Northwest Land & Investment, Inc. v. New West Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n

827 P.2d 334, 64 Wash. App. 938, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 144
CourtCourt of Appeals of Washington
DecidedApril 9, 1992
DocketNo. 11925-4-III
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 827 P.2d 334 (Northwest Land & Investment, Inc. v. New West Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Northwest Land & Investment, Inc. v. New West Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n, 827 P.2d 334, 64 Wash. App. 938, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 144 (Wash. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Sweeney, J.

American Savings and Loan Association (Old American), American Savings Bank F.A. (New American) and New West Federal Savings and Loan Association (New West) appeal from a judgment entered in favor of Northwest Land and Investment, Inc. (Northwest) following remand from the Court of Appeals, Northwest Land & Inv., Inc. v. New West Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 57 Wn. App. 32, 786 P.2d 324 (Division One appeal), review denied, 115 Wn.2d 1013 (1990). We affirm.

[940]*940Factual Background

This case involves a dispute over two construction loan agreements between Northwest and Old American.1 Northwest sued Old American for breach of contract and violations of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA); Old American counterclaimed for collection of its notes and foreclosure. A jury awarded Northwest $505,169 and found that Old American had violated the CPA. Following the verdict, Old American's motion for entry of a judgment of foreclosure was granted. The properties were sold pursuant to the judgment of foreclosure. The trial court then entered a net judgment in favor of Old American for $6,570,556, an amount representing the principal and interest due on both of the Northwest loans, less Northwest's jury award, attorney fees and $10,000 CPA damages. Northwest appealed (Division One appeal). Old American cross-appealed the CPA award.

While the appeal was pending, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board declared Old American insolvent. On September 5, 1988, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Company (FSLIC) was appointed receiver for Old American. The FSLIC assigned Old American's assets to American Federal. American Federal was a "bridge" bank, which is an interim entity used to continue the business of a failed savings and loan. American Federal substituted for Old American in the appeal on November 22, 1988. RAP 3.2(a).2 Thereafter, American Federal was placed in receivership and its assets and liabilities were transferred to two newly chartered federal savings and loan associations, New West and New American. Included in the assets and liabilities transferred [941]*941to New West were the Northwest loans and foreclosed properties. No assets and liabilities associated with the litigation were transferred to New American. On June 21, 1989, New West was substituted for American Federal in the Division One appeal. On September 18, New West filed its reply brief.

On February 20, 1990, Division One reversed the deficiency judgment against Northwest, holding the judgment inconsistent with the jury's finding of liability against Old American for breach of the loan agreements. It remanded for entry of a judgment in favor of Northwest ($505,169 plus interest, costs, and fees). Northwest Land & Inv., Inc. v. New West Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, supra at 46. New West's motion for reconsideration in Division One and petition for review to the Supreme Court were denied.

On October 15, 1990, following remand from Division One, Northwest moved in the trial court to add New West and New American as additional party defendants; neither objected and the motion was granted.3 At the October 15 hearing, Northwest also moved for entry of judgment against Old American, New West, and New American jointly and severally. Again, counsel, appearing for all three, did not object. The trial court granted the motion and entered judgment against Old American, New West, and New American for $1.34 million.4

On October 25, 1990, New West and New American moved for a new trial or relief from judgment, pursuant to CR 59(a) and CR 60(b), asserting that as assignees of the [942]*942FSLIC they were not Hable for damages based on oral agreements or punitive damages (CPA award). They relied on D'Oench, Duhme & Co. v. FDIC, 315 U.S. 447, 86 L. Ed. 956, 62 S. Ct. 676 (1942). Pursuant to CR 60(a) and CR 60(b)(1) and (4), New American moved for an order deleting its name from the judgment, claiming it was added by clerical mistake and had no HabiHty in, or relationship to, the action. The court denied both motions. New American, New West and Old American filed a supersedeas bond. This appeal follows.5

Issues

1. Whether New West, New American and Old American are entitled to assert, and have timely raised, federal statutory and common law defenses to damage claims based on oral agreements? D'Oench, Duhme & Co. v. FDIC, supra; 12 U.S.C. § 1823(e).

2. Whether the judgment against New American should be vacated because of mistake or clerical error?

3. Whether the judgment against Old American should be vacated or, in the alternative, whether the supersedeas bond should be modified to delete Old American?

Standard of Review

Motions to vacate or for relief of judgment are addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed absent a showing of manifest abuse of discretion. In re Marriage of Tang, 57 Wn. App. 648, 653, 789 P.2d 118 (1990); Wilson v. Henkle, 45 Wn. App. 162, 166, 724 P.2d 1069 (1986). An abuse of discretion exists only when no reasonable person would take the position adopted by the trial court. Ebsary v. Pioneer Human Servs., 59 Wn. App. 218, 225, 796 P.2d 769 (1990). Appeal from a denial of a CR 60(b) motion is limited to the propriety of the denial. State v. Santos, 104 Wn.2d 142, 145, 702 P.2d 1179, 70 A.L.R.4th 1021 (1985).

[943]*943Federal Defenses

Old American, New West and New American assert that the D'Oench defense applies because Old American made several oral representations to Northwest which either modified or supplemented written loan agreements. Specifically, they point to a promise by Old American to provide below-market take-out financing. They contend they are not hable if the judgment includes damages arising from an oral agreement. Additionally, Old American, New West and New American claim immunity from the CPA award under federal law because the award is punitive in nature. Commerce Fed. Sav. Bank v. FDIC, 872 F.2d 1240 (6th Cir. 1989).

The D'Oench doctrine bars a borrower from asserting, against the FSLIC or its assignees, any claim or defense based on any unrecorded agreement which alters the terms of a seemingly unqualified obligation to pay. D'Oench, Duhme & Co. v. FDIC, supra; 12 U.S.C. § 1823(e).

In D'Oench, a bank customer executed a demand note to a bank which orally promised not to collect.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Union Bank, N.a., Resp. v. John T. Blanchard, Apps.
378 P.3d 191 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2016)
Frontier Bank v. Bingo Investments, Appellant's
361 P.3d 230 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2015)
In Re Estate of Palmer
189 P.3d 230 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2008)
Golden v. World Gospel Mission
146 Wash. App. 132 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 2008)
Davidson v. Hensen
135 Wash. 2d 112 (Washington Supreme Court, 1998)
Washington Equipment Manufacturing Co. v. Concrete Placing Co.
931 P.2d 170 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1997)
In Re the Marriage of Dugan-Gaunt
915 P.2d 541 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1996)
Woodhead v. Discount Waterbeds, Inc.
896 P.2d 66 (Court of Appeals of Washington, 1995)
Barclay Receivables Co. v. Mountain Majesty, Ltd.
903 P.2d 37 (Colorado Court of Appeals, 1995)
Resolution Trust Corp. v. Foust
869 P.2d 183 (Court of Appeals of Arizona, 1993)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
827 P.2d 334, 64 Wash. App. 938, 1992 Wash. App. LEXIS 144, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/northwest-land-investment-inc-v-new-west-federal-savings-loan-assn-washctapp-1992.