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Full-Text Articles in Bankruptcy Law

Future Interests - Powers Of Appointment- Effect Of Bankruptcy Of Donee Of General Testamentary Power, Albert B. Perlin, Jr. Jan 1949

Future Interests - Powers Of Appointment- Effect Of Bankruptcy Of Donee Of General Testamentary Power, Albert B. Perlin, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

By her will, X established a spendthrift trust, appointing Y and a trust company as co-trustees. In addition to receiving the income from the trust during his life, Y was given a general testamentary power to appoint the corpus; in default of appointment the corpus was to be divided equally among Y's issue. After X's death Y filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, listing the above interest as that of a beneficiary of a spendthrift trust, "value none." Before Y's death the trustee in bankruptcy purported to sell to plaintiff, who was not a creditor of Y …


Bankruptcy-Set-Off-Bank Deposits, A. E. Anderson S.Ed. Jun 1948

Bankruptcy-Set-Off-Bank Deposits, A. E. Anderson S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Endorsers of a corporation's notes caused the corporation to make deposits in the payee bank in the regular course of business, knowing the corporation to be insolvent, and the bank took over the deposits within four months of adjudication in bankruptcy. It was contended that under the amended definition of "transfer" as set out in section 1 (30) of the Bankruptcy Act of 1938, this transaction resulted in a voidable preference to the endorsers under section 60. The trial court rejected this contention. On appeal, held, affirmed. Although the 1938 amendment gave a broader significance to the term "transfer" …


Bankruptcy-Contempt--Presumptions-Finality Of Turnover Orders In Contempt Actions And The Presumption Of Continued Possession, T. L. Tolan, Jr. S.Ed. May 1948

Bankruptcy-Contempt--Presumptions-Finality Of Turnover Orders In Contempt Actions And The Presumption Of Continued Possession, T. L. Tolan, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Problems of jurisprudence and bankruptcy are raised by Maggio v. Zeitz, a recent decision of the United States Supreme Court. The facts were these: In April, I942, the Luma Camera Service was adjudged a bankrupt. Defendant was its principal officer. The bankrupt's books showed a large and unusual merchandise shortage for November and December, 1941. Despite defendant's denial, the referee and district judge were satisfied that defendant had extracted the property from the estate before bankruptcy. But there was no evidence that defendant retained the goods or their proceeds. Relying on a presumption of continued possession, the referee ordered …


Taxation-Deductions For Partial Worthlessness Of A Debt, John M. Veale S.Ed. Apr 1948

Taxation-Deductions For Partial Worthlessness Of A Debt, John M. Veale S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Taxpayer was accustomed to loan money to a related corporation on open accounts. The debtor consistently lost money and became bankrupt in 1938. Thereupon taxpayer wrote off the whole debt using it as a deduction from 1938 income. The commissioner assessed a deficiency on the theory that the taxpayer, by a subordination agreement made with another creditor in 1931, had recognized the then balance to be worthless. Hence, he argued, advances made after that date were a separate debt; therefore taxpayer had lost the right to deduct the debt due in 1931 for failure to take it in the year …


Corporations-Insolvency-Corporate Officers As Preferred Wage Claimants, E. C.V. Greenwood Mar 1948

Corporations-Insolvency-Corporate Officers As Preferred Wage Claimants, E. C.V. Greenwood

Michigan Law Review

A closed corporation, soon after its formation, executed an assignment for the benefit of creditors. One of the large creditors objected to a preferred wage claim allowed by the assignee to a vice-president and director of the assignor, the officer who had in fact been instrumental in executing the assignment. The claim was for wages amounting to two hundred fifty dollars for alleged manual work for the assignor prior to the assignment and was granted by the assignee on the theory that preferential treatment was authorized by the New York debtor and creditor statutes. The applicable statute reads as follows: …


Contracts-Bills And Notes-Precedent Debt As Consideration In The Law Of Contracts And Negotiable Instruments, Shubrick T. Kothe S.Ed. Dec 1947

Contracts-Bills And Notes-Precedent Debt As Consideration In The Law Of Contracts And Negotiable Instruments, Shubrick T. Kothe S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Today, there is little left of the sixteenth century rule that a precedent debt is consideration sufficient to ground an action of assumpsit. Modern cases, such as those where a debt is barred by the Statute of Limitations or discharged in bankruptcy, where it is historically applicable, generally do not rest upon that theory. As a practical matter, it makes little difference. These cases achieve a just result, and have been confined to standard fact situations. The doctrine seems clearly at variance with the rule that consideration cannot be past, and serves no useful purpose today. Cases where this problem …


Bankruptcy - Chapter X Reorganization - Power Of The Trustee To Sue In A Foreign Jurisdiction, Shubrick T. Kothe S.Ed. May 1947

Bankruptcy - Chapter X Reorganization - Power Of The Trustee To Sue In A Foreign Jurisdiction, Shubrick T. Kothe S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiffs, trustees appointed under Chapter X of the Bankruptcy Act, as amended, by the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, sued defendants in the District Court for the Southern District of New York to recover corporate assets, alleging a conspiracy to defraud the debtor corporation. Jurisdiction was rested, not upon diversity of citizenship, but upon sections 2 and 102 of the Bankruptcy Act, and certain sections of the Judicial Code, not pertinent here. The district court dismissed the action for want of jurisdiction. On appeal, held, reversed. The reorganization trustee under Chapter X may maintain an action …


Bankruptcy-Bankrupt's Petition To Reopen Estate, Joseph N. Morency, Jr. S.Ed. Apr 1947

Bankruptcy-Bankrupt's Petition To Reopen Estate, Joseph N. Morency, Jr. S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

Petitioner's no-asset estate in bankruptcy was closed and a discharge was granted in 1942. In 1945 a judgment creditor of the bankrupt sued in a Connecticut court on a judgment which antedated the bankruptcy proceeding and the existence of which was unknown to the bankrupt at the time he filed his schedules. It appeared that the bankruptcy proceeding was likewise unknown to the judgment creditor. Petitioner sought an order reopening the estate for the purpose of amending schedules to include the judgment inadvertently omitted; and the district court entered such an order over the objection of the judgment creditor. On …


Corporations-Extent Of Powers To Dispose Of Property In Winding Up Its Affairs Under Statutes Extending Corporate Existence, Joseph R. Brookshire S.Ed. Apr 1946

Corporations-Extent Of Powers To Dispose Of Property In Winding Up Its Affairs Under Statutes Extending Corporate Existence, Joseph R. Brookshire S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

According to the common law a dissolved corporation ceased to exist for all purposes. Whether the dissolution was voluntary or involuntary, the effect of the dissolution was to deprive the corporation of all powers either de jure or de facto. It was necessary, therefore, that corporations facing dissolution proceed without delay toward a final liquidation and distribution of assets. Disregarding the old theory that personal property of dissolved corporations escheated to the state, and that its real estate reverted to the original granter or his heirs, and that debts due the corporation were extinguished, it is still apparent that hurried …


Bankruptcy--Six Months Rule--Application Of The Rule To Private Corporations, Samuel D. Estep S.Ed. Feb 1946

Bankruptcy--Six Months Rule--Application Of The Rule To Private Corporations, Samuel D. Estep S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

The debtor, being reorganized under chapter 10 of the Bankruptcy Act, was a hotel corporation which owned and operated a hotel in Albany. The reorganization plan which was approved below is being challenged for the reason, among others, that the plan gives preference to certain unsecured creditors. These creditors had furnished supplies to the hotel for a short time before the receiver was appointed in the foreclosure suit which precipitated the bankruptcy proceeding. The trustee allowed the priority on the ground that the supplies were necessary to keep the hotel a going concern and that the six months rule, applicable …


Limitations Of Action-Statute Of Limitations As Guide For Determination Of Laches Where Concurrent Remedies Are Available In Law And Equity, Craig E. Davids S.Ed. Apr 1945

Limitations Of Action-Statute Of Limitations As Guide For Determination Of Laches Where Concurrent Remedies Are Available In Law And Equity, Craig E. Davids S.Ed.

Michigan Law Review

In 1926 Bovay, one of the complaining trustees in bankruptcy herein, organized an Arkansas corporation to construct and operate a vehicular traffic bridge across the Mississippi River. Defendants agreed to finance the project but were dissatisfied with the voting control of the Arkansas corporation lodged in Bovay and organized a Delaware corporation, the bankrupt herein, to take an assignment of the bridge franchise. The bankrupt issued 60,000 shares of no par value common stock, 40,000 shares going to defendants though no consideration was paid, and 20,000 shares to Bovay. Defendants also named five of the nine members of the board …


Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer Apr 1943

Abstracts, Katherine Kempfer

Michigan Law Review

The abstracts consist merely of summaries of the facts and holdings of recent cases and are distinguished from the notes by the absence of discussion.


Bankruptcy - Voidable Preferences - Transfer Perfected Within Four Months Of Bankruptcy, Elizabeth Durfee Dec 1942

Bankruptcy - Voidable Preferences - Transfer Perfected Within Four Months Of Bankruptcy, Elizabeth Durfee

Michigan Law Review

Two recent cases, Adams v. City Bank & Trust Co., and In re Quaker City Sheet Metal Co., both involving section 60 of the Chandler Act, bring to the fore a question of interpretation of that section which has bothered Congress and courts and lawyers for some forty years. The bankrupt executes a mortgage to secure repayment of a present loan, but the recording of the mortgage is withheld until a later date, and finally takes place within four months of bankruptcy. Or, as in the Quaker City case, he assigns a chose in action to the creditor …


Recent Decisions, Michigan Law Review Dec 1942

Recent Decisions, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

The recent decisions consist merely of summaries of the facts and holdings of recent cases and are distinguished from the notes by the absence of discussion.


Powers - Rights Of Donees' Creditors Against Property Subject Thereto When The Power Is General And Is Exercised By Will, Charles Wright, Ill Oct 1942

Powers - Rights Of Donees' Creditors Against Property Subject Thereto When The Power Is General And Is Exercised By Will, Charles Wright, Ill

Michigan Law Review

In general it is said that the majority of jurisdictions in the United States allow creditors of the donee of a general power of appointment, exercisable by deed or will, or by will only, to reach the appointive property when the power is exercised by will, if the donee's personal estate is insolvent and if the appointment is to a volunteer. It would appear from a survey of the authorities dealing with the question that only twenty states have spoken on the subject at all. Of that number only sixteen have decisions which can, by any stretch of the imagination, …


Powers - Excluding Creditors Of The Donee Of A General Power By Express Provisions By The Donor, S. W. Boyce, Jr. Oct 1942

Powers - Excluding Creditors Of The Donee Of A General Power By Express Provisions By The Donor, S. W. Boyce, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

There is very little authority upon this subject; lawyers seemingly assume that the picture is complicated enough without venturing into new fields. In only two jurisdictions are there actual reported cases where the donor has tried by specific provisions to restrain creditors of the donee.


Bankruptcy - Reorganization - Nature Of Farmer-Debtor's Right To Adjudication Under Section 75 (S), Louis C. Andrews, Jr. Aug 1942

Bankruptcy - Reorganization - Nature Of Farmer-Debtor's Right To Adjudication Under Section 75 (S), Louis C. Andrews, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, a farmer, filed his original petition May 3, 1934, under section 74 of the Bankruptcy Act. Eleven months later he amended his petition, seeking relief under section 75 (a)-(r). Until March 2, 1940, no progress was made, and at that time the plaintiff sought adjudication under subsection (s). The district court entered an order that the petition be denied and the mortgagee's title recognized. The circuit court of appeals affirmed, stating that the petitioner had an affirmative duty to proceed diligently in obtaining a composition and extension agreement under subsections (a)-( r). Held, reversed. The benefits of section …


Judicial Sales - Right To Set Aside A Successful Bid, Michigan Law Review Jun 1942

Judicial Sales - Right To Set Aside A Successful Bid, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

At a public sale, the trustee in bankruptcy struck off to the plaintiff a bankrupt's assets for $16,850, a reasonable price. A referee vacated the sale when a private bidder offered $150 more and insured reopening of the bankrupt's mines and employment of its former employees. The sale was finally confirmed to the private bidder at a price only $50 in excess of the final offer made by the highest bidder at the public auction. Plaintiff appealed to the court to review the referee's order. Held, although the courts do not generally approve of vacating a fair public sale …


Corporations - Rights Of Action By The Representative Of Corporate Creditors - Effect Of Corporate Assent, Edward W. Adams Jun 1942

Corporations - Rights Of Action By The Representative Of Corporate Creditors - Effect Of Corporate Assent, Edward W. Adams

Michigan Law Review

By various acts the directors and officers of a corporation--its agents for the conduct of corporate business--may wrong the corporation or make possible a wrong to the corporation or to the body of corporate stockholders. When the corporation becomes involved in insolvency proceedings, in order to make available to creditors as many assets as possible, the receiver or trustee in bankruptcy determines whether some cause of action will lie to recover damages or property, or whether he may successfully defend to preserve assets. If the corporation itself could have been successful in the litigation, the solution would be easy because …


Bankruptcy-Effect Of Rule Of Erie Railroad V. Tompkins On Priorities In Federal Bankruptcy Proceedings, Michigan Law Review Mar 1942

Bankruptcy-Effect Of Rule Of Erie Railroad V. Tompkins On Priorities In Federal Bankruptcy Proceedings, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

A company engaged in the mortgage-guaranty business became bankrupt, the respondent being the successor company resulting from reorganization proceedings under section 77B of the Bankruptcy Act. The original company had loaned money secured by a bond and mortgage and then sold certificates to the public representing undivided shares in the mortgage, the certificates being guaranteed by the same company. The mortgagor having defaulted, the controversy in the principal case arose because the now bankrupt company had before bankruptcy repurchased two of the certificates, acquired title to a third, and held the balance of the loan for which no certificates had …


Banks And Banking - Immunity Of National Banks From State Escheat Statute, Spencer E. Irons Feb 1942

Banks And Banking - Immunity Of National Banks From State Escheat Statute, Spencer E. Irons

Michigan Law Review

A Michigan statute provided that bank deposits, in the possession or control of insolvent banks, which have remained inactive for a period of seven years or more shall escheat to the state. In a suit for a declaratory judgment, filed by the Attorney General of Michigan, against the receiver of an insolvent national bank and the Comptroller of the Currency of the United States, the federal district court held that the receiver must turn over deposits coming within the terms of the statute. Held, the statute is invalid if so applied, since it would constitute an unlawful interference with …


Equity - Specific Performance Of Contract To Lend Money, Robert C. Lovejoy Dec 1941

Equity - Specific Performance Of Contract To Lend Money, Robert C. Lovejoy

Michigan Law Review

Plaintiff, through the Mortgage Service Bureau, which acted as intermediary, negotiated a loan from defendant bank, secured by a mortgage on plaintiff's land. Plaintiff executed and delivered notes and a mortgage, and defendant drew a check for one of the loan installments payable to plaintiff and the bureau, The latter without authority took the check, forged plaintiff's signature, and kept the money. The bureau being out of business and insolvent, plaintiff, with an unfinished house on his hands and without funds to complete it, sought specific performance of the agreement to lend. Held, plaintiff was entitled to specific performance, …


Bankruptcy - Preferential Transfers - The Chandler Act And Antecedent Debts, William C. Wetherbee, Jr. Nov 1941

Bankruptcy - Preferential Transfers - The Chandler Act And Antecedent Debts, William C. Wetherbee, Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A canning company, in return for cans and supplies furnished it, gave its brokers the exclusive right to sell its canned goods and deduct the amount owing to them before turning over the proceeds. More than a year before the petition in bankruptcy, in compliance with a request for security from a seed company to which it was indebted, it made assignments of its right to these net proceeds to the seed company. The latter claims these proceeds as a secured creditor although they did not come into existence until after the petition in bankruptcy. Upon the referee's refusal to …


Principal And Surety - Right Of Surety To Subrogation To Claim Of Creditor Against Insolvent National Bank, William C. Whitehead Nov 1941

Principal And Surety - Right Of Surety To Subrogation To Claim Of Creditor Against Insolvent National Bank, William C. Whitehead

Michigan Law Review

At the closing of defendant bank the commonwealth of Pennsylvania had on deposit $135,000, which was secured by the bond of defendant with plaintiff as surety, and a pledge of bonds of $12,000 par value. The commonwealth received the first dividend, amounting to forty per cent, and plaintiff paid the balance, subtracting $12,441.44 obtained on the intermediate sale of the bonds. Plaintiff contends that it is entitled to subrogation on the basis of the full amount of the original claim of the commonwealth against defendant; and that dividends subsequent to the first should be paid on that claim, although not …


Holding Company Act - "Fair And Equitable" Plan, Michigan Law Review Nov 1941

Holding Company Act - "Fair And Equitable" Plan, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

Should the words "fair and equitable" in section II (e) of the Holding Company Act be construed differently than the same words in section 77 B of the Bankruptcy Act? The Securities and Exchange Commission faced this question in disposing of a proposed plan of merger involving Utility Operators Company and subsidiaries. A divided commission gave an affirmative answer to the above question, holding "fair and equitable" in the Holding Company Act to permit relative priority. This holding merits particular interest since the United States Supreme Court has held the same words as used in section 77B permitted only absolute …


Bankruptcy- Municipal Reorganization - Fairness Of Plan, Kenneth J. Nordstrom Jun 1941

Bankruptcy- Municipal Reorganization - Fairness Of Plan, Kenneth J. Nordstrom

Michigan Law Review

A local government district, finding itself hopelessly in debt, filed a petition for relief under Chapter IX of the Bankruptcy Act as amended. The municipal debt composition plan provided that bondholders would receive eight cents on the dollar. The evidence showed that a considerable quantity of bonds were bought by local landowners at much more than eight cents on the dollar, evidently for the purpose of being used in getting the approval of some such plan as proposed, in the expectation of an increase in value of their lands by improvements to be made by the debtor through a loan …


Bankruptcy - Corporate Reorganization - Absolute Priority Rule, Kenneth J. Nordstrom May 1941

Bankruptcy - Corporate Reorganization - Absolute Priority Rule, Kenneth J. Nordstrom

Michigan Law Review

-A plan for reorganization under section 77B of the Bankruptcy Act involved a debtor holding company and two subsidiaries. Each subsidiary had a bonded indebtedness which, including unpaid accrued interest, was in excess of the value of assets that were s


Bankruptcy - Amenability Of Farmers' Marketing Co-Operatives To Involuntary Proceedings, Kenneth J. Nordstrom Apr 1941

Bankruptcy - Amenability Of Farmers' Marketing Co-Operatives To Involuntary Proceedings, Kenneth J. Nordstrom

Michigan Law Review

Creditors of the Wisconsin Cooperative Mille Pool filed a petition asking that the milk pool be adjudicated an involuntary bankrupt. This co-operative association was organized under Wisconsin statutes to operate on a nonstock, nonprofit basis as the exclusive marketing agent for its members. The pool also marketed the products of patrons who were not members of the pool; however, sixty-five per cent of its patrons were active members. Held, the association was not a "moneyed, business, or commercial corporation" and hence was not amenable to adjudication as an involuntary bankrupt/ despite the fact that it was engaged in business …


Bankruptcy - Rights Of Trustee As Against Mortgagee Under Mortgage Containing After-Acquired Property Clause, Charles D. Johnson Apr 1941

Bankruptcy - Rights Of Trustee As Against Mortgagee Under Mortgage Containing After-Acquired Property Clause, Charles D. Johnson

Michigan Law Review

A mortgage, containing an after-acquired property clause which described specifically many kinds of property which should pass under it when acquired, was given to bondholders as part of a refunding mortgage. Several mortgages were subsequently executed to the mortgagees covering some of the after-acquired property. After the intervention of bankruptcy a dispute arose between the mortgagees and the trustee over the right to possession of certain property not covered by the later mortgages and in the possession of the bankrupt at the time of the adjudication. Held, under section 47a(2) of the Bankruptcy Act, the trustee takes the property …


Bankruptcy - Sufferance Of Turnover Order As An Act Of Bankruptcy, John C. Johnston Apr 1941

Bankruptcy - Sufferance Of Turnover Order As An Act Of Bankruptcy, John C. Johnston

Michigan Law Review

A parent corporation formed a subsidiary corporation in 1932, and transferred to the subsidiary certain of its assets. In 1938 the parent filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy and was adjudicated a bankrupt. Over a year later the referee entered a turnover order requiring the subsidiary to transfer to the parent's trustee all of its assets on the ground that the original transfer was void as being in fraud of creditors, and on the further ground that the subsidiary was in fact the "alter ego" of the parent corporation. Three days after this order was issued, creditors of the subsidiary …