Richardson v. Devine

79 N.E. 771, 193 Mass. 336, 1907 Mass. LEXIS 1177

Opinion

Knowlton, C. J.

This is an action brought by a trustee in bankruptcy of the Lawrence Equitable Co-operative Society, a corporation organized in 1894 under the provisions of Pub. Sts. c. 106, as a dealer in household and personal supplies on the cooperative plan, which was adjudged bankrupt on October 5, 1893, to recover money paid to the defendant by the manager of the corporation after it became insolvent. The defendant was the holder of a pass book given him by the corporation, upon which on July 1, 1903, was entered as the amount of his “ present claim shares,” $520.49. Upon this pass book, on August 25, 1903, there was entered under the head “ Shares Withdrawn,” the sum of $500, making the balance under the head “ Present Claim Shares,” $20.49. At different times within two or three days of this time the manager of the corporation paid different sums to the defendant, amounting to $500, represented by this entry. In reply to a question in writing put by the judge to the jury at the trial, they answered that the corporation was insolvent at the time of this payment, and it is not contended that any error entered into this finding. To the question, “ Was the defendant the creditor of the Lawrence Equitable Co-operative Society or a shareholder therein ? ” they answered, “Shareholder.” They also answered “No” to the' question, “ Was the manager authorized by the board of directors of the society to make payment to the defendant on account of the withdrawal of his shares ? ” The defendant objected to the refusal of the judge to give certain rulings that he requested and to a part of the charge. In view of the findings, many of these requests-are now immaterial.

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There was ample evidence to warrant the finding that the defendant was a shareholder in the corporation. Indeed, the evidence to this effect was almost overwhelming. The defendant contends that the judge deprived him of a part of his defence by directing the jury to answer the second question, referred to above, “Shareholder” or “Creditor.” He says that the jury might have found that he had no relation to the corporation, and that the money which he had furnished on account of which the manager made the payment was a loan to the manager personally. The reply to this is that he took no exception and apparently made no objection to the manner in which the questions were submitted to the jury. Besides, the description of the transaction, including the giving of the pass book, in the bill of exceptions, is such as to make it certain that the defendant was dealing with the manager of the corporation as the corporation’s representative, and not in his personal capacity.

Upon the undisputed evidence it is plain that the manager had no authority to make this payment to the defendant for shares withdrawn, without authority of the board of directors. Even if the company had been solvent, he had no such authority. The directors themselves could not properly make such a payment while the corporation was insolvent.

As a member of the society the defendant was charged with knowledge of the by-laws. The only by-law in reference to the withdrawal of money by stockholders, on account of their stock, gave the manager and the president, acting jointly, authority to permit a stockholder to withdraw a sum not exceeding $10, and to submit the matter to the directors at the next meeting. Evidence was admitted, subject to the exception of the defendant, that, in all cases of the withdrawal of sums greater than $10 previous to this payment to the defendant, an application was made, and the withdrawal was authorized by an express vote of the directors before the money was paid out. Upon the defendant’s contention that the manager had authority to make the payments to him by virtue of his position as the representative of the company this evidence was competent.

W. O. Ford, for the defendant. E. R. Row, for the plaintiff.

The vote of the stockholders in January, 1895, to add an “ amendment to the by-laws that no person be allowed to hold more than $400 in stock of the society,” coupled with the fact that “ from that time, down to the date of the adjudication that the society was bankrupt in 1903, various shareholders held shares in excess of $400 with the knowledge and consent of the society,” did not enlarge the defendant’s rights in reference to the withdrawal of his shares, nor make him a creditor for the amount invested above the sum of $400.

In view of the instructions to the jury and the special findings, it is unnecessary to consider the requests for instructions more particularly.

Exceptions overruled.

The jury found for the plaintiff in the sum of $562.92; and the defendant alleged exceptions.