Baker's Trustee in Bankruptcy v. People's Bank

Opinion of the Court by Judge Clay — Affirming. Prior to January, 1924, J. W. Baker was a merchant at Livingston. During that month his entire stock of merchandise was destroyed by fire. The stock was covered by three policies of insurance, each for the sum of $2,500.00. Baker was indebted to the People’s Bank of Mt. Vernon on three notes, one for $1,367,67, another for $2,850.00, and a third for $2,000.00, and was also surety on another note for $100.00. However, it seems that the $2,000.00 note was placed to his credit, but, not having used the money, it was charged back. To secure the payment of the above notes Baker executed a writing on February 23, 1924, by which he transferred and assigned the three policies to the bank. At the same time the policies were delivered to the bank. Some time later the policies were delivered to Baker for collection, and he deposited in the bank on June 19, 1924, $3,430.00, and on June 20 the sum of $1,500.00. Immediately on making these deposits Baker paid the bank the sum of $2,-443.90 on his indebtedness. In the month of September, 1924, Baker was adjudged a bankrupt upon a petition filed August 11, 1924, and D. C. Poynter was elected trustee in bankruptcy. On December 17, 1924, Poynter, as trustee, brought this suit against the bank to have the payments made to. the bank adjudged a preference. The petition proceeds on the theory that at the time of the payments on the 19th of June, Baker was insolvent, and that the payments were made with the intent to prefer the bank, and that the bank had reasonable grounds to- believe and know that Baker was insolvent, and that said payments were made for the purpose of preferring the bank as a creditor. The petition further charges that Baker was insolvent at the time, and that the payments were made *58 in contemplation of insolvency, and with, the design and fraudulent intent to delay, hinder and defraud his creditors. In addition to denying the 'allegations of the petition the bank relied on the written assignment and pledge of the policies and alleged, in substance, that the assignment and pledge were made in good faith and that the payments were made pursuant to the assignment 'and pledge. On final hearing judgment was rendered in favor of the bank and the trustee appeals. It seems to be the settled rule that where a transfer was made, or a lien created, by an instrument executed more than four months prior to the filing of the petition, and such instrument is valid under the state law, the mere taking possession by the transferee or lienee, or the payment of the debt secured, within the four months period, does not constitute a voidable preference. Humphrey v. Tatman, 198 U. S. 91, 25 S. Ct. 567, 49 L. Ed. 956; Thompson v. Fairbanks, 196 U. S. 517, 25 S. Ct. 306, 49 L. Ed. 578; Rogers v. Page, 140 Fed. 596, 72 C. C. A. 164, 15 Am. Bankr. Rep. 502. Here the transfer and pledge were accompanied by an actual and good faith delivery of the policies to the bank. That being true, the lien thus created was valid under our law, Kentucky Statutes, section 1908, Frankfort Chair Co. v. Buchanan, 51 S. W. 179, and the validity of the lien was not affected by the fact that the policies were subsequently delivered to’ Baker for the purpose of collecting the proceeds, or the further fact that the assignment was made without the consent of the insurance companies, who are not complaining. As the payments were made pursuant to a valid lien created more than four months before the petition in bankruptcy was filed, it follows that the alleged preference was not voidable under the Bankruptcy Act. There is the further contention that the facts alleged and proved were sufficient to show a voidable preference under section 1910, Kentucky Statutes. It must not be overlooked that the filing of a suit within six months frorb. the time the mortgage or transfer is legally lodged for record, or the delivery of the property or effects transferred, is a condition precedent to relief under that section, section 1911, Kentucky Statutes, Husband v. Linehan, 168 Ky. 304, 181 S. W. 1089, and as the policies were assigned and delivered on February 23, 1924, and suit was not brought until December 17, 1924, it necessarily *59 results that the action was not brought within the time required by the state law. As appellant’s counsel had had abundant time in which to taire proof prior to his illness and that of his family, it would seem that the action of the court in refusing further time because of such illness was proper, but, whether so or not, the refusal was not prejudicial, in view of the fact that suit was not brought in time, either under the Bankruptcy Act or the state law, and no amount of proof could have remedied the situation. Judgment affirmed.