Empire Bank v. Dumond

28 F. Supp. 3d 1179, 2014 WL 2873974, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85602
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Oklahoma
DecidedJune 24, 2014
DocketCase No. 13-CV-0388-CVE-PJC
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 28 F. Supp. 3d 1179 (Empire Bank v. Dumond) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Empire Bank v. Dumond, 28 F. Supp. 3d 1179, 2014 WL 2873974, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85602 (N.D. Okla. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

CLAIRE V. EAGAN, District Judge.

Now before the Court are Defendants’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 72) and Plaintiff Empire Bank’s Motion for Partial Summary Judgment (Dkt. #76). The defendants other than Paula Tate (moving defendants) argue in their motion for partial summary judgment that they owe a deficiency to Empire Bank (Empire), that Oklahoma law governs their guaranties, that Okla. Stat. tit. 12, § 686, applies to guarantors, and that they are entitled to set off the fair market value of the properties securing the obligation underlying their guaranties. Dkt. #72. In its motion for summary judgment, Empire argues that defendants owe a deficiency to it, that Missouri law governs the calculation of the deficiency, that section 686 does not apply to guarantors, and that defendants are not entitled to set off the fair market value of the properties securing the obligation underlying their guaranties. Dkt. # 76.

I.

On April 9, 2008, Sundance Valley Development, LLC (Sundance) and Citizens National Bank of Springfield (CNB) entered into a construction loan agreement for developing real estate in Nixa, Missouri. Dkt. # 72, at 7; Dkt. # 79, at 5. The same day, Sundance executed a promissory note “in the principal amount of $12,000,000.00 payable to CNB.” Dkt. # 72, at 7; see also Dkt. # 79, at 5. The promissory note states that it will be governed by the law of Missouri. Dkt. # 79-1, at 2. The note was to mature on April 9, 2010. Dkt. #76, at 2; Dkt. #82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 6. Also on April 9, 2009, Sundance conveyed 190 acres in Nixa (Sundance Valley Property) by deed of trust, and Green Valley Land, LLC (Green Valley) conveyed 120 acres in Nixa (Green Valley Property) by deed of trust, “to Leland L. Ganaway, as trustee, to secure the payment of the [promissory note].” Dkt. #72, at 7; see also Dkt. #76, at 2; Dkt. # 79, at 5; Dkt. # 82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 6. Both deeds of trust designate Missouri law as governing. Dkt. #79, at 6-7; Dkt. # 84, at 2. Five days prior, defendants “executed guaranties, drafted by CNB, in the State of Oklahoma in connection with the CNB loan to Sundance.” Dkt. # 72, at 7-8; see also Dkt. # 79, at 5. Section 7 of each guaranty provides:

The Undersigned waives any and all defenses, claims, and discharges of Borrower, or any other obligor, pertaining to Indebtedness, except the defense of discharge by payment in full. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Undersigned will not assert, plead or enforce against Lender any defense of waiver, release, statute of limitations, res judicata, statute of frauds, fraud, incapacity, minority, usury, illegality or unenforceability which may be available to Borrower or any other person liable in respect of any Indebtedness, or any setoff available against Lender to Borrower or any such other person, whether or not on account of a related transaction. The Undersigned expressly agrees that the Undersigned shall be [1182]*1182and remain liable, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, for any deficiency remaining after foreclosure of any mortgage or security interest securing Indebtedness, whether or not the liability of Borrower or any other obli-gor for such deficiency' is discharged pursuant to statute or judicial decision. The Undersigned shall remain obligated, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to pay such amounts as though the Borrower’s obligations had not been discharged.

Dkt. # 72, at 8 (quoting Dkt. # 72-3, at 2; Dkt. # 72-4, at 2; Dkt. # 72-5, at 2; Dkt. # 72-6, at 2); see also Dkt. # 79, at 5.

“On October 15, 2010, CNB and Empire executed an agreement of merger that combined the two banks with Empire the surviving entity, succeeding the right, title and interests of CNB.” Dkt. # 72, at 8; see also Dkt. # 79, at 5. Between April 2010 and May 2012, CNB, Empire, Sundance, Green Valley, and all guarantors “entered into a number of Modification and Extension Agreements whereby the maturity date of the Promissory Note was extended.” Dkt. # 76, at 3; see also Dkt. # 82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 6. On May 12, 2012, Empire, Sundance, Green Valley, and defendants entered into another modification and extension agreement, which extended the maturity date for the promissory note to December 4, 2012. Dkt. # 76, at 3; Dkt. # 82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 6.1

The promissory note matured on December 4, 2012. Dkt. #72, at 8; Dkt. # 79, at 5. “As a result, all amounts due and owing under the Promissory Note and other Loan Documents became immediately due and payable to [Empire].” Dkt. #76, at 3; see also Dkt. # 82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 6. Empire asserts that the amount due, as of April 30, 2013, was $9,218,091.74. Dkt. # 76, at 4.

Despite demand, Sundance refused to pay Empire as required by the promissory note. Dkt. # 76, at 4; Dkt. # 82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 6. “On April 30, 2013, a trustee (foreclosure) sale was conducted and the Green Valley Property was sold for $370,000.00 and the Sundance Valley Property was sold for $3,000,000.00.” Dkt. # 72, at 8; see also Dkt. # 79, at 5.2 Empire was the high bidder for the properties, and both were sold to it. Dkt. # 76, at 4; Dkt. # 82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 7. The sale proceeds were applied against the unpaid amounts due. Dkt. #76, at 4; Dkt. # 82, at 3; Dkt. # 83, at 7. Following the sales, Empire asserts that there remains $5,848,091.74 owed on the promissory note. Dkt. #72, at 8; Dkt. #79, at 5. “The Guarantees [sic] provide that Defendants will pay a percentage or limited dollar amount of the Deficiency to [Empire].” Dkt. #76, at 5; Dkt. #82, at 4; Dkt. # 83, at 7. Defendants have not made any payments under the guaranties. Dkt. # 79, at 6; Dkt. # 84, at 2.

Empire filed its complaint in this case on June 28, 2013, and an amended complaint on November 18, 2013. Dkt. ## 1, 51. Jurisdiction is based upon diversity of citizenship. Dkt. # 51, at 4. Moving defendants filed a motion for summary judgment on March 7, 2014. Dkt. # 72. They “request judgment that the precise terms of their guaranty obligation is for any deficiency remaining after the foreclosure of the subject properties; that Oklahoma law mandates a hearing for the judicial deter[1183]*1183mination of the deficiency; and finally that Guarantors’ statutory rights to set off the fair and reasonable market value of the mortgage properties against the money judgment demanded by [Empire] have not been waived.” Id. at 6. Empire responded (Dkt. #79) and the moving defendants replied (Dkt. # 84). Empire filed a motion for partial summary judgment on March 14, 2014. Dkt. #76. It argues that Missouri law governs the calculation of any deficiency, that no setoff is warranted, and that Empire is entitled to a deficiency based upon the balance owed and the sale price of the foreclosed properties. Id. Both the moving defendants and Paula Tate responded (Dkt. ## 82, 83) and Empire replied (Dkt. # 87).

II.

Summary judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 is appropriate where there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.

Related

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Bluebook (online)
28 F. Supp. 3d 1179, 2014 WL 2873974, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 85602, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/empire-bank-v-dumond-oknd-2014.