Straton v. New, 283 U.S. 318 (1931)

U.S. Supreme Court

Straton v. New, 283 U.S. 318 (1931) Straton v. New

No. 137

Argued March 3, 1931

Decided April 20, 1931

283 U.S. 318

CERTIFICATE FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

1. Where creditors have obtained and docketed judgments constituting liens on the real estate of their debtor, and have instituted a creditors' suit in a state court to marshal the liens and enforce them by a sale of the real estate, the bankruptcy of the debtor, occurring more than four months after the institution of the creditors' suit, does not oust the state court of jurisdiction, nor vest in the court of bankruptcy power to enjoin further proceedings in the state court. Pp. 283 U. S. 320, 283 U. S. 323.

2. The state court proceeding described in the certificate in this case, when examined with the West Virginia statutes upon which it is based, is found to be a suit by a judgment creditor for the enforcement of the lien of his judgment on the debtor's real estate,

Page 283 U. S. 319

in which all liens of creditors on such real estate are ascertained and marshalled and the realty sold for their satisfaction. It is not of the class of proceedings under state insolvency laws which are suspended by the federal Bankruptcy Law. P. 283 U. S. 327.

Response to a question certified, upon an appeal to the court below from an order of the district court, in bankruptcy. The order enjoined commissioners of a West Virginia court from selling certain real estate pursuant to its decree.

MR. JUSTICE ROBERTS delivered the opinion of the Court.

The District Court for Southern West Virginia entered an order in the bankruptcy of the Fall Branch Coal Company enjoining commissioners appointed by a West Virginia state court from proceeding with the sale of certain real estate of the bankrupt pursuant to a decree of that court. The petitioners were the trustee in bankruptcy and two mortgagees.

The petition alleged that the commissioners were advertising for sale only the property of the bankrupt in West Virginia, that it would be advantageous to all parties to have this property sold with property of the bankrupt situate in Kentucky, and that the bankruptcy court had exclusive jurisdiction to make the sale. The respondents in their answer denied the right of the district court to enjoin the proceedings in the state court, and appealed from an order awarding an injunction.

April 11, 1927, one Alley obtained judgment against the coal company in the Circuit Court of Mingo County, West Virginia, which was docketed May 5, 1927, and thus became

Page 283 U. S. 320

a lien on its estate in that county. February 20, 1928, Alley filed in the same court a judgment creditors' suit against the coal company, and made parties thereto all creditors having liens against its real estate, including the two mortgagees who were co-petitioners with the trustee in the bankruptcy court. In his bill, he prayed that the liens and assets be marshalled and that the company's real estate be sold and the proceeds distributed among the lien claimants according to their respective rights. The cause was duly matured, and, at April Term, 1928, was referred to a commissioner in chancery to report the real estate owned by the debtor and the liens thereon. At the July Term, 1928, the commissioner presented his report, and thereupon the respondents were appointed to make sale of the property. August 4, 1928, sixteen months after rendition of Alley's judgment, and five and one-half months after the filing of the creditors' bill, the coal company filed its voluntary petition in bankruptcy, and on October 11, 1928, while the commissioners of the state court were proceeding to carry out its order of sale, the petition was filed to enjoin them from further proceeding.

Upon these facts, the question certified is:

Where creditors have obtained and docketed judgments constituting liens on the real estate of defendant, and have instituted a creditors' suit in a state court to marshal and enforce the liens and sell the real estate subject thereto, does the bankruptcy of defendant occurring more than four months after the institution of the creditors' suit oust the state court of jurisdiction, or vest in the court of bankruptcy power to enjoin further proceedings in the state court?

The purpose of the Bankruptcy Act, passed pursuant to the power of Congress to establish a uniform system of bankruptcy throughout the United States, is to place the property of the bankrupt, wherever found, under the control of the court, for equal distribution among the

Page 283 U. S. 321

creditors. The filing of the petition is an assertion of jurisdiction with a view to the determination of the status of the bankrupt and a settlement and distribution of his estate. This jurisdiction is exclusive within the field defined by the law, and is so far in rem that the estate is regarded as in custodia legis from the filing of the petition. Acme Harvester Co. v. Beekman Lumber Co., 222 U. S. 300. It follows that liens cannot thereafter be obtained nor proceedings be had in other courts to reach the property, the district court having acquired the exclusive right to administer all property in the bankrupt's possession. Lazarus, Michel & Lazarus v. Prentice, 234 U. S. 263; White v. Schloerb, 178 U. S. 542; Murphy v. John Hofman Co., 211 U. S. 562; United States Fidelity & G. Co. v. Bray, 225 U. S. 205; Hebert v. Crawford, 228 U. S. 204. It may inquire into the validity of liens, marshal them, and control their enforcement and liquidation. Isaacs v. Hobbs Tie & Timber Co., 282 U. S. 734, and authorities cited; Whitney v. Wenman, 198 U. S. 539; Remington, Bankruptcy (3d ed.) § 2472.

Though a lien be not discharged by bankruptcy, its owner may not, without the bankruptcy court's permission, institute proceedings in a state court to enforce it, since his so doing might interfere with the orderly administration of the estate. Thus, a mortgagee will be restrained from instituting or proceeding further in a foreclosure action, begun after the date of the petition in bankruptcy. [Footnote 1] And a creditor holding a valid judgment

Page 283 U. S. 322

more than four months old will be enjoined from enforcing its lien by suit brought after the date of the petition. [Footnote 2] And as the lien created by a judgment entered within four months in avoided, the court of bankruptcy has jurisdiction to administer the property regardless of the lien, and will restrain the prosecution of an action to enforce it. [Footnote 3]

The bankruptcy law contains no express provision preserving liens acquired by legal proceedings more than four months before the petition is filed. But it is clearly implied that they shall be saved from the operation of the law, for § 67(f) [Footnote 4] voids only liens obtained by legal proceedings within that period. It has consequently been held that those acquired earlier, if valid under state law, are preserved, and will be accorded priority by the bankruptcy court in distribution of the estate, in accordance with applicable local law. [Footnote 5]

There is no dispute concerning these propositions. Appellants, however, assert that the jurisdiction in bankruptcy to ascertain, marshal, and enforce liens is not exclusive, but concurrent with that of other courts competent to that end, if the liens in question are not discharged but recognized as valid in bankruptcy, and that the rule of comity is applicable that the court first lawfully taking jurisdiction shall retain it. Wabash R. Co. v.

Page 283 U. S. 323

Adelbert College, 208 U. S. 38; Harkin v. Brundage, 276 U. S. 36. They contend that, when the petition was filed in this case, the state court was proceeding in a suit within its jurisdiction and had taken possession of the res for the purpose of enforcing such a lien.

The certificate states that the judgment of the plaintiff in the creditors' suit constituted a lien on real estate from a date sixteen months prior to the initiation of the bankruptcy proceeding. It is obvious that it and any other judgments involved in that suit, and the mortgage liens which were to be marshalled in it, including those of the two mortgagees who joined in the petition for injunction against further action by the state court, were valid notwithstanding the bankruptcy, because the creditors' suit was filed five and one-half months before the petition in bankruptcy, and all such other judgments and liens must then have been in existence and matured, or they would not have been proper subjects for the state court's action.

If appellants are correct in their contention that the creditors' suit was no more than a proceeding to enforce liens saved from discharge by the subsequent bankruptcy of the debtor, it follows, as they claim, that the district court sitting in bankruptcy had no power to enjoin that action.

In Metcalf v. Barker, 187 U. S. 165, Lesser Brothers were adjudged bankrupts on their own petition, on May 12, 1899. They had, on October 2, 1896, being insolvent, transferred all their property, partnership and individual, to certain favored creditors. On October 22, 1896, and October 29, 1896, Metcalf recovered judgments in the Supreme Court of the New York against the Lessers, upon which executions were issued and returned unsatisfied. On December 17, 1896, Metcalf commenced a judgment creditors' action in the Supreme Court of New York, which came to trial on December 17, 1897, as a result

Page 283 U. S. 324

whereof the transfers were adjudged fraudulent and void as to plaintiff. 22 Misc.Rep. 664, 50 N.Y.S. 1060. The transfers had involved both personal property and real estate. The judgment of the court set aside the transfers of personal property and of the real estate in favor of the plaintiff. Meantime, receivers had been appointed for the Lessers, and the judgment of the Supreme Court determined that the tangible property and its proceeds then in the hands of the receivers, and certain claims by the receivers, were to be administered by them for the benefit of the creditors of the partnership, including Metcalf, while the real estate involved became subject to the lien of the judgments of Metcalf as of October 22 and 29, 1896.

From this judgment there were appeals, as a result of which the decree in favor of Metcalf did not become final until March 12, 1900. On March 8, 1900, the trustee in bankruptcy procured from the United States district court an order on Metcalf to show cause why an injunction should not issue enjoining him from taking any further proceedings under any judgment in the creditors' action. Objection was made to the jurisdiction of the court, which was overruled, and the injunction made permanent. Metcalf presented a petition to revise to the circuit court of appeals, which certified to this Court certain questions, amongst others, whether the district court had jurisdiction to make the injunction order, and whether Metcalf, by the commencement of the creditors' action, acquired a lien on the property of the bankrupts superior to the title of the trustee. This Court answered that the district court had no jurisdiction, and that Metcalf did acquire such a lien.

The bill was a technical creditors' bill; its purpose was to subject equitable assets to the lien of a judgment which the judgment did not bind at law. This Court held that the lien when established related back to the date of the filing of the bill, which was much more than four months

Page 283 U. S. 325

before the initiation of the cause in bankruptcy. It was urged that, at the date of bankruptcy, the claim was contingent and was only an equitable lien, and that, in truth and in substance, the judgment was recovered within four months of bankruptcy, and under § 67(f), must be declared null and void. This Court overruled the contention, quoted § 67(f), and said (p. 187 U. S. 174):

"In our opinion, the conclusion to be drawn from this language is that it is the lien created by a levy, or a judgment, or an an attachment, or otherwise, that is invalidated, and that, where the lien is obtained more than four months prior to the filing of the petition, it is not only not to be deemed to be null and void on adjudication, but its validity is recognized. . . . A judgment or decree in enforcement of an otherwise valid preexisting lien is not the judgment denounced by the statute, which is plainly confined to judgments creating liens."

In Clarke v. Larrenmore, 188 U. S. 486, a judgment was recovered, but did not constitute a lien on the debtor's personal property. Within four months prior to the filing of a bankruptcy petition, the judgment creditor issued execution under which levy was made on the debtor's goods. It was held that the levy and the sale thereunder were avoided. The Court said:

"The judgment in favor of petitioner against Kenney was not like that in Metcalf Bros. v. Barker, . . . one giving effect to a lien theretofore existing, but one which, with the levy of an execution issued thereon, created the lien. . . ."

In Globe Bank & Trust Co. v. Martin, 236 U. S. 288, the Court said:

"The difference, having the provisions of the act in view, between the beginning of a proceeding to assert liens that existed more than four months before the filing of the petition in bankruptcy, and the attempt to create them by attachment and other proceedings within four months, has been recognized in decisions of this Court [citing Metcalf v. Barker]. "

Page 283 U. S. 326

Following these cases, the federal courts have with practical unanimity held that, where a judgment which constitutes a lien on the debtor's real estate is recovered more than four months prior to the filing of the petition, the bankruptcy court is without jurisdiction to enjoin the prosecution of the creditor's action, instituted prior to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, to bring about a judicial sale of the real estate. [Footnote 6]

Page 283 U. S. 327

The trustee in bankruptcy may intervene in such suits of protect the interests of the estate. [Footnote 7]

It is clear that, if the action in the state court was merely in the nature of an execution or proceeding to obtain the avails of the judgment lien, it should not have been enjoined by the district court.

The appellees, however, insist that the purpose and function of the creditors' bill was a general disposition and distribution of the debtor's property; that it was a winding up proceeding pursuant to state law, and was therefore superseded by the bankruptcy. They invoke the settled rule that state insolvency laws which are tantamount to bankruptcy because they provide for an administration of the debtor's assets and a winding up of his affairs similar to that provided by the national act are suspended while the latter remains in force, and proceedings under them are utterly null and void, whether commenced within four months of the filing of a petition in bankruptcy or before. Sturges v. Crowninshield, 4 Wheat. 122; Mayer v. Hellman, 91 U. S. 496; Hanover Nat. Bank v. Moyses, 186 U. S. 181; Miller v. New Orleans Acid & Fertilizer Co., 211 U. S. 496; Stellwagen v. Clum, 245 U. S. 605; International Shoe Co. v. Pinkus, 278 U. S. 261.

It was pointed out in Stellwagen v. Clum, supra, that state laws which provide for sale and distribution of a debtor's property may not amount to insolvency laws, and it was there held that such laws, if not inconsistent with the administration of the bankruptcy act, are available to litigants. Appellees must therefore show that the

Page 283 U. S. 328

statutory action in the state court is in fact an insolvency proceeding. The certificate states no facts which lead to such a conclusion, nor does it so denominate the creditors' suit. Reference to the statutes of West Virginia, of which we take judicial notice, demonstrates that it is not in that category.

In that state, a judgment is a lien on the debtor's real estate as against all except bona fide purchasers for value without notice, and as against the latter from the date of docketing it in the county where the land lies. [Footnote 8] The debtor's real estate cannot be sold under execution. In re McGraw, 254 F. 442. The plaintiff must resort for enforcement of his judgment against real estate to such a proceeding as is described in the certificate. [Footnote 9] He may do so without exhausting his legal remedies, as against personal property. [Footnote 10] The statute provides for a course of procedure such as is described in the certificate -- namely, that the liens and the debtor's real estate shall be determined by a commissioner appointed by the court and, if

Page 283 U. S. 329

the claims which he reports be not paid, a decree shall be made for a sale of the real estate subject to the liens so far as may be necessary to pay them according to their priorities, if any. If a lien-holder, after notice has been given of the proceeding as required by the statute, does not appear and present his claims, he is barred from participation except that, if a surplus remain after the payment of claims presented, he may share in such surplus upon proving his claim at any time before final decree. There is also a provision for the presentation and participation of lien claims where judgment has been recovered before final decree in the creditors' action. This statute says nothing about a distribution of assets amongst general creditors. It contains no provision that lien claims presented which cannot be paid because the proceeds of the sale are insufficient shall be wiped out as debts of the defendant. It does not purport to discharge the debtor from his indebtedness generally. It is merely a proceeding in equity to do what would be done by a sheriff or marshal under an appropriate writ for the sale of real estate in execution at law. In re McGraw, supra. Such officer, upon receiving the proceeds of a judicial sale, would, under the supervision of the court, pay them to those whose liens were discharged by the sale. He would marshal the liens against the proceeds precisely as this statute directs the chancellor to do. The act is in no sense an insolvency statute, and a proceeding thereunder is not therefore avoided by the adjudication of the debtor as a bankrupt. On the contrary, it is a mere proceeding to enforce a valid lien or liens against the real estate bound thereby, and falls within the rule announced in Metcalf v. Barker, supra. [Footnote 11] This is the view of the Supreme Court

Page 283 U. S. 330

of West Virginia, which has held that the action is merely one to enforce liens, and that, where the bankruptcy of the debtor occurred six months after its institution, it need not be stayed, since the state court which had first acquired jurisdiction was entitled to proceed to final decree. Abney-Barnes Co. v. Davy-Pocahontas Coal Co., 83 W.Va. 292, 98 S.E. 298.

It is suggested that the commissioners appointed by the state court were in effect receivers, and it was stated in argument that they did not qualify by giving bond until within four months of the filing of the petition in bankruptcy, and that therefore the state court action should be enjoined and the property taken into possession of the bankruptcy court. But, as above said, the statute of West Virginia merely substitutes these commissioners for the usual judicial officer who makes a sale and reports the result thereof to the court. [Footnote 12]

Assuming them to be receivers, their function is not that of an officer charged with winding up the affairs of the debtor, such as would cause a conflict with the bankruptcy law. [Footnote 13] Moreover, we find nothing in the certificate to the effect that the commissioners had not qualified more than four months prior to the filing of the petition in the bankruptcy court.

The appellees rely upon In re Watts, 190 U. S. 1. But that case does not support their contentions.

It is sufficient

Page 283 U. S. 331

to say that there, a state court made an order appointing a general receiver for a corporation. He proceeded to inventory and appraise the assets of the debtor, asked for orders requiring the creditors to prove their claims, and was proceeding to a complete winding up. Within a month and a half after the appointment, a petition in bankruptcy was filed. This Court said:

"We do not understand it to be contended that the passage of the bankruptcy act, in itself, suspended the statute of Indiana in relation to the appointment of receivers, but only that, when the proceedings for such appointment took the form, as they did here, of winding up the affairs of the insolvent corporation, the proceedings in bankruptcy displaced those in the state court and terminated the jurisdiction of the latter."

This was merely a statement of the well settled principle that a general winding up receivership is tantamount to an insolvency proceeding which will be superseded by bankruptcy, and, a fortiori, if, as in that case, the petition is filed within four months of the appointment of the receiver. The language quoted from that case by appellees respecting the paramount and exclusive jurisdiction of the court of bankruptcy must be read in connection with the facts on which it was predicated.

Most of the cases cited by the appellees to the effect that the initiation of bankruptcy proceedings confers on the district court jurisdiction to enjoin pending suits in state courts deal with the situation where a lien was acquired within four months of the filing of the petition, or where, after the filing of the petition, an action was begun to enforce a lien valid in bankruptcy. As heretofore noted, there are a few cases which have held that the bankruptcy court may enjoin proceedings, brought prior to the filing of the petition, to enforce valid liens which are more than four months old at the date of bankruptcy; [Footnote 14] but

Page 283 U. S. 332

these cases are contrary to the decisions of this Court and to the great weight of federal authority.

The question is answered, "No."

[Footnote 1]

Isaacs v. Hobbs Tie & Timber Co., supra; In re Pittelikow, 92 F. 901; In re Ball, 118 F. 672; In re Jersey Island Packing Co., 138 F. 625; In re Zehner, 193 F. 787; In re Hasie, 206 F. 789; George B. Matthews & Sons v. Webre Co., 213 F. 396, aff'd sub. nom. Pugh v. Loisel, 219 F. 417, cert. denied, 238 U.S. 631; McLoughlin v. Knop, 214 F. 260; Cohen v. Nixon & Wright, 236 F. 407; In re Larkin, 252 F. 885; In re North Star Ice & Coal Co., 252 F. 301; In re U.S. Chrysotile Asbestos Co., 253 F. 294; In re Oswegatchie Products Corp., 279 F. 547; Brown Shoe Co. v. Wynne, 281 F. 807; First Trust Co. v. Baylor, 1 F.2d 24; In re Dyer, 8 F.2d 376; Allebach v. Thomas, 16 F.2d 853; In re Holstein Harvey, Inc., 26 F.2d 798.

[Footnote 2]

In re L'Hommedieu, 146 F. 708; In re Arden, 188 F. 475; In re Schow, 213 F. 514.

[Footnote 3]

Clarke v. Larremore, 188 U. S. 486; In re Albright, 18 F.2d 591; Remington, Bankruptcy (3d ed.) § 1905.

[Footnote 4]

U.S.C. Tit. 11, § 107(f).

[Footnote 5]

In re Wood, 95 F. 946; In re L'Hommedieu, 146 F. 708; In re Koslowski, 153 F. 823; In re Torchia, 185 F. 576; In re Randolph, 187 F. 186; In re Zeis, 245 F. 737; In re Fraser, 261 F. 558.

[Footnote 6]

White v. Thompson, 119 F. 868; In re Koslowski, 153 F. 823; In re Pilcher & Son, 228 F. 13; In re Brinn, 262 F. 527; In re Maddox, 280 F. 227; In re Thompson, 288 F. 385; In re Berlowe, 7 F.2d 898; Wilkinson v. Goree, 18 F.2d 455; In re Van Blokland, 20 F.2d 1016; In re Conservative Mtg. & Guaranty Co., 24 F.2d 38; Whitney v. Barrett, 28 F.2d 760. Compare Blair v. Brailey, 221 F. 1; Brown Shoe Co. v. Wynne, 281 F. 807. See also Hillyer v. LeRoy, 179 N.Y. 369, 72 N.E. 237. Contra: In re Baughman, 138 F. 742. It is also well settled that, where an attachment is levied more than four months prior to bankruptcy, the prosecution of the claim to judgment and sale within the four months will not be enjoined or the sale set aside. In re Blair, 108 F. 529; In re Beaver Coal Co., 110 F. 630; In re Snell, 125 F. 154; In re Kane, 152 F. 587; In re Crafts-Riordon Shoe Co., 185 F. 931; In re Shinn, 185 F. 990; Yumet & Co. v. Delgado, 243 F. 519; Griffin v. Lenhart, 266 F. 671; In re Norris, 283 F. 860; In re Houtman, 287 F. 251; In re Thompson, 288 F. 385; Gatell v. Millian, 2 F.2d 365. Contra: In re U.S. Graphite Co., 161 F. 583. On similar grounds, the bankruptcy courts refuse to enjoin the prosecution of foreclosure proceedings under a mortgage, the lien of which is preserved in bankruptcy, if initiated prior to the date of the petition. Eyster v. Gaff, 91 U. S. 521; In re Gerdes, 102 F. 318; Carling v. Seymour Lumber Co., 113 F. 483; In re McKane, 152 F. 733; Sample v. Beasley, 158 F. 607; In re Pennell, 159 F. 500; In re Rohrer, 177 F. 381; In re Wagner's Estate, 206 F. 364; In re Schmidt, 224 F. 814; American Trust & Sav. Bank v. Ruppe, 237 F. 581; Duncan v. Girand, 276 F. 554; Louisville Realty Co. v. Johnson, 290 F. 176; In re Iroquois Utilities, Inc., 297 F. 397; Ft. Dearborn Trust & Sav. Bank v. Smalley, 298 F. 45; In re Smith, 3 F.2d 40; In re Gillette Realty Co., 15 F.2d 193; In re Hurlock, 23 F.2d 500; In re Simpson, 31 F.2d 317; Bushong v. Theard, 37 F.2d 690, cert. denied, 281 U.S. 763; In re Marts, 38 F.2d 283. Contra: In re Dana, 167 F. 529; In re Kaplan, 144 F. 159; First Savings Bank v. Butler, 282 F. 866.

[Footnote 7]

Section 11(b), U.S.C. Tit. 11, § 29; In re Porter, 109 F. 111; In re New England Breeders' Club, 175 F. 501; In re Kearney Bros., 184 F. 190.

[Footnote 8]

Code 1849, c. 186, § 6; Code 1860, c. 186, § 6; Code 1868, c. 139, § 5; 1882, c. 126, § 5; Code 1923, c. 139, § 5; Code 1931, § 38-3-6; In re McGraw, 254 F. 442. And execution is not needed to make the judgment such a lien. Maxwell v. Leeson, 50 W.Va. 361, 40 S.E. 420.

[Footnote 9]

"The lien of a judgment may be enforced in a court of equity after an execution or fieri facias thereon has been duly returned to the office of the court or to the justice from which it issued showing by the return thereon that no property could be found from which such execution could be made: Provided, That such lien may be enforced in equity without such return when an execution or fieri facias has not issued within two years from the date of the judgment."

Code 1849 c. 186, § 9; Code 1860, c. 186, § 9; Code 1868, c. 139, § 8; 1872, c. 30; 1882, c. 126, § 7; 1891, c. 95, § 7; Code 1923, c. 139, § 7; Code 1931, § 38-3-9.

[Footnote 10]

Price v. Thrash, 30 Grat. 515. (The statutory provision of West Virginia is taken from that of Virginia: Code 1849, p. 709, c. 186, § 9.)

[Footnote 11]

The bill in Metcalf v. Barker was a true creditors' bill, seeking to make available to a judgment creditor assets which could not be reached by an execution at law. Jones v. Green, 1 Wall. 330; Dunphy v. Kleinschmidt, 11 Wall. 610, 78 U. S. 614; Taylor v. Bowker, 111 U. S. 110, 111 U. S. 116; National Tube Works Co. v. Ballou, 146 U. S. 517. The bill in this case assumes the existence of the lien on the property and is a mere measure to enforce it.

[Footnote 12]

Code 1860, c. 178; Acts 1882, c. 142; 1899, c. 49; 1903, c. 15; 1915, c. 76.Code 1923, c. 132; Code 1931, § 55-12-1. See In re McGraw, supra.

[Footnote 13]

See In re Smith, 92 F. 135; In re Lengert Wagon Co., 110 F. 927; In re Storck Lumber Co., 114 F. 360; In re F. A. Hall Co., 121 F. 992; In re Salmon & Salmon, 143 F. 395; In re Weedman Stave Co., 199 F. 948.

[Footnote 14]

See Note 6 supra.