Eagle SPE NY 1, Inc. v. Southern Highlands Development Corp.

36 F. Supp. 3d 981, 2014 WL 3845420, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107460
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedAugust 5, 2014
DocketCase No. 2:12-cv-00550-MMD-PAL
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 36 F. Supp. 3d 981 (Eagle SPE NY 1, Inc. v. Southern Highlands Development Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Eagle SPE NY 1, Inc. v. Southern Highlands Development Corp., 36 F. Supp. 3d 981, 2014 WL 3845420, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107460 (D. Nev. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER (Defs.’ Motion to Dismiss— dkt. no. 15; Defs.’ Motion for Hearing — dkt. no. 20.)

MIRANDA M. DU, District Judge.

I. SUMMARY

This case involves the application of a statutory provision codified on June 10, 2011, at NRS § 40.459(l)(c), which places [983]*983additional limitations upon the right of a successor-creditor to recover on a deficiency. Plaintiff and its parent company, successor-creditors by assignments, have several similar cases pending in this district. (See dkt. no. 65.) Indeed, this case is strikingly similar to the facts of Eagle SPE NV I, Inc. v. Kiley Ranch Communities, et al., No. 3:12-cv-245-RCJ-WGC, where Plaintiff Eagle SPE NV I, Inc. (“Eagle”) raised the same arguments against defendant Kiley Ranch Communities. In construing NRS § 40.459(l)(c), the Court is bound by the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision in Sandpointe Apartments, LLC v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Ct., 313 P.3d 849 (Nev.2013), and guided by decisions by other courts in»this district.

Before the Court is Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint (“Motion”), which raises the interpretation and application of NRS § 40.459(l)(c).1 (Dkt. no. 15.) The Court has also considered Plaintiff Eagle’s response (dkt. no. 17), Defendants’ reply (dkt. no. 21) and the parties’ supplemental briefs (dkt. nos. 46, 48, 51, 53, 58). As the Court finds that the Motion is appropriate for disposition without oral argument under Local Rule 78-2, Defendants’ Motion for Hearing (dkt. no. 20) is denied. Additionally, for the reasons discussed below, Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss is granted.

II. BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background

This case arises out of a default on a line of credit. The facts as alleged in the Complaint are simple and are recited below.

On July 30, 2007, Southern Highland Development Corporation, Olympia Group, L.L.C., and Olympia Land Corporation (collectively “Borrowers”) executed a Revolving Line of Credit Promissory Note (“Note”) Secured by a Deed of Trust to Colonial Bank, N.A.,2 in the original principal amount of $25,000,000.00 (the “Note”). The Note was secured by a Deed of Trust and Security Agreement and Fixture Filing with Assignment of Rents dated July 30, 2007, and recorded August 15, 2007 (the “Deed of Trust”), encumbering certain real property located in Clark County, Nevada (the “Property”). The same day, Garry Goett and Guy Inzalaco (“Guarantors”), .in their individual capacities and in their positions as trustees of their respective trusts, guaranteed the payment under the Note. The Note was amended thrice thereafter, in December 2007, September 2008, and December 2008.

On August 14, 2009, Colonial Bank was closed by the State Banking Department of the State of the Alabama, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) was named receiver. On the same day, the FDIC assigned all its rights under the Note, Deed of Trust, and accompanying loan documents to Branch Banking and Trust Company (“BB & T”) for $10.00 and other good and valuable consideration.

In November 2009, Borrowers defaulted on the Note. In August 2010, BB & T [984]*984made a written demand for Borrowers and Guarantors to pay the $24,962,325.00 balance, but they refused payment. As a result, on March 16, 2011, BB & T recorded a Notice of Default and Election to Sell (“Notice of Default”) to initiate foreclosure proceedings. On October 21, 2011, First American Title Insurance Company, as Trustee under the Deed of Trust, recorded a Notice of Trustee’s Sale (“Notice of Trustee’s Sale”). On November 8, 2011, BB & T assigned all its rights under the Note, Deed of Trust, and accompanying loan documents to Plaintiff Eagle, BB & T’s wholly owned subsidiary, for $10.00 and other good and valuable consideration.

On November 15, 2011, the Property was sold for $5,340,001.00 to AWH Ventures, Inc. As of that date, the total amount of indebtedness was $25,257,732.36,3 and the fair market value of the property was $6,630,000.00. Accordingly, there remained an $18,627,732.36 deficiency calculated by subtracting the total amount of indebtedness from the fair market value, which was lower than the actual price for which the Property sold. On November 17, 2011, Eagle made a written demand for Borrowers and Guarantors to pay the $18,627,732.36 deficiency. However, Borrowers and Guarantors failed to pay. This lawsuit followed.

B. Procedural Background

The issues presented in Defendants’ Motion have evolved over the course of the last two years as the scope and application of NRS § 40.459(l)(c) has been litigated. Defendants moved to dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint in June 2012. While the fully briefed motion was pending, Defendants informed the Court that there were pending cases before the Nevada Supreme Court presenting identical issues. After considering the parties’ briefs on whether a stay should be issued, the Court granted a stay and dismissed all pending motions without prejudice.

After the Nevada Supreme Court ruled on the pending cases, the Court reopened this case, reinstated Defendants’ Motion, and allowed additional briefing on the effect of the recently decided Nevada Supreme Court opinions. Plaintiff and Defendants both filed their respective briefs. While the fully briefed motion was pending, the parties informed the Court of an Order entered by the Honorable Robert C. Jones in Eagle SPE NV I, Inc. v. Kiley Ranch Communities, et al., No:3:12-cv-245-RCJ-WGC, which warranted consideration and additional briefing. Again, the Court allowed additional briefing on Judge Jones’s Order. Accordingly, having allowed extensive and complete briefing on the issues presented in this case, the Court considers the parties’ arguments.

III. LEGAL STANDARD

On a 12(b)(6) motion, the court must determine “whether the complaint’s factual allegations, together with all reasonable inferences, state a plausible claim for relief.” Cafasso, U.S. ex rel. v. Gen. Dynamics C4 Sys., 637 F.3d 1047, 1054 (9th Cir.2011) (citing Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 556, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)).

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Bluebook (online)
36 F. Supp. 3d 981, 2014 WL 3845420, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107460, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/eagle-spe-ny-1-inc-v-southern-highlands-development-corp-nvd-2014.