Manufacturers Trust Company v. Becker/Dissent Burton

by Harold Hitz Burton

United States Supreme Court

338 U.S. 304

Manufacturers Trust Company  v.  Becker

 Argued: Oct. 20, 1949. --- Decided: Nov 21, 1949

Mr. Justice BURTON, with whom Mr. Justice BLACK joins, dissenting.

While corporate directors are not classed as express trustees, their obligations to their respective corporations are fiduciary in character. The more precarious the condition of the corporation, the more it needs the undivided loyalty of its directors. Conflicts of interest must be resolved in its favor. An example of the need for doing so arises whenever, in the face of a prospect of the corporation's liquidation, some of its directors invest in its notes at a substantial discount. An inherent conflict of interests is thereby created. It may be necessary for them to choose between a corporate policy of reorganization which might be best for the corporation and one of liquidation which might yield more certain profits to them as noteholding directors. The fiduciary obligation of such directors to their corporation might thus conflict with their personal interests as noteholders. Their access to confidential corporate information emphasizes the good faith expected of them. The solution lies in making them accountable to their corporation for their profits from such an investment, much as a trustee must account to his beneficiaries for his profits from dealings in the subject matter of his trust. This result would spring wholly from the fiduciary nature of the obligations of directors to their corporation. It would need no proof of a breach of trust or of the actual overreaching of any one. ^[1]

As long as a corporation enjoys the healthy status of a going concern, its directors generally may invest freely in its securities without accountability for their resulting profits. Their directorships should make them accountable for such profits when their personal interests as purchasers of securities may conflict with their obligations as directors. ^[2] A mere excess of a corporation's liabilities over its assets may not subject its directors to this accountability. Nevertheless, any evidence of the financial instability of their corporation obligates the directors to overcome whatever presumption of conflict of interests between their own and those of the corporation or of its creditors that such evidence presents.

In the instant case there should be a finding whether or not, at the time of the purchases of the debentures in question, there was a sufficient prospect of liquidation to bring the interests of directors as debenture purchasers into conflict with the interests of their corporation. If such a conflict is established, it then will be necessary to determine the extent, if any, to which the relatives and associates of such directors are to be identified with them.

I agree with the reasoning of the dissent below. 173 F.2d 944, 951. Accordingly, I would reverse the judgment and remand the cause for further findings in accordance with this opinion.

Notes

1. Expression has been given to such a principle in many cases where there have also occurred breaches of trust of a nature so serious as not to require a final reliance upon the principle. See, e.g., In re The Van Sweringen Co., 6 Cir., 119 F.2d 231; In re Norcor Mfg. Co., 7 Cir., 109 F.2d 407; In re Philadelphia & Western R. Co., D.C.E.D.Pa., 64 F.Supp. 738; In re Jersey Materials Co., D.C.N.J., 50 F.Supp. 428; In re Los Angeles Lumber Products Co., D.C.S.D.Cal., 46 F.Supp. 77; In re McCrory Stores Corp., D.C.S.D.N.Y., 12 F.Supp. 267, 269. See also, 3 Fletcher, Cyclopedia of Corporations § 869.1 (1947); 2 Remington on Bankruptcy § 975.01 (Supp.1947).
2. Directors ordinarily may buy and sell the stock of their corporation, without accountability, except under special circumstances of unfairness in the particular transaction. 3 Fletcher, Cyclopedia of Corporations §§ 1171, 1174 (1947); Ballantine on Corporations § 80 (Rev. ed. 1946). Their purchase of stock increases their stake in the ultimate interests of the corporation they serve.