Anderson v. Buckley
Anderson v. Buckley
Opinion of the Court
There is but a single question presented on this appeal, viz.: Whether certain notes executed by the respondents to Commercial Fire Insurance Company, should be treated as general assets of the corporation after dissolution and collected for distribution among the stockholders. The facts necessary for a fair consideration of the question are these: The notes were executed solely in pursuance of a resolution of the directors of the company at a meeting when respondents and complainant Anderson, all of whom were directors, were present. This resolution directed the vice-president to call upon the several shareholders to contribute to the capital stock of the company in proportion to their several holdings, “and to accept for such contributions the demand note of the contributors but upon a dissolution of the corporation or the winding up of its affairs such stockholders as shall not make such contributions .shall not be entitled to participate in any fund to be derived therefrom. Such contribution being intended for the benefit only of the creditors of the company.” Complain
When the case was here on a former appeal we held that “these notes are absolutely without consideration as to these complainants, who are not creditors, but merely shareholders of the corporation,' and not contributing shareholders .under said resolution.” — Andersoon v. Buckley, 126 Ala. 623„ 28 South. 729.
It is insisted under the facts as now presented a consideration is shown, that the notes were given to raise the capital stock of the company to a sum where it could continue business without forfeiting its charter; that a statement was filed including these notes as assets and on the faith of such statement it was permitted to continue business, and the stockholders suffered by the risk of losses by a continuance in business. These risks is said to he a sufficient consideration for the notes. If we concede for argument that such would be true that there was such consideration moving from the stockholders of the corporation as would render the contract binding,
We pass to a consideration of the question of estoppel. It is insisted that having reported these notes as part of the assets of the' corporation in the statement required by la at .to be furnished the auditor and thereby secured a continuation of its franchise1, the respondents are (‘.stopped to deny that the notes were, unconditional obligations, that to set up that the notes Avere not absolutely bona fide assets for all purposes Avould be to perpetrate a fraud on the hnv, so to speak.
It is first to be noted that the filing of the statement under section 1109 ,of the Code of 1896, is required of corporations as such. It is the act of the corporate body. In making the statement the officers represented all the shareholders, including these complainants as well as those making the notes. If a. fraud is perpetrated on the state by the make up of the statement, the. shareholders, who reap, the benefits of - such alleged fraud, are not in a position to complain. It appears that the complainant, Anderson, had full knoAvledge of all the circumstances atending the giving of the notes as well as the purpose thereof, and also of the making out of the statement noAv complained of. While he says he did not favor the movement it does not appear that even a protest Avas made by him as to the propriety of the statement furnished the Auditor. If, as noAv contended, by the complainant, Anderson, the statement
Again, the requirements of the law that insurance companies shall have a designated paid-up capital, and shall make statements to the Auditor of the assets and condition of the business, are manifestly for the benefit of the public who may have dealings with such companies. We would not say such statement is for the benefit alone of policy holders, or creditors of the company. Persons led to deal in the stock or bonds of such company on the faith of such statement, might be authorized to insist that those in the corporation responsible for the statement should make it good. But certainly such statement is not made, for the information of the directors and shareholders of the corporation who own and control its property and affairs at the time it is made. These have other and direct sources of information, and as before pointed out, are responsible to the public for the statement itself. It is an elementary principle of estopel that the person who sets it up must have relied upon the truth of the statement; must have had the right to rely upon it, and must’have altered his position for the worse, if the party estopped should gainsay the truth of the statement. If, as claimed, the report to the Auditor was misleading and fraudulent, these complainants have in no way been misled by it; they have not been induced thereby to alter their position for the worse. Estoppels are for protection, not for gain. It is not shown that complainants have suffered any injury by the matters complained of. It is not questioned that if the rights of creditors were involved the makers of the notes would be bound to respond. In fact, it appears that tino whole movement was for the purpose of protecting, rather than injuring creditors, and incidentlv to prevent a premature and forced dissolution of the corporation resulting in probable injury to stockholders
The decree of the chancellor is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.