In re Bloch
In re Bloch
Opinion of the Court
This is a motion to confirm a composition. The composi
1. Objection is taken to the note of Nathan being counted in making the majority necessary for the acceptance of the composition. It is insisted that upon the evidence this is a fictitious claim, or at least that it is of very doubtful validity. .This objection comes too late. It has been before held that such objections should be made at the first meeting and before the vote is taken, and if necessary, and the result of the vote will be affected by the determination of disputed debts, the meeting should be kept open till their re-examination. Or if the facts impeaching a debt that has been proved are afterwards discovered, application should be promptly made for relief. It must therefore, at this stage of the case, be assumed, for the purpose of this motion, that the debts proved were valid debts.
2. It does not appear that the amount proposed to be paid is unfair, nor that there is a reasonable expectation, that upon winding up the estate in bankruptcy, it will yield to the creditors more than twenty-five cents on the dollar.
3. It is objected that the composition above five cents on the dollar is not secured; that the character of the debtors is shown to be such that they cannot safely be trusted with their property; and that the creditors have no assurance whatever that they will be paid, nor that the property will be applied for that purpose by the debtors. This objection is sustained. The arrangement is not judicious nor reasonably safe for creditors. The largest claim against the estate, that of Nathan, above referred to, grew out of the use by the firm of moneys belonging to Nathan, deposited in bank by the firm in their name as a special deposit for him. It was used by the firm without his consent, and with a full knowledge of the wrongful nature of the misappropriation. All this is confessed by the debtors. In the case of In re Wilson [Case No. 17,785], the question that arises here has been fully considered, and it was held that the personal and business character of the debtor is the chief element to be considered in passing on the objection that the composition, being without security for the notes to be given, leaves the property in the possession of the debtors. A person proved once to have misappropriated the funds of another, fully understanding the wrongful character of the act, is unfit to be trustee of property for the benefit of his creditors, which is virtually what this composition makes the debtors.
Motion denied, with leave to the debtors, within five days, to file an amended proposition, with security for the notes, in which case the meeting may be re-opened for further action of the creditors, or the motion may be renewed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re BLOCH
- Status
- Published