Michigan Trust Co. v. Pierson-Hollowell Lumber Co.
Michigan Trust Co. v. Pierson-Hollowell Lumber Co.
Opinion of the Court
Appellee sold a ear of lumber to the Cabinet Makers’ Guild. Arthur H. Konkle, a lumber broker and a director of the Guild, acted for appellee in making the sale. The Guild could not pay the bill when due. It was in need of money to continue its business, and especially to finish a certain cutting of furniture then in process. Konkle agreed to advance to it $6,500, if given security therefor, and also for the claim of appellee. The security was given in the form of a bill of sale. It stated that for valuable considerations the Guild “does hereby bargain and sell to the said Arthur H. Konkle the following property: All and sing-ular the goods, completed furniture, furniture in
The receiver does not contest the allowance as to Konkle, but does contest it as to appellee, contending that it is merely a third party beneficiary, and cannot avail itself of a contract executed for its benefit. The contention is founded upon Michigan law cases
The contract with Konkle is in the form of a bill of sale. If it is to be treated as one, the only thing left to the Guild was the right to fill the two orders and turn over the proceeds to Konkle. That having been done, it had no further interest in the cutting or the proceeds of the orders. On the other hand, if the writing is not to be treated as a bill of sale, it was not the contract, nor, as said in the Matthews Case, “necessarily the only evidence of the contract.” That is the basis upon which the receiver must proceed, otherwise it has no standing. It must claim that the writing, though put in the form of a bill of sale, was really given as a security. The evidence showing it is a security shows also that it is security for appellee’s claim. It further shows'that the entire cutting was included in the security.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- MICHIGAN TRUST CO. v. PIERSON-HOLLOWELL LUMBER CO.
- Status
- Published