Gerald M. Hocking v. Maylee Dubois and Vitousek & Dick Realtors, Inc., a Hawaii Corporation

885 F.2d 1449, 1989 U.S. App. LEXIS 14159, 1989 WL 107385
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedSeptember 21, 1989
Docket85-1932
StatusPublished
Cited by72 cases

This text of 885 F.2d 1449 (Gerald M. Hocking v. Maylee Dubois and Vitousek & Dick Realtors, Inc., a Hawaii Corporation) 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
Gerald M. Hocking v. Maylee Dubois and Vitousek & Dick Realtors, Inc., a Hawaii Corporation, 885 F.2d 1449, 1989 U.S. App. LEXIS 14159, 1989 WL 107385 (9th Cir. 1989).

Opinions

GOODWIN, Chief Judge:

Gerald M. Hocking, a disappointed purchaser of a unit in a condominium complex in Hawaii sued the brokers who sold the unit, claiming violations of the antifraud provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j (1982), and Rule 10b-5, 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 (1988). He appeals a summary judgment in favor of the brokers.

After a three-judge panel’s decision had reversed the summary judgment,1 the court [1452]*1452granted rehearing en banc and the case was reargued on supplemental briefs focused upon the question whether the transaction at the heart of this case involved a “security” within the meaning of the federal security laws.

The district court noted that “this action lies close to the edge of those transactions which have been found to be regulated by the Securities Act as investment contracts,” but concluded that Hocking had not raised a triable issue of material fact as to whether DuBois had offered him a “security.”

At best we can ascertain from the present record,2 and reading it in the light most favorable to Hocking, the facts are as follows:3

Hocking was a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. Following a visit to Hawaii, Hocking became interested in purchasing a condominium there as an investment. Deposition at 12, 52. Dubois was a real estate agent licensed in Hawaii, employed by defendant Vitousek & Dick Realtors, Inc. Dubois met Hocking through her husband, one of Hocking’s co-workers. Deposition at 12.

Dubois agreed to search for a condominium for Hocking, and in the spring of 1979 proposed that Hocking purchase a condominium in the resort complex at 2121 Ala Wai, Honolulu, which had been listed with Vitousek & Dick. Deposition at 7-8. The resort complex was developed by Aetna Life Insurance Company, and was still under construction at that time. Deposition at 33. Hocking had told Dubois that he wanted to buy a condominium directly from the developer, to be a “first person buyer.” Deposition at 8. In fact, the condominium unit sold to Hocking was owned by Tovik and Yaacov Liberman, who had purchased from the developer. Agreement of Sale, ER at 10, 19. Hocking did not independently inquire into who was developing the complex at 2121 Ala Wai, but relied on Dubois’ assurances that he would be purchasing directly from the developer. (At this stage of the record the question of buying directly from the developer or in the “secondary” market is only of eviden-tiary value in shedding light on the terms of sale). Hocking had no contact with Aet-na, and he knew of no connection between defendants and the builders of the condominium complex. Deposition at 101-102.

Dubois told Hocking, according to his deposition, that “the investment would be handled [for him] by a local company, or her company or someone that she would help [him] get in touch with.” Deposition at 8. She informed Hocking that a rental pool arrangement (RPA) would be available to Hocking if he were to purchase the condominium. She also told him that the condominiums were renting for an average of $100 a day, from which he calculated the monthly income would be $2,000 to $3,000 per month. Affidavit at 2. He relied on the expected rental income to cover his monthly payments and provide additional [1453]*1453income. Id. While Dubois expressed no requirement that Hocking participate in the rental pool arrangement, Hocking testified that but for the availability of the rental pool arrangement he would not have purchased the condominium. Deposition at 62-63.

Hocking entered into an agreement to purchase the condominium from the Liber-mans. He signed the agreement on June 23, 1979 in Nevada, and Tovik Liberman signed on July 2, 1979 in Hawaii. Agreement of Sale, ER at 19. Hocking also entered into several agreements with Hotel Corporation of the Pacific (HCP) concerning rental of the condominium.

On June 29, 1979 he signed a rental management agreement (RMA) appointing HCP exclusive agent to manage his condominium. ER at 24. He also entered into an Individual Agency Rental Agreement for Pooled Operation, the RPA, executed on July 5, 1979, to become effective on December 20, 1979. Supplemental ER at 240. This agreement placed Hocking’s condominium in HCP’s rental pool.4

Finally, on July 21, 1979, he signed an addendum to the RPA, which HCP executed on July 31, 1979. Supplemental ER at 243. Among other things, this addendum postponed the effective date of the RPA until the earlier of December 31, 1982 or that time when the developer had sold all the units in the development.

Hocking testified in his affidavit that Du-bois presented these agreements to him and assured him they were mere standard forms, and further, that he neither read nor fully understood the agreements he signed. Affidavit at 4.

The rental management agreement gave Hocking the right to terminate the RMA upon 30-days written notice, with termination effective at the end of any current lease. The RPA’s termination provisions are more complicated. During the initial year of pooled operation Hocking had the right to terminate at any time upon 15-days notice. In subsequent years he could terminate the RPA once annually upon 90-days notice. HCP reserved the right to terminate should the number of units participating in the rental pool fall below 40 percent of the total number of units in the complex. The condominium owners could collectively terminate the RPA upon an election to do so by 75% of those participating in the RPA. The RPA was to terminate on December 31, 1984. Finally, HCP was given the option to renew the RPA for two additional five-year terms.

Hocking alleges that his investment was entirely passive, and that he relied on Du-bois to select, manage, and protect his . investment. Third Amended Complaint at 2-3. He relinquished control of his investment at the time he purchased it and had access to his unit for only two weeks each year. Affidavit at 3. He knew that approximately fifty other condominium owners participated in the rental pooling arrangement. Id. When he visited the building in Hawaii, he observed that it was operated like a hotel, and he received copies of brochures and advertisements which HCP distributed on the mainland. Id.

Hocking purchased the condominium for $115,000, with a downpayment of $24,000 and installment payments on the remaining portion of the purchase price through June 1982, at which time all unpaid amounts were to become due. Hocking’s complaint states that he “cancelled” his investment when this balloon payment came due. Third Amended Complaint at 4. The failure to make the payment apparently caused the forfeiture of his prior payments. He claims the loss of his investment was caused by the failure to receive the expected rental income, and by further .misrepresentations of Dubois concerning appreciation in the value of the condominium and her efforts to resell the condominium in 1981 and 1982. Third Amended Complaint at 3-5; Affidavit at 2-3.

We are in general agreement with the three-judge panel’s statement of our function in reviewing a summary judgment:

[1454]*1454We review the grant of summary judgment de novo. SEC v. Belmont Reid & Co.,

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885 F.2d 1449, 1989 U.S. App. LEXIS 14159, 1989 WL 107385, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gerald-m-hocking-v-maylee-dubois-and-vitousek-dick-realtors-inc-a-ca9-1989.