Federal Deposit Insurance v. Prince George Corp.

58 F.3d 1041
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
DecidedJuly 10, 1995
DocketNos. 94-2161, 94-2162
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 58 F.3d 1041 (Federal Deposit Insurance v. Prince George Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit 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. Prince George Corp., 58 F.3d 1041 (4th Cir. 1995).

Opinion

Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded by published opinion. Senior Circuit Judge LIVELY wrote the opinion, in which Judge WILKINSON and Judge HAMILTON joined.

OPINION

LIVELY, Senior Circuit Judge:

This case concerns the right to a deficiency judgment of the holder of a promissory note secured by a real estate mortgage following foreclosure of the mortgage and sale of the collateral for less than the outstanding amount of the debt. The issues on appeal require this court to interpret terms of the promissory note defining the lender’s limited right to a deficiency judgment. Both parties have appealed the district court’s judgment. We now affirm the judgment on issues raised by the defendant’s direct appeal, vacate the judgment on the issue raised by the plaintiffs cross-appeal, and remand for further proceedings as hereinafter described.

I.

A.

In 1985 the defendant-appellant, Prince George Corporation (PGC), and First Stockton Partners formed a joint partnership, Prince George Joint Venture (PGJV), for the purpose of developing real estate in coastal South Carolina. On November 15, 1985, PGJV executed a $17.5 million promissory note in favor of Sunbelt Savings Association (Sunbelt), to finance the development of a resort community called Arcadia II. The note was secured by a mortgage on the real estate to be developed.

The note contained the following language, limiting the liability of PGC for a deficiency judgment upon foreclosure:

If there is a foreclosure ... no judgment for any deficiency ... shall be sought or obtained by Holder against Prince George. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph ... no limitation of liability or recourse provided above in this paragraph shall (a) apply to the extent that Holder’s rights of recourse to the property which is then subject to the Mortgage are suspended, reduced or impaired by or as a result of any act, omission or misrepresentation of Prince George or any other party now or hereafter hable for any part of the loan evidenced by this Note and accrued interest thereon, or by or as a result of any ease, action, suit or proceeding to which Prince George or any such other party voluntarily becomes a party....

PGJV defaulted on the loan in July 1988. After Sunbelt became insolvent, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), eventually became the holder of the note in its corporate capacity.

PGJV and PGC made several offers to settle the debt, but the parties could not reach an agreement. In June 1990, PGJV and PGC filed suit against FDIC in Texas, where the loan originated, seeking to enjoin FDIC from foreclosing on the property. In February 1992, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued an order granting FDIC’s motion for summary judgment on the note and on all claims made by PGJV and PGC against FDIC. Meanwhile, FDIC initiated the present foreclosure proceedings on March 29, 1991, in South Carolina. In response, PGC took the following actions: filed a motion to stay the foreclosure sale on May 8, 1991; filed a motion to amend its answer on September 20, 1991; filed a motion for permission to file a third party complaint on November 1, 1991; filed an amended answer on December 4, 1991; and finally opposed FDIC’s motion for summary judgment.

On March 10, 1992, the South Carolina District Court granted summary judgment to FDIC and entered a decree of foreclosure based on the res judicata effect of the Texas District Court order granting summary judgment. A final judgment was entered in favor [1045]*1045of the remaining defendants in the Texas case in July 1992, and PGJV and PGC continued to resist the foreclosure by .appealing the South Carolina judgment. This court, in an unpublished opinion, affirmed the decision of the district court ordering summary judgment for FDIC on the grounds of mootness and res judicata.

On August 24, 1992, four days before the scheduled foreclosure sale, PGC filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against PGJV. This filing automatically stayed the sale. The bankruptcy court lifted the stay on September 17, 1992, and subsequently dismissed the bankruptcy petition. When PGC failed to file a bond to obtain a stay, the sale took place on October 26, 1992, with the bidding remaining open until November 25, 1992. FDIC made the high bid at $12,029,374.

B.

FDIC filed a motion for a deficiency judgment against PGC on December 30, 1993, claiming that PGC’s acts in 1) filing the bankruptcy petition, and 2) resisting FDIC’s foreclosure action triggered the recourse provisions in the note. The district court determined that the filing of the petition in bankruptcy by PGC was an “act” described in the note that triggered its recourse provisions.

After an evidentiary hearing on June 16, 1994, the district court concluded that the bankruptcy filing suspended FDIC’s rights of recourse to the property for sixty-three days (August 24 through October 25, 1992). However, for “policy reasons,” the court held that PGC’s actions in procedurally resisting the foreclosure proceedings in mid-1991 were not triggering “acts” under the terms of the note.

On August 3, 1994, the district court entered a deficiency judgment in favor of FDIC against PGC in the amount of $505,927. The court calculated the deficiency ($332,260) based on the accrual of interest on the full indebtedness during the sixty-three day delay caused by the bankruptcy filing, using the interest rate prescribed by the note. The damages awarded by the court also included $4,810 in taxes and $168,856 in costs and attorney’s fees. In addition, the court awarded prejudgment interest on $337,070 (deficiency plus taxes) at the applicable market rate from November 25, 1992, to the date of the order, and post-judgment interest at the legal rate.

PGC argues on appeal that the bankruptcy filing did not entitle FDIC to a deficiency judgment and that the court incorrectly calculated the extent to which any of its actions impaired FDIC’s recourse to the property. FDIC’s cross-appeal challenges the district court’s ruling that PGC’s resistance of the foreclosure proceedings in South Carolina did not activate the deficiency provisions of the note.

II.

Under the terms of the note, FDIC is entitled to a deficiency judgment against PGC only in two circumstances: 1) if PGC “voluntarily” becomes part of a “case, action, suit or proceeding” which suspends, reduces or impairs FDIC’s recourse rights to the collateral; or 2) if PGC engages in “any act, omission or misrepresentation” that has the same effect. This court must apply fundamental contract interpretation principles to determine whether PGC’s filing of the bankruptcy petition against PGJV and its resistance to foreclosure proceedings fell within the reach of these provisions.

The note shows on its face that it was executed in Dallas, Texas, and provides it shall be construed in accordance with Texas law. The mortgage provides that it shall be construed in accordance with South Carolina law. The parties have cited case law from both jurisdictions, and there appears to be no difference in the law of the two states as related to the issues before us. Suits to which FDIC is a party are deemed to arise under federal law. 12 U.S.C. § 1819(a) & (b)(2)(A) (1988).

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Bluebook (online)
58 F.3d 1041, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/federal-deposit-insurance-v-prince-george-corp-ca4-1995.