The plaintiff alleges that he was induced to buy certain shares of stock of the defendant Deseret Mortuary Company through false and fraudulent representations made to him by defendants and also by reason of threats made by his wife to the effect that she would divorce him unless he purchased said stock. He alleges that defendants, by false and fraudulent representations, and in order to enlist her in their scheme to sell him stock, so incited and inflamed her against him that she threatened him with divorce unless he purchased the stock. Upon discovering that the representations were false and fraudulent and that his wife, in threatening him with a divorce, was acting under the urgence and insistence of the defendants by reason of their false and fraudulent representations to her, plaintiff offered to return said stock and demanded return of the $30,000 paid therefor, with interest. He then alleges that defendants have failed to return said money except the sum of $3,430. He prays judgment for the sum of $30,000 with interest, less the said sum of $3,430. Defendants answered individually and put in issue the principal allegations of the complaint and allege affirmatively that the stock sold to plaintiff was stock owned personally by defendant Charles S. Merrill, which had been issued to him by Merrill Mortuaries, Inc.; that by reason of certain acts of plaintiff in respect to said stock alleged to have been performed after he claims he discovered the fraud, plaintiff waived any right to claim rescission and became estopped to claim any relief against defendants. The trial court entered judgment in favor of plaintiff rescinding and annulling the purchase of said stock and awarding him judgment for the principal and interest less the sum so paid. The *Page 271 court further ordered that the stock tendered in court by plaintiff be delivered by the clerk of the court to defendants upon the payment of said judgment.
I deem it unnecessary to make a more detailed statement of the pleadings as this would involve needless repetition, since all of the essentials thereof are covered in the court's findings of fact and it is necessary to review said findings in order to pass upon most of the assignments of error relied upon by defendants.
There is no dispute as to the following findings made by the trial court: The Deseret Mortuary Company is a Utah corporation, incorporated in 1925 and continuing as such during all of the times covered by the complaint with its principal office in Salt Lake City; that on September 13, 1932, a receiver was appointed for said company and defendant Lewis B. Merrill is the present receiver; that defendant Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., was incorporated under the laws of Utah on September 9, 1929, and continued as such until September 13, 1932, when defendant First Security Trust Corporation was appointed receiver for said company. The business of said corporations is the burial of the dead and furnishing services and materials incidental thereto, the Deseret Mortuary conducting such business in Utah and the Merrill Mortuaries in the states of Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Defendant Charles S. Merrill has been the president and general manager of both companies continuously since their incorporation to the time when the receivers were appointed for them. It is also undisputed, and the court found, that plaintiff was born in Czecho-Slovakia and his wife in Germany; that they came to the United States about 1907 and shortly thereafter moved to Salt Lake City, where they have since resided; that prior to 1926 plaintiff gathered waste animal matter and reduced oil, fats and other animal by-products and sold the same, and bought and sold animal hides; that from his business plaintiff had saved and accumulated something over $30,000. *Page 272
In attacking the findings of fact made by the trial court, each defendant (except Lewis B. Merrill, individually, and against whom no judgment was rendered and who is not concerned in this appeal except as receiver for the Deseret Mortuary) assigns as error that as to each such defendant the evidence is insufficient to sustain each such finding and that there is no evidence that such finding is true. The findings thus attacked, paragraphing them under the same numbers as used by the trial court, may be stated as follows:
(4) That since the incorporation of said Deseret Mortuary Company and Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., and particularly during the times complained of by plaintiff (being all prior to the receiverships), defendants Charles S. Merrill and Clarence Merrill were the managing officers, and, together with Thomas Merrill, were agents of said corporations and that said individual defendants absolutely controlled and dominated the business, property, and affairs of both said corporations.
(5) That plaintiff and his wife have a very limited knowledge or understanding of the English language, written or spoken, and speak and understand it only disconnectedly and with great difficulty; that at all times covered by the complaint plaintiff and his wife were devout believers in the L.D.S. Church and had great confidence in said church and its leaders and in enterprises in which said church and its officers might be interested, all of which was well known to defendants. That on June 1, 1929, and until September 14, 1929, when it was withdrawn, plaintiff had $30,000 on deposit with Zion's Savings Bank Trust Company. That plaintiff and his wife have had practically no business experience except such as was gained in their animal by-products business.
(6) On or about June 1, 1929, defendants, having become aware that plaintiff had said money, began wickedly and corruptly to conspire and scheme with each other, including the Merrill Mortuaries after its incorporation, to get possession of said money by inducing and compelling plaintiff *Page 273 to purchase from defendants shares of the capital stock of the Deseret Mortuary, through false and fraudulent representations and promises and through demands and threats of plaintiff's wife induced by inciting and inflaming her mind against plaintiff.
(7) That from June 1, 1929, to September 14, 1929, in furtherance of said scheme and conspiracy, Charles S. Merrill, Clarence Merrill, and Thomas Merrill, acting for themselves and as the managing officers and agents of said corporations, repeatedly offered to sell plaintiff 20,000 shares of common stock of the Deseret Mortuary Company at $1.50 per share, or a total of $30,000, and to induce plaintiff to buy they falsely and fraudulently stated and represented to plaintiff, knowing the same to be false and fraudulent, that plaintiff could and would not lose anything by buying the stock; that the said church and many of its high officials and leaders were financially interested in the Deseret Mortuary and would not allow any of its members who were stockholders to lose anything by such investment; that within two years plaintiff would receive more than $100,000 in profits and that plaintiff would immediately be made a director and said corporation would at once furnish continuous employment to the members of plaintiff's family.
That from about July 1, 1929, until September 14, 1929, still in furtherance of said scheme and conspiracy, and to secure the help of plaintiff's wife in inducing and compelling plaintiff to buy said stock, the defendants wickedly, corruptly, and fraudulently stated and represented to her, knowing the same to be false, wicked, and corrupt, that she had no right or interest in the money in the bank and that she could force plaintiff to purchase said stock if she became angry with him; that if plaintiff did not comply with her request and buy said stock such refusal would give her sufficient grounds for a divorce, and defendants promised her if she would induce and compel plaintiff to buy said stock they would issue to her half of the stock and she would have half the stock and be entitled to the income derived therefrom *Page 274 and defendants would see that she got half the stock in her own name and she would become wealthy from the profits. That defendants also repeated to her the same false and fraudulent representations relative to the church and its leaders being interested in the company that they made to plaintiff.
That plaintiff and his wife had theretofore been happy and contented together throughout their married life, but plaintiff's wife, relying on said representations and because thereof, became so incited and inflamed in her mind against plaintiff that she demanded that he buy said stock and frequently thereafter, until the purchase of said stock, threatened him with divorce if he refused. That on September 14, 1929, in furtherance of said scheme and conspiracy, defendants also stated and represented to plaintiff that his refusal to buy said stock would give his wife sufficient grounds for her to get a divorce. That all of said statements and representations were false, fraudulent, and untrue and known so to be by defendants and were made for the express purpose of compelling plaintiff to buy said stock and of depriving plaintiff of his $30,000 and of converting the same to their own use.
(8) That on September 14, 1929, the plaintiff, believing said representations and promises and relying thereon, and believing and relying upon the representation that his refusal to buy would give his wife grounds for divorce and believing that she would obtain a divorce and he would lose his wife and family, and not knowing that she had been inflamed and incited in her mind by defendants' false and fraudulent representations or that she was acting at the instance and under the direction of defendants, paid defendants said sum of $30,000 as the purchase price of said shares of stock and would not have done so except for the said representations and the threats of his wife.
(9) That defendants did not deliver 20,000 shares of Deseret Mortuary stock to plaintiff, but after being paid said sum, handed plaintiff a certificate for 3,000 shares of *Page 275 common stock of the par value of 10 cents a share and a certificate for 1,200 shares of preferred stock of the par value of $15 a share, bearing dividends at the rate of $1.95 a share per year, all being capital stock of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc. That these certificates were made in the names of plaintiff and his wife under an agreement prepared by defendants without plaintiff's consent and which plaintiff was coerced to sign by defendants, no sale having been made voluntarily by plaintiff to his wife. That when these certificates were handed to plaintiff was the first time plaintiff had heard or been advised of the existence of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., or had seen said certificates. That at said time defendants stated and represented that said corporations were one and the same and that it made no difference to plaintiff, which representations plaintiff believed and relied upon as being true. That at no time did any of said defendants offer to sell plaintiff any Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., stock for $30,000 or any other sum, nor did plaintiff accept any such offer.
That in 1930, plaintiff, not knowing of the facts relating to said false and fraudulent representations and said threats, was induced by defendants to surrender said certificate for 1,200 shares of preferred stock to defendants and received in lieu thereof 200 shares of series C preferred stock of the same company of the par value of $100 per share. That in the spring of 1932, plaintiff, still being unaware of the true facts, sold to defendants four shares of said series C stock and the Deseret Mortuary paid him $100 per share; that in August, 1932, plaintiff, after having become aware of the true facts, employed Jacob Aures as his agent and attorney to collect from defendants the money paid to them and for such purpose delivered said certificates to said Aures with no intent to sell Aures any of said stock. That said Aures, without the knowledge and consent of plaintiff, delivered said certificates to Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., and had issued to him a certificate for 3,000 shares of common and 196 shares of series C preferred stock of said company. Thereafter, upon demand, Aures delivered and surrendered said *Page 276 certificates to plaintiff, which certificates plaintiff tendered to the court to abide its decision.
(10) That it was not until July 1, 1932, that plaintiff discovered or knew that neither said church nor its officers or leaders were financially interested in said corporations, and that the other representations were false and fraudulent, and that his wife's demand upon and threats against him had been induced by the advice and urgent demands of the defendants. That prior to said date plaintiff did not know and was not informed that his wife could not obtain a divorce from him if he refused to buy said stock. That defendants paid plaintiff a total sum of $3,044 as and for interest upon said sum of $30,000, but plaintiff did not know prior to July 1, 1932, that defendant corporations had not earned sufficient to pay the stated dividends provided for the preferred stock and he did not know of the financial conditions of said corporations. That defendants, on numerous occasions, and when said payments were made, represented to plaintiff that said corporations were making rapid progress and his money had doubled in value and for him not to concern himself but to leave to defendants the conduct of the business. That as a result of such representations plaintiff continued to rely on defendants and had confidence in their integrity in all matters prior to July 1, 1932, and continued to believe and rely upon the representation that said corporations were one and the same until just prior to the commencement of this action.
That on or about July 1, 1932, promptly upon discovery of the falsity of the representations made to him and of the part played by his wife in compelling him to buy the stock, plaintiff rescinded said purchase and demanded return of his money, less the amounts paid, and offered to return said stock certificates, but defendants have failed and refused to pay said money to him.
(11) That of said $30,000 paid by plaintiff a portion was retained by Charles S., Thomas and Clarence Merrill, and many thousands of dollars thereof were delivered to and *Page 277 used by said two corporations in their business, and the whole of said sum was taken and converted by defendants to their own uses.
That the businesses of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., and the Deseret Mortuary Company were conducted from joint general offices in Salt Lake City as one unit or organization of a general business enterprise or scheme; that plaintiff visited said general offices on several occasions in collecting his dividend payments; that the said shares of common and preferred stock handed to plaintiff stood upon the corporate records in the name of Chas. S. Merrill, but plaintiff did not know the stock was claimed by or belonged to said Charles S. Merrill. That said stock was so held by said Charles S. Merrill for the use and benefit of and used by all of the defendants in the furtherance of their said fraudulent sale and scheme and for the purpose of obtaining from plaintiff said $30,000 and converting the same to their own uses.
That in the sale of said stock to plaintiff the individual defendants were acting as the managing agents and officers and in behalf of defendant corporations as well as for themselves individually. That the allegations in defendants' answers that Charles S. Merrill was acting solely for his own personal benefit and not as an officer or agent of said corporations and that plaintiff was so informed are untrue. That the allegations of defendants' answers that plaintiff became dissatisfied immediately with the purchase of said stock and offered it for sale and requested said Merrill to sell it are untrue, but that plaintiff, not knowing of the fraud, in February, 1931 and April, 1932 offered to sell said stock to defendants. The allegations in defendants' answers that at a stockholders' meeting in February, 1932, the holders of preferred stock of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., were offered the right to exchange for Deseret Mortuary Company common stock, which offer was refused by plaintiff who was fully advised as to the nature of the stock and the financial condition of each company, are untrue in that plaintiff was not then advised and did not know the nature of each class of *Page 278 stock or the financial condition of the companies, and he did not know of the falsity of the representation that the said church and its officials and leaders were financially interested in said corporations.
That at no time after discovering the fraud practiced upon him did plaintiff deal with said stock as his own or otherwise use the same, the only use, subsequent to such discovery and rescission, being the employment of Aures to collect his money, for which purpose only the certificates were delivered to Aures.
(13) That on September 14, 1929, the common stock of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., was of no value and its preferred stock was of a value of about 20 per cent of its par value.
(14) That plaintiff was never a director and did not understand what was transacted at the stockholders' meetings attend by him.
(15) That plaintiff has not elected to retain said stock and deal with it as his own, and he has not elected not to rescind said sale, nor has he waived any right to claim a rescission, nor has he waived any claim against the defendants on account of said fraudulent representations, nor is he estopped to claim relief against defendants, nor has he been guilty of laches, but plaintiff promptly disaffirmed and rescinded said purchase of stock upon discovery by him of the facts constituting the fraud.
This being an equity case, we are bound to examine and pass upon the evidence to determine whether the findings made by the trial court are supported by the evidence. But such findings "will not on conflicting evidence be set aside, unless it manifestly appears that the trial court has misapplied the facts proved or made findings against the weight of the evidence."Hanson v. Mutual Finance Corporation, 84 Utah 579,37 P.2d 782, 785. See, also, Clark v. Clark, 74 Utah 290, 279 P. 502. Since the Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., made a motion for nonsuit at the close of plaintiff's evidence and relies upon the trial court's denial of said motion as *Page 279 error, we will first restrict ourselves to a statement of the evidence as it stood when plaintiff rested.
Plaintiff's testimony shows that he first met Charles S. Merrill about June 15, 1929. Charles came to plaintiff's home and stated he was president of the Deseret Mortuary Company and wanted to sell stock. He stated he would show plaintiff how to make lots of money. They went behind the hogpen, which plaintiff was then cleaning, and Charles stated he knew plaintiff belonged to the church of which he and his brothers were members. He offered to sell plaintiff 20,000 shares of Deseret Mortuary stock at $1.50 a share; that he would use plaintiff's money to build a mortuary for $25,000 and it would be worth $50,000 as soon as it was ready; that the business doubles the money every year and plaintiff would make $120,000 in two years. He stated further that plaintiff need not be afraid, he could not lose anything as the church was behind it and they had so many church officials, naming one in particular. Plaintiff answered that he did not want the stock but did want a job. Charles advised him to think it over and he would send his brothers to see plaintiff.
The next day plaintiff went to the company office to see about a job. Charles then urged him to buy the stock, saying, "I will make you a director and give your wife and girls a job." He repeated that the church was behind it and plaintiff would not lose. Plaintiff stated he did not want to spend his money, as sometimes he was sick and needed it. The next day Charles came to plaintiff's home again and repeated the same representations. A few days later Thomas and Clarence Merrill came to plaintiff's place. They repeated practically the same statements made by Charles relative to earnings and the church and its officials being financially interested in the company. These visits occurred once or twice a week until the latter part of August and the same representations and urgings were repeated. Plaintiff was told how much money they were making and they urged him to invest early before others and to invest his *Page 280 entire $30,000. On one occasion Thomas showed him a book containing a list of the church officials whom he said were connected with the Deseret Mortuary.
On the morning of September 13th following, Clarence and Thomas came to plaintiff's home and upon plaintiff's refusal to buy the stock they stated they would make him buy. They went away, but shortly thereafter plaintiff's wife came to plaintiff and told him she would get a divorce unless he came to the house and talked to these men. Clarence and Thomas were in the house. The latter advised plaintiff he had no right to have all the money, that half of it belonged to his wife. Plaintiff's wife demanded that he buy the stock or she would divorce him; the church was behind it, she said, and they could not lose but would make lots of money. That plaintiff, thinking the church was behind the company and not wanting his home broken up, finally agreed to buy. That from about July 20th plaintiff's wife kept urging him to buy and about once a week they would become involved in some kind of a fight over the matter and she would threaten him with divorce. On one of these occasions she cut his hand with a knife.
In the afternoon of September 13th, Thomas Merrill called and took plaintiff and his wife to the company office. There plaintiff was told by Charles that in order to get plaintiff's money their attorney, Mr. Brown, would go to the bank. Charles stated to Brown that he had sold plaintiff some Deseret Mortuary Company stock for $1.50, the same as they got it for. Brown went to the bank, but it was closed, and plaintiff was told to come back in the morning. That Mr. Strebel, the auditor, showed plaintiff a balance sheet of the Deseret Mortuary showing the company to be worth $160,000.
The following morning plaintiff and his wife resumed their quarreling over the stock. Plaintiff did not want to buy, but she threatened him definitely with a divorce and left him on the way to the company office. When plaintiff arrived at the office, Charles suggested they go to *Page 281 Brown's office. Mrs. Skola and her attorney, D.B. Richards, were there. There a paper was drawn by Brown and Richards, and plaintiff was given five minutes in which to sign it or his wife would get a divorce. Plaintiff had been told that his refusal to buy would furnish his wife with grounds for a divorce. They were all urging him to sign. Plaintiff, not knowing what to do, asked Brown for his advice and Brown advised him to sign, which he did. Thereupon the Merrills and Skolas all went to the bank. Brown had preceded them and when they got there a check for $30,000 was already made out to plaintiff and he indorsed it and gave it to Charles.
Plaintiff further testified that if he had not believed that the church was interested in the company and that his wife would and could get a divorce if he did not buy, he would not have bought the stock, as he could not spend the money on account of his sickness. On cross-examination he admitted having testified in a deposition that he did not want the stock even though the church was behind it and that his only reason for buying was because his wife would divorce him if he did not. But from his testimony as a whole it is clear that the fact that he believed the church was behind the company had a controlling influence in his decision to buy the stock.
Mrs. Skola testified that the same representations that were made to her husband, as to the church being behind the Deseret Mortuary Company and its officials being financially interested, were repeatedly made to her by Clarence and Thomas. They apparently showed her the same book with the names of church officials in it whom they claimed were connected with the company. It also contained pictures of some of them, one in particular being referred to. Her testimony also shows that these men advised her that half of Skola's money belonged to her, that he did not treat her right and the money should be in her name or he could throw her out. They impressed upon her the great profits that would come from buying the stock and *Page 282 that if she would help them they would help her get her share of the stock. After she had told them she had talked to plaintiff about buying the stock and that he did not want to spend his money, they then advised her she could get a divorce, get all his money and have a good time; that she would become wealthy and could go to Germany to gather her geneology and do temple work. That she finally advised her husband that if he did not buy the stock she would divorce him. This led to frequent quarrelings, both parties becoming so angry that their differences finally led to blows. Mrs. Skola wanted to buy because the church was behind the company, there were no crooks in the church and she wanted to deal with righteous men. She and her husband fought every day about it.
Plaintiff's daughter also testified that before the Merrills' advent her parents got along well together, but that thereafter they quarreled almost daily, her mother threatening her father with a divorce if he did not buy the stock. Every time the Merrills came around the Skolas would quarrel, and this continued until about the second week in September, when their quarreling ceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Skola testified that they were congenial prior to the stock deal.
Finally on September 13th, Mrs. Skola peremptorily demanded that plaintiff purchase the stock or she would divorce him. She further testified that plaintiff then agreed to buy, but in order to make sure the deal would go through and to protect herself so she would get half the stock she had her attorney Mr. Richards, present on September 14th when the stock deal was closed. She testified she saw her attorney the evening of the 13th and told him she wanted a divorce if her husband did not buy the stock. That she and her attorney insisted upon plaintiff signing the agreement at Brown's office assuring her a half interest in his bank account and in the income from the stock. That she was angry because her name had not been put on the stock certificates when they were presented at Brown's office and appeared to be in Skola's name only. That she had fought so hard to get her *Page 283 share, and the Merrills had promised her half and said they would see she got it, that she insisted, therefore, that they keep their promise to her and have her name placed before Skola's on the certificate, her attorney and Brown agreeing that she could get her half by adding her name to the certificate. That under these conditions plaintiff signed the agreement and his wife's name was inserted before his on the stock certificates.
R.H. Whitehead, a former employee of the Deseret Mortuary, testified that a few days before the sale, Clarence and Thomas had just returned from the Skola home; that they were laughing about the whole scheme, and in response to an inquiry by Charles as to what luck they had, they replied they had the "old lady" on their side. They referred to her several times as the "old girl." They said they had told her if they got "old man Skola" to buy, they would see that she got her share. This witness also testified that, in another conversation between the three Merrills, Charles said, "We are sunk if we do not get Hugh B. Brown to get that money from the bank." They said Mr. Spencer of the bank would not dare turn Brown down because of their church positions.
The foregoing briefly summarizes the plaintiff's evidence as to the representations and the coercion which induced him to buy the stock. It becomes necessary to review plaintiff's evidence as to the other elements in the case. The stock that was actually delivered to plaintiff on September 14th consisted of 3,000 shares of common and 1,200 shares of preferred stock of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., having a par value of 10 cents and $15 per share, respectively, or a total par value of $18,300. Plaintiff remonstrated against taking this stock as he had bought Deseret Mortuary Company stock, having never before heard of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc. Upon being assured by Charles that these two companies were one and the same and it made no difference whether he got stock of the one or the other, he accepted the stock so delivered to him. His wife also testified that Charles assured *Page 284 them the companies were the same. The Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., was incorporated September 9th, only a few days before this sale took place. It appears from the testimony of Mr. Whitehead that the idea of organizing the Merrill Mortuaries to take over the various companies controlled by the Merrills situated in Utah, Montana, and Oregon, including the Deseret Mortuary Company, was conceived in the middle of the summer of 1929. The plan began to take definite form a week or two before September 9th when Whitehead came to Salt Lake City and helped Merrill in the stock organization set-up. Whitehead was employed as a stock salesman in Utah immediately upon the organization and was to receive an overriding commission on stock sold in Utah of 2 per cent. At first they did not have a permit to sell stock, but they were instructed by Charles to explain they were selling his personal stock. They were furnished with a consolidated balance sheet of all the mortuaries showing their earnings, as a basis for selling Merrill Mortuaries stock. Charles frequently stated that the three companies, Deseret Mortuary, Merrill of Montana, and Gateway Mortuary, were just one big family. A prospectus was prepared for stock-selling purposes on Merrill Mortuaries letterheads, containing a statement that "The following is a partial list of mortuaries we have established which have paid for their working capital within the period of time shown," and then referred to Salt Lake City, Provo, Price, Butte, and Portland, showing their starting capital and their capital as of December 31, 1929. When plaintiff's money was received, Charles stated, "That is fine; that will save Portland," as the mortuary in Portland was badly in debt. The physical assets of the Montana and Portland mortuaries were transferred to Merrill Mortuaries, Inc. Whitehead was paid his 2 per cent. commission, or $600, of the Skola money by Charles right after the deal was closed. Over objection, Whitehead testified Merrill Mortuaries common stock had no real or market value and its preferred stock had no market value but had *Page 285 an intrinsic value of about 20 cents on the dollar. The stock that was sold was sold at par.
E.W. Bluemel, a former employee of Deseret Mortuary, and who had charge of the Salt Lake City branch of Merrill Mortuaries after its incorporation, testified that when the latter company was incorporated he traded his Deseret Mortuary stock for stock in that company at Charles' suggestion, as the latter company was taking over the Deseret. It was to be known as the Deseret in Utah as it was already so known, but outside of Utah it was to be known as Merrill Mortuaries. Shortly after plaintiff bought his stock, Charles told plaintiff his money was going to be used to build up the mortuaries. Merrill told Bluemel he was going to use the money to remodel some places and pay on bills in Utah and other mortuaries where needed. Bluemel asked how a sale could be made to Skola without a permit from the Securities Commission and he was told by Charles not to worry, that "I will do it under my own name. We can transfer it to the company."
It further appears from plaintiff's testimony that he sold four shares of preferred stock to Charles and the Merrill Mortuaries under a written agreement dated April 12, 1932, by which said defendants agreed to buy twelve shares at the rate of one a month for $100 each. The last sale and payment therefor was made the latter part of June, 1932, only after plaintiff had employed an attorney to get his money. Plaintiff's attorney at that time told plaintiff the church was not behind the company. In June, 1932, while plaintiff was having trouble getting his money, his wife told him of her part in the stock transaction. Charles failed to provide funds for the purchase of any more of plaintiff's stock and plaintiff some time about July 1, 1932, tendered the stock back to Charles and asked for his money back. Charles promised to pay it all back October 5, 1932. About July 1, 1932, plaintiff's wife consulted Mr. Aures whom she thought was a German lawyer. He promised to collect their money and *Page 286 plaintiff indorsed the stock to him. Aures gave plaintiff a note for the stock and definitely promised to have his money for him in a month. Not receiving any money from Aures, they consulted Mr. McKay in October, 1932, and through his efforts Aures delivered back the stock which had been issued in his name in the same number of shares as were delivered to him by plaintiff. In order to get the stock back, however, plaintiff had to pay Aures $200 for his attorney's fees. To obtain this money, plaintiff pledged two shares of the preferred stock. This was paid off and the stock redeemed after this action was commenced. Plaintiff told Clarence and Lewis Merrill he had sold and transferred the stock to Aures who had given his note for it, when they came to see him about transferring the stock to Aures.
It further appears from plaintiff's testimony that shortly after he bought the stock he began making demands upon Charles for dividends. Charles told him he would pay two and one-half months' interest in December, 1929, and plaintiff was paid $487 at that time. In June, 1930, Charles gave plaintiff a check for $1,170. In December, 1930, he gave plaintiff a Deseret Mortuary check for $887.50. In January, 1932, plaintiff received $495. As a condition to receiving these dividend payments, plaintiff executed an assignment to Merrill Mortuaries of the dividends for the periods in which the dividends would accumulate on the stock at par. When these assignments were made, Charles told plaintiff his money was all tied up in the two companies or mortuaries and unless he signed, Merrill could not pay him the money. Charles also assured plaintiff when the latter would come to request payment of interest, that the company was doing well and his money had doubled and that he need not worry about the business, as they would take care of it. Plaintiff did not know at any time the real financial condition of the company.
In October, 1930, after being repeatedly urged to do so by Lewis Merrill, plaintiff exchanged his 1,200 shares of *Page 287 preferred stock for 200 shares of preferred stock of the par value of $100 a share. Charles Merrill at that time agreed to buy from plaintiff 20 shares of preferred stock a year and plaintiff agreed to allow Merrill Mortuaries to take back the $2,000 bonus (the difference in the par value of the stocks exchanged) from dividends received by plaintiff in excess of $2,400 a year. No stock was purchased under this agreement.
Bluemel wrote out all four checks which were given in the purchase of the four shares, and they were all Deseret Mortuary checks. Bluemel also testified that a daily report of the funerals was sent in to the general office. Later the money was deposited and a duplicate deposit slip was sent in with the bills and the bills were paid by the general office. This did not work well, so later each mortuary paid its own bills. When a deposit was made, 10 per cent of the amount would accompany the daily report to the general office of the Merrill Mortuaries. Both companies had offices together and the same persons had charge of the affairs of each.
Jaren L. Jones, a University student, testified he was employed by the Deseret Mortuary for a week about September 14, 1929. On that date he bought $150 worth of stock in Merrill Mortuaries. It was being sold in units of six shares of preferred and fifteen shares of common for $150. Jones wondered whether the stock he bought was the stock he thought he was getting and he was told that the Deseret Mortuary was included in and was a part of Merrill Mortuary.
The written agreement made between Skola and his wife in Brown's office (Exhibit 3) recites that plaintiff had purchased from Charles S. Merrill certain stock of the Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., and after paying for the same had certain funds left in the bank and that the parties desired that each should have access to such funds. That, therefore, plaintiff agreed with his wife that he would have the bank account transferred to the joint account of himself and wife and *Page 288 would deposit in such account all moneys received from income on said stock and the stock would be placed in a safe deposit box to which each should have access. Mrs. Skola agreed not to raise any objection nor to interfere with the action of plaintiff in connection with the purchase of said stock.
The forgoing summarizes plaintiff's evidence as it stood when he rested. We shall now review the evidence adduced by defendants before passing upon the question of the motion of Merrill Mortuaries for a nonsuit, so that needless repetition may be avoided.
Frank R. Slater testified that he and his brother tried to sell Skola a burial certificate in May, 1929, but Skola wanted to invest in stock. In August, 1929, Charles Merrill stated he was enlarging the business and wanted to sell stock, so Slater went with him to plaintiff's home, having been informed that Skola had a large sum of money. Slater did not see Skola but talked with his wife, who told him her husband was stingy and mistreated her. He had not met her before and only talked with her ten or fifteen minutes. He told her he was with Deseret Mortuary Company and they were there to sell Deseret Mortuary stock.
Anton Strebel testified he was supervising auditor for the Deseret Mortuary from 1928 to 1931. He met Skola about the 10th of September, 1929, at the office when Charles, Clarence, and Thomas Merrill were present. He prepared a consolidated statement of the mortuaries for Merrill Mortuaries as of July 31, 1929, beginning this work about the middle of August. He spoke German and Clarence asked him to explain the statement to Mr. and Mrs. Skola, and they, not being able to understand English, wanted him to explain it. They asked the net worth of the company. Strebel explained the accounts receivable, cash in bank, buildings, and equipment and the liabilities. The net worth was about $250,000. These figures were based upon the book valuations of the Deseret Mortuary. The interested parties owned the entire *Page 289 stock of both. The issued shares of the Deseret Mortuary were 18,775. From the records he could state that Charles Merrill was not in Salt Lake City between June 1 and 17, 1929, nor was he in Salt Lake City from June 20th to the end of June. He was out of town most of July and August. Thomas Merrill was in Idaho from June 3 to August 28. Clarence Merrill was in Portland territory from December, 1928, to November, 1929, except for visits to Salt Lake City. He was here from June 5th to 17th. He came back about September 7th. Charles owned practically all of the Deseret Mortuary stock, except the 100 shares and qualifying shares held by others. This stock was all transferred to the Merrill Mortuaries.
Lewis B. Merrill testified he first met plaintiff in May, 1929, when plaintiff came to the company office; that he had a bank book and told Lewis he had $30,000 and wanted to invest in the company. Lewis thought he was crazy but took him to Charles' office where plaintiff was told there was no stock for sale, but if they branched out they would remember him. The next time Lewis saw plaintiff was when he got plaintiff to exchange his $15 preferred stock for the $100 preferred. Skola did not want to exchange, but when he was told that they would retire his stock he agreed as he wanted to stay with the company. Lewis next saw plaintiff when he and Clarence came to see him about transferring the stock to Aures. Plaintiff told them he had sold it and got what he wanted. Thomas was in Idaho with Lewis all of the summer of 1929, and did not go to Salt Lake City until just before September 1st.
Charles S. Merrill testified that on September 1, 1929, there were 17,800 shares of Deseret Mortuary Company stock outstanding. The stockholders were himself, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bluemel, Mr. Rasmussen and four undertakers. The company had a branch in Salt Lake City and at various places in Utah. Charles controlled the stock of the Merrill Mortuary of Oregon and the Gateway Mortuary of Butte. The issued stock of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., was paid for *Page 290 by the transfer to it of the issued Deseret Mortuary stock. Charles received the stock of Merrill Mortuaries at par. The book value of Deseret Mortuary stock, fixed by an audit, was $14 per share. Preferred and common and class A stock of Merrill Mortuaries was later issued for the assets of the Butte and Portland mortuaries.
Charles first met Skola in May, 1929, at his office, at the time and under the circumstances related by Lewis. Charles next met Skola about the middle of August when he and the Slaters went to Skola's place. Charles told Skola they were forming a new company and if he wanted to invest he could get him preferred stock that was fairly safe. He wanted an 8 per cent investment and Charles told him he thought he could arrange it and would see plaintiff later. Charles next saw plaintiff on the day of the sale. Mr. and Mrs. Skola and attorney Richards came to the office. There being some misunderstanding as to the name on the certificate, Richards suggested they go to Brown's office. Charles told Skola something about their plans and the taking over of the Portland and Montana mortuaries and their plans to build new ones. Clarence asked Strebel to explain the balance sheet. At Brown's office, Charles stated he was selling his own stock and was told by Brown that a permit was not necessary for that. Skola did not want his wife's name on the certificate. Richards threatened an injunction against taking the money if her name was not put on, and Mrs. Skola became very excited and "hot under the collar" and insisted on her rights. Skola asked Brown what he would do and was told it was for him to make the decision. Skola finally agreed and Richards insisted on a written agreement. Exhibit 3 was then prepared and signed and Mrs. Skola's name written on the certificates. Skola made an indorsement on the back of the certificates that upon his death the stock was to be the property of his wife and children. They all walked to the bank together. After some discussion between plaintiff and Mr. McEwan of the bank, in which plaintiff insisted he knew what he was doing, some papers were signed and a check *Page 291 was made out and given to plaintiff. He indorsed it and Charles deposited the money in his name. They then went to the office where the certificates of stock were delivered and Skola receipted for them on the stock stubs. Charles denies saying the Deseret and Merrill Mortuaries were the same. It appears from the minutes of the stockholders' meeting held November 3, 1930, at which the articles of incorporation were amended and the $100 preferred stock created, that Skola was present and the vote for the amendment was unanimous. The minutes of a stockholders' meeting held February 9, 1932, showed both Mr. and Mrs. Skola present. A resolution was unanimously passed authorizing the exchange of preferred and common stock of Merrill Mortuaries for common stock of the Deseret Mortuary. Skola knew of the difficulties they were having in Montana in June, 1932. Skola was dissatisfied with the return on his stock. Charles had put up money out of his own pocket to advance dividends to plaintiff, and stated, "When I paid him money he gave me assignments." He further testified that he told plaintiff on February 27, 1930, that they were not paying dividends; that he understood all these advances were charged against his personal account. When the check for $887.50 was given, Charles refused to make any further advances, but agreed to buy plaintiff's stock up to $1,200 a year. Charles purchased four shares which were paid for out of his funds and charged to him. He denies the testimony of Skola relative to the visits to Skola's home, the conversations and the representations made and the offer to sell Deseret Mortuary stock.
Charles never thought very seriously of making a sale to plaintiff and thought it unusual that he was eager to buy so much stock; that he made no effort to make a sale. Every one was surprised when the Skolas came in on September 14th to buy. Mrs. Skola said at Brown's office that she did not want a divorce but wanted her rights. None of the money paid by Skola was ever deposited in the name of the corporation; that the Deseret Mortuary owed him $15,000 *Page 292 for advances; that he loaned the company $4,000 for use in Ogden, about $4,000 was used in Portland, $3,000 was loaned for use in Provo. This money likely came from the $30,000. Charles used $3,000 or $4,000 on his home. The four shares of stock purchased from Skola were canceled and put in Charles' file. After the Skola deal the salesmen were furnished with a list of prominent men, including many high officials of the church, who had bought certificates. A letter (Exhibit 40) was sent to stockholders of the Merrill Mortuaries advising them of the right to exchange preferred stock for Deseret Mortuary common stock. Charles did not know whether he told Skola in August that the Merrill Mortuaries would acquire the Deseret Mortuary stock. He states there was not much discussion. Charles paid Whitehead $600 on a basis of 2 per cent of the Skola money. Clarence and Thomas fixed the amount of the commission. Tom and Clarence were paid about $6,000 commission on the deal and received about $5,000 besides. The Merrill Mortuaries owned all the other companies after they were taken over; that there was only one company from the standpoint of buying, but from a corporation standpoint there were two companies. Money was drawn from the various mortuaries as occasion required.
William McEwan, assistant cashier of Zion's Savings Bank Trust Company, testified that two or three days before September 14th, Skola notified the bank that he was going to invest in Deseret Mortuary stock and McEwan advised against it, but that Skola said he intended to do it and wanted his money; that his trust agreement was revoked on September 14th and he was given his money.
D.B. Richards testified that Mrs. Skola came to his home in the evening of September 13th, stating that her husband had purchased shares of Deseret Mortuary stock and refused to transfer it to her name and she wanted Richards to help her get it. That he had been consulted about a divorce some years previous by Mrs. Skola, but nothing was said on the 13th about a divorce; that plaintiff and his wife had had *Page 293 domestic difficulties; that he did not go to the Deseret Mortuary office, but he and Mrs. Skola went direct to Brown's office; that neither Mr. or Mrs. Skola understood the English language very well; that he was surprised that Skola agreed, he did not do so voluntarily; pressure was brought against him by all of them by way of argument; that something might have been said about a divorce but there were no threats of divorce nor did the witness threaten an injunction; that the agreement which was prepared was read aloud.
Hugh B. Brown testified that Mrs. Skola wanted her share of the stock and Richards stated he would enjoin the withdrawal of the money if she did not receive half of the stock; that it was agreed to insert her name on the certificates; that the agreement (Exhibit 3) was prepared, read aloud and signed; that nothing was said about buying the stock nor was anything said about a divorce; that he did not go to the company office the day before nor did he go to the bank that day; that he did not precede them to the bank on the 14th; that the only one who urged Skola to accede to his wife's request was Richards; that he (the witness) went to the bank on September 14th in order to be there if any legal question should arise.
Clarence Merrill testified he came from Portland to Salt Lake on June 1st and returned to Portland June 19th; that he returned to Salt Lake on September 3d. That he first met Skola on September 9, 1929, when he and Thomas went to Skola's home; that Thomas told Skola of the organization of Merrill Mortuaries and asked if he wanted to buy stock; that plaintiff asked about the possibilities of the business expanding and what it would take in; that it was explained that it would take over practically all the Deseret Mortuary stock and would take over other mortuaries; that Skola said he had $30,000 to invest but wanted to talk it over with his wife; that he asked if the church owned the company and they told him that it did not, but the men who owned the company were members of the church; that they returned the next day and Skola said he was ready to invest; that Mrs. *Page 294 Skola asked to have both of their names put on the stock and Skola agreed; that the witness noticed they had had a dispute. He further testified that certificates containing both of their names were made out on September 11th but were voided. That Skola did not come in on the 11th so they visited him on the 12th. That on the side Skola told the witness he did not want his wife's name on the certificates; that she had threatened to leave him and he was afraid she would if she got the stock; that Skola asked that the stock be made in his name only. That they were at Skola's place five minutes the first time, thirty minutes the second visit, and five minutes the third. That Skola came to the office on the 14th prior to the arrival of his wife and Richards. Strebel conversed with him in German. That Richards said unless Mrs. Skola got half of the stock he was going to get an injunction. That at Richards' suggestion they went to Brown's office. That Skola claimed the money and Mrs. Skola insisted that it was as much hers as his. That Skola agreed to her name being added and Clarence inserted it. That the stock was delivered at the bank. That when he and Thomas first visited Skola nothing was said about the church or its officials being in the company nor did they offer him Deseret Mortuary stock. That in August, 1932, Skola stated he had disposed of his stock. The witness denied making the representations testified to by plaintiff and his wife, and stated that he and Thomas went to Skola's place to persuade him to buy stock but he did not need any convincing; he was already convinced.
Thomas Merrill testified he first met Skola on September 9, 1929, when he and Clarance visited him; that they told Skola they were with Merrill Mortuaries and would sell him some stock; that he said he wanted to buy as he had been watching their company for a long time and watched its progress; that he asked them to come the next day as he wanted to talk it over with his wife; that they told Skola the Deseret Mortuary was included in the Merrill Mortuaries. Nothing was said as to the price of the stock. Skola said *Page 295 he had $30,000 to invest. That the next day he said he was ready to buy right then, but they told him they were not ready as they had no stock certificates because it was Charles' personal stock they were selling. That he promised to come to the office the next day. That it was agreed to put the stock in the name of both Skola and his wife. That the Skolas did not come to the office so the witness and Clarence visited them again. That Skola stated he wanted the stock but did not want his wife's name on it. That Mrs. Skola asked the witness to use his influence to get her name on the stock certificates and he agreed to do what he could. Nothing was said about a divorce. Thomas' description of what took place on September 14th at the company office and at Brown's office is similar to that of the other Merrills, except he stated that Mrs. Skola said at Brown's office that she did not want a divorce; she would rather have part of the stock. He further testified that when they learned Skola had $30,000 to invest it was figured out that he would get 1,200 shares of preferred and 3,000 shares of common stock and the price was quoted to him prior to the time he said he was ready to do business. The witness was not in Salt Lake City from Decoration Day to September 1, 1929.
If the evidence adduced by plaintiff and his witnesses is to be believed, such evidence would unquestionably sustain a finding that plaintiff was induced to buy what he thought was Deseret Mortuary Company stock because of the representations made to him, first, that the church and its leaders were financially interested in the company, and, therefore, he could not lose anything by investing in it, and, second, that his money would double each year and he would become wealthy and his family would be given continuous employment. It would also support a finding that he believed and relied upon such representations. The evidence also shows that the same representations were made to his wife and that she believed them and was induced, because of such representations and by appeals to her cupidity, to assist in the sale by threatening plaintiff with a divorce and disruption *Page 296 of his family unless he bought the stock. The evidence would also support a finding that such action by her had a controlling influence upon plaintiff in deciding to take the stock. Such evidence is also sufficient to sustain the court's finding that the transfer of stock to Mrs. Skola was not voluntarily made, but was made under coercion exercised by her and the others present at the time. If the sale was brought about by these representations, which admittedly were false and were known by defendants to be false, and by the action and attitude of Mrs. Skola, incited by defendants, then it could make little difference whether plaintiff or his wife had a limited knowledge of the English language. However, the trial court was in a position to pass upon that matter much better than we are, and at least two of defendants' witnesses testified that the Skolas did not understand English very well. Plaintiff's evidence also shows that plaintiff did not know he was getting Merrill Mortuaries stock until it was handed to him and that he then accepted it instead of Deseret Mortuary stock because he was assured the companies were one and the same and that it made no difference which stock he got. It also shows that plaintiff did not discover the falsity of the representations and the part played by his wife until the latter part of June, 1932, and that within a reasonable time after such discovery he tendered back the stock he had and sought a rescission.
It cannot be said, as a matter of law, that plaintiff's evidence is unworthy of belief. The case presents the usual situation of a direct conflict in much of the testimony. There are particulars in which defendants' evidence sustains that of plaintiff's and in some particulars the testimony of defendants' witnesses is in conflict with itself. It would be of no service to further lengthen this opinion by attempting to explain or justify the apparent conflict and discrepancies in the testimony of the various witnesses. I shall proceed rather and discuss the contentions of defendants with respect to specific questions raised by this appeal. *Page 297
Much is said by defendants about the effect to be given to Exhibit 3, the agreement between plaintiff and his wife, and this agreement is strongly relied upon to show that at the time plaintiff bought the stock he knew he was buying Charles Merrill's personal stock in the Merrill Mortuaries. Also that he was giving his wife part of the stock to discontinue her objections to the purchase of the stock. It should be remembered that this agreement was drawn up by parties opposed in interest at the time to plaintiff; that he was not in any manner consulted as to its contents and that he did not voluntarily sign it. He was told to sign it or take the consequences. The agreement, therefore, could have no binding effect upon plaintiff. Some of the recitals and provisions of the agreement so relied upon by defendants are themselves in direct conflict with testimony as to which there could be no dispute. The agreement, if it is to be given a strict and technical scrutiny, does not mention Merrill Mortuaries, Inc. It does mention Merrill Mortuary Company, and it might be said that when the agreement was read aloud plaintiff was apprised that he was not getting Deseret Mortuary Company stock. Plaintiff understood he was dealing with the Merrills. He may not have understood the purport of the agreement. It was simply read aloud and he had no opportunity to read it. He was then laboring under a strained mental condition. It would not be so strange that plaintiff did not understand the exact significance of the language and names used when defendants' own attorney in drawing the agreement himself misnamed the corporation whose stock was being sold. I cannot say, therefore, that this agreement was either conclusive or of such great weight as to matters of facts therein attempted to be recited or provided for as to warrant me in reversing the conclusions of the trial court.
It appears from the stock book stubs that the stock delivered to plaintiff was transferred from Charles Merrill's stock. There is no evidence, however, to show that stock certificates had been issued to Charles or that he surrendered *Page 298 any stock certificates for cancellation so as to have the stock transferred to plaintiff. Such a recital, therefore, does not carry much weight in view of the circumstances existing relative to the transaction here involved. Charles says he was selling his own stock, but the evidence also shows that his personal stock was being used so as to avoid the effects of not having a permit to sell stock from the State Securities Commission, and in reality it was a company transaction and the company was to and did receive the benefits. Under such conditions it could not be said that this was a private transaction between Charles and plaintiff. Plaintiff would not know that it was not unissued stock, and the court did not find that Charles owned the stock. It found merely that it stood on the corporate books in his name and it was so held for the use and benefit of the defendants in the furtherance of their scheme. The company was created to greatly expand the business and new capital was needed and an extensive stock selling campaign was being launched at that very time to obtain such additional capital. To sell personal stock and turn the proceeds to the company under such conditions would be contrary to all human experience.
Bound up in the question I am now discussing is the question as to whether all the defendants are responsible for the representations made and acts done in the sale of the stock and whether they are liable to plaintiff for the money paid by him. The court found the individual defendants were acting for themselves and for and in behalf of the defendant corporations. It is strenuously argued by the Deseret Mortuary Company that it could not be liable as it did not sell any stock and none of its stock was sold. It is likewise urged by Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., that it cannot be held liable as all representations were made relative to Deseret Mortuary stock; that it made no representations and it sold no stock.
Obviously, a corporation cannot do anything except through its officers and agents. The corporation itself is controlled and directed in its activities by the wishes and desires of those who own or control it. We think the evidence, *Page 299 both at the time plaintiff rested and at the time all the evidence was in, sustains the court in holding that the selling of this stock was a scheme in which both the individual and the corporate defendants participated. Charles Merrill held absolute control over both the Deseret Mortuary Company and the Merrill Mortuaries, Inc. He conducted the business as he saw fit. It was his idea to expand the business. He created the Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., and turned over to it the only assets it had at its inception, the stock of the Deseret Mortuary Company. He drew moneys from each corporation indiscriminately with which to pay plaintiff dividends and to purchase his stock, and the same were simply charged to his account. While he says he advanced plaintiff the dividends that were paid out of his own pocket, there is no evidence that the charging of his account ever resulted in paying the same. And it is most singular that he should pay the dividends out of his own pocket and yet have plaintiff assign his interest in unaccrued dividends to the Merrill Mortuaries at a time when, by a stock selling campaign, numerous stockholders would have been added to the corporation and Charles could never be reimbursed by receiving these dividends by virtue of owning all of the company's issued stock. It is evident that in this transaction Charles was using both corporations for his own private business, as no dividends were ever declared or even contemplated and he gave plaintiff this money on dividends either out of the abundance of his heart at the expense of the companies or because he wanted to allay plaintiff's demands and fears concerning a private transaction but at the expense of both companies. It also appears that he absolutely controlled the Oregon and Montana companies and turned them into the Merrill Mortuaries for stock. It sufficiently appears, also, that the Deseret and Merrill corporations were regarded as consolidated companies and were operated as a unit, or at least the Deseret as a unit of the Merrill. It is admitted that Whitehead, who was employed by the Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., as a stock salesman, got the *Page 300 same commission from the Skola deal as he would have received had it been admitted to be a sale of company stock. It also appears that money could be drawn from any mortuary as occasion required. The corporations were conducted as one as far as buying was concerned. It is impossible, therefore, under the evidence in this case to attempt a segregation of the acts of the individuals from the corporate acts. The evidence is ample to show that, in negotiating the sale in the beginning, the individual defendants were representing and acting as agents for the Deseret Mortuary Company. So far as plaintiff was advised that agency continued to the completion of the sale. There is evidence, likewise, to support the view that the individual defendants were the agents of the Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., in the transaction from the time of its incorporation, although plaintiff had no knowledge of this, and that the transaction was carried on as if it were the same from the beginning and was finally concluded as the same transaction which had been initiated originally as a Deseret Mortuary Company deal. The change that was made, in the light of the evidence, was simply one of form and not of substance, and all defendants continued to hold the same relationship to the transaction as changed that they held before the change.
In answer to the query, "Who made the false representations?" each of the corporate defendants says, "Not I." But neither attempts to explain who it was. Ordinarily a corporation has a definite legal personality separate and apart from its stockholders and officers. But it is well settled that courts of equity and law will disregard such corporate entity and look beyond to the actual persons and facts behind it whenever it is sought to employ the corporate fiction for the purpose of accomplishing or keeping the fruits of a fraud. And likewise, a corporation will not be permitted to hide behind the shield of the corporate entity fiction to absolve itself from responsibility for a fraud committed, by conjuring with the corporate name, when the real facts disclose such responsibility. That the corporate entity will be disregarded *Page 301 in a proper case has been held by this court in WesternSecurities Co. v. Spiro, 62 Utah 623, 221 P. 856, 859, where the court says:
"In Hunter v. Baker Motor Vehicle Co. (D.C.) 225 F. 1006, it is held that the separate entity of a corporation may be disregarded where it `is so organized and controlled, and its affairs are so conducted, as to make it merely an instrumentality or adjunct of another corporation.'"
The parties have cited and relied upon a number of authorities illustrative of the cases in which the corporate fiction has been or has not been disregarded. I deem it unnecessary to review the same. The reader is referred to the annotations in 1 A.L.R. 610 and 34 A.L.R. 597 for a collection of cases bearing upon various phases of this question. It is impossible and, indeed, inadvisable to lay down a particular legal proposition defining just how and when the corporate fiction will be disregarded. There should and must be as much elasticity in the application of that principle as there is ingenuity in the attempts to prostitute the fiction to the accomplishment of wrongful purposes. Each case must be determined upon its own facts. I am of the opinion that the facts in this case, heretofore referred to and as found by the trial court, are such as to justify a disregard of separate corporate entities in so far as that is necessary to give the relief granted to plaintiff in this action against the corporate defendants.
Such liability cannot be defeated in this case merely because creditors must suffer loss. Existing creditors at the time of the sale cannot complain, and as to them the receiver merely stands in the shoes of the corporation. The purchaser of stock, being himself guilty of no laches or acts creating estoppel, is entitled to rescind as to subsequent creditors, unless they became creditors in ignorance of the fraud in reliance upon the stock purchase, the burden to prove which is on the receiver or subsequent creditors. Burningham v. Burke, 67 Utah 90,245 P. 977, *Page 302 46 A.L.R. 466. See the annotations in 41 A.L.R. 689. There are no pleadings and no evidence in this case which would bring the equities of subsequent creditors, if any, before the court. It also appears that notice of the rescission was given prior to the appointment of the receiver. In such case the subsequent receivership cannot defeat the relief sought by the rescission, though the action in court to rescind was commenced subsequent to the appointment of the receiver. 14 C.J. 601.
It further appears from the evidence, and the trial court found, that the corporate defendants received much of the Skola money, knowing of the facts under which it was obtained. It is admitted that the agent of Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., received a commission on the deal. If the corporations did not intend to be bound by the acts of their agents, it was their duty to disaffirm the transaction. They could not accept the fruits and, when called to account, repudiate the acts of their agents. In Plate v. Detroit Fidelity Surety Co., 229 Mich. 482, 201 N.W. 457, the court says:
"There is a rule of common honesty which should run with the dealings of men, and this requires that the truth be told, and when this is not done, and one person is let to lose and another to profit by false representations inducing contract relations, and the fruit of the iniquity comes to headquarters, the court of equity is little apt to pay attention to mere intermediaries between the person wronged and the one who has profited thereby, and insists on keeping the gain."
In Hartman v. City Nat. Bank, 219 Cal. 510,27 P.2d 764, the corporation was held liable for the fraud of its agent upon facts similar to the case at bar. See, also, Pomeroy Eq. Jur. p. 905; 14 C.J. 614, 615.
The evidence fails to show the exact amount of the Skola money which the corporations received. It does appear, however, that they received a substantial part. Having received some part of the money and having participated in the fraud, they are liable to plaintiff for the full amount of his claim. Hartman v. CityNat. Bank, supra. As said in *Page 303 the case of Goodin v. Palace Store Co., 164 Wash. 625,4 P.2d 493, the question is not one of degree, but if the corporation received benefits in any measure, it would be liable. See, also, Mack v. Latta et al., 178 N.Y. 525, 71 N.E. 97, 67 L.R.A. 126.
Defendants contend that plaintiff has waived and is estopped to assert any right to rescind. The stock was purchased September 14, 1929, and the rescission attempted the latter part of June, 1932. During all of that time plaintiff was being assured by defendants that the company was making fine progress and he should not bother himself about its affairs. He was assured when he took the Merrill Mortuaries stock that it was the same as the Deseret Mortuary stock. Of course, had he made proper inquiries he might have discovered that the church and its leaders were not financially interested in the company. But there appeared to be no occasion for such inquiries in view of the assurance he was receiving from defendants. Nor was he required to make an investigation to ascertain the truth or falsity of the representations made. He had a right to rely on the representations as being true. Guaranty Mortgage Co. v.Ellison, 66 Utah 1, 239 P. 29. Likewise, plaintiff was not required to exercise vigilance after the sale to discover the fraud. Anderson v. Frischkorn Real Estate Co., 253 Mich. 668,235 N.W. 894.
Lapse of time may or may not be sufficient to constitute a waiver of the right to rescind, depending upon the circumstances, including a change in the conditions and relative positions of the parties. Burningham v. Burke, supra. There appear to me to be no facts in this case which would warrant me in holding that either the lapse of time or any dealing with the stock prior to June 1932, constituted a waiver of plaintiff's right to rescind or an estoppel.
After plaintiff became aware that the church was not financially interested in the company, he delivered a share of stock which he had sold under a written agreement made several months before. He also endorsed and delivered the *Page 304 stock to Aures, and later he pledged two shares to obtain money to pay Aures' lawyer. It was after this last share had been delivered and when it became known that no more money could be obtained from defendants that plaintiff's wife informed him of her part in the transaction. While it is not clear, the inference is that he then also discovered that the church officials were not financially interested in the company. In other words, it was then that he became fully apprised of the real nature of the fraud practiced upon him. It cannot be said as a matter of law that because a part of the representations were known by him to be false before this last share was delivered that this constituted a ratification of the sale and evidenced an intent to be bound by the sale so as to work a waiver or estoppel. It was still a question of fact to be determined from all of the evidence. Anderson v. Frischkorn Real Estate Co., supra. Under the evidence, I am not prepared to say, contrary to the findings of the trial court, that the delivery of the share of stock must be regarded as such conduct as would preclude a recovery by way of estoppel. Besides, the share of stock was delivered at a price agreed upon. The practical effect of such transfer is exactly the same as would result from delivering the stock by way of rescission, so there could be no prejudice to defendants arising from a failure to rescind before the delivery of this one share.
In order to rely on an estoppel, it was necessary for defendants to prove that plaintiff's conduct in relation to the stock, after discovery of the fraud was inconsistent with an intention to rescind. 14 C.J. 595; Harn v. Smith,85 Okla. 137, 204 P. 642. The transfer and delivery of the stock to Aures was found by the trial court to be merely for the purpose of collecting plaintiff's money and restoring the stock to defendants. I feel the evidence sustains this finding and that no estoppel or waiver can be predicated on such action. When it appeared that Aures was getting nowhere, plaintiff demanded and received his stock back, but was compelled to pay $200 to Aures' lawyer, a circumstance in itself strongly *Page 305 indicating that Aures was to collect for plaintiff and did not own the stock. The pledging of two shares to obtain money to pay that charge so as to get his stock back did not amount to a waiver or estoppel of his right to rescind, for the only purpose was to get his stock so that he could restore it to defendants.
I am of the opinion that the representations to plaintiff concerning the church and its leaders being financially interested in the company and that for that reason plaintiff could not lose anything amounted to representations of material facts calculated to induce and actually inducing plaintiff to buy the stock. Since they were false, plaintiff is entitled to rescind. Munson v. Fishburn, 183 Cal. 206, 190 P. 808;Williams v. Myers, 110 Cal. App. 265, 294 P. 61; Goodin v.Palace Store Co., supra; California Credit CollectionCorporation v. Goodin, 76 Cal. App. 785, 246 P. 121; StateBank of Indiana v. Cook, 125 Iowa 111, 100 N.W. 72; AlabamaFoundry M. Works v. Dallas, 127 Ala. 513, 29 So. 459; Webb v. Tri-State Fair Racing Ass'n, 238 Ky. 87, 36 S.W.2d 839;Guaranty Mortgage Co. v. Ellison, supra. In addition to this, there is the fraud and duress practiced through plaintiff's wife. I have heretofore indicated that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the court's findings that the above representations were made and that they were relied upon and that plaintiff acted under duress. It becomes unnecessary, therefore, to determine whether the representations as to plaintiff doubling his money each year amounted to a false representation of fact or is to be considered as mere "puffing," since the other misrepresentations furnish sufficient grounds for rescission.
Defendants strenuously argue that since the stock was issued in the names of Skola and his wife jointly there was no valid tender of the stock by Skola, and, further, that Mrs. Skola is a necessary party to the action. It may be conceded that one of two joint obligors alone may not rescind the contract. However, such rule of law has no application here, as the court found that Mrs. Skola acquired no interest in *Page 306 the stock because of the duress practiced upon plaintiff when his wife's name was inserted in the certificates. Defendants were aware of and assisted in this duress. They knew plaintiff did not make any voluntary transfer or gift of this stock to his wife, and that she was not buying any stock. They cannot now defeat plaintiff in his right to recover his own money by trying to uphold their own misdeeds and out of them create rights which can have no substance.
Plaintiff has contended that there is no certification by the trial judge that the bill of exceptions contains all the evidence introduced, and hence the findings of the trial court must be presumed to be sustained by the evidence. The stenographer's certificate recites that the transcript "constitutes a full, true and correct report of the proceedings." The record as a whole indicates that all the evidence adduced at the trial is before the court. While I think that the proper way is to have the judge make a specific certification that the bill of exceptions contains all of the evidence adduced, yet, in view of the stenographer's certificate and the record as a whole, I do not feel that I can indulge the presumption that there was more evidence than that contained in the bill of exceptions and the exhibits referred to and attached. Mitchell v. Jensen,29 Utah 346, 81 P. 165; Karenius v. Merchants' Protective Ass'n,65 Utah 183, 235 P. 880. I have considered the case, therefore, upon the record before me.
I feel that what has been said sufficiently disposes of the questions before us on this appeal. Accordingly, I am of the opinion that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.