United States & Mexican Trust Co. v. Kansas City, M. & O. Ry. Co.

240 F. 521, 1917 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1392
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in United States & Mexican Trust Co. v. Kansas City, M. & O. Ry. Co.. Read the opinion of the Court — 240 F. 511
District Court, D. Kansas·Decided February 26, 1917·No. No. 1262·Published

Opinion

POLLOCK, District Judge.

The facts are, under the foreclosure-decree entered in this case, the railway property covered by the mortgage foreclosed was, on the 6th day of July, 1914, sold to a purchasing committee of the bondholders desiring to participate in tire purchase of the property for the sum of $6,001,000. Under the terms of the decree the purchaser was obligated to pay out of the purchase money underlying claims evidenced by receivers’ certificates and notes, preferential demands, etc., in the sum of more than $2,500,000. Further, under the form óf the decree entered the first mortgage bonds on certain terms and conditions were applicable to the payment of the purchase price. Again, at the date of the sale there existed certain undetermined matters regarding the right to apply certain outstanding bonds toward the payment of the purchase price and other disputed questions, [522]*522rendering the amount of cash required to be deposited to make good the bid uncertain and incapable of definite ascertainment. Hence it transpired the purchaser made no payment of cash into' court required to complete the bid made until October 9, 1916, or for a period of more than two years after the sale was made and confirmed and possession of the railway property delivered to the purchaser. In this condition of the case one William Volker, the holder of five first mortgage bonds undeposited with the Bondholders’ Committee, and on which he elects to take his pro rata share of the purchase price after deduction of the amount required to meet demands of a preferential nature, applies for an order requiring the purchaser of the property to pay interest on that portion of the purchase price payable to the holders of bonds not employed in making good the purchase money bid for the property. The matter stands submitted for decision. -

Without in any manner controverting the correctness of the general proposition urged, that a judgment at law which in terms makes no provision for the payment of interest after its rendition bears interest at the legal rate until paid; or that a decree in equity, requiring the payment of a specifically named sum of money entered under like circumstances, bears interest in like manner; or that, as a usual thing, one who purchases and receives property sold under a foreclosure decree, but who fails or neglects to make payment of the purchase price to complete the bid in equity, should pay interest on the unpaid purchase money from the date of the sale until payment made; yet, under the form of the decree and the special facts of this case, I am of the opinion the order requested must be denied for the following reasons:

The decree in regard to the payment of the purchase price reads as follows:

“Upon the acceptance of any bid for lot A, the person or persons making the same shall, after the application thereto of any amounts theretofore deposited by him or them in cash, make payment in cash to the special master, within ten days after the entry of an order of the court directing such payment, of such amount as shall be necessary to pay and satisfy the costs of this cause and the allowances that shall be'made to the complainant, the trust company, for its services and disbursements and the services .and disbursements of its counsel, the unpaid 'services of the receivers and their counsel, and the sums which may be allowed by the court in this cause, if any, to any other party to this case, or its, his, or their solicitors, and any taxes which may be a lien upon the mortgaged premises; and such purchaser shall also, upon confirmation of the sale, deposit in such banks or trust companies as may be approved by the court the sum of $2,707,400, being the principal and interest to date of maturity of the outstanding receivers’ certificates in the aggregate principal sum of $2,142,000, with interest thereon from January 1, 1914, to July 1, 1914, at 5 per cent, per annum,' and receivers’ notes heretofore executed by the receivers in the aggregate principal sum of $475,000, all maturing July 1, 1914, with interest thereon at 6 per cent, to maturity amounting to $36,850, such deposit to be evidenced by certificate of deposit to the order of the judge and clerk of this court or otherwise, as the court may direct, which amount shall be and constitute a-trust fund for the payment of said receivers’ certificates and said receivers’ notes with interest thereon, respectively, at the maturity thereof; and upon the deposit of said sum of money as herein provided the lien of said receivers’ certificates and of said receivers’ notes shall be released and discharged as to the property to be sold hereunder as herein provided and shall attach to the said money so deposited for the benefit of the holders of said receivers’ certificates and receivers’ notes, and shall be used to pay, satisfy, and discharge said notes and certificates with interest thereon at the maturity [523]*523thereof, and shall be disbursed for that purpose upon the joint order of a judge of this court and the clerk thereof.
“In case any bidder or purchaser shall fail to make good his bid, upon its acceptance by the special master, by making any of the payments as herein-before provided in consummation of his purchase, then the sums paid or deposited by such bidder or purchaser shall be forfeited as a penalty for such failure, and shall be applied toward payment of the expenses of a resale and toward making good any deficiency or loss in case the property -shall be sold at a less price upon such resale, and for any other or further purposes that the court m'ay direct.
“Any of the complainants, or any holder or holders of said first mortgage bonds, may bid and purchase at any sale had under this decree. If any sale for which a deposit has been made shall not be confirmed by the court, such deposit shall be returned to the purchaser, and the deposit of any unsuccessful bidder shall be returned to him, when a bid other than that made by him has been accepted.
“The balance of the purchase price of lot A not hereinbefore required to be paid in cash may be paid either in cash, or the purchaser may satisfy and make good the balance of his bid, in whole or in part, by turning in to be paid and canceled, or to have payment on account credited thereon, first mortgage bonds and coupons, and such purchaser shall be credited therefor on account of the purchase price with such sums in cash as would be payable on such bonds and coupons out of the proceeds of sale if the whole amount of the purchase price were paid in cash.
“The amount payable upon the acceptance of a bid for lot B shall be payable in cash, any moneys deposited to qualify the purchaser to bid being first applied thereon.
“Any deposit or payment required by the terms of this decree to be m'ade in cash (other than the deposit to be made for the purpose of paying and discharging the outstanding receivers’ certificates and receivers’ notes, with interest thereon at maturity as provided in paragraph 19 hereof, which shall be made in the manner therein provided) may be made by the delivery of a certified check or checks, or certificate or certificates of deposit, upon or issued by any bank or trust company, in favor of or to the order of said special master and satisfactory to him'.

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United States & Mexican Trust Co. v. Kansas City, M. & O. Ry. Co., 240 F. 521, 1917 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1392 (D. Kan. 1917).

240 F. 521 (United States & Mexican Trust Co. v. Kansas City, M. & O. Ry. Co.) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.