Unangst v. Roe

107 Misc. 516

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: June 15, 1919
• Status: Published

Opinion

Lehman, J.

On September 12, 1911, the firm of Van Schaiek & Co., stock brokers, were compelled to make a general assignment. The defendant Roe had left with that firm a large amount of corporate securities and these securities Avere pledged, together with securities belonging to customers of the firm, with various banking institutions as collateral for loans. After the assignment by Van Schaiek & Co. these banking institutions resorted to the pledged collateral to obtain payment of their loans. The defendant Roe claimed that he had a position superior to the OAvners of other securities pledged with his own as collateral for such loans and upon delivering to the banking institutions instruments AArhich gave them adequate protection, apparently received from each of them any surplus of securities or their proceeds after its loan \Aras paid. The plaintiff herein Aims a margin customer of Van Schaiek & Co. and her securities had been pledged together with securities mvned by the defendant as collateral for some of such loans, and she now claims that she and the other margin creditors are entitled to share in the surplus to the exclusion of the defendant Roe or at least ratably with him. The action now under consideration has been brought to enforce this claim and to secure an accounting from the defendant in regard to surplus of collateral delivered to him by the Title Guarantee and Trust Company after it had satisfied the indebtedness of Van Schaick & Co. upon two loans, by sale of a portion of the collateral deposited as security.

These loans, for $50,000 and $100,000, were obtained by Van Schaick & Co. respectively on July 24, 1911, and July 27, 1911. By agreement with Van Schaick & Co. the trust company had the right to treat the collateral deposited in either loan as security for both and so far as concerns the issues of this action the two loans may be considered as one. After these loans were obtained Van Schaick & Co. from time to time changed the collateral with the consent of the trust company. At the time of the assignment by Van Schaick & Co. twenty shares of St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company first preferred stock owned by the plaintiff was included in this collateral and 100 shares of stock of the National Biscuit Company, 100 shares of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, 100 shares of the General Electric Company and 200 shares of the Distillers Securities Corporation owned by the defendant Roe. The stock owned by the plaintiff was part of a considerable amount of securities on which she owed the brokers the sum of $32,729.79. The stock owned by the defendant Roe was part of a very large amount of securities deposited with the brokers on which prior to August 30,' 1911, he owed the sum of $259,098.78. On that date, however, upon the advice of his counsel and with knowledge obtained from Van Schaick that the firm was in a precarious condition, he ordered the sale of sufficient securities held by Van Schaick & Co. to pay any debit balance owing to them and on the day of the assignment the remainder of the securities wTere the absolute property of Roe free from any claim upon them by the brokers. This debit balance was paid in order to enable Roe to demand his securities from the brokers and to place him in a superior position to that occupied by margin customers of the firm in regard to any securities which Van Schaick & Co. did not return. Roe did on the same day make a demand for his securities but the demand was certainly not peremptory calling for an immediate return of the securities, but according to the undisputed testimony was a “ general ” demand to have Van Schaick return them as soon as he could and was not intended to “ embarrass ” Van Schaick. Coupled with this so-called demand, Roe’s attorney stated in his behalf to Van Schaick that he revokes “ any authority which you may have had by reason of his indebtedness or otherwise to place his securities in loans,” and he also requested that pending the delivery to Roe of his securities Van Schaick should so place the securities throughout the loans that they would bear the least burden possible. Prior to this time Roe had placed in Van Schaick & Co.’s office, Mr. Slade, his son-in-law, with authority to look after his interests, and Slade to some extent participated in the management of the affairs of the firm, at least so far as concerned the carrying out of the directions of Roe to place his securities throughout the loans so that they would bear the least burden possible. Under his general supervision Van Schaick & Co. at various times prior to September eleventh changed about the collateral in their loans including the loans under consideration, in order that Roe’s securities might be placed in those loans where upon a sale of collateral the owners would have the smallest loss or might be so distributed that so far as possible they would represent the probable margin between the value of the collateral and the amount of the indebtedness. From time to time during this period there were other conversations between Eoe or his attorney and Van Schaick or his attorney, and at these conversations the “ demand ” of Roe was repeated and Van Schaick was again directed not to repledge any of Roe’s securities if they “ came on the counter.” On September eleventh the situation became somewhat acute. Various customers demanded their securities and to free the securities demanded changes were constantly made in the. collateral deposited in the different loans. In one case a bank loan in which 100 shares of American Telephone and Telegraph stock belonging to Roe had been deposited was paid and the collateral released but Roe’s shares were thereupon, deposited as collateral in the loans under consideration. Later in the same day Roe’s son-in-law, on his behalf, demanded the delivery of certain other shares of stock which could be released from the loan in which they Avere placed only by the pledge of stock of other parties. His demand was complied with but promptly thereafter Van Schaick & Co. prepared to make a general assignment Avhich Avas filed the folloAving day. Immediately thereafter the defendant served a notice upon the Title Guarantee and Trust Company that he Avas the owner of the securities mentioned above and a demand that the trust company satisfy its lien by a sale of the other securities in its possession as collateral for the same loan. In accordance "with this notice and demand the trust company resorted to the securities owned by Roe only in so far as the sale of the securities owned by other parties left a deficiency upon its loans, and delivered to him 100 shares of the stock of the General Electric Company, 85 shares of the stock of the National Biscuit Company and the sum of $535.13, which represented the surplus of the collateral security after the loans were paid.

If Van Schaick & Co. had made their assignment prior to August thirty-first, and the trust company had then enforced its lien upon the fund deposited with it as security for the indebtedness due to it, it seems to me quite clear that the loss sustained by the owners of. that fund would on well-recognized equitable principles have been imposed ratably upon all the owners. The plaintiff does not claim that Van Schaick & Co. did not have authority to pledge her stock with the bank and even within a month of the assignment the defendant Roe had delivered some of his securities to Van Schaick & Co. for the sole purpose of enabling them to pledge these securities with banks to raise money for their own purposes. This delivery was made with evident knowledge that the other securities previously deposited by him with Van Schaick & Co. wrere already being used for the same purpose, and there can be no real doubt that at that time Van Schaick & Co. had authority from the defendant Roe to pledge all his securities for their own benefit and that all pledges wTere actually made by virtue of that authority. The securities owned by the plaintiff and the defendant were consequently all subject to the lien of the trust company not through any estoppel but by the consent of the owners. All the collateral so deposited constituted one fund which was security for Van Schaick & Co.’s indebtedness and to the extent of their interest in the fund all the owners of this collateral were co-sureties and entitled in equity to an equal distribution of any loss suffered, and I can see no ground upon which any claim of priority of equity between two parties who have both given authority for a pledge of their securities can he based. The payment by Boe of his indebtedness on August 31st and his subsequent efforts to obtain either his securities or at least a position, in regard to his securities, superior to that of margin customers have introduced in this case some novel elements. The defendant claims that by reason of these acts he is now the legal owner of the securities delivered to him, free from any equities on the part' of the plaintiff, while the plaintiff claims that by reason of these acts the defendant has lost the right to ask contribution from his co-sureties or to share in the surplus of the fund which was security for the principal debt.

The mere fact that prior to the assignment of the brokers the defendant Boe paid his debit balance to them does not, I think, alter the situation except in so far as it increased the value of Boe’s interest in such, securities and might therefore change the proportion in which he would share in the proceeds of the fund. From that time he of course owned the securities free from any lien of the brokers. He had, however, given the brokers authority to pledge these securities with the banks and while the brokers might be under a contractual obligation to return the securities to him on demand, such a demand, even if peremptory and for immediate delivery, could not revoke ab initia the authority previously given or make tortious an act performed with the defendant’s consent. The right of the lender to look to this collateral became fixed when the pledge was made. These rights were given to it by Boe’s authority and neither Boe nor the brokers could change these rights without the lender’s consent. The payment of the debit balance to the brokers freed the securities from the lien of the brokers but did not free them from the lien of the banks to which they had been pledged. They could be freed from that lien and the right to immediate possession revested in the defendant only if the debt to the bank was paid or a substitution of collateral made with the consent of the lender. It is contended, however, that even though as between the defendant Eoe and the lender the payment of the debit balance and the so-called demand was without effect, yet as between him and the owners of the other collateral it placed him in a superior position. I cannot see upon what principle this claim is based. The right of contribution among co-sureties arises from the nature of the relationship. The relationship in this case arises from the fact that both the plaintiff and the defendant Eoe have given authority, express or implied, to the brokers to pledge their property as security for the brokers’ debt, and that through such pledge each has become to that extent a surety for such indebtedness, and as between themselves co-sureties, even though without any agreement on their part. So long as both continue sureties for the same debt the relationship of co-sureties continues with all its usual results. Until the trust company voluntarily released the securities of Eoe from its lien they continued as collateral for the debt of Van Schaick & Co., not through estoppel nor by reason of any lien which Van Schaick had upon them, but because pledged by Eoe’s authority and consent; and since the payment in no wise affected his relation as surety for the debt of the brokers, it could also in no wise affect his relation as co-surety with the plaintiff which arose as a necessary concomitant; and Eoe obtained no better right by reason of his payment than he had before. Certainly as to the securities which belonged to Eoe and which were deposited in this loan thereafter with his consent and by his request in order to lighten the burden which would rest upon the whole mass of his securities if Van Schaick & Co. were unable to pay their debts, the previous payment ancl demand for all the securities was merely an empty form.

There is, however, one claim made by the defendant Boe which in my opinion is more serious. Even though he could not revoke ab initia his authority to pledge his securities he could revoke it for the future, and if thereafter the brokers used his securities when freed from the lien of the earlier pledge as collateral for a, new loan, such repledge would, in my opinion, constitute a larceny, and while the lender might obtain a lien upon them by estoppel that estoppel would be enforced only in his favor and not in favor of the other sureties for the brokers’ debts. In the present case at the same time as the defendant Boe made his somewhat equivocal demand upon the defendant for the return of the stock, he also specifically revoked any authority to repledge stock which came into the brokers’ hands freed from the lien of the loan for which they had previously been pledged. This revocation was, however, coupled with the direction to change about the securities for the defendant’s benefit in the various loans and, of course, in so far as the brokers carried out the direction with the knowledge and consent of Boe’s agents this revocation was to that extent ineffective and this limitation upon the revocation undoubtedly affects all the securities in the loans under consideration placed therein after August thirty-first, except perhaps the'100 shares .of American Telephone and Telegraph stock which were placed therein on September eleventh. Even if, however, the defendant Boe was entitled to receive the value, of this stock out of any surplus remaining after the loan was paid, which for reasons hereinafter set forth I seriously question, he has received more than the value of this stock and the plaintiff would still be entitled to the relief asked in the complaint, viz., an accounting. I am not, however, satisfied that even this stock was wrongfully pledged. It appears clear that Boe and his agents did not object to Van Schaick & Co. delivering securities to their customers in the regular course of business upon demand; in fact, if such demands were refused the failure of the brokers would have been precipitated and the plan of Roe and his attorneys to free his securities so far as possible from the burden imposed upon them by their pledge would have been frustrated. It appears from the books of Van Schaick & Co. that the 100 shares of American Telegraph and Telephone stock were originally deposited in a bank loan with securities belonging to a customer who had made a demand and there is evidence that Roe’s agent consented that this demand should be met. Apparently in order to comply with this demand and the demands of other customers this loan was paid; the securities of this customer contained therein were returned to him. and Roe’s 100 shares of stock were substituted in the loans under consideration to release stock .of this and other customers who had demanded its return. There is no direct evidence that Mr. Slade, Roe’s son-in-law and agent, knew or approved of the repledge before it was made, but there is evidence that he was “ poring ” over the books all day long and that on the same day by his direction certain shares of. stock belonging to the defendant Roe, of greater ■value than the 100 shares of American Telephone and Telegraph. Company stock,, were released from another ■.loan and returned to him, through the substitution of •stock belonging, to.other customers which were .contained in the loan that had been paid. In the absence of protest when he learned of the repledge and in view of the fact that Roe through his agent obtained an actual advantage by the payment of the earlier loan, it might well be .inferred that Roe did not intend to revoke authority to repledge stock belonging to him contained in loans which the firm was compelled in the ordinary course of business to take up when such repledge was made to meet current obligations or to benefit himself. This inference would be strengthened if it appears from the books that while Mr. Slade was looking after the interests of the defendant Roe other repledges were made for such purposes. I am not in a position to examine the books, to determine whether there have been such other transactions, but since in any event there must, in my opinion, be an accounting and this question affects only the amount which may . be due from Roe upon such accounting, such examination can be more properly made upon the reference.

Finally, the defendant Roe. claims in effect that even though the equities of the parties may be equal, he has received the legal title to the stock by delivery from the trust company and that a court of equity will, not interfere with the legal title where the equities are equal. The rule invoked by the defendant seems to me to have no" application to the facts in this case. The rights of the parties' between themselves became fixed when the'brokers made their assignment and the trust company was compelled to resort to the, collateral, deposited as. security.. All of that collateral 'was. subject to the same obligation and lien ¿nd’ its owners as co-sureties were entitled then'.to contribution. from, each, other! for- any' loss' sustained. Their rights could . not be .changed or.determined by any hazard of chance in the order of sale or by any selection of. the .pledgee bank.,. It follows -that"'the.’ defendant, could’' gain, no. advantage by the. delivery of the stock to hint and .must-.' account for its "value to hi's co-sureties. Whitlock v. Seaboard National Bank, 29 Misc. Rep. 84.

The only question that requires further consideration is raised by the contention of the plaintiff that the parties were co-sureties on August thirty-first; that one co-surety may not take any steps to defeat the rights of his co-sureties; that the acts of the defendant Roe, performed with knowledge of the situation, in paying his indebtedness, obtaining the return of part of his stock, making substitutions of collateral and demanding the sale of the collateral belonging to the other parties before resort was had to his own securities, were calculated to and did impair the rights of his co-sureties and should in equity deprive him of all right to contribution from them. The entire contention seems to me to be based on the premise that the rights of the parties as co-sureties became fixed as soon as the relationship of co-sureties came into existence. That premise seems to me unsound. They became co-sureties without agreement between themselves by reason of the fact that they were sureties for the same debt and that relation could be destroyed without agreement between themselves whenever they ceased to be sureties for the same debt. The principal debtor and the creditor could by agreement at any time change the collateral and by such change could alter or destroy the co-suretyship existing among the owners of the collateral previously deposited. Any customer had the right to demand his stock and the'broker was under a contractual obligation'' to deliver it. ' If he secured its release' from the lien of the loan and returned it to the .owner-, he. might impose a. greater.burden upon the remaining securities -but the other; owners could not complain,- for Aheir,- rights.- to:.-contribution.- did- not beceliie: fixed Until resort-' to'the futid was necessary in order tó -free any' part of if from the lien' of the debt. Until that time the defendant had the right to receive the return of part of his stock and to endeavor to cause a rearrangement of the collateral for his own benefit. He had not agreed to become or remain a co-surety with the other parties and he OAved them no obligation except such obligation as the laAV imposed when the rights of the parties became fixed.

I have not considered it necessary to consider at length the defense of loches raised by the ansAver. The plaintiff is seeking to enforce a property right and has no other adequate remedy. She has brought the action within the time limited by laAV, and there is ]io proof that by her delay she has caused any damage to the defendant.

Interlocutory judgment Avill therefore be directed for the plaintiff and a reference will be ordered to take the account.

Ordered accordingly. .