Bio-Line, Inc. v. Wilfley

366 N.W.2d 662, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4108
Court of Appeals of Minnesota·Decided April 30, 1985·No. C9-84-1902·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

OPINION

FOLEY, Judge.

Appellants seek review of a July 27, 1984 order which required them to post additional security (for a total of $44,674.89) to obtain requested injunctive relief and of a September 12, 1984 order which vacated the injunction for failure to post the security as required. Respondents then sought replevin to enforce their promissory notes. By findings of fact, conclusions of law and order for judgment dated October 9, 1984, the trial court required appellants to make monthly payments to respondents “on the *664 notes until final resolution of” the underlying lawsuit in lieu of replevin. Appellants also seek review of that order. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand.

FACTS

Bio-Line manufactures and distributes consumer products containing “specifically formulated catalyst water.” The Wilfleys owned 45 percent of the company stock and previously served as corporate officers and directors. Appellant Kyron Michaelson is the current president of Bio-Line.

On June 24, 1983, the Wilfleys executed a noncompetition and nondisclosure agreement, which was amended on October 29, 1983. The amended agreement provided for forfeiture of any debt owed to the Wilfleys in the event of a breach of the noncompetition agreement. On October 1, 1983, Michaelson, on behalf of Bio-Line, executed promissory notes requiring monthly payments to the Wilfleys. As security for these notes, the Wilfleys received a security interest in Bio-Line’s equipment, all after acquired equipment, and proceeds from the sale of equipment.

The promissory notes explicitly authorized acceleration if a monthly payment was missed by Bio-Line:

In the event the undersigned fails to pay any installment of principal or interest hereunder when due, the holder of this Note may at its option, upon giving the undersigned thirty (30) days written notice thereof, declare the full amount of this Note to be immediately due and payable.

Appellants stopped making monthly payments before May 1, 1984. By letter dated May 8, 1984, the Wilfleys notified appellants the notes were accelerated. Appellants sued the Wilfleys, seeking 1) damages for breach of fiduciary duty, contractual interference, disparagement, unfair competition and fraudulent conversion of corporate assets, 2) specific performance of the noncompetition agreements, and 3) cancellation of the promissory notes. The Wilfleys counterclaimed for payment on the notes.

Appellants obtained a temporary restraining order on May 21, 1984 to prevent the Wilfleys from foreclosing on appellants’ business equipment. The restraining order was vacated on June 5, 1984, although the Wilfleys were enjoined from soliciting Bio-Line employees, interfering with the performance of employee duties, and defaming appellants. Appellants were:

ordered to deposit into, court all monies due and owing on the promissory notes executed by [appellants] in favor of [respondents], such deposit to constitute security for the relief granted to [appellants] herein.

Appellants deposited only $4,269, representing the May and June 1984 payments.

By order dated July 27, 1984, the trial court continued the injunction against the Wilfleys, but ordered Bio-Line, Inc. to:

deposit in the court the additional sum of $40,405.89 as security for the temporary injunction against [respondents]. This sum represents the amount of money allegedly owed [respondents] by [appellant] Bio-Line, Inc., on the promissory notes, minus the money [Bio-Line] has already paid into court.

The security to be deposited with the court totalled $44,674.89, the accelerated amount the Wilfleys claimed was due on the promissory notes. Bio-Line did not post the security as ordered, and the trial court dissolved the injunction and ordered the deposited sums returned to appellants on September 12, 1984. Appellants seek review of both orders, arguing the trial court required excessive security for the injunction in July, and improperly vacated the injunction in September.

In October 1984 the Wilfleys sought re-plevin of the property which secured their promissory notes. After a hearing, the trial court issued “Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order for Judgment” dated October 9, 1984. The court found replevin would be too great a burden on appellants, but ordered them to make monthly principal and interest payments to the Wilfleys on the notes from May 1984 “until final resolution of this matter.” Ap *665 pellants seek review of this order, arguing the payments should be made to the court and not directly to the Wilfleys. The Wilf-leys assert this order is nonappealable and that this appeal was taken solely for delay. They seek an award of damages and costs pursuant to Minn.R.Civ.App.P. 138.

ISSUES

1. Whether the trial court ordered appellants to post excessive security to obtain the temporary injunction?

2. Whether an order for judgment affording temporary relief in lieu of replevin is appealable?

3. Did the trial court err in ordering payments directly to the respondents pending final resolution of the lawsuit?

4. Whether an award of damages and costs pursuant to Minn.R.Civ.App.P. 138 is appropriate in this case?

ANALYSIS

1. Appellants argue the trial court improperly required them to post $44,-674.89 as security for the injunctive relief sought and improperly vacated the injunction for failure to post the security.

No temporary restraining order or temporary injunction shall be granted except upon the giving of security by the applicant, in such sum as the court deems proper, for the payment of such costs and damages as may be incurred or suffered by any party who is found to have been wrongfully enjoined or restrained.

Minn.R.Civ.P. 65.03(1). Prior to the adoption of Rule 65.03, a bond of at least $250 was required. Minn.Stat. § 585.04 (1972), repealed 1974 Minn.Laws, Chapter 394, Section 11. Subsequent to adoption of the rule and repeal of the statute, the amount of security required on a temporary injunction is within the trial court’s discretion and may be waived entirely if appropriate. See Petition of Giblin, 304 Minn. 510, 525-6, 232 N.W.2d 214, 222-3 (1975) (waiver of bond for divorced mother proceeding in for-ma pauperis not an abuse of discretion).

Security should be set in an amount which will insure compensation to the party harmed by the erroneous issuance of an injunction. Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. v. Loescher, 291 N.W.2d 216, 222 (Minn.1980). Here, the trial court set security in the amount the Wilfleys claimed was owing on the notes after acceleration. We cannot agree with appellants that it was an akuse of discretion to do so.

2. Appellants further argue the trial court erred when, in its October 9 findings, conclusions and order for judgment, denying replevin, it required appellants to make monthly payments directly to the Wilfleys instead of into court.

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Bio-Line, Inc. v. Wilfley, 366 N.W.2d 662, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4108 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985).

366 N.W.2d 662 (Bio-Line, Inc. v. Wilfley) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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