Gangadean v. LEUMI FINANCIAL CORPORATION

478 P.2d 532, 13 Ariz. App. 534, 1970 Ariz. App. LEXIS 892
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedDecember 31, 1970
Docket1 CA-CIV 1168
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 478 P.2d 532 (Gangadean v. LEUMI FINANCIAL CORPORATION) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gangadean v. LEUMI FINANCIAL CORPORATION, 478 P.2d 532, 13 Ariz. App. 534, 1970 Ariz. App. LEXIS 892 (Ark. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

CAMERON, Judge.

This is an appeal by the defendants, Deonarine and Vishnudevi Gangadean, from the summary judgment granted by the Superior Court of Maricopa County in favor of the appellee, Leumi Financial Corporation.

We are called upon to determine:

1. Whether the loan was usurious, and
2. whether the motion for summary judgment was properly granted.

Viewed most strongly in favor of the Gangadeans and most strongly against the party for whom the summary judgment was granted, Hatton v. Greenberg, 9 Ariz. App. 327, 451 P.2d 905 (1969), the pertinent facts are as follows. Leumi Financial Corporation loaned $35,000 to an Arizona corporation known as DeWan’s Beauty Products Co., Inc., of which the Gangadeans are president and secretary. The Gangadeans personally guaranteed this loan, and secured it with a second mortgage on a parcel of real property. The loan agreement provided that interest was to be 12% a year, and the board of directors of DeWan’s Beauty Products Co., Inc., passed a resolution approving the transaction and authorizing the officers of the corporation to sign the note and loan agreement. When all but $17,000 of this loan had been paid off, an additional $18,-000 was borrowed or advanced on the same note and mortgage bringing the balance back up to the original $35,000. The note and mortgage provided for renewals and the guaranty stated that the Gangadeans promised to pay “any and all indebtedness, whether due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising.” No new resolution was passed when the loan was extended and no new guaranty or mortgage was executed.

Dr. John S. Kruglick played some part in the transaction, apparently as broker or finder. For his services he was paid out of escrow $3,500 less the closing costs of the loan, so that out of the amount of $35,000 paid into escrow, the appellants re *536 ceived $30,064.72, the difference of $1,435.-28 being the taxes due on the property. There is a dispute between the parties as to whether Dr. Kruglick was an agent of the lender, Leumi, or the Gangadeans. The testimony of Dr. Kruglick was to the effect that out of the $3,500 “finder’s fee” the amount of $357.25 for closing costs was paid in the escrow and deducted from the amount received from escrow. In addition, Dr. Kruglick testified:

“A It was stipulated by an agreement between Deonarine Gangadean, Leumi, and myself that out of my fee would come the attorney’s fees, the travel expenses of Leumi Corporation to Phoenix to see the property, and the escrow costs.
'“Q These amounts were what ?
“A Approximately $350.00 — $545.00 lawyer’s fee, $350.00 escrow fee, and whatever it cost to get to New York and Phoenix; I think about $250.00.
“Q You paid the sum of $545.00 to Mr. Harvey Minkler?
“A Yes.
“Q He was the attorney representing Leumi Financial Corporation?
“A I don’t know who he was representing. He did the paper work. There was no other attorney. I think he represented everyone.
"Q Was he your attorney ?
“A No.
“Q You don’t know whether he was Mr. Gangadean’s attorney?
“A No, I don’t.
“Q Do you know he has represented Leumi Financial Corporation for a number of years ?
“A Yes.
“Q In addition to the sum of $545.00 you also gave to Mr. Loshak the ’ sum of $250.00?
“A Approximately.
“Q What was that for ? -
“A Airplane fare to Phoenix and back.”

The first mortgage holder began foreclosure proceedings after defendants had fallen behind in payments on the loan. Leumi, the second mortgagor holder, was named in the first mortgage holder’s foreclosure, and also began foreclosure proceedings on their second mortgage as cross-plaintiff. Summary judgment was granted in favor of the first mortgage holder. Defendants set up a defense of usury in answer to Leumi’s action. Summary judgment was eventually granted in favor of Leumi also. Defendants appeal this summary judgment raising numerous questions. However, we limit ourselves to questions of usury and the granting of the motion for summary judgment.

WAS THE LOAN USURIOUS ?

A.R.S. § 10-177, as it read during 1966 and 1967 when the loans were made, stated.:

“Any other provision of law, to the contrary, notwithstanding, any foreign or domestic corporation organized for pecuniary gain may in writing, pursuant to an authorizing resolution of its hoard of directors, agree to pay such rate of interest not exceeding twelve per cent per annum as such corporation may determine on any loan under which the principal balance to be repaid shall originally exceed the' sum of three thousand five hundred dollars or on any series of advances of money pursuant to a loan agreement or undertaking if the principal balance to be repaid thereunder shall originally exceed the sum of three thousand five hundred dollars, or. on any extension or renewal thereof, and as to any such transaction the claim or defense of usury by such corporation or its successor or anyone in its behalf is prohibited * * *.” (Emphasis added)

We have no difficulty in- holding that as to the original loan the 12% interest was binding upon the borrower as well *537 as the Gangadeans who guaranteed the loan. Neither do we have any difficulty with the 10% finder’s fee paid to Dr. Kruglick, Sulger v. Maslin, 90 Ariz. 70, 365 P.2d 1113 (1961), nor the amount paid out-of the finder’s fee for closing costs or the expenses of Mr. Loshak. Our Supreme Court has stated:

“ * * * We have repeatedly held that fees charged for services rendered are not interest if they are reasonable. Modern Pioneers Ins. Co. v. Nandin, supra; Grady v. Price, 94 Ariz. 252, 383 P.2d 173. * * Altherr v. Wilshire Mortgage Corporation, 104 Ariz. 59, 63, 448 P.2d 859, 863 (1968).

And:

“A lender, in addition to the highest rate of interest, may charge the borrower reasonable fees for services rendered in connection with the loan, or require reimbursement of expenses incurred, such as the examination of title, recordation of papers, and perhaps traveling expenses and other similar expenses.” Grady v. Price, 94 Ariz. 252, 256, 257, 383 P.2d 173, 176 (1963).

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Bluebook (online)
478 P.2d 532, 13 Ariz. App. 534, 1970 Ariz. App. LEXIS 892, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gangadean-v-leumi-financial-corporation-arizctapp-1970.