Case ID: pa-super_70/html/0238-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Trexler, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Schmitt, Receiver, v. Dietterle, Appellant.
    
      Corporations — Suit by receiver — Affidavit of defense — StocTc— Principal and agent — Accord o/nd satisfaction.
    
    In an action by the receiver of a corporation to recover moneys alleged to be due to tbe company, an affidavit of defense is sufficient which avers that $500 of the debt was in the form of notes given by defendant for the stock of the company, under an agreement that the company would under certain conditions named, exchange the notes for the stock, that the secretary and treasurer of the company, naming him, its duly authorized agent, made a full and final settlement with defendant in consideration of a check for an amount named and the $500 stock certificate “the same being in full and final settlement of all and every debt, claim and demand,” and that the secretary returned to defendant all of the notes in compliance with the agreement.
    
      In such a case as there was nothing to show that the company was insolvent at the time of the settlement, defendant had a right to set up the settlement as a defense. It was good as an accord and satisfaction made before the appointment of the receiver and binding upon him. The fact that part of the consideration for the settlement was stock in the company, does not alter the situation as the sufficiency of the consideration is immaterial.
    Argued April 15, 1918.
    Appeal, No. 121, April T., 1918, by defendant, from order of C. P. Lawrence Co., Dec. T., 1914, No. 61, making absolute rule for judgment for want of a sufficient affidavit of defense in case of V. J. Schmitt, Receiver of the Interstate Lumber Company, v. Andrew Dietterle and J. C. Liebendorfer, trading as Castle Lumber and Construction Company.
    Before Qrlady, P. J., Porter, Henderson, Head, Kephart, Trexler and Williams, JJ.
    Reversed.
    Assumpsit by a receiver of a corporation for moneys alleged to be due the company.
    The averments of the statement of claim and affidavit of defense are summarized in the opinion of the Superior Court.
    
      Error assigned was order making absolute rule for judgment for want of a sufficient affidavit of defense.
    
      Robert L. Wallace, with him Robert K. Aiken, for appellant.
    The affidavit of defense is sufficient because it alleges payment to and settlement with the plaintiff.
    The averment of the amount, time and manner of payment and the person to and by whom made is sufficient to prevent judgment: Heistaud v. Williamson, 128 Pa. 122; McCracken v. First Reformed, Etc., Congregation, 111 Pa. 106; Wheatley v. Niedich, 24 Pa. Superior Ct. 198; Machin v. Prudential Trust Co., 210 Pa. 253.
    
      J. N. Martin, of Martin & Martin, for appellee.
    
      July 10, 1918:
   Opinion by

Trexler, J.,

Plaintiff’s statement avers, inter alia, that in 1912 he was made receiver of the Interstate Lumber Company, a Pennsylvania corporation; that during the years 1909 and 1910, defendant purchased, at various times, lumber, etc., from his company to the value of $1,418.83, and that, further, during the said years defendant became indebted by various notes, protest fees, interest on notes and expenses on production and organization according to various contracts with said plaintiff company, in the sum of $526.56; that defendants were credited with the payment of $1,395.39, leaving due a balance of $550.

The affidavit of defense avers that $500 of the debt was in the form of notes given for stock in the Interstate company under an agreement that, if the relations betwéen the parties were unsatisfactory, the stock might be exchanged for the notes; that W. A. Coleman, the secretary and treasurer of the Interstate company, its duly authorized agent, made a full and final settlement with the defendant in consideration of a check for $79.27 and the $500 stock certificate, “the same being in full and final settlement of all and every debt, claim and demand,” of plaintiff company against the defendant and “the said W- A. Coleman......returned to the said defendant company all the notes in compliance with the agreement made.”

The court below entered judgment for plaintiff on the ground that the authority of Coleman was not alleged, that authority could not have been given him to purchase stock of the insolvent company and thus reduce its capital to' the prejudice of creditors. Defendant appealed.

There is nothing in the pleadings to indicate that the Interstate company was insolvent April 25, 1911, the-date of the alleged settlement. Nor was the allegation of authority in Coleman to make settlement insufficient. The affidavit alleges an accord and satisfaction, made before the appointment of the receiver, and, accordingly, binding upon him: Hoover v. Pursel, 67 Pa. Superior Ct. 130; Harman v. Blackwell, 232 Fed. 440. The fact that part of the consideration therefor was stock in the company does not alter the situation, as the sufficiency of the consideration is immaterial: Savage v. Everman, 70 Pa. 315.

The judgment is reversed with a procedendo.