State Council of Tennessee, Junior Order of United American Mechanics v. William Boyd, et al.

This case involves an action to quiet title between the state chapter of a national fraternal organization and the members of a local chapter. The organization's constitution provides that, upon the dissolution of a local chapter, all acquired property becomes the property of the state chapter. After receiving a letter from three officers of the local chapter expressing their intent to surrender its charter, the state chapter sent a letter to all known members of the local chapter calling a meeting to discuss the future of the chapter. At a second meeting, three members attended; two of the members abstained until a vote of the entire membership could be taken while the third member voted to remain dissolved. Thereafter, the state chapter announced that the local chapter was dissolved and ordered the local chapter to surrender its bank account and had the door to the lodge padlocked. The state chapter then brought a lawsuit to quiet title. The defendant members disputed that their chapter had been properly dissolved. The trial court held that the dissolution of the local chapter and surrender of the chapter's premises and bank account by its officers was improper, dismissed the state chapter's petition to quiet title and ordered the return of the surrendered funds. From this decision, the state chapter now appeals. We affirm.