Bailey v. Sawyer

NELSON, District Judge. The comptroller of the currency, by virtue of the national banking law, in winding up an insolvent bank, is vested with authority to determine when a deficiency of assets exists, so that the individual liability of the stockholders may be enforced. This liability is conditional, and was so held in Bank v. Kennedy, 17 Wall. [84 U. S.] 22, but the comptroller, in the exercise of a judicial discretion, decides, upon the data before him, when “it is necessary” . to compel contributions from stockholders to pay the debts of the bank. 'The law clothes him with this authority, and no appeal lies from his decision by a stockholder. He appoints a receiver, and resorts to the ultimate remedy whenever, in his judgment, the condition of the bank requires its enforcement. And, as stated in Kennedy v. Gibson, 8 Wall. [75 U. S.] 504, a more speedy settlement of the affairs of an insolvent bank is thus obtained. Again, this obligation of the stockholder is fixed when he becomes a member of the corporation by taking stock therein, and is several, not joint. There is no necessity for invoking the aid of a court of chancery to determine the sum each stockholder must pay, for that is regulated by the number of shares of stock owned. When the comptroller declares and orders an assessment, the precise amount each stockholder must contribute is a certain exact sum. A suit at law would seem to be the suitable proceeding to collect the assessment. Demurrer overruled.