Hawk Eye Woolen Mills v. Conklin , 26 Iowa 422 ( 1868 )

Wright, J.

Partnership: lien of partnership creditors. — In argument appellee’s counsel expressly state that it is not claimed that plaintiff retained a specific lien for the purchase money on the e-oods sold , ^ ° on credit to virgin & Bro. Nor is it claimed that appellant (Conklin) agreed in terms to pay plaintiff’s demand. It is insisted, however, that it must have been understood that the outstanding liabilities were to be paid .out of the goods'in Virgin’s hands or out of the $1,500 .which C. was to put into the concern • that defendant’s non-compliance with his agreement by failing to furnish .said1 $1,500, damaged plaintiff to the amount of their claim; that plaintiff has a right to be subrogated to the ■rights of J. M. Virgin,— that is, to compel defendant to contribute from his own means said sum, or so much as is necessary to pay this debt; that in equity the partnership property, of Virgin & Byo., either in their hands, or in the hands of V. & C., was subject to the payment of firm debts, and this in preference to the payment of individual debts; that Conklin is chargeable with all the loss occasioned by the forced sale of the goods; that plaintiff) upon the principle of subrogation, has the equitable right to treat him .as the debtor of Virgin, and thereby compel him' to pay this debt, and leave the partners to settle their ■private affairs at such time as may suit their convenience.

On the part of-the defendant, on the other hand, the argument is that the defendant did not, by entering the new firm, become liable to pay tbe debts of tbe old one; that as plaintiff took no mortgage or other lien to secure this debt, nothing remained but a personal claim against V. & Bro.; that there was no lien in plaintiff’s favor upon the partnership property; that its preference as a creditor could only be worked out through the partners; .that if the partners elect to, and do, make an absolute sale (as in this case, first, to J. M. Yirgin, and subsequently by him to appellant), they thereby cut off all lien of partnership creditors; that if J. M. Yirgin would have a valid claim against appellant, the extent thereof could only be ascertained after settlement of partnership accounts, and the payment of the debts; and that the circumstances of this case, and the condition of the record, illustrate the necessity of enforcing these rules and the danger of recognizing the doctrine contended for by plaintiff.

Thus, in a condensed form, we have the several propositions advanced by counsel. It will be observed that there is no suggestion that the sale by the retiring member of the firm of Yirgin & Brother, was in bad faith. Nor is the honesty of the transaction between appellant and J. M. Yirgin, in the least assailed. There is nothing to show that the goods- were sacrificed, or sold for less than their full value under the mortgage.. Nor is it established that the defendant owes the firm or that in final settlement he is liable to pay his partner or the firm creditors one dollar. -Even if-plaintiff could be subrogated to Yirgin’s rights, we do not know what these are. That the goods were sold by plaintiff to the old firm, or that the other firm goods were used to pay appellant’s debt would not, without more, compel him to pay this debt. Plaintiff had no lien. This is conceded. The partners are interested in having the property applied to the partnership debts, and this right they may assert in equity. And to this right the creditors, under a proper bill, -with proper parties, may be substituted. But this record presents no such case. All there is of plaintiff’s case is, that appellant bought an interest in that which was once firm property, this firm being plaintiff’s debtor; the money which he borrowed to pay for this interest was discharged from what was firm assets. Therefore, it is argued, plaintiff is to be subrogated to the rights of said firm, and to judgment for the amount of this claim, without any evidence that the firm had any claim which could be enforced, or proof of special injury to plaintiff. Indeed it would be a little difficult, as the record stands, to see how plaintiff can be injured. The $1,500 was used to pay firm debts and to obtain other property. If Virgin had borrowed it and used and paid it in the same way how could plaintiff complain ? In what is the case different because it was borrowed by appellant? Certainly, in no respect, unless he is a debtor. And this is just what is not shown. See Scudder v. Delashmutt, 7 Iowa, 39; Stout v. Fortner, id. 183, and authorities there cited; also Williamson v. Haycock, 11 id. 40; Sternburg v. Callanan, 14 id. 251; Hubbard v. Curtis, 8 id. 1.

Reversed.