Scott v. Goodman

25 F.2d 175, 1928 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1063
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Ohio
DecidedJanuary 6, 1928
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 25 F.2d 175 (Scott v. Goodman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scott v. Goodman, 25 F.2d 175, 1928 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1063 (N.D. Ohio 1928).

Opinion

JONES, District Judge.

The plaintiff, as trustee in bankruptcy of the Quaker City Pox Farms, Inc., filed a petition against I. H. Goodman, receiver of that concern, appointed by the court of common pleas of Mahoning county. This court, on December 29, 1927, issued a temporary restraining order upon the application of the plaintiff against the defendant as receiver in the state court, enjoining the latter from proceeding with the administration of the estate of the Quaker City Fox Farms, Inc. The order was served upon the state receiver, and hearing on the permanent injunction was assigned, upon notice and consent of counsel representing both parties, for hearing January 5th, at 11 a. m. No return, answer, or appearance was made for the state receiver. In addition to prayer for injunction, the trustee in bankruptcy also prays for an order requiring the' state -receiver to show cause why the assets and property of the Quaker City Fox Farms, Inc., now in his possession, together with its books, papers, records, and documents, should not be immediately delivered to this plaintiff, as trustee in bankruptcy for the Quaker City Fox Farms, Inc.

The plaintiff was elected trustee in bankruptcy, following the filing of á voluntary petition in bankruptcy, upon- which adjudication was entered December 5, 1927. The defendant was appointed receiver by the court of common plea's of Mahoning county on the' 10th day of November, 1927. It will thus appear that the proceedings in the state court were commenced within four months next preceding the filing of the voluntary petition and adjudication in bankruptcy. The insolvency of the bankrupt on November 10th is not disputed. On the 21st day of December, 1927, pursuant to an order of the referee in charge of this bankruptcy, the trustee filed an application in the court of common pleas of Mahoning county for an order upon its receiver to surrender the assets and property of the Quaker City Fox Farms, Inc. Plaintiff avers that said application was denied, and that the defendant has failed and refuses to surrender the assets and property, and continues to hold possession thereof.

The question is presented as to whether the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court is superior to that of the state court with reference to the assets of the bankrupt, and whether the orders of the former court shall prevail in requiring the assets to be turned over to the bankruptcy court for administration, to the exelusion of the state court.

Under the act of Congress creating courts of bankruptcy, they are invested, within their respective territorial limits, with sueh jurisdiction at law and in equity as will enable them to exercise original jurisdiction in bankruptcy proceedings in vacation, in chambers, and during their respective terms as they are now or may be hereafter held, to (15) make sueh orders, issue sueh processes, and enter sueh judgments in addition to those specifically provided for as may be necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of the act. Section 2 of the Bankruptcy Act (11 USCA § 11). By section 3 of the Bankruptcy Act (11 USCA § 21) it is provided, among others, that an act of bankruptcy shall consist of a person having (5) made a general assignment for the benefit of his creditors or, while insolvent, a receiver or a trustee has peen appointed, or put in charge of his property (underscoring amendment of 1926).

It is also further provided by section 67 of the Bankruptcy Act (11 USCA § 107) that any lien created or obtained in or pursuant to any suit or proceeding at law or in equity, including an attachment begun against a person within four months before the Sling of a petition in bankruptcy by or against such person, shall be dissolved by the adjudication of sueh person to be a bankrupt when it appears that sueh person was insolvent, and also that all levies, judgments, attachments, or other liens obtained through legal proceedings against a person who is insolvent, at any time within four months prior to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy against him, shall be deemed null and void in case he is adjudged a bankrupt, and the property affected by the levy, judgment, attachment, or other lien shall be deemed wholly discharged and released from the same and shall pass to the trustee as part of the estate of the bankrupt. The state court proceeding having been commenced within four months before the filing of the petition in bankruptcy, and the adjudication having been entered thereon, the jurisdiction of the District Court, sitting in bankruptcy, immediately attached and was exclusive. In re Gutwillig (D. C.) 90 F. 475; In re Smith (D. C.) 92 F. 135; In re Etheridge Furniture Co. (D. C.) 92 F. 329.

’ The filing of a petition in bankruptcy is [177]*177a caveat to all the -world, and in effect au attachment and injunction, and on adjudication and qualification of a trustee the bankrupt’s property is placed in the custody of the bankruptcy court, and title becomes vested in the trustee. Mueller v. Nugent, 184 U. S. 1, 22 S. Ct. 269, 46 L. Ed. 405.

The general rule is that, where a court of competent jurisdiction has, by appropriate proceedings, taken property into its possession through its officers, the property is thereby withdrawn from tho jurisdiction of all other courts. Lion Bonding Co. v. Karatz, 202 U. S. 89, 43 S. Ct. 480, 67 L. Ed. 871. And when such court has legally acted with respect to property taken by it, its rights must be respeeted, and cannot be collaterally attacked or overridden by a subsequent order of a bankruptcy court. Metcalf v. Barker, 187 U. S. 165, 23 S. Ct. 67, 47 L. Ed. 122; Pickens v. Roy, 187 U. S. 177, 23 S. Ct. 78, 47 L. Ed. 128. However, this rule has only a qualified application where bankruptcy proceedings have intervened, in which event the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court is supreme and exclusive. In re Watts, 190 U. S. 1, 23 S. Ct. 718, 47 L. Ed. 933; Randolph v. Scruggs, 190 U. S. 533, 536, 23 S. Ct. 710, 47 L. Ed. 1165; In re Etheridge Furniture Co. (D. C.) 92 F. 329; In re Dayton Coal & Iron Co. (D. C.) 291 F. 390, 398.

Tho power of the bankruptcy court in such cases is plenary under the statute, and its jurisdiction in bankruptcy eases is superior to and not concurrent with the state courts, and under the bankruptcy law it is authorized to issue injunctions against the parties and stay proceedings in state courts when necessary for the exercise of its jurisdiction. Lea et al. v. George M. West Co. (D. C.) 91 F. 237. To the same effect see In re Smith (D. C.) 92 F. 135; In re Fellerath (District Court, Northern District of Ohio) 95 F. 121. Although an insolvent corporation is in the hands of a receiver appointed by a state court, this will not deprive the federal court of jurisdiction in proceedings against the corporation, under the Bankruptcy Law. Louisville Trust Co. v. Cincinnati, 22 C. C. A. 373, note.

That the District Court in bankruptcy has the power to enjoin proceedings in a state court, under proper circumstances has been pretty definitely established by statute and the decisions of the highest courts. Section 265 of the Judicial Code (28 USCA § 379) provides that “the writ of injunction shall not be granted by any court of the United States to stay proceedings in any court of a stale, except

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Bluebook (online)
25 F.2d 175, 1928 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1063, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scott-v-goodman-ohnd-1928.