Kehl v. Smith
Kehl v. Smith
Opinion of the Court
Appeal from an order overruling a general demurrer to the complaint in an action to rescind a sale of bank stock to plaintiffs and to enjoin defendant Smith, as superintendent of banks, from taking any steps to enforce stockholders’ double liability against plaintiffs. The complaint is long, but sets out, in substance, simply, that during the month of July, 1925, the defendant, Farmers’ '& Merchants’ State Bank of Hecla, was insolvent, and that, knowing such insolvency, the superintendent of banks and the stockholders of the bank at that time entered into a conspiracy to reorganize the bank and1 unload the bank stock on the
There is nothing in this complaint that was not alleged in the answers of defendants in the cases of Smith v. Bradshaw (S. D. 222 N. W. 683, and Smith v. Jones (S. D.) 222 N. W. 685, except the general allegation that no losses occurred to the bank after the sale of stock to plaintiffs, and that all losses to depositors were losses arising by reason of the liabilities of the bank and worthless assets held by it prior to- the sale of stock to' the plaintiffs. The allegation that all losses to depositors arose by reason of liabilities of the bank and worthless assets held by it prior to the sale of stock to plaintiff is plainly a mere legal conclusion. No facts are stated. It is not claimed that no deposits were made in the bank during the time that plaintiffs were stockholders, and, besides, there can be creditors of a bank other than depositors. There is a total failure to allege any facts from which it can be known or even inferred that no new deposits were made or no liability incurred during the time, approximately eight months, in which the bank continued to do business after plaintiffs became stockholders.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- KEHL v. SMITH
- Status
- Published