Northwest Bank v. Couie

642 S.W.2d 847, 1982 Tex. App. LEXIS 5393
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 18, 1982
DocketNo. 2-82-001-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 642 S.W.2d 847 (Northwest Bank v. Couie) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Northwest Bank v. Couie, 642 S.W.2d 847, 1982 Tex. App. LEXIS 5393 (Tex. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinion

OPINION

MASSEY, Chief Justice.

Northwest Bank, holder of a promissory note, sued the makers of the note, Joe and Jane Couie, alleging that $7077.42 remained due and owing. The Couies filed a counterclaim against the Bank under the Consumer Credit Code, art. 5069-4.02(1) (1971), “Insurance,” alleging the Bank to be in violation thereof because it had caused to be issued more than one credit life insurance policy covering its obligors. The Couies moved for partial summary judgment on their counterclaim. The Bank filed in response thereto affidavits claiming that the premiums charged the Couies for two credit life insurance policies were identical to those which would have been charged had there been issued but one policy. The trial court granted the motion and awarded the Couies $1690.42, being twice the amount of interest contracted by them in the note. Art. 5069 — 8.01(b)(ii) (Supp.1982) “(Penalties) — Contracting for, etc.; failure to perform duty or committing prohibited act, etc.”. Thereafter, the Couies moved for final judgment because the Bank had admitted that it no longer made claim for the final payment under the note because it had allowed the credit life policies to expire prematurely. The trial court rendered judgment for the Couies, accompanied by ruling that no material issue of fact remained which would preclude entry of final judgment for Consumer Credit Code violations. Therefrom, Northwest Bank has appealed.

We affirm.

We are presented with two points of error. First, the Bank contends the trial court erred in ruling that its harmless violation of art. 5069-4.02(1), the single credit life insurance policy provision, triggered the penalty provisions of the Credit Code, art. 5069-8.01. Second, the Bank contends the Couies should have been estopped from asserting any violations of the Credit Code on the part of the Bank due to their own conduct in accepting benefits under both policies of insurance, which benefits effectively paid their obligations under the promissory note.

When faced with an appeal from judgment, a portion of which is under Tex.R. Civ.P. 166-A, “Summary Judgment”, we must presume that all facts raised by the Bank are true, but that all issues not expressly presented by written motion to the trial court have been waived. City of Houston v. Clear Creek Basin Authority, 589 S.W.2d 671 (Tex.1979). The facts material to our disposition will be recited accordingly.

On May 19, 1976, Joe Couie (now deceased) executed in favor of Northwest Bank a promissory note in the sum of $7890.30 ($6750.00 as a “cash advance”, $845.21 included as the Bank’s “finance charge”), payable in eighteen monthly installments of $438.35 each. The note provided for interest from default at the rate of ten percent per annum, plus attorney’s fees if collection became necessary. Found within the note is a provision whereby Couie opted for credit life and disability insurance, with the charge for such coverage being included ($295.09). The note was secured by a security interest in four motor vehicles. Jane Couie, wife of Joe, signed the note and guaranteed payment thereof.

Northwest Bank then sought to obtain insurance policies to cover Joe Couie. They caused to be issued a policy with First Unit[849]*849ed Life Insurance Company, with Bank named as creditor beneficiary. This policy provided for term premiums of $147.54 and potential monthly benefits of $219.17. An identical policy was taken out with Transport Life Insurance Company. The two policies, taken together, provided for premiums totalling $295.09 and monthly benefits of $438.34 in the event of Couie’s disability. The reason given by Bank for the two policies, with splitting of premiums and coverage (and accepted as fact by this court), is that First United would not issue (for reasons known only to it) any policy to provide an amount of monthly disability benefits for any debtor in excess of $250.00 per month. In mitigation of its actions in seeking and obtaining two policies rather than a single policy, Bank shows that the premiums for the two policies are exactly the same as the premium would have been had there been only one policy issued. We find this to be true.

During the term of the Couies’ obligations to Bank, Joe Couie became disabled. The insurance companies thereafter sent to the Bank checks in satisfaction of the Couies’ monthly obligations. The Bank was the named payee on the monthly checks.

The final payment under the $7890.30 promissory note was due in December, 1977. The insurance coverage was for eighteen months, the same term as the note, but it lapsed in November, 1977, leaving one $438.35 monthly payment (December, 1977) unpaid and not covered by insurance.

March 31, 1978, Bank filed suit against Joe and Jane Couie. Alleged was that $7072.42 remained unpaid on the promissory note. As the case developed, and after the Couies had made claim for penalties under the Consumer Credit Code, the Bank admitted that its claim against the Couies under the note amounted to only $438.35, and it then abandoned any demand — as made in its suit — due to its own error in allowing the term of insurance to expire.

Following partial summary judgment for the Couies on their counterclaim under the Consumer Credit Code, final judgment was rendered against Bank on its claim based on the promissory note.

Prior to submission of the cause to this court, the Bank in their brief had taken issue with the trial court’s entry of final judgment on the note by contending impropriety of same as a final summary judgment rendered in absence of motion therefor by the Couies. The record discloses that the Couies’ motion for partial summary judgment on its counterclaim, which was granted, was followed by their motion for final judgment after the Bank admitted in affidavit filed as part of the record that it would no longer pursue its suit to recover on the note. Any procedural irregularities preliminary to final judgment are therefore immaterial. Remaining are questions of the propriety of the trial court’s interpretation of the relevant sections of the Consumer Credit Code, art. 5069-4.02(1) (1971), and art. 5069-8.01(b)(ii) (Supp.1982).

By way of further clarification: the issue before us on appeal, as we view it, does not truly concern the question of whether the trial court’s entry of final judgment against Bank on the Couie’s counterclaim was improper because there existed a dispute concerning whether or not Bank’s violation of the Consumer Credit Code was unintentional and the result of bona fide error (notwithstanding Bank’s maintenance of procedures reasonably adopted to avoid such violations). Art. 5069-8.01(f)(l) (Supp.1982). In its answer, the Bank did allege such defense, but in its affidavit which was in response to the motion of the Couies, the Bank merely explained its reasons for splitting credit life and disability insurance. Bank presented no proof whatever, and therefore abandoned its statutory defense. Tex.R.Civ.P. 166-A(e) (“Form of Affidavits; Further Testimony); 4 R. McDonald, Texas Civil Practice, sec. 17.26.8 “Summary Judgment — Reply to Motion — Contents” (1971). In addition the point was not briefed.

By reason of our holding, above explained, is left Bank’s contention: Bank’s bona fide error defense notwithstanding, the Couies have nowhere alleged nor proven a violation of the Consumer Credit Code. [850]

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642 S.W.2d 847, 1982 Tex. App. LEXIS 5393, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/northwest-bank-v-couie-texapp-1982.