Citicorp Savings v. Brace

18 Fla. Supp. 2d 77
CourtCircuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida
DecidedMarch 21, 1986
DocketCase No. 84-0047-CA-01-HDH
StatusPublished

This text of 18 Fla. Supp. 2d 77 (Citicorp Savings v. Brace) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Circuit Court for the Judicial Circuits of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Citicorp Savings v. Brace, 18 Fla. Supp. 2d 77 (Fla. Super. Ct. 1986).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

HUGH D. HAYES, Circuit Judge.

THIS CAUSE came on for hearing upon the Plaintiffs Motion for [78]*78Deficiency Judgment, and the Court, after having heard argument of counsel, testimony and evidence presented, the Motion is DENIED.

FINDING OF FACTS

1. The original Plaintiff in this suit was BISCA YNE FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN, a federal association. Effective the 26th day of March, 1984, BISCA YNE changed its name to CITICORP SAVINGS OF FLORIDA, a federal savings and loan association.

2. On or about the 16th day of March, 1983, the Defenant, PAUL K. BRACE, executed and delivered to the Plaintiff a Promissory Note and Mortgage securing the property subject to this suit and the Mortgage was recorded on the 19th day of April, 1983 in the Public Records of Collier County, Florida.

3. On or about the 18th day of April, 1983, the Defendant, CAROL BURNETT, INC., acquired title to the subject property by Warranty Deed, which deed was recorded on the 26th day of August, 1983 in the Public Records of Collier County, Florida.

4. A default occurred, and the Plaintiff obtained a Final Judgment of Foreclosure against the Defendants on the 28th day of December, 1984.

5. The Defendant, PAUL K. BRACE, essentially admitted most of the liability under the foreclosure action, however, he filed several affirmative defenses in denial of any liability should the Plaintiff seek a Deficiency Judgment.

6. On or about the 11th day of February, 1985, the Plaintiff received a title to the subject property based upon its bid of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars at the foreclosure sale. The Court, at the deficiency hearing, did agree with counsel for the Plaintiff that competent evidence substantiated that the fair market value of the subject condominium property, as of the date of the foreclosure sale, was One Hundred Twenty Thousand ($120,000.00) Dollars.

RE: DEFICIENCY JUDGMENT/EQUITY COURT

7. The amount of deficiency being sought by the Plaintiff against the Defendant, PAUL K. BRACE, is Forty-Eight Thousand Four Hundred Twenty Dollars and Thirty-Nine Cents ($48,420.39), representing the difference between the total amount due to the Plaintiff under the Final Judgment minus the One Hundred Twenty Thousand ($120,000.00) Dollar fair market value of the property.

8. At trial, upon direct examination by Defendant’s counsel, the Defendant, PAUL K. BRACE, admitted that he was employed as a [79]*79certified public accountant in the firm of Poccia and Brace, located in Amawalk, New York. The testimony reflected that Ms. Joann Poccia was not only a partner in the CPA firm, but likewise, was the wife of PAUL K. BRACE. Mr. Brace additionally stated that at no point in time did he have any connection with CAROL BURNETT, INC., as an officer, director, agent, employee or representative.

9. Upon cross-examination by counsel for the Plaintiff the following discussion occurred:

Q Did you know when you first entered this deal that the property was going to be acquired by Carol Burnett, Inc.?
A Yes.
Q What motivated you to make this deal? What motivated you to execute the note and mortgage? What did you receive?
A I received payment from Carol Burnett, Inc.
Q In the sum of?
A I’m not sure.
Q You have no recollection as to the amount you received? A hundred dollars?
A No, I can’t speculate. It may have been three or four thousand.
Q What was that three or four thousand dollars for? What service did you perform?
A For executing a lot of papers, for undertaking the liability initially.
Q Did you receive anything aside from that monetary remuneration?
A No.
Q Nothing, just three or four thousand dollars and you knew at that time that you received the money and executed the note and mortgage that you would be incurring a substantial liability as stated expressly in the note and mortgage? You didn’t know that?
A No.
Q Did you read the note and mortgage?
A I read the note and mortgage and I understood that everything that the bank would require which would cause the sale, to approve the sale and the assumption and all of that had also taken place.
Q So that you wouldn’t even be at risk?
A Yes.
[80]*80(Transcript of Proceedings of Paul K. Brace, Page 14, Lines 11 through 25 and Page 15, Lines 1-18, taken 9 October 1985)

10. When Ms. Joann Poccia, the wife of Co-Defendant, PAUL K. BRACE, was called to testify, her direct examination testimony reflected the following discussion:

Q Was there a problem with these corporations acquiring large blocks of properties and financing with Biscayne Federal Savings and Loan Association?
A Yes, they could not go and get a direct loan on these units. They had to use individuals.
(Transcript of Proceeding of Joann Poccia, Page 12, Lines 16 through 20, taken 9 October 1985)
Q So they were using individuals to qualify?
A Yes, in fact I had been told by the bank, you know, in Paragraph 17 was the way that the bank went around whatever the other requirement was for their corporation to obtain financing and that they were assumable. In fact, we had a letter from Barbara Genovese stating that they were, all the loans and mortgages were assumable if certain conditions were met. And at that time the assumption fee was $100 and that the new purchaser was qualified by submitting the balance sheet and a PL & A, and there was a transfer form and that would release the individual.
(Transcript of Proceeding of Joann Poccia, Page 13, Lines 2 through 12, taken 9 October 1985)

11. On cross-examination by counsel for the Plaintiff, the testimony reflected:

MR. LASZLO: In this present situation, including unit 203 at the Sea Winds in April 1983 had you ever spoken to Barbara Genovese concerning this procedure?
THE WITNESS: She had forwarded the papers up to be signed which they were signed but they were held. The notes were dated the 16th of whatever, of March but they were sent to Carol Burnett, Inc., and told to be held until they were approved for transfer because we did not want the closing to go through until the corporation had been approved for the transfer. And that’s why they were held until the 18th. The proceeds checks that went to the attorney were dated also the 18th of April, Guy DeLoach.
[81]*81(Transcript of Proceeding of Joann Poccia, Page 14, Lines 15 through 25 and Page 15, Lines 1-2, taken 9 October 1985)
MR.

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Bluebook (online)
18 Fla. Supp. 2d 77, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/citicorp-savings-v-brace-flacirct-1986.