Court Opinion

ID: 5434281
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-08 17:51:09.83461+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:31:45.552225
License: Public Domain

Baldwin, J.
delivered the opinion of the Court—Field, C. J. concurring.
The plaintiffs filed their bill in the District Court to dissolve an association known as the “Riggers and Stevedore’s Union Association of San Francisco.” The constitution of this association provides for the collection of an initiation fee from the members; also, weekly dues, fines, etc. By the tenth article of the bylaws, it is provided that any member of the association shall, if sick or disabled so as to prevent him from working or pursuing his ordinary business, receive from the funds of the society ten dollars a week, provided such sickness or distress is not brought on himself by improper or immoral conduct. A committee is appointed to visit the sick. By Article twelve, “ in case of the death of a brother in good standing, the sum of seventy-five dollars shall be appropriated to defray his funeral expenses, and in case of a brother’s wife, forty-dollars shall be appropriated; and each brother shall lie assessed one dollar to defray the funeral expenses of a brother, and fifty cents for a brother’s wife. When funds in the treasury shall exceed two thousand dollars, the assessment shall cease. The members must be twenty-one years of age, and have worked at least six months as a rigger or stevedore.”
The bill charges that the plaintiffs are members of this asso*535ciation—that they have been refused admission to the meetings of the association, and a right to participate in its proceedings, unless they would agree to take an oath to be administered by the President—that this was not required by the constitution and by-laws, and is foreign to the objects of the association—that plaintiffs refused to take this oath—that they have been consequently excluded from all the benefits of the association, and been expelled from membership for so refusing—and that the funds of the association amount to three thousand dollars. The bill prays for a dissolution and an account as of a partnership.
The main question made and argued at the bar and on briefs, is, whether this association is to be treated as a partnership or as a voluntary charity.
It would be an endless task to review all the learning of the books on the subject of charities. It is not necessary that we should do so. Assuming that the Statutes of 39 and 43 of Elizabeth, on the subject of charitable uses, are in force in this State, or if those statutes merely affirmed the common law before existing, wo think that this case is not affected by the solution of the question, or by the doctrines of the Courts or the provisions of the statutes upon the subject.
This is a voluntary association, formed for the benefit of the members of it. It partakes of the nature of a partnership. We do not sec why a number of persons capable of contracting, may not associate and agree, as the basis and consideration of the association, that the funds raised by voluntary contribution, or otherwise, through the by-laws of the company, shall be appropriated, absolutely or in a given contingency, to the benefit of the individual members. This is such an agreement. A number of the members of a particular avocation meet for mutual benefit and protection, and proscribe rules for the government of the society thus organized. They agree that each shall contribute a certain fixed sum to the common treasury, and that this sum shall be applied, in a certain event, as in sickness, etc. to the relief of the necessities or wants of the individual members or of their families. This is not a charity any more than an assurance society against fire, or upon life, is a charity. It is simply a fair and reciprocal contract among the members to pay certain amounts, in certain contingencies, to each other, out of a *536common fund. The view taken by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, in Babb v. Reed et als. (5 Rawle, 158,) meets our concurrence. Sergeant, J. delivered the opinion. The case was elaborately argued by able counsel. In that case, the Odd Fellows’ Lodge was involved, which was a voluntary society, the general objects of which seem not very dissimilar to those of this association. The Court say: “The association, from whose property the money in Court proceeded, was formed and conducted without incorporation. Its objects are stated to be, the employment of its funds in purposes of mutual benevolence, among its members and their families; but these cannot be deemed charitable uses under the common law of Pennsylvania or the statute of 43 Elizabeth. The twenty-one cases enumerated in the statute, and the others constructively within it, are of public nature, tending to the benefit or relief, in some shape or other, of the community at large, not restricted to the mutual aid of a few. And if the objects of the association Avere within the class of charitable uses, it does not follow, as has been contended, that it is clothed with the character of a corporation, without a charter obtained under the Act of 1791, or by virtue of a special Act of Assembly. Equity finds ways to sustain charitable trusts or uses, without necessarily creating corporations for that purpose. The objects and purposes of the society are of a beneficial bind, and as such, might perhaps be embraced by the Act of 8th April, 1833, extending to beneficial societies and associations the provisions of the Act of 1791. In the absence of any actual charter it is a voluntary association of individuals, and the members, in their relations to third persons, are to be considered as partners, in the same manner as individuals associated for the purpose of banking; (Hess v. Wertz, 4 Serg. & Rawle, 356); or joint stock companies, at one time so frequently in England, for commercial and speculative purposes.”
The doctrine of this case is amply sustained by authority. The case of Beaumont v. Meredith, (3 Vesey & Beames, 180,) was a bill filed by some members of a society called the Benevolent Union Society, “for the relief of the members in case of their ' sickness, and other benevolent purposes.” The bill stated that the fund, formed by subscription of the members, for the benefit of the society, in May, 1811, amounted to one thousand one hun*537dred and fifty pounds, three per cent, stock, standing in the names of Trustees; setting forth the articles, limiting the society to sixty-one members; among other regulations, declaring that the society should never bo dissolved so long as seven members would support the same. The bill, alleging that the stock now belonging to the society, amounts to one thousand three hundred and thirty-three pounds and five shillings, three per cent, standing in the names of tho six defendants, members of the society, and Trustees under the articles, who had, in breach of the articles, sold out part, and proceeded to dissolve the society; bill prayed an account and injunction, and that the defendants may be decreed to replace the stock. The Lord Chancellor said: “ This society can be considered in this Court only as a partnership; and neither has, nor can have, a corporate character. The bill is, therefore, to be considered merely as insisting that the partnership, which is asserted to have existed, shall be considered as continuing to exist; and, therefore, that these sums are to be brought into Court; though throughout the pleadings this society is treated as having much more of a corporate character than can belong to them.
Of the only two cases I remember of this sort, coming to á hearing, the fate was this: Lord Thurlow, in one instance, and 1 in the other, discovered that the society existed upon principles, which, with reference to the amount of the number of subscribers and the nature of the subscriptions, made the whole a bubble; and the only relief, therefore, that could be administered, was by dissolving the society, and giving to each member a proportion of the sums subscribed for purposes, which, from the nature and object of the society, could not possibly be answered.”
Pierce v. Piper, (17 Vesey, 15,) announces the same doctrine. (See, also, Ellison v. Reynolds, 2 Jac. & Walker, 511; Reese v. Parkins, Id. 300; so, Gow on Partnership, 227.) “A society for relief in sickness, by means of a fund raised by subscription of the members, has been considered as a partnership, it having no corporate character; and where it has been found that the society has existed upon principles which, with reference to the amount or the number of subscribers, and the nature of the subscriptions, made tho whole a bubble, the same has been dissolved, *538each member receiving a portion of the sum subscribed. The Court will likewise dissolve friendly societies, founded on erroneous principles; and until a dissolution takes place, will restrain the Trustees from making payments which will tend to exhaust the funds.” (See, also, Buckley v. Cuter, 17 Vesey, 15; Cockburn v. Thompson, 6 Id. 322.) Collyer on Partnership, Sec. 53, states the rule in very clear language: “It may be here observed,” says the author, “that there are some societies, not engaged in trade, but which, not partaking of a corporate character, are dealt with in a Court of Equity as partnerships; as private societies for the relief of members in cases of sickness, etc.”
The numerous cases cited by the Respondent’s counsel, have been examined; but they have nothing to do with this case; they are applicable only to cases of charities, whore provision has been made for objects alien to the grantor—as colleges, schools, churches, etc.—and do not touch the case of voluntary associations providing for the members themselves.
2. The next question is, whether the exclusion of the plaintiffs, because they refused to take a prescribed oath, is a ground of dissolution.
We think it clear, that the association had no right, under the facts stated, to require the oath to be administered as a preliminary condition to the admission of the plaintiffs, to participate in the business of the association. (Stra. 536; Angel & Ames on Corp. 344.) In 3 Kent, (5th Ed. 60,) it is hold, that the Court will require a strong case to be made out, before it will dissolve a partnership, and decree a sale of the whole concern. The mis conduct of the partner must amount to an exclusion of his co-partner from his proper agency in the house, or be such as renders it impossible to carry on the business on the terms stipulated. So, Collyer on Partnership, (See. 297,) holds: “However, it may with safety be laid down, that not only willful acts of bad faith and fraud, but gross instances of carelessness and waste in the administration of the partnership, as well as exclusion of the other partners from their just share of the management, so as to prevent the business from being conducted on the stipulated terms, are sufficient grounds for the dissolution of the contract by a Court of Equity.” The author continues : “And t has been laid down, that though the Court stands neuter with *539respect to occasional breaches of agreements between partners, ■which are not so grievous as to make it impossible for the partnership to continue; yet, when it finds that the acts complained of, are of such a character that relief cannot be given to the parties except by a dissolution, the Court will decree a dissolution, though it is not specifically asked.” So, in Smith v. Joyes, (4 Beavan, 503,) it was held, that where a partner does acts inconsistent with the duty of a partner, and of a nature to destroy the mutual confidence which ought to subsist between partners, and makes it impossible that the business can be conducted in partnership, with benefit to cither party, the Court will decree a dissolution before the expiration of the term for which the contract was entered into. When it is insisted, that the conduct of one partner entitles the other to a dissolution, the Court must consider not merely the terms of the express contract between them, but also, the duties and obligations implied in every partnership, contract.”
The question now arises on demurrer. Prima facie, this exclusion of the plaintiffs, as the averment is made, is sufficient ground for a dissolution; but the answer may put the case in a different aspect, and within the.principle just announced. For it docs not follow, if the majority of this association have mistaken their powers or duties, and acted under such mistake, if they are willing to correct the error, that a Court of Equity will necessarily grant the relief sought by the plaintiffs. But, wo leave this question open until it is presented by the record.
The remaining question is as to the alleged defect of parties.] But, this objection is conclusively settled by the authorities,j which hold that the strict rule, that all persons materially] interested must be parties, is dispensed with, where it is impracticable or very inconvenient, as in ease of a very numerous association in a joint concern—in effect, a partnership. (Cockburn v. Thompson, 16 Ves. 321 ; Sto. Eq. Pl. Sec. 135.)
It follows, that the decree must be reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings, in pursuance of this opinion.