Federal Savings & Loan Insurance v. Transamerica Insurance

705 F. Supp. 1328, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 692, 1989 WL 8131
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedJanuary 25, 1989
Docket87 C 6996
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 705 F. Supp. 1328 (Federal Savings & Loan Insurance v. Transamerica Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Federal Savings & Loan Insurance v. Transamerica Insurance, 705 F. Supp. 1328, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 692, 1989 WL 8131 (N.D. Ill. 1989).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

HOLDERMAN, District Judge:

Plaintiff Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (“FSLIC”) is a corporate instrumentality and an agency of the United States, operating under the direction of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (“FHLBB”). FSLIC filed its one-count complaint against defendant Trans-america Insurance Company (“Trans-america”) on August 7, 1987. The complaint alleges that Transamerica wrongfully denied FSLIC’s claim under a Trans-america savings and loan blanket bond is *1330 sued to Glen Ellyn Savings and Loan Association (“Glen Ellyn”) in June of 1982. 1

Transamerica filed its amended answer and affirmative defenses to the complaint on September 21, 1987. FSLIC and Trans-america have filed cross-motions for summary judgment with regard to the first and third affirmative defenses raised by Trans-america. Additionally, Transamerica seeks summary judgment on the grounds raised in its second, fifth, seventh and eighth affirmative defenses.

A district court should grant summary judgment only if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, admissions and affidavits “show 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). For the reasons set forth below, FSLIC’s motion for summary judgment is denied. Transamerica’s motion for summary judgment is granted with respect to its eighth affirmative defense. In all other respects, Transamerica’s motion for summary judgment is denied.

BACKGROUND FACTS

A. Rosch’s Activities at Glen Ellyn.

In December of 1974, John F. Rosch (“Rosch”) became President and Managing Officer, as well as a director and shareholder of Glen Ellyn. (Transamerica’s Statement of Material Fact, 114.) In 1976, Glen Ellyn consented to the entry of an order by FSLIC to cease and desist at least 21 practices which FSLIC had determined to be in violation of federal and Illinois laws and regulations. FSLIC charged that these violations constituted unsafe and unsound banking practices. (Stipulation and Consent to Entry of Order to Cease and Desist, Exhibit 3 to FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact, p. 9 et seq.)

Despite the 1976 cease and desist order, Glen Ellyn continued to violate federal and state savings and loan regulations. (FHLBB Report of Special Limited Joint Examination, Exhibit 5 to FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact.) An FHLBB investigation of Glen Ellyn revealed that between 1981 and mid-1984 the savings and loan association lost a total of $1.2 million. Id. FSLIC and Transamerica apparently agree that Glen Ellyn's financial troubles were due in large part to malfeasance on the part of Glen Ellyn’s president, Rosch, and James E. Reagin, a Texas real estate developer. (Id. at p. 1.) (“The comments and conclusions presented in this report reflect the activities of President and Managing Officer John F. Rosch, who conducted the affairs of the association in an unsafe and unsound manner. These activities resulted in the insolvency of the institution.”).

At a meeting of its board of directors on June 19, 1984, Rosch made an oral tender offer to the other members of the board of directors to acquire 100% of the shares presently issued and outstanding of Glen Ellyn. At the time of the offer, Rosch owned approximately 16% of Glen Ellyn’s outstanding shares. On July 3, 1984, four of Glen Ellyn’s directors resigned. As of July 3, 1984, Rosch held himself out as the sole owner of all of the outstanding common stock of Glen Ellyn and purported to nominate and select five new members of the board of directors of Glen Ellyn. (Exhibit 19 to FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact.) A report by the FHLBB noted that most of the new directors were Rosch’s “subordinates” at Glen Ellyn. (Exhibit 20 to FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact.) Two days later, Rosch and two of the members of the board of directors passed a resolution that directed Glen Ellyn’s legal counsel to draw up an amendment to the by-laws that would reduce the number of members of the board of directors from seven to three. (Action by Sole Shareholder and Board of Directors, Exhibit 19 to FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact, p. 2.) It is unclear in the record whether this resolution was ever implemented.

*1331 Even before Rosch had acquired all of the common shares of Glen Ellyn, he and Reagin entered into an option agreement pursuant to which Reagin was given the right to acquire 90% of the common stock of Glen Ellyn for an option fee of $1 million and a subsequent payment of $1.7 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Rosch also conveyed to Reagin the right to approve all Glen Ellyn loans in excess of $500,000. (FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact, 1140.) Reagin paid Rosch the $1 million option fee by diverting Glen Ellyn loan proceeds, connected with a loan Reagin had recommended, back to Rosch. (FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact, If 41.) It is unclear in the record thus far presented to the court who, if anyone, at Glen Ellyn was aware of the option agreement and payment arrangements between Rosch and Reagin. (Deposition of Thomas C. Kovac, pp. 34, 130 of Exhibit 8 to FSLIC’s Statement of Material Fact (“secret approval” requirement of Rosch-Reagin option agreement limited Rosch’s authority at Glen El-lyn)-)

B. FSLIC Change in Control Requirements.

Legislation enacted by Congress in 1978 requires that a person seeking to acquire control of any federally-insured savings and loan through, inter alia, a purchase of its voting stock must provide FSLIC with 60 days’ prior written notification of the proposed acquisition. 12 U.S.C. § 1730(q)(l) (the “Change in Control Act”). The proposed acquiror is obligated to provide detailed information regarding the proposed acquisition and its effect on the insured institution. 12 U.S.C. § 1730(q)(6). Within the 60-day period, FSLIC may disapprove the proposed change in control or extend the period for disapproval in order to (a) secure additional information about the “competence, experience, integrity, and financial ability” of the proposed acquiror or (b) determine the accuracy and completeness of the information provided to FSLIC by the proposed acquiror. 12 U.S.C. § 1730(q)(2)(B).

On May 1, 1984, i.e. before he made a tender offer for 100% of the outstanding shares of Glen Ellyn, Rosch filed with FSLIC a notice of his intent to acquire an additional 9% of Glen Ellyn’s stock, thereby increasing his percentage of the outstanding shares to 25.4%. 2 The FHLBB notified Rosch that it would require additional information before the application would be considered complete.

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

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
705 F. Supp. 1328, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 692, 1989 WL 8131, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/federal-savings-loan-insurance-v-transamerica-insurance-ilnd-1989.