Margolis v. Nazareth Fair Grounds & Farmers Mkt.

• Decision Date: 08 November 1957
• Docket Number: No. 24,Docket 24564.,24
• Parties: Benjamin MARGOLIS and William McK. Shongut, Claimants-Appellants, v. NAZARETH FAIR GROUNDS & FARMERS MARKET, Inc., Debtor-Appellee.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit

249 F.2d 221 (1957)

Benjamin MARGOLIS and William McK. Shongut, Claimants-Appellants, v. NAZARETH FAIR GROUNDS & FARMERS MARKET, Inc., Debtor-Appellee.

No. 24, Docket 24564.

United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit.

Argued October 10, 1957.

Decided November 8, 1957.

Benjamin Margolis, New Rochelle, N. Y., per se.

Armende Lesser, New York City, for claimant-appellant William McK. Shongut.

Alex L. Rosen, New York City, for debtor-appellee.

Before CLARK, Chief Judge, and LUMBARD and MOORE, Circuit Judges.

LUMBARD, Circuit Judge.

The question for decision is whether the equitable powers of a bankruptcy court may be exercised so as to inquire into the validity of claims which have been previously reduced to judgment. The appeals are from a decision and order of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Sugarman, J., which confirmed an order of the referee in bankruptcy disallowing the claims of appellants Margolis and Shongut and directing them to cancel the judgments entered against appellee-debtor. These appeals were argued together and we consider them together as they have a common background.

The bankrupt, Nazareth Fair Grounds & Farmers Market, Inc. was organized in 1951 under the laws of Pennsylvania. Malakoff was president, director and managing agent of Nazareth and played a dominant role in its affairs. By early 1953 Malakoff had become personally indebted to appellant Margolis for over $50,000. Nazareth was in no way indebted to Margolis. Ostensibly to raise money for Nazareth, Malakoff gave Margolis three $4,400 notes in February 1953, one each of the bankrupt and two other corporations which Malakoff also controlled. Margolis was to discount the notes on behalf of Nazareth but was unable to find a buyer. These notes were retained by Margolis, and, after several adjustments which reduced the alleged obligation, the bankrupt's note became the basis of Margolis' $3,600 claim against Nazareth.

In April 1953 Margolis solicited appellant Shongut to lend $10,000 to Nazareth. Shongut delivered his check to Margolis for $9,183.33, payable to Margolis "as attorney" for Shongut and also delivered two other checks to Margolis aggregating $316.67. One of these other checks was similarly endorsed to Margolis "as attorney" for Shongut. In return Margolis delivered to Shongut two $5,000 notes of Nazareth dated April 2, 1953 and a declaration in writing that the loan was made to Nazareth. The proceeds of $9,500 ($10,000 less a $500 bonus charge by Shongut) were deposited in his personal bank account by Margolis who received a legal fee of $100 from Shongut for handling the transaction. Shongut's claim of $10,000 against Nazareth is based upon this transaction.

The Board of Directors of Nazareth at a special meeting on June 4, 1953 adopted a resolution which stated that no defenses or offsets were available to Nazareth against the claims of Margolis and Shongut. The resolution had been prepared in advance by Margolis, who at this time was neither attorney nor director of Nazareth. Furthermore, the note held by Margolis had not yet matured and was not due until July 15, 1953. Malakoff was authorized by the resolution to replace the notes held by Margolis and Shongut with Nazareth's judgment notes, and judgment notes were issued authorizing any attorney of any court of record of Pennsylvania or elsewhere to appear for and enter judgment against Nazareth.

On June 11, exactly one week after the directors' meeting, both appellants reduced their judgment notes to judgment in the Court of Common Pleas, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, by confession. Nazareth was not represented in these non-adversary proceedings.

On September 28, 1953 Nazareth filed a petition in the Southern District of New York for reorganization under Chapter X of the Bankruptcy Act, 11 U.S.C.A. § 501 et seq. Appellants filed their judgments and Nazareth filed objections thereto and the matter was heard before the referee.

In regard to the transactions which formed the basis of Margolis' claim, the referee found that no money, property or other consideration was given to or received by Nazareth for the note. In regard to the Shongut transaction he found that in receiving the proceeds and depositing them in his personal bank account, Margolis was acting as agent of Shongut, and that no money, property or other consideration was given to or received by Nazareth for the two notes to Shongut. Accordingly, the referee disallowed the claims of appellants and directed them to cancel the judgments entered against Nazareth. On review before the District Court, Judge Sugarman confirmed the decision and order of the referee and both appellants appealed to this court.

The findings of fact of a referee in bankruptcy will not be disturbed unless they are "clearly erroneous." General Order in Bankruptcy 47, 11 U.S.C.A. following § 53.¹ This requirement of Order 47 "has been strictly enforced in this circuit, especially where credibility is a key factor." In Matter of Nemerov, D.C.S.D.N.Y.1955, 134 F.Supp. 678, 681. Here the facts were in dispute and the findings of the referee based in part on his judgment of the credibility of the witnesses who testified before him must be given great weight. See Rasmussen v. Gresly, 8 Cir., 1935, 77 F.2d 252, 254, wherein Judge Sanborn said, "A different rule would virtually make * * * a trial de novo."

In our opinion Judge Sugarman correctly found that appellants had failed to establish the "requisite clear error" in the findings of the referee. See In re Connecticut Co., 2 Cir., 1939, 107 F.2d 734; Morris Plan Industrial Bank v. Henderson, 2 Cir., 1942, 131 F.2d 975. The evidence in the record supports the referee's conclusions of fact upon which the order disallowing the claim is founded: that Malakoff, as president, director and managing agent of Nazareth used his position for the purpose of obtaining money on the credit and negotiable paper of Nazareth to be applied in reduction of his own personal indebtedness to Margolis, and that Margolis participated in these machinations.

In disallowing appellants' claims the referee inquired into the validity of the claims notwithstanding the fact that they had been reduced to judgment in the Pennsylvania state court. Appellants strongly urge that...