Maryland National Bank v. Traenkle

933 F. Supp. 1280, 32 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1021, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11575
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedAugust 5, 1996
DocketCivil No. K-90-2731
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 933 F. Supp. 1280 (Maryland National Bank v. Traenkle) 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
Maryland National Bank v. Traenkle, 933 F. Supp. 1280, 32 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1021, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11575 (D. Md. 1996).

Opinion

FRANK A. KAUFMAN, Senior District Judge.

Plaintiff Maryland National Bank (“the Bank”) brought the within action against defendants Robert H. Traenkle and Christine D. Traenkle (“the Traenkles”) to collect a debt allegedly owed to the Bank. Defendants filed a counterclaim and an amended counterclaim. Plaintiff moved for summary judgment as to both its case in chief and the amended counterclaim. This Court will grant plaintiffs motion as to the case in chief and deny that motion as to the counterclaims, except insofar as the counterclaims are precluded, as discussed infra.

I

Facts

The following facts are, in all material respects, undisputed: The Bank instituted this action on October 18, 1990, to collect the remaining balance allegedly owed under a promissory note (“the note”), signed by the Traenkles and dated August 22, 1989, in the principal amount of $850,000. The note was part of a transaction in which the proceeds of a loan made by the Bank were disbursed to Egg Harbor Yacht Company (“Egg Harbor”). Robert Traenkle was chairman of the board of Egg Harbor. Payment of the note was secured by a security interest in, and by a preferred ship’s mortgage on, a yacht known as the “Honey Bear,” which originally was owned by Egg Harbor. In the late summer or early fall, 1990, the Traenkles defaulted on the loan.

On October 31,1990, J.D. Tubbs, a former captain of the Honey Bear, brought an admiralty action against the Honey Bear in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (“the Florida court”) for nonpayment of wages. Pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 31325, the Bank filed an intervening complaint in that Florida action against the Honey Bear in rem and against the Traen-[1283]*1283Mes in personam. The Bank sought both foreclosure of the mortgage on the Honey Bear and damages from the TraenMes. The TraenMes were personally served with a summons and a copy of the intervening complaint on December 12, 1990, at their residence in Pennsylvania.

Tubbs’ claim subsequently was dismissed by the Florida court, and the Bank became the sole plaintiff in the admiralty action. The TraenMes did not appear or file an answer on behalf of either themselves or the Honey Bear. On February 12, 1991, the Florida court entered a default judgment against the TraenMes and the Honey Bear. On March 23,1991, the Florida court entered a final in personam judgment for the balance due on the note against the TraenMes and also a final in rem judgment against the Honey Bear, and directed the United States Marshal to sell the Honey Bear. The Traen-Mes were appropriately sent copies of the judgments and notice of the impending sale.

At a marshal’s sale on April 23, 1991, the Bank, as the highest bidder, purchased the Honey Bear for $550,000. On April 30,1991, the Florida court entered an order confirming the sale. On August 2,1991, the Florida court credited the proceeds of the sale against the in personam judgment, and entered a final deficiency judgment (“the final deficiency judgment”) in the amount of $406,-035.59 in connection therewith.

The Bank then attempted to enforce the final in personam deficiency judgment in Pennsylvania, where the TraenMes own property. On June 10, 1991, the Bank recorded the final deficiency judgment with the Court of Common Pleas for Bucks County, Pennsylvania (“the Pennsylvania court”). On October 21, 1991, the TraenMes filed a petition with the Pennsylvania court to strike the final deficiency judgment on the grounds that the Florida court lacked personal jurisdiction over the TraenMes and that the final deficiency judgment was not entitled to full faith and credit. On September 17, 1993, the Pennsylvania court entered a one-sentence order striking the final deficiency judgment. As will be discussed infra, the Pennsylvania order apparently did not relate in any way to the in rem portion of the Florida judgments.

Meanwhile, the within Bank’s action to collect on the note remained pending in tMs Court. The TraenMes filed a counterclaim and, subsequently, an amended counterclaim, alleging breach of contract, duty of good faith and fair dealing (Count I), conversion (Count II), punitive damages (Count III) and breach of fiduciary duty (Count IV). Judge Howard of tMs Court deferred ruling on the Bank’s motion to dismiss certain counts of the amended counterclaim, pending resolution of the Pennsylvama action, and closed the case on February 11, 1992. TMs Court reopened the case on May 30, 1995, at the request of the Bank.

II

Summary judgment

Summary judgment is appropriate when “there is no genuine issue of material fact and [when] the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ. Pro. 56(c); see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 256, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2514, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Barwick v. Celotex Corp., 736 F.2d 946, 958 (4th Cir.1984). The non-moving party is entitled to have “all reasonable inferences ... drawn in its respective favor.” Felty v. Graves-Humphreys Co., 818 F.2d 1126, 1129 (4th Cir.1987). Any party resisting summary judgment must “go beyond the pleadings and by [its] own affidavits, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genurne issue for trial.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2553, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

III

Plaintiff’s case in chief

The promissory note contains a clause statmg that Maryland law will govern the application of the note, except where preempted by federal law, and both parties now agree that Maryland law should apply. Courts will generally enforce the agreement of the parties as to which law will apply. See Kronovet v. Lipchin, 288. Md. 30, 43-45, 415 A.2d 1096 (1980) (Rodowsky, J.). According[1284]*1284ly, this Court will look to Maryland law to construe the note.

On its face, the promissory note indicates that the Traenkles are personally liable pursuant to its terms. The note contains no indication that either Robert or Christine Traenkle signed in any capacity other than as individuals. Robert Traenkle was chairman of the board of Egg Harbor at the time he signed the loan documents, but the promissory note does not refer to Egg Harbor or to Robert Traenkle’s position or capacity as chairman.

Defendants contend that the note was part of a broader financing arrangement and that the Bank had orally assured the Traenkles that Egg Harbor was responsible for making payments on the note.1 That contention requires this Court to consider the parol evidence rule, under which “in the absence of fraud, duress or mistake ...

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933 F. Supp. 1280, 32 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1021, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11575, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/maryland-national-bank-v-traenkle-mdd-1996.