Federal Deposit Insurance v. C.A. Construction Corp.

607 F. Supp. 984, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21246
CourtDistrict Court, D. Puerto Rico
DecidedMarch 29, 1985
DocketCiv. No. 81-0968 GG
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 607 F. Supp. 984 (Federal Deposit Insurance v. C.A. Construction Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Federal Deposit Insurance v. C.A. Construction Corp., 607 F. Supp. 984, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21246 (prd 1985).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

GIERBOLINI, District Judge.

This is an action for collection of monies brought by plaintiff, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (F.D.I.C.) against C.A. Construction Corporation, Amado G. Cordero Castillo and his wife Asunción [985]*985Abreu de Cordero1 and their legal conjugal partnership, and Noemi Rodriguez Abreu. Default Judgment was entered on December 17, 1982, against C.A. Construction Corporation. Amado G. Cordero Castillo and his wife Asunción Abreu de Cordero and the legal partnership constituted by them filed a bankruptcy petition and on February 27, 1985, an Order of Discharge of Debtors was entered in their case. Therefore, the only defendant remaining in the present action is Noemi Rodriguez Abreu (Rodriguez-Abreu). Jurisdiction is invoked pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1345.

Now pending before us is plaintiffs motion accompanied by a sworn statement and other supporting documents requesting the entry of summary judgment as to defendant Noemi Rodriguez Abreu. Defendant Rodriguez-Abreu has filed an opposition accompanied by her own sworn statement.

Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answer to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material facts and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” In ruling on such a motion, the court must look at the record in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion and must indulge all inferences favorable to that party. Stepanischen v. Merchants Despatch Transportation Corp., 722 F.2d 922 (1st Cir.1983); Hahn v. Sargent, 523 F.2d 461, 464 (1st Cir.1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 904, 96 S.Ct. 1495, 47 L.Ed.2d 754 (1976).

Furthermore, Rule 56(c) provides that once a motion for summary judgment has been made and properly supported, the non-moving party may not rest upon mere allegations, but must instead reply setting forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If a movant has alleged specific undisputed facts that entitle it to summary judgment as a matter of law, then the burden shifts to the opposing party to show that summary judgment is inappropriate. Nicholas Acoustics & Specialty Co. v. H. & M. Construction Co., 695 F.2d 839, 844 (5th Cir.1983).

We have closely examined the record, including defendant’s answer to the complaint, and find that the following facts are uncontested:

1- This court has jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1345.

2- Plaintiff, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a corporation organized pursuant to Title 12 U.S.C. § 1811, et seq., brings this action in its corporate capacity.

3- Banco Crédito y Ahorro Ponceño (the Bank) was a banking institution organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico prior to March 31, 1978.

4- On or about March 31, 1978, the Secretary of the Treasury of Puerto Rico determined that the Bank was insolvent.

5- Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. § 1821(e), the F.D.I.C. was appointed receiver of the Bank.

6- The F.D.I.C., in its corporate capacity, purchased certain assets of the Bank.

7- Among the assets acquired by plaintiff was the loan and promissory note subject of the present controversy.

8- On March 19, 1976, C.A. Construction as principal and Amado Cordero Castillo, as guarantor, issued a $50,000 promissory note to the order of Banco Crédito y Ahor-ro Ponceño with 12% interest and due on demand. (Copy of the note was annexed as Exhibit A of the Complaint).

9- For the purpose of securing the payment of the principal of said note, plus interest as agreed therein, several security instruments were tendered. Among them was the following:

Bearer demand note in the principal amount of $10,000 issued by co-defend[986]*986ant Noemí Rodriguez Abreu and executed on July 2, 1974, through affidavit # 11,894 before Notary Public Luis Pérez Centeno which note is presently held by plaintiff. (Copy of the note was annexed as Exhibit B of the complaint). This note was guaranteed by a mortgage constituted over the following property:2
URBAN: Lot located in the Mabu Ward of the Township of Humacao, Puerto Rico, of the semi-rural Antonio Roig Urbanization, consisting of ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTY ONE SQUARE METERS WITH SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY ONE THOUSANDTHS OF ANOTHER (1,261.791) and in boundaries by the North in twenty eight meters with fifty hundredths of another (28.50) with lands of Don Seferi-no Morell; by the South in eighty meter with seventeen thousandths of another (80.017) with lands of Don Justino Cruz; by the East in six meters with Street A of the Antonio Roig Urbanization; and in twenty four meters with seventy centimeters of a meter with lot B segregated from the main lot and by the West in thirty one meters with five hundred thirty four thousandths of another (31.534) with lands of Ryder Memorial Hospital.

10- Plaintiff is the legal owner and/or holder of the $10,000 note issued by defendant Rodriguez-Abreu and its payment has been demanded.

11- Plaintiff is entitled to recover from defendant Rodriguez-Abreu the following amounts: (See affidavit of Mr. Thomas Ni-emczyk annexed to motion for summary judgment).

Principal $10,000.00

Interests as of July 19, 1984 3,045.20

Total $13,045.20

Per diem $ 2.47

Court costs and attorney’s fees 1,000.00

It is not controverted that defendant Rodriguez-Abreu is liable. The only issue pending determination is defendant’s claim that she acted only as a surety for C.A. Construction and not as a joint debtor, and as such, the F.D.I.C. must collect first from the principal debtor. She further asserts that it was expressly understood when the loan was granted by the Bank that her liability would be conditioned on the default of the principal debtors, prior co-defendants C.A. Construction Corporation, Amado Cordero and Carmen Abreu de Cordero. Thus, it appears that defendant’s argument is based on an alleged oral agreement with the Bank, substantially modifying the promissory note in record, which is an asset of the F.D.I.C.

Notwithstanding, 12 U.S.C. § 1823(e) provides:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Federal Deposit Insurance v. Monterrey, Inc.
847 F. Supp. 997 (D. Puerto Rico, 1994)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
607 F. Supp. 984, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21246, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/federal-deposit-insurance-v-ca-construction-corp-prd-1985.