Nutrite Corp. v. United States

43 Fed. Cl. 297, 38 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1323, 1999 U.S. Claims LEXIS 56, 1999 WL 185056
CourtUnited States Court of Federal Claims
DecidedMarch 31, 1999
DocketNo. 97-320C
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 43 Fed. Cl. 297 (Nutrite Corp. v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Court of Federal Claims primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nutrite Corp. v. United States, 43 Fed. Cl. 297, 38 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1323, 1999 U.S. Claims LEXIS 56, 1999 WL 185056 (uscfc 1999).

Opinion

OPINION

HORN, Judge.

The plaintiff, Nutrite Corporation (Nu-trite), seeks damages from the United States Department of Agriculture, Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), now known as the Farm Service Agency (FSA), for the alleged breach of a loan subordination agreement. Plaintiff filed a complaint in the United States Court of Federal Claims against the United States, consisting of six counts: Count I alleges breach of contract; Count II alleges tortious interference with contract relations; Count III alleges negligent misrepresentation; Count IV alleges fraud; Count V alleges fraudulent transfer; and Count VI alleges false representation. The defendant has filed a motion to dismiss all counts of the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) of the Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims (RCFC), as well as for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under RCFC 12(b)(4). The defendant’s motion to dismiss is granted.

FACTS

The facts of this case, as construed most favorably to the plaintiff, are as follows. Daniel and Leslie Emerson (the Emersons) owned a potato farm in Aroostook County, Maine. In 1993, 1994, and 1995, the Emer-sons borrowed money from the FmHA. In each case, the Emersons executed promissory notes and security agreements in favor of the United States. The United States duly filed and recorded financing statements for the Emersons’ crops and machinery each year.

In 1994, the Emersons sought additional funding from Key Bank of Maine (Key Bank). Key Bank approved a loan to the Emersons on the condition that the FmHA subordinate its lienhold interests to Key Bank under 7 C.F.R. § 1962.30, which grants FmHA the authority to subordinate its lien-hold interests to subsequent creditors under certain conditions. 7 C.F.R. § 1962.30 (1995). Only one subordination in favor of one creditor may be outstanding at any time in connection with the same security. 7 C.F.R. § 1962.30(b)(4) (1995). On June 29, 1994, Key Bank and the FmHA entered into a subordination agreement (the Key Bank subordination), whereby Key Bank loaned the Emersons $50,000.00 and the FmHA subordinated its lienhold interest in the Emer-sons’ 1994 crop and machinery. On July 13, 1994, the Key Bank subordination was recorded in the State of Maine Registry of Deeds. On September 20, 1995, the Key Bank subordination was stamped “PAID IN FULL” and signed by Brian V. Flewelling, Vice President of Key Bank.

In 1995, the Emersons again sought funding outside of the FmHA. The plaintiff, Nutrite, was willing to loan the Emersons $35,000.00 worth of farm chemicals, again provided that the FmHA subordinate its lien-hold interest to Nutrite. On May 31, 1995, Nutrite and FmHA representatives signed a subordination agreement (the Nutrite subordination), whereby Nutrite loaned the Emer-sons $35,000.00 worth of farm chemicals and the FmHA subordinated its lienhold interest in the Emersons’ 1995 crop and machinery. The Nutrite subordination was recorded in the State of Maine Registry of Deeds on August 19,1996.

The Emersons utilized the Maine Farmers Exchange to sell their farm production. Because the United States had a crop lien against the Emersons, the proceeds of the Maine Farmers Exchange sales were distributed jointly to the United States and Mi'. Emerson. Both parties agree that the United States did not distribute any proceeds from the sale of the 1995 crop to Nutrite. The Emersons continued to sell their farm production through the Maine Farmers Exchange until the summer of 1996, at which point they ceased farming. In September, 1996, after the Nutrite subordination was recorded, the Emersons farm equipment was [300]*300sold, bringing approximately $9,330.00, which defendant contends in its reply brief, and plaintiff does not dispute, is in the possession of the Emersons’ attorney, pending negotiations between Nutrite and the Emersons over several other outstanding loans not at issue in the instant case.

DISCUSSION

The defendant has filed a motion to dismiss pursuant to RCFC 12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, as well as for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to RCFC 12(b)(4). The standard for weighing the evidence presented by the parties when evaluating a motion to dismiss has been articulated by the United States Supreme Court, as follows: “in passing on a motion to dismiss, whether on the ground of lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter or for failure to state a cause of action, the allegations of the complaint should be construed favorably to the pleader.” Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236, 94 S.Ct. 1683, 40 L.Ed.2d 90 (1974); accord Hamlet v. United States, 873 F.2d 1414, 1416 (Fed.Cir.1989); see also Alaska v. United States, 32 Fed.Cl. 689, 695 (1995), appeal dismissed, 86 F.3d 1178, 1996 WL 285759 (Fed.Cir.1996). In rendering a decision, the court must presume that the undisputed factual allegations included in the complaint by a plaintiff are true. Miree v. DeKalb County, 433 U.S. 25, 27 n. 2, 97 S.Ct. 2490, 53 L.Ed.2d 557 (1977); Reynolds v. Amy & Air Force Exch. Serv., 846 F.2d at 746; Alaska v. United States, 32 Fed.Cl. at 695.

The burden of establishing jurisdiction is on the plaintiff. McNutt v. General Motors Acceptance Corp. of Indiana, 298 U.S. 178, 189, 56 S.Ct. 780, 80 L.Ed. 1135 (1936); Alaska v. United States, 32 Fed.Cl. at 695; Catellus Dev. Corp. v. United States, 31 Fed.Cl. 399, 404 (1994). The court should not grant a motion to dismiss “unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957) (footnote omitted). Nonetheless, “conclusory allegations unsupported by any factual assertions will not withstand a motion to dismiss.” Briscoe v. LaHue, 663 F.2d 713, 723 (7th Cir.1981), aff'd, 460 U.S. 325, 103 S.Ct. 1108, 75 L.Ed.2d 96 (1983). When considering a motion to dismiss, the court may consider relevant evidence in order to resolve any disputes as to the truth of the jurisdictional facts alleged in the complaint. Reynolds v. Army & Air Force Exch. Serv., 846 F.2d 746, 747 (Fed.Cir.1988). The court is required to decide any disputed facts which are relevant to the issue of jurisdiction. Id.

In order for this court to have jurisdiction over plaintiffs complaint, the Tucker Act, as amended, 28 U.S.C. § 1491 (1994 & Supp.

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Bluebook (online)
43 Fed. Cl. 297, 38 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1323, 1999 U.S. Claims LEXIS 56, 1999 WL 185056, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nutrite-corp-v-united-states-uscfc-1999.