Court Opinion

ID: 8310344
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-17 13:47:32.468618+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:44:42.108056
License: Public Domain

Treat, J.
This application has been presented on the hypothesis that the defendant corporation had not appeared, or through default had not been allowed to appear. At the request of the court it has been presented before the decision of the application made by the defendant corporation itself, in order that the whole subject might be fully considered at the same time. As intimated in the opinion heretofore given, individual stockholders or bondholders who are not content with the action had in their behalf by their trustees or others charged with their interest, should take, with due diligence, for their individual protection, the course required in such cases, becoming individually responsible for the consequences of the litigation. The views stated in Hawes v. Oakland, 104 U. S. 450, and the rule of the supreme court consequent thereon, fully indicate what should be done in all such cases. There may be many technical considerations why, at this stage of the proceeding, said individual applicant should not be permitted to appear and defend in the form by him presented. The court wishes, however, to place its decision on broader grounds. The defendant corporation, of which he was a shareholder, and the trustee representing his bonded interests, have been before the court for 16 months, assenting to and causing its action. At this time, when the court is about finally to close the whole case, there is no equity, under any allegations by him made to justify his appearance for and instead of the railroad and trust corporations, to open and prolong a litigation to the- apparent injury of all concerned, without a tender on his part to become responsible either for what has occurred or what from his delay may hereafter occur. The records of this court show that the continuance of the receivership involves constant loss to the bondholders and others as to their dues. At whose expense, therefore, is said railroad to be necessarily operated hereafter? His position, therefore, after the long delay named, is no better than that of the corporation itself.
Application denied.