Prokopovitz v. Kurowski

174 N.W. 448, 170 Wis. 190, 1919 Wisc. LEXIS 9
Wisconsin Supreme Court·Decided November 4, 1919·Published·Cited by 4 cases

Opinion

Siebecker, J.

' In addition to the facts referred to in the foregoing statement the court found (1) that the transfer of the goods, Wares, and merchandise to Kurowski was accomplished by assignment by Palka of the contract of sale and purchase between him and Chimka; (2) that Kurowski knew the terms of such transfer of this property and that he knew that the creditors of Chimka. specified in both sales to [193] be paid by the purchaser were not all of Chimka’s creditors, and that he was informed before the purchase that Chimka owed plaintiff on the note sued on; (3) that Kurozvski knew that Chimka and Palka were about to leave the state and that they probably had no property that could be reached by these creditors to satisfy their claims.

An examination of the evidence convinces us that thé court erred in finding these facts. The evidence adduced fails to show that Kurowski had any knowledge of the terms of sale from Chimka to Palka aside from the fact of transfer and that Palka agreed to pay those of Chimka’s creditors who were specified in the list attached to the bill of sale. There is no evidence to show that Kurowski knew Chimka owed other debts nor that Chimka owed plaintiff and the bank on the notes involved in this case. The record is also barren of proof that Kurowski had any knowledge that Chimka and Palka were financially irresponsible and their creditors would be unable to reach any property belonging to them or to secure payment of the debts owing by either of them. The finding that- the transfer of the property by Palka to Kurowski was in effect an assignment of Palka’s contract of purchase from Chimka is wholly unsupported by the facts. The evidence shows without dispute that a sale of property between Palka and Kurowski was negotiated on an agreed consideration through Palka’s agent, and the transaction constitutes a direct sale of the goods between the parties. The trial court awarded recovery to plaintiff as a creditor of Chimka against Kurowski upon the grounds that plaintiff had the right to satisfy his claims out of the goods, wares, and merchandise Chimka sold to Palka, who in turn soid them to Kurowski, because the sale by CKimka was in violation of the bulk sales law (sec. 2317c, S(tats.), and that Kurowski, under the facts of the transaction, is estopped from claiming title to the goods as against Chimka’s creditors. Concededly the requirements of this act were not complied with in making these sales of these goods, and the sale [194] to Palka was void as to Chimka’s creditors. The court held Kurowski could not stand in the position of an innocent purchaser as against Chimka’s creditors in the light of the facts of the case. It is contended by plaintiff that the bulk sales law by its terms makes absolutely void as to the seller’s creditors a transfer of a stock of goods not-made in compliance 'therewith, and that a transferee under such circumstances acquires no title, and hence he cannot convey a good title to the goods to a third party. This claim is based upon the terms of the act declaring that such a sale “shall be conclusively presumed to be fraudulent and void as against the then existing creditors of the seller. . . .” The original statute did not make á sale in bulk without notice to the seller’s creditors required by the statute conclusively void, and under that statute it was held in Fisher v. Herrmann, 118 Wis. 424, 95 N. W. 392, that the fraud presumed could be repelled by the bona fides of the transaction. It 'is evident that" the amendment makes such a sale for want of conformity to the statute conclusively fraudulent and void as to the seller’s creditors. This effect, however, does not render a sale of the goods void between the first buyer and a third party and prevent a transfer of title to the property from the former to the latter. Zahl v. Billings, 118 Wis. 459, 95 N. W. 374. The first seller’s creditors had the right, however, of satisfying their demands against the property sold in the possession and ownership of the first purchaser, either by attaching the property in the buyer’s hands or by garnishment of the buyer for the value of the goods he purchased. Gazett v. Iola C. M. Co. 164 Wis. 406, 160 N. W. 170; Jaques-Tinsley Co. v. Carstarphen W. Co. 131 Ga. 1, 62 S. E. 82, and cases cited; Leidersdorf v. Kress, 169 Wis. 484, 173 N. W. 218.

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Prokopovitz v. Kurowski, 174 N.W. 448, 170 Wis. 190, 1919 Wisc. LEXIS 9 (Wis. 1919).

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