Ruwitch v. Frankel

68 F.2d 52, 1933 U.S. App. LEXIS 4886
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
DecidedDecember 19, 1933
DocketNo. 4981
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 68 F.2d 52 (Ruwitch v. Frankel) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ruwitch v. Frankel, 68 F.2d 52, 1933 U.S. App. LEXIS 4886 (7th Cir. 1933).

Opinion

SPARKS, Circuit Judge.

. Appellant, a citizen and resident of Michigan, filed her amended bill in equity on behalf of herself and all other bondholders of Straus Bros, and Straus Bros. Investment 'Company, hereinafter referred to as the Straus firm, against appellees who are all citizens and residents of Illinois, Louis P. Frankel and Gustav Frankel, as individuals and as partners doing business as Frankel Bros., also against Herman S. Strauss, Esbi-eo Management Corporation, Mohawk Finance Corporation, Straus Bros. Holding Corporation, and B. L. Rosset, C. J. Young, A. S. Grover, E. G. Krumrine, H. G. Zan-der, doing business as Protective Committee for bond issues underwritten and sold by the Straus firm.

Although not disclosed by the record, it is recited in appellees’ brief and not denied by appellant that appellees filed their joint written motion to dismiss the amended bill [53]*53for the following reasons: (1) Lack of sufficient facts to constitute a causo of action; (2) lack of sufficient facts to warrant equitable relief; (3) lack of necessary parties; and (4) misjoinder of causes of action. The record discloses that, after argument of counsel, the amended hill was dismissed by the court at appellant’s costs for want of equity, and from that judgment this appeal is prosecuted.

Since the suit was dismissed on the ground of the defects within the bill itself, it becomes necessary for us to set out that bill in some detail. In addition to the jurisdictional grounds, it is based upon the following alleged facts: Appellant irrevocably employed a firm of brokers and investment bankers, operating under the name of "Straus Brothers” and "Straus Brothers Investment Company” to act for her as her agent and fiduciary, in handling her money and investing it to the best of the firm’s ability, and to her best advantage. The Straus firm from time to time associated itself with other brokers, architects, and builders in the acquisition of real estate and the issuing of what it termed "first mortgage gold bonds and bond issues, secured by the conveyance of said real estate to the firm or its agents as trustees.” While this agency and fiduciary relationship were in effect, the firm distributed to appellant and others a number of first mortgage real estate gold bonds which purported to be secured by conveyances to the Straus firm or its agents, as trustees of real estate improved or about to be-improved. Appellant is the owner of certain of these bonds (listing and describing them) in the aggregate principal amount of $2.2,500, being bonds of seventeen different issues, signed by that many different mortgagors, and secured by the same number of separate and distinct trust deeds, in sixteen of which Herman S. Strauss is named as trustee, while the Phillips State Bank is thus named in the other ono.

The bonds, bond issues, and trust deeds were prepared by the Straus firm which reserved to itself, as trustees, agents, and attorneys, broad discretionary powers. Complete audits of the operations of the buildings were to be made to the Straus firm by the owners while the bonds remained outstanding; that firm was to collect and disburse all interest and principal to the bondholders and institute suit to enforce the payment of them in ease of default, and it, as trustee, was appointed as agent of all bondholders in all matters pertaining to the trust deeds, including the taking possession of the buildings and properties therein described in case of default.

As a part of the agreement, the Straus firm undertook to, and did at its own expense, supervise the execution and delivery of all necessary documents and title papers and the proper disbursement of the money procured from appellant and others similarly situated. It also undertook to enforce the covenants of the trust deeds in case of default, and to do all proper and necessary things to secure for appellant the benefit of her securities so that her bonds and interest would be paid in full at maturity. The Straus firm promised that upon her demand before maturity it would repurchase her bonds, after deducting 1 per cent, service charge.

The Straus firm had an arrangement with the architects, brokers, builders, and makers of the bonds, with whom it did business, by which it was permitted to and did deduct and appropriate from the money received from the sale of the bonds, large sums as commissions and expenses, and for that reason it had hound itself at its own cost to act as agent and trustee for the bondholders, which facts were well known to appellees, the Frankels.

During June, 1930, many of the bond issues distributed by the Straus firm had declined in value and earning power, due to mismanagement of the buildings and properties held as security for the bonds, and to the further fact that the par values of the bond issues were greatly in excess of the loan values of the securities, and became defaulted or required some form of extension or reorganization. The Straus firm thereupon disregarded its duty and obligation to reorganize the real estate and conduct and manage it for the benefit of the bondholders, and fraudulently and without authority or consent of appellant and the other bondholders entered into a conspiracy with appellees, the Frankels, to defraud appellant. In furtherance of their scheme the control and ownership of tlio Straus firm was transferred for the sole purpose of avoiding its responsibility and that of its officers, and enabling the Frankels to profit at the expense of appellant and the other bondholders of the Straus firm. In order to carry out the plan the Frankels organized and used certain corporations under their domination and control, viz.: Esbico Management Company, Mohawk Finance Corporation, and .others, not named, for the purpose of taking over, and [54]*54they did take over the financial and property management of the business of the Straus firm.

The Frankels then caused the Straus firm, its trustees, agents, and attorneys to exercise the powers under the trust deeds for the benefit of the Frankels rather than for the bondholders. By that means they obtained control and ownership of many of the buildings and properties given as security for the payment of appellant’s bonds and those of other bondholders similarly situated, and are causing the rents, issues, and profits thereof to be collected. Out of these they are deducting large sums under the guise of service charges, fees, and commissions to trustees, attorneys, and agents. The Frankels under the name of the Straus firm have caused the bondholders to be circularized by mail and in person for the purpose of misrepresenting the condition of the securities. Because of the original employment of the Straus firm and its fiduciary relationship with respect to the bondholders, some of these bondholders have deposited their bonds with the Straus firm or its committees, trustees, or other nominees, with full power to act in their behalf, and many depositing bondholders have never signed or seen the deposit agreement, but, in reliance upon the aforesaid fiduciary relationship, have nevertheless deposited their bonds in the belief that the depositories, trustees, and committees were acting as agents for the Straus firm. As a result of this, the Frankels have been enabled to manage, control, and own the various properties described in the trust deeds to their sole interest and to the detriment of the bondholders’ interests.

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Bluebook (online)
68 F.2d 52, 1933 U.S. App. LEXIS 4886, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ruwitch-v-frankel-ca7-1933.