Donworth v. Coolbaugh

5 Iowa 300 | Iowa | 1857

"Woodwakd, J.

This is a proceeding under the general incorporation act of 1847, (statutes 1847, 101), passed under the first constitution of the State, to subject the private property of the stockholders to the debts of the company. The Eairfield & Mt. Pleasant plank-road company was organized in the spring of the year 1851, under the above named general act. In 1853, a judgment was recovered against the company, and there being no corporate property, the plaintiffs seek to make their debt of the members.

The argument of the defendants, opens with an objection which is not entitled to consideration in the present cause. This is, that the record shows the indebtedness on which the original judgment was rendered against the company, to have been a liability of Charles Negus, and not of the company; that the judgment was rendered on orders drawn by Negus on the company, and presented, and not paid; that signing as president, does not involve the company, but is a mere description of the person, and the liability is personal; that without more, the orders were not a debt of the company; and that it is for debts of the company only, that the stockholders may be rendered personally liable.

As this has passed into judgment, we do not readily apprehend upon what ground the defendants suppose they can go back and re-examine it. And the argument, that the claims were so taken, was by admission, and not upon trial, is subject to the same doubt. This is a proceeding separate from that on which the original judgment was rendered, although it springs out of it. There were no “ exceptions ” taken in that, and there was no appeal, that we are informed of. And if there were, they would be heard in that, and not in this proceeding. This is to ascertain whether the stockholders are liable personally, and the appeal is from a judgment holding them so liable. To answer that inquiry, the consideration of the first judgment, was not one of the subjects of examination. This liability is determined by facts extrinsic to the judgment, after having found the existence of judgment against the company, and we do not perceive how it is to be opened to inquiry again.

But, supposing that this court could now look back to tin's objection, there are still two remarks to be made in relation to it: First, the record does not show that no other evidence than the orders, was received, before rendering judgment. The form of the entry does not preclude the idea of other evidence being heard. And, again, there were no objections, and no exceptions taken, in that suit, according to the record before us. But, secondly, this matter is not assigned as error, nor is it embraced in the assignments. It may possibly be contended that it falls under the fourth, but we do not so understand it. If, however, it should be regarded as embraced in that, then the foregoing remarks apply to it, and we do not think it can be reached.

The general tenor of the defendants objections to this proceeding, is of a higher character than the foregoing. They maintain that the act of 1847, under which the company organized, having been repealed, the liability is gone, and that a remedy cannot be found in the Code, against these defendants, as members of a company which organized under the prior law. They hold that this proceeding is defective, inasmuch as the judgment is rendered against the individuals, and for sums certain — -and this, without notice to them, and without trial; that it could not be for the whole unpaid balance; that it is rendered for too much; that the amount of liabilities could be ascertained in chancery only; and- that the judgment should haye been general' — that is, that the amount of the former judgment be made of the members, thus giving them an opportunity to come, or to be brought, into court.

Ve cannot concur in that position of the defendants, which maintains that the repeal of the act of 1817, took away the liability. ¥e should not hold that this destroyed the corporation — that it took away all its rights, by causing it to cease as a body corporate, nor, therefore, that its obligations, or those of its members, were blotted out. The act of 1817, with the articles adopted by a company organizing under it, constituted its charter; and they were, in relation to it, the same as a charter granted by the general assembly. The repeal of the act, was but the repeal of it as a rule of future organizations, but not a repeal as to the past. This was a private corporation, and its existence could no more be taken away by the repeal of the general law, than could that of one incorporated by private act, in which there was no provision to that effect, by the repeal of such act. The corporation still existed under the general law, and that was the law of its existence.

This would seem to be the necessary construction, upon principle, in order to avoid an infringement upon well es tablished rules, in relation to private corporations and private rights; but the last section of chapter 13 of the Code, which is the general incorporation act, and which went into force, July 1, 1851, seems to conclude this question, by providing that “nothing herein contained, is intended to affect the interests of companies already organ_ ized, further than is above expressed.” In this chapter, it is enacted, that corporations already existing, may bring themselves under the provisions. of the Code, by taking certain steps for that purpose, and manifesting that design. But this company did not take any steps to bring itself under the law of 1851, and therefore, it continued ■under that of 1817, and this is the law by which it is to be judged.

We proceed to the inquiry, whether the court could properly, undertake to find who are stockholders, and the amount of their respective liabilities. The last section of the act of 1817, would seem to be an amendment, and not in perfect accordance with the preceding provisions. Section 19 enacts, that if the company does not show good cause why individual property should not be made liable, the court shall order the execution to be levied upon such property. By section 20, the property can be released only, first, by the party pointing out sufficient company property; or second, by filing an affidavit, that the funds of the company are exhausted, and informing the officer making the levy, of the same, in which case he shall make a return of this fact, and suspend further proceedings; and the property is to be treated as though held by attachment, until the further order of the court. By section 21, the plaintiff “ may appear, and, in answer to a rule to show cause why the property should not be released, may allege such matters as will render the private property of the members liable. Issue shall thereupon be joined, to be tried by jury.”

This contemplates questions made, and issues joined, between the plaintiff and the members. And upon what matters did the act contemplate this joining of issue ? It originally had a manifest reference to sections nine and sixteen, by which it is enacted that a failure to comply with the previous requisitions, or a substantial departure from the articles of association, should render the individual property of the members liable for the corporate debts. Thus, the act evidently intended, at first, to render the members liable only in case of fraud, or of the misconduct of their affairs. But the twenty-sixth and last section was added, providing, in broad terms, that the private property of each stockholder, shall be liable for all the debts of the corporation, to the amount of stock owned by him at the time such debts were contracted, or subsequently.

Tbe question, then, is to adapt tbe previous provisions, directing the proceedings, to the liability created by this twenty-sixth section. And there is a method, which is simple, whatever other objection may be to it, and that is, that when the plaintiff, under the twenty-first section, answers to the rule, to show cause why the members’ property should not be released, he should allege that the opposite party, or defendant, is a stockholder, which he would be enabled to show, as well as the amount, &c., by compelling the production of the books and papers of the company, under section twenty-two. The apparent objection to this construction is, that it renders the process circuitous for reaching the private member. But the answer is, that the process is as direct in this case, as it is to reach the members for fraud or misconduct. But, more than this, the above is the only method by which, under this act, the members can be brought into court, and have a hearing and trial. We cannot accept a view which does not admit an issue and a trial. This is clearly the way pointed out by the act, to arrive at the other facts constituting the ground of liability, and the existence of this fact must be ascertained in the same manner. It is true that the method is cumbersome, but not more so in the one case than in the other. The legislature holds the power to remedy the evil, and not the court.

The consequence of this examination is, that the court could not legally proceed, in that stage of the case, and in the manner in which it has, to adjudge who were stockholders, and in what amount each was liable, and the judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings. See the case of Hampson & Weir v. Chilcott, 4 Iowa, 13.

At the suggestion of counsel, and as the detail of the statute is somewhat difficult to ascertain and pursue, we go a little further, and in dicate, according to our present views, the method of proceeding, but not intending to settle, in anticipation, any substantial rights or liabilities. The court should render judgment, that, as no cause is shown to the contrary, it is ordered that execution be issued, to be levied upon the individual property of the members of the said corporation. The officer serving the execution is then to ascertain, as he may, who are members. The person whose property is thus levied upon, may then point out company property whereon to levy, or file in the clerk’s office an affidavit that the funds of the company are exhausted, according to section twenty. After this, the plaintiff, or creditor, may release the property, as of course, or if a rule be served upon him, according to section twenty-one, he may appear and show cause why the property should not be released. And to this end, he may ■ allege such matters as render the private property of the members of the company liable, as under sections nine and sixteen, and also under section twenty-six, that the person whose property is levied upon, is a stockholder. And it is at this stage of the proceedings only, under this act, that the member has his day in court, and can contest his liability. Upon the allegations here made, issue may be joined and tried by a jury. If such a rule as above indicated, be not served upon the plaintiff, it would seem that he might move that the officer be ordered to proceed, and sell the property levied upon.

The judgment of the district court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings.