Wechsler v. United States
| Decision Date | 09 August 1928 |
| Docket Number | No. 3764.,3764. |
| Citation | 27 F.2d 850 |
| Parties | WECHSLER v. UNITED STATES. |
| Court | U.S. Court of Appeals — Third Circuit |
Ellis Brodstein, of Reading, Pa., for appellant.
Robert M. Anderson and George W. Coles, U. S. Attys., both of Philadelphia, Pa. (C. M. Charest and Maude C. Hawks, both of Washington, D. C., of counsel), for the United States.
Before BUFFINGTON, WOOLLEY, and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.
This is an appeal from a decree of the District Court awarding an unexpended balance of a composition fund in bankruptcy to the United States, rather than to the appellant, Jack Wechsler, on a claim filed after the offer in composition had been accepted, confirmed, and the creditors paid the stipulated amounts.
On August 28, 1924, an involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed against Moyer's Home Store, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation doing business in Reading, Pa. Immediately after the petition was filed and before adjudication, an offer in composition of 25 per cent. "to unsecured creditors and payment in full to priority and secured creditors" was made. This was referred to John H. Bridenbaugh, referee in bankruptcy. The creditors voted to accept the offer. The referee recommended the confirmation of the offer, and on December 3, 1924, the composition was confirmed.
The bankrupt filed a schedule of its liabilities, wherein the government was listed as a creditor entitled to priority in the sum of $237.94. Pursuant to the request of the referee, the bankrupt deposited a suggested amount of money with which to pay creditors and administration expenses. After the confirmation, the government was paid $237.94, a capital stock tax, instead of $131, for which it had filed its proof of claim. After the payment of all creditors and the administration expenses, there was a balance of $859.41 left in the hands of the custodian appointed to distribute the composition fund under the supervision of the special referee. The referee found as a fact, and it seems to be admitted, that the appellant furnished the entire composition fund, including the balance just mentioned, and that he had no interest in the bankrupt, except friendship for its owner.
On May 29, 1925, the United States filed a supplemental claim for $8,237.07, which included the claim for capital stock tax of $237.94 before mentioned, and additional assessments for income taxes for the years 1919 to 1922, inclusive. It is further alleged that there was due the government, at the time the original claim for $8,237.07 was filed, $876.47, income tax for the year 1918.
The appellant contends that the $859.41 belongs to him and he filed a petition for its return. The referee held that he was entitled to the money, and directed that it be turned over to him. On review the District Court reversed the order of the referee, and Wechsler appealed to this court.
The real question at issue is: To whom does this unexpected balance belong? This composition fund has the same status as though deposited by the bankrupt out of its own money. While the bankrupt secured the money from Mr. Wechsler, the Bankruptcy Law (11 USCA) is not concerned with where the bankrupt got the composition fund, nor with any arrangement between it and Wechsler. That the money came from Wechsler is an immaterial incident. But when it was deposited, pursuant to the offer of the bankrupt, it was impressed as a trust fund belonging to the bankrupt, out of which the composition was to be effected.
The petition of the appellant "for return of cash expended in behalf of bankrupt" contained the statement that:
"(2) The above-named bankrupt offered a composition in bankruptcy of 25 per cent. to...
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