Bank of America National Trust & Savings Ass'n v. Denver Hotel Ass'n Ltd. Partnership

830 P.2d 1138, 16 Brief Times Rptr. 580, 19 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 289, 1992 Colo. App. LEXIS 129, 1992 WL 71123
CourtColorado Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 9, 1992
Docket91CA0083
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 830 P.2d 1138 (Bank of America National Trust & Savings Ass'n v. Denver Hotel Ass'n Ltd. Partnership) 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
Bank of America National Trust & Savings Ass'n v. Denver Hotel Ass'n Ltd. Partnership, 830 P.2d 1138, 16 Brief Times Rptr. 580, 19 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 289, 1992 Colo. App. LEXIS 129, 1992 WL 71123 (Colo. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Opinion by

Judge MARQUEZ.

Defendant, Denver Hotel Association Limited Partnership (Hotel), appeals orders denying its motion to vacate receivership, motion for reconsideration, and motion to require a cost bond. The orders denying the motion to vacate receivership and motion for reconsideration are affirmed. The order denying a cost bond is reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to set a date for the filing of a cost bond.

Plaintiff, Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association (Bank), commenced this action by filing a verified complaint for appointment of receiver in the district court. In its complaint, the Bank alleged that it was the holder of a promissory note in the amount of $16,500,000 payable by defendant and was a beneficiary under a deed of trust on property in the City and County of Denver securing that note. Also, it asserted that it was the assignee under a collateral assignment of rents, profits, and income upon default by defendant under the note or deed of trust.

The Bank further alleged that the Hotel was in default and, pursuant to the terms of the deed of trust and assignment, it was entitled to the appointment of a receiver who had the right to manage and operate the property and apply the rents, profits, and income to the operation and management of the property and to the payment of the Hotel’s promissory note and deed of trust. On the same day that the Bank filed its complaint, it also initiated a judicial foreclosure of the mortgaged property.

Upon the Bank’s ex parte motion, the court appointed a receiver, and the Hotel subsequently filed a motion to vacate. Following hearing, the court denied the Hotel’s motion on the basis that the Hotel was in default and that it had agreed in a contract to the appointment of a receiver. It also ruled that the Bank was entitled to a receiver under the provisions of C.R.C.P. 66 and the statute now codified at § 38-38-601, C.R.S. (1991 Cum.Supp.).

I.

The Hotel first contends that the trial court abandoned its own judgment and discretion by simply relying on the contract between the parties for the purposes of determining whether the appointment of a receiver was appropriate. The Hotel argues that, under § 38-38-601, C.R.S. (1991 Cum.Supp.), the court may appoint a receiver only if the security is clearly inadequate or if there is danger of waste and that the statute does not. provide for the appointment simply based on a contract between the parties. We reject these arguments.

The pertinent portion of the deed of trust, here, provides that:

Beneficiary, in any action to foreclose this Deed of Trust, ... or, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon application to a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be entitled, without notice to Grantor ... and without regard to the adequacy or value of the Mortgaged Property or the solvency of any party bound for its payment, to the appointment of a receiver(s) to take possession of and to operate the Mortgaged Property and to collect the rents and profits thereof.

In the absence of countervailing public policy or an express statutory provision barring waiver, parties may enter into contracts extinguishing or limiting statutory provisions which confer a right or benefit on one or both parties. Martinez v. Continental Enterprises, 730 P.2d 308 (Colo.1986).

Section 38-38-602(3), C.R.S. (1991 Cum. Supp.) provides that: “Nothing in this article shall restrict the power of the court in the appointment of a receiver pursuant to existing law or pursuant to agreement between the parties.” See Baugh v. District Court, 166 Colo. 192, 442 P.2d 408 (1968) (purchaser at foreclosure sale authorized *1140 by statute and deed of trust to secure appointment of receiver).

Further, our supreme court in Denver Motor Hotel Co. v. National Mortgage & Discount Corp., 88 Colo. 156, 292 P. 1108 (1930) held that default of a plaintiff arising out of its insolvency was sufficient to authorize the appointment of a receiver under a deed of trust containing a provision that a receiver shall be appointed in the event of any default thereunder. See also Schwab v. Martin, 165 Colo. 547, 441 P.2d 17 (1968) (upholding appointment of receiver under provision of deed of trust); Phillips v. Webster, 162 Colo. 315, 426 P.2d 774 (1967) (mortgagees were entitled to appointment of receiver under terms of deed of trust).

Here, the deed of trust provided that the Bank was entitled to the appointment of a receiver in the event of default without regard to the adequacy or value of the property or the solvency of any party bound for its payment. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its discretion.

II.

We also disagree with the Hotel’s contention that the trial court erred in allowing the receivership to go forward without the benefit of a full trial on the issue of whether it was in default under the relevant loan documents and the ongoing agreements between the parties regarding payments being made to the Bank.

Findings made by the trier of fact must be accepted on review unless they are so clearly erroneous as not to find support in the record. Page v. Clark, 197 Colo. 306, 592 P.2d 792 (1979).

Here, the court held a hearing on defendant’s motion to vacate the order appointing a receiver. At that hearing the managing general partner of the Hotel admitted that $16,500,000 in principal plus accrued interest remained unpaid more than four years after the loan matured in March 1986. Moreover, the Bank submitted to the court a defaulted note purchase agreement executed in July 1989 between the Bank, the hotel, and a third party in which the Hotel stated that it had “failed to satisfy its payment obligation” as described above. The same managing general partner also admitted that the Hotel had not tendered the $9 million due under the terms of the July 1989 agreement by its expiration date.

We conclude- that there is ample support in the record to uphold the trial court’s finding on default.

The Hotel’s argument that the proceedings in the trial court were in some way deficient cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. Mohawk Green Apartments v. Kramer, 709 P.2d 955 (Colo.App.1985).

III.

The Hotel next asserts that the Bank has failed to demonstrate its rights to the revenues being generated by the property. The Hotel argues that the proper perfection of such rights to hotel charges and income received from the rental of guest rooms must be accomplished pursuant to § 4-9-401, C.R.S., and that the Bank has failed to meet its burden of establishing any right to such personal property. Again, we disagree.

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830 P.2d 1138, 16 Brief Times Rptr. 580, 19 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 289, 1992 Colo. App. LEXIS 129, 1992 WL 71123, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bank-of-america-national-trust-savings-assn-v-denver-hotel-assn-ltd-coloctapp-1992.