Citizens Bank v. Business Products Online, Inc.

20 Mass. L. Rptr. 507
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedFebruary 14, 2006
DocketNo. 032816
StatusPublished

This text of 20 Mass. L. Rptr. 507 (Citizens Bank v. Business Products Online, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Citizens Bank v. Business Products Online, Inc., 20 Mass. L. Rptr. 507 (Mass. Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

Quinlan, Regina L., J.

This is an action by plaintiff Citizens Bank of Massachusetts (“Citizens”) against [508]*508defendants Business Products Online, Inc. (“Business Products"), Matthew J. Hanley (“Matthew”), and Nathan J. Hanley (“Nathan”).2 Citizens brought this suit in order to recover all amounts due and owing under notes and guarantees executed by the defendants in favor of the plaintiff. Pursuant to Mass.RCiv.P. 56, the plaintiff now moves for summary judgment on its claim of breach of the promissory note (Count I). The plaintiff also moves for summary judgment on all counterclaims asserted against it by the defendants. For the reasons set forth below, the plaintiffs motion for summary judgment is ALLOWED.

BACKGROUND

Matthew Hanley and his brother, Nathan Hanley, formed Business Products, an office supply company, in 1996. In order to support this venture, Matthew and Nathan Hanley secured a $50,000 line of credit from US Trust. Over the next few years, the line of credit was increased incrementally. By November of 1998, the line of credit had reached $230,000.

On August 4, 1999, Business Products executed and delivered to US Trust a line of credit commercial promissory note and allonge (collectively, “line of credit note”) in the amount of $230,000. At the same time, Business Products executed and delivered to US Trust a term note in the amount of $150,000 for a U.S. Small Business Administration 5-year term loan (“term loan”). The line of credit note as well as the term loan was secured by a security interest in Business Product’s business assets, the personal guarantees of Matthew and Nathan Hanley, and a mortgage on real property located at 52 Ridge Street, Arlington, MA. In order to perfect the security interests, Business Products executed, and US Trust filed, a UCC-1 financing statement for both the existing line of credit note and the term loan.3

In March 2000, Business Products’ line of credit was frozen, allegedly without any notice or explanation. Despite attempts by Business Products to rectify the situation, the line of credit remained frozen for several months.4 According to Business Products, the company continued to make all required payments on the term loan as well as the existing line of credit.

In September 2001, Citizens cross-defaulted Business Products on all of its outstanding loan obligations and demanded payment. The basis for Citizens’ demand was that Business Products had failed to pay the existing line of credit down to a zero dollar balance for one month out of every twelve. However, the defendants allege that Citizens’ Vice-President, Frank L. Davis, III, stated that the “30 day cleanup” provision would not be strictly enforced.5 At the time of the demand, Business Products did not have the available funds necessary to satisfy the request for full and immediate payment. As a result, on December 5,2001, Citizens recovered approximately $7,300 from Business Products’ checking account. On December 7, 2001, an additional $9,000 was withdrawn from Business Products’ account as well as approximately $8,800 from Matthew Hanley’s personal accounts. Shortly thereafter, the defendants signed a forbearance agreement with Citizens. Business Products was represented by counsel during the negotiation, drafting, and execution of the forbearance agreement.

As a result of the forbearance agreement and in accordance with the terms set forth therein, the property located at 52 Ridge Street in Arlington was sold and the proceeds were applied to the outstanding balance on the line of credit. However, the proceeds from the sale were insufficient to fulfill the line of credit obligation. As a result, the remaining outstanding balance of $21,812.02 was withdrawn from Business Products’ checking account in March 2002.

From December 2001 until January 2003, Business Products continued to make the requisite payments on the term loan. According to the terms of the forbearance agreement, however, the payments were to increase by $750 per month. Citizens did not immediately increase the automatic withdrawal and the term loan continued to be paid according to the original terms. In January 2003, Citizens notified Business Products that it was increasing the monthly payment on the term loan in accordance with the forbearance agreement. At the time of notification, Business Products could not afford such an increase and sought to refinance the term loan. However, an agreement could not be reached with Citizens and, in May 2003, Citizens made demand on Business Products for the then-outstanding amount of the term loan. On July 7, 2003, Citizens filed this suit seeking $48,290.97 plus attorneys fees and costs.

DISCUSSION Standard of Review

To prevail on summary judgment the moving party must establish that there is no genuine issue of material fact on every element of a claim and that it is entitled to judgment on that claim as a matter of law. See Mass.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Highlands Ins. Co. v. Aerovox, Inc., 424 Mass. 226, 232 (1997). Where, as here, the party opposing summary judgment has the burden of proof at trial, the moving party is entitled to summary judgment if it “. . . demonstrates, by reference to material described in Mass.R.Civ.P. 56(c), unmet by countervailing materials, that the party opposing the motion has no reasonable expectation of proving an essential element of that party’s case. To be successful, a moving party need not submit affirmative evidence to negate one or more elements of the other party’s claim.” Kourouvacilis v. General Motors Corp., 410 Mass. 706, 716 (1991). It is sufficient to demonstrate that “proof of that element is unlikely to be forthcoming at trial.” Flesner v. Technical Communications Corp., 410 Mass. 805, 809 (1991).

Liability on Demand Promissory Notes and Guarantees

In its complaint, Citizens alleges that Business Products, Matthew Hanley, and Nathan Hanley are in [509]*509default under the terms and provisions of the note and guarantees. The default arose as a result of failure to make required payments. Under the Uniform Commercial Code, G.L.c. 106, §3-308(b), plaintiff establishes a prima facie case by producing the instrument at issue and proving the validity of the signatures. Loew v. Minasian, 361 Mass. 390, 390 (1972). The burden then falls upon the defendants to prove any defense by a preponderance of the evidence. Coupanas v. Madden, 401 Mass. 125, 129 (1987). In this case, the defendants admit the existence and signatures on the notes and guarantees at issue. Since the plaintiff sets forth a prima facie case for breach of the note and guarantee, the burden is on the defendants to articulate a defense to this claim.

Defense: Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

As a defense, the defendants assert that Citizens breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. This implied covenant demands that neither party to a contract shall do anything that will seriously impinge upon the right of the other party to reap the benefits of that contract. Anthony’s Pier Four, Inc. v. HBC Associates, 411 Mass. 451, 471 (1991). Implied in every contract, “...

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Bluebook (online)
20 Mass. L. Rptr. 507, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/citizens-bank-v-business-products-online-inc-masssuperct-2006.