B. J. Harrison Mfg. Co. v. Bromberg

MANTON, Circuit Judge. The B. J. Harrison Manufacturing Company was owned by Charles Glantz, against whom a petition in involuntary bankruptcy was filed and for whom the appellee has been appointed trustee. The property of the bankrupt consisted of a factory building, machinery, stocks, materials, accounts receivable, and patent rights. After tho appointment of the trustee, he received two offers for the purchase of the assets, one of $6,500, by the appellant, and another of $8,000, by John F. Kuhn. After the offers were received, the referee in bankruptcy gave formal written notice to the creditors of the bankrupt that such offers had been made. The notice called for a meeting of the creditors at the plant at Arkville, Delaware county, on the 14th of May, 1932, “to consider said offer, also to consider any other offers which may ho [made] before or at said meeting.” At this meeting, tho appellant increased Ms hid to $10,100, which was higher than all other bids. There was full opportunity for bidding. Two days later, a petition for confirmation of tho sale was filed and notice thereof was sent to the creditors. A few days after service of the notice, and before the 31st of May, 1932, when the matter was set for a hearing, Kuhn increased his offer to $11,500. At the hearing, the trustee communicated to the referee, and the creditors present, this increased offer of Kuhn, and the majority in number opposed the confirmation because a Mgher price could be procured. The final confirmation was adjourned until tho 20th of June, 1932, when the trustee and representatives of tho majority of the creditors again considered bids and approved the appellant’s. Tho referee stated that the sale was fairly conducted and the price offered by the appellant was fair, and that there had been no misrepresentations at the time of acceptance of the appellant’s bid, and he confirmed the sale. On July 7, 1932, the referee made an order accordingly. A petition to reviso was filed in the District Court, and the order of confirmation was reversed, and the property was sold a second time at private sale, August 22, 1932, to John F. Kuhn for $12,750. The District Judge grounded his decision upon the failure to comply with the provisions of subdivision 2 of General Order XVIII (11 USCA § 53), which provides that upon an application to the court the trustee [788] may be authorized to sell any specific portion of the bankrupt’s estate at private sale, in whieh case he shall keep an accurate account of each article sold and the price received therefor and to whom sold, which account he shall file at onee with the referee. The court below held that this was a private sale and that no application or order was made therefor. This was a jurisdictional requirement, and a private sale may not be had without it. The court said: “There seems to be no eases holding that such requirement may be dispensed with.” It appears that the receiver attempted to sell the business and failed. The trustee, aided by the receiver and the creditors, had solicited purchasers and had but two bids. It was thought most advantageous by the creditors to have a private sale, rather than a publie sale, and the creditors demanded an authorization to the trustee to negotiate with prospective purchasers. The referee states it was the unanimous opinion that a publie auction should not be undertaken but a private sale had, and he so recommended. The trustee thereupon asked for a private sale, whieh was granted, as the findings of fact indicated. Staley v. Dwyer, 29 F.(2d) 982 (C. C. A. 8); Baker v. Sproul (D. C.) 37 F.(2d) 937, affirmed 37 F.(2d) 938 (C. C. A. 3). A notice formally directing a meeting of the creditors to consider the bids on May 14, 1932, 'was a sufficient order to proceed with the private sale of the property. Later a meeting was held, the offers considered, and the offer of the appellant accepted. The final act of the referee in confirming this sale to the appellant and the order entered thereon leaves no doubt we think as to the compliance with subdivision 2, General Order XVIII. The only objection appears to be to the form and not the substance of the order. Nothing in General Order XVIII or in any of the rules malíes this order of sale insufficient. Rule 12 of the Rules of the Northern District of New York requires petition to be written or printed. Collier on Bankruptcy (13th Ed. p. 175), speaking of publie auctions and private sales and referring to General Order XVIII says: “At the same time, in the face of the mandatory provisions of § 58-a (4), this rule will be cautiously applied, and only where the moving papers show clearly either a necessity for immediate sale or a fair and adequate offer.” We regard the proceedings here as a sufficient compliance with this rule. There was just as complete and definite a record made of the proceedings and order therefor as was necessary under the circumstances. The facts satisfied the referee that a private sale was advisable; the trustee asked for such sale, and it was authorized. The purpose of the General Order No. XVIII was complied with; the creditors, fully advised, approved. Order reversed.