Case ID: misc_54/html/0114-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "O’Gorman, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Thomas A. Rickert, as President of the United Garment Workers of America, Plaintiff, v. Henry White, Defendant.
    (Supreme Court, New York Special Term,
    April, 1907.)
    Corporations — Officers and agents — Transactions between corporations and officers, etc. — Liability of officer to account for profits.
    An officer of a corporation who purchases goods for it, from a firm of which he is a member, must account to the corporation for the profits of the transaction, where it appears that his connection with the firm was concealed from the corporation.
    Action against an officer of a corporation for an accounting of secret profits.
    Jacob Fromme, for plaintiff.
    Louis J. Jacoves, for defendant.
   O’Gorman, J.

The averments of the complaint are sustained by the evidence. It is established that the defendant while acting as secretary of the United Garment Workers of America and intrusted with the purchase of certain supplies procured the same from a firm of which he was a member. It also appears that his connection with the firm was concealed from the corporation. Under the circumstances the defendant must account to the plaintiff for the profits he derived from the transactions in question. The. defendant held a position of trust and confidence and will not be permitted to use his office for personal gain. Officers of a corporation are bound to exercise the utmost good faith toward the corporate interests and cannot lawfully take secret profits in contracts which they are empowered to make. When an officer or any agent is authorized to sell he cannot lawfully become the purchaser, and when directed to buy he cannot become the seller. Where in disregard of his duty an officer makes purchases or enters into contracts whereby he acquires a personal advantage, the profits thus obtained belong not to him but to the corporation. Koster v. Pain, 41 App. Div. 444; Smith v. Seattle, L. S. & E. R. Co., 72 Hun, 202; Barnes v. Brown, 80 N. Y. 535.

Judgment for plaintiff.