White v. Hosford

37 Iowa 566 | Iowa | 1873

Miller, J.

This action is brought under section 1163 of the Revision, which reads as follows: “ Intentional fraud in failing to comply substantially with the articles of incorporation, or in deceiving the public or individuals in relation to their means or their liabilities, shall subject those guilty thereof to fine and imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court. Any person who has sustained injury from such fraud may also recover damages therefor against those guilty of participating in such fraud.” It is thus made an indictable offense in any one who shall commit the fraud contemplated in this section of the statute, and he is liable to respond in damages to the person injured by such fraud. The question raised by the demurrer is whether the allegations of the petition state a case of fraud within this section of the statute

The first species of fraud mentioned in the statute is “ intentional fraud in failing to comply substantially with the articles of incorporation.” The terms here used are general ones. The statute does not specify what particular failures are intended, nor could it do so, for this must depend upon the provisions .of the articles of incorporation, but the pleader should state in his pleading wherein the officers have failed to comply substantially with the articles of incorporation. It is not sufficient to state that they have committed intentional fraud without stating the facts contemplated by the statute as constituting a part of the offense created. In order to state a ease within this clause of the statute, it must be alleged wherein there has been a failure to comply with the articles of incorporation, and that such failure was with intent to defraud. The act and the intention must be both alleged to constitute the offense. In this case the act is not averred. It is not shown what were the requirements of the articles of incorporation, or wherein the officers or the defendant failed to comply therewith, or that there had been any failure whatever with the requirements of the articles.

With this general averment in the petition, it is alleged that the fraud consisted also “ in failing to comply with the laws of the State of Iowa.” This also is too general. It does not allege what act, if any, has been fraudulently omitted which the law requires to be done. Furthermore the section of the statute above set out does not include every failure to comply with the laws of Iowa. It is a penal statute and will not be extended to include acts not fairly embraced by its language.

The other species of fraud contemplated by the above section of the statute is, “ in, deceiving the public or individuals in relation to their means or their liabilities.” In order to state a case under this clause of the statute the pleader must allege the commission of some act done with the fraudulent intention of deceiving the public or individuals in relation to the means or the liabilities of the corporation. An intention to thus deceive will not of itself constitute the intentional fraud contemplated. There must be an act done, in pursuance of such intention. It is as essential to allege the act as it is to allege the intention. Such act is not alleged in the petition in this case. The acts charged against the defendant are diverting the funds of the concern from their proper channel by surrendering his stock and taking pay out of the funds of the corporation, creating liabilities in excess of the amount allowed by law, and in failing to keep posted a statement of the indebtedness of the corporation. It is not alleged that by any of these acts the public or individuals were deceived in relation to the means or liabilities of the corporation. These allegations most clearly fall short of stating a cause of action under this clause of the section. The failure to keep' posted a statement of the indebtedness, etc., as required by sections 1161 and 1162 of the Revision, does not render the private property of the stockholders liable for the debts of the corporation, under section 1166. McKeller v. Stout, 14 Iowa, 359, nor will such failure, without more, render the officers or , stockholders liable for damages under section 1163. There must be some act done with the fraudulent intention to deceive the public or individuals in relation to the means or liabilities of the corporation, and such act must have so deceived the public or some individual, and the person deceived must have sustained an injury from such fraudulent act before an action for damages can be maintained. These facts must be stated in the petition in order to constitute a cause of action for this species of fraud under the section we have been considering.

We conclude that the demurrer to the petition was properly sustained, and that the judgment must be

Affirmed.