State ex rel. Hersh v. First Judicial District Court

464 P.2d 783, 86 Nev. 73, 1970 Nev. LEXIS 459
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 2, 1970
DocketNo. 5964
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 464 P.2d 783 (State ex rel. Hersh v. First Judicial District Court) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State ex rel. Hersh v. First Judicial District Court, 464 P.2d 783, 86 Nev. 73, 1970 Nev. LEXIS 459 (Neb. 1970).

Opinion

[75]*75OPINION

By the Court,

Batjer, J.:

On May 29, 1969, Irma Joyce Dwight filed her complaint against Meadow Valley Ranchos, a Nevada corporation, asserting that she was the owner of at least one-tenth of the issued and outstanding capital stock of that corporation, and that the officers, directors and other stockholders thereof were guilty of fraud, ultra vires acts, conspiracy, subterfuge, unlawful acts, charter violations, misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance and prayed for the appointment of a temporary receiver, the appointment of a receiver and an injunction restraining the corporation from exercising its powers or doing business. An order was entered by respondent court directing the corporation to show cause why the prayer of the complaint should not be granted. The complaint and summons, as well as the order to show cause, were served on the resident agent of the corporation at Carson City, Nevada, on May 31, 1969.

Upon the motion of counsel for the corporation, the scheduled hearing on the show cause order was continued from June 9, 1969, until June 13, 1969, and was finally concluded on June 17, 1969. On that same date the corporation, through its counsel, moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to join the [76]*76directors and stockholders of Meadow Valley Ranchos as indispensable parties.

The respondent court denied that motion, then entered its order appointing a temporary receiver and granting a temporary restraining order and injunction against the president, officers, agents and servants of the corporation.

The relators who claim to be directors of the corporation have never made an appearance in district court, nor filed a motion or other pleadings with that court requesting their appointment as a temporary receiver or temporary receivers, nor have they moved to have the temporary receiver removed. Nevertheless, they have applied to this court for a writ of prohibition upon the grounds that the trial court was without jurisdiction to appoint a temporary receiver and grant a temporary restraining order because the relators had not received notice of the hearing and were denied an opportunity to be heard. The relators further complain that they were not named as parties; that the temporary restraining order and injunction were issued without bond in contravention of NRCP 65(c); that there was insufficient evidence of insolvency or mismanagement to warrant the appointment of a temporary receiver; that they were deprived of property and valuable rights without due process of law; that the respondent court acted in an unconstitutional manner; and that they were denied their statutory right to be appointed to the position of temporary receiver. An alternative writ of prohibition was granted by this court pending a hearing and decision on these issues.

Before the hearing in district court, counsel for the corporation requested that the plaintiff post a nonresident bond pursuant to NRS 18.130(1). Cash in the statutory sum of $300 was posted by the plaintiff, Irma Joyce Dwight. When the district court entered its order granting a temporary restraining order it directed that this money which had been posted as a nonresident bond be the only security necessary to meet the requirements of NRCP 65(c).1 This order was entirely improper because the bond once posted under NRS 18.130(1) must [77]*77remain for the defendant’s benefit until the action is dismissed or judgment is entered.

The granting of a temporary restraining order without a proper bond is a nullity. That part of the order of the trial court filed on June 19, 1969, granting a temporary restraining order is void, and that part of the alternative writ concerning the temporary restraining order and injunction is made permanent. Shelton v. Second Judicial Dist. Court, 64 Nev. 487, 185 P.2d 320 (1947); State v. Eighth Judicial District Court, 81 Nev. 131, 399 P.2d 632 (1965); Brunzell Constr. v. Harrah’s Club, 81 Nev. 414, 404 P.2d 902 (1965). However, this finding that the temporary restraining order and injunction are void should not be interpreted as precluding a temporary receiver, receiver or other interested party from hereafter petitioning the district court, during progress of this case, for a temporary restraining order and injunction.

We turn now to examine the order appointing a temporary receiver. The creation of a receivership must be conducted as smoothly and expeditiously as possible. Unless a temporary receiver can be appointed to take control of assets and preserve the property, the mischief complained of might well cause their dissipation before a hearing can be held on the merits to determine if a permanent receiver should be appointed. The legislature has recognized the problems that may result from long delays and has provided a method in NRS 78.6502 for the appointment of a temporary receiver. We find the enactment of [78]*78NRS 78.650 to be a constitutional exercise of legislative prerogative and that its provisions meet the basic requirements of notice and an opportunity to be heard as required by the mandate of due process.

The relators attack the service of the order to show cause upon the basis that no attempt was made to personally serve them or the other officers of the corporation, other than the resident agent. Neither NRS 78.650 nor NRCP 4(d)(1) require an attempt to serve other officers where service is made upon the resident agent. Rever v. Lapidus, 151 So.2d 61 (Fla. 1963). Here NRS 78.650(3) specifically provides that it shall be sufficient for the purposes of a temporary appointment if notice is given to the corporation alone.

Notwithstanding NRS 78.650(3) the relators contend that, as directors, they are indispensable parties to this litigation, [79]*79must be named as defendants and served with process by reason of case decision in this state. We are referred to the cases of Golden v. District Court, 31 Nev. 250, 101 P. 1021 (1909), and Shelton v. District Court, 64 Nev. 487, 185 P.2d 320 (1947). Neither case concerned the appointment of a temporary receiver and to that extent do not touch the precise issue confronting us in this case. Those cases, however, do have relevancy to the appointment of a permanent receiver.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
464 P.2d 783, 86 Nev. 73, 1970 Nev. LEXIS 459, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-ex-rel-hersh-v-first-judicial-district-court-nev-1970.