inventory, consisting of sand, gravel, cement, and crushed rock; and to assign its accounts receivable to the new corporation to the extent of $4,900.

On the same day, November 26, 1948, a supplementary agreement was entered into. It provided, in part, that Auve would undertake the active management as of December 1, 1948. It also provided that, in lieu of the assignment of $4,900 of accounts receivable, Pioneer could cause certain of its individual stockholders to pay $6,400 in cash to the new corporation, and that, upon the payment of the $6,400 by the individual stockholders, stock to that extent, which would otherwise be issued to Pioneer, would be issued to the [340]*340individual stockholders making such payments. The supplementary agreement also provided:

“5. In the event Pioneer shall for any reason be unable to or fail or refuse to comply with the terms and conditions of the main agreement or the terms and conditions of this agreement, and particularly the foregoing paragraph, or if it should be unable or fail or refuse to fully pay or settle with any or all of its promissory note and open account creditors, or in the event of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, the appointment of a receiver, or bankruptcy of Pioneer, at the option of Valley this agreement may be cancelled and terminated, and Pioneer shall not be entitled to the issuance of any stock in the new corporation. The new corporation may be liquidated and the parties restored as nearly as possible to the positions they occupied before this agreement was entered into between them.”

This might be a good place to relate that, commencing December 1st, Auve did not draw any salary as president of Valley, but that, during December, January, and February, he drew a monthly salary of six hundred dollars from Valley Pioneer, as its president.

Also, on the same day, November 26, 1948, Auve wrote to Orkney and Pioneer that, in connection with the operations of the new corporation, it would undertake to collect the accounts receivable of Pioneer, as Pioneer’s agent, and that such funds would be applied in reduction of the indebtedness of Pioneer.

December 2, 1948, the following assignment was entered into, signed by Insul Block and Concrete Manufacturing Company by Joseph E. Ditter, its vice-president.

“Assignment

“In Consideration of the sum of Three Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($3,000.00) this day loaned and advanced by J. W. Orkney to the undersigned, Insul Block and Concrete Manufacturing Company, a corporation, doing business as Pioneer Concrete Company, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the said undersigned corporation does hereby transfer and assign to said J. W. Orkney all accounts receivable now owing to the undersigned corporation, together with the right to collect and receive the same, by legal proceedings or otherwise, and together with the right to claim, receive, collect and retain the said sum of money [341]*341out of the first monies paid to or for the undersigned corporation out of its existing accounts receivable; and this assignment is given as security for the repayment of said loan together with interest thereon at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date hereof until paid.”

The same day, a similar assignment was made to Orkney and Ditter in the amount of $6,400. This was signed by J. W. Orkney as president of Insul.

Apparently, $9,400 was collected by the new corporation from the accounts receivable of Pioneer. Three thousand dollars was paid to Orkney, and $6,400 was placed in a special account for the benefit of Orkney and Ditter.

We now come to December 31, 1948. An Agreement of Termination was entered into, signed by both corporations through their officers. It recited that Pioneer had been unable to satisfy its creditors, and that one creditor had instituted legal proceedings seeking the appointment of a receiver for Pioneer. It provided that the agreements entered into on November 26, 1948, were canceled and terminated.

The same day, a letter was written by Valley Pioneer, through Auve, its president, addressed to Pioneer. It advised Pioneer that the new corporation intended to proceed in business with the assets transferred and to be transferred to it by Valley Cement Company, but would still be interested in the acquisition of Pioneer’s property. (At no time, until then or later, did Valley ever transfer any of its assets to the new corporation.)

Also, on December 31st, Orkney and Ditter wrote a letter to Valley Pioneer, which stated:

“Valley Pioneer Cement Company Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington December 31,1948
Gentlemen:
“We acknowledge your offer to return to us the amount of moneys which we have deposited with you, pursuant to the agreement between Valley Cement Company and Pioneer Concrete Company, executed November 26, 1948, tender back being by reason of the cancellation of that agreement by the parties thereto.
“However, it is our desire to individually invest these [342]*342funds with you in return for your stock taken at par value. We offer to leave this money with you in return for such stock at par value, and would appreciate your advice in that regard.
“Yours very truly,
[signed] J. W. Orkney
[signed] J. A. Ditter”

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Related

Cement Distributors, Inc. v. Western Aggregates
414 P.2d 789 (Washington Supreme Court, 1966)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
261 P.2d 114, 43 Wash. 2d 338, 1953 Wash. LEXIS 317, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/orkney-v-valley-cement-co-wash-1953.