Federal Deposit Insurance v. Royal Park No. 14, Ltd.

800 F. Supp. 477, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20747
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Texas
DecidedSeptember 28, 1992
DocketNo. 3:92-CV-0513-T
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 800 F. Supp. 477 (Federal Deposit Insurance v. Royal Park No. 14, Ltd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Texas 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. Royal Park No. 14, Ltd., 800 F. Supp. 477, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20747 (N.D. Tex. 1992).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

MALONEY, District Judge.

This matter is before the court on Plaintiffs July 7, 1992, Motion for Summary Judgment. Defendants responded to the motion on August 17, 1992. Plaintiff replied on September 14, 1992. The court, having considered the motion, response, reply, and competent summary judgment evidence, is of the opinion that Plaintiffs motion should be granted.

BACKGROUND

This dispute involves Defendants’ alleged default on a promissory note and related guaranty and deed of trust executed in favor of the Bank of Dallas. On February 5, 1988, the Board of Directors of the Bank of Dallas found the bank in failing condition and tendered the bank’s charter to the Texas Banking Commissioner. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation was appointed by the Commissioner as receiver, pursuant to section 3, article 489(b) of the Texas Banking Code. FDIC, as receiver, conveyed to FDIC, in its corporate capacity, a number of assets of the Bank of Dallas. One of the assets was a promissory note dated November 1, 1985, and executed by Defendants Royal Park No. 14, Ltd., Royal Park No. 20, Ltd., Royal Park Development Corporation, G.R. Hay, and William G. Jones, Jr., in favor of the Bank of Dallas. The principal amount of the note was $3,048,409, bearing interest at the Bank of Dallas’ base rate plus 1.5%. The original note was subsequently extended and renewed on November 17, 1987.

On November 1, 1985, Defendants G.R. Hay and William G. Jones executed and delivered a guaranty agreement under which they guaranteed payment of the original note and any extensions and renewals.

The Bank of Dallas note is secured by a deed of trust, security agreement, and assignment of rents from Defendants to Frank H. Gill, as trustee for the benefit of the Bank of Dallas. The deed of trust states that in the event of default on the note, the Bank of Dallas could request the trustee to sell the property described at public auction for cash.

On January 17, 1989, pursuant to the terms of the deed of trust, a substitute trustee filed and served written notice of a foreclosure sale of the property described. On February 7,1989, the property was sold to FDIC for cash in the amount of $706,-000.

On March 18, 1992, FDIC brought an action seeking recovery on the promissory note and related guaranty agreement and deed of trust. FDIC contends that the outstanding balance on the note consists of unpaid principal of $2,049,296.97, plus accrued, but unpaid interest in the amount of $865,483.39, as of July 28, 1992, plus interest accruing at the rate of $533.39 per day. FDIC now seeks summary judgment on all amounts due under the note and guaranty agreement. FDIC also seeks to recover its attorneys’ fees.

Defendants have raised three arguments which they contend preclude summary judgment: (1) that FDIC is barred from collecting on the note under the theory of promissory estoppel; (2) that Defendants were not given sufficient notice of the foreclosure sale; and (3) that FDIC’s interest charge is usurious.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

Summary judgment should only be entered where the record establishes that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(c). The movant bears the burden of establishing the propriety of sum[480]*480mary judgment. Fontenot v. Upjohn Co., 780 F.2d 1190, 1194 (5th Cir.1986).

Once a properly supported motion for summary judgment is made, the adverse party must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The substantive law will identify what facts are material. Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510. A dispute as to a material fact is “genuine” only if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party. Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. at 2510.

DISCUSSION

Defendants have raised a number of objections to the sufficiency of Plaintiffs summary judgment evidence. Specifically, Defendants object to the original and amended affidavit of Raymond Veazie as follows: (1) Veazie’s statements in paragraphs 5.b, 5.c, 5.1, and 5.q are legal conclusions and facts which are not within his knowledge; (2) paragraph 5.n is a mere recitation in verbatim of portions of the deed of trust, and the document speaks for itself; and (3) figures in Veazie’s original affidavit conflict with those in exhibit H. The court has considered these objections, and is of the opinion that FDIC’s evidence satisfies the admissibility standards established by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for summary judgment. The court will now consider Defendants’ contentions regarding the impropriety of summary judgment.

A. Promissory Estoppel:

Defendants first argue that Plaintiff is estopped to collect on the note based upon alleged representations made by an FDIC vice president. Defendants argue that FDIC’s vice president, Robert Meador, made oral promises and representations to Defendants concerning renegotiation and discounting of the renewal note and accompanying guaranty obligations. Defendants further argue that they detrimentally and reasonably relied on these representations and that their reliance was foreseeable by FDIC.

The doctrine of promissory estoppel may be asserted against FDIC in its corporate capacity as liquidating agent and receiver. See FDIC v. Harrison, 735 F.2d 408, 412 (11th Cir.1984); Santoni v. FDIC, 677 F.2d 174 (1st Cir.1982). To prevail under this doctrine, a party must prove:

1. that the party to be estopped made a definite misrepresentation to the party asserting estoppel;
2. that the party to be estopped was aware of the facts;
3. that the party asserting estoppel did not have knowledge of the facts; and
4. that the party asserting estoppel reasonably relied on the conduct of the other to his substantial injury.

Mangaroo v. Nelson, 864 F.2d 1202, 1204 (5th Cir.1989).

When a government agent’s actions exceed the scope of authority or are contrary to statute or regulation, however, the doctrine of promissory estoppel may not be asserted. Harrison, 735 F.2d at 413; Hicks v. Harris, 606 F.2d 65, 68 (5th Cir.1979).

The court concludes that Defendants’ assertion of the doctrine of promissory estoppel is inappropriate in this case.

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Bluebook (online)
800 F. Supp. 477, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20747, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/federal-deposit-insurance-v-royal-park-no-14-ltd-txnd-1992.