Harman J discussed the rules of a creditors’ meeting: ‘In my judgment the scheme of the meeting rules in r 5.17 is quite plainly a simple one. As one would expect the meeting is not the place to go into lengthy debates as to the exact status of a debt, nor is it the time to consider such matters as this court, sitting as the Companies Court, frequently has to consider as such whether a debt is bona fide disputed upon substantial grounds, an issue which leads to a great deal of litigation and frequently takes a day or so to decide. None of that could possibly be a suitable process to be embarked upon at a creditors’ meeting.
The scheme is quite clear. The chairman has power to admit or reject; his decision is subject to appeal; and if in doubt he shall mark the vote as objected to and allow the creditor to vote. That is easily carried out upon the basis advanced by Mr Moss QC, Mr Mann and Mr Trace. It provides a simple clear rule for the chairman, not a lawyer, faced at a large meeting with speedy decisions necessary to be made to enable the meeting to reach a decision. On that basis the chairman must look at the claim; if it is plain or obvious that it is good he admits it, if it is plain or obvious that it is bad he rejects it, if there is a question, a doubt, he shall admit it but mark it as objected.’
Judges:
Harman J
Citations:
[1992] BCLC 137
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Cited by:
Cited – AB Agri Ltd v Curtis and Others Misc 22-Jul-2016
(Leeds County Court) The creditor sought to have a proof admitted for pounds 479k, but the chair admitted it only for pounds 1.00, and the IVA proposal was accepted again the wishes of the creditor. The creditor said that the IP had misunderstood . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Insolvency
Updated: 02 June 2022; Ref: scu.567379