Snyder v. Freeman , 40 N.C. App. 348 ( 1979 )

CLARK, Judge.

The record on appeal does not disclose that the defendants moved for a Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal. The defendants, however, did plead in their answers that the complaint failed to state a claim for relief. This defense can be raised at any time on application by the parties. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 12(d). We assume that the court treated the defendants’ motion for summary judgment as an application for a hearing on their Rule 12(b)(6) defense. Since the first alternative holding in the order appealed from dismissed the complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), it is clear that the court considered only the pleadings in making its determination on that issue.

Plaintiff first contends that the court erred in dismissing the complaint for failure to state a claim for relief because the complaint alleged sufficient facts to entitle plaintiff to recovery for breach of trust or as a third-party beneficiary of the contract between the defendants.

“The test on a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted is whether the pleading is legally sufficient.” Alltop v. J. C. Penney Co., 10 N.C. App. 692, 694, 179 S.E. 2d 885, 887, cert. denied 279 N.C. 348, 182 S.E. 2d 580 (1971). A complaint may be dismissed pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) if there is an absence of law to support the claim of the sort made. Hodges v. Wellons, 9 N.C. App. 152, 175 S.E. 2d 690, cert. denied 277 N.C. 251 (1970).

In order to determine whether the court’s dismissal of the complaint was proper, we must consider whether or not the complaint states a valid claim for relief for breach of trust or for breach of an agreement made for the benefit of a third party.

The contract upon which plaintiff relies was entered into by two shareholders of the corporation and two outsiders. The agreement provided for the sale of 50% of the stock of the corporation to the Coluccis. The agreement, however, was not an agreement to sell shares already owned by the defendant shareholders, but an agreement for the issuance of 6,000 new shares of common stock in General Aviation, Inc. Thereafter, the corporation issued 6000 shares of stock to the Coluccis in exchange for $10,000.00.

“The assets of a corporation, nothing else appearing, are not held by it in trust. They, like the assets of any other person, may be used by the corporation in the operation of its business.” Wilson v. Crab Orchard Development Co., 276 N.C. 198, 209, 171 S.E. 2d 873, 880 (1970). There is a serious question as to whether the capital of a corporation can be held in trust, unless it is held in trust for the benefit of its creditors. Wilson v. Crab Orchard Development Co., supra. The issuance of stock is ordinarily a sale for full and fair consideration, and so the corporation is entitled to the monies received outright. Therefore, in order for a trust to be created in the capital obtained from issuing stock, the corporation itself must agree to hold the capital in trust for creditors. In the case sub judice, the agreement of 27 December 1967 was entered into by the defendants Freeman and Croom in their individual capacities. Nowhere in the instrument appears a signature signed by any corporate officer in his official capacity. In order for the corporation to be bound by an agreement, it must be a party thereto. See, Little v. Orange County, 31 N.C. App. 495, 229 S.E. 2d 823 (1976). “A corporation is bound by the acts of its stockholders and directors only when they act as a body in regular session or under authority conferred at a duly constituted meeting.” Park Terrace, Inc. v. Phoenix Indemnity Co., 241 N.C. 473, 478, 85 S.E. 2d 677, 680 (1954). Duke v. Markham, 105 N.C. 131, 10 S.E. 1017 (1890). “ ‘The separate action, individually, without consultation, although a majority in number should agree upon a certain act, would not be the act of the constituted body of men . . . .’ Angel & Ames on Corporations, sec. 504.” Park Terrace, Inc. v. Phoenix Indemnity Co., 241 N.C. at 478, 85 S.E. 2d at 680; Tuttle v. Junior Building Corp., 228 N.C. 507, 46 S.E. 2d 313 (1948). Since none of the individuals signing the agreement purported to act for the corporation, the corporation was not bound by the agreement and took the $10,000.00 capital obtained from the issuance of its stock free of any trust in favor of plaintiff. Therefore, there is an absence of law to support a claim for relief on a trust theory.

Plaintiff, however, contends that the complaint alleges a valid claim for relief since plaintiff was a third-party beneficiary of the contract between the individual defendants.

The rule is well settled in North Carolina that where a contract is made for the benefit of a third party, the latter is entitled to maintain an action for its breach. American Trust Co. v. Catawba Sales & Processing Co., 242 N.C. 370, 88 S.E. 2d 233 (1955); Boone v. Boone, 217 N.C. 722, 9 S.E. 2d 383 (1940). The question of whether a contract is intended for a third party is generally regarded as one of construction of the contract. The intention of the parties is determined by the terms of a contract as a whole, construed in light of the circumstances under which it was made and the purposes that the parties sought to accomplish. The contracting parties must intend to confer a direct benefit upon the third party and intend to confer a right of action upon the third party. Meyer v. McCarley & Co., 288 N.C. 62, 215 S.E. 2d 583 (1975); Vogel v. Reed Supply Co., 277 N.C. 119, 177 S.E. 2d 273 (1970). See, 17 Am. Jur. 2d, Contracts, § 304; 17A C.J.S., Contracts, § 519.

In the case sub judice, the parties intended to benefit the corporation by providing additional capital so that it could meet its obligations to its creditors. There was no provision in the contract whereby the defendants agreed to pay money directly to plaintiff; the defendants’ agreement was to pay the money directly to the corporation. Nor is there any provision in the contract whereby the defendants agreed to become guarantors of the corporate debt; on the contrary, the terms of the agreement provided that the corporation would pay the creditors. Therefore, the plaintiff is not directly benefited by the contract and has no rights against the individual defendants pursuant to that contract. Plaintiff’s sole cause of action was against the corporation on the original debt.

The plaintiff’s complaint failed to state a claim for relief on either of the two theories urged by plaintiff, and, therefore, the court did not err in dismissing the complaint.

The court set forth as a second ground for dismissing the complaint the fact that plaintiff’s cause of action was barred by the three-year statute of limitations, G.S. 1-52. Since matters outside the pleadings had to be considered in order to resolve the question of whether the cause of action was time-barred, this was not a ruling on a G.S. 1A-1, Rule 12(b)(6) motion, but a ruling on a motion for summary judgment. Kessing v. National Mortgage Corp., 278 N.C. 523, 180 S.E. 2d 823 (1971). The test on a motion for summary judgment is whether on the basis of the materials presented to the court there is any genuine issue as to any material fact. Lee v. Shor, 10 N.C. App. 231, 178 S.E. 2d 101 (1970). Although it is clear that the three-year statute of limitations is applicable, there is a question of fact remaining as to when the breach occurred and the statute of limitations began to run. Therefore, summary judgment on that issue is not appropriate. So much of said order ruling for defendants on the plea of the statute of limitations is vacated.

The order dismissing the complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim for relief is affirmed.

Vacated in part and affirmed in part.

Judges VAUGHN and HEDRICK concur.