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THE

PACIFIC REPORTER

VOLUME 220

METCALFE et al. v. MENTAL SCIENCE
INDUSTRIAL ASS'N et al.
(No. 17712.)

(Supreme Court of Washington. Nov. 6, 1923.)

1. Appeal and error 688 (2)-Error cannot be predicated in dismissing complaint on opening statement not appearing in the record.

4. Corporations 553(6)-Mismanagement of corporation in minor matters held not to warrant receivership.

An allegation of mismanagement of a corporation in minor matters held not to justify the appointment of a receiver, the corporation being solvent.

Department 1.

Appeal from Superior Court, King County; Mitchell Gilliam, Judge.

al, plaintiffs appeal. Affirmed.

Winter S. Martin and George McKay, both of Seattle, for appellants.

Rummens & Griffin, of Seattle, for respondents.

Action by Robert J. Metcalfe and others Where the opening statement of counsel against the Mental Science Industrial Associdoes not appear in the record, judgment of dis-ation and others. From judgment of dismissmissal entered upon sustaining defendants' oral demurrer to the complaint and the opening statement of counsel will not be reversed, although the judgment does not recite that it is based upon the pleadings and opening statement, since, where the case has been called for trial and the opening statement made, it is not within the power of the court to limit its ruling simply to a holding that the complaint does not state a cause of action, and thereby deprive defendants of any benefit which they might derive from the opening statement. 2. Corporations

MAIN, C. J. This action was brought for the dual purpose of having stock, which was held by one of the individual defendants in the Mental Science Industrial Association, canceled and returned to the corporation, and for the appointment of a receiver of the two defendant corporations to work their dissolution and the distribution of the assets. To the first amended complaint, which will be referred to as the complaint, a demurrer was The defendants interposed and overruled.

99(3)-Issuance of stock for property of less than par value not a fraud on subsequent stockholders, where approved by all then trustees and stockholders. The issuance of a large amount of stock by the trustees of a corporation in exchange for property of less value than par value of the stock is not a fraud on subsequent stockhold-answered. The cause came on for trial, and ers, where all the then trustees and stockhold- the statement of the plaintiffs' case was made ers knew and approved the transaction.

3. Limitation of actions 102(5)—Issuance of stock for an inadequate consideration, if creating a constructive trust, not changed to an express trust by subsequent declarations of person to whom issued.

by one of their attorneys. After this statement was concluded, the defendants interposed an oral demurrer to the complaint and the opening statement of counsel. After this a colloquy took place between the court and counsel for the respective parties, with the Even if the issuance of a large amount of result that the court directed the clerk to stock to a stockholder for property of less enter an order dismissing the complaint. value created a constructive trust for other From this judgment the appeal is prosecuted. [1] The opening statement of counsel does stockholders, yet where, at the time of issuing it, the resolution of trustees expressly not appear in the record. In Johnson v. City set out the purpose for which the stock was of Spokane, 29 Wash. 730, 70 Pac. 122, a judgissued, the trust was not converted into an ex-ment of nonsuit was entered after the openpress trust, as respects the question of limi

tations, by subsequent statements of the stock-ing statement of counsel for the plaintiff, holder that he held the stock for the purpose which was based upon the pleadings and on of compensating an agent who was to sell a the opening statement, and in that case this court said, in reviewing the judgment: ls ze amount of the stock.

For other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes 220 P.-1

"So far as this court knows, the counsel for the plaintiffs in this case may have made a statement which would have been a defense to the action and precluded a recovery, and that is the very reason why the opening statement should have been brought here, so that the court could determine that fact. All presumptions are in favor of the judgment; hence we cannot conclude that the court erred in dismissing the cause upon the statement of counsel, without the opportunity of investigating that question. It is insisted by counsel that the case was dismissed by the court for the reason that the complaint was insufficient, and that the court so adjudged it, and therefore it was not necessary for him to determine or consider the sufficiency of any opening statement. But such is not the language of the judgment. It is that the defendant was entitled to judgment on the pleadings and on the opening statement of counsel for plaintiffs. This evidently means that, in the opinion of the judge, the pleadings, construed in connection with the opening statement, or as construed in the light of the opening statement, preclude a recovery. The court could not have acted upon the pleadings alone; for the record shows that a demurrer was interposed to the sufficiency of the complaint, which was overruled by the court, and the defendant called upon to answer, and that it did answer. It might appear from the complaint in this case that the court erred in holding that the complaint was insufficient, and yet the rulings in dismissing the action might have been right, in consideration of what was said in the opening statement; and, if the opening statement precludes a recovery, we would not be justified in reversing the judgment of the court."

the transcript and contains 24 paragraphs, not including the prayer. It can only be epitomized here, and in doing so the many conclusions pleaded will be disregarded, and the facts will be stated in substantially the same order as they appear in the complaint. The respondents Mental Science Industrial Association and Mental Science College Educational Association are corporations organized under the laws of this state. The other respondents are stockholders and officers of these corporations. The appellants are all stockholders in the Mental Science Industrial Association, and one of them is a stockholder in the Mental Science College Educational Association. The appellants brought this action on behalf of themselves and all other stockholders who "may come in and seek relief by and contribute to the expenses of this action." The Mental Science Industrial Association was incorporated on September 15, 1903, by M. J. Knox, Lena Knox Coleman (who prior to her marriage was Lena Knox), S. M. Bean, Peter Fisher, and A. M. Harding, and these parties became the first board of trustees. The corporation had a capital stock of $1,000,000, which consisted of 1,000,000 shares of the par value of $1 each. The purpose of the corporation was to engage in general mercantile and industrial business for private gain and profit. Soon after this company was incorporated 250,000 shares of its capital stock were issued to the respondent M. F. Knox in pursuance of a resolution of the board of trustees which is as follows:

"We, the board of trustees of Mental Science It is true in that case that the judgment of Industrial Company purchase from M. F. Knox, nonsuit recites that it was based upon the owner and publisher of the periodical known pleadings and upon the opening statement, as "True Word' all right, title, and interest in while here the judgment makes no such re- the same, and further to compensate him for cital. In the colloquy that took place be- money expended, time, and labor in the profore the court, above referred to, counsel for motion of organizing this company, and also the appellants invited the court to limit its for printing and advertising for the interest of this company, issue to him through its secreruling to a demurrer to the complaint. Coun-tary and president stock to the amount of two sel for the respondents insisted that, since hundred and fifty thousand shares, being the the opening statement had been made, they consideration for the above enumerated things had a right to the record as it stood at that fully paid." time. The cause having been called for trial and the opening statement having been made, it was not within the power of the court to limit its ruling simply to a holding that the complaint did not state a cause of action, and deprived the respondents of any benefit that they might derive from the opening statement. At this stage of the proceeding the court could have granted a judgment of dismissal or nonsuit or proceeded with the trial. It was too late then to simply sustain a demur-appellant Melvina Hanson learned for the rer to the complaint and limit the right of the respondents upon appeal to a review of whether the complaint stated a cause of action. But aside from this question, treating the case as based upon the complaint alone, there would be no difference in the result, as no cause of action was there stated. The complaint is too long to be here set out in full. It covers approximately 13 pages of

In the fall of 1905 the appellant Melvi na Hanson purchased stock at 15 cents per share, and paid to the company certain property. After the sale of this stock and during the ensuing years up to 1914, M. F. Knox, who had sold the stock to Melvina Hanson, sold stock to other persons than those named in the complaint and who are appellants here. During the early part of the year 1908, the

first time that the 250,000 shares of stock had been issued to Knox. The other appellants, with the exception of one, learned of the issuance of the 250,000 shares of stock at about the same time. There is an allegation that one of the appellants did not learn or know of the issuance of this stock to Knox until the year 1919. After it was learned that 250,000 shares had been issued to Knox,

(220 P.)

inquiry was made concerning these shares,, it nevertheless was not a fraud upon subseand it is alleged that Knox stated that the quent stockholders to issue the stock and take shares of stock were issued to him for and property in return therefor which was of less upon consideration that he would cause $100,- value than the par value of the stock. In Old 000 cash to be raised by the sale of 100,000 Dominion Copper Mining & Smelting Co. v. shares of stock at $1 per share, and that he Lewisohn, 210 U. S. 206, 28 Sup. Ct. 634, 52 held the 250,000 shares for the purpose of L. Ed. 1025, the defendant had been issued paying 100,000 shares in commissions to the stock and paid therefor in property which agent who should sell the 100,000 shares at was of less value than the par value of the par value. It is further alleged that Knox stock. At this time the defendant was a then said he expected to retain 150,000 shares member of the board of trustees of the corof the 250,000 for his services in raising poration, and the acceptance of the property this large sum of money and in establishing was assented to by all of the board. Subseand building up "True Word," a mental quently others became stockholders, and, the science publication theretofore published and trustees of the corporation having been changconducted by him. The respondents Hanson ed, the action was brought to rescind the and Metcalf, it is alleged, relied upon the as- sale to the defendant, and it was there held surances, promises, and representations of that it was not a fraud upon the subsequent Knox respecting the issuance of the stock to stockholders to transfer stock of the corpohim, and, "believing that he would raise the ration and take property therefor which was said money from the sale thereof and that of less value than the par value of the stock. if he did not he would turn the same back to It was there said: the 'industrial company,' took no action for the cancellation thereof." It is alleged that M. F. Knox and his wife, Carrie J. Knox, and his daughter, Lena Knox Coleman, have at all times since the organization of the industrial company conspired, confederated, and planned with each other to control, operate, and manage the company and its property for their own private purposes. The stock held by Knox has at all times been voted by him "as if he or they were the lawful and bona fide owners of said shares."

accom

"If there was a wrong it was when the innocent public subscribed. But what one would expect to find, if a wrong happened then, would not be that the sale became a breach of duty to the corporation nunc pro tune, but that the invitation to the public without disclosure, when acted upon, became a fraud upon the subscribers from an equitable point of view, For it is only by virtue of the innocent subpanied by what they might treat as damage. scribers' position and the promoter's invitation that the corporation has any pretense for a standing in court. If the promoters after starting their scheme had sold their stock before any subscriptions were taken, and then the purchasers of their stock with notice had invited the public to come in and it did, we do not see how the company could maintain this suit. If it could not then, we do not see how it can

now."

The present action was instituted on August 24, 1920. The first question is whether the appellants as stockholders in the industrial company have a right to maintain this action and cause the 250,000 shares of stock which were issued to Knox to be canceled. If they have such right, assuming that they can bring the action on behalf of the corpo- In Old Dominion Copper Mining & Smeltration, it is by reason of the fact that Knoxing Co. v. Bigelow, 203 Mass. 159, 89 N. E. acquired this stock in fraud upon those who subsequently should become stockholders. It must be remembered that by this action the appellants are seeking neither a rescission of the sale of stock to themselves nor damages by reason of the fact that they paid more than its value at the time of their respective purchases, and it should further be noted that no question of the rights of creditors is here involved.

193, 40 L. R. A. (N. S.) 314, the Supreme Court of Massachusetts adopted the rule that

"There is a liability of the promoter to the corporation when further original subscribers to capital stock contemplated as an essential part of the scheme of promoters came in after the transaction complained of, even though that transaction is known to all the then stockholders, that is to say, to the promoters and their representatives."

there can be no doubt. They are so regarded That those two cases are not in harmony by each of the courts rendering them. In Colville Valley Coal Co. v. Rogers (Wash.) 212 Pac. 732, it is said:

[2] The first question, as already indicated, is whether it was a fraud upon persons subsequently acquiring stock in the corporation to transfer the 250,000 shares to Knox for an inadequate consideration. The complaint alleges that at the time the stock was sold and issued to the appellants it was "of little or no value as he the said Knox well knew." The value of the stock at the time it was issued to Knox is not alleged. It is a fair in-poration, under the decision in Inland Nursery ference from the complaint that it was not of more value then than at the time the purchases were made by the appellants, but, even if it had a value greater than Knox paid for it,

"As to appellants who were subsequent stockholders, buying stock after the original distribution of stock to the organizers of the cor

& Floral Company v. Rice, supra, they cannot complain where it is not established that they did not have an opportunity to investigate the value of the property transferred to the corporation, and did not obtain full value in

the purchase of their stock; and it is immaterial that the promoters were trustees of the corporation, and, in issuing the stock to themselves in exchange for property, were, in a measure, dealing with themselves. For all that appears, these subsequent stockholders who have joined with plaintiffs in this action bought in the open market, when the stock of the company was selling far above par, and had every opportunity to investigate for themselves as to the value of the company's properties before buying."

In Inland Nursery & Floral Co. v. Rice,.57 Wash. 67, 106 Pac. 499, an action was brought by the plaintiff to cancel corporate stock issued to promoters for property taken at an overvaluation, and it was held that this, was not a fraud upon subsequent stockholders. In the course of the opinion it is said:

"The fact that Rice and Mumm were the owners of the property and trustees of the corporation, and thus in a measure dealing with themselves, does not of itself render the transfer fraudulent and permit the corporation to now cancel their stock. The case of Old Dominion Copper Min. Co. v. Lewisohn, 210 U. S. 206, in passing upon a question similar to the one here suggested, says, at page 212:

"At the time of the sale to the plaintiff (the corporation) then, there was no wrong done to any one. Bigelow, Lewisohn and their syndicate were on both sides of the bargain, and they might issue to themselves as much stock in their corporation as they liked in exchange for their conveyance of their land.'"

In Gold Ridge Mining & Development Co. v. Rice, 77 Wash. 384, 137 Pac. 1001, upon a similar question it is said:

"The rights of creditors are not involved. The appellant and Hammer were upon both sides of the bargain. The respondent was also represented by its third trustee. No one was wronged and no rule of public policy was violated. The holders of the bond knew what they were selling, and the respondent knew precisely what it was buying. The deal was made in the open, and the transaction was valid as between the parties."

not of as much value as the stock. There is no allegation covering the matter of printing and advertising.

[3] But if it be assumed that the stock was

fraudulently obtained, and that the case presents a question of constructive trust for that reason, it was not, as the appellants alleged, subsequently converted into an express trust. It is on this theory that the appellants endeavor to avoid the effect of the statute of limitations, and in support of it reliance is made upon those allegations in the complaint in which it is said that Knox, when inquiry was made with reference to the 250,000 shares, stated that he held them for the purpose of compensating an agent who should sell 100,000 shares of the capital stock, not disposed of, at par value, or for $100,000, and would deliver to such agent as commission 100,000 shares of the stock held by him. The appellants allege that in reliance upon this they failed to take more prompt action. If, as they claim, in acquiring their stock at 15 cents per share there was a fraud worked upon them, it would have been a much greater fraud to have sold 100,000 shares of stock to some other person for the par value of $1 per share. Had this been done according to the allegations, it is a fair inference that the appellants would not have complained. But in any event the statements of Knox did not convert the constructive trust (assuming that there was one) into an express trust. The resolution of the board of trustees ex

pressly set out the purpose for which the stock was issued. The capacity in which Knox held the stock was determined at that time. His subsequent declarations as to the use he was going to make of it are not sufficient to overcome the formal action of the board, even though such declaration may

have been made.

[4] Upon the matter of the appointment of a receiver for the two corporations little need be said. What the appellants desire is a winding up of the corporations and the distribution of the assets. If the 250,000 shares of stock are canceled and set aside, their pro rata shares would be increased. The respondents have a majority of the stock, and consequently are enabled to elect the board of trustees and control the policies of the companies. Neither of the companies is insolvent, nor are there any serious allegations of mismanagement, though there is complaint as to one or two minor matters; but, even if these allegations be true, they would not justify the appointment of a receiver. The judgment will be affirmed.

So here, at the time Knox acquired the 250,000 shares, all the then trustees and stockholders knew and approved of the transaction. As already stated, the rights of creditors are not here involved. The appellants became stockholders subsequently. Further than this, the resolution of the board which is above set out recites that the stock was transferred for the purchase of the periodical known as the "True Word," to compensate for time and labor expended in the promotion of the company and for printing and advertising. It cannot be gathered from the complaint that the items here mentioned were MACKINTOSH, JJ., concur.

HOLCOMB, MITCHELL, BRIDGES, and

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2. Appeal and error 1216–Portion of judg-entry of a judgment for nominal damages, ment of lower court on going down of remittitur, not authorized by Supreme Court, a nullity.

In tenant's action for damages for wrongful eviction, in which the Supreme Court merely directed the entry of a judgment for nominal damages, the superior court, on the going down of the remittitur, had no jurisdiction to declare the lease forfeited, and its judgment, in so far as it directed the forfeiture of the lease, was a nullity.

and, on the going down of the remittitur the superior court, on April 25, 1923, entered its final judgment in and by which it was provided:

"That the tenancy of plaintiffs herein of and to the properties described in the complaint herein, under the lease described in said complaint and said lease, is hereby forfeited and the said plaintiffs Frederick C. Robertson and Marie T. Robertson, his wife, do have and recover from Ida A. Waterman, defendant herein, the sum of $1, together with their costs,"

etc.

3. Landlord and tenant.292-Court not empowered to relieve tenant against forfeiture in action for damages for wrongful eviction. Where the court, in an action for damages After the entry of this judgment Frederick for wrongful eviction, declared lease forfeited, O. Robertson and others filed a petition in it had no jurisdiction to relieve the tenant the superior court setting up the terms of the against forfeiture under Rem. Comp. Stat. § 830, authorizing such relief on application with-lease referred to in the judgment; the interin 30 days after forfeiture as declared by the ests of the petitioning parties therein; the judgment of the court; such statute having ref- commencement of an action of unlawful enerence only to a judgment in forcible entry and try and detainer against the petitioners; the detainer. issuance of a writ of restitution, and the 4. Prohibition 10(2)—Superior court will be ousting of petitioners from possession and the prohibited from proceeding to relieve a ten-final termination of that action in this court ant against a forfeiture in excess of its jurisdiction.

Where the superior court was proceeding in excess of its jurisdiction to grant tenant relief against forfeiture under Rem. Comp. Stat. § 830. in an action other than a forcible entry and detainer action, the Supreme Court will prohibit the superior court from proceeding, and will not require the landlord or lessor to defend against the petition, and appeal from the final judgment.

5. Prohibition 10(1)-Office of writ is to prohibit inferior tribunal from proceeding in excess of jurisdiction.

(Waterman v. Robertson, 103 Wash. 553, 175 Pac. 177) in their favor; the subsequent commencement of an action for damages on account of such eviction; the steps taken in that proceeding resulting in the action recorded in 212 Pac. 1074; the entry of the judgment in the superior court from which we have quoted; the willingness of the petitioners to accept the provisions of the lease and resume possession; and the claim of right so to do under section 830, Rem. Comp. Stat. Upon the filing of the petition an order was entered requiring the relator, who was made respondent therein, to appear and show cause why the petition should not be granted. Relator made a special appearance and motion to quash upon the ground that the superior court had no jurisdiction to proceed therein. The motion to quash being denied, relator procured the issuance of an alternative writ. in this court requiring respondent to refrain from further proceeding Original proceeding for writ of prohibi- in the matter until the further order of this tion by the State of Washington, on the re- court, and directing respondents to show lation of Ida A. Waterman, against the Su-cause on the return day why a permanent perior Court of Washington in and for the writ of prohibition should not issue. county of Spokane, with R. M. Webster as [1] Respondents appeared here by a motion Judge thereof. Permanent writ issued. to quash and dismiss on the ground of no

The office of a writ of prohibition is to prohibit an inferior tribunal from proceeding in excess of its jurisdiction.

[Ed. Note. For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, First and Second Series, Prohibition (Writ of).]

Department 1.

For other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes

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