Bonnin v. Vazquez
Bonnin v. Vazquez
Opinion of the Court
delivered tbe following opinion:
. An involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed in tbis case, which was thereafter amended and the court directed the same
Tbe matter has béen thoroughly argued by counsel for tbe petitioning creditors and by counsel for tbe alleged bankrupt, during tbe pres'ent term here at Ponce, and I have come to tbe conclusion that I erred in my decision of December 3d, 1923, with tbe result that I must dismiss tbe amended petition, it' being proper that I set forth briefly my reasons for this ruling.
In connection with a decision which I have read on this matter, I am not in the least influenced by the so-called appeal taken by counsel for Candido Vazquez to the supreme court of Porto Rico. It is very evident that his appeal was simply to kill time and had no meaning or force, according to my view of the case. The decision to which I have arrived is based upon entirely different grounds. I find on page 153, volume 1, of the valuable work of Mr. Collier on Bankruptcy, 13th ed. a clear and definite statement that attachment proceedings which have not been followed by a judgment are not of themselves sufficient to create an act of bankruptcy. Mr. Collier distinctly says there must be an actual determination of the claim, and a consequent judgment, execution, levy and day of sale appointed. It is conceded in the present case that there never was any execution issued. When it is sought to be argued that the sale of the perishable property, consented to by Candido Vazquez, is equivalent to an execution, a moment’s thought will show that this position is entirely untenable. It is distinctly admitted by both counsel in the present case that the order for the sale of provisions provided that the money derived from said sale should be deposited with the clerk of the Insular district court at Ponce. Where an execution issues, the money goes to the plaintiff in the execution; whereas in this case of a sale of per
But tbe case wbicb absolutely is controlling on tbis court is that of tbe Parmenter Mfg. Co. v. Stoever, being a decision of tbe circuit court of appeals, first circuit, in tbe year 1899, reported in 38 C. C. A. 200, 97 Fed. page 330, 2 N. B. N. Rep. 174. It is true in tbis case tbe judgment of tbe district court in favor of tbe creditors and against tbe bankrupt was affirmed, but tbe reason wby it was affirmed is clearly shown by a brief recital of tbe facts, and a reading of tbe decision of Circuit Judge Putnam shows clearly that if tbe facts in tbe Parmenter case bad befen tbe same as they are in tbe case now before tbis court, no adjudication in bankruptcy would have followed. In tbe Parmenter Mfg. Co. Case tbe property of tbe alleged bankrupt was attached on July 5th, 1898, under a writ issued from one of tbe State courts in Massachusetts, a judgment followed in default and was entered on September 21st, 1898, and there at once issued a writ of execution in wbicb tbe property attached was seized under date of October 15, 1898, and tbe sale was made on October 27th. Tbe petition in bankruptcy was filed on February 1st, 1899. It will thus be seen that tbe petition in bankruptcy was filed more than four months after tbe attachment, but it was less than four months from tbe time of seizure and sale in execution. Argument bad been made before tbe district judge that tbe adjudication in bankruptcy should not be made on tbe ground that tbe period of four months dates from tbe day of attachment, and not from tbe seizure or sale in execution. Tbe court distinctly says that inasmuch as tbe
In view of the language of Mr. Collier, and in view of the language used by Judge Putnam, and because the decisions of the circuit court of appeals of the first circuit are absolutely binding upon this court, I am constrained to hold that no act of bankruptcy has been shown against Candido Vazquez, and the amended petition is dismissed.
• To this order and opinion counsel for the petitioning creditors excepts'.
Done and Ordered in open court, at Ponce, Porto Eico, this 13th day of March, 1924.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN THE MATTER OF BONNIN & COMPANY, Petitioning Creditors v. CANDIDO VAZQUEZ, Alleged Bankrupt
- Status
- Published