Diamond Cork Co. v. Maine Jobbing Co.

116 Me. 67 | Me. | 1917

King, J.

Action of assumpsit on an account annexed. The principal defendant admitted its liability. The trustees disclosed a balance of $551.46, claimed by one Isidor Gordon who appeared as claimant of the fund. The presiding Justice found and ruled that the claimant is entitled to the fund and that the trustees should be discharged. The case comes before this court on plaintiff’s exceptions.

The material facts are not in dispute. October 28,1918, the Maine Jobbing Company, owning and operating a bottling establishment wherein, under a contract with the Coca Cola Company, it bottled and sold coca cola only, made a written contract with the alleged trustees, .Davis and Sticlmey, to sell to them its bottling establishment with all the machinery and appliances connected with the same, also all its stock and fixtures thereto belonging, reserving its book accounts, at prices specified. The agreement, signed by both parties thereto, contained the following conditions and provisions:

“This contract is made, however, subject to the party of the first part being able to turn over to the party of the second part its contract with the Coca Cola Company.

“The party of the first part agrees to turn over everything it has in its possession to the party of the second part at once, and hereby acknowledges that it has received to bind the above contract $100.00 (one hundred dollars). Should, however, the contract fail for the reason that the party of the first part cannot turn over its contract with the Coca Cola Co., the party of the first part shall not be liable to the party of the second part for any loss of time or expense of the party of the second part, but shall return to the party of the second ■part the sum of $100. in full settlement of all claims and damages on the part of the party of the second part.

"The party of the second part agrees to the above terms and further agrees that if the party of the first part is able to turn over its contract with the Coca Cola Co. to the party of the second part and the party of the second part do not keep their part of the above contract, they, the party of the second part shall forfeit $100.00.”

Davis and Stiekney took immediate possession of the property as provided for in the contract. Soon after the contract was executed the treasurer of the Jobbing Company and Mr. Stiekney went to Boston and saw the New England Agent of the Coca Cola Company for the purpose of getting the assent of that Company that the Jobbing Company might turn over to Davis and Stiekney its contract with the Coca Cola Company. The assent was not given, but Davis and Stiekney were permitted by the agent to continue the business of bottling coca cola in the establishment until the Coca Cola Company should determine what action it would take in the premises. Under that permission Davis and Stiekney carried on the business until the early part of January, 1914, when they received a new contract, dated January 1, 1914, made by the Coca Cola Company with them direct. This trustee process was served on Davis and Stiekney January 13,1914.

December 20, 1913, the Maine Jobbing Company executed and delivered to the claimant a mortgage of its said bottling establishment, stock and fixtures, and all other property belonging to the grantor and pertaining to said business. It contained the following provision.

"Subject, however, to the contract made by the grantor with Luke Davis and Ralph Stiekney on the twenty-eighth day of October, 1913, said Davis and Stiekney having the full right to carry out said contract, as per the terms of contract, but in so doing, it shall be credited by said Gordon on the indebtedness secured by this mortgage, and all money paid by said Stiekney and Davis on said contract shall be given credit to this grantor as part or entire payment for the indebtedness seemed by this mortgage.”

The mortgage was given to secure $600 payable in two years, and it was duly recorded December 22, 1913.

1. At the hearing an issue was raised by the plaintiff that the claimant’s mortgage was not given to secure a bona fide debt, but was fraudulent. The presiding Justice found otherwise, and we think the evidence justifies that finding.

2. But it is further claimed by the plaintiff that the mortgage is of no validity because the title to the property had passed to the trustees, and the Maine Jobbing Company had nothing to which the mortgage could attach. We think that claim is not sustainable under the facts and circumstances disclosed. It is true that the property was turned over to Davis and Stiekney at the time the contract of sale was executed, as therein provided for. And it is doubtless true that the delivery of possession of personal property to the vendee, under an executory contract of sale, is an important fact to be considered in. determining whether the title has passed to the vendee. If the delivery is absolute, it furnishes strong evidence that the parties intended to pass the title, in the absence of anything evincing a contrary intention. And, as in all such cases, the question here raised, whether title to the property passed "to Davis and Stiekney at the time they took possession of it under the terms of the contract of sale, depends upon whether it was the intention of the parties that the title to the property should pass at that time. Looking at the contract of October 28, 1913, it is, we think, apparent that it was not contemplated by the parties that the title to the property mentioned in the contract was to pass then to Davis and Stiekney. Plainly they did not intend to purchase the bottling establishment at the specified price of $6000, and the stock on hand at cost prices, unless they could have the right to bottle coca cola therein which the Jobbing Company had under its contract with the Coca Cola Company. Without that right, or an equivalent right, the property would be of little value-.

That both- parties to the contract of October 28, 1913 understood that it was to remain executory, and that the title to the property was not to pass to Davis and Stiekney until the Jobbing Company should be able to turn over to them the contract with the Coca Cola Company, is clearly shown by the contract itself. For it is therein expressly provided, that should the contract fail for the reason that the Jobbing Company could not turn over its contract with the Coca Cola Company it was not to be liable to Davis and Stickney for any damages, but should only return to them the $100 which it had received from them, the same to be “in full settlement of all claims and damages” on their part. Indeed the contract shows that Davis and Stickney were not bound thereby to purchase the property in any event, even if the Jobbing Company was able to turn over to them its contract with the Coca Cola Company. They could then retóse to take the property and be wholly free of the contract, except that they would then forfeit the $100 which they had paid. Considering these provisions of the contract of October 28, 1913, and all the other facts and circumstances disclosed., it seems clear to us that the title to the property had not absolutely passed to Davis and Stickney at the time the mortgage was given by the Jobbing Company to the claimant, December 20, 1913, and that the Jobbing Company then had ah interest therein which passed by its mortgage to the claimant as security.

Moreover, the trustee process, though in form an action at law, is in substance an equitable proceeding to determine the ownership of a fund in dispute, especially where a claimant has appeared and become a party to the suit. And as between the plaintiff in such an action and the claimant of the fund equitable considerations must prevail as far as the nature of the process will permit. Harlow v. Bangor, 96 Maine, 294, 296. The mortgage to the claimant was intended by the parties thereto to be effective to convey the property which the Jobbing Company had previously agreed to sell to the trustees, subject, however, to that agreement. It was intended that the mortgage should give the mortgagee, as security, the mortgagor’s entire interest in that property, — the property itself if the executory contract of sale was not carried out, and the proceeds of the sale if it was consummated. The mortgage secured a bona fide debt. It was duly and seasonably recorded prior to the beginning of this action. And if there could be any doubt (and it seems to us there cannot be) as to the claimant’s right to the fund disclosed, determining the effect of his mortgage according to strict legal principles, certainly there could be no doubt as to his right to the fund when equitable principles are applied. In equity his mortgag e will be regarded as an assignment of the fund, for equity disregards mere form. Any writing plainly indicating that the parties intended thereby to transfer the right to a particular property or fund will be treated in equity as a transfer or assignment of the property or fund as may be necessary to effectuate the manifest purpose of the parties.

Exceptions overruled.