Battige v. Walker Shoe Co.
Battige v. Walker Shoe Co.
Opinion of the Court
The facts in this case as appear from the admitted allegations in the bill of complaint and the testimony of the defendant Walker, he having been the only witness sworn, are substantially as follows: In 1917 the plaintiff and the individual defendants organized the defendant corporation under Act No. 232, Pub. Acts 1903 (2 Comp. Laws 1915, § 9017 et seq.). The amount of the capital stock was fixed at $5,100, of which Walker subscribed for 300 shares, plaintiff 200 shares, and Marsteller 10 shares, each of the par value of $10. The amount actually paid in was stated to be $2,000, of which $700 was paid in cash and the stock, fixtures, etc., of a shoe business, theretofore conducted by plaintiff, accepted as payment at a valuation of $1,300. The articles of association were filed in the office of the secretary of State on February 11, 1918, and with the county clerk on September 24,1919. The money for the purchase of Marsteller’s stock was loaned him by Walker and has not been repaid. On May 12,1919, the annual report of the corporation for the year 1918 was filed with the county clerk of Wayne county. It is signed by plaintiff and defendant Walker and was sworn to by the latter on February 28, 1919. In it the amount of the capital stock paid in in cash is stated to be $4,000 and in property $1,000. The personal property is stated to be worth $8,862.70 and the cash on hand $196.81. The liabilities are given as $3,575.37.
By a stipulation of counsel it appears that the defendant Walker testified that there was a meeting of the stockholders, at which plaintiff was present and at which he was elected president, Marsteller, vice-president, and Walker, secretary and treasurer, and that this is denied by plaintiff. No minutes have been made of any stockholders’ or directors’ meetings. It is admitted by the stipulation that plaintiff has at all times had access to the books of the corporation, of which a somewhat regular set has been kept.
It appears from the testimony of defendant Walker that he drew out a salary of from $15 to $80 per week and the plaintiff the same amounts; that the business has been conducted at a profit, the net assets at the time of the hearing being about $6,000; that no dividends have been declared or paid; that Walker had paid in $3,000 in cash on his stock and $100 for the Marsteller stock; that plaintiff gave the whole or a part of his time to the business until June, 1918, since which time he has been employed elsewhere.
The trial court dismissed the bill and plaintiff has appealed. His counsel claim:
The decree dismissing the bill of complaint is affirmed, with costs to the defendants.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- BATTIGE v. WALKER SHOE CO.
- Status
- Published