Receivership of Zwolle Lumber Co.

REYNOLDS, J. OPINION Counsel for both the Receiver and Third Opponent agree that the sole question for determination by this court is one of law, namely: whether a debt for premium on a policy of indemnity against liability under the Workmen’s Compensation Law contracted by the Receiver while engaged in operating as a “going concern” under order of court the business of the Zwolle Lumber Company is entitled to be placed in the final account of the Receiver as a privilege claim. This question was practically decided by our Supreme Court in the case of Teutonia Bank & Trust Co. vs. Security Brewing Company, 137 La. 1046, 69 South. 833, wherein the court, through Chief Justice Monroe as its organ, held: “We are of opinion that the authority vested in, and the duty imposed on, the receivers, to operate the brewery as a going concern, carried with it the authority to incur such expenses as were necessary to the performance of that duty, and that the expenses so incurred .fall within the category and enjoy the privileges established in favor of law charges.” And in the case of Borne vs. Alexandria Hardwood Company, 140 La. 315, 72 South. 979, it was held, Chief Justice O’Niell being the organ of the court, in a syllabus prepared by the court, that: “According to the provisions of Section 5 of Act No. 159 of 1898, as amended by Act No. 212 of 1910, before it was again amended by Act No. 199 of 1914, the privilege, securing the payment of debts contracted by a receiver, for money borrowed on certificate of indebtedness, or for necessary supplies purchased by the receiver, and used in carrying on the business of the corporation as a going concern under orders of court, was superior in rank to the lien and privilege of the vendor of a part of the property of the corporation. Such debts contracted hy a receiver are in the category of law charges, and are taxed as costs of court.” [105] No question of the relative rank of third opponent’s claim and the claims secured by vendor’s lien and privilege is raised, for the reason that in the judgment appealed from the latter claims are ranked ahead of the claim of third opponent and no complaint is made by third opponent as to that part of the judgment; its only complaint being that its claim was entitled to be ranked as a privilege one and to be paid as other court costs. Learned counsel for the Receiver says, in brief, that third opponent’s claim is for balance due on a premium on a policy of indemnity issued by third opponent to the Zwolle Lumber Company before the Receiver was appointed. In this he is in error. Paragraph second of the petition of third opposition avers: ‘Your petitioner further represents that it issued compensation policy U. S. C. No. 149,238 in favor of S. L. Carroll, receiver appointed herein, which policy bound and obligated your petitioners to pay all claims of compensation which might arise against the said receiver from the operation of the business of the Zwolle Lumber Company.” And the truth of these allegations is admitted by the Receiver in paragraph second of his answer to the petition. Hence we are of opinion that the claim of third opponent constitutes a debt contracted by the Receiver after his appointment and in the conduct of the business of the Zwolle Lumber Company as a “going concern”. Under the two authorities cited, it is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that so much of the judgment appealed from as decrees: “that the claim of privilege, preference and priority asserted upon said claim be refused and the opposition to the receiver’s account be dismissed,” be and the same is hereby annulled, avoided and reversed; and it is now ordered, adjudged and decreed that third opponent’s claim for $377.96 be classed by the Receiver on his final account as court costs and be paid by him as such pari passu with other costs of the Receivership; and that, in all other respects, the judgment appealed from be affirmed. The costs of the third opposition, including this appeal, to be paid by the Receiver as court costs out of the funds of the Receivership.