Gayle Manufacturing Co. v. Federal Savings & Loan Insurance

910 F.2d 574
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedAugust 3, 1990
DocketNos. 89-15089, 89-15103
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 910 F.2d 574 (Gayle Manufacturing Co. v. Federal Savings & Loan Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gayle Manufacturing Co. v. Federal Savings & Loan Insurance, 910 F.2d 574 (9th Cir. 1990).

Opinion

SNEED, Circuit Judge:

The Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (“FSLIC”) appeals from those portions of the district court’s declaratory judgment that were in favor of Gayle Manufacturing Company (“Gayle”). Gayle cross-appeals, seeking to reverse the district court’s ruling on the proper measure of damages and its denial of Gayle’s motion for attorneys’ fees. Gayle also seeks attorneys’ fees for the instant appeal.

I.

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

The facts in this case, which have their origin in a failed savings and loan association, are not in dispute. Gayle entered into a contract with Jack and Edith Anderson (the “Andersons") on June 7, 1984, for the construction of two warehouse buildings on property owned by the Andersons. In August 1984, the Andersons assigned their interest in the construction contract to State Federal Savings and Loan Association (“State Federal”), the construction lender. Gayle recorded a notice of completion on February 28, 1985. Because it had not been paid in full by the Andersons or the lender, Gayle filed a mechanic’s lien on March 15, 1985, and filed a suit to foreclose on the lien in the Yolo County Superior Court on June 11, 1985 (hereinafter referred to as the “first state action”). Among the defendants Gayle named in that suit were the Andersons and State Federal.

After FSLIC was appointed receiver for State Federal, it was substituted for State Federal in the first state action. In February 1986, FSLIC informed Gayle that, pursuant to North Mississippi Savings & Loan Association v. Hudspeth, 756 F.2d 1096 (5th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1054, 106 S.Ct. 790, 88 L.Ed.2d 768 (1986), it intended “to remove the case to federal court and immediately move to dismiss.” Hudspeth appeared to justify FSLIC’s action. Stating that Gayle’s “opposition to such a motion would doubtless be fruitless and a waste of ... resources,” FSLIC urged Gayle voluntarily to dismiss FSLIC from the action and to pursue its claim “through the FSLIC administrative channels.” Gayle and FSLIC filed a stipulated agreement on March 4, 1986, in which Gayle dismissed FSLIC without prejudice from the Yolo County action “in favor of [FSLIC’s] administrative claims process.”

Immediately thereafter, Gayle contacted FSLIC’s counsel, indicating its desire to pursue administrative procedures with FSLIC and requesting further instruction. FSLIC’s counsel responded that Gayle would receive information regarding the procedure from FSLIC. Gayle proceeded with the Yolo County action against the remaining parties and, on April 2, 1986, secured a judgment and decree of foreclosure on its mechanic’s lien. Because FSLIC had been dismissed from the action, Gayle was unable to execute its decree.

[577]*577FSLIC, now attempting to realize on State Federal’s assets, gave notice of its intention to foreclose on the property on August 27, 1986. In response, Gayle filed another action in Yolo County Superior Court against FSLIC, seeking a declaration that its lien was prior and superior to State Federal’s deed of trust and seeking an injunction preventing FSLIC from foreclosing (hereinafter referred to as the “second state action”). On December 1, 1986, FSLIC again notified Gayle of its intention to remove the action to federal court and to have it dismissed under the authority of Hudspeth. It warned Gayle that it would also seek recovery of costs and attorneys’ fees pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 11. On December 4, 1986, Gayle dismissed the second state action without prejudice. Gayle contacted FSLIC’s regional director on December 4, 1986, again noting its desire to pursue administrative procedures and requesting that FSLIC consider its letter a formal claim. FSLIC sent Gayle a claim form shortly thereafter, and Gayle submitted the form on December 17.

FSLIC scheduled another foreclosure sale for April 17, 1987. To prevent the sale, Gayle filed the federal action now before us on April 16, 1987, seeking injunc-tive and declaratory relief. Gayle sought a stay of the foreclosure sale by FSLIC until adjudication of the relative priority of Gayle’s and FSLIC’s claims on the property. At the time of filing, Gayle asserted that FSLIC still had not adjudicated its claim administratively. On August 27, 1987, FSLIC informed Gayle that it was in the process of reviewing its claim.

On October 21, 1987, the district court permitted FSLIC to proceed with a foreclosure sale, but protected Gayle’s interest by ordering FSLIC to “post security with the Clerk of the Court in the amount of IV2 times plaintiff’s recorded mechanics lien” pursuant to Cal.Civ.Code § 3143 (West 1974). FSLIC complied with the order, and deposited $310,000 with the court several days later.

Gayle filed a motion for summary judgment on October 23, 1987, urging the court to rule:

(1) That Gayle’s mechanic’s lien rights to the Anderson property are prior to FSLIC’s interests in that property;
(2) That Gayle’s mechanic’s lien was properly perfected and preserved;
(3) That FSLIC was bound by an express and implied contract to honor the Anderson’s financial obligations to Gayle which allegedly were assumed by State Federal;
(4) That the proper measure of damages under the contract theory was the contract amount, interest, attorneys’ fees and court costs;
(5) That FSLIC must pay Gayle’s attorneys’ fees;
(6) That sanctions against FSLIC’s attorney under Fed.R.Civ.P. 11 are proper for alleged misrepresentations, misstatements, and innuendo by him.

In a February 23, 1988 order, the district court granted the motion in part and denied it in part. Specifically, the district court granted summary judgment on the issues of priority and perfection. (Claims 1 and 2.) It denied the motion on the contractual liability and damages issues. (Claims 3 and 4.) The district court deferred questions relating to sanctions. (Claims 5 and 6.) At trial, Gayle pursued the question of the nature and amount of damages FSLIC owed Gayle as receiver for State Federal. On December 22, 1988, the district court issued a declaratory judgment and its findings of fact and conclusions of law. It found that Gayle was entitled to recover on “its mechanic’s lien ... the unpaid contract amount or the reasonable value of labor, equipment and materials provided, whichever is less” plus interest from the date of recordation of the lien, or $205,280 in principal and $53,886.03 in interest. The court also ruled that FSLIC was not liable to Gayle under a contractual theory (Claims 3 and 4), for bad faith, or for attorneys’ fees (Claims 5 and 6).

In this appeal, FSLIC asserts that Gayle’s action below was barred by the applicable statute of limitations and that Gayle improperly split its action by bringing multiple lawsuits arising out of the same lien claim. Gayle cross-appeals, con[578]

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910 F.2d 574, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gayle-manufacturing-co-v-federal-savings-loan-insurance-ca9-1990.