LNV Corp. v. Harrison Family Business, LLC

132 F. Supp. 3d 683, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124746, 2015 WL 5553701
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedSeptember 18, 2015
DocketCivil Action No. ELH-14-03778
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 132 F. Supp. 3d 683 (LNV Corp. v. Harrison Family Business, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
LNV Corp. v. Harrison Family Business, LLC, 132 F. Supp. 3d 683, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124746, 2015 WL 5553701 (D. Md. 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ELLEN LIPTON HOLLANDER, District Judge.

On December 3, 2014, LNV Corporation (“LNV”), successor in interest to the Bank [685]*685of Eastern Shore (“BOES”), filed suit against Harrison Family Business, LLC (“HFB”), alleging default on two commercial loans totaling $2,700,000. ECF 1, Complaint; ECF 17, Amended Complaint.1 HFB had obtained the loans from BOES in February 2010. Id. Each loan is secured by a Deed of Trust to real property and a Preferred Ship Mortgage on the vessel “Captain Buddy.” Id. at 3-7. LNV also named as defendants the guarantors of the loans: Harrison’s Country Inn and Sport Fishing Center, Inc. (“HCI”); Levin F. Harrison, IV (“Harrison IV”' or “Mr. Harrison”); Leslie A. Harrison; the Estate of Levin F. Harrison, III (“Harrison III”); and the Estate of Roberta L. Harrison. Id. Harrison III and Roberta Harrison are the deceased parents of Harrison IV. Leslie Harrison is the wife of Harrison IV.

Plaintiff appended numerous exhibits to the suit. Contemporaneous with the filing of suit, LNV also filed a Motion for Appointment of a Receiver and Injunctive Relief (“Receiver Motion,” ECF 3), supported by a memorandum of law (“Receiver Memo,” ECF 3-1) (collectively, “Receiver Motion” or “Motion”). In the Receiver Motion, LNV seeks appointment of a receiver as to HFB and Captain Buddy.2

LNV’s amended complaint, filed on January 8, 2015 (ECF 17, Amended Complaint), contains six counts. Counts I and II allege that HFB breached both loan agreements by “failing to make payments,” and each count seeks a confessed judgment against HFB. Id. at 10-13. Counts III and IV allege breach of contract by the guarantors as to each loan. Id. at 13-16. Count V seeks the appointment of a receiver for HFB and Captain Buddy. Id. at 16-17. Count VI seeks injunctive relief against HFB and its members, directing them, inter alia, to transfer funds to the receiver and to cooperate with the receiver, and to enjoin them from transferring assets and revenue of HFB without the receiver’s consent. Id. at 17-19.

The Amended Complaint also explains that the Maryland Commissioner of Financial Regulation closed BOES in 2012, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) was appointed as Receiver. ECF 17 ¶ 33, Amended Complaint. In August 2014, the FDIC, as Receiver for BOES, assigned to LNV its interest in the loans to HFB, effective May 2014. See ECF 17-13, Assignment of Deed of Trust for HFB Term Loan; ECF 17-14, Assignment of Deed of Trust for HFB Revolving Loan; LNV Exhibit D, Assignment of Assignment of Rents and Leases; LNV Exhibit E, Assignment of Assignment of Rents and Leases.3 ECF 1 at 3, Complaint.

Defendants oppose the appointment of a receiver for HFB and Captain Buddy. See ECF 8 (“Opposition”); ECF 8-1, supporting memorandum (“Opposition Memo”) (collectively, “Opposition”). LNV has replied. ECF 20 (“Reply”).

[686]*686The Receiver Motion has been fully briefed. In addition, evidence was presented and the Court heard oral argument at a hearing held on September 3, 2015. For the reasons that follow, I will grant the Receiver Motion in part and deny it in part.

I. Factual Background4

Since 1898, the Harrisons have operated hospitality, dining^ and fishing businesses in Talbot County, Maryland. See ECF 8-2 ¶ 3, Declaration of Levin F. Harrison, TV (“Decl. of Harrison IV”). During the early 1930s, Levin F. Harrison, Jr., purchased the property and building that the Harrison family continues to operate as Harrison’s Country Inn (the “Inn”). ECF 8-2 ¶ 10, Decl. of Harrison IV. Harrison III and his wife, Roberta Harrison, inherited the Inn during the late 1970s.

During the eighty years in which the Harrison family has owned the Inn, the Harrisons have improved the property repeatedly. According to Mr. Harrison, the Inn includes more than forty rooms .for overnight guests, a restaurant and bar that can accommodate about one hundred patrons, a small gift shop, and a marina with slips from which customers can charter fishing cruises on numerous vessels owned by independent contractors. The flagship of this charter fleet is Captain Buddy, a thirty-six ton fishing boat jointly owned by Harrison IV and the Estate of Harrison III. See ECF 3-2, Website of Harrison House Family (describing ships available for charter); ECF 17-11 at 8, 12, Preferred Ship Mortgage.

In May 1983, the Harrisons formed HCI, an S-Corporation, which “operates [the] family’s country inn, restaurant, and charter fishing facility_” ECF 8-2 ¶ 3, Decl. of Harrison IV; see LNV Exhibit K at 1, 2014 U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation, Form 1120S, Harrison’s Country Inn & Sportfishing Center, Inc. In February 2010, HCI’s shareholders were Harrison III, who owned 33.34% of HCI’s stock; Roberta Harrison, who owned 33.33% of HCI’s stock; and Harrison IV, who owned 33.33% of HCI’s stock. ECF 8-2 ¶ 4, Decl. Harrison TV.

The Harrisons established HFB in early 2003. See ECF 8-2 ¶ 5, Decl. of Harrison IV; LNV Exhibit F at 1, 2014 Return of Partnership Income, Form 1065, Harrison Family Business, LLC. It was “formed ... to own, operate and manage real estate” to which the Harrison family already held title. ECF 8-2 ¶ 5, Decl. of Harrison IV. According to Harrison IV, HFB is a “real estate holding company.” See also LNV Exhibit F at 1, 2014 Return of Partnership Income, Form 1065, Harrison Family Business, LLC (listing HFB’s principal business activity as “investment” and its principal product or service as “real estate”).

Upon creation of HFB, Harrison III and Roberta Harrison each held a fifty percent membership interest in HFB. ECF 8-2 ¶ 7, Decl. of Harrison TV. Apparently sometime between January 1, 2003, and February 16, 2010, Harrison III and Roberta Harrison transferred three properties to HFB: the Inn and two smaller properties in Talbot County, Maryland. See ECF 8-2 ¶ 5, Decl. of Harrison IV.5 [687]*687Harrison IV is currently HFB’s managing agent.

As noted, HCI operates the Harrison family’s numerous business activities. It manages all aspects of the Inn, from renting out rooms, operating the restaurant, chartering boats at the marina, to paying expenses. Id. HCI rents or owns most of the Inn’s furnishings and kitchen equipment. Id. HCI also rents out, receives revenue from, and pays expenses for property that members of the Harrison family own individually. Id. For example, HCI lets, maintains, and pays expenses for a nearby guesthouse that Harrison IV and Leslie Harrison purchased in 1990. Id. HCI also manages Captain Buddy. Id. In addition, HCI operates, at least partially, other Harrison family enterprises, such as Harrison Oyster Company, LLC (a.k.a. Harrison Brothers Oysters), which appears to be a separate business distinct from the Inn. Id.; LNV Exhibit M at 1, Harrison’s Country Inn & Sport Fishing Center, Inc., Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014.

At the height of the summer season, HCI employs between thirty and fifty full and part-time employees. Seven Harrison family members are on HCI’s payroll, including Harrison IV, who is HCI’s President, and Leslie Harrison, who manages the Inn’s restaurant kitchen and gift shop. Id.

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132 F. Supp. 3d 683, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124746, 2015 WL 5553701, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lnv-corp-v-harrison-family-business-llc-mdd-2015.