Court Opinion

ID: 5500252
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-10 02:58:23.426744+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:33:54.768078
License: Public Domain

Van Brunt, P. J.
This action was brought by the plaintiff for an accounting in respect to the copartnership dealings and transactions of the firm of Phelps, Stokes & Co. from the time of the commencement thereof to the time of its dissolution. It appeared from the complaint that James Stokes, Isaac N. Phelps, and Anson P. Stokes entered into copartnership, the articles concerning which were in writing, and which provided that said copartnership should commence on the 1st of January, 1879, and continue for five years, unless terminated by the death of Anson P. Stokes, or by a written notice of either of the partners to the other members of the firm of at least six months of the termination of said firm. Shortly after the formation the defendant Olcott was admitted as a copartner in said firm, but such admission presents no question raised by this demurrer. On the 18th of November, 1880, James Stokes assigned and transferred to his son, William E. D. Stokes, the plaintiff, an undivided fifth part of his interest in said firm, together with all profits accrued thereon since January 1,1879, the formation thereof. In 1881 James Stokes died, leaving the defendants Anson P. Stokes and Frederick P. Olcott and Isaac N. Phelps the sole surviving partners, and the said Phelps died in August, 1888, leaving Anson P. Stokes and Frederick P. Olcott sole surviving partners, and also leaving a will, which was duly proved, upon which letters of administration were issued to the appellants. The defendants, the executors of Phelps, interposed a demurrer to the complaint, upon the ground that the complaint, as against them, failed to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. This demurrer was overruled, and from the judgment thereupon entered this appeal is taken.
From an examination of the authorities cited by the appellants it appears that they claim that because the plaintiff, by reason of the assignment from his father, did not become a partner in that firm, he had no right to maintain this action. It is clear that by such assignment he obtained no rights as a partner, and was not responsible for the debts of the firm, as is held in the case of Burnett v. Snyder, 81 N. Y. 555; and in none of the cases cited upon the part of the appellant is it held that the assignee of the interest of a partner upon the dissolution of the firm has no rights which he may enforce against the survivors. In the case of Hooley v. Gieve, 9 Daly, 104, (affirmed upon the opinion of the court below, 78 N. Y. 599,) it is expressly held that upon the death of a copartner the surviving partners became trustees of the partnership fund, not only for the creditors, but for the personal representatives of the deceased partner, and that the entire assets of the firm subject to *408the payment of its debts became impressed with a lien in favor of the representatives of the deceased partner to the extent of the share of the deceased partner in the firm’s assets. Now in the case at bar the plaintiff is a representative of the deceased partner, James Stokes, by assignment; and, if the assets in the hands of the surviving partners are impressed with a lien in favor of the deceased partner, it is clear that he has a right and interest in the assets belonging to the firm, and, having such right or interest as one of the personal representatives of James Stokes, deceased, he certainly can maintain the action for an accounting, in order that that interest may be ascertained.
It is an elementary rule of law that a cestui que trust may call his trustee to an account, and that is precisely the relation which existed between these surviving partners and the plaintiff, as assignee of James Stokes, deceased. But it is insisted that the appellants are the executors of a partner who, surviving James Stokes, died since his decease, and therefore they have no interest in this controversy. Upon the contrary, these executors are cestuis que ■trustent precisely the same as the plaintiff. Anson P. Stokes and Frederick P. Olcott, the sole surviving partners of the firm, hold the assets of the firm as trustees of the representatives of the deceased partners, of whom Isaac FT. Phelps is now one. In order that the accounts of the firm, as between the various claimants upon the same, may be settled, it is necessary that all the cestuis que trustent be before the court, and therefore these executors are necessary parties defendants. The plaintiff has stated a cause of action as against them. He has shown by the allegations in the complaint that they are necessary for a complete determination of these accounts. If there had been any doubt in regard to the proposition hereinbefore stated, it is distinctly held in the case of Menagh v. Whitwell, 52 N. Y. 146, that the assignee of the interest of a partner is entitled to an account of the dealings of the firm from its other members, and to share, to the extent of the assignment, in the surplus of the property of the firm. It seem to us, therefore, both upon principle and authority, that the plaintiff is entitled to an account, and that he is entitled to bring in all those who are interested in the surplus of the property, after the payment of the debts, in order that there may be a complete determination of the rights of all the parties; and the fact that by the assignment he never became a partner in no way deprived him of this right. It would be difficult to say why a partner has not the right to assign his interest in a firm, and, if he has that right, why his assignee has not the right to call upon a court of equity to determine the extent of his interest, which can only be done upon a settlement of the affairs of the firm.
We are of opinion, therefore, that the judgment should be affirmed, with leave to the defendant to answer within 20 days, upon payment of the costs of the demurrer in the court below and of this appeal. All concur.