Case Name: HARVEY v. LEWIS. CLAIM OF ISRAEL
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1961-12-01
Citations: 365 Mich. 97
Docket Number: Docket No. 25, Calendar No. 48,729
Parties: HARVEY v. LEWIS. CLAIM OF ISRAEL.
Judges: Dbthmers, C. J., and Carr and Kavanagh, JJ., concurred with Kelly, J.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 365
Pages: 97–108

Head Matter:
HARVEY v. LEWIS. CLAIM OF ISRAEL.
Corporations — Rights to Stock — Conditions—Assignments—Findings op Court — Record.
Finding of trial judge that plaintiff assignee of rights to stoek which assignors held contingent upon the fulfillment of certain conditions which were never fulfilled, thereby rendering the rights worthless and that the assignment thereof was an idle ceremony held, supported by the record.
Edwards and Souris, JJ., dissenting.
Black, J., for dismissal of appeal.
Appeal from Wayne; Rashid (Joseph G-.), J.
Submitted June 8, 1961.
(Docket No. 25, Calendar No. 48,729.)
Decided December 1, 1961.
Bill by Sidney M. Harvey, Thermie Henkle, William T. McAlonan, Emma Moist, and others against Daniel L. Lewis, et al., doing business as Lewis Bros., Brookdale Cemetery Association, Brookdale, Inc., Mt. Sinai Memorial Cemetery Association, and ■others, for accounting, receivership proceedings, quieting of title, cancellation of encumbrances, impressment of trust, and for other relief in connection with corporate organization and sales of property for cemetery purposes.
Claim of Muriel Israel for ownership of corporate stock denied. Claimant Israel appeals.
Affirmed.
References por Points in Headnotes
13 Am Jur, Corporations § 329 et seq.
Walter M. Nelson (Burger c& Sullivan and Frank lannelli, of counsel for Harvey and McAlonan, Clarence T. Wilson, of counsel for Henlde, Moist, and others), for plaintiffs.
Irwin I. Cohn (John Sklar, of counsel), for claimant Israel.
Stanley E. Beattie, for John R. Starrs, receiver.

Opinion:
Kelly, J.
The files in this Court and in the Wayne' circuit Court disclose the repeated and unusual litigation during the more than 20 years that have elapsed since the incorporation of the Brookdale Cemetery Association and the Brookdale Sales Company.
Appellants state:
"Underlying facts and background have, in part,, heretofore been before this Court in Harvey v. Lewis, 357 Mich 305, as well as in other appeals in this case which were disposed of on motions without published opinions."
April 8, 1958, Muriel Israel filed her claim to the ownership of 38,180 shares of common stock of Brookdale, Inc., as assignee of Dr. Philip A. Callahan and Rev. E. J. Rollings.
The rights and interests of Dr. Callahan and Rev.. Rollings had been presented to Hon. John V. Brennan, Wayne county circuit ¡judge, who, after an extensive hearing, made a determination and on February 29, 1956, filed an opinion in which he stated:
"Brookdale Sales Company ceased to exist on April 29,1939. Elmer J. Rollings and Philixo A. Callahan's contract with Brookdale, and under which each was assigned 19,090 shares of stock in Brook-dale, Inc., was contingent upon the fulfillment of cer tain conditions. These conditions were not fulfilled. No breach of contract was, or is involved. The court is therefore of opinion and so finds, that whatever rights, if any they had, were extinguished by reason of the terms of the agreement itself. No rights or obligations whatsoever survived to them, or either of them, or to any third person or persons claiming under or through them or either of them. The stock assigned to them, or either of them, became worthless, both to themselves and to third persons claiming under or through them or either of them. Their assignment of said stock on July 24, 1953, or at any other time, was an idle ceremony."
Judge Brennan's term of office expired without entry of decree. Without reopening or taking further proof, Judge Rashid, as successor judge to Judge Brennan, agreed with Judge Brennan's opinion and entered an order denying Muriel Israel's claim, which has resulted in this appeal.
We agree that the record sustains Judge Brennan's opinion. Judge Rashid's order is in accordance therewith and is affirmed. Costs to appellees.
Dbthmers, C. J., and Carr and Kavanagh, JJ., concurred with Kelly, J.
Also, for various proceedings, see 363 Mich 232. — Reporter.