Bank of New Mexico v. Northwest Power Products, Inc.

1980 NMCA 121, 626 P.2d 280, 95 N.M. 743
CourtNew Mexico Court of Appeals
DecidedAugust 19, 1980
DocketNo.4200
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 1980 NMCA 121 (Bank of New Mexico v. Northwest Power Products, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico 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 New Mexico v. Northwest Power Products, Inc., 1980 NMCA 121, 626 P.2d 280, 95 N.M. 743 (N.M. Ct. App. 1980).

Opinions

OPINION

SUTIN, Judge.

The Bank of New Mexico sued Corona, Ltd., Joe Priestley and Charles Nuckols, as garnishees, to enforce any indebtedness that the garnishees owed to Joe W. Roberts, the Bank’s judgment debtor. The garnishees counterclaimed for rescission and damages.

Cate Equipment Company brought suit against the Carico Lake Mining Company and its constituent partners, .• Joe Roberts and Richard M. Mulvaney, for the cost of work done on the company’s equipment. Roberts claimed indemnification from the garnishees for this debt.

The suits were consolidated. Following a non-jury trial,

(1) the Bank was granted judgment against the garnishees, Corona, Ltd., a New Mexico Corporation, Priestley and Nuckols jointly and severally, in the amount of $127,595.06 with interest, plus costs and attorney fees in the sum of $12,759.00;

(2) Roberts was granted judgment for indemnification on his third party complaint against the same garnishees, jointly and severally, in the sum of $5,520.00 plus interest;

(3) the counterclaims of the garnishees were dismissed;

(4) Cate Equipment Co. was awarded judgment against Roberts on an open account in the total aggregate of $6,202.96;

(5) Cate was awarded judgment against garnishees in the sum of $18,469.63 with interest and attorney fees pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Agreement dated February 18, 1977.

The garnishees only appealed.

We reverse as to the individual liability of Priestley and Nuckols as garnishees; affirm the judgment of the Bank against Corona, Ltd.; affirm as to the dismissal of garnishees’ counterclaim for rescission and damages; and affirm Roberts’ judgment for indemnification. We reverse Cate’s judgment against the garnishees.

The trial court made 32 findings of fact and 8 conclusions of law, summarized as follows:

In 1974, Roberts, Mays and Mulvaney, as partners, acquired Carico Lake Mining Company as a working turquoise mine in Nevada. Its home office was in Albuquerque. Ultimately, Roberts and Mulvaney each owned a one-half interest in the partnership. In June 1976, the partnership gave Priestley, a real estate broker, an exclusive listing to sell the mine and business. A rift developed in the partnership. Priestley, aware of this rift, joined with Nuckols to negotiate the purchase of Roberts’ one-half interest.

An agreement was executed on February 18, 1977. Corona, Ltd. purchased Roberts’ one-half interest and made a $10,000.00 down payment. Priestley and Nuckols joined in the agreement, and, along with Corona, executed a promissory note for $122,595.06. The garnishees knew that the mine had been shut down for several months. No inventory was included in the sale. Priestley and Nuckols contracted with Mulvaney to purchase his half of the inventory. Mulvaney became impatient with Priestley and Nuckols and eventually ousted them from the home office in Albuquerque. Thereafter, Mulvaney refused to accept Priestley and Nuckols as partners but Mulvaney’s conduct did not constitute a failure of consideration on the part of Roberts.

On July 21, 1977, by letter, Corona sought to rescind the Roberts’ agreement and to void the guarantees of Priestley and Nuckols on the promissory note, but Corona did not comply with the contract provisions. Roberts rejected the rescission and demanded payment of the note. Roberts did not breach the agreement nor make any misrepresentations. Other than the down payment of $10,000.00 no payments were made by garnishees on the promissory note or contract.

Garnishees had made an investigation of the mine prior to its purchase. In fact, they owned other contiguous mining claims prior to the purchase of Roberts’ interest in the mining company, Garnishees suffered no loss on accounts payable assumed and did not properly notify Roberts of any alleged discrepancies under the contract. Inasmuch as there was no significant deficiency in those matters set forth under paragraph 6 of the agreement, the individual guarantees were not void or voidable.

In making the sale of his partnership interest to Corona, Ltd., Roberts did not violate the Federal Securities Laws or the Securities Act of New Mexico.

With reference to the claims of Cate Equipment Company, the court found that Cate was notified and recognized the limitation, that Mulvaney was authorized to bind the partnership only to the extent of $5,000.00. Roberts never authorized the charges of Cate’s claim, but the garnishees were liable to the extent that partnership assets exist, pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Agreement. Roberts can be liable to Cate for $5,000.00, but Roberts was entitled to indemnification from garnishees for this amount.

The garnishees were not entitled to rescission of the 1977 Agreement, nor any award of damages from Roberts; the Bank was entitled to judgment against garnishees jointly and severally, in the amount of $127,596.06 with interest, plus costs and attorney fees of $12,759.00.

The court concluded that the garnishees were not entitled to rescission of the contract dated February 18, 1977; that Priestley and Nuckols were liable on the note; that the counterclaims of garnishees should be dismissed; that the Bank of New Mexico was entitled to judgment against the garnishees; that Caté was entitled to judgment against Roberts and the garnishees, and Roberts was entitled to judgment against the garnishees for indemnification.

A. Priestley and Nuckols were not personally liable on the contract.

Two judgments were awarded against Priestley and Nuckols under the 1977 contract: (1) Cate Equipment Company was awarded judgment against garnishees in the sum of $18,469.63, pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Agreement of February 18, 1977. Paragraph 7 provided that Carico Lake Mining Company would hold Roberts harmless on account of the indebtedness due Cate which was $18,469.63; (2) Roberts was awarded judgment against garnishees in the sum of $5,520.00.

Both judgments arose out of the 1977 Agreement wherein Roberts sold his one-half partnership interest to Corona, Ltd., a corporation, in which Priestley and Nuckols were officers, directors, and shareholders. Priestley and Nuckols were not parties to this purchase Agreement. They did sign the agreement in their individual capacities. They appear by name in paragraph 2 in which the promissory note payable to Roberts “shall bear individual guarantees of P-N (Priestley-Nuckols),” and in paragraph 6 wherein provision is made for an avoidance of the note.

In order to hold Priestley and Nuckols liable, Cate and Roberts had to pierce the corporate veil and establish that Corona, Ltd. was the alter ego of these defendants. Scott Graphics, Inc. v. Mahaney, 89 N.M. 208, 549 P.2d 623 (Ct.App.1976). This, they failed to do.

Roberts knew he was dealing with a corporation. In bargaining and dealing with Priestley and Nuckols, he only obtained from them their personal guarantees on the note. Under these circumstances, Priestley and Nuckols were not personally liable to Cate Equipment Company or Roberts by reason of the 1977 Agreement.

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Bank of New Mexico v. Northwest Power Products, Inc.
1980 NMCA 121 (New Mexico Court of Appeals, 1980)

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Bluebook (online)
1980 NMCA 121, 626 P.2d 280, 95 N.M. 743, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bank-of-new-mexico-v-northwest-power-products-inc-nmctapp-1980.