Rumney v. Detroit & Montana Cattle Co.
Rumney v. Detroit & Montana Cattle Co.
Opinion of the Court
The complainant, John G. Rumney, is a stockholder of the Detroit & Montana Cattle Company, which is a Michigan corporation. He owns 521 out of 4,000 shares of a capital of $100,000. He is also a member of the Rumney Land & Cattle Company, which has or had contract relations with the Detroit & Montana Cattle Company, and has pending litigation concerning them. Charles F. Hammond is a stockholder, as representative of his father’s estate, in the Detroit & Montana
The bill charges Hammond with fraudulently procuring himself to be given absolute and full management, by resolution of the board of directors, against the consent and protest of the complainant, for the purpose of winding up the affairs of the concern, and with preventing the stockholders from managing its affairs. It alleges that no meetings of the directors have been held, no reports of the condition of the company filed as required by law, and that such condition has not been made known to the stockholders. It is alleged, upon information and belief, that no books of the transaction of the business and affairs of
It is a significant fact that this bill is filed by one comparatively small stockholder, and there is no showing (unless it is to be inferred from the affidavit of one Hart, the president) that other stockholders are dissatisfied with the management. There is no allegation of insolvency, and it is not disputed that the complainant, or the Rumney Land ■& Cattle Company, for whose acts he is claimed to be responsible, is in control of most, if not all, of the property of the corporation, aside from money, and it is claimed that until such cattle are put in condition for market, and sold in the ordinary course of business, its affairs cannot be profitably closed. It is not charged that Hammond is irresponsible, or that any of the property of the concern has been converted by him to his own use, except the unsubstantiated statement that he loans its money. On the other hand, it is obvious that the dispute over the unsettled claims between the two companies is the mainspring of this litigation. We are of the opinion that it is not shown that the interests of the great majority of the stockholders would be subserved by closing up the affairs of this corporation at this juncture, especially if, as alleged in the answer, it has a large claim against Rumney. The mutual claims of these companies can be settled by a direct proceeding for the purpose. We discover no necessity for
The order is reversed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- RUMNEY v. DETROIT & MONTANA CATTLE CO.
- Status
- Published