Chamberlin v. Browning, 177 U.S. 605 (1900)

Chamberlin v. Browning

No. 261

Argued April 19, 1900
Decided May 14, 1900
177 U.S. 605

APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS

OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Syllabus

The substantial relief sought in this case against the attaching creditors and the matter in dispute was the defeat of distinct and separate claims of each attaching creditor, so far as it affected the real estate owned by Scott, and as no defendant was asserting a claim which aggregated the amount required to confer jurisdiction upon this Court, the case is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

John D. Scott executed in the District of Columbia, on April 24, 1886, a deed of voluntary assignment for the benefit of his creditors, embracing in a schedule of his assets, among other property, a life estate in certain land situated in Montgomery County, Maryland. Horatio Browning qualified as assignee under the deed of assignment.

Various steps were taken under the assignment, but prior as well as subsequent to the recording of the deed in Montgomery County, Maryland, certain creditors of Scott, all but one of whom resided in the District of Columbia, seized the real estate referred to under attachment process issued in Maryland. The attachment proceedings went to judgment, whereupon one of the judgment creditors filed a bill in the Maryland court to declare that the interest of Scott in said real estate was in fee simple, and not merely a life estate. In this latter suit, a decree was entered sustaining the claim of the creditors, and proceedings were then taken by the several creditors to enforce their judgment claims against said real estate.

The appellants, as creditors of Scott, thereupon filed their bill in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia against Scott, Browning, the assignee, and the various creditors who had instituted the attachment proceedings in Maryland. In substance, the bill set out the various facts hereinbefore recited, charged that the attaching creditors had actual and constructive notice of the deed of assignment, and had participated in the proceedings thereunder, and were without lawful right to enforce their attachment claims against the real estate referred to, and thus to secure a preference over the other creditors who had elected to take the benefit of the deed of assignment. The sums sought to be recovered by each of the attaching creditors in the proceedings in Maryland were enumerated in the bill, and in no instance did the claim or claims of any of said creditors aggregate more than $3,500. Various allegations were also contained in the bill with respect to mismanagement by Browning in the execution of his trust as assignee. Part of the specific relief prayed in the bill was the removal of Browning as assignee, a stating of his accounts, discovery by Scott of further assets, and the execution by him of a deed in fee simple of the Maryland property. As to the attaching creditors, the following relief was prayed:

Six. That the attaching creditors be restrained pending this action from in any manner proceeding to enforce their said attachments on judgments of condemnation against said Maryland land and from doing any act or thing to hinder, delay, or interfere with the control or management of the estate abroad for the equal benefit of all said Scott’s creditors, and from in any way seeking to secure to themselves any greater benefit or interest out of said estate and effects than shall represent their "pro rata" share under said assignment, and that, on final hearing such injunction be made perpetual.

Seven. Or, if this cannot be done, that the attaching creditors be directed to bring into court any moneys realized from said land, and that the same be treated as assets passing by said deed of assignment, and distributed among the creditors as therein directed.

Each of the defendants who are appellees in this Court demurred to the bill. From an order overruling the demurrers, an appeal was allowed by the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. That court reversed the order made by the lower court and remanded the cause with directions to sustain the demurrers and dismiss the bill as to the appellees Keane, Middleton, the Central National Bank of Washington, Edward O. Whitford, and the partnership of Browning and Middleton, and for further proceedings not inconsistent with the opinion of the court. Thereafter, the Supreme Court of the District, upon consideration of the mandate of the court of appeals, entered a decree sustaining the demurrers and dismissing the bill of complaint as to the defendants named in the mandate of the court of appeals. From this decree, the case was again taken to the Court of Appeals, and that court affirmed said decree. This appeal was then taken.