Dougherty v. Piet

Bowie, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. The appeal in this case is from an order of the Circuit Court of Baltimore City, refusing the application of the appellant for an injunction. The hill and exhibits were filed on the 18th of March, 1879. On the same day it was ordered by the Court that the application for injunction he set down for hearing on the 21st day of March, 1879; provided, a copy of the order he served on the opposite party, or his solicitor, on or before the 19th day of March, 1879. Service was admitted on the same day. The appellee filed an answer on the 21st March. On the 28th of March the defendant filed an exception to the entering of a general replication to the answer, as follows: “The defendant excepts to the right of the complainant to file a general replication in this case, at the time of the hearing of the motion for a preliminary injunction, the complainant not having leave of the Court for the same, or the consent of the defendant. This exception is taken during the progress of the argument of the motion.” The Court, on the same day, ordered and adjudged as follows: “ The application for an injunction in the above entitled case having come on to he heard on hill, answer — 429 — and replication, and the solicitors of the respective parties having been heard in argument, and the pleadings and proceedings in the case haviu g been duly considered, it is by the Court, on this 28th of March, A. D. 1879, ordered that the application in this case for an injunction, be and the same is hereby refused.” The case was heard and decided below, according to the record, upon bill, answer and replication; whether the Court was right in allowing the replication to be filed at that stage of the proceedings, or whether the replication in any manner affected the rights of the parties at the hearing, may be a matter of subsequent consideration. It is the established practice in this State that, when an answer comes in before the injunction is ordered, and denies the equity of the bill in such manner, as would authorize a dissolution on motion to dissolve, the injunction in such case ought not to be granted. Bell vs. Purvis, 15 Md., 22. Another rule equally elementary is, that when the injunction is set down for hearing on bill and answer, or on a motion to dissolve, the answer is regarded and taken for true, so far as the same ffs responsive to the bill, but new matter set up by way of avoidance does not avail. 10 Gill & Johns., 317; Webster vs. Hardesty, 28 Md., 592. The object of the bill was to enforce the specific performance of an agreement alleged to have been made by the firm of Kelly, Piet & Co. to give the appellant security out of their assets, sufficient to indemnify the appellant for certain liabilities incurred on their account, and for their exchisive benefit, in consideration of such promise of indemnity, and to obtain an ancillary injunction. Without encumbering this opinion with unnecessary details, the bill alleges substantially that prior to the 14th of November, 1878, the complainant, together with Mary Kelly, became the drawer of certain accommodation notes of large amounts, payable to the order of Kelly, Piet & Co., “ without benefit to himself or consid — 430 — eration therefor, and for the sole benefit of said Kelly, Piet & Co.,” which notes were so drawn hy the complainant “upon the express stipulation and agreement that the said Kelly, Piet & Co. would at any time, on the request of the complainant, give him security out of their assets sufficient for his liabilities thereupon.” It is further alleged that about the 14th of November, 1818, Kelly, Piet & Co., to procure further accommodation, and induce him to continue his former, applied to him for that purpose, and the complainant being unwilling and having refused said request, without further security, they agreed and promised to give the complainant a preference over all others, their creditors, for his protection against liability, as well upon the notes hitherto drawn by him for their benefit, as upon the renewals to be made of the same, upon the additional accommodation asked for, and accordingly offered to give and did give the complainant for that purpose, on the 14th of November, 1818, an order to enter judgment in the complainant’s favor at any time for $12,500, and at the same time executed an agreement to appoint the complainant0 trustee for the liquidation of the firm’s business, in case of any subsequent necessity therefor, and also appointing him, in case of the decease of either of the partners, to represent the decedent in the settlement of the same, and to manage the same, as will appear hy Exhibits A, B, O. Exhibit A is a narr., in common form, in an action on the case hy Charles M. Dougherty against Michael J. Kelly and John B. Piet, trading as Kelly, Piet & Co., for money payable by defendants to plaintiff, including the common counts, and claiming $30,000 damages. Exhibit B is a titling in the case of Charles M. Dougherty vs. Michael J. Kelly, John B. Piet, trading as Kelly, Piet & Co., in the Superior Court of Baltimore City, underwritten as follows: — 431 — “ Mr.-, please enter your appearance for us in tliis case, and confess judgment in the sum of twelve thousand five hundred dollars.” (Signed,) M. J. Kelly, John B. Piet, Kelly, Piet & Co. Exhibit C: Baltimore, November 14th, 1878. “In consideration of the loans and advances in money, made to the firm of Kelly, Piet & Co. by Charles M. Dougherty, and the extension of the time of payment of the same, we, Michael J. Kelly and John B. Piet, individually, and as composing said firm of Kelly, Piet and Company, do covenant and agree with the said Charles M. Dougherty, to appoint him, the said Charles M. Dougherty, trustee of our partnership stock and assets, to manage the same in liquidation, in case of any state of affairs arising in the opinion of either member of said firm, making the appointment of a trustee in liquidation advisable; and in case of the death of either member of said firm, we and each of us do now constitute, authorize and empower the said Charles M. Dougherty to represent the interest of the partner so deceased, in the settlement of the business of the partnership and to manage the same. (Signed,) M. J. Kelly, John B. Piet. Kelly, Piet & Co.” It is further alleged that the firm of Kelly, Piet & Co. exhibited to the complainant a statement of the condition of the firm, showing its available assets exceeded its liabilities, besides other resources not included in the assets, which would liquidate $10,000 of their indebtedness; relying upon which, he allowed his accommodation notes previously executed to stand, and gave new notes, for the benefit of said firm of large amounts, some of which have been — 432 — paid, and others secured to he paid hy him. Further charging, the complainant says, that relying on the statements and assurances aforesaid, he did not procure a judgment to he entered against the said Kelly, Piet & Co. That shortly afterwards, about the 7th of January, 1879, Michael J. Kelly being ill of a disease of which, in a few days after he died, and the complainant being absent from the State, his attorney sent for John B. Piet, and informed him it was necessary for his client's interest and for his protection, the said judgment should he put upon record. Whereupon the said Piet assured the complainant’s attorney the firm was perfectly solvent, that to put such judgment on record would injure the credit of the firm and ruin him, and entreated his attorney not to do so, etc. That said Piet promised, if the judgment was not put on record, in the event of M. J. Kelly's death, he would secure the complainant a preference in payment of all loss that might accrue hy virtue of the accommodation paper, and wonld make an assignment of all their partnership effects to him, with a preference securing all liability on account of said accommodation paper, etc. The hill further charges, that since the death of Kelly, it has been ascertained that the statement of the partnership affairs was illusory and deceptive, and that the firm is insolvent, and unable to meet the payment of the notes referred to ; that the respondent, Piet, although requested, has refused to execute the deed of assignment, or to give him a preference as promised, and still refuses; that he seeks to acquire the business to himself, at the expense of his creditors, and denies the complainant all relief. The hill prays specific performance of the contract, for security, and an injunction preventing the said partner Piet from disposing of the assets in the meantime, or intermeddling with the affairs of the partnership). The respondent’s answer, admitting the existence of the accommodation notes drawn hy complainant prior to the — 433 — 14th of November, 1878, and those subsequent thereto, denies that said notes were drawn upon the express agreement and understanding, as in the bill alleged, that the firm would at any time, upon request of complainant, give him security out of their assets sufficient for his liability. This material fact is denied in limine, in terms clearly and unequivocally responsive to the bill. Other facts are mentioned in support of this denial which may border on the verge of new matter. Exhibits A, B and 0 are admitted to have been executed by the firm, but on terms and conditions materially different from those alleged in the bill. Whilst these exhibits, particularly A and B, which are without date, support the theory of the complainant’s bill, inasmuch as they show a purpose on the part of the firm of Kelly, Piet & Go. to give security by confessing judgment ; yet the forbearance on the part of the complainant’s attorney, to record the judgment, is inconsistent with the theory that his principal required absolute unconditional security, before he would renew or extend his accommodation. Exhibit C, which bears date November 14th, 1878, and is referred to in support of the complainant’s allegation of a contract for security upon accommodation notes, contains no reference to notes past or future, but is made, “in consideration of the loans and advances in money made to the firm of Kelly, Piet & Company, by Charles M. Dougherty, and the extension of the time of payment of the same.” The obligation assumed is entirely contingent, viz., to appoint him, Charles M. Dougherty, trustee, etc., to.manage the same in liquidation, in case of any state of affairs arising, in the opinion of either member of the firm, making the appointment advisable. In other words, if either of the firm thought proper, they would make the complainant trustee; “ and in case of the death — 434 — of either, they would constitute Charles M. Dougherty to represent the interest of the partner so deceased, in the settlement of the business of said partnership and to manage the same. What connection exists between this paper and the renewal of accommodation paper, if any, is not apparent on its face. How Mr. Dougherty is to he secured by a promise of an appointment which was entirely optional with the promisors, or protected by becoming a representative of-a deceased partner, is not so obvious as to make such a promise equivalent to security. The paper itself implies a confidence between the parties entirely at war with the demands of an exacting creditor, requiring indemnity for the past and security for the future. Exhibit D, referred to by complainant as embodying “ an agreement of preference and undertaking to execute a deed of assignment,” taken alone, contains no consideration for a promise, or actual promise or agreement, hut expresses a willingness, as surviving partner, to assign their whole business to Mr. Dougherty and give him preference, etc. The allegations of the complainant, describing the interview between his attorney and the respondent, and the verbal promises of respondent to the attorney, in consideration of forbearance to record the judgment, are positively denied. As the answer, so far as responsive to the hill, was to be taken as true, on the application for the injunction, the replication had no effect, and performed no office whatever at that stage of the cause; its real and only office being to determine the nature and extent of the issue between the parties, and to regulate the onus of proof with a view to the final hearing. — 435 — (Decided 16th July, 1879.) Confining our view entirely to tlie bill, and answer as far as responsive to tbe bill, we tliink the order appealed from should be affirmed. Order affirmed, and cause remanded.-