Jennen v. Hunter (In re Hunter)

52 B.R. 912, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23912
CourtDistrict Court, D. North Dakota
DecidedSeptember 4, 1984
DocketBankruptcy No. 83-00119; Ancillary No. 83-09003; Civ. No. A3-84-28
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 52 B.R. 912 (Jennen v. Hunter (In re Hunter)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. North Dakota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jennen v. Hunter (In re Hunter), 52 B.R. 912, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23912 (D.N.D. 1984).

Opinion

[913]*913MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

BENSON, Chief Judge.

Appellant Richard Jennen has appealed from a bankruptcy court order entered on January 18, 1984, which denied his motion to amend a judgment entered on December 19, 1983, 36 B.R. 28.

Procedural Background

In January 1983, Larry and Mary Ellen Hunter filed a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Jennen commenced an adversary proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington seeking a determination of the dischargeability of Hunter’s debts to Jennen under 11 U.S.C. § 523. In the interests of justice and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses, the adversary proceeding was subsequently transferred to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of North Dakota.

At the close of Plaintiffs case the bankruptcy court dismissed the complaint against Defendant Mary Ellen Hunter, and the dismissal was not appealed. With regard to Defendant Larry Hunter, on December 19, 1983, the bankruptcy court held a $15,000.00 debt owed by Hunter to Jen-nen was not dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(2), but that a subsequently incurred debt in the amount of $12,000.00 was dischargeable. Additionally the court held that certain sums previously recovered by Jennen should be applied entirely against the nondischargeable $15,000.00 debt, resulting in an order for judgment in favor of Jennen in the amount of $2,715.77. The bankruptcy court made no findings as to interest or attorney’s fees.

On January 18, 1983, the bankruptcy court denied Jennen’s motion for amended findings of fact and conclusions of law and additional findings of fact and conclusions of law. Jennen appeals the bankruptcy court’s January 18, 1983 order. Jennen argues on appeal that the bankruptcy court erred in finding the $12,000.00 debt to be dischargeable, in its application of proceeds to Plaintiff’s debt, and by failing to award attorney’s fees, interest and costs to Plaintiff.

Facts

In November 1974, Plaintiffs vacationed in Florida and visited Defendant Larry Hunter, who is married to Plaintiff’s niece. Defendant Hunter was a real estate broker who engaged in speculative real estate ventures, both personally and through closely held corporations.

After returning home to Minnesota, Plaintiff received a letter, a photograph and a newspaper article regarding a proposed development site from Hunter. Plaintiff then received a telephone call from Hunter and was told that for $30,-000.00 they could purchase certain property, and that for $15,000.00 Plaintiff would become a 50 percent partner. Plaintiff was led to believe that his payment would entitle him to ownership of a one-half interest in the land, free and clear. In fact, the parcel was never purchased and even if it had been purchased, it was only a small part of a larger transaction for which substantial financing was missing. Plaintiff was never advised of this, and based upon the representations made by Hunter, sent Hunter a cashier’s check for $15,000.00 in December 1974. No property was ever placed in Plaintiff’s name, despite repeated assurances by Hunter that the purchase had been made.

On March 10, 1975, Plaintiff received a telephone call from Hunter asking for a $12,000.00 loan. Plaintiff was told that the money was needed by Hunter to pay real estate taxes on some land in the Florida Keys. Plaintiff told Hunter he didn’t have that kind of money and didn’t want to sell any of his stored grain because grain prices were low.

Hunter called Plaintiff again the following day. Plaintiff was told that if he loaned Hunter the $12,000.00, Hunter would repay Plaintiff $13,000.00 within 30 days, after he sold some land. Plaintiff told Hunter that he could maybe come up [914]*914with the money by selling some pinto beans, but that he had taxes of his own to pay at the end of May and could only make the loan if Hunter was sure he would repay by then. After receiving this assurance, Plaintiff agreed to make the loan.

From this point on the testimony regarding the sequence of events becomes unclear. Hunter apparently sent Plaintiff a check for $13,000.00. After receiving the check, however, Plaintiff became concerned that $1,000.00 interest on the loan might be illegal. He therefore called Hunter and told him he couldn’t accept the check but because they were in business together, if he could help, he would. They agreed that Hunter would pay nine percent interest on the $12,000.00 loan. Rather than sending a check, Plaintiff asked Hunter to send him a promissory note with both his and his wife’s signatures on it. Plaintiff then voided and sent back the $13,000.00 check.

Either before or after receiving the $13,-000.00 check and note, Plaintiff sent Hunter a $12,000.00 check dated March 20, 1975. After sending the check, however, Plaintiff had second thoughts and informed the bank to stop payment. Hunter was notified by telephone that payment had been stopped. During the course of this or a subsequent telephone conversation, Hunter was able to convince Plaintiff to lift the stop payment order. The check was cashed on March 24, 1975.

The testimony at trial is unclear as to exactly what assurances, if any, Plaintiff was given to convince him to lift the stop payment order. Plaintiff testified that when asked, he informed Hunter that he had stopped payment on the check because he had not received any paperwork regarding the $15,000.00 land purchase. He was then reassured by Hunter that there was nothing to worry about and that he would get at his secretary right away to straighten the matter out. Plaintiff testified that Hunter assured him he had paid for his half of the land, that there was no problems with the land, and that it was all paid for.

Additionally, Plaintiff testified that he inquired about security for the $12,000.00 loan. According to Plaintiff, discussions were had concerning the possibility of Hunter giving Plaintiff a mortgage on his half of their jointly owned land or on a $12,000.00 airplane that Hunter claimed he owned free and clear. In fact, the plane was partially owned by a friend of Hunter’s. Plaintiff testified that after being assured by Hunter that the deed and mortgage would be forthcoming and that he would be repaid by the end of May, he lifted the stop payment order. Plaintiff never received a deed or mortgage and the $12,000.00 loan has not been repaid.

Hunter testified that before receiving Plaintiff’s $12,000.00 check, Plaintiff had expressed concern regarding his prior $15,-000.00 investment. Hunter told Plaintiff he thought they could “pull it off” and testified he didn’t know at that time that the additional mortgage financing would not be forthcoming. Defendant further testified that he was able to convince Plaintiff to lift the stop payment by telling him he would be receiving $12,000.00 from the sale of some land soon, but it was imperative he have the money now because he had already written the checks for his taxes. Hunter testified he doesn’t remember whether Plaintiff wanted security for the $12,000.00 loan.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
52 B.R. 912, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23912, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jennen-v-hunter-in-re-hunter-ndd-1984.