Opinion
Docket No. 17777.
Decided March 24, 1975.
Appeal from Genesee, Thomas C. Yeotis, J. Submitted Division 3 January 6, 1975, at Grand Rapids. (Docket No. 17777.) Decided March 24, 1975.
Complaint by Gould Plumbing and Heating, Inc., against Capitol Indemnity Corporation to recover on a surety bond issued by defendant to assure the obligations of a general contractor. Accelerated judgment for defendant. Plaintiff appeals. Reversed and remanded.
John J. Hermann, for plaintiff.
Anthony J. Mansour, P.C., for defendant.
Before: V.J. BRENNAN, P.J., J.H. GILLIS and D.E. HOLBROOK, JR., JJ.
Plaintiff appeals as of right the trial court's granting of defendant's motion for accelerated judgment. Plaintiff had brought suit to recover on a payment bond issued by defendant to assure the obligations of Britt Quality Homes, Inc., hereinafter referred to as Britt, a general contractor. Plaintiff is a subcontractor of Britt for the installation of plumbing on an apartment project, Rivertown West.
Britt, as principal, and defendant, as surety, executed payment and performance bonds, each for $167,000, to Rivertown West, a Michigan co-partnership, owners of the project. Plaintiff performed its obligations to Britt but has not been fully paid.
Britt became financially insolvent and filed bankruptcy proceedings in the United States District Court. Apparently recognizing its liability on the bonds, defendant deposited $167,000 with the trustee in bankruptcy in fulfillment of its obligations. While this amount constituted but one half of its total contractual liability on the bonds, presumably it was intended to be in full satisfaction of all potential claims. It was contemplated that the trustee would disburse these funds to the rightful recipients.
An order entered pursuant to a recommendation of the creditors' committee provided that any further legal actions against defendant herein, based on Britt's default, would be defended by the receiver and that any other recoveries against the defendant would give defendant the right to be subrogated to those claimants' rights in the bankruptcy proceedings. Under this order, it was also agreed that $51,302 of these funds would be paid to Consolidated Mortgage Company for interest on the mortgage of the project property; the mortgage guarantee was disbursed according to a provision of the performance bond. Thus, (1) only $115,698 remained to be distributed to creditors having claims exceeding this amount; (2) the balance did not represent assets exclusively for the benefit of materialmen and suppliers despite their legitimate contractual rights to the $167,000 on the payment bond; and, (3) the administration costs would further diminish this fund before the claimants would receive any of the proceeds.
As the payment bond was executed for the benefit of materialmen and suppliers, plaintiff sought recovery from the defendant in circuit court, as a beneficiary of and in accordance with the terms of the bond instrument. Defendant moved for accelerated judgment under GCR 1963, 116.1(5), alleging there was payment and release in the Federal bankruptcy action and that any disputes should be resolved in the bankruptcy court.
The trial judge granted defendant's motion on the grounds that: (1) the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction and (2) another action was pending in Federal court involving the same parties and cause of action. GCR 116.1(2), 116.1(4).
It is not contested that plaintiff is a proper claimant under the payment bond, having supplied and installed plumbing equipment at Rivertown West. Nor is there a denial that there is a balance due plaintiff.
11 U.S.C. § 34 provides the following:
"The liability of a person who is a co-debtor with, or guarantor or in any manner a surety for, a bankrupt shall not be altered by the discharge of such bankrupt."
Thus, the fact that Britt can no longer fulfill its contractual obligations and will receive a discharge in bankruptcy does not terminate defendant's liability which arises from a separate and distinct contractual agreement. In re General Steel Tank Company, Inc, 478 F.2d 294 (CA 4, 1973); United States v George A Fuller Co, 250 F. Supp. 649, 656-658 (D Mont, 1966). It is well settled that a party who is deemed the beneficiary of a bond or surety agreement has a cause of action in the courts of general jurisdiction in Michigan. Brown Brown Coal Co v Antezak, 164 Mich. 110; 128 N.W. 774; 130 N.W. 305 (1910); People, for the use of Westover-Kamm Co v Valley Mantel Tile Co, 200 Mich. 554; 166 N.W. 839 (1918), Buckeye Commercial Savings Bank v Protogere, 250 Mich. 652; 231 N.W. 65 (1930) (based on Ohio law). Hence, the trial court erred in determining that there was no subject matter jurisdiction.
The second basis for the lower court ruling was the existence of another action between the same parties founded on the same claim. This assessment was improper as the Federal court bankruptcy matter involved the claims of Britt's creditors and their settlement and discharge in relation to the bankrupt. The surety's obligations need not be evaluated or resolved to properly, competently, and completely dispose of the bankrupt's petition and the creditors' claims. In re Magnus Harmonica Corp, 233 F.2d 803 (CA 3, 1956); In re Magnus Harmonica Corp, 237 F.2d 867 (CA 3, 1956). The proceeds of the bond are not an asset of the bankrupt's estate. Phillips v Fidelity and Deposit Co of Maryland, 338 F.2d 55 (CA 5, 1964). Further, it is dubious whether the surety could make itself a party in the bankruptcy action simply by depositing funds with the trustee.
The defendant could not terminate its liability on the contractual obligation merely by obtaining a release through a bankruptcy court order. The bankruptcy court's actions may only be triggered by the filing of a petition and the bankruptcy court may only adjudicate the liabilities of the debtor. If this were not so, the surety could be released from legitimate claims of parties who did not participate in the bankruptcy court proceedings. In re Diversey Bldg Corp, 86 F.2d 456 (CA 7, 1936), cert den, 300 U.S. 662; 57 S Ct 492; 81 L Ed 870 (1937). The creditors in the bankruptcy action are asserting claims for the liabilities of the bankrupt while the action presently being litigated is predicated on funds guaranteed by a surety agreement to be fulfilled by the defendant bonding company and not the bankrupt. Consequently, this other pending action did not involve the same claims by the same parties.
Lastly, the language of the bankruptcy court order indicated the nonexclusivity of the court's exercise of jurisdiction over the surety's funds. A provision of the order contemplated the possibility of other lawsuits based on the payment and performance bonds; it specifically provided for the defendant's legal representation in any such matters by the receiver and gave the defendant the right of subrogation in the bankruptcy case in the event of any recoveries.
The accelerated judgment should not have been granted.
Reversed and remanded. Costs to appellant.