Roseville Trust Co. v. Barney
Roseville Trust Co. v. Barney
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The question presented on this appeal is the right of a depositor to set off a deposit to his credit in a bank, in the hands of the banking commissioner in the process of liquidation, against an indebtedness due the bank upon a promissory note upon which the appellant was an endorser and for the amount of which note he received credit in his account with the bank.
The case was tried by the court, sitting .without a jury. The trial judge found, among other facts, that on the 6th day of June, 1913, A. W. Barney, the appellant’s father, made a promissory note payable in three months from the date thereof, to his own order for the sum of $400, endorsed it in blank and delivered it to his son who likewise endorsed it in blank but with this addition: "Eor value received pre
Among the assets of the bank was found the note in controversy. By the hooks of the bank it appeared that the appellant had a balance of $467.99 to his credit, on the 11th day of August, 1913. On the 8th day of September, 1913, the appellant drew his check upon the Roseville Trust Company, the appellee, for $400 to the order of the commissioner of banking and insurance and endorsed thereon, to he used to pay note of A. V. Barney for $400 due September 8th, 1913, which check the banking commissioner refused to accept.
On the 30th day of December, 1913, the Chancellor made an order authorizing the commissioner of banking and insurance to sell the business, good will, real, personal and mixed property and assets of every kind and nature, moneys, bills, notes, negotiable instruments, &c., to the Mutual Bank of Roseville.
The plaintiff brought its action on the note in question in January, 1914. The appellant tiled a set-off for the sum of
The set-off was properly disallowed.
Although the action is entitled in the name of the trust company, as plaintiff, it is not the real party in interest. The act under which the -commissioner of banking and insurance proceeded against the trust company expressly confers the power on him to prosecute and defend all suits and other legal proceedings in the name of such trust company.
The right of set-off rests upon statute. The statute authorizing a set-off in law relates solély to where there are mutual debts, extending, however, the right of set-off to the executors or administrators of such debtors. 4 Comp. Stat., p. 4836.
In construing this statute in Receivers v. Paterson Gas Light Co., 23 N. J. L. 283, a case growing out of insolvency proceedings under the Corporation act, Chief Justice Green (on p. 288), says: “It is clear that the ease is not within the provisions' of the statute authorizing a set-off at law: As between the plaintiffs and the defendants, the claims are not mutual debts. Where there are mutual debts, there must be mutual remedies. But the defendants have no claim against the receivers. They could maintain no action against them. Yor could the defendants have judgment against the receivers in this action in case the set-off should exceed the plaintiff’s demand.”
The learned Chief Justice, having declared that the set-off was not' authorized by the statute relating to set-offs (on p. 292), in commenting upon the Corporation act relating to insolvent corporations, says: “The statute, moreover in cases of mutual dealing between • the corporation and any other person or persons expressly authorizes the receivers to allow just set-offs in favor of such persons, in all cases in which it shall appear to the receivers that the same ought to be allowed according to law.” Eor this reason the set-off was allowed.
The argument of the appellant for the allowance of the set-off rests upon the false assumption that the commissioner of banking and insurance is a receiver within the contemplation and control of the act relating to trust companies (1 Comp. Skit., p. 5651), and that section 25, which defines the powers and duties of receivers appointed under the act, among other things, provides, that "in case of mutual dealings between the corporation and any person to allow a just set-off in favor of such persons in all cases in which the same ought to be allowed according to law and equity,” was applicable to the case at bar. But this is clearly not so.
The commissioner of banking and insurance in the proceedings instituted by him against the trust company derived his power and authority from the act of 1913, chapter 171, page 282. This act created an entirely independent method of procedure against insolvent trust companies, and points out in express terms what the duties and powers of the commissioner of banking and insurance are in such cases. There is no provision in the act under this procedure regarding set-offs, as is contained in the original act relating to trust companies, in cases where receivers are appointed. The provision in the trust company act relating to set-offs is not applicable where the procedure is such as was instituted in the present ease.
The judgment will-be affirmed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ROSEVILLE TRUST COMPANY v. A. W. BARNEY, Jr.
- Status
- Published