167 So. 427 | La. | 1936
The Dr. G.H. Tichenor Company, Ltd., is a Louisiana corporation, domiciled and doing business in the city of New Orleans, with Rolla A. Tichenor, Sr., president, and Dr. Elmore D. Tichenor, secretary-treasurer.
Petitioner is a stockholder of record in the corporation, and has brought the present suit against Rolla A. Tichenor, Sr., to recover the sum of $4,500, accrued penalties, at the rate of $50 per day, and for penalties at the rate of $50 per day, which may accrue from and after judicial demand, for the alleged neglect or refusal of Rolla A. Tichenor, Sr., as president of the corporation, to furnish petitioner, within fifteen days after written request made by him, a verified annual report of the corporation for the year 1933, as required by section 39 of Act No.
The case has not yet been tried upon its merits in the lower court, but petitioner's suit was dismissed on defendant's exception of no right or cause of action, and from that judgment petitioner has appealed.
The exception of no right or cause of action is predicated upon the contention: "That if section 39 of Act
In other words, it is contended by defendant that the body of the act is broader than its title, in so far as section 39 of Act No.
We are not impressed with the soundness of such contentions for the following reasons:
Act No.
In pursuance of the right or power of "regulation," indicated in its title, and also *746 in pursuance of the right or power to "provide penalties for the violation of certain sections," also indicated in its title, it is provided:
"Section 39. Annual Report; Penalty for Violations of Section.
"I. Annually on or before the first day of February in each year it shall be the duty of the President, Treasurer, or other proper officer, or of any two directors of every corporation, to make and sign a report to the Secretary of State, stating specifically, the following facts:
"(1) the post-office address of its registered office;
"(2) the names and post-office addresses of its resident agents;
"(3) the post-office address or addresses of its place or places of business within or without this State;
"(4) the names and post-office addresses of all of its directors and officers and when the term of each expires;
"(5) its capital stock;
"(6) the number of shares of each class of its authorized capital stock, and the par value, if any, of each class;
"(7) the number of shares of each class actually allotted;
"(8) the number of shares of each class actually issued;
"(9) the date appointed for the next annual meeting of its shareholders for the election of directors.
"II. If any report be not made and filed as prescribed in this Section, a corporation, *747 which shall neglect or refuse to make and file such a report within fifteen days after written request so to do shall have been made by the Secretary of State, shall be under a penalty often dollars, recoverable by the Attorney General or the District Attorney of the parish wherein the corporation has its registered office, for the use and benefit of the State, for every day the corporation shall so neglect or refuse to make and file the statement hereinabove described. Every corporation organized under the laws of this State, and every foreign corporation doing business in this State, shall once in every calendar year, uponthe request of any shareholder of record, send to such shareholder, by mail addressed to his last known address, areport made and verified by the president or vice-president and secretary or assistant secretary, containing the informationhereinabove required to be contained in the last annual report ofthe corporation precedinq said request. If either or all of such officers shall neglect or refuse to make and mail or deliver tosuch shareholder, within fifteen days after the written request by the shareholder to be furnished with the statement hereinabove referred to, they shall be under a penalty of fifty dollars,recoverable by such shareholder, for every day such officer orofficers shall so neglect or refuse to make and mail or deliverthe statement hereinabove described." (Italics ours.)
Act No.
In the recent case of Southern Hide Co. v. Best et al.,
Under the right or power of "regulation" of corporations, and under the right or power to "provide penalties for the violation of certain sections" of the act, indicated in its title, the Legislature, without doubt, was justified in enacting, in section 39 of Act No.
These are matters germane to and connected with the general object of the act, are fairly stated in the title, and their inclusion in its provisions is not violative of the constitutional prohibition against a statute embracing in its title more than one object.
The exception of no cause or right of action is not well founded and should have been overruled.
It is therefore ordered that the judgment appealed from, maintaining the exception of no right or cause of action and *750 dismissing plaintiff's suit, be and is hereby reversed and annulled.
It is now ordered that this case be remanded to division D of the civil district court for the parish of Orleans and be reinstated upon the docket of that court, and be proceeded with in due course, and according to law.
It is further ordered that defendant, Rolla A. Tichenor, Sr., pay the costs of this appeal; all other costs to await the final decision of this case.
O'NIELL, C.J., absent.