Douglas Motors Corp. v. Baum
Douglas Motors Corp. v. Baum
Opinion of the Court
This is an action in the nature of an accounting brought by the Douglas Motors Corporation against Daniel Baum, Jr., and the City Safety Deposit Company, to recover the value of 500 shares of stock in the plaintiff corporation. The action is based upon the theory that the shares: of stock were issued to the City Safety Deposit Company without any consideration being paid therefor, and that the latter defendant had sold and transferred to innocent purchasers the said shares of stock so that the same could not be canceled. The plaintiff seeks to hold the defendant Baum liable upon the theory that, as president of the plaintiff corporation, and as a
The record shows that a corporation known as the Drummond Motor Company was organized in 1910 for the purpose of manufacturing and selling motor vehicles. The stock in this corporation was held largely by Frank W. Bacon and Walter J. Griffith. Bacon, who was a mechanical engineer of considerable genius and experience, had designed a type of motor car, known as the “Drummond,” which the company proposed to manufacture and place on the market. The Drummond Motor Company did not have the necessary means to purchase materials in large quantities for the manufacture of this car, and accordingly, applied to Daniel Baum, Jr., and Dan W. Gaines for a loan with which to purchase materials. After considerable negotiations, an agreement was entered into whereby Dan W. Gaines, Albert L. Schartz, David Baum, and Daniel Baum, Jr., under the name of the Drummond Sales Company, agreed to advance $15,000 to the Drummond Motbr Company to purchase materials for use in the manufacture of the Drummond cars. The Drummond Sales Company advanced the $15,000, and later increased the amount, so that in December, 1936, the advancements amounted to $44,000. To secure these advances thus made, a bill of sale was executed by the Drummond Motor Company on the materials purchased. The Drummond Motor Company also entered into a contract with the Drummond Sales Company to construct out of the materials1 purchased 100 cars and to sell the same to the Drummond Sales Company for $700 a piece. In December, 1916, a scheme was suggested by one of the interested parties
At the first meeting of the board of directors it authorized the purchase from the Drummond Motor Company of the automobiles in course of manufacture, all of the materials on hand, its leasehold, and good-will, including the right to manufacture and sell the Drummond car. Arrangements were made by which stock in the new company was issued to the Drummond Motor Company of the face value of $80,000 in payment therefor The new company also guaranteed the payment of the indebtedness of the Drummond Motor Company amounting to approximately $55,000. While the record is not entirely clear as to the manner in which the City Safety Deposit Company acquired the 'bill of sale which had been executed to the Drummond Sales Company, and also the contract for the sale of 100 cars, it is assumed that it did so. An arrangement was made between the Douglas Motors Corporation and the City Safety Deposit
The judgment of the lower court is right, and it. is, therefore,-
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Douglas Motors Corporation v. Daniel Baum, Jr.
- Status
- Published