Madison Bank v. Simpson

122 F.R.D. 547, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12413, 1988 WL 117940
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Missouri
DecidedNovember 1, 1988
DocketNo. N88-0090C
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 122 F.R.D. 547 (Madison Bank v. Simpson) 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
Madison Bank v. Simpson, 122 F.R.D. 547, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12413, 1988 WL 117940 (E.D. Mo. 1988).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

GUNN, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court upon several motions. Defendant third-party plaintiff Simpson has filed a motion to remand this action to state court. Simpson has also filed a motion to stay or set aside the state court order to make his third-party petition more definite. In addition, Simpson has filed objections and alternative motion to stay ruling of motion of plaintiff Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for leave to file its first amended complaint. Third-party defendant Karn has filed a motion to dismiss and strike portions of the complaint against him. Finally, third-party defendant FDIC, as receiver for Farmers & Merchants Bank of Huntsville has filed a motion for leave to file its first amended answer.

This action was originally filed by the plaintiff Madison Bank on August 27, 1985 in the Circuit Court of Monroe County. Plaintiff was seeking to enforce five promissory notes and security agreements executed by defendant Simpson. Following an application for change of judge and venue, the action was transferred to the Circuit Court of Ralls County.

On or about May 27, 1987, defendant Simpson filed a counterclaim and third-party petition against the plaintiff, ten named defendants and several unnamed defendants. The eight-count petition alleged fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract or promissory estoppel, conversion, defamation, prima facie tort and slanderous and fraudulent foreclosure. (The amended counterclaim and third-party complaint omits Count 8).

One of the counterclaim defendants, the First National Bank of St. Joseph (“First National”) had been declared insolvent on October 11, 1985. Pursuant to 12 U.S.C. §§ 191 and 1821(c), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency terminated the bank’s powers and appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) as receiver. First National had participated in four of the five loans to defendant Simpson; however, it had not joined in the original action against Simpson.

After Simpson filed his third-party petition, the FDIC timely removed the action to federal court. See 12 U.S.C. § 1819 (fourth). The FDIC subsequently filed a motion to dismiss the claim against it based upon improper venue. See 12 U.S.C. § 94. This Court granted the FDIC’s motion to dismiss and remanded the action to state court. Madison Bank v. Simpson, No. N87-0099C (E.D.Mo., Jan. 12, 1988).

A. Motion to Remand

Before addressing Simpson’s motion to remand, it will be necessary to outline briefly how this action happens to be back in federal court.

As previously noted, First National had participated in four of the five loans to Simpson which are at issue in this action. On October 11, 1985, when First National was declared insolvent, FDIC receiver took control of the participation interests. On the same day, FDIC receiver transferred the participation interests to the FDIC in its corporate capacity. This transfer was clearly authorized by 12 U.S.C. § 1823, and [549]*549the transaction was approved by the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Plaintiff Madison Bank was the lead bank in making the loans to Simpson.. On May 8, 1988, Madison Bank transferred to the FDIC in its corporate capacity, all of its interest in the four loans participated in by First National. Thereafter, FDIC owned not only the right to any proceeds collected on the notes, but also the notes.

Following the assignment of the notes, the FDIC filed a motion in the state court to be substituted or joined as a party plaintiff. The motion was granted on May 31, 1988, and the FDIC removed the action to this Court on June 15, 1988. In removing, the FDIC relied upon the grant of federal jurisdiction in 12 U.S.C. § 1819 (fourth). That statute provides that “[a]ll suits of a civil nature ... to which the Corporation [FDIC] shall be a party shall be deemed to arise under the laws of the United States ... and the Corporation may ... remove any such action, suit, or proceeding from a state court to the United States district court ... embracing the place where the same is pending.”

Defendant Simpson makes several arguments in support of his motion to remand. He first argues that the state court erred in permitting the joinder of the FDIC as a plaintiff because Madison Bank’s assignment of its interest in the four notes to the FDIC was improper. Simpson contends that the FDIC is authorized only to acquire the assets of an insured bank which is insolvent or in danger of closing. See, e.g., 12 U.S.C. § 1823(c). Defendant’s argument is without merit.

The transfer of the participation interests by the FDIC to the FDIC in its corporate capacity was a proper exercise of authority pursuant to 12 U.S.C. § 1823. At that point the FDIC in its corporate capacity had purchased a valuable asset and it had the right and obligation to protect its interest in that asset. The FDIC may “exercise ... all powers specifically granted ... and such incidental powers as shall be necessary to carry out the powers so granted.” 12 U.S.C. § 1819 (seventh). The transfer and receipt by the FDIC of the legal title of the four notes by the FDIC was a proper exercise of the FDIC's power. See Chatham Ventures, Inc. v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., 651 F.2d 355, 358-59 (5th Cir.1981); Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. v. Kelly, 682 F.Supp. 427 (S.D.Ia.1988); McVay v. Western Plains Service Corp., 823 F.2d 1395 (10th Cir.1987). The state court did not err in permitting the FDIC to join with plaintiff Madison Bank in their efforts to collect on the promissory notes.

Simpson’s remaining arguments in support of his motion to remand are also without merit. He argues that pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1446, only defendants are permitted to remove an action. However, with one exception which is not applicable here, 12 U.S.C. § 1819 (fourth) permits the FDIC to remove an action to federal court whenever the Corporation is a party to an action. The fact that the FDIC is aligned as a plaintiff in this action does not prevent it from properly removing the action. E.g., In Re Franklin National Bank Securities Litigation,

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
122 F.R.D. 547, 1988 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12413, 1988 WL 117940, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/madison-bank-v-simpson-moed-1988.