Opinion ID: 1504496
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Form of Proceeding.

Text: But, conceding without deciding that consent could not bestow jurisdiction on the bankruptcy court, consent could authorize the form of procedure adopted by that court in determining the merits of the controversy. The form of procedure is not of vital importance; the bankruptcy court having possession. Page v. Ark. Nat. Gas Corp., supra. The interveners did not ask that a plenary suit be instituted in the Western district of Missouri to determine the controversy. They simply represented to the bankruptcy court that they should be allowed to present fully herein the facts in connection with the ownership of property in the conduct of business by said Kentucky State Telephone Company. In view of the foregoing facts and circumstances, interveners could not properly complain, although summary jurisdiction was exercised in hearing the petition in intervention and entering the order of August 15, 1931. But, although the facts and circumstances surrounding the presentation of the intervening petition and the hearing thereon were such as to amply justify the exercise of summary jurisdiction, yet the record indicates that interveners were accorded the main benefits of a plenary suit. The main characteristic differences between a summary proceeding and a plenary suit are: The former is based upon petition, and proceeds without formal pleadings; the latter proceeds upon formal pleadings. In the former, the necessary parties are cited in by order to show cause; in the latter, formal summons brings in the parties other than the plaintiff. In the former, short time notice of hearing is fixed by the court; in the latter, time for pleading and hearing is fixed by statute or by rule of court. In the former, the hearing is quite generally upon affidavits; in the latter, examination of witnesses is the usual method. In the former, the hearing is sometimes ex parte; in the latter, a full hearing is had. It is apparent that the differences are largely procedural rather than substantive. See, generally, as to summary proceedings, Remington on Bankruptcy (3d Ed.) §§ 2399, 2400; 37 Cyc. p. 528, et seq.; In re Snelling (D. C.) 202 F. 258; In re Rockford, etc., Co. (C. C. A.) 275 F. 811, 813; as to plenary proceedings: 49 C. J., p. 1034; 3 Bouv. Law Dict. 2612; In re Rockford, etc., Co., supra; In re McMahon (C. C. A.) 147 F. 684, 687; Arellano v. Chacon, 1 N. M. 269, 276. In the instant case, although formal pleadings were not filed by all the parties interested, yet the issue presented by the intervening petition was clear-cut and fully understood by the parties. There is no complaint as to this. The interveners on the one hand, and the bankruptcy receiver and the petitioning creditors on the other, presented their evidence in open court. There is no complaint by interveners that they did not have full opportunity to introduce their evidence and present their arguments to the court. Briefs were furnished after the hearing. All of the earmarks of a full and complete hearing are shown by the record. Under such circumstances, the proceeding was in substance and effect a plenary suit. Our conclusion is that, whether the procedure taken be called summary or plenary, the court properly exercised jurisdiction, and the appellants, interveners, have no just cause to complain in that respect. Jones v. Blair (C. C. A.) 242 F. 783; In re Hollingsworth & Whitney Co. (C. C. A.) 242 F. 753, 759; In re Eilers Music House (C. C. A.) 274 F. 330, 333; In re Rockford, etc., Co., supra; Board of Trade of City of Chicago v. Johnson (C. C. A.) 283 F. 374, 380; Operators' Piano Co. v. First Wis. Tr. Co., supra; see In re Raphael (C. C. A.) 192 F. 874; Clements v. Conyers (C. C. A.) 31 F.(2d) 563; Livingston v. Becker (D. C.) 40 F.(2d) 673, 675.