Jewett v. Woodward

The Vice-Chancellor. In this case it is first contended, that the creditors have no rights under the assignment and cannot call the assignees to any account, without complying or •offering to comply with the condition of the assignment; and which, it is said, requires the creditors to discharge their debtor from all further demands before they can participate in the property assigned. Whether this be so, depends upon the meaning of the instrument: for it is undoubtedly true, that when a debtor makes a voluntary assignment of his property; and the creditors choose to come in under it and claim the benefit of its provisions, they must comply with such terms or conditions as the debtor has thought proper to impose. The question arises upon the clause introduced by way of proviso: that should there not be sufficient to pay the debts in full, then the assignees are authorized to compromise as to the same, requiring discharges on payment of the dividend. I do not understand this clause as amounting to a condition that the creditors shall release their whole demands or not participate in the dividends of the trust property. It is not so expressed. Such a construction would render the assignment void, as fraudulent in law. It is the business of this court to [198] give it an interpretation which will be consistent with honest motives, if the words which are used can possibly admit of it: L v see Archibald v. Thomas, 3 Cowen, 284. It plainly appears they will admit of this: for they import merely an authority to compromise the debts and (in that event) to require discharges from the creditors. If the creditors choose not to compound, I see nothing to prevent them from receiving or the assignees from paying a proportion of -the debts under the previous part of the trust-clause. By putting this construction upon the instrument, it is rendered effective as a valid and bona fide transfer of the debtor’s property; and I must presume such to have been the object and intention of the assignor. It is said, however, that the creditors have considered it otherwise, by commencing proceedings against Porter as an absent debtor and giving notice to Woodward—thereby treating the assignment as invalid and the property as still belonging to their debtor. Tins seems to have been an unnecessary and rather a vexatious proceeding; but I do not perceive how the creditors, b}r so doing, deprived themselves of a right to come in and claim under the assignment, provided the proceedings proved unavailing or they thought proper fo abandon them. The doctrine of election does not apply to a case like the present; where the question is merely as to the" remedy or mode of proceeding. If one remedy fails, the party may oftentimes resort to another. Nothing is more common than to leave a party to his bill in equity, after a fruitless attempt at law; and, rice versa. I am of opinion there has been no waiver or abandonment of the right to come in under the assignment and ask for a distribution of the trust funds. It is to be observed, the objection is not made by the debtor. He has suffered the bill to be taken as confessed; and thereby admits the creditors have a right to an account and distribution. Nor does he insist upon the performance of any conditions by them. Under these circumstances, the defendant Woodward will be protected from all liability to the debtor, his assignor, when he has accounted and paid over the money under the decree of this court. This indemnity is all he is entitled to ask. [199] Nothing, therefore, remains but to see the accounts are properly taken; and Woodward sufficiently compensated for his r . TT , , „ services as a trustee. He excepts to the master s allowance of six hundred and forty-three dollars and eighty-eight cents as altogether too low; and insists he ought to be permitted to retain the whole sum in his hands, according to the former master’s report. I should have felt better satisfied if the allowance had been greater; but, on looking into the evidence laid before the master, I do not perceive upon what principle it can be increased. Voluntary assignees are not entitled to charge a commission, as such: unless thpy- have taken care to secure to themselves the right by express reservation or agreement; although, in many cases, I have no doubt, with a view to compensation upon the ground of quantum meruit, the court would do right to adopt, by analogy, the same rate of commissions which guardians, executors and administrators are authorized by law to charge for similar services. Perhaps, generally, the only mode is "to enquire into the value of the services and the length of time employed and fix the compensation by way of salary or as a per diem allowance. This method, I understand, was adopted by the master in the present suit: he having enquired as to the length of time the defendant was engaged in the business of the trust, so far at least as related to the funds in question and the salary he was receiving as a clerk. Under the circumstances, no other rule could have been resorted to with propriety. The defendant could .not have charged commissions on the large amount of goods packed up and sent to his co-trustee, who, with the agents of the creditors, took upon themselves the labor and responsibility converting those goods into money and of making the distribution ; nor would commissions upon moneys received from collections have been an adequate compensation for the services which he has in fact rendered. I have not been able to discover any regulation on this subject in South Carolina, other than as relates to executors, administrators and such as act in the character of legal trustees. These, by a law of the State, are entitled to charge a commission of two and a half per cent, all moneys received; and the same on all sums paid out [200] Although the lex loci would govern this court in cases to which it could apply, yet this is not a case provided for by any partjcujar jaw 0p ^at State. It must, consequently, be disposed of uPon general principles. I must confirm the master’s report as respects the allowance of six hundred and forty-three dollars and eighty-eight cents to the defendant Woodward for his services as acting trustee. There is, however, another part of the report which I think requires to be modified. I allude to the disbursements for counsel fees, amounting to seventy dollars. I shall permit the defendant to retain this sum out of the balance in his hands. It does not appear he has improperly or unnecessarily litigated the matter. From the course which the creditors have pursued against Porter,' the assignee was justified in not paying over the funds, except under the direction of the court. He is entitled to be indemnified in his costs and counsel fees. He is to pay the balance into court, which is to be distributed among those creditors who shall come in and prove their demands before the master. Upon payment of this balance into court, the defendant Woodward is to be discharged from the trust.