In re Denson
In re Denson
Opinion of the Court
This is a petition to review the' order of the referee requiring E. C. Kinney and Talmage Kinney to restore to the trustee property or the proceeds thereof, alleged to have been
The contention of the petitioners is that they are adverse claimants, and could only be proceeded against in a plenary suit. If the sale and delivery of the goods had preceded the filing of the petition in bankruptcy, this position would be unassailable. On the contrary, the evidence shows without conflict that the sale and delivery occurred after the filing of the bankruptcy proceeding, and at the time of filing the possession of the goods was with the bankrupt through his bailee. In view of this fact, the question of the jurisdiction of the bankrupt court in a summary proceeding is ruled by the cases of Bryan v. Bernheimer, 181 U. S. 188, 21 Sup. Ct. 557, 45 L. Ed. 814, Mueller v. Nugent, 184 U. S. 1, 22 Sup. Ct. 269, 46 L. Ed. 405, Babbitt v. Dutcher, 216 U. S. 102, 30 Sup. Ct. 372, 54 L. Ed. 402, 17 Ann. Cas. 969, Acme Harvester Co. v. Beekman Lumber Co., 222 U. S. 307, 32 Sup. Ct. 96, 56 L. Ed.-, rather than by the cases of Bardes v. Hawarden Bank, 178 U. S. 524, 20 Sup. Ct. 1000, 44 L. Ed. 1175, and Jacquith v. Rowley, 188 U. S. 620, 23 Sup. Ct. 369, 47 L. Ed. 620.
In the case of Babbitt v. Dutcher, 216 U. S. 102-113, 30 Sup. Ct. 372, 377, 54 L. Ed. 402, 17 Ann. Cas. 969, the court distinguished the two classes of cases and the respective remedies for each, as follows :
“There are two classes of cases arising under the act of 1898 and com trolled by different principles. The first class is where there is a claim of adverse title to property of the bankrupt, based upon a transfer antedating 1lie bankruptcy. The other class is whore there is no claim of adverse title based on any transfer prior to bankruptcy, but where the property is in the physical possession of a third party or of an agent of the bankrupt, or of an officer of a bankrupt corporation, who refuses to deliver it to the trustee in bankruptcy. In the former class of cases a plenary suit must be brought, either at law or in equity, by the trustee, in which the adverse claim, of title*856 can be tried and adjudicated. In the latter class it is not necessary to bring a plenary suit, but tbe bankruptcy court may act summarily, and may make an order in a summary proceeding for tbe delivery of tbe property to tbe trustee, without tbe formality of a formal litigation. Tbe former class falls witbin tbe ruling in tbe case of Bardes v. Hawarden Bank, 178 U. S. 524 [20 Sup. Ct. 1000, 44 L. Ed. 1175], and in tbe case of Jacquith v. Rowley, 188 U. S. 620 [23 Sup. Ct. 369, 47 L. Ed. 620], wbicb bold that sucb a suit can be brought only in a court which would have bad jurisdiction of a suit by tbe bankruptcy against tbe adverse claimant, except where the defendant consents to be sued elsewhere. In tbe latter class a plenary suit is not necessary, but tbe case falls within tbe rule laid down in Bryan v. Bernheimer, 181 U. S. 188 [21 Sup. Ct. 557, 45 L. Ed. 814]. and Mueller v. Nugent, 184 U. S. 1 [22 Sup. Ct. 269, 46 L. Ed. 405], wbicb bold that the bankruptcy court could act summarily.”
In the case of Acme Harvester Co. v. Beekman Lumber Co., 222 U. S. 307, 32 Sup. Ct. 96, 56 L. Ed.-, the court said:
“Tbe filing of tbe petition is an assertion of jurisdiction, with a view to tbe determination of the status of the bankrupt and a settlement and distribution of bis estate. The exclusive jurisdiction of tbe bankruptcy court is so far in rem that the estate is regarded in custodia legis from tbe filing of the petition.”
And, after quoting from the bankrupt act, the court further said:
“These provisions and others might be recited to show tbe policy and purpose of tbe bankruptcy act to bold'tbe estate in tbe custody of tbe court for the benefit of creditors after the filing of tbe petition and until tbe question of adjudication is determined upon. Bending the proceedings the law holds tbe property to abide tbe decision of the court upon tbe question of adjudication as effectively as if an attachment bad been issued, and prevents creditors from defeating the purposes of tbe law by bringing separate attachment suits which virtually would amount to preferences in favor of sucb creditors”—citing State Bank v. Cox (C. C. A. 7th Circuit) 143 Fed. 91, 74 C. C. A. 285; Board of County Commissioners v. Hurley (C. C. A. 8th Circuit) 169 Fed. 92, 93, 94 C. C. A. 362.
In view of these decisions, it seems clear that the bankruptcy court has jurisdiction in a summary proceeding to order restored by a third person to the trustee property which was in the possession of the bankrupt at the time of the filing of the petition and thereafter delivered to such third person, though he holds it under a claim of right, when he is summarily proceeded against.
The case relied upon by petitioners as asserting a contrary principle denies jurisdiction to the bankruptcy court to proceed summarily only in cases “against those who have such claims of existing liens or titles, when the petition in bankruptcy is filed.” In re Rathman, 183 Fed. 913, 925, 106 C. C. A. 253, 265.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re DENSON. In re KINNEY
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- Syllabus
- 1. Bankruptcy (§ 177*)—Fraudulent Sales by Bankrupt—Right of Trustee. A fraudulent sale by a bankrupt after the filing of tbe petition in bankruptcy made to the agent of the buyer is voidable at the option of the trustee by an appropriate proceeding where the agent had knowledge of facts, charging him with knowledge of the fraud. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bankruptcy, Cent. Dig. §§ 261-263; Dec. Dig. § 177.*] 2. Bankruptcy (§ 288*)—Bankruptcy Court—Fraudulent Transfer of . Property by Bankrupt—Recovery—Jurisdiction. Where a bankrupt after the filing of the petition in bankruptcy sold goods in his possession through a bailee to one chargeable with knowledge of the fraudulent transaction, the bankruptcy court has jurisdiction by summary proceeding to compel the restoration of the property or the proceeds thereof to the trustee. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bankruptcy, Cent. Dig. § 447; Dec. Dig. § 288.* Jurisdiction of federal courts in suits relating to bankruptcy, see note to Bailey v. Mosher, 11 C. C. A. 313.] 3. Bankruptcy (§ 186*)—Fraudulent Sales—Measure of Damages. Where a bankrupt after the filing of the petition in bankruptcy sold merchandise in his possession through a bailee to a buyer chargeable with knowledge of the facts, the bankruptcy court properly required the buyer to restore to the trustee the value of the goods as invoiced instead of the price the buyer paid; the evidence as to value being conflicting, and the bankrupt testifying that the goods were new and worth the invoice price. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bankruptcy, Cent. Dig. §§ 285, 319; Dec. Dig. § 186.*] 4. Bankruptcy (§ 288*)—Fraudulent Sales—Liability of Agent. Where a bankrupt after the filing of the petition in bankruptcy sold merchandise in his possession through a bailee to an agent, who surrendered possession to his principal, the bankruptcy court in summary proceedings against the agent and principal to compel the restoration to the trustee of the goods, or the proceeds thereof, should not order the agent to restore the property to the trustee.. [Ed. Note.—For other cases, see Bankruptcy, Cent. Dig. § 447; Dec. Dig. § 288.*]