In re Jarrell

240 So. 3d 266
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 7, 2018
DocketNO. 2017–CA–0713
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 240 So. 3d 266 (In re Jarrell) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Jarrell, 240 So. 3d 266 (La. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

JAMES F. MCKAY III, CHIEF JUDGE

*268Defendant, Jessie L. Conerly ("Conerly"), appeals the trial court's July 6, 2017 judgment, granting a motion for partial summary judgment in favor of plaintiff, Ramon V. Jarrell ("Jarrell"). For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand.

STATEMENT OF FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On June 30, 2014, Conerly and Jarrell entered into a business venture as reflected in the following Letter of Intent:1

This Letter of intent is between Ramon V. Jarrell of Country Club of Louisiana, 18019 East Augusta Drive, Baton Rouge, LA and Jessie Conerly of 7470 Cambereley Drive, New Orleans, LA 70128 for the sole purpose of the extraction and sale of the natural resources of sand, gravel, and clay present on the land which we expect will be bought by K & M, LLC from Marion Clay & Gravel, LLC.
The two parties desire to form a limited liability company, K & M, LLC, as a minority owned company located at 1957 Highway 43, Columbia, MS 39429. The land, from which the aggregate materials will be extracted, consists of 872 acres along the Pearl River.
It contains large amounts of the natural resources referenced above, and will be used as collateral, along with aggregate contracts provided by buyers of product, for any debt incurred on behalf of K & M, LLC. At the satisfaction of all LLC indebtedness and dissolution of the LLC, the land reverts to Conerly.
The following stipulations serve as operational underpinnings for this partnership that define the duties of the members, along with the distribution of profits generated by the operation.
1. Jarrell will own 48% of the company, K & M, LLC,
2. Jarrell will arrange for the securement of $6.8 million in start-up capital for the purpose of buying out four original members [of Marion Clay & Gravel, LLC] with ownership percentages as follows:
Harry Varnadoe, H. Varnadoe Enterprises, LLC-27.5%, William Myles-28.75 %,
Mark Denis, Denis-Bates Enterprises, LLC-5%, Stan Hutson, ES Services, LLC-10%.
Additional uses of funds include operational start-up, equipment.
3. Jarrell will receive 50% of the profits generated,
4. Jarrell will provide oversite [sic ] and have access to all records and aspects of the operation,
5. Conerly will own 52% of K & M, LLC for the purpose of acquiring Certification as a Minority owned business which leverages the marketing function,
6. Conerly will provide daily operational management and oversite [sic ] aspects of the operation,
7. Conerly will receive 50% of the profits generated.

Subsequent to the execution of the Letter of Intent, Jarrell began advancing capital to Conerly. In connection therewith, Conerly issued four promissory notes to Jarrell, as follows:

Note I dated July 11, 2014, in the principal amount of $40,000.00;

*269Note II dated August 4, 2014 in the principal amount of $20,000.00;

Note III dated August 19, 2014 in the principal amount of $22,000.00;

Note IV dated September 9, 2014 in the principal amount of $22,000.00.

Each note further provides for payment terms, interest, and attorney's fees.

In July 2016, Jarrell filed suit, alleging that Conerly failed to pay the balance due on the four notes. Jarrell maintains that the promissory notes represent funds "loaned" to Conerly for the business venture.

Conerly answered the petition, acknowledging that the notes had not been paid in full.2 He stated, however, that Jarrell advanced the funds with the understanding that the funds would be paid back from the profits of the business venture, not from Conerly personally. Conerly further asserts in his answer that Jarrell breached the Letter of Intent by failing to arrange for the securement of $6.8 million in start-up capital for the venture, as he agreed to do. In the alternative, Conerly claims that he is entitled to a set-off due to Jarrell's breach of contract.

Conerly also filed a reconventional demand, alleging that the venture fell through as a direct result of Jarrell's breach of contract. Conerly's reconventional demand seeks damages from Jarrell for loss of anticipated profits and income.

Jarrell filed a motion for partial summary judgment, asserting his holder in due course status. He alleges therein that Conerly did not set forth any of the available defenses allowed against a holder in due course as provided by La. R.S. 10:3-305. Accordingly, Jarrell sought to enforce the promissory notes.

Conerly opposed the motion for partial summary judgment, arguing that there are genuine issues of material fact as to whether the consideration for the notes (Jarrell's procurement of the start-up capital) failed. Conerly also denies that the funds represented a loan, asserting instead that the parties intended the notes to be simulations. Thus, he maintains that there are genuine issues of fact as to the parties' intent.

The matter was heard June 30, 2017. The trial court rendered judgment July 6, 2017, granting a partial summary judgment in favor of Jarrell, and awarding Jarrell damages in the amount of the principal of $104,000.00, plus interest, attorney's fees, and costs.3 Conerly's timely appeal followed.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

"Appellate courts review summary judgments de novo , using the same criteria that govern the district court's consideration of whether summary judgment is appropriate." Hogg v. Chevron USA, Inc. , 2009-2632, 2009-2632, p. 5 (La. 7/06/10), 45 So.3d 991, 996 (citing Schroeder v. Board of Supervisors of LouisianaState University , 591 So.2d 342, 345 (La. 1991) ). "The summary judgment procedure is designed to secure the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of every action, except those disallowed by Article 969. The procedure is favored and shall be construed to accomplish these ends." La. C.C.P. art. 966A(2). "After an opportunity for adequate discovery, a motion for summary judgment shall be granted if the motion, memorandum, and supporting documents show that there is no genuine issue as to material fact and that the mover is *270entitled to judgment as a matter of law." La. C.C.P. art. 966A(3).

LAW AND ANALYSIS

In granting the motion for partial summary judgment from the bench, the trial court stated:

I believe that plaintiff [Jarrell] is considered a holder in due course and defendant [Conerly] is allowed to assert defenses to the holder in due course. I don't believe those defenses have been asserted. Now, you do claim that there are other defenses.

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

Related

Valerie Titus v. Mark Titus
Louisiana Court of Appeal, 2023

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
240 So. 3d 266, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-jarrell-lactapp-2018.