Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc. v. American National Fire Insurance (In re Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc.)

161 B.R. 228, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1528
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedOctober 21, 1993
DocketBankruptcy No. 92-41386-2-11; Adv. No. 92-4286-2-11
StatusPublished

This text of 161 B.R. 228 (Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc. v. American National Fire Insurance (In re Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc.)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc. v. American National Fire Insurance (In re Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc.), 161 B.R. 228, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1528 (W.D. Mo. 1993).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

FRANK W. KOGER, Chief Judge.

This case comes before the Court on Defendant American National Fire Insurance Company’s (American National) Motion for Judgment on Partial Findings of Fact on Counts II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII. The Court previously issued opinions on two Defendant motions for partial summary judgment on Counts II through LX which the Court filed on March 9,1993, and on Count I which the Court filed on April 5, 1993.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

This case was originally filed by the plaintiff, Master Mortgage Investment Fund, Inc. (Master Mortgage) on October 3,1990, in the District Court' of Dallas County, Texas. Master Mortgage filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition under Title 11 of the United States Code on April 17, 1992. On August 31, 1992, Master Mortgage voluntarily dismissed the Texas action and, on the same day filed the instant adversarial action in the bankruptcy court, alleging substantially the same causes of action.

The Court has entered two previous rulings in this case. In a Memorandum Opinion dated March 9, 1993, the Court held that through Missouri’s statute of limitations borrowing provision, the Kansas statute of limitations applies to the case. See V.A.M.S. § 516.190 (1986). Kansas provides a two year limit on tort actions and a three year limit on contract actions. K.S.A. §§ 60-512 and 60-513 (Supp.1991). The statute contains a six-month saving statute. K.S.A. § 60-518. The state court action was timely filed, and the present action was filed within six-months of its dismissal. Therefore, the Court concluded that Master Mortgage’s tort claims, Counts II through VIII, were not time-barred due to the savings clause.

The Court also held that Kansas substantive law applies to the case. Master Mortgage based Count IX on a Texas insurance statute. Kansas has no comparable provision. Therefore, the Court dismissed Count IX.

This Court in its Memorandum Opinion dated April 5, 1993 found that Master Mort[232]*232gage had knowledge of the facts giving rise to this cause of action by, at least as early as, March 22, 1990. It did not file the present adversarial action in bankruptcy until August 31, 1992. The Court held that Master Mortgage was a third party beneficiary to the contract of insurance bound by the terms of the contract and subject to any defenses that American National could have asserted against the insured, Hotel Management Corp. (HMC). The insurance contract included a two year limitation of action provision. By contracting for a limitation of action provision, the parties waived their rights to rely on the statutory limitations including the Kansas saving statute. Although the initial filing of the action was within two years of the time that the cause of action accrued, the adversarial filing in bankruptcy was beyond the two year period. Therefore, the Court concluded that Count I of Master Mortgage’s complaint for breach of contract was time barred. The dismissal of the state court action proved fatal to the contract claim.

The parties proceeded to trial on Counts II through VIII. The Court held a four day bench trial on August 24 through 27, 1993. At the close of the Master Mortgage’s case, American National moved for judgment as a matter of law. It filed a Motion for Judgment on Partial Findings of Fact on August 26, 1993. American National argued that four of the seven remaining claims, Counts II for negligent breach of contract, III for negligent concealment, IV for fraud by concealment, and VIII breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing are time barred. Although the claims are couched in the language of tort, the claims are essentially contract claims and should be dismissed under the two year contractual limitation of action provision. American Nation also argued that the remaining three counts, Count V for intentional interference with business relationship, Count VI for conversion, and VII for breach of fiduciary duty are not supportable under Kansas law given the present facts: Both parties filed briefs, and the issue is ripe for decision.

FACTS

Master Mortgage made a loan to HMC for the acquisition and renovation of a hotel located at 2201 West Airport Freeway, in Eu-less County, Texas (the “hotel”). The loan was secured by a mortgage on the hotel. American National issued an insurance policy insuring the hotel against various hazards including losses from windstorms and hail. The policy was in effect from September 1988 until it was canceled for the non-payment of premiums in July of 1989. Master Mortgage was the designated loss payee on the policy. Master Mortgage’s status as mortgagee of the hotel was known to American National.

The hotel consists of a six-story tower section, two two-story wings north and south of the tower, and a restaurant/bar just north of the north wing. Master Mortgage financed the restoration of the property including the construction of the restaurant/bar. HMC hired Gaylen Concepts, Inc. to act as the general contractor on the project. At some point in the renovations, the sub-contractors were no longer receiving payment for their services. HMC continued to operate the hotel throughout the renovations.

In May of 1989, a windstorm severely damaged the tower section roof. A temporary roof was put over the tower section, and HMC filed a claim with American National. American National settled the claim in June, 1989 for $45,000. American National issued a cheek to HMC listing only HMC as the payee. The failure to list Master Mortgage as a payee violated the loss payee provision of the insurance policy. Master Mortgage was not notified of the initial loss or settlement of the claim, also in contravention of the policy terms.

The roof was inadequately repaired at a cut rate price. The roof subsequently leaked causing severe damage to the interior of the hotel. Certainly the extent of the damage was not discovered by Master Mortgage until at least February, 1990, even if the existence was known earlier.

Also in June, 1989, someone vandalized the hotel on four separate occasions flooding portions of the tower section by turning on the [233]*233fire hoses. In late August or early September, American National contacted Master Mortgage through its attorney regarding the vandalism. The roof loss claim and settlement were also discussed at that time. The Court previously held in its Memorandum Opinion of April 5, 1993 that Master Mortgage had knowledge of the facts giving rise to its causes of action at least as early as March 22, 1990. While the Court believes Master Mortgage had knowledge of the existence of this cause of action earlier than March, 1990, whether the Court uses the March, 1990 date or the earlier August or September, 1989 date does not affect the outcome of this case. Using either date, Master Mortgage’s filing in the state court was timely for both contract and tort claims. With the Kansas saving statute, tort claims are still timely in this bankruptcy adversary proceeding, but contract claims are not.

In September 1989, renovation work stopped because of the non-payment of the subcontractors. HMC defaulted on its loan obligations, and Master Mortgage foreclosed on the property in February, 1990. Master Mortgage purchased the property at foreclosure sale. Because of the extensive damage to the interior of the hotel, Master Mortgage ceased hotel operations.

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Bluebook (online)
161 B.R. 228, 1993 Bankr. LEXIS 1528, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/master-mortgage-investment-fund-inc-v-american-national-fire-insurance-mowd-1993.