Citizens Mortgage Corp. v. Investors Mortgage Insurance

706 F. Supp. 819, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1509, 1989 WL 11650
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedFebruary 10, 1989
DocketNo. 87-1945-CIV-T-17(A)
StatusPublished

This text of 706 F. Supp. 819 (Citizens Mortgage Corp. v. Investors Mortgage Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Citizens Mortgage Corp. v. Investors Mortgage Insurance, 706 F. Supp. 819, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1509, 1989 WL 11650 (M.D. Fla. 1989).

Opinion

ORDER ON MOTION TO DISMISS

KOVACHEVICH, District Judge.

This cause is before the Court on the following motions and responses:

1. Defendant United Guaranty Residential Insurance Company (United Guaranty)’s motion to dismiss and memorandum in support thereof, filed January 27, 1988.
2. Defendant United Guaranty’s request for oral argument, filed January 27, 1988.
3. Defendant Investors Mortgage Insurance Company (Investor)^ motion to [820]*820dismiss and memorandum in support thereof, filed February 5, 1988.
4. Plaintiffs’ memorandum in law in opposition to United Guaranty’s motion to dismiss, filed February 8, 1988.
5. Plaintiffs’ memorandum of law in opposition to Investor’s motion to dismiss, filed February 16, 1988.
6. Defendant Investor’s motion to dismiss amended complaint, filed February 18, 1988.
7. Defendant United Guaranty’s motion to dismiss amended complaint and motion for extension of time, filed February 22, 1988.
8. Plaintiffs’ memorandum in opposition to United Guaranty’s motion to dismiss amended complaint, filed February 26, 1988.
9. Plaintiffs’ memorandum in opposition to Investor’s motion to dismiss amended complaint, filed February 26, 1988.
10. Defendant Investors’ motion to dismiss or transfer case on forum non con-veniens grounds and supporting memorandum, filed August 12, 1988.
11. Plaintiffs’ memorandum in opposition to motion to transfer and appendix thereto, filed August 22, 1988.
12. Defendant United Guaranty’s memorandum in support of motion to transfer, filed August 30, 1988.
13. Defendant Investor’s reply to Plaintiff’s memorandum in opposition to motion to transfer, filed September 9, 1988.

A complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless it appears beyond doubt that Plaintiff can prove no set of facts that would entitle him to relief. Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 101-102, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957). A trial court, in ruling on a motion to dismiss, is required to view the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 40 L.Ed.2d 90 (1974).

Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in this cause on February 16, 1988, and alleged the following facts in support of their claim:

1.In early 1983, Plaintiff Citizens Mortgage Corporation (USA), Inc. (Citizens Mortgage) negotiated a permanent loan commitment with Atrium Residence Company (Atrium). Atrium was planning to build a 108-unit condominium apartment in Harris County, Texas. Plaintiffs contracted with Fairfax Savings and Loan Association (Fairfax) to purchase the Atrium loan upon closing. Fairfax required mortgage insurance as part of the permanent financing.
2. Citizens Mortgage negotiated with Defendants Investors and United Guaranty for commitments of mortgage insurance. Both companies agreed to furnish mortgage insurance to be placed upon the closing of the permanent loan in St. Petersburg, Florida.
3. On February 18, 1983, in reliance on the agreements of both Defendants Citizens Mortgage issued its commitment for permanent financing. The commitment was guaranteed by Citizens Savings Financial Corporation (Citizens Savings). Part of the commitment for permanent financing was a list of terms and conditions which were promulgated by the mortgage insurers previously.
4. On February 16, 1983, Investors issued a letter, addressed to Donna L. Cribbs, Assistant Vice President, Citizens Mortgage Corporation, which Plaintiffs assert is a commitment to provide mortgage insurance. (Exhibit B to amended complaint). In relevant part the letter states:
IMI (Investors) has received and reviewed the information which you have submitted on the above project. We find that the project qualifies for our builder operative program subject to the following terms and conditions: (terms and conditions omitted)
If the above terms and conditions meet with your approval please let me know. Upon positive notification, I will issue a separate letter of approval for each program ...
The letter was signed by S. Michael Lu-casn, National Underwriting Manager.
5. On March 2,1983, a letter was issued by United Guaranty, addressed to Donna L. Cribbs, Citizens Mortgage Corpora[821]*821tion, which Plaintiffs assert is a commitment to provide mortgage insurance. (Exhibit C to amended complaint). In relevant part the letter states:
We have received and reviewed the information which you have submitted on the above captioned project. We find the project qualifies for our builder operative program subject to the following terms and conditions: (terms and conditions omitted).
Thank you for the opportunity to assist you in this project. If we can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
The letter was signed by Bob Rosen-blum, Divisional Vice President.
6. As the completion of the project neared, Atrium and its construction lender gave Plaintiffs notice they would be called on to honor the terms of its commitment. Plaintiffs then notified Defendants that they would soon be called on to issue the policies of mortgage insurance which Plaintiffs assert they were committed to issue by Exhibits B and C of the amended complaint.
7. Defendants knew that: 1) the commitment for permanent financing was contingent on the issuance of mortgage insurance, 2) failure to issue the insurance would mean the loan would not close and the project would fail, and 3) no other mortgage insurance company would issue mortgage insurance for this type of project in Harris County, Texas.
8. At completion of the project, Plaintiffs notified Defendants to issue the mortgage insurance. Defendants refused to furnish mortgage insurance on the project. All conditions precedent to issuance of the insurance have been performed or have occurred.
9. The participants in the construction project filed suit against both Plaintiffs in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, for breach of the loan commitment.
10. Defendants were joined in the cause of action. After two years, a settlement conference was scheduled for October 23, 1987. Neither Defendant attended the conference. Plaintiffs in the Texas action alleged possible damages in excess of $39,000,000.00. Citizens Mortgage and Citizens Savings settled the litigation for $2,750,000.00. When notified of the settlement, Investors and United Guaranty disapproved of the settlement.

Count I of the amended complaint asserts breach of contract against both Defendants.

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Related

Conley v. Gibson
355 U.S. 41 (Supreme Court, 1957)
Scheuer v. Rhodes
416 U.S. 232 (Supreme Court, 1974)
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Bluebook (online)
706 F. Supp. 819, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1509, 1989 WL 11650, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/citizens-mortgage-corp-v-investors-mortgage-insurance-flmd-1989.