Nutt v. United States

12 Cl. Ct. 345, 1987 U.S. Claims LEXIS 85
United States Court of Claims·Decided May 15, 1987·No. Nos. 142-85C, 143-85C·Published·Cited by 22 cases

Opinion

[347] OPINION

NETTESHEIM, Judge.

These two consolidated actions for breach of express and implied-in-fact contract are before the court on defendant’s renewed motion for summary judgment. Argument and supplemental argument have been held. The principal issues, broadly framed, are whether the lending entity has made the Government amenable to suit for breach of contract by incorporating allegedly infracted regulations into a loan document or by stating in the document that it will make or insure future loans or advances to aid the borrower, provided certain conditions are met.

FACTS

Although many facts are disputed, the following have not been controverted. Plaintiffs Gary Nutt and Howard and Mar-etta Smithson (collectively referred to as “plaintiffs”) operate farms in Castro County, Texas. Plaintiffs had outstanding loan agreements with the Farmers Home Administration (the “FmHA”), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, at the time the events that give rise to these claims occurred.

The FmHA grants farm operating loans to eligible borrowers who are unable to obtain reasonable financing elsewhere. 7 C.F.R. § 1941 (1983). The FmHA also makes “emergency loans” and various debt servicing options available to farmers, while administering the various loans, grants, and assistance programs under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

Loans are made to an eligible borrower only after the FmHA determines that the borrower’s plan of operation has a reasonable chance of success. 7 U.S.C. § 1941(a)(2) (Supp.1985); 7 C.F.R. § 1941-12(a)(3) (1983). The FmHA’s loan application evaluation process begins when a County Committee (the “Committee”), made up of three local farmers, determines whether a borrower is eligible for a loan. 7 C.F.R. § 1910.4(b). With assistance and recommendations from the County Supervisor, the Committee considers all relevant circumstances about the borrower’s farming operation, including the borrower’s farming record, proposal for use of the loan proceeds, and statement of the borrower’s current financial condition—all as reflected in the Farm and Home Plan (the “FHP”) submitted by the borrower. 7 C.F.R. §§ 1910.5, 1941.12. If the Committee finds the borrower to be eligible, it then certifies this result to the County Supervisor, 7 C.F.R. §§ 1941.30, 1945.180.

The County Supervisor has the actual authority to approve a loan. 7 C.F.R. § 1901.2. Once a favorable certification is made by the Committee, the County Supervisor determines whether the plan of operation is feasible and whether the loan is to be used for authorized purposes and can be repaid. 7 C.F.R. § 1941.33(b). After approving a loan, the County Supervisor forwards the loan request to the FmHA state office to issue and forward the loan proceeds. 7 C.F.R. § 1941.33(3).1

Gary Nutt

Between March 2, 1979, and March 29, 1983, plaintiff Nutt received 14 loans from the FmHA. To ensure payment of these loans, plaintiff and the FmHA executed several loan agreements and four security agreements that gave the FmHA liens of plaintiff Nutt’s equipment, crops, and cattle. These security agreements included the following provisions:

IV. IT IS FURTHER AGREED THAT:
E. This Agreement is subject to the present regulations of the Secured Party and to its future regulations not inconsistent with the express provisions hereof.
J. Secured Party will make or insure future loan advances to Debtor to enable him to raise or harvest farm crops or raise livestock or other animals, provided funds are available and the Debtor meets [348] all then current requirements imposed by regulations of the Secured Party.

Although plaintiff Nutt continued to receive credit from the FmHA until 1983, he was cautioned repeatedly by the FmHA to be more diligent in obtaining approval before disposing of items and accounting for the proceeds of sales of crops and cattle in which the FmHA had a security interest.

On July 28, 1983, plaintiff Nutt applied to receive FmHA services to help finance his wheat crop and cattle business. On August 11,1983, Assistant County Supervisor Dean Saunders prepared a FHP for plaintiff, indicating that plaintiff would need a loan of $54,500. Eight days later the County Committee determined plaintiff to be ineligible for further FmHA services. The County Committee reversed its decision on August 25, 1983, and certified plaintiff as eligible. County Supervisor John Wolf submitted plaintiffs request to the FmHA State Office on August 31, 1983, which plaintiff Nutt alleges was accompanied by a revised financial farm analysis summary. The FmHA State Office rejected plaintiffs loan request on September 21, 1983. Plaintiff Nutt appealed this decision, but it was upheld by a FmHA hearing officer and deputy administrator.

On February 15,1984, County Supervisor Wolf notified plaintiff Nutt that the FmHA intended to repossess chattels and take other legal action against property in which the FmHA had a security interest. Supervisor Wolf also notified plaintiff Nutt that he could request such loan servicing relief as consolidation, rescheduling, reamortization, or deferral. Plaintiff Nutt applied for consideration of such relief one month later, but Supervisor Wolf denied his application on May 21, 1984. This decision also was upheld on appeal.

The Smithsons

Plaintiffs Smithson received 15 FmHA loans (both farm ownership and emergency) between 1972 and 1983. To ensure payment of these loans, the Smithsons and the FmHA executed several loan agreements and five security agreements. The security agreements contained provisions identical to those signed by plaintiff Nutt.

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Nutt v. United States, 12 Cl. Ct. 345, 1987 U.S. Claims LEXIS 85 (cc 1987).

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