In re Tate-Jones & Co.

Decision Date29 July 1949
Docket NumberNo. 21724.,21724.
Citation85 F. Supp. 971
PartiesIn re TATE-JONES & CO., Inc.
CourtU.S. District Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania

COPYRIGHT MATERIAL OMITTED

V. C. Short, Pittsburgh, Pa., John H. Sorg, Pittsburgh, Pa., for Columbian Carbon Co. & Fuller Brush Co.

Elliott W. Finkel, Pittsburgh, Pa., for Eckhart Mfg. Co. & U. S. Vending Corp.

Jerome B. Lieber, Ruslander & Ruslander, Pittsburgh, Pa., for Auto Fender Mfg. Co.

Con F. McGregor, Pittsburgh, Pa., for Trustees.

Isidore Goldsmith, Pittsburgh, Pa., for Creditors' Committee of Debtor.

Charles F. McKenna, Pittsburgh, Pa., for Wage Claimants.

GOURLEY, District Judge.

The matter before the Court arises out of a reorganization proceeding. The question for decision relates to the allowance or disallowance of petitions for reclamation.

Reclamation petitions were filed in behalf of five petitioners, namely Columbian Carbon Company, Fuller Brush Company, United States Vending Corporation, Eckhart Manufacturing Company and Auto Fender Manufacturing Company.

In short, the petitioners seek to reclaim money, or the product of money, advanced to the debtor under circumstances which the petitioners assert raise a constructive trust. The petitions were consolidated for the purpose of hearing.

History of Debtor Company

The debtor company, a Pennsylvania corporation, for many years prior to February 2, 1948, was engaged in the business of industrial constructors and engineers. C. A. Barrett, one of the trustees and sole stockholder of the debtor corporation, became President January 10, 1943, and held that office until reorganization proceedings were begun in this court on September 9, 1948. Prior to February 2, 1948, the debtor company did not at any time engage in the business of buying, processing or selling steel sheets or steel plates. On February 2, 1948, the debtor did not have any steel on hand and was not equipped with adequate plant facilities to pickle, oil or otherwise process, steel. On February 2, 1948, Tate-Jones & Co., Inc., entered into a written partnership agreement with one E. Arthur Kerschbaumer for the purpose of engaging in the business of buying, processing and selling steel at a profit. This partnership conducted its business under the name of "Tate-Jones & Co., Inc., Special Division." It utilized the plant, office and administrative facilities of the debtor, one of the partners. It kept separate accounts and records of its transactions and it maintained a separate bank account at the Mellon National Bank and Trust Company, Pittsburgh, labeled "Special Account."

The buying and selling of steel by Tate-Jones & Co., Inc., was not a special division except in that it was desired to keep the operations and expenses in separate accounts so as to determine the proportion of costs, commissions and other factors involved.

The special account was to be maintained until the end of the year 1948, at which time it was to be incorporated in the regular records of Tate-Jones & Co., Inc.

Purpose and Operation of Partnership

The partnership was formed to purchase sheet steel from the mills, to reprocess the same and to sell the reprocessed sheets in the open market. Kerschbaumer was to loan the partnership an amount not to exceed $50,000.00, and was to receive interest at the rate of six percent (6%) for all money loaned, plus an additional allowance for each ton of sheet steel sold. It was further provided that as long as any amount of the advancement made by Kerschbaumer was unpaid, title to all sheet steel was to remain in his name until sold by Tate-Jones & Co., Inc. The proceeds of the sale of sheet steel were to be placed in a bank account in the name of Tate-Jones & Co., Inc., Special Account, and no moneys were to be disbursed therefrom except upon signatures of representatives of both partners. Said Partnership Agreement provided in full as set forth in Footnote One.1

Steel was purchased in the open market by lots in odd sizes and according to various specifications, and assembled at the Beaver Falls plant of the company. From the steel they were able to secure, the Partnership attempted to fill the orders of the various customers, process the steel and make shipments.

Shortly after the partnership was formed, the new firm began to purchase certain items of machinery and supplies to make possible the functioning of the enterprise. Out of the Special Division Account make ready equipment was purchased in the amount of $7581.00. From the general fund of the debtor $24,543.09 was paid for make ready equipment, and $20,304.06 for make ready labor.

The expenditures were necessary in order for the Special Division of Tate-Jones & Co., Inc., to be put in operation.

No part of the advancements made by the debtor was ever repaid to its general fund. Kerschbaumer was repaid out of the Special Division Account the $20,000.00 which he had loaned, and in addition thereto the amount of $8,624.85 for interest and expenses incurred in the securing and solicitation of orders.

No salary or wage was paid or received by either of the partners.

It is clear that the expenditure of $44,847.15 was made by the debtor as a partner in a new venture for the purpose of getting it into operation, and would be in the nature of a capital investment. Furthermore, $11,742.98 was expended by the debtor for costs and expenses incident to the processing of the sheet steel. The balance of the costs and expenses being paid out of the Special Division Account.

No part of the expenditures made by the debtor out of its general funds passed through the special account. In addition, $1400.00 was transferred from the general fund of the debtor to the special account, and $6500.00 was transferred from the special account to the general fund of the debtor. Also, approximately $5,000.00 realized from the conducting of the partnership was deposited in the personal account of Barrett, or in one fund or the other of the debtor, to pay expenses incident to the business of the partnership.

As a result of the foregoing, the original intent of the partners was not carried out since expenditures were made by the debtor out of its general fund, and a reference to the records of the Special Division could not have given a true or exact statement as to the success or failure of the Special Division.

The total monies deposited and withdrawn from the Special Division Account are as set forth in Footnote Two.2

History of Advancements

It was intended by the partners that Kerschbaumer was to supervise all sales, and Roop of the debtor corporation was to supervise the processing of the sheet steel and the filling of customers' orders according to specifications.

The partnership was formed since the debtor and Kerschbaumer realized that the sheet steel market was chaotic and extreme difficulty was being experienced by consumers in securing this product. Contacts existed through the members of the partnership to purchase the hot rolled sheet steel, and the venture was additionally favored since a profit of at least 100% in the sale after processing could be realized.

Before and after the plant facilities of the debtor company were made ready for the business venture, orders were taken for sheet steel according to sizes and specifications from various customers, among whom were the five petitioning creditors. Between March 29, 1948 and May 11, 1948, the petitioning creditors placed certain orders with Tate-Jones & Company, Inc., Special Division.

This being a new venture and funds being somewhat limited, it was decided between the partners that any customer who desired to purchase the processed steel would be required to deposit at least one-third of the purchase price when the order was accepted. Keeping in mind the limitations which existed in the market for this type of steel, it is readily apparent that the customers would offer no hesitancy in making the deposit to secure a firm commitment that the steel would be furnished. It was agreed that the deposit would be credited to the contract price when the steel was shipped.

The deposits were required by the partnership for two purposes:

(a) To secure the partnership from any financial loss as a result of the failure of the customer to take the sheet steel after it had been processed and sheared to specifications.

(b) To aid in the creation of a fund to which access could be made to purchase the sheet steel in its raw form or as hot rolled sheet steel.

Advancements were made by the claimants, and the amounts involved in the reclamation proceedings are:

                Columbian Carbon Company ........   $32,224.24
                Fuller Brush Company ............     4,800.00
                Auto Fender Manufacturing
                 Company ........................       944.00
                Eckhart Manufacturing Company
                   ...............................    3,300.00
                United States Vending Corporation
                   ..............................    10,010.66
                                                    __________
                    Total .......................   $51,278.90
                

The Cushman Motor Works, Inc., is not a party claimant, but it advanced monies which were deposited in the same account with the above claimants. After credit being taken for steel shipped, the balance of the funds advanced by Cushman amounts to $7,669.85.

The total advancements made by the five claimants and Cushman are $58,948.75.

Since Cushman stands in the same capacity as the claimants, and is not a party to this proceeding, if the position of the claimants is sustained, the amount or share of Cushman should be awarded to the trustees.

It would be grossly inequitable and unfair to permit the claimants to share in the funds of Cushman to the prejudice of the general creditors of the debtor, if the funds are in the category of a trust account.

The percentage which the funds advanced bear to the total claimed, including that of Cushman, is as follows:

                Columbian Carbon Company ...........       55%
                Fuller Brush Company ...............        8%
                Auto Fender
...

To continue reading

Request your trial
11 cases
  • In re Penn-Dixie Steel Corp., Bankruptcy No. 8010472
    • United States
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Southern District of New York
    • 24 Octubre 1980
    ...his property was acquired under circumstances giving rise to a relationship other than that of an unsecured creditor. In re Tate-Jones & Co., 85 F.Supp. 971 (W.D.Pa.1949). Preliminarily, before turning to the substance of the trust issue, a small excursus is necessary. Penn-Dixie raised an ......
  • Paragon Securities Co., Matter of
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit
    • 20 Diciembre 1978
    ...give rise to a right to rescission under the local law?" 4A Collier on Bankruptcy P 70.41, at 484 (14th ed. 1975). In re Tate-Jones & Co., 85 F.Supp. 971, 980 (W.D.Pa.1949). Here, the issue of whether Paragon has committed fraud in its relations with Giannone is determined according to New ......
  • In re Wyatt
    • United States
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Eastern District of New York
    • 19 Noviembre 1980
    ...state law governs as to the existence of a constructive trust and the rights of the beneficiary under said trust. In re Tate-Jones & Co., 85 F.Supp. 971 (W.D.Pa.1949); In re Heintzelman Construction Co., 34 F.Supp. 109 Further, the filing of the petition in bankruptcy does not modify the eq......
  • Johnson v. Johnson, Civ. A. No. 1362.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Western District of Arkansas
    • 3 Octubre 1957
    ...a person who has no better right thereto, and this is true even though the funds have been converted into a new form. In re Tate-Jones & Co., Inc., D.C.Pa., 85 F.Supp. 971; Rainwater v. Wildman, 172 Ark. 521, 289 S.W. 488; Red Bud Realty Co. v. South, 96 Ark. 281, 131 S.W. "But, if the orig......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT