Court Opinion

ID: 9711614
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:35:21.062658+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:06.332695
License: Public Domain

Braucher, J.
A debtor conveys property to his wife, and she conveys it to her sister’s husband, all with an intent to put the property beyond the reach of a creditor. Before the creditor’s claim is reduced to judgment, with knowledge of the fraudulent intent, the transferee participates in a sale of the property to a good faith purchaser for fair consideration, and pays over the net proceeds to the debtor. Taking into account the extent of the transferee’s participation as in Modin v. Hanron, 346 Mass. 629, 631-632 (1964), we hold that the transferee is not personally liable to the creditor.
A judge of the Superior Court made findings based on a statement of agreed facts, which incorporated exhibits and a deposition of the defendant. We summarize the findings. *349The debtor, Richard A. Allen, guaranteed certain debts owed to the plaintiff bank by a corporation of which he was an officer and stockholder. In March, 1976, the bank demanded payment. In May, 1976, Allen conveyed his interest in certain real estate in Northborough to his wife, Judith P. Allen, for nominal consideration. On June 4,1976, the bank sued Allen on the debt. On August 3,1976, the debtor’s wife conveyed the real estate to the defendant Risley, her sister’s husband, without consideration. The conveyance was made with an intent to place the property out of the reach of the plaintiff bank, and the defendant knowingly participated in the transfer. The deed was recorded on August 9,1976, and on that day the bank commenced an action against the Allens in the nature of a suit to set aside a fraudulent conveyance.
In February, 1977, attorneys for the Allens prepared a purchase and sale agreement for the real estate, which was executed by the defendant and by the Lottiers, husband and wife, the prospective purchasers. By recorded deed dated March 23, 1977, the defendant conveyed the property to the Lottiers, who in good faith paid a fair consideration. The net proceeds took the form of a check for $6,339.45, drawn by the Allens’ attorney and payable to the defendant. He indorsed it in blank and delivered it to the Allens. The defendant received no benefit from these transactions and retained no part of the sale proceeds.
The complaint in the present action was filed in April, 1977. In July, 1977, the bank’s action against Allen was transferred from a District Court to the Superior Court, and a judgment for $50,000 plus interest was entered against Allen. Execution was issued, but no part of the judgment or execution has been paid. Both Allens are insolvent and have filed petitions in bankruptcy. In the present action a judge of the Superior Court gave judgment for the bank against the defendant Risley in the amount of $6,339.45, plus interest. The defendant appealed, and we transferred the case to this court on our own motion. We reverse the judgment and order judgment for the defendant.
The findings that the transfer to the defendant was made with an intent to place the property out of the reach of the *350plaintiff bank and that the defendant knowingly participated are not clearly erroneous. Thus the transfer was fraudulent under G. L. c. 109A, § 7, as a transfer “with actual intent ... to hinder, delay or defraud . . . creditors,” and a creditor with a matured claim could have it set aside to the extent necessary to satisfy his claim. G. L. c. 109A, § 9. As the judge ruled, the sale to good faith purchasers for value successfully put the property out of the plaintiff s reach. But the defendant remained personally liable at least to the extent of proceeds remaining in his hands. Citizens Bank & Trust Co. v. Rockingham Trailer Sales, Inc., 351 Mass. 457, 461-462 (1966). Joseph P. Manning Co. v. Shinopoulos, 317 Mass. 97, 100 (1944). See G. Glenn, Fraudulent Conveyances and Preferences § 239 (1940); McLaughlin, Application of the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, 46 Harv. L. Rev. 404, 443 (1933).
The question remains: what is the effect of the delivery of the proceeds to the debtor? In several cases where the transferee in the fraudulent conveyance participated actively in the fraudulent scheme, we have held that the transferee was not entitled to show, in a creditor’s suit, that some of the funds had been used to pay other creditors. R.E. McDonald Co. v. Finkovitch, 270 Mass. 362, 366-367 (1930). Massachusetts Trust Co. v. Simon Mfg. Co., 237 Mass. 92, 96 (1921). Manufacturers Nat’l Bank v. Simon Mfg. Co., 233 Mass. 85, 90 (1919). Cf. Citizens Bank & Trust Co. v. Rockingham Trailer Sales, Inc., 351 Mass. 457, 461 (1966) (no credit for consideration paid to debtor). In Modin v. Hanron, 346 Mass. 629, 631-632 (1964), a case much like the present one, we distinguished such cases as involving “substantially more active participation by the transferees” and “no voluntary reconveyance of the property to the original grantor,” and held that the voluntary reconveyance discharged the transferee’s liability. Accord, David v. Zilah, 325 Mass. 252, 256 (1950); Thomas v. Goodwin, 12 Mass. 140, 142 (1815); Wheeler & Green v. Kirtland, 23 N.J. Eq. 13, 18-19 (1872); Norris & Co. v. Jones, 93 Va. 176, 182 (1896); Vinlis Constr. Co. v. Roreck, 67 Misc. 2d *351942, 949 (Sup. Ct. 1971), affd, 43 App. Div. 2d 911; appeal dismissed, 35 N.Y.2d 715 (1974); G. Glenn, Fraudulent Conveyances and Preferences § 57 (1940).
The plaintiff seeks to distinguish the Modin case, pointing out that there the property transferred was returned to the debtor, while in the present case the property was sold and proceeds were returned. It argues that this shows more active participation by the transferee in the fraudulent scheme. We think, however, that the change in the form of the asset is not dispositive. See Schneider v. Patton, 175 Mo. 684, 724-726 (1903); Swift v. Holdridge, 10 Ohio 230, 232 (1840). 1 The facts found show a transferee who was used as an instrument by the debtor. His knowledge of the facts was minimal; he sought and received no benefit from the transactions. We think he comes within the principle of the Modin case.

Judgment reversed.

Judgment for the defendant.