Casillas v. Government Employees Credit Union of El Paso

570 S.W.2d 57, 1978 Tex. App. LEXIS 3541
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 5, 1978
Docket6735
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 570 S.W.2d 57 (Casillas v. Government Employees Credit Union of El Paso) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Casillas v. Government Employees Credit Union of El Paso, 570 S.W.2d 57, 1978 Tex. App. LEXIS 3541 (Tex. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinions

OPINION

OSBORN, Justice.

The Appellee, Government Employees Credit Union of El Paso (GECU), filed suit against Elias Casillas and wife, Angie Casillas, to recover the unpaid balance on a promissory note, plus interest and attorney’s fees, and to foreclose a security interest in certain personal property given to secure the indebtedness. Angie Casillas, who at the time of suit was divorced from Elias Casillas, filed an answer admitting execution of the note but denying all other allegations. She also asserted by way of an affirmative defense and a counterclaim certain alleged violations of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, Title 15, Sec. 1601, et seq., U.S.C.A., popularly known as the Federal Truth-in-Lending Act, and Federal Reserve Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. 226.1, et seq., and the Texas Consumer Credit Code, Article 5069-2.01, et seq., Tex.Rev.Civ.Stat.Ann. She sought a recoupment and setoff of twice the finance charge in this transaction, plus reasonable attorney’s fees for violation of the Federal Acts. She sought similar amounts by way of a counterclaim under the State Act. She also sought indemnity from her ex-husband who was obligated to pay such debt under the terms of their divorce. Mr. Casillas did not answer. GECU answered the counterclaim with special exceptions and contentions that any errors on its part were bona fide and not intentional. Title 15, Sec. 1640(c), U.S.C.A. It also alleged good faith compliance with rules, regulations and interpretations of the Federal Reserve Board. Title 15, Sec. 1640(f), U.S.C.A. Only one witness testified, and much of the proof, including certain exhibits, was received by way of stipulations. The trial Court entered judgment for GECU denying all relief to Mrs. Casil-las. We reverse and remand.

The Appellant initially presents three points contending that the record does not contain proof of default and the amount due on the note, and that ordering a fore[59]*59closure on the security interest was improper. Appellee agrees that the record does not support the judgment in this regard and, therefore, we sustain the first three points of error.

The real battle between these parties is presented by the next three points concerning alleged violations of Truth-in-Lending provisions and the defenses raised by GECU. The Consumer Credit Disclosure form used in connection with this loan states that the loan is secured by a Security Agreement covering “Motor Vehicle(s),” “Household Goods & Appliances” and “Other,” and following each classification of property are several blank lines. On this form, as completed, there are listed two automobiles and certain household goods, and a line is drawn through the blanks after the word “Other.” Beside this part of the disclosure form is the following statement: “Security Interest/The Security Agreement will secure future or other indebtedness and will cover after acquired property.”

Under Section 9.204(d)(2), Tex.Bus. & Comm.Code Ann. (1968), a security interest does not attach under an after acquired property clause as to consumer goods other than accessions unless acquired within ten days after the secured party gives value. But the printed form used in this loan transaction did not so inform the borrowers. This is a violation of Section 1639(a)(8) of the Consumer Credit Protection Act and Section 226.8(b)(5) of Regulation Z.1 Garza v. Allied Finance Company, 566 S.W.2d 57 (Tex.Civ.App.—Corpus Christi, 1978); Pollock v. General Finance Corporation, 535 F.2d 295 (5th Cir. 1976), reaff’d, 552 F.2d 1142 (1977); Tinsman v. Moline Beneficial Finance Company, 531 F.2d 815 (7th Cir. 1976); Willis v. Town Finance Corporation of Atlanta, 416 F.Supp. 10 (N.D.Ga., 1976); Johnson v. Associates Finance, Inc., 369 F.Supp. 1121 (S.D.Ill., 1974). In the recently decided Garza case, Chief Justice Nye said:

“ * * * The reference to after-acquired property contained in the disclosure statement ignores this 10-day limitation and it purports to secure for the creditor all of defendants’ after-acquired consumer goods.
“Although our Texas courts have not considered this precise question, other courts have consistently ruled that disclosure of an after-acquired property clause without further explanation of the 10-day limitation on personal property subject to the security interest fails to comply with 12 C.F.R. Sec. 226.8(b)(5). * * *
“ * * * this portion of the regulation requires a lender to explain the 10-day limitation of U.C.C. 9-204(4)(d) [sic] so that the borrower is informed that any consumer goods that he may acquire within ten days of the loan transaction are subject to the security interest and that any consumer goods acquired after that date are not. * * * ”

We attach no significance to the fact that a line is drawn through the blanks after the word “Other.” This does not mean, as Ap-pellee urges, that there was to be no security interest in any other property, thus eliminating all after acquired property. It only means that there originally was no other property subject to the security interest other than the listed autos and the listed household goods.

We also agree with Appellant’s assertion that the disclosure form fails to describe the type of security interest taken. Section 226.8(b)(5) of Regulation Z requires a disclosure of the “description or identification of the type of any security interest held or to be retained or acquired * * .” The disclosure statement in this transaction only states the loan is secured by a security agreement on the listed property and that the security agreement will cover after acquired property. A mere recital that a security interest is being retained falls [60]*60short of meeting the requirement that the security interest be described. McDonald v. Savoy, 501 S.W.2d 400 (Tex.Civ.App.—San Antonio 1973, no writ). Also see, Pennino v. Morris Kirschman and Company, 526 F.2d 367 (5th Cir. 1976).

By way of defense, Appellee relies upon a form “Disclosure Statement of Loan” in a pamphlet prepared by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Its defense was made under the provisions of Title 15, Sec. 1640(c) and (f), U.S.C.A., which states:

“(c) A creditor may not be held liable in any action brought under this section for a violation of this subchapter if the creditor shows by a preponderance of evidence that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such error.”

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Casillas v. Government Employees Credit Union of El Paso
570 S.W.2d 57 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1978)

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Bluebook (online)
570 S.W.2d 57, 1978 Tex. App. LEXIS 3541, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/casillas-v-government-employees-credit-union-of-el-paso-texapp-1978.