Pender v. Chatham Phenix Nat. Bank & Trust Co., No. 360.

CourtUnited States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit)
Writing for the CourtMANTON, SWAN, and AUGUSTUS N. HAND, Circuit
Citation58 F.2d 968
PartiesPENDER v. CHATHAM PHENIX NAT. BANK & TRUST CO.
Docket NumberNo. 360.
Decision Date23 May 1932

58 F.2d 968 (1932)

PENDER
v.
CHATHAM PHENIX NAT.
BANK & TRUST CO.

No. 360.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

May 23, 1932.


58 F.2d 969

Benjamin Siegel, of New York City (Edward I. Kaplan, of New York City, of counsel), for appellant.

Kaye, McDavitt & Scholer, of New York City (James S. Hays and Milton Kunen, both of New York City, of counsel), for appellee.

Before MANTON, SWAN, and AUGUSTUS N. HAND, Circuit Judges.

SWAN, Circuit Judge.

The trustee in bankruptcy of Morris Sugarman brought suit to set aside a payment of $3,500 made by the bankrupt to the defendant bank within four months of the bankruptcy. Upon the evidence adduced, all the elements of a preference voidable under section 60b of the Bankruptcy Act (11 USCA § 96) were found to exist except the last, namely, the requirement that the creditor "shall then have reasonable cause to believe" that the transfer would effect a preference. As to that issue the court below found in favor of the defendant. The correctness of this finding is the only question presented by the appeal.

Sugarman Bros., a partnership of which Morris Sugarman was a member, began business dealings with the defendant bank in 1924, but the account then opened, after continuing for several years, had been closed. On December 31, 1929, Abraham Sugarman withdrew from the firm, and thereafter the bankrupt continued the business as sole proprietor. On June 6, 1930, he opened an account with the defendant. On that date the bank loaned him upon his own notes $5,000 and on July 1st an additional $2,500. The line of credit granted was $7,500 on his own paper and $12,500 on bills receivable. It was apparently understood that he should keep on deposit a balance equal to about 20 per cent. of the credit extended. Before opening the account the bank had obtained credit reports on the bankrupt as well as statements showing his general balance sheet at the close of the year 1929 and his trial balance as of April 30, 1930. While the bankrupt's statements disclosed a solvent condition, the credit reports running back to February showed him increasingly slow in payments. Shortly after June 17th the bank was warned by the Bank of America, where Sugarman had previously banked, that his balances there had dwindled until that bank had stopped extending credit. This was evidently the reason for Sugarman opening his account with the defendant. On June 20th, Mr. Debevoise, the defendant's vice president in charge of credits,...

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18 practice notes
  • In re Schindler, No. 61 B 336(1).
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 8th Circuit. United States District Court (Eastern District of Missouri)
    • October 9, 1963
    ...Security-First Nat. Bank of Los Angeles v. Quittner, 176 F.2d 997, 1000 (C.C.A.9th); Pender v. Chatham Phenix Nat. Bank & Trust Co., 58 F.2d 968, 969, 970 (C.C.A. 2nd); Collier (14th Ed.) Vol. 3 p. 995. This must be determined from the facts of each case, and this returns us to the reco......
  • Dabney v. Chase Nat. Bank of City of New York
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. United States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. Southern District of New York
    • March 21, 1951
    ...and it is immaterial then what the creditor believed. Pender v. Chatham & Phenix National Bank & Trust Co., 2 Cir., 1932, 58 F.2d 968; In re Star Spring Bed Co., 3 Cir., 1930, 265 F. 133. Mere suspicion of insolvency, however, is not sufficient to put the creditor on inquiry. In Gra......
  • In re Hygrade Envelope Corp., No. 375
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit)
    • July 13, 1966
    ...See, e. g., Levy v. Weinberg & Holman, Inc., 20 F.2d 565, 567 (2 Cir. 1927); Pender v. Chatham Phenix Nat. Bank & Trust Co., 58 F.2d 968, 970 (2 Cir. 1932); Margolis v. Gem Factors Corp., 201 F.2d 803, 805 (2 Cir. 1953); Robinson v. Commercial Bank of North America, 320 F.2d 106, 10......
  • In re Steinberg, No. 59563.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 9th Circuit. United States District Court (Southern District of California)
    • January 16, 1956
    ...9 Cir., 1918, 247 F. 913; In re Gordon, 9 Cir., 1930, 38 F. 2d 73; Pender v. Chatham Phenix National Bank & Trust Co., 2 Cir., 1932, 58 F.2d 968; Sears v. Schlotzhauer, 9 Cir., 1939, 106 F.2d 952. Conversely, unless all the elements of a preference exist, transfers will not be set aside......
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18 cases
  • In re Schindler, No. 61 B 336(1).
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 8th Circuit. United States District Court (Eastern District of Missouri)
    • October 9, 1963
    ...Security-First Nat. Bank of Los Angeles v. Quittner, 176 F.2d 997, 1000 (C.C.A.9th); Pender v. Chatham Phenix Nat. Bank & Trust Co., 58 F.2d 968, 969, 970 (C.C.A. 2nd); Collier (14th Ed.) Vol. 3 p. 995. This must be determined from the facts of each case, and this returns us to the reco......
  • Dabney v. Chase Nat. Bank of City of New York
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. United States District Courts. 2nd Circuit. Southern District of New York
    • March 21, 1951
    ...and it is immaterial then what the creditor believed. Pender v. Chatham & Phenix National Bank & Trust Co., 2 Cir., 1932, 58 F.2d 968; In re Star Spring Bed Co., 3 Cir., 1930, 265 F. 133. Mere suspicion of insolvency, however, is not sufficient to put the creditor on inquiry. In Gra......
  • In re Hygrade Envelope Corp., No. 375
    • United States
    • United States Courts of Appeals. United States Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit)
    • July 13, 1966
    ...See, e. g., Levy v. Weinberg & Holman, Inc., 20 F.2d 565, 567 (2 Cir. 1927); Pender v. Chatham Phenix Nat. Bank & Trust Co., 58 F.2d 968, 970 (2 Cir. 1932); Margolis v. Gem Factors Corp., 201 F.2d 803, 805 (2 Cir. 1953); Robinson v. Commercial Bank of North America, 320 F.2d 106, 10......
  • In re Steinberg, No. 59563.
    • United States
    • United States District Courts. 9th Circuit. United States District Court (Southern District of California)
    • January 16, 1956
    ...9 Cir., 1918, 247 F. 913; In re Gordon, 9 Cir., 1930, 38 F. 2d 73; Pender v. Chatham Phenix National Bank & Trust Co., 2 Cir., 1932, 58 F.2d 968; Sears v. Schlotzhauer, 9 Cir., 1939, 106 F.2d 952. Conversely, unless all the elements of a preference exist, transfers will not be set aside......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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