Caroline Hunt Trust Estate v. United States

470 F.3d 1044, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 28464, 2006 WL 3316819
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
DecidedNovember 16, 2006
Docket2005-5141
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 470 F.3d 1044 (Caroline Hunt Trust Estate v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Caroline Hunt Trust Estate v. United States, 470 F.3d 1044, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 28464, 2006 WL 3316819 (Fed. Cir. 2006).

Opinions

Opinion for the court filed by Circuit Judge LINN. Circuit Judge GAJARSA dissents.

LINN, Circuit Judge.

The United States appeals from the judgment of the Court of Federal Claims, holding that the government breached its contract with Caroline Hunt Trust Estate (“CHTE”) and awarding $14,847,100 in damages to CHTE. Caroline Hunt Trust Estate v. United States, 65 Fed.Cl. 271 (2005) (“CHTE”) (Case No. 95-CV-531). The breach was the elimination of the regulatory capital by the enactment of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (“FIR-REA”), Pub.L. No. 101-73, 103 Stat. 183. CHTE cross-appeals from calculation of the damage award. Because the trial court properly determined the existence of a contract between CHTE and the government and properly computed the offset to damages arising from CHTE’s release from its obligations under its net worth maintenance (“NWM”) letters, we affirm as to these issues. CHTE’s recovery of the value of its $2,279,700 in equity in Southwest Savings Association (“SSA”), however, is foreclosed by our recent decision in American Capital Corp. v. FDIC, Nos. 05-5150, -5152, -5159, 2006 WL 3055912, 472 F.3d 859 (Fed.Cir. Oct. 30, 2006), and we reverse as to that issue. Accordingly, the award of damages to CHTE must be reduced to $12,567,400, and we remand to the Court of Federal Claims with instructions to enter judgment for CHTE in that amount.

I. BACKGROUND

CHTE is an irrevocable trust, with Caroline Hunt as the sole beneficiary. In 1972, CHTE acquired majority ownership of SSA, a Texas-chartered, federally regulated savings and loan association. Donald Crisp (“Crisp”) was the trustee who administered CHTE with a three-person advisory Board of which he was a member. From 1986 to June 1990, Todd Miller (“Miller”) was president, chief executive officer, and a director of SSA. Between 1980 and 1990, CHTE held more than 90% of SSA’s stock and controlled its Board of Directors. In 1983 and 1986, CHTE executed NWM letters, committing it to ensure that SSA met its minimum statutory reserve and net worth obligations. Further, prior to the 1988 acquisitions that are the subject of this appeal, CHTE infused capital into SSA, and acquired subordinated debt, which, as of May 18, 1988, had an outstanding balance of $23,780,462.06 owed to CHTE.

Prior to the enactment of the FIRREA, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (“FHLBB”) was responsible for regulating all savings and loan associations. Thrift savings accounts were insured by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (“FSLIC”). These entities were independent agencies of the United States, though the FHLBB served as the operating head of the FSLIC.

1. The Acquisition Transaction

In response to the savings and loan crisis1 of the 1980s, FHLBB and FSLIC [1047]*1047sought private investors and healthy thrifts to take over ailing thrifts. As an incentive to engage in such mergers, FSLIC and FHLBB routinely agreed to afford the acquiring thrifts particular regulatory treatment. See S. Cal. Fed. Sav. & Loan Assoc. v. United States, 422 F.3d 1319, 1324 (Fed.Cir.2005).

On October 16, 1987, Miller proposed that, with federal assistance, SSA acquire three2 troubled Texas thrifts, and proceeded to negotiate the terms of the acquisition. In the midst of these negotiations, FHLBB formulated the “Southwest Plan,” under which a cluster of thrifts were proposed for acquisition. The goal of the Southwest Plan was to consolidate troubled Texas thrifts under well-qualified management. FHLBB/FSLIC solicitation material for the Southwest Plan outlined available government assistance, including capital loss coverage, yield maintenance, and a FSLIC note in the amount of the negative net worth of an acquired institution. Regulatory forbearances and specific accounting treatments could be requested, but were not automatically granted, and FSLIC could require an equity share in the resulting thrift.

On March 1, 1988, a Request for Proposals was disseminated by the government, to which SSA responded with a proposal dated March 30, 1988. SSA was subsequently determined suitable. FHLBB resolutions qf May 18, 1988 contain the terms of the acquisitions as finally negotiated and approved. The FHLBB resolutions recited that (1) FSLIC would be appointed as receiver for each respective thrift; (2) CHTE was the holder of 90% of the common stock of SSA, the “Assuming Association;” and (3) CHTE and SSA, defined as “the Applicants,” had applied for approval to acquire control of the respective thrifts. CHTE, 65 Fed.Cl. at 283. FHLBB resolutions further included consideration of proposed FSLIC agreements, including the Assistance Agreement, “pursuant to which the FSLIC in its corporate capacity will provide financial assistance and certain indemnifications to the Assuming Association to facilitate the Acquisition.” Id. The FHLBB resolutions authorized the execution of appropriate documents and granted the regulators the authority to decide which applicant, CHTE or SSA, would sign necessary documentation.

The FHLBB resolutions preapproved certain future debts of CHTE, preap-proved certain CHTE affiliated transactions, authorized FSLIC to execute the Assistance Agreement, and granted a $307.5 million capital credit to be used to determine post-merger SSA’s regulatory compliance under both existing and future regulations. Further, the resolutions released CHTE from its obligations under its NWM letters. In particular, the resolutions recited that SSA required as a condition to entering into the various agreements that CHTE be released from any obligation to maintain SSA’s net worth. It was likewise a condition of FSLIC entering into the Assistance Agreement “that the $25 million of subordinated debt of the Assuming Association to the Hunt Trust be converted into equity capital.” Id. at 284.

Pursuant to the FHLBB resolutions, a myriad of agreements were signed. FSLIC was appointed receiver for the four insolvent thrifts and transferred ownership interests in the four thrifts to SSA. FSLIC [1048]*1048and SSA signed the Assistance Agreement, which conditioned FSLIC’s obligations thereunder in part on (1) the sub-debt contribution and addition to SSA’s equity capital; (2) SSA’s issuance of preferred stock to FSLIC; and (3) issuance of warrants to FSLIC to acquire 382,247 shares of SSA’s common stock. Id. The subordinated debt was contributed by CHTE to SSA’s equity capital. SSA issued preferred stock certificates, which granted FSLIC the then-vested right to 90% of the first $60 million of the post-merger SSA’s earnings. Under a warrant agreement, SSA also granted FSLIC the right to purchase 382,247 shares of common stock — the right to acquire 50% of the stock of the post-merger SSA in ten years. As a result, CHTE’s 94% interest in SSA could be literally cut in half.

In sum, CHTE’s subsidiary SSA acquired four deeply insolvent Texas thrifts. Subsequent to approval of CHTE’s May 18, 1988 H-(e)3 application, the four thrifts were placed into federal receivership and their assets and certain liabilities were conveyed to SSA. FSLIC’s financial assistance and incentive for the transaction included, inter alia,

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Ruby Emerald Construction Company
Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals, 2018
Sufi Network Services, Inc. v. United States
755 F.3d 1305 (Federal Circuit, 2014)
SUFI Network Services, Inc. v. United States
108 Fed. Cl. 287 (Federal Claims, 2012)
Southern Nuclear Operating Co. v. United States
637 F.3d 1297 (Federal Circuit, 2011)
Yankee Atomic Power Co. v. United States
94 Fed. Cl. 678 (Federal Claims, 2010)
Wisconsin Electric Power Co. v. United States
90 Fed. Cl. 714 (Federal Claims, 2009)
First Annapolis Bancorp, Inc. v. United States
89 Fed. Cl. 765 (Federal Claims, 2009)
1st Home Liquidating Trust v. United States
581 F.3d 1350 (Federal Circuit, 2009)
Suess v. United States
535 F.3d 1348 (Federal Circuit, 2008)
American Savings Bank, F.A. v. United States
519 F.3d 1316 (Federal Circuit, 2008)
First Federal Lincoln Bank v. United States
518 F.3d 1308 (Federal Circuit, 2008)
Mola Development Corporation v. United States
516 F.3d 1370 (Federal Circuit, 2008)
Southern Nuclear Operating Co. v. United States
77 Fed. Cl. 396 (Federal Claims, 2007)
Gingerich v. United States
77 Fed. Cl. 231 (Federal Claims, 2007)
International Air Response v. United States
75 Fed. Cl. 604 (Federal Claims, 2007)
Caroline Hunt Trust Estate v. United States
470 F.3d 1044 (Federal Circuit, 2006)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
470 F.3d 1044, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 28464, 2006 WL 3316819, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/caroline-hunt-trust-estate-v-united-states-cafc-2006.