Hedges v. Paquett

3 Or. 77 | Clackamas Cty. Cir. Ct., O.R. | 1869

Upton, J.

filed the following opinion:

The evidence in this case fails to show that the defendants have been guilty of actual fraud.

It is shown that the business of the corporation under their management, has been unprofitable, and their management has not been such as to commend itself either for energy or business capacity; but the evidence does not show either gross negligence or 'gross mismanagement of the affairs of the corporation. It cannot be considered the province of a court to superintend the current business of corporations, with a view to measure the degree of industry,’ skill and shrewdness to be required of, or exercised by the directors and other officers or agents. Asa consequence, a court of equity will not interfere to review or correct their proceedings, on the ground of fraud or mismanagement, unless there is cause for an absolute displacement of the officer or officers complained of, or for a final winding-up of the affairs of the corporation.

The evidence shows that the defendants, Joseph and Peter Paquett, attempted tp mortgage the property of the corporation, and it tends to show that the attempt was for the purpose of gaining to themselves an advantage over other creditors, and to reimburse themselves for advances they claim to have made.

It may be assumed as true, that the attempt to mortgage the property of the corporation was without authority, and that the mortgage is void. But it does not follow that the other acts of the directors, having no necessary connection with that attempt, are invalid; nor that the directors have been guilty of any actual fraud. The mortgages, if void, are so because the directors went beyond their powers and jurisdiction in attempting to execute them, and if void, they are of no force, and injure no one.

The most important question presented, relates to the exercise of the powers of the board, consisting of three directors, by a bare majority — when acting upon matters in which one or the other of the two directors composing the majority had a direct personal, interest. By the act concerning corporations, section 9, all the powers of the corporation are exercised by the board of directors, and by sec. 11, the powera vested in the directors may be exercised by a majority of them. Those include the election of president and secretary, and probably the fixing their salaries, and the compensation of all other officers, agents and employees, if not determined by the by-laws. The provisions of the statute necessarily involve the idea, that the director's will vote for each other, in filling other offices; for the president must be one of their number.

It seems to be a recognized doctrine in the various states of the union, that “the relation existing between a director and the corporation is that of trastee,” and it has been held as a consequence that a .director can not, as such, exercise a discretion in a matter involving his own individual interest. And this has been put upon the ground that ‘ ‘ the office of common agent infers a natural disability which ex vi termini imports the highest legal disability, because a law which flows from nature is paramount to all positive law.”

On the authority of cases cited in Gardner v. Ogden (8 Smith, 327), it is sought to apply to this case the maxim, “Nemo debet esse judex en propria causa!” If the maxim is to be applied to these cases, on the ground that to do otherwise would violate a principle that is paramount to all positive law, it will render proceedings, in corporations having only three directors, exceedingly difficult, and when the directors are more numerous, it will be difficult to draw the line that separates the direct from the indirect interests of the director or eveu the stockholder.

When a stockholder votes for a particular set of men as directors, he has, or thinks lie has, an individual interest in electing those in preference to others; but it is not necessarily a direct pecuniary interest. When, however, one of these directors votes in electing a paid president, the director knows, that if he votes for himself, he votes in favor of his own personal interest, and if against himself, by voting for and assisting to elect another, he votes in a matter not only involving his own interest, but absolutely decisive of his right to the emolument of the office. I am irresistibly led to the conclusion that the law of this state contemplates that directors will sometimes aci; and exercise the powers of the corporation, in matters, where the interests of the individual director are not in all respecte coincident with those of the corporation, and that the rule in regard to transactions by trustees should apply only so far that the decision of the interested director should not be conclusive, but subject to be reviewed and set aside, if it is not equal and just and free from any taint of fraud or partiality. In 'other words, the decisions and proceedings of such interested directors are always open to examination, and it is always incumbent on them to show that the utmost good faith has characterized their actions.

If it should be established as a rule, that every vote of a stockholder, and every vote and act of a director, given or done in a matter in which he had a personal interest hot coincident with that of the corporation, should be held fraudulent and void, it would be impossible for corporations under our law to transact business, and the act concerning corporations would become impracticable.

If a strict and correct administration of the law required such a rule, the resulting inconvenience would be no excuse for disregarding the law. But is such a rule made necessary by the law of the case? I think it is not.

It is a familiar principle in equity jurisprudence that he who complains and asks relief, in addition to showing fchati a strict rule of la;w has been violated, must also show that he is injured by the violation. If he shows that a salary has been audited and paid in a manner not in strict compliance with the law, to invoke equitable relief, he must also show that no salary was due, or that too much was paid, or that in some other respect it caused injury to the complainant.

The language of the statute evidently imports that, if not prevented by the by-laws, the directors may fix their own compensation, and may pass upon other questions in which the individual director has an interest.

If the rule stated in the very impressive speech, of Lord Thurlow, cited in Gardner v. Ogden, is to be deemed applicable to this subject, such provisions of the general law relating to corporations are not only unconstitutional, but they are in violation oí “a law which flows from nature, and which is paramount to all positive law.”

Lord Thurlow undoubtedly alludes to some such undefined or supposed doctrine as that which is so often and so flippantly mentioned in later years, under the name “The Higher Law.”

It is not clear that this doctrine, so positive in its avowed effects and yet so undefined, so often mentioned and yet so little known, has any application to the matter under consideration.' If there is such a rule, which renders it impossible to enact a law that permits a director to vote upon a question in which his personal interests may be involved, because such an "act would be contrary to a rule that flows from nature, by the same reasoning the congress of the United States would bo prohibited from fixing by law the compensation of its members. A governor would not be capable of signing an appropriation bill appropriating money for the payment of Ms salary. And no constitution could confer the power, for the rule, as Lord Thurlow declares, is paramount to all positive law.

When a particular application of the language of that learned jurist will lead to a conclusion so manifestly erroneous, there must be some error in the application.

I think the directors of a corporation may, under our law, by their votes select the president and other officers and agents of the corporation, and if not prevented by by-laws, may audit, and allow their own compensation. The right of election by votes of the directors, necessarily includes the volition in each director to vote for or against each candidate in cases where he has a voice. Whether it includes a right on the part of a director to vote for himself, for au office which must or may be held by one of the directors, I will not attempt to decide, as the point in question may be placed on the less questionable ground, that such acts of the board of directors, even if voidable, are not absolutely void. And. whoever seeks to avoid them, at his own instance and suit, must show that he is injured in consequence of the act complained of.

I do not think the plaintiffs have shown direct injury growing out of the manner of seleoting officers or agents, or out of the manner of auditing or allowing accounts. Nor have they shown any actual fraud, or any such gross mismanagement of the affairs of the corporation as warrants the interference of a court of equity.

An order should be entered dismissing the bill.