Miller v. Siegmund
Opinion of the Court
Appellant, trustee, brought this suit to set aside a transaction, by which a deposit of $2,000 in money and certain personal property passed from the bankrupt to appellee, on the ground that it created a preference under, the provisions of section 60 of the National Bankruptcy Act (11 USCA § 96), and was made with an intent and purpose on the part of the bankrupt to hinder, delay, and defraud its creditors, in violation of section 67 of the said act (11 USCA § 107). There was judgment in favor of appellee dismissing the suit. This appeal followed.
From the findings of facts by the court, which are fully supported by a stipulation as to the facts, the following material facts appear:
The bankrupt, Haston Body Works, Inc., entered into an agreement with J. V. Siegmund, appellee, to lease a building from him, to be erected according to plans and specifications furnished by it, to be used as an automobile repair shop and garage and a filling station. The building was erected at a cost of over $40,000 by Siegmund, and a lease was entered into for a period of ten years from May 1, 1931, for a consideration of $49,800, payable in installments of $415 per month in advance. The filling station was subleased by the bankrupt for a period of five years from May 1, 1931, at a rental of $150 per month. The lessee1 agreed to deposit $2,000 in cash, give a chattel mortgage on certain tools, equipment, and furniture in the leased building, estimated to be worth $5,000, and to assign the sublease of the filling station as security for any damages that might accrue from a breach of the lease by it. The agreement was carried out on October 31, 1931. At that time the bankrupt was solvent.
The District Court found that the parties were in absolute good faith, and there was no intention to hinder, delay, or defraud other creditors; that the chattel mortgage and lease, in all its provisions, were valid when entered into; that the subsequent transaction by which the property was transferred amounted to no more than the enforcement of a valid lien created more than four months before and not affected by the bankruptcy; that appellee had suffered damages exceeding $6,000.
We agree with the conclusions of the District Court. Coder v. Arts, 213 U. S. 223, 29 S. Ct. 436, 53 L. Ed. 772, 16 Ann. Cas. 1008; Thompson v. Fairbanks, 196 U. S. 516, 25 S. Ct. 306, 49 L. Ed. 577; Irving Trust Co. v. Perry, Inc., 55 S. Ct. 150, 79 L. Ed.-, decided December 3, 1934.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MILLER v. SIEGMUND
- Status
- Published