American Nat. Bank of Denver v. First National Bank

476 P.2d 304
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 9, 1970
Docket70-172. (Supreme Court No. 23960.)
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 476 P.2d 304 (American Nat. Bank of Denver v. First National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Colorado Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
American Nat. Bank of Denver v. First National Bank, 476 P.2d 304 (Colo. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

476 P.2d 304 (1970)

The AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK OF DENVER, a National Banking Association, Plaintiff in Error,
v.
The FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado, a National Banking Association, and Merrill Construction, Incorporated, a Colorado corporation, Defendants in Error.

No. 70-172. (Supreme Court No. 23960.)

Colorado Court of Appeals, Div. II.

September 9, 1970.
Rehearing Denied October 6, 1970.

*306 Dawson, Nagel, Sherman & Howard, John W. Low, David R. Johnson, Denver, for plaintiff in error.

Delaney & Balcomb, Mincer, Larson & Hartert, Glenwood Springs, for defendants in error.

Selected for Official Publication.

*307 ENOCH, Judge.

This case was originally filed in the Supreme Court of the State of Colorado and subsequently transferred to the Court of Appeals under authority vested in the Supreme Court.

This appeal arises out of a replevin action initiated by The American National Bank of Denver (Bank) against Fincham Equipment Co., Inc. (Fincham), to recover possession of several heavy construction machines. Merrill Construction, Inc. (Merrill) and The First National Bank of Glenwood Springs (First National) jointly intervened. Merrill claimed an ownership interest subject to First National's claim of a chattel mortgage interest in a crane.

The crane was originally purchased in 1965 from Fincham, a dealer in both new and used heavy construction equipment. One of the principal issues in the trial court was whether Merrill, Inc., or Merrill as an individual, doing business under the trade name, Merrill Construction Co., took title to the crane at the time of purchase. The trial court found that Merrill, Inc., purchased the crane. The crane was delivered back to Fincham by Merrill during August or September of 1966, for the express purpose of selling it to a buyer which Fincham had procured. This anticipated sale was not consummated and the crane was left in Fincham's yard with other equipment it had for sale. Apparently, First National, the holder of a chattel mortgage on the crane, was not aware that the crane had been removed to Fincham's lot. The crane remained there until replevied by the Bank on March 21, 1967.

The Bank had been providing floor plan financing for Fincham for several years. On July 1, 1966, the effective date of the Uniform Commercial Code, the Bank filed a financing statement covering equipment on Fincham's lot. On December 5, 1966, Fincham gave the Bank a security interest in its current and after-acquired inventory of machines by executing and delivering to the Bank a security agreement. Fincham advised the Bank on December 12, 1966, that it had purchased the crane as part of its inventory and requested that this machine be included under its floor plan security agreement.

John M. Fincham, the owner and operator of Fincham Equipment Co., Inc., died on March 16, 1967. At that time, his company was in default on its indebtedness to the Bank. Consequently, on March 21, 1967, the Bank initiated a replevin action to recover the crane and other pieces of construction equipment which the Bank claimed as collateral for its loan to Fincham. Merrill and First National filed a motion to intervene in this action. On May 29, 1967, the trial court entered judgment for the Bank against Fincham. Thereafter, the trial court permitted Merrill and First National to intervene over objection by the Bank. At the time of trial, the outstanding balance on Merrill's loan from First National was $4,250, plus interest. The trial court held the interest of the Bank in the crane to be junior to that of Merrill and First National. Judgment was entered against the Bank jointly in favor of Merrill and First National for $14,000, the determined value of the crane, plus interest and costs.

I

The Bank claims that the trial court erred by finding that the crane was acquired from Fincham by Merrill, Inc., rather than by Mr. Dycell Merrill under his trade name, Merrill Construction Co. We do not agree with this assignment of error. There was conflicting evidence presented at trial as to title to the crane. The trial court determined this issue in favor of the intervenors. Where there is sufficient evidence in the record to sustain the trial court's findings, the reviewing court, on writ of error, is bound by the trial court's determination even though it is possible for reasonable men to arrive at a different conclusion based on the same facts. Whatley v. Wood, 157 Colo. 552, 404 P.2d 537.

*308 II

The Bank's second assignment of error is that the trial court erred in holding that First National had a chattel mortgage interest in the crane enforceable against third parties. The Bank bases this claim on the supposition that as of the date of the chattel mortgage, Merrill, Inc. did not own the crane and that the chattel mortgage did not contain an after-acquired property clause which might have later passed a chattel mortgage interest to First National. The concept of after-acquired property does not apply here. Where a mortgage is given in contemplation of the immediate acquisition of the property, it cannot be said to be a mortgage of after-acquired property. We hold that a simultaneous transaction is not necessary in a purchase money chattel mortgage as long as it is all a part of the same transaction and is recognized as such by the parties.

Assuming the validity of the chattel mortgage, the Bank then contends that it is inoperative against third parties because it was recorded in the wrong county. We find no merit to this contention.

The crane was sold by Fincham to Merrill on September 13, 1965. At the time of sale, the parties agreed that delivery was to be made after Fincham performed some minor repairs on the crane. These repairs were made and delivery took place around October 15, 1965. The note and chattel mortgage dated September 21, 1965, were recorded in Garfield County (the situs of Merrill, Inc.) on September 28, 1965. The Bank contends that the recording should have been made in Adams County, the actual situs of the crane on the date of recording. It relies on C.R.S. 1963, 21-1-4, which was in effect on the date of recording. This statute provides that a chattel mortgage instrument should be recorded in the county "where the mortgaged property is situated."

Stitt v. Spengel House Furnishing Co., 58 Colo. 559, 146 P. 770, is controlling and succinctly states:

"Where, as here, mortgaged property is sold in one county, to be forthwith delivered to the place of business of a purchaser in another county, and is delivered there, its situs for the purposes of record of a mortgage placed on it is in the county to which it is so delivered. Any other construction would defeat the purpose and object of the statute as to notice, and thus afford opportunity for the perpetration of fraud and deception, to prevent which was the primary object of the act."

The First National had no knowledge that the crane was redelivered to Fincham in Adams County for resale. The First National continued to have a valid security interest even after the passage of the Code as provided for in C.R.S. 1963, XXX-XX-XXX (2)[1]

Thus, we hold that the judgment as to the interest of the First National be affirmed.

III

Regarding the judgment in favor of Merrill, the Bank claims that the trial court erred in not applying C.R.S. 1963, XXX-X-XXX[2] (hereinafter referred to as "2-326"). *309

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Bluebook (online)
476 P.2d 304, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/american-nat-bank-of-denver-v-first-national-bank-coloctapp-1970.