Scott v. Mead

37 F. 865, 1889 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedFebruary 19, 1889
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 37 F. 865 (Scott v. Mead) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Scott v. Mead, 37 F. 865, 1889 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36 (S.D.N.Y. 1889).

Opinion

Brown, J.

The complaint was filed in August, 1880, by John H. Platt, assignee in bankruptcy of Abraham Mead, to have applied to the benefit of the estate five houses and lots on the corner of Fifty-Fifth street and Sixth avenue, the title to which had been taken in the name of Sarah J. Mead, the bankrupt’s wife, alleged to be in fraud of creditors. Upon thevdeath of Mr. Platt, Mr. Scott, the succeeding assignee, was substituted as complainant. The general facts as charged in the bill are stated in the decision on the demurrer to the amended complaint, (9 Fed. Hep. [866]*86691,) where some of the other legal questions involved, are also considered. It is unnecessary to repeat what is there stated. The answer denies all allegations of fraud.

The lots were bought by Mead in February and May, 1867, for about $31,000, of which $16,000 remained upon mortgage, and $15,000 was paid by Mead in cash, or its equivalent. The title was taken in the name of his wife, Sarah J. Mead. In 1870 and 1871 Mead built upon, the lots five houses, at a cost variously stated by Mead as from about $115,000 to $165,000, begun in the latter part of 1869, and completed in 1871. Of this sum $76,000 was obtained upon bond and mortgage upon the same premises during the progress of the work; the rest was raised by Mead in various w’ays, from the sale of other real estate standing in his own or in his wife’s name, from moneys borrowed by him, and by discounts which he obtained on accommodation notes at the Sixth National Bank.

Mead was by occupation a plumber. For some years prior to 1866 he had dealt to some extent in real estate, always taking title in his own name, excepting one house in Thirty-Sixth street", bought early in 1865, where he resided for a number of years, the title to which was taken in his wúfe’s name, and, as he testifies, was “designed to be hers from the start.” In 1866, Littlefield obtained a judgment against him by default for. $3,183.83, which was a lien on two houses and lots in Forty-Third street, then standing in' his name. He W'as afterwards allowed to come in and defend, the judgment meantime standing as security. The case was litigated' by him until 1876, when final judgment was entered for $5,118.28. During this interval from 1867 to 1873 bis speculations in real estate were gradually much enlarged. His obligations became heavy. All titles after 1866 were taken in the name of his wife or part-' ner, except as to one house in West Twelfth street, in which there was an equity of $5,000. Down to the end of 1872 the real-estate market was rising, and he realized considerable profits, which were mostly reinvested in property heavily mortgaged. He was unable to carry this propertj^ through the depression which followed the panic of 1873. Except the buildings and lots now in question, it was all disposed of by sales at a loss, by foreclosures with deficiency judgments, or by reconveyances to the grantors upon nominal consideration. At the epd of 1873 he became distressed for money, paid little or no accruing interest after 1874, was insolvent in 1875, and in 1878 was adjudicated a bankrupt. This suit was commenced within two years after the delivery of the assignment to the assignee. The statute of limitations is therefore no bar to this suit.

For the defendants it is contended that there is no proof of any fraudulent intent as respects any creditor, existing or subsequent; and that no relief can be had upon the Littlefield claim, because he voluntarily released sufficient real estate which was primarily charged with the payment of his judgment.

The Revised Statutes of this state provide that where a grant is made to one person, and the consideration therefor paid by another, no use or 'trust shall result in favor of the latter, but the title shall vest in the for[867]*867raer, except only that “such conveyance shall be presumed fraudulent as against creditors, at that time, of the person paying the consideration;” and, “if a fraudulent intent is not disproved, * * * a trust shall result in favor of such creditors to the extent necessary to satisfy their just demands.” 1 Rev. St. p. *728. §§ 51, 52.

The above provisions apply to the original purchase, and to Little-field’s judgment, which was a claim then existing. Mead, as I have said, pul about $15,000 into this purchase in his wife’s name. The statutory provisions do not apply to the improvements made upon the lots from three to five years afterwards, even though the land be held to belong to Mrs. Mead as against creditors. The husband’s expenditures in building upon them valuable houses stand in no better position than a voluntary gift from husband to wife; and, as against creditors, if intended as a gift, it must stand or fall according to the rules applicable to such gifts, having reference to the debtor’s means and a reasonable provision for his family, and the rights of creditors, existing and subsequent.

As respects the Littlefield claim, it is urged that a fraudulent intent is disproved by the circumstances, because the judgment was already abundantly secured, it is said, by real estate standing in Mead’s name; because lie had other personal moans to a considerable amount; and because the inconveniences attending real-estate transactions in one’s own name while a judgment in litigation attaches a lien upon them, furnish a perfectly innocent and justifiable reason for dealing in the name of another, without any presumption of a fraudulent intent. These considerations are entitled to much weight; and they would be deemed controlling were they not overcome by other evidence and by Mead’s subsequent conduct. Resides the general evidences of his intention referred to below, the evidence demonstrates that Mead did not intend to leave any real estate standing in his name as a security for the Littlefield judgment any further than he could help; and that, long before Littlefield’s final judgment was perfected, Mead withdrew his interest completely. He himself procured the release of one house in 1867 upon a nominal consideration. He sold the other to Mrs. Travis upon full consideration, in 1872; and a third in West Twelfth street, which was taken in his own name at the same time with the sale to Mrs. Travis, (probably as a su Instituted, though inadequate, security for the judgment to satisfy Mrs. Travis,) he sold with full covenants and warranty a few months afterwards, without reference to the judgment. This last house was sold on execution on the Littlefield judgment in 1876, realizing but $1,000, and leaving' upwards of $4,000, besides 12 years’ interest, still unpaid. My conclusion is that Mead not only meant to contest the Littlefield claim, but meant never to pay it if he could help it; and that his taking the subsequent titles in his wife’s name was partly with this intent.

The two releases executed by Littlefield do not prejudice the claim under his judgment. The release of the house 103 West Forty-Third street in 1867 was evidently obtained by Mead himself, to enable him to convey that property, and thereby obtain a part of the consideration which was used to purchase the Sixth-Avenue lots in question. The re[868]*868lease of the other house, 128 West Forty-Third street, was made in consideration of $200 paid hy Mrs. Travis in February, 1873, about a year after i'ts conveyance to her by Mead. This property had stood in Mead’s name before the recovery of the judgment, and was undoubted^ sufficient security for the judgment. The conveyance was made “subject to all assessments for widening Broadway, which are to be paid by the party of the second part, [Mrs.

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Bluebook (online)
37 F. 865, 1889 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/scott-v-mead-nysd-1889.