Chapman v. First-Wichita National Bank of Wichita Falls

392 S.W.2d 772
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 18, 1965
DocketNo. 16625
StatusPublished

This text of 392 S.W.2d 772 (Chapman v. First-Wichita National Bank of Wichita Falls) 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
Chapman v. First-Wichita National Bank of Wichita Falls, 392 S.W.2d 772 (Tex. Ct. App. 1965).

Opinion

MASSEY, Chief Justice.

On or about June 8, 1961, N. S. Chapman, finding himself in financial straits, entered into a contract with the First-Wichita National Bank of Wichita Falls. The objective thereof was to attempt an amicable solution of Chapman’s financial difficulties with an amount recouped by the. bank which it would be willing to receive in discharge of Chapman’s obligations.

Not a matter of dispute is the fact that the bank did, thereafter on August 17, 1961, take a judgment in the sum of $203,698.43 against Chapman. Thereby was settled the amount which, but for the afore[774]*774said contract, would be owing by Chapman to the bank for the principal amount owing, plus interest and attorney’s fees.

By the June 8, 1961 agreement Chapman and the bank agreed that: “a prospective purchaser is willing to purchase the Chapman Dairy and its properties for a price of approximately One Hundred Seventy-nine Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($179,000.00) upon the condition that: 1. A disinterested Receiver is appointed to take over the operation of the Chapman Dairy Plant with directions to consummate the sale thereof; and 2. That a Federal Government milk supply contract heretofore bid by Chapman in the approximate amount of One Million One Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($1,100,000.00) is accepted and approved by the Government and can be sold, together with the Chapman Dairy, its properties and facilities.” By recitations thereafter appearing in the instrument Chapman agreed to the appointment of a Receiver for such purpose in consideration of the bank’s agreement to use its efforts to obtain an acceptance and approval of the Government to the transfer of the milk supply contract.

It was further agreed that “Upon consummation of the sale of said contract and the Chapman Dairy Plant, its equipment and facilities, and the payment of the proceeds thereof, less expenses of the Receivership by the Receiver to the bank” the bank would cancel all indebtedness owing by Chapman, release all liens securing the same, and return to Chapman certain pledged bank stock and insurance policies representing security (along with the liens) for Chapman’s indebtedness.

At time the aforementioned judgment was taken the bank delivered to Chapman a letter in which the parties’ agreement was either clarified or confirmed, in that it recited that if the proceeds of the sale (of the Chapman Dairy Plant, its equipment and facilities) were sufficient to retire Chapman’s obligations under the contractual agreement Hie bank would look only to the proceeds of the sale of the “mortgaged properties” and would pay the receivership costs and attorney’s fees. It would not be unreasonable to view the letter as stating a reduction of the bank’s rights as reflected in the original agreement.

Since the agreement (s) of the parties contemplated the sale of the Chapman Dairy as a “going business enterprise” we believe that a proper construction would be that it was intended thereby that the existing debts of Chapman accrued pursuant to the operation of his business would be payable — and chargeable to the “Chapman Dairy”, considered as an entity. Whether payment thereof be made before or after the sale would be immaterial. If made after sale the meaning of the agreement would be that sufficient proceeds from the total realized upon sale would be used to retire the indebtedness, so that the “Chapman Dairy” would be “out of debt”, r

Another matter of construction would be the meaning and intent of the contract wherein it was provided that the proceeds of the sale (as a debt-free business) would be accepted by the bank (if it was sufficient “to retire Chapman’s obligations under the contractual agreement”) looking only to the proceeds of the sale of the “mortgaged properties”. It would appear that the most favorable construction to Chapman would be that the parties intended that the bank agree to forgive and forget the fact of the judgment it took against Chapman, and the amount thereof, — and instead of seeking to enforce the judgment — accept in satisfaction of Chapman’s indebtedness the amount theretofore owed, conditioned upon the sufficiency of the proceeds realized from the sale of the “Chapman Dairy”. Cor-relatively, in the event the proceeds were in excess thereof the bank would receive only the aforesaid amount, with Chapman to receive the balance (i.e., the difference between the sale figure and indebtedness figure). .Furthermore, and in the event the bank should receive the amount of indebtedness as so computed it would be obliged [775]*775to pay the receivership costs and attorney’s fees.

According to our calculations (from the figures in the bank’s pleadings under which it took its judgment for $203,698.43) Chapman’s indebtedness (as of the date the judgment was taken) was a little more than $183,408.10. The proceeds realized from the sale of the Chapman Dairy Plant for $179,364.25 (a figure which all parties agree we may use) were less than the indebtedness which the bank required in order to make itself whole — calculated only upon the amount of principal and interest owed on August 17, 1961. It therefore appears that the letter agreement (delivered to Chapman at the time the bank took its judgment) never became binding because the condition or contingency upon which the bank’s promise depended did not occur. Nevertheless, as hereinafter noted, the trial court treated the agreement as binding upon the bank and sought to apply it in the apportionment on accounting, in charging the bank with expenses of receivership and costs, etc. Of this the bank does not complain nor seek any curative action in this court. We are of the opinion that it reasonably could have — as a condition precedent to its compliance with the promise made in the aforementioned letter — insisted that it be supplied not only with the proceeds of the sale, but with the additional amount of $4,043.85 ($183,408.10 minus $179,364.25).

We revert to the occurrences in June, 1961. On June 5, obviously pursuant to agreement of all parties, the bank filed in the District Court of Wichita County, Texas, an Application for Appointment of Receiver. Chapman signed and filed a waiver of service and consented to such appointment. In the bank’s application no mention was made of the contractual agreement of June 8. However, the Order Appointing Receiver (following hearing before the court on June 8) reflected the presence of Chapman at the hearing. In the order appears the appointment of Sam Gose, as Receiver “of all the assets of Chapman Dairy that are described in and secured by instruments introduced in evidence and fully set out in Plaintiff’s original Petition, taking possession of such property and operating it to the best advantage possible, * * * buying and selling dairy products, maintaining a fleet of trucks and delivering dairy products * * * to carry on such business with as little change as is possible so that such concern will continue as a going business and be available for sale as such rather than to be closed down and sold as a defunct business * * The order authorized and directed the Receiver to use all available means to retrieve a government contract of Chapman which he had lost because of financial inability to carry out its provisions.

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392 S.W.2d 772, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chapman-v-first-wichita-national-bank-of-wichita-falls-texapp-1965.