Case Name: In the Matter of the Assignment of Lee A. Tuller
Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1889-03-12
Citations: 22 N.Y. St. Rep. 242
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Assignment of Lee A. Tuller.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York State Reporter
Volume: 22
Pages: 242–244

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Assignment of Lee A. Tuller.
(New York Common Pleas, Special Term,
Filed March 12, 1889.)
.1. Assignment—Por benefit of creditors—Preferences—Amount how applied—Laws 1887, chap. 503.
Preferences under a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, other than for wages or salaries of employees, are limited to one third of the net balance of the assets, after paying the costs and expenses of executing the trust, and should the amount so set aside be insufficient to pay in full the preferred claims, then the preferences are to be paid pro rata.
3. Same—Power of assignor to designate amount of preferences— HOW EVIDENCED,
Under Laws 1887, chapter 503, declaring the amount which shall be applicable to the payment of preferences, the assignor has the power to designate in what manner the amount shall be applied, and the deed of assignment is the sole guide of this.

Opinion:
Larremore, Ch. J.
—The language of chapter 503, Laws of 1887, is that preferences under a general assignment for the benefit of creditors other than those for wages or salaries of employees "shall not be valid except to the •amount of one-third in value of the assigned estate left .after deducting such wages or salaries and the costs and expenses of executing such trust, and should such one-third of the assets of the assignor or assignors be insufficient to •pay in full the preferred claims to which, under the provisions of this section, the same are applicable, then said assets shall be applied to the payment of the same pro rata to the amount of each of said preferred claims."
This language admits of no doubt as to its intent. Only one-third-.of the net balance remaining in the hands of the-, assignee, after paying "such wages or salaries, and the-costs and expenses of executing such trust," are applicable-to the payment of the preferences which are provided for by the assignor in his deed.
The commissions of the assignee are regulated by statute, and their payment is usually provided for in the deed of assignment; but, whether so provided for or not, they are one of the "expenses of executing such trust."
The disbursements made by the assignee in the execution, of his trust, as well as the bill of costs, are also provided for by this enactment, the language being " costs and expenses." In the present instance, the amounts seem large; the " expenses " of executing the assignment are more than fifty per cent, of the assets, and the " costs" are more than sixty per cent, of the balance, so that an estate of about $900, results in a balance of about $100 for the creditors. Not having the papers before me, I am not prepared to express any opinion on that question now, but upon the question as presented, it is evident that the decree should provide that one-third of the net proceeds remaining after all the "costs and expenses of executing such trust," should, be set apart, out of which the preferences were to be paid. pro rata.
Other questions may arise under the deed, as to the manner in which this "one-third" shall be distributed. There-being nothing said to the contrary, in the memorandum handed to me, I must assume that the preferred creditors-are to share equally, in which case the " one-third " is to be-divided amongst them, according to the amounts of their respective claims; but, should the preferences be in classes, a different apportionment would be necessary. The distribution of this " one-third" of the net balance, after all the "costs and expenses of executing such trust," will de.pend entirely upon the language used in the instrument creating the trust, for all legislative enactments in respect of a. common law right merely regulate the practice thereunder..
This act of the legislature of 1887, chap. 503, merely declares that the amount which shall be applicable to the-payment of preferences other than those already provided for by statute, shall be limited to one-.third of the net-balance of the assets, after paying the costs and expenses, of executing the trust, so that it remains in the power of the assignor to designate in what manner this one-third shall be applied, and the deed itself is the sole guide of this. In re Lewis, 81 N. Y., 421.
In respect of the payment to preferred creditors, the decree will provide for a distribution of one-third of the balance remaining after paying all the costs and expenses of «executing the trust, and for such distribution pro rata in «exact accordance with the language of the deed.