Union Trust Co. v. Marsh

236 N.W. 816, 254 Mich. 402, 1931 Mich. LEXIS 948
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJune 1, 1931
DocketDocket No. 111, Calendar No. 35,340.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 236 N.W. 816 (Union Trust Co. v. Marsh) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Union Trust Co. v. Marsh, 236 N.W. 816, 254 Mich. 402, 1931 Mich. LEXIS 948 (Mich. 1931).

Opinion

Sharpe, J.

Defendant here seeks review of an order made by the trial court on the accounting had, pursuant to the order of this court entered on June 2, 1930 (250 Mich. 561).

By reason of the claim here made by the defendant, it seems necessary to review the proceedings in this case at some length. In doing so, we have had resort to the records and briefs filed on the former hearings.

The bill of complaint was filed on July 29, 1926, by the plaintiff as administrator of the estate of Enoch W. Marsh, deceased. It was alleged therein that the deceased, in November, 1915, had estab *404 lished a printing business on Field avenue, in Detroit, and that he carried it on as owner thereof until his death on October 15, 1922, under the name of the Michigan Brief and Record Company; that on his death the defendant, his widow, took possession thereof under a claim of ownership; that she had converted the net income thereof to her. own use, and should account to the plaintiff therefor. The relief sought was an accounting and an order that defendant turn over said business to the plaintiff.

Annexed thereto were copies of five chattel mortgages, given by the deceased to the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, with dates and amounts as follows: November 26, 1915, $2,180; August 12, 1916, $2,741; May 26, 1920, $3,000; July 12, 1921, $2,500, and April 17, 1922, $2,200, on linotype machines, presumably to secure the purchase price thereof. In the last three of these, the mortgagor was said to be “Enoch W. Marsh, doing business as the Michigan Brief & Record Company. ’ ’

The defendant answered, denying the material allegations in the bill. She admitted that the chattel mortgages were executed by her husband, but averred that they were so signed “at the direction and under the authority of this defendant.” In a cross-bill she alleged that the business was established by her, and that she was the owner thereof, and prayed for a decree so determining.

After a hearing on proofs taken in open court, a decree was entered on December 24,1927, containing the following provision:

“That the printing business known as the Michiigan Brief and Record Company, and United States Law Printery, located at 4429 Field avenue (old No. 1009), Detroit, Michigan, and all furnishings, machinery and equipment thereof, and all records *405 thereof, of every kind whatsoever, including books of account, bank books, bank check books, canceled checks, invoices, receipts, and other instruments, or papers or writings in anywise pertaining to said business, and all merchandise, supplies and stock thereof, and all good will existing, developed and connected with said printing* business, together with all notes and accounts receivable, is the property of the estate of Enoch W. Marsh, deceased.”

In it the plaintiff was appointed a receiver of the company and the defendant ordered to deliver to it all of its property and effects. It also provided for an accounting of the business conducted by the defendant after the death of her husband, and that defendant do pay to the receiver such sum as should be found due from her conduct of such business.

The defendant made an ineffectual effort to appeal from this decree. Marsh v. Wayne Circuit Judge, 243 Mich. 530. When the report of the receiver was presented and allowed by the trial court, she sought, on appeal therefrom, to incorporate into the record the testimony and exhibits taken on the trial, but such right was denied to her. Marsh v. Wayne Circuit Judge, 246 Mich. 511.

In the taking* of the accounting now before us, the defendant testified:.

“Prom the date of the starting of the business, that is from the period of November 5, 1915, to and including the 15th day of October, 1922,1 have made advances to the business.”

On objection thereto, the court said:

“That of course was in the original record and that was determined. At the present time it is not the question involved, as has already been determined by the court. ” * '

*406 Under the statute so permitting, she submitted proof that during the period above stated she had contributed to the business the sum of $7,609.03. In ruling upon it, the trial court said:

“If Mrs. Marsh made any advances prior to October 15, 1922, they are charges against the estate of Enoch W. Marsh, and should be pursued as a claim against the estate.”

Under the ruling of the court, the plaintiff was not required to rebut the claim thus made on her part, .and counsel’s statement that there was no controversy over the fact that she made such advances is without force or effect.

Counsel seem unable to appreciate the duty imposed on the court by the decree in taking the accounting. The receiver appointed in the decree was ordered to report to the court a true and complete accounting of said printing business, its property and effects, and of the net profits earned since the date of the death of Enoch W. Marsh, October 15, 1922,. The argument of counsel is founded upon their claim that—

“Appellant established the business of the Michigan Brief and Record Company and Enoch W. Marsh made no contribution whatsoever.”

This claim was litigated on the hearing first had, and the decree then made forecloses her from raising it in this proceeding. On this record we cannot but hold that the trial court was right in declining to consider her claim for advances-made to the business prior to the death of her husband.

'Stress is laid'upon the fact that the “bank account” was not specifically referred to in the decree determining that the business belonged to the estate *407 of the deceased. We do not again quote this provision, but it seems clear that under it any moneys in the bank to the credit of the' Michigan Brief and Record Company would pass to the receiver. We do not find that the amount of the bank account is stated in the report, nor do counsel refer to it in their brief. The claim relative to it is thus stated:

“We contend that appellant was the owner in her own right of the bank account and all sums deposited therein, that the same were her sole and separate property and estate and not that of any other; that the record warrants no other finding, than that this was the sole and separate estate of Ella B. Marsh and she is not required to account to plaintiff, the decedent’s estate, his children or the receiver.”

If considered by the court, we think it was properly disallowed.

The trial court found that the business “was profitably run and managed” by the defendant; that her personal withdrawals from the business amounted to $62,035.31; that she should be charged with interest on overdrafts by her exceeding the sums allowed her for salary and rent, amounting to $5,468.45 — in all, $67,503.76. These charges do not seem to be attacked.

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

Related

Union Trust Co. v. Marsh
238 N.W. 321 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1931)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
236 N.W. 816, 254 Mich. 402, 1931 Mich. LEXIS 948, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/union-trust-co-v-marsh-mich-1931.