Phillips v. Jacobs

108 N.W. 899, 145 Mich. 108, 1906 Mich. LEXIS 735
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 23, 1906
DocketDocket No. 67
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 108 N.W. 899 (Phillips v. Jacobs) 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
Phillips v. Jacobs, 108 N.W. 899, 145 Mich. 108, 1906 Mich. LEXIS 735 (Mich. 1906).

Opinion

McAlvay, J.

Complainant filed his bill in the Wayne circuit court, in chancery, setting forth that defendant electric company is a Michigan corporation engaged in furnishing electric lights, heat, and power to private consumers in the city of Detroit, with a capital stock of [110]*110$20,000, represented by 800 shares of a par value of $25 each; that on March 4, 1903, he was owner of 100 shares of said stock; that defendant Jacobs was president, treasurer, and a director of said company, and guilty of misconduct in the affairs of said company, whereby he was seeking to acquire ownership and control of the property thereof, and unlawfully acquire the stock of other holders, to prevent which complainant on December 23, 1902, filed a bill of complaint in said court against Jacobs and said electric company praying, among other things, for an accounting; that the issue of 160 shares of stock to Jacobs be declared void; that the title to a lot on which the company’s plant was situated be declared to be its property, and Jacobs be decreed to deed;.that an injunction issue restraining defendants from increasing capital stock and from ratifying certain former illegal acts; and that a receiver be appointed. An injunction was granted, and on a hearing of motions to dissolve the injunction and to appoint a receiver the latter motion was denied and the injunction modified to permit the increase of the capital stock of the electric company by the stockholders and directors, if voted according to law; also to permit the rescinding of a resolution relative to the issue of 160 shares of stock and additional compensation of officers; also to make a deed of certain real estate on payment of $2,000.

This former bill of complaint and the order of the court are set forth in full and made a part of complainant’s bill of complaint in the suit at bar, which further alleges that after the order of the court above referred to was made in that suit certain propositions for settlement were made in writing to Jacobs on the suggestion of the trial judge. These propositions were not accepted, and no settlement was made. Afterwards, on January 17, 1903, Jacobs was re-elected president and treasurer for the ensuing year, with other officers favorable to his management. Complainant avers that previous to the time of the alleged misdoings of Jacobs the electric company had declared semi-annual dividends to its stockholders, and that for six [111]*111months prior to the last election had made very large profits which belonged to the stockholders, including complainant, and in the usual course of its business, but for the misconduct of Jacobs, would have been paid as a dividend in said month of January, of which complainant’s share would have been more than $1,000, and that this action was brought about by Jacobs for the purpose of compelling complainant to withdraw his former suit.

Complainant avers, further: That afterwards, on March 4, 1903, the defendant Rosenthal entered into the following agreement with him for the sale of his said stock in the electric company:

“ This agreement, made this 4th day of March, 1903, between Harry C. Phillips, of Chicago, Illinois, and Julius P. Rosenthal, of Detroit, Michigan, to wit:
“ Said Phillips hereby agrees to sell and said Rosenthal hereby agrees to buy said Phillips’ one hundred (100) shares of stock in the East Side Electric Company, for the sum of five thousand ($5,000) dollars, and the agreements hereinafter set forth, payable as follows: Thirty-three hundred ($3,300) dollars in cash this day on the delivery of the shares of stock, together with four notes of four hundred twenty-five ($425) ‘dollars each, payable three, six, nine, and twelve months, respectively, all of which are to bear interest at six per cent. (6 *) per annum, and be indorsed by a. party satisfactory to said Phillips; it being understood and agreed that the semi-annual dividends which would have been payable in January, 1903, and which was held up on account of the pending of the suit hereinafter set forth, shall belong to said Phillips, and the same and all dividends to date, when received by said Rosenthal, shall be paid over to said Phillips.
“As a further consideration for said sale, said Rosenthal agrees to procure a stipulation from the defendants in the case pending in the Wayne circuit court, in chancery, in which said Phillips is complainant, and Abraham ■Jacobs and the East Side Electric Company are defendants, that the same may be discontinued without costs to either party.
“As a further consideration said Rosenthal agrees not to sell said shares of stock, or any thereof, within two years from this date, for less than the purchase price [112]*112aforesaid, without the written consent of Phillips; and if is agreed that the sum of five hundred ($500) dollars shall be considered as a measure of damages sustained by said Phillips, as and for his liquidated damages for the violation by said Rosenthal of said last-mentioned agreement, and the right to recover such damages aforesaid shall be deemed to -have accrued whenever said Rosenthal shall sell or dispose of said shares of stock, or any of them, at a less price than hereinbefore set forth.
“ Executed in duplicate in the city of Detroit the day and year above written.
“Harry C. Phillips,
“Julius P. Rosenthal.”

That shortly after the sale and transfer of this stock, without the knowledge or consent of complainant, Rosenthal sold and transferred to Jacobs all of said stock for a price less than that stipulated in said agreement, whereby complainant claims he is entitled to enforce the provision for damages stipulated, and that said sale was made to Jacobs with full knowledge of said agreement and its terms. Further, that Jacobs, after the purchase of said stock from Rosenthal, being in full control of the electric company, caused and procured all of its franchises, property, and effects to be disposed of to the Edison Illuminating Company, a competitor, for the consideration of upwards of $100,000, and has appropriated to himself practically all of the proceeds, including the dividends and profits belonging to complainant on account of his shares of stock at the time of making the agreement with Rosenthal.

Complainant claims that the electric company and Jacobs hold the same in trust for him, and he is entitled to an accounting with them; that his demand for such accounting has been ignored; that by reason of said sale of stock, so made by Rosenthal as aforesaid, complainant is entitled to recover from him the penalty provided by said agreement. He prays for an accounting with defendants electric company and Jacobs; that defendant Rosenthal be decreed either to pay him the $500 penalty [113]*113agreed upon, or that the sale of said stock to Rosenthal be> rescinded, and the title thereto be declared to be in complainant, upon the payment back by him of the purchase price; that it may be decreed that at the time he sold to Rosenthal his shares of stock participated in the profits then earned, and also in the profits arising from the sale of the company’s property, and that defendants, or such of them as the court may decree, be required to pay over the same to him. The bill asks that each defendant be required to answer numerous interrogatories as set forth therein.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
108 N.W. 899, 145 Mich. 108, 1906 Mich. LEXIS 735, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/phillips-v-jacobs-mich-1906.