Dixon v. S & S Loan Service of Way-Cross, Inc.

754 F. Supp. 1567, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18853, 1990 WL 255582
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Georgia
DecidedOctober 18, 1990
DocketCV 590-001
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 754 F. Supp. 1567 (Dixon v. S & S Loan Service of Way-Cross, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Dixon v. S & S Loan Service of Way-Cross, Inc., 754 F. Supp. 1567, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18853, 1990 WL 255582 (S.D. Ga. 1990).

Opinion

ORDER

EDENFIELD, Chief Judge.

This case concerns the Truth-in-Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601 et seq. (1988) (“TILA”), and the Georgia Industrial Loan Act, O.C.G.A. §§ 7-3-1 et seq. (1980) (“GILA”). The plaintiffs, Mr. and Mrs. Dixon, complain that the defendants violated TILA when defendant S & S Loan Service of Waycross (“S & S”) made three loans to them in the winter of 1988-89. Before the Court is the defendant’s motion for summary judgment on all counts. For the reasons set forth below, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the defendant’s motion.

*1569 BACKGROUND

In December 1988, Mr. and Mrs. Dixon each entered into a separate loan agreement with S & S (“the December loans”). Almost two months later, Mr. Dixon procured a third loan from S & S (“the February loan”). The Dixons allege that S & S violated TILA and the regulations promulgated thereunder in making all three loans. In making the December loans, the defendants allegedly violated TILA and the regulations by failing to include vehicle single interest insurance premiums as an element of the finance charge. S & S allegedly violated TILA in making the February loan because it failed to include nonrecording insurance premiums as an element of the finance charge. The Dixons further allege that S & S violated GILA by requiring the Dixons to purchase “Accidental Death & Dismemberment” insurance and by charging them an “excessive, illegal, and unwarranted [vehicle single interest] premium.” Under TILA, offenders may be assessed damages and attorney’s fees, and this relief is what the Dixons seek.

S & S answered, denying the plaintiffs’ allegations of wrongdoing, asserting several affirmative defenses, and counter-claiming for the unpaid balances on the three loans. The Dixons failed to reply to S & S on those counterclaims, and, accordingly, the Court entered judgment for S & S on them. Court Order, No. CV 590-001 (July 18, 1990). S & S then moved for summary judgment.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Summary judgment “shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2509, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). Thus, summary judgment is appropriate where the nonmovant “fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The substantive law governing the action determines whether an element is essential. E.g., Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510; DeLong Equip. Co. v. Washington Mills Abrasive Co., 887 F.2d 1499, 1505 (11th Cir.1989), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 110 S.Ct. 1813, 108 L.Ed.2d 943 (1990). “[A] party seeking summary judgment always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, if any, which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. at 2552; see Brown v. Crawford, 906 F.2d 667, 670 (11th Cir.1990). It is then the nonmovant’s burden to establish, by going beyond the pleadings, that there is a genuine issue as to facts material to the nonmovant’s case. Earley v. Champion Int’l Corp., 907 F.2d 1077, 1080 (11th Cir.1990); Rollins v. Tech-South, Inc., 833 F.2d 1525, 1528 (11th Cir. 1987). In assessing whether the movant is entitled to summary judgment in its favor, the district court must review the evidence and all reasonable factual inferences arising from it in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. E.g., Earley, 907 F.2d at 1080; Apcoa, Inc. v. Fidelity Nat’l Bank, 906 F.2d 610, 611 (11th Cir.1990). The evidence need not be in a form that would be admissible at trial. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. at 2553; Cottle v. Storer Communication, Inc., 849 F.2d 570, 575 (11th Cir.1988). “Where the record, taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the non-moving party, then there is no genuine issue for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus, v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 1356, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986); see Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S.Ct. at 2512; Barfield v. Brierton, 883 F.2d 923, 933-34 (11th Cir.1989). The Court, however, must avoid weighing conflicting evidence, Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. at 2513; Brown v. Hughes, 894 F.2d *1570 1533, 1536 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, - U.S. 110 S.Ct. 2624, 110 L.Ed.2d 645 (1990); Tippens v. Celotex Corp., 805 F.2d 949, 953 (11th Cir.1986), or making credibility determinations. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. at 2513; McKenzie v. Davenport Funeral Home, 834 F.2d 930, 934 (11th Cir.1987).

ANALYSIS

A. TILA Generally

Congress's purpose in passing TILA was "to assure a meaningful disclosure of credit terms so that the consumer will be able to compare more readily the various credit terms available to him." 15 U.S.C. § 1601(a) (1988). TILA is a remedial statute, and, hence, is liberally construed in favor of borrowers. E.g., Smith v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co., 898 F.2d 896, 898 (3d Cir.1990).

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Bluebook (online)
754 F. Supp. 1567, 1990 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 18853, 1990 WL 255582, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dixon-v-s-s-loan-service-of-way-cross-inc-gasd-1990.