Opinion
03-28-1913
THOMAS MADDOCK SONS' CO. et al. v. BIARDOT.
Frank S. Katzenbach, Jr., of Trenton, for complainants. Conover English, of Newark, for defendant.
Bill by Thomas Maddock Sons' Company and another against Ernest Biardot. On application for preliminary injunction. Application denied.
Frank S. Katzenbach, Jr., of Trenton, for complainants.
Conover English, of Newark, for defendant.
WALKER, Ch. After the organization of the "Manufacturers' Association of New Jersey," J. B. R. Smith, Esq., who was counsel for the company, subscribed for 10,000 shares of its capital stock, amounting to $100,000, par value, and paid for the same, and certificates therefor were issued to him. He raised the money wherewith to purchase the stock by a loan on his note, and hypothecated the shares as security. The payment of the note was guaranteed by A. E. Williamson, Victor Garrett, Samuel L. Moore, Milton J. Schloss, Henry Anner, Willis L. Brownell, Harry S. Maddock, and D. L. Webster. Afterwards A. E. Williamson and D. L. Webster called at the bank where the note was lying under discount, paid the $100,000 and took it up, and procured, along with it, the certificates for the 10,000 shares of stock. Mr. Smith was not a party to this transaction, and upon learning of it filed a bill in chancery for the recovery of the capital stock. Afterwards negotiations were had between him and Messrs. Williamson and Webster and the company, which resulted in the dismissal of the bill by consent. One of the terms of settlement, which, however, is at least of doubtful efficacy in this suit, was that the particular shares of stock should be put in the hands of a trustee, and that this trusee should not vote it at any stockholders' meeting until it had been surrendered for value to bona fide subscribers who should have paid the par value of $100,000, and also $50,000 surplus, called for by subscribers' agreements then in use. Another term of the settlement was that Mr. Smith should be paid $5,000 in full settlement and compromise of every item of indebtedness or difference between Mm and the company. When the loan was paid and the stock taken up, it was transferred to E. B. Martin. After the settlement with Mr. Smith, who thereby parted with all interest in the stock, and who has therefore no interest in the subject-matter of the present suit, Messrs. Moore, Schloss, Garrett, and Williamson purchased the stock from Martin in blocks of 2,500 shares each, for which they each paid $37,500, being $25,000 for each block of stock and $12,500 for the surplus account as required. Their interests being joint, they afterwards tranferred their stock to Ernest Biardot, who holds the same in trust for them. That they transferred their stock to Biardot is a matter which does not concern the complainants. The only question is, Does the stock belong to Messrs. Moore, Schloss, Garrett, and Williamson? Prima facie it does. They paid for and got it, and paid the premium required to go to the surplus account. They are the beneficial owners.
The prayer of the bill is that Biardot be enjoined from voting this stock in person or by proxy, and that the company be enjoined from receiving such vote.
The complainants rely upon a letter written to Mr. Smith by Mr. Webster, secretary of the insurance company, in its name, September 10, 1912, in which, among other things, he says: "In addition to the statement contained in your letter, we are willing that the stock standing in the name of E. B. Martin, namely, 10,000 shares now held as collateral by the Mechanics' Trust Company of New Jersey, shall be put in the hands of a trustee, and that this trustee shall not vote the stock at any stockholders' meeting until it has been surrendered for value to bona fide subscribers for the stock of the company who shall have paid in the par value of the stock and paid into the treasury of the company the extra fifty per cent. over par value, called for by the subscription blanks now in use by the company."
This letter was sent in reply to one from Mr. Smith under date of September 7, 1912, making his offer of settlement, which was afterwards accepted and consummated. As already remarked, he thereupon ceased to have any interest in the company or its affairs, because no longer a stockholder. Assuming that the letter of September 10, 1912, sent by Mr. Webster in the name of the insurance company became, when accepted, a contract made by one person, Mr. Smith, in favor of other persons, Harry S. Maddock and the Thomas Maddock Sons' Company, complainant, who are stockholders of the company, and that they may sue on such contract under P. L. 1903, p. 541, § 28, which is doubtful (Styles v. Long Co., 70 N. J. Law, 301, 305, 57 Atl. 448), nevertheless it cannot be predicated of a certainty that Messrs. Moore, Schloss, Garrett, and Williamson,who purchased this stock from E. B. Martin at par and paid into the treasury of the company the required premium, and who, by the way, are already stockholders and directors, are not bona fide holders of the stock. In view of the facts, the question is only doubtful, and to doubt is to deny. Suydam v. Suydam, 79 N. J. Eq. 144, 149, 80 Atl. 1057.
In Bache v. Central Leather Co., 78 N. J. Eq. 484, at page 486, 81 Atl. 571, at page 572, a controversy for the control of a corporation, in which a preliminary injunction was sought to restrain certain persons from voting certain shares of stock at a stockholders' meeting, Vice Chancellor Howell said: "I am of the opinion that it is unlawful, and a gross violation of the public policy of this state, to permit or contract for a separation of the voting power of corporate stock from its ownership."
The stock in controversy was issued by the company for cash at par. The company, it would seem, cannot question its validity as an outstanding issue of stock. The only complainants who have any interest in the present controversy are stockholders, and therefore integral parts, of the company. The 50 per cent. premium for surplus account has also been paid in. This being so, no rule of law or equity, of which I am aware, entitles the complainants in this case to divorce from the ownership of the stock the voting power which adheres in that ownership as a matter of right, at least not on any facts shown, nor any law arising upon those facts.
The preliminary injunction prayed for must be denied, and the order to show cause discharged and the stay therein vacated.