Scoggan v. Hoff

165 F. Supp. 424, 1958 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3704
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Kentucky
DecidedAugust 22, 1958
DocketCiv. A. 3085
StatusPublished

This text of 165 F. Supp. 424 (Scoggan v. Hoff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Kentucky primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scoggan v. Hoff, 165 F. Supp. 424, 1958 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3704 (W.D. Ky. 1958).

Opinion

SHELBOURNE, Chief Judge.

This action was filed January 11,1956, by J. K. Scoggan, Trustee in Bankruptcy of Pickerill Motors, Inc., plaintiff, versus Lee R. Hoff, defendant, subsequently, Helen Hoff, wife of Lee R. Hoff, was made a party defendant. During the pendency of this action and on March 6, 1958, Lee R. Hoff died and this case was revived, as to defendant Lee R. Hoff, against The First Hardin National Bank as executor under the will of Lee R. Hoff, deceased.

The plaintiff seeks to avoid a deed executed by Pickerill Motors, Inc., to Lee R. Hoff on July 21, 1955, preceding the adjudication as a bankrupt of Pickerill Motors, Inc., pursuant to its voluntary petition in bankruptcy filed August 17, 1955. The property conveyed consisted of two and one-half lots described as [425]*425Lots 36 and 37 and the south half of Lot 35 in Block B of Highlands Addition to the Town of Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The plaintiff alleges that the deed from Pickerill Motors to Lee R. Hoff constituted a voidable preference within the meaning of Section 60 of the Bankruptcy Act (11 U.S.C.A. § 96) and a voidable preference, because it was allegedly made by Pickerill Motors with intent to defraud its creditors, within the meaning of Section 67, sub. d(2) (d) of the Bankruptcy Act (11 U.S.C.A. § 107, sub. d(2) (d)); that the transfer of the lots is void under the provisions of KRS 378.-010 and, therefore, void under Section 70, sub. e(l) of the Bankruptcy Act (11 U.S.C.A. § 110, sub. e(l)).

The defendants Lee R. Hoff and Helen Hoff denied all of the allegations of the complaint save and except the allegations with respect to plaintiff’s appointment and qualification as Trustee in Bankruptcy and the allegations as to jurisdiction.

The ease was tried to the Court without a jury on December 3 and 4, 1956. The case was submitted, following the filing of briefs, on February 10, 1958. The case was re-opened following the death of Lee R. Hoff on March 6, 1958, and was again submitted on July 9, 1958.

The sections of the Bankruptcy Act and the Kentucky Revised Statutes involved here are as follows:

“Section 60 sub. a(l) of the Bankruptcy Act. — A preference is a transfer, as defined in this Act, of any of the property of a debtor to or for the benefit of a creditor for or on account of an antecedent debt, made or suffered by such debtor while insolvent and within four months before the filing by him or against him of the petition [initiating a proceeding under this Act], the effect of which transfer will be to enable such creditor to obtain a greater percentage of his debt than some other creditor of the same class.”
“Section 67, sub. d(2) of the Bankruptcy Act. — Every transfer made and every obligation incurred by a debtor within one year prior to the filing of a petition initiating a proceeding under this Act by or against him is fraudulent * * * (d) as to then existing and future creditors, if made or incurred with actual intent as distinguished from intent presumed in law, to hinder, delay, or defraud either existing or future creditors.”
“Section 70, sub. e(l) of the Bankruptcy Act. — A transfer made or suffered or obligation incurred by a debtor adjudged a bankrupt under this Act which, under any Federal or State law applicable thereto, is fraudulent as against or voidable for any other reason by any creditor of the debtor, having a claim provable under this Act, shall be null and void as against the trustee of such debt- or.”
“KRS 371.010. — No action shall be brought to charge any person:
******
“(8) Upon any promise, agreement, or contract for any commission or compensation for the sale or lease of any real estate or for assisting another in the sale or lease of any real estate; unless the promise,, contract, agreement, representation,, assurance or ratification, or some memorandum or note thereof, be in writing and signed by the party to be charged therewith, or by his authorized agent. The consideration need not be expressed in writing, but it may be proved when necessary or disapproved by parol or other evidence.”
“KRS 378.010. — Every gift, conveyance, assignment or-transfer of,, or charge upon, any estate, real or personal, or right or thing in action,, or any rent or profit thereof, made with intent to delay, hinder or defraud creditors, purchasers or other persons, and every bond or other evidence of debt given, action commenced or judgment suffered, with like intent, shall be void as against such [426]*426creditors, purchasers and other persons. This section shall not affect the title of a purchaser for a valuable consideration, unless it appears that he had notice of the fraudulent intent of his immediate grantor or of the fraud rendering void the title of such grantor.”
“KRS 381.170. — -When a deed is made to one person, and the consideration is paid by another no use or trust results in favor of the latter unless the grantee takes a deed in his own name without the consent of the person paying the consideration, or unless the grantee in violation of a trust purchases the lands deeded with the effects of another person. Such deeds are fraudulent as against the existing debts and liabilities of the person paying the consideration.”
“KRS 382.080. — (1) No deed conveying any title to or interest in real property, or lease of oil, gas, coal or mineral right and privilege, Tor a longer time than five years, nor any agreement in consideration of marriage, shall be good against a purchaser for a valuable consideration without notice thereof, or any ■creditor, unless the deed is acknowledged by the party who executes it, ■or is proved and lodged for record in the proper office, as prescribed by law.
“(2) The provisions of this section shall apply with like protection to the creditor of, or innocent purchaser from, the heir or devisee of the grantor.”
“KRS 382.110. — (1) All deeds, mortgages and other instruments required by law to be recorded to be effectual against purchasers without notice, or creditors, shall be recorded in the county clerk’s office of the county in which the property conveyed, or the greater part thereof, is located.”

'The Court makes the following findings of fact from the testimony heard, the .depositions and exhibits:

Findings of Fact

(1) July 8, 1954, Lee R. Hoff gave to Pickerill Motors, Inc., his cheek for $2,-750, which Pickerill Motors deposited to its credit and used in releasing from a “floor plan lien” a station wagon sold to H. E. McCullum.

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Bluebook (online)
165 F. Supp. 424, 1958 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3704, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scoggan-v-hoff-kywd-1958.