Pingel v. Connecticut National Bank

863 F. Supp. 80, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12997, 1994 WL 503385
CourtDistrict Court, D. Connecticut
DecidedJuly 26, 1994
DocketCiv. No. 3-92-319 (WWE)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 863 F. Supp. 80 (Pingel v. Connecticut National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Connecticut primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pingel v. Connecticut National Bank, 863 F. Supp. 80, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12997, 1994 WL 503385 (D. Conn. 1994).

Opinion

RULING ON DEFENDANT SKW REAL ESTATE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

EGINTON, Senior District Judge.

.Plaintiff Doris Pingel commenced this action in state court against Connecticut National Bank (“CNB”), now known as Shawmut Bank Connecticut, N.A., alleging violations of the Bank Holding Company Act, 12 U.S.C. §§ 1972 et seq, breach of contract and fraud in connection with two promissory notes executed by plaintiff in favor of CNB. CNB removed the action to this court and filed a compulsory counterclaim alleging that both notes were due and payable.

[82]*82In September, 1993, Richard Pingel, plaintiffs husband and a signatory on both notes, was joined as a party plaintiff. SKW Real Estate Limited Partnership (“SKW”), successor to the two promissory notes, was joined as a party defendant. SKW filed a counterclaim 1 against plaintiffs on the two promissory notes. Pending before the court is SKWs motion pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56 for summary judgment on its counterclaim. For the reasons set forth below, this motion will be denied.

BACKGROUND

On October 27, 1986, Global Remodeling and Decorating, a business owned by plaintiff Richard Pingel, executed a commercial note in the principal amount of $100,000 in favor of CNB and secured by a mortgage on plaintiffs’ residence located at 3 Pine River Road, Wallingford, CT. The payment of this note was guaranteed by Richard and Doris Pingel. Paragraph five of the note contains a cross-default provision which states in pertinent part:

Each of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default” hereunder; failure of Borrower to pay or perform any of Borrower’s liabilities or obligations to Bank (whether under this Note or otherwise) when due to be paid or performed____ Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder, all advances outstanding hereunder, together with accrued interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable, at the option of the Bank____

Plaintiffs allege that in September, 1989, CNB made an offer to Doris Pingel (plaintiffs claim the offer constituted an “oral contract”) that if she discontinued doing business with the Bank of Boston and shifted her business to CNB, CNB would give her a two year construction mortgage to complete her new office building at 142 State Street, New Haven, Connecticut, followed by a permanent take out mortgage for ten years. Plaintiffs also claim that CNB agreed that these two mortgages would not affect the $100,000 note with Global Remodeling.

On November 30, 1989, Doris Pingel executed a $305,000 two year note payable by December 31, 1991 and secured by the office building. Richard Pingel guaranteed payment of the loan. The note contains the same cross-default provision set forth above. The note does not reference continued financing by a ten year permanent take out mortgage.

In February, 1992, after the two year note became due, CNB offered Doris Pingel a $305,000 one-year mortgage. When Doris Pingel refused to accept the one year take out mortgage, CNB made demand for payment. When payment of the outstanding loan amount was not made, CNB commenced foreclosure proceedings on the $305,000 note. CNB also commenced foreclosure proceedings on the $100,000 note to Global Remodeling.

SKW is successor to both notes. SKW’s counterclaim against plaintiffs alleges that plaintiffs defaulted on the $305,000 note as maker and guarantor, respectively. SKW also claims that this default triggered the cross-default provision contained in the $100,000 note, making that note also due and payable.

Plaintiffs answered and set forth affirmative defenses of violation of the Bank Holding Company Act, 12 U.S.C. §§ 1972 et seq., breach of oral contract, and fraud. Plaintiffs claim that the $305,000 note is void because CNB fraudulently induced plaintiffs into executing it and that CNB subsequently breached an oral contract to offer a ten year permanent takeout mortgage. Plaintiffs further argue that since the $305,000 note is void, SKW cannot enforce the cross-default provision of the $305,000 note to demand payment [83]*83of the $100,000 note.2

DISCUSSION

A motion for summary judgment will be granted where there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and it is clear that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 817, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The burden is on the moving party to demonstrate the absence of any material factual issue genuinely in dispute. American Int'l. Group, Inc. v. London American Int'l. Corp., 664 F.2d 348, 351 (2d Cir.1981). In determining whether a genuine factual issue exists, the court must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences against the moving party. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2513-14, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). “Only when reasonable minds could not differ as to the import of the evidence is summary judgment proper.” Bryant v. Maffucci, 923 F.2d 979, 982 (2d Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 112 S.Ct. 152, 116 L.Ed.2d 117 (1991). Summary judgment is usually inappropriate where a parties’ intent is in issue. Rosen v. Thornburgh, 928 F.2d 528, 533 (2d Cir.1991).

Conn.Gen.Stat. § 42a-3-308(b) provides that if the validity of the signatures to an instrument is admitted or proved, a party producing a promissory note is entitled to payment if the party proves entitlement to enforce the instrument and the defendant does not prove a defense or claim in recoupment. The authenticity of the signatures is admitted unless specifically denied in the pleadings. Conn.Gen.Stat. § 42a-3-308(a). Conn.Gen.Stat. § 42a-3-301 states that a person entitled to enforce an instrument includes a holder of the instrument.

Plaintiffs do not dispute the authenticity of their signatures on both notes. Also, SKW has produced copies of both notes. Accordingly, plaintiffs must establish a defense to prevent SKW’s recovery on the notes. Connecticut v. Dadi, 182 Conn. 530, 531, 438 A.2d 733 (1980). As noted, plaintiffs have set forth affirmative defenses of violation of the Bank Holding Company Act, 12 U.S.C. §§ 1972 et seq., breach of oral contract, and fraud.

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Bluebook (online)
863 F. Supp. 80, 1994 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12997, 1994 WL 503385, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pingel-v-connecticut-national-bank-ctd-1994.