Mantle v. N. Star Energy & Constr. LLC

441 P.3d 841
Wyoming Supreme Court·Decided May 21, 2019·No. S-18-0210·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

Representing Alexander Reed Mantle and Marjorie M. Mantle: Stephen R. Winship, Winship & Winship, PC, Casper, Wyoming. Argument by Mr. Winship.

Representing North Star Energy & Construction LLC: Lance C. Overstreet, John M. Kuker, and Jeffrey M. Boldt, Overstreet Homar & Kuker, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Representing Gary W. Garland, Hot Iron, Inc., and GT Investments, Inc.: Kim D. Cannon & Codie D. Henderson, Davis & Cannon, LLP, Sheridan, Wyoming. Argument by Mr. Henderson.

Representing Raymond W. Garland, Matt R. Garland, Three Way, Inc., and MGM Enterprises, Inc.: Judith A. W. Studer, Schwartz, Bon, Walker & Studer, LLC, Casper, Wyoming. Argument by Ms. Studer.

Representing WyoDak Energy Services, LLC: No Appearance.

Before DAVIS, C.J., and FOX, KAUTZ, BOOMGAARDEN, and GRAY, JJ.

FOX, Justice.

[¶1] This is the sequel in the ongoing litigation arising from a business deal that went south. We addressed the appeal of the district court's decision after a bench trial in Mantle v. North Star Energy & Construction, LLC , 2019 WY 29, 437 P.3d 758 (Wyo. 2019) (Mantle I ). Alex Mantle and Marjorie Mantle now appeal various post-trial issues. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

ISSUES

[¶2] The Mantles raise twelve issues, which we condense and rephrase as follows:

1. Did the district court have subject matter jurisdiction to offset the judgments when that issue was pending in this Court in Mantle I ?
2. With respect to the Killmer Settlement Funds:
a. Is there a reviewable order in the record regarding whether the Garlands had standing to assert a direct claim against Mr. Killmer?
b. Did the Mantles have a superior security interest in the Killmer Settlement Funds by operation of the "general intangibles" clause of the FNB security agreement?
*8443. Did the district court err when it awarded North Star's attorneys, The Kuker Group,1 their attorney fees from a portion of the Killmer Settlement Funds?
4. Did the district court err when it issued a nunc pro tunc order that removed Marjorie Mantle's name from the order that disbursed the Killmer Settlement Funds?

FACTS

[¶3] We briefly summarize the facts to provide context for the issues in this appeal. A more complete discussion can be found in Mantle I , 2019 WY 29, 437 P.3d 758. The Garland brothers, Gary, Ray, and Matt, each had their own companies involved in the oil and gas business. Id. at ¶ 1, 437 P.3d at 768. In November 2011, the brothers, with their companies, formed North Star Energy & Construction, LLC. Id. at ¶¶ 5-6, 437 P.3d at 769. Alex Mantle was appointed President. Id. at ¶ 6, 437 P.3d at 769. Karl Killmer was North Star's accountant. Id. In mid-2014, Mr. Mantle and Mr. Killmer proposed to buy North Star from the Garlands. Id. at ¶ 12, 437 P.3d at 770. The parties executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that memorialized their agreement, including Mr. Killmer's and the Mantles' personal guarantees of $6.1 million of the purchase price. Id. at ¶¶ 2, 16-17, 437 P.3d at 768, 771-72. Mr. Mantle and Mr. Killmer negotiated a $3-million loan from First Northern Bank (FNB) to fund the down payment. Id. at ¶ 13, 437 P.3d at 770. Ultimately, the transaction took the form of a leveraged buyout when the FNB loan was made to North Star. Id. at ¶¶ 14, 17, 437 P.3d at 770-72.

[¶4] North Star's fortunes continued to decline, due to questionable business decisions and the dropping oil market. See id. at ¶¶ 26-32, 437 P.3d at 773-75. By December 2014, the Garlands stepped back in to try and save North Star. Id. at ¶ 33, 437 P.3d at 775. They were unsuccessful, and by August 2015 the Garlands began liquidation. Id. at ¶ 38, 437 P.3d at 776. In June 2015, the Mantles bought the $3-million FNB loan, which effectively made them a creditor of North Star. Id. at ¶ 40, 437 P.3d at 776-77.

[¶5] In May 2015, Mr. Mantle and his wife, Marjorie, sued the Garlands, the Garlands' businesses, and North Star. Id. at ¶ 42, 437 P.3d at 777. Among other claims, the Mantles sought to collect on the $3-million FNB note. Id. The Garlands countered with their claim that Mr. Mantle and Mr. Killmer breached the $6.1-million guarantee in the MOU. Id.

[¶6] The Garlands and North Star also sued Mr. Killmer for accountant malpractice.2 Id. Mr. Killmer defaulted, id. at ¶ 44, 437 P.3d at 777, and then assigned to the Garlands and North Star any claim he had against his malpractice insurance carrier for failing to provide coverage or a defense. The district court then dismissed Mr. Killmer from the case with prejudice. Id.

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