Blevins v. Boyd

623 F. Supp. 863, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13380
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedNovember 27, 1985
DocketNo. CV-R-85-42-ECR
StatusPublished

This text of 623 F. Supp. 863 (Blevins v. Boyd) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blevins v. Boyd, 623 F. Supp. 863, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13380 (D. Nev. 1985).

Opinion

ORDER

EDWARD C. REED, Jr., District Judge.

Plaintiff in this action is a California citizen, and has brought a case to quiet title to a parcel of land in Washoe County to which he claims title. Jurisdiction for the suit is premised on diversity of citizenship, in that all defendants are citizens of the State of Nevada, and the parcel in question is valued at more than $10,000. The two elements for diversity jurisdiction set out in 28 U.S.C. § 1332 having been satisfied, the Court may consider the substance of the present motion. Because this is a diversity case, this Court must apply State law on substantive issues. Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 (1938).

At issue in this suit is whether defendant Boyd will be charged with notice of certain documents which purport to restrict the use of this parcel of land. Prior to October 5, 1982, Owen H. Cooper owned the parcel in fee. On that date, Owen Cooper executed and recorded a quitclaim deed for this property in favor of O.H.C. Batteries and Car Sales, Inc. (O.H.C.). At this time, Owen Cooper was also the sole shareholder in O.H.C. On October 6, Owen Cooper and Bruce Cooper, Owen’s father, both acting as individuals, entered into and recorded an agreement which encumbered the parcel in various degrees. This document essentially recognized that Bruce Cooper had paid the entire purchase price of the parcel, and that he therefore held a constructive trust over the land. The agreement further provided that if the property or Owen Cooper’s shares of O.H.C. should ever come into default under any deed of trust, the property and the shares would revert to Bruce Cooper. From the face of the agreement, however, it is clear that O.H.C. as a corporate body was not a party to the agreement.

In August of 1983, Bruce Cooper and O.H.C. became indebted to the plaintiff for $90,000 and executed a series of promissory notes and mortgages which secured the debt with this parcel. These instruments were recorded on the 10th of that month. On December 14, 1983, O.H.C., through Owen Cooper, executed a $30,000 promissory note in favor of defendant Boyd. This note was secured by a trust deed, which was also executed and recorded on December 14. The latter agreement was apparently made in violation of the agreement [865]*865between Owen and Bruce Cooper of October 6, 1982.

In October of 1983, Bruce Cooper had become aware that Owen Cooper was in breach of that agreement, and filed notice of default with the county recorder on February 11, 1985. On that date, Bruce Cooper apparently physically occupied the parcel, and asserted 100% ownership of the outstanding stock in O.H.C. Although the record is very inartfully drafted, it appears that Bruce Cooper had been in actual physical possession of the parcel well before this date. On his behalf and on that of O.H.C., Bruce Cooper then executed a deed for this parcel to the plaintiff, in lieu of a foreclosure of the mortgage which the plaintiff held on the parcel.

In his complaint, plaintiff argues that all subsequent purchasers had notice of the October 6 agreement between Owen and Bruce Cooper. Boyd, contends plaintiff, executed the promissory note and trust deed with Owen Cooper in constructive knowledge of the reverter contained in that document. Therefore, Boyd cannot claim to be a bona fide purchaser and his trust deed cannot be superior to the later agreement with the plaintiff.

Defendant Boyd has filed a motion to dismiss this complaint pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
623 F. Supp. 863, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13380, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blevins-v-boyd-nvd-1985.