Lane v. Unger

599 F. Supp. 63, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23329
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Missouri
DecidedSeptember 25, 1984
DocketNo. N81-074C
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 599 F. Supp. 63 (Lane v. Unger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lane v. Unger, 599 F. Supp. 63, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23329 (E.D. Mo. 1984).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

CAHILL, District Judge.

This matter having been tried to the Court, the Court now makes and enters its findings of fact and conclusions of law in support of its judgment.

Findings of Fact.

1. Plaintiffs Dalton and Bess Lane are citizens and residents of the State of Ohio.

2. Defendants Gerald and Ardis Unger are citizens and residents of the State of Missouri.

3. Defendant attorney Clifford Falzone is a citizen and resident of the State of Missouri.

4. Defendant Hugh Kelly Real Estate Company is a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri with its principal place of business in Moberly, Missouri.

5. Defendant Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) is an agency of the United States Government.

6. The amount in controversy, exclusive of interest and costs, exceeds the sum of $10,000.

7. On April 16 and 17, 1981, the Lanes contracted to purchase a 755 acre farm in Monroe County, Missouri, from the Ungers [65]*65for $912,000. This contract was contingent upon the Lanes obtaining a tax-free exchange for their 400 acre farm in Ohio. The contract provided that the Lanes would assume a first deed of trust by Connecticut General Life Insurance Company and that the Ungers would carry a $380,000 note secured by a deed of trust at nine (9) percent interest payable over a period of 10 years, with $4,000 payable on the principal each year.

8. Hugh Kelly Real Estate Company served as the selling agents in the Unger/Lane transaction.

9. Attorney Clifford A. Falzone was hired by the Lanes to represent them through the closing of the transaction.

10. Some time after mid-April 1981, the Ungers applied to the FmHA for a loan which would be secured by a second deed of trust on their farm.

11. In early May 1981, Hugh Kelly Real Estate and Falzone learned of the Ungers’ loan application. Hugh Kelly Real Estate then directed the Lanes to record their sales contract.

12. The Lanes went to the Office of the Recorder of Deeds but decided against recording their contract. Falzone later advised the Lanes of their options, but then told them that the decision of whether to record was theirs. Both Hugh Kelly Real Estate and Falzone advised the Lanes, however, that if they recorded the contract for sale the FmHA loan may not be approved, and hence the Ungers probably would not go through with the sale. The Lanes did not record their contract.

13. On May 11, 1981, the Ungers and the Lanes entered into a contract for the exchange of the real property. This contract provided for the exchange of lands in Ohio to the Ungers for a portion of the Missouri land and the Ungers’ conveyance of two tracts of the Ohio land to other individuals.

14. Subsequently, the Ungers’ loan application for $111,950 was approved by the FmHA. On May 14, 1981, the Ungers’ second deed of trust to the FmHA was recorded. The Lanes were informed by attorney Falzone that the FmHA deed of trust was recorded.

15. Falzone informed the Lanes that the FmHA deed had a “due on sale clause” which might cause problems. Lawrence Remole, an agent at Hugh Kelly Real Estate, made a few calls and informed the Lanes that the FmHA loan was assumable.

16. The Lanes decided to assume the loan if possible. At that time, attorney Falzone discussed the possibility of obtaining concessions from the Ungers for their having placed a second deed of trust on the property.

17. On May 22, 1981, Vicky Caywood, an agent at Hugh Kelly Real Estate, took the Lanes to the FmHA office in Paris, Missouri. On June 15, 1981, Vicky Cay-wood and Bess Lane again visited the FmHA offices. Charles Grace, the FmHA Monroe County Supervisor, informed the Lanes that because of their financial position they were ineligible to simply assume the Ungers’ note. The Lanes were, however, eligible to assume or refinance the note on different terms. Grace informed the Lanes they could assume the note by making a 10 percent down payment, with the remaining balance being subject to a 13V4 annual percentage rate.

18. The Lanes completed some of the preliminary FmHA forms, but did not complete the entire application process. At the time of closing, the Lanes, knowing that additional forms had to be completed prior to obtaining FmHA approval, closed without approval of the assumption.

19. Prior to or at the time of closing, the Lanes and the Ungers signed an addendum to their contract wherein the Ungers made certain concessions to the Lanes because of the FmHA second deed of trust. The concessions included a reduction in the Ungers’ note from $380,000 to $257,577, a reduction in the interest rate from nine (9) percent to seven (7) percent, and a reduction in the annual principal payment from $4,000 to $1,400.

[66]*6620. On June 26, 1981, the Unger/Lane transaction was closed at the office of Hugh Kelly Real Estate. Present at the closing were the Lanes, three representatives from Spencer Real Estate of Lima, Ohio, the Ungers, and representatives of Hugh Kelly Real Estate. The Ungers executed and delivered to the Lanes a warranty deed conveying the property, which provided that the Lanes would assume both the Connecticut General and FmHA deeds of trust. The Lanes signed and delivered to the Ungers a promissory note for $257,-500 which was secured by a deed of trust to the Ungers.

21. Hugh Kelly Real Estate knowing that the Lanes had not completed the FmHA application went ahead with the closing. Although aware that prior FmHA approval was required for assumption of the second mortgage, both Hugh Kelly Real Estate and attorney Falzone failed to obtain written authority prior to the closing on June 26, 1981. Also, neither Hugh Kelly Real Estate nor attorney Falzone notified the FmHA of the closing. The closing took place late in the evening on June 26, 1981. The Lanes were to complete the FmHA application process on the following business day, but they failed to do so.

22. The Ungers failed to disclose certain obligations to the Lanes at the closing, including outstanding FmHA interest and a payment of $24,230.50 due to Connecticut General in approximately two months. The buyers’ statement, signed by the Lanes at the closing, did not refer to any FmHA interest owed and accruing; nor did it refer to $14,672 in interest owed to Connecticut General. This $14,672 was, however, included within the balance of the total amount due to Connecticut General.

23. After the closing, the Lanes took possession of the farm, planted additional crops, and harvested and sold crops. The growing wheat crop was allocated to the Lanes by letter agreement with the Ungers to provide a source of funds for the required ten (10) percent cash payment that was needed to obtain FmHA refinancing of the Unger FmHA loan.

24. The Lanes visited the FmHA office approximately five times and had at least five telephone conversations with the FmHA regarding the assumption. Subsequent to closing the transaction, the Lanes were contacted by Vicky Caywood who urged them to complete the required FmHA documentation for the approval of the assumption. The Lanes failed or refused to complete the FmHA loan assumption process.

25. During late summer and early fall of 1981, there was a general decline in the value and marketability of agricultural lands in the area. Also, the Lanes’ crop yield failed to meet their expectations.

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Related

Lane v. Unger
786 F.2d 1171 (Eighth Circuit, 1986)

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Bluebook (online)
599 F. Supp. 63, 1984 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23329, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lane-v-unger-moed-1984.