Hill v. Federal Employees Credit Union

386 S.E.2d 874, 193 Ga. App. 44, 11 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 399, 1989 Ga. App. LEXIS 1290
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedSeptember 6, 1989
DocketA89A1573
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 386 S.E.2d 874 (Hill v. Federal Employees Credit Union) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hill v. Federal Employees Credit Union, 386 S.E.2d 874, 193 Ga. App. 44, 11 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 399, 1989 Ga. App. LEXIS 1290 (Ga. Ct. App. 1989).

Opinion

Sognier, Judge.

The Federal Employees Credit Union (FECU) brought suit against Sadie C. Hill to recover a deficiency balance resulting when Hill defaulted on an automobile loan and FECU repossessed and sold her car. Hill answered and counterclaimed, and the parties filed cross-motions for summary judgment. The trial court granted FECU’s motion for summary judgment and denied that of Hill, and Hill brings this appeal.

The record reveals that in April 1985, appellant executed an “Open-End Credit Plan Agreement” (the Agreement) with appellee. Shortly thereafter, appellant applied for and received an initial loan of $400, secured by her savings account. This loan was paid off in January 1986. On July 2, 1986, appellant obtained check number 210392, in the amount of $13,303, issued to appellant and Toresco’s Autoland after approval of a loan for the purchase of a 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue. That check was endorsed by both payees, and the proceeds used to purchase the automobile. Both before and after the date of the car loan, appellant applied for and received various other (mostly small) loans pursuant to the same Agreement.

In August 1987, after a work injury, appellant stopped making payment to appellee. On October 29, 1987, when appellant was over two months behind in her biweekly payments, and the balance remaining on the debt was almost $16,000, appellee repossessed the automobile. Four days later, appellee sent to appellant by certified mail, return receipt requested, its customary “UCC 10 day letter,” which was returned on November 23, 1987, marked “unclaimed” indicating attempted delivery twice to appellant. Appellee then prepared the vehicle for private sale, advertised it, and received written bids. On March 14, 1988, appellee sold the vehicle to the highest bidder for $11,700 and applied the proceeds to the balance owed. After doing so, there remained a deficiency balance in the principal amount of $4,107.84, reflecting a balance of $3,161.84 on the car loan and $946 *45 on cross-collateralized line of credit loans under the Agreement. After appellant refused demand for this sum, appellee brought this action.

1. Appellant contends the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of appellee when the record fails to show appellee had a security interest in the automobile it repossessed. This enumeration is without merit. The Agreement signed by appellant incorporates a security agreement which gives appellee a security interest in a vehicle for whose purchase a loan is made, and also provides that such collateral “also secures any other debt obligation that I have or subsequently incur with you.” In addition, the check issued for the purchase of the car contained a limited endorsement warranty, incorporating the Agreement by reference and indicating that by endorsing the check appellant acknowledged receipt of the proceeds in accordance with the Agreement. Appellant’s execution of the Agreement and subsequent endorsement of the check gave appellee a security interest in the purchased vehicle, which was then perfected by the issuance of a certificate of title listing appellee as first lienholder. See OCGA §§ 11-9-302 (3) (b); 40-3-53.

2. Appellant alleges the trial court erred by granting summary judgment to appellee because questions of fact remain with regard to four issues.

(a) With regard to whether the costs of servicing and preparing the car for sale were authorized, appellant’s contentions are unfounded because these incidental expenses were provided for in the Agreement and are further specifically allowed by OCGA § 11-9-504 (1) (a).

(b) Appellant also claims issues of fact remain as to whether appellee complied with the requirements of OCGA § 10-1-36 because she never received notice. The record reveals that on the envelope containing the notice, the last number of appellant’s correct street address had been deleted. However, in its motion for summary judgment, appellee proffered the affidavit of Henry Brannon, who averred that he was employed as a rural mail carrier by the U. S. Postal Service and was responsible for mail delivery to appellant’s correct address during the period of time the notice was mailed. Brannon deposed that notwithstanding the typographical error and the fact that the address on the envelope does not exist, he recognized the name on the letter, realized where it should be delivered and, in fact, attempted delivery there twice by leaving a notice of attempt to deliver certified mail at appellant’s correct address. Brannon also stated that because it was a certified letter, pursuant to post office procedures it was returned to the sender after two claim notices. This information was verified in the affidavit of Donna Willoghby, another postal service employee at Brannon’s branch.

This court has held that “[t]here is no requirement in OCGA § *46 10-1-36 that the debtor actually receive notice,” Calcote v. C & S Nat. Bank, 179 Ga. App. 132, 133 (345 SE2d 616) (1986), and a debtor may not evade notification by refusing to accept certified mail. Appellee has shown, without rebuttal by appellant, that two attempts were made to deliver the notice to the correct address and appellant refused delivery. Accordingly, Calcóte applies, and the requirements of OCGA § 10-1-36 have been met. Although the court in Calcóte went on to discuss whether compliance in that manner with OCGA § 10-1-36 is also a sufficient showing of compliance with the “cumulative and additional ‘reasonable notification’ provision of OCGA § 11-9-504 (3),” id., that issue is not enumerated or argued by appellant, and therefore we need not address it. Accordingly, we find no merit in this enumeration.

(c) Appellant contends an issue of fact exists as to whether she was actually in default at the time of repossession. Appellant averred in her affidavit that Chris Maner, appellee’s employee, had verbally agreed to extend the payment deadline and the repossession was accomplished prior to the extended deadline. In their affidavits, both Maner and Dorothy Freehery, appellee’s collection manager, unequivocally denied that they extended the deadline.

As to the “quasi new agreement” appellant asserts was created by her conversation with Maner, OCGA § 13-4-4 provides that mutual departure from the terms of a contract mandates notice of the intention of one of the parties to return to the original terms before those terms may be enforced. In order to establish the existence of a quasi new agreement, a mutual rather than merely unilateral intention to vary the terms of the original contract must be shown. Shalom Farms v. Columbus Bank &c. Co., 169 Ga. App. 145, 147 (2) (312 SE2d 138) (1983).

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386 S.E.2d 874, 193 Ga. App. 44, 11 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 399, 1989 Ga. App. LEXIS 1290, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hill-v-federal-employees-credit-union-gactapp-1989.