Bridgers v. Farmers Banking & Trust Co., 198 N.C. 494 (1930)

March 19, 1930 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

198 N.C. 494

H. C. BRIDGERS, Trustee, v. FARMERS BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY and B. M. HART, and H. C. BRIDGERS, Trustee, v. FARMERS BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY, and B. M. HART, D. T. WILLIAMS, J. C. RUFFIN and T. P. JENKINS.

(Filed 19 March, 1930.)

I. Bankruptcy C c — Definition of preference which may he set aside.

A preference given a creditor which can be set aside under the provisions of the Federal Bankruptcy Act must be one made within four months preceding the filing of the petition, when the debtor is insolvent, with knowledge by the creditor or information sufficient to put him upon inquiry that will lead to knowledge of the debtor’s insolvency, and by which such creditor will receive a larger per cent of his debt than others in the same class or which will diminish or deplete the bankrupt’s assets.

2. Same — Upon conflicting evidence as to whether preference diminished bankrupt's assets the question is for the jury.

Where there is conflicting evidence as to whether the preferences alleged to have been made by a bankrupt diminished or depleted his assets, it being contended by the creditor that they were made from the sale of collateral hypothecated to secure the debt more than four months preceding the filing of the petition in bankruptcy, the issue should be submitted to the jury.

3. Same — Actual notice of creditor of insolvency is not necessary if he was put upon inquiry which would have led to such knowledge.

Actual notice of the creditor of the insolvency of a bankrupt is not required to set aside a preference under the provisions of the Federal Bankruptcy Act, but the creditor is required to exercise ordinary,care to ascertain the facts, and where he has sufficient knowledge to put him upon inquiry he is chargeable with all the facts which such inquiry would have disclosed, and in this case held,: evidence of such knowledge was sufficient to be submitted to the jury.

4. Bankruptcy O e — Trustee in bankruptcy has burden of proving preference depleted bankrupt’s assets.

The trustee in bankruptcy has the burden of showing that payments on a preexisting debt made by a bankrupt within four months prior to the filing of the petition in bankruptcy diminished or depleted the assets of the bankrupt, and where there is conflicting evidence as to whether the bankrupt’s estate was thereby diminished or depleted an issue is raised for the determination of the jury.

5. Evidence P e — Where plaintiff has introduced admissions in the answer defendant may introduce paragraphs explaining such admissions.

Where the plaintiff in the action has offered in evidence certain allegations of the complaint and admissions in the answer, it is competent for the defendant to introduce all paragraphs of the answer in which such admissions were explained or modified, but not of extraneous matter.

6. Trial B c — Objection, to admission of evidence is untenable where evidence of same character has been admitted without objection.

Where certain evidence has been introduced on the trial without objection the complaining party may not successfully except to the introduction of other evidence of substantially the same character.

Civil actioN, before Demn, Jat November Term, 1929, of Edge-combe.

Two actions were instituted by H. 0. Bridgers, trustee in bankruptcy of Carolina Leaf Tobacco Company. In both suits the plaintiff alleged that within four months of the bankruptcy of the Carolina Leaf Tobacco Company the said bankrupt had made preferential payments to the defendant bank upon certain notes held by said bank. Upon said notes there were certain individual endorsers, but not the same endorsers on each note. Hence separate actions were instituted, but both actions were consolidated and tried together.

The Carolina Leaf Tobacco Company was adjudged a bankrupt in June, 1925. On 3 April, 1925, the said bankrupt executed and delivered to the defendant bank a note for $5,000, which was endorsed by certain individuals who were directors of the bankrupt. This note represented a renewal of a larger indebtedness which had been reduced from time to time previous to 3 April, 1925. On 2 May, .1925, the bankrupt executed and delivered to said bank a note for $3,000. The property of the bankrupt was advertised for taxes and there were certain claims for labor due. The proceeds of the $3,000 note was used to pay taxes and to discharge unpaid claims for labor, and a balance of $1,250 was credited by the bank on the $5,000 note aforesaid. On 14 May, 1925, the sum of $400 was credited on the $5,000 note, and on 21 May, 1925, there were two credits on the $3,000 note, to wit, one of $758.75, the other of $1,699.90. There was evidence tending to show that the $758.75 credit was derived from the sale of hogshead material and tobacco by the bankrupt, the proceeds thereof being paid to the defendant bank, and that the $1,699.90 credit was derived from the sale of tobacco by the bankrupt, the proceeds thereof having been paid to the defendant bank. There ivas further evidence tending to show that tobacco warehouse receipts were deposited by the bankrupt as collateral to all of said loans, and the defendants contended that the credits on both of said notes were derived from the sale of collateral duly deposited with the defendant bank at the time of the execution of said notes. There was evidence to the contrary.

The issues submitted to the jury with respect to the $3,000 note were as follows:

1. “Did the payment of $758 on the $3,000 note constitute a preference under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, as alleged in the complaint ?”

2. “Did the payment of $1,699 on the $3,000 note constitute a preference under the bankruptcy laws of the United States as alleged in the complaint ?”

The jury answered the first issue “Yes,” and the second issue, “No.”

The issues submitted on the $5,000 note were as follows:

1. “Did the payment of the $1,250 on the $5,000 note constitute a preference under the bankruptcy laws of the United States as alleged in the complaint?”

2. “Did the payment of the $400 on said $5,000 note constitute a preference under the bankruptcy laws of the United States, as alleged in the complaint?”

The jury answered the first issue, “Yes,” and the second issue, “Yes.”

From judgments upon the verdicts the defendants appealed.

Henry G. Bourne for plaintiff.

George M. Fountain for defendants.

BbogdeN, J.

"What are the constituent elements of a voidable preference as contemplated and defined by section 60 of the National Bankruptcy Act?

The Bankruptcy Act, section 60(a) provides in substance that: “A person shall be deemed to have given a preference if, being insolvent, he has, within four months before the filing of the petition or after the filing of the petition and before the adjudication, . . . made a transfer of any of his property, and the effect of the . . . transfer will be to enable any of his creditors to obtain a greater percentage of his debt than any other of such creditors of the same class,” etc. Section 60(b) provides in substance that if the bankrupt shall make a transfer of his property amounting to a preference “and the person receiving it or to be benefited thereby, or his agent acting therein, shall then have reasonable cause to believe that the transfer would effect a preference, it shall be voidable by the trustee and he may recover the property or its value from such person.”

It is declared by the textwriters that a preference consists of eight elements. Remington on Bankruptcy, 3 ed., Yol. 4, sec. 1630, et seq. These elements so far as applicable to the case at bar may be classified as folloAvs:

1. The insolvency of the debtor or bankrupt at the time the preference is given.

2. The preference must be given within four months prior to the filing of the petition in bankruptcy.

3. The creditor receiving the preference must thereby obtain a larger percentage of his debt than any other creditor of the same class.

4. Tbe giving of tbe preference must diminish or deplete tbe estate of tbe debtor bankrupt.

5. Tbe person receiving sucb preference must bave reasonable cause to believe, at tbe time, tbat tbe enforcement of tbé transfer would effect a preference. Wright v. Cotten, 140 N. C., 1, 52 S. E., 141; Weeks v. Spooner, 142 N. C., 479, 55 S. E., 432; McNeeley v. Shoe Co., 170 N. C., 278, 87 S. E., 64; Remington Bankruptcy, 3 ed., supra.

Tbe evidence discloses tbat tbe bankrupt was a debtor of tbe defendant bank at tbe time tbe credits were applied, and tbat all of sucb credits were applied witbin tbe period of four months. However, tbe defendants contend tbat most of tbe credits were derived from tbe proceeds of tbe sale of collateral duly pledged by tbe bankrupt, and hence sucb credits did not diminish or deplete tbe estate of debtor. Tbe principle invoked by tbe defendant upon this aspect of tbe case was thus expressed in Weeks v. Spooner, 142 N. C., 479. “A preference witbin four months prior to bankruptcy -is held invalid, because it diminishes tbe common fund by tbe sum or property given tbe preferred creditor. But when there is a full and fair present consideration, it is not a preference, for tbe fund is not diminished, tbe debtor receiving in exchange tbe value of tbe property transferred. However, tbe generally accepted principle, adopted by tbe courts, is, tbat there can be no preferential transfer without a depletion of tbe debtor’s estate, and tbe burden of showing such depletion by payments or credits, made upon a preexisting indebtedness, is upon tbe trustee. Miller v. Fisk Tire Co., 11 Fed., 2d, 301; New Port Bank v. Herkimer Bank, 225 U. S., 178, 56 L. Ed., 1042.

Tbe evidence was conflicting upon tbe question of depletion of tbe estate resulting from tbe payments made by tbe debtor. Therefore, tbe trial judge properly submitted sucb issue of fact to tbe jury.

There was also sufficient evidence to be submitted to tbe jury upon tbe question of knowledge or notice of insolvency at tbe time tbe credits were made. All tbe authorities concur in declaring tbat actual knowledge is not required, but reasonable cause to believe tbat a preference would result is sufficient to impose liability. Hence, a creditor receiving a payment or “transfer” witbin tbe period of four months must exercise ordinary care to ascertain tbe facts, and, if tbe facts are sufficient to put him upon inquiry, be is chargeable with all tbe knowledge tbat sucb reasonable inquiry would bave disclosed. Wilson v. Taylor, 154 N. C., 211, 70 S. E., 286.

In tbe case at bar tbe defendant knew tbat tbe property of tbe debtor was being advertised for sale for taxes, and tbat tbe debtor was not able in due course of business to meet payments for work and labor done. It was also in evidence tbat tbe president of defendant bank attended a meeting of tbe stockholders of tbe bankrupt some time prior to 2 May, 1925. In the meeting there was a general discussion of the financial condition of the bankrupt. The president of the defendant bank testified: “From that discussion I was of the opinion that unless some of the directors helped them and they collected some of the book accounts they had in New York where they had sold tobacco, they would have a hard time getting along unless some one wanted to endorse for them.” Certainly from all the facts and circumstances disclosed by the record, there was sufficient evidence to be submitted to the jury upon the question of notice.

The plaintiff offered certain allegations of the complaint and certain admissions in the answers. Thereupon the defendant sought to offer in evidence all paragraphs of the answers in which such admissions were contained. The trial judge permitted the defendant to offer such portions of the answers as tended to modify or explain the admission therein offered by the plaintiff, but declined to permit the defendant to introduce other allegations of extraneous matter or such as purported to deal with the history and development of the controversy. The ruling of the trial judge is upheld for the reason that the defendant was only entitled to offer from his answer such allegations as actually explained or modified the admission offered by the plaintiff. Jones v. R. R., 176 N. C., 260, 97 S. E., 48; Weston v. Typewriter Co., 183 N. C., 1, 110 S. E., 581; Malcolm v. Cotton Mills, 191 N. C., 727, 133 S. E., 7.

The defendant also objected to the testimony of plaintiff to the effect that the payments on the notes diminished the assets o'f the North Carolina Leaf Tobacco Company. The record, however, discloses that the plaintiff had already given the same testimony before objection was made. Hence such exception cannot be sustained.

In its final analysis, issues of fact were developed which were properly submitted to the jury, and the verdicts and judgments thereon are determinative.

No error.