Farmers Reliance Insurance Co. of New Jersey v. Miami Rug Co.
Farmers Reliance Insurance Co. of New Jersey v. Miami Rug Co.
Opinion of the Court
THIS CAUSE is an action of intei*-pleader filed by the plaintiffs, Farmers Reliance Insurance Company of New Jersey, Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Security Mutual Insurance of New York.
The plaintiffs deposited $12,485.06
This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1335 and 2361.
A substantial portion of the restaurant equipment insured under the above policies was owned by the Estate of Russell B. Wilson and leased to the Madrid Restaurant, Inc. Said lease was recorded
The United States of America was named as defendant in the original action
Allen B. Cramer, Inc. appeared as claimant based on its equitable lien against the loss proceeds for services in repair of the fire damaged property in the period following May 1, 1962, per invoice of June 6, 1962. This claim was in the amount of $1,502.92.
Miami Rug Company claimed against the fund for its open account reduced to judgment in the amount of $997.95 on September 10, 1962. Writ of Garnishment was sought by Miami Rug Company on May 17, 1962.
Other named defendants and intervening claimants whose claims need not be considered herein in detail are: Coral Shopping Center as owner of the premises leased by Madrid Restaurant, Inc., who filed a cross-action against Wilson and Rath and then withdrew same; the Commercial Bank of Miami, a named loss-payee on the policies, who disclaimed; Irving Levitt Company, Inc.; Irving N. Donnin; and Mood Music Systems, Inc., all of whom claimed on unsecured position (open account); Jack Samsen d/b/a Coral Press on judgment of $978.27 rendered April 18, 1962, but who did not execute until May 3, 1963 ;
It is obvious we believe that the lien or claim of any of the parties to the law suit, who claimed because of indebtedness of Madrid Restaurant, Inc., is limited to the property interest of Madrid Restaurant, Inc. in the insured chattels. See Aquilino v. United States, 363 U.S. 509, at 512-514, 80 S.Ct. 1277,1279-1280, 4 L.Ed.2d 1365 (1960). This interest was merely a lease-hold interest and was subject to the recorded lease owned by the Wilson Estate and the recorded mortgage of Rath Provision Company.
The interest of the United States or other creditors of the insured in the proceeds of the fund could not rise higher than those of the taxpayer-debtor. The taxpayer, itself, could not assert a claim in the proceeds greater than its insurable
The interest of the Wilson Estate in the underlying property was that of fee owner subject to the mortgage of Rath Provision Company. The assignment of the insurance proceeds to the extent of this underlying interest in the property was not an assignment securing a contingent obligation as in United States v. R. F. Ball Construction Co., Inc., 355 U.S. 587, 78 S.Ct. 442, 2 L.Ed.2d 510 (1958), but was a completed transfer of interest for valid consideration, prior to the perfection of the government lien.
The Court finds from the testimony that the Wilson and Rath interest in the fund is $5,512.00 and is entitled to first priority against the fund based on their ownership as opposed to lien interest in the fund.
The remaining parties, as creditors, must rest their claims against the fund upon their lien status-.
The federal tax liens became entitled to priority as against the liens of any mortgagee, purchaser, pledgee, or judgment creditor, as of the date of their filing on April 30, 1962. Under Florida law, a judgment of and by itself does not give rise to a lien. The lien does not arise until the execution is placed in the hands of the sheriff for levy. Thus, the United States is entitled to first priority among the lien claimants. The Court finds that the United States has established tax liens of $5,690.00 plus $437.57 interest, or a total of $6,127.57.
The Court further finds that reasonable attorneys’ fees for the plaintiffs' attorneys are in the amount of $750.00, and that judgment for them should be entered in that amount.
Miami Rug Company who obtained Writ of Garnishment on May 17, 1962, and reduced their claim to judgment on September 10, 1962, is entitled to the remainder of the proceeds on the basis of their proven lien of $997.95.
Some comment might be made of the equitable lien claimed by Allen B. Cramer, Inc. for services in repair of the fire damaged property in the period following May 1, 1962. This amount was claimed for work actually performed upon the insured property in cleaning up the fire damage at the request of the insured and the insurance company representatives. Not only was this work performed after the assignment to Rath and Wilson, but it was performed after the filing of the federal tax liens. There is no question that as to the United States, the case of United States v. White Bear Brewing Company, 350 U.S. 1010, 76 S.Ct. 646, 100 L.Ed. 871 (1956),
The fund should be distributed in accordance with the foregoing: $750.00 to the plaintiffs’ attorneys; $5,512.00 to Rath Provision Company and the Estate of Russell B. Wilson, as their interests
Judgment will be entered in accordance herewith.
. Farmers Reliance Insurance Company of New Jersey is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Jersey with its principal place of business at 349 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey. Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Vermont with its principal place of business at Montpelier, Vermont. Security Mutual Insurance Company of New York is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York with its principal place of business at 349 East 149th Street, New York, New York.
. Farmers Reliance Insurance Company of New Jersey deposited funds amounting to $6,242.54 under its policy No. 9-1211. Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company deposited funds amounting to $3,121.26 under its policy No. 150131. Security Mutual Insurance Company of New York deposited funds amounting to $3,121.26 under its policy No. 1292660. The foregoing amounts are the same as the Proofs of Loss filed with said companies by the defendant Madrid Restaurant, Inc. on April 30, 1962.
. The defendants’ citizenship is as follows: Miami Rug Company is a Florida corporation with its principal place of business in Miami, Florida; Allen B. Cramer, Inc. is a Florida corporation with its principal place of business in Fort Lau-derdale, Florida; Madrid Restaurant, Inc. is a Florida corporation with its-principal place of business in Fort Lau-derdale, Florida; Irving Levitt Company, Inc. is a Massachusetts corporation having its principal place of business in Boston, Massachusetts; Commercial Bank of' Miami is a Florida corporation having its: principal place of business in Miami, Florida; the Estate of Russell B. Wilson, is being probated in Broward County, Florida; Rath Provision Company is an-Iowa corporation having its principal' place of business in Waterloo, Iowa; and the United States of America is a sovereign nation which has brought a complaint in intervention.
. On April 27, 1962, the levy was based on the following jeopardy assessments:
WITHHOLDING TAXES
Taxable Period Amount Assessed Outstanding Balance
4th Qtr. 1961 $1,296.68 $1,296.68
4th Qtr. 1961 18.56 18.56
1st Qtr. 1962 1,451.57 1,451.57
1st Qtr. 1962 24.20 24.20
$2,791.81 $2,791.81
EXCISE TAXES
Taxable Period Amount Assessed Outstanding Balance
4th Qtr. 1961 $1,300.25 $1,300.25
4th Qtr. 1961 11.17 11.17
1st Qtr. 1962 1,574.08 1,574.08
1st Qtr. 1962 15.74 15.74
$2,091.24 $2,091.24
. Defendants Jack Samsen d/b/a Coral Press, Irving N. Donnin d/b/a Donnin’s Antique Arms and Guns Museum, and Defendant Irving Levitt Company, Inc., failed to make an appearance and prove their alleged claims.
. Sumlin v. Colonial Fire Underwriters, 158 Fla. 95, 27 So.2d 730, 731 (1946).
. Not only in satisfaction of underlying obligations, but in satisfaction of lien on policy proceeds. Atwill v. Western Fire Ins. Co., 120 Fla. 694, 163 So. 27 (1935).
. See decision in United States v. Morrison, 247 F.2d 285 (5th Cir. 1957), particularly Judge Brown’s detailed review of cases at 288-89, note 4.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FARMERS RELIANCE INSURANCE CO. OF NEW JERSEY, a New Jersey corporation, Union Mutual Fire Insurance Co., a Vermont corporation, and Security Mutual Insurance Company of New York, a New York corporation v. MIAMI RUG COMPANY, a Florida corporation
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published