FAS Capital, LLC v. Carr

7 F. Supp. 3d 1259, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36496, 2014 WL 1153789
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Georgia
DecidedMarch 20, 2014
DocketCivil Action No. 1:11-cv-3224-JEC
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 7 F. Supp. 3d 1259 (FAS Capital, LLC v. Carr) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
FAS Capital, LLC v. Carr, 7 F. Supp. 3d 1259, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36496, 2014 WL 1153789 (N.D. Ga. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER & OPINION

JULIE E. CARNES, Chief Judge.

This case is before the Court on plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment [20]. The Court has reviewed the record and the arguments of the parties and, for the reasons set out below, concludes that the motion [20] should be DENIED without prejudice.

BACKGROUND

The facts of this case are for the most part undisputed. The parties agree that in June, 2005, defendant executed a promissory note in the principal amount of $250,150 in favor of Silverton Bank.1 (Def.’s Resp. to Pl.’s Statement of Material Facts [22] at ¶ 1.) In September, 2008, defendant executed a second promissory note to Silverton Bank in the principal amount of $358,000. (Id. at ¶ 2.) Upon Silverton’s failure in 2009, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assumed the right to collect on the notes. (Compl. [1] at ¶¶ 5-6.)

Defendant concedes that he defaulted on both notes. (Def.’s Resp. [21] at 2.) The FDIC initiated this action to collect on the notes in September, 2011, in its capacity as Silverton’s receiver. (Compl. [1] at ¶¶ 3-7.) The FDIC subsequently sold and transferred the notes to plaintiff FAS Capital, LLC (“FAS Capital”). (PI. FDIC’s Mot. to Substitute Party Pis.’ [17] at 2.) In connection with the sale, the FDIC moved to substitute FAS Capital as the plaintiff in the case. (Id. at 1.) The Court granted the motion on June 26, 2012. (Order [23].)

Plaintiff has filed a motion for summary judgment on its claim to collect on the notes. (Pl.’s Mot. for Summ. J. [20].) Although defendant concedes his default on the promissory note, he challenges the Court’s jurisdiction to entertain plaintiffs suit now that the FDIC has been dismissed as a party. (Def.’s Resp. [21] at 5-8.) Defendant further argues that plaintiff has (1) failed to establish that it is the holder of the notes and (2) not submitted competent evidence to substantiate the balances it claims are due on the notes. (Id. at 8-12.) Finally, defendant contends [1262]*1262that plaintiff has failed to comply with the statutory requirements for recovering attorney’s fees under O.C.G.A. § 13-1-11. (M at 12-13.)

DISCUSSION

1. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

Summary judgment is appropriate when the “pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). A fact’s materiality is determined by the controlling substantive law. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). An issue is genuine when the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmovant. Id. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

Summary judgment is not properly viewed as a device that the trial court may, in its discretion, implement in lieu of a trial on the merits. Instead, Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure mandates the entry of summary judgment against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of every element essential to that party’s case 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, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In such a situation, there can be “ ‘no genuine issue as to any material fact,’ ” as “a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the non-moving party’s ease necessarily renders all other facts immaterial.” Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548 (quoting FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c)).

The movant bears the initial responsibility of asserting the basis for his motion. Id. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. However, the movant is not required to negate his opponent’s claim. The movant may discharge his burden by “ ‘showing’ — that is, pointing out to the district court — that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving party’s case.” Id. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548. After the movant has carried his burden, the non-moving party is required to “go beyond the pleadings” and present competent evidence designating “ ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial’ ” Id. at 324,106 S.Ct. 2548.

In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the Court must view the evidence and factual inferences in a light most favorable to the non-moving party. Samples v. City of Atlanta, 846 F.2d 1328, 1330 (11th Cir.1988). However, “the mere existence of some alleged factual dispute between the parties will not defeat an otherwise properly supported motion for summary judgment.” Anderson, Nil U.S. at 247-48, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (1986). The requirement is that there be no “genuine issue of material fact.” Id.

II. PLAINTIFF’S RIGHT TO RECOVER UNDER THE NOTES

In Count I of the complaint, plaintiff seeks to recover the amounts due on the notes. (Am. Compl. [11] at ¶¶ 51-58.) A debtor’s admission of default establishes his creditor’s prima facie case for recovery. Pollard v. First Nat’l Bank of Albany, 169 Ga.App. 598, 598, 313 S.E.2d 785 (1984).2 See also Shropshire v. Alostar Bank, of Commerce, 314 Ga.App. 310, 315, 724 S.E.2d 33 (2012) (“As to liability, ‘[a] plaintiff seeking to enforce a promissory note establishes a prima facie case by producing the note and showing that it was [1263]*1263executed.’ ”) (quoting Core La Vista, LLC v. Cumming, 308 Ga.App. 791, 795, 709 S.E.2d 336 (2011)). When there is such an admission, “the burden shifts to the debtor to establish an affirmative defense.” Reece v. Chestatee State Bank, 260 Ga. App. 136, 138, 579 S.E.2d 11 (2003). To meet this burden, the debtor must point to specific facts and evidence in the record. Pollard, 169 Ga.App. at 598, 313 S.E.2d 785.

As indicated above, defendant admits that he is in default on both of the notes that he executed to Silverton Bank. (Def.’s Resp. to PSMF [22] at ¶¶ 1-2.) He does not raise any affirmative defenses or directly deny any of the facts set forth by plaintiff concerning the notes. (Def.’s Resp. [21] at 2.) Instead, defendant challenges the Court’s jurisdiction to entertain plaintiffs claim to collect on the notes. (Id. at 2-3.) He also points to evidentiary deficiencies underlying plaintiffs claim to be the current holder of the notes and its statement of the amounts due under the notes. (Id. at 8-11.)

A. The Court has jurisdiction over the case.

The FDIC filed this action in federal court under the authority of 12 U.S.C. § 1819. (Compl.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
7 F. Supp. 3d 1259, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36496, 2014 WL 1153789, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fas-capital-llc-v-carr-gand-2014.