R. D. Adams and Connie Adams v. AmWest Savings Association

• Court: Court of Appeals of Texas
• Decided: April 27, 1994
• Docket: 03-93-00321-CV
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT OF TEXAS,

AT AUSTIN

NO. 3-93-321-CV

R. D. ADAMS AND CONNIE ADAMS,

APPELLANTS

vs.

AMWEST SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,

APPELLEE

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF SAN SABA COUNTY, 33RD JUDICIAL DISTRICT

NO. 6922, HONORABLE D. V. HAMMOND, JUDGE PRESIDING

The plaintiff, Amwest Savings Association recovered summary judgment against the defendants, R. D. Adams and his wife Connie Adams ("Adamses") in a suit for the balance due on a promissory note. The Adamses appeal. We will affirm the trial-court judgment.

THE CONTROVERSY

On April 27, 1988, the Adamses executed and delivered to Heart O' Texas Savings Association their interest-bearing note in the original amount of $13,122. Heart O' Texas went into receivership in October 1988. The receiver, the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, assigned the note to Amwest. Amwest sued the Adamses to recover the balance due on the note. The Adamses answered by general denial and the affirmative defenses of false representation, fraud, illegality, and failure of consideration.

Amwest moved for summary judgment, contending that under the summary judgment record there were no genuine issues of material fact on the pleaded issues and that Amwest was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c). The Adamses' response and supporting affidavit asserted that issues of material fact existed with regard to their affirmative defenses. Specifically, they contended the note at issue was "tied directly" to previous promissory notes they executed after officers and employees of Heart O' Texas told them the debt evidenced by each note would be secured with Heart O' Texas stock, which was now worthless. They attached copies of four previous notes to their supporting affidavit. Each lists Heart O' Texas stock shares as collateral. ⁽¹⁾ The note dated April 27, 1988, on which Amwest sued, purported to be a renewal note but did not refer explicitly to any previous note. Additionally, a section of the note was blank where it called for the lender to indicate what property secured the debt. After notice and hearing, the trial court rendered summary judgment in favor of Amwest.

I.

In their first point of error, the Adamses assert the summary judgment was erroneous because genuine issues of material fact, regarding their affirmative defense of illegality, precluded judgment as a matter of law. ⁽²⁾

Article 852a of the Texas Savings and Loan Act prohibits a savings and loan association to make a loan secured by its own stock. Texas Savings and Loan Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 852a, § 2.03(b) (West Supp. 1994). ⁽³⁾ Chapter two of article 852a of the Act deals with the formation of savings and loan associations. Section 2.03 pertains to the issuance of common stock and provides in part: "Both common and preferred stock must be fully paid for in cash in advance of issuance, and an association may not make a loan against the shares of its outstanding stock." Act § 2.03(b).

The Adamses argue the promissory notes attached to their supporting affidavit indicate that Heart O' Texas violated section 2.03 of the Act by making a loan against shares of its own stock. They argue further that a genuine issue of material fact existed regarding whether the original loan transaction was "directly tied" to the April 27th note through a series of renewal notes. The Adamses conclude that if the April 27th note was part of the original transaction, it is void and unenforceable due to illegality, and summary judgment was not justified. Amwest rejoins that the note on which it sued the Adamses is not secured by Heart O' Texas stock and therefore does not violate section 2.03(b). Additionally, Amwest argues that even assuming the original transaction violated section 2.03(b), and such violation is somehow "directly tied" to the note at issue, the transaction is not void and unenforceable.

Parties who rely on an affirmative defense to avoid summary judgment must make a summary judgment showing sufficient to raise an issue of material fact on each element of the defense. Brownlee v. Brownlee, 665 S.W.2d 111, 112 (Tex. 1984). Any disputed fact issues must be material to the disposition of the case. See First Nat'l Bank v. Arrow Oil & Gas, Inc., 818 S.W.2d 159, 163 (Tex. App.--Amarillo 1991, no writ). Thus, assuming the Adamses successfully raised a disputed fact issue concerning whether the April 27th note was part of a previous transaction that violated section 2.03(b), the question remains whether the violation constitutes an affirmative defense to their liability on the note. The Adamses have not cited authority or presented argument to support their contention that a promissory note executed and delivered in violation of section 2.03(b) of the Act is void and unenforceable.

A contract made in violation of a statute is not necessarily void. Rogers v. Traders & Gen. Ins. Co., 139 S.W.2d 784, 786 (Tex. 1940). The effect of the statute on the prohibited contract depends upon the legislative intent. Id.; American Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Tabor, 230 S.W. 397, 399 (Tex. 1921). Three factors relevant to this determination are: (1) whether the statute expressly declares void any contracts made in violation of its terms; (2) whether the statute itself imposes penalties for its violation; and (3) the purpose of the statute. See American Nat'l Ins. Co., 230 S.W. at 399; Saulny v. RDY, Inc., 760 S.W.2d 813, 815 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 1988, no writ).

The Act does not expressly declare void any contracts made in violation of its terms. Additionally, the Act provides penalties for violations. Act § 11.16 (West Supp. 1994) (providing that association which knowingly violates or fails to comply with provisions of statute may be required to pay no more than $1,000 per day for each day it so fails after lawful notice of delinquency). These factors reasonably imply that the legislature intended the statutory remedies to suffice and did not intend that non-complying contracts be void or unenforceable. American Nat'l Ins. Co., 230 S.W. at 399. Finally, when the legislature enacts a statute for the purpose of protecting the public against fraud or to safeguard health or morals, an agreement in violation thereof is usually void. Rogers, 139 S.W.2d at 787. It is true that the business of savings and loan associations is a matter affecting the public interest, and such associations are quasi-public institutions. Brazosport Sav. & Loan Ass'n v. American Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 342 S.W.2d 747, 749 (Tex. 1961). However, the objective of the Act is to provide assurance that savings and loan associations are conducted soundly and profitably at places where there is a public need for their services and where their operation will not harmfully interfere with adequate services provided by another association. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n v. Vandygriff, 639 S.W.2d 492, 495 (Tex. App.--Austin 1982, writ dism'd); see also Gerst v. Oak Cliff Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 432 S.W.2d 702, 707 (Tex. 1968); Savings & Loan Comm'r v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 434 S.W.2d 883, 890 (Tex. Civ. App.--Austin 1968, writ ref'd n.r.e.). Further, the apparent purpose of section 2.03(b) is not to protect the borrower who gives association stock as collateral, but to ensure that outstanding stock represents corporate assets, not liabilities. This purpose would be frustrated if the Adamses were allowed to borrow funds using Heart O' Texas stock as collateral and subsequently defend a suit to collect on the note by claiming the transaction is void and unenforceable.

We conclude that even if the Adamses raised an issue of fact regarding whether the April 27th note was part of an earlier transaction that violated section 2.03 of the Act, that violation would not as a matter of law constitute an affirmative defense to Amwest's recovery on the promissory note. The asserted fact dispute is therefore not material and did not preclude summary judgment.

II.

The Adamses also assert in their first point of error that the summary-judgment record raised genuine issues of material fact concerning their right to an offset for fraud in a stock transaction. Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 27.01(b)-(c) (West 1987) (providing for actual damages for fraud and for exemplary damages if fraud committed with actual awareness). Although Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 94 classifies fraud as an affirmative defense, fraud is also a cause of action and may be pled as a counterclaim. Adams v. Tri-Continental Leasing Corp., 713 S.W.2d 152, 153 (Tex. App.--Dallas 1986, no writ). The Adamses pled fraud as an affirmative defense in both their first amended original answer and their response to the motion for summary judgment. Thus, the Adamses bore the burden to make a summary judgment record sufficient to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to each element of the defense. Brownlee, 665 S.W.2d at 112. They made no claim for damages based on the alleged fraud.

Under section 27.01, fraud in a stock transaction consists of either: (1) a false representation of a past or existing material fact, made to a person to induce them to enter into a contract, and relied on by that person in entering into the contract; or (2) a false promise to do an act, when the promise is material, made with no intent to fulfill it, made to a person to induce the person to enter a contract, and relied on by that person in entering into that contract. Tex. Bus. & Com. Code Ann. § 27.01(a)(1)-(2) (West 1987). Nothing in the summary judgment record raises a disputed issue of material fact with regard to the element of a false representation or promise. In their supporting affidavit, the Adamses stated that officers of Heart O' Texas told them the promissory note would be secured by Heart O' Texas stock. ⁽⁴⁾ They presented no deposition testimony, affidavits, or other record showing that such a statement was a false representation or promise. The notes attached to the affidavit indicate that the loan was in fact secured by Heart O' Texas stock. The Adamses merely alleged that the stock at some subsequent time became worthless. Additionally, there is no record showing that any false statement was made specifically to induce the Adamses to enter the loan transaction. Holding the Adamses have not carried their burden of raising a genuine issue of material fact on the affirmative defense of fraud, we overrule their first point of error.

In light of our disposition of the Adamses' first point of error, we do not address their second point regarding whether the "D'Oench Duhme" doctrine bars their affirmative defenses. ⁽⁵⁾

Finding no error, we affirm the trial-court judgment.

John Powers, Justice

Before Justices Powers, Aboussie and Jones

Affirmed

Filed: April 27, 1994

Do Not Publish

1.   The four promissory notes attached to the Adamses' affidavit and allegedly arising from the same transaction as the note at issue were made by the Adamses to Heart O' Texas and were secured by Heart O' Texas stock. The notes were as follows: (1) dated March 12, 1984, for the principal sum of $20,000, with 500 shares of stock as collateral; (2) dated September 8, 1984, for the principal sum of $20,000, with 500 shares of stock as collateral; (3) dated April 5, 1985, for the principal sum of $18,000, with 500 shares of stock as collateral; (4) dated April 17, 1986, for the principal sum of $16,200 with 3150 shares of stock as collateral. None of the notes expressly indicated they were renewal notes. Although the principal amounts decreased over time and the number of shares increased, the record provides no information regarding these changes. The Adamses contend on appeal that the loan from Heart O' Texas was conditioned on use of the proceeds to buy shares of Heart O' Texas stock, a contention they did not make in the trial court where they pled only that the loan was secured by Heart O' Texas stock.

2.   The Adamses assert there are genuine issues of material fact with respect to only two of the four affirmative defenses they raised in their response to motion for summary judgment -- illegality and fraud. The Adams do not contend there are issues of fact regarding Amwest's cause of action.

3.   The Adamses raise also for the first time on appeal a contention that the summary judgment record raised material fact issues regarding whether the transaction violated "12 U.S.C. § 1464(q), and 12 U.S.C. § 1971 et seq." without any statement as to how these provisions apply to this case. We may not consider as grounds for reversal issues not expressly presented to the trial court by written motion, answer, or other response. Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c).

4.   The substantive portion of the supporting affidavit reads:

The note [that is] the issue of the present suit against me and my wife is tied directly to the several previous notes and their renewals, which we executed after being told by the officers and employees of Heart O' Texas Savings Association that each successive note would be secured and collateralized with Heart O' Texas Savings Association stock, and the stock has become worthless.

5.   The "statement of facts" from the summary judgment hearing indicates that the parties argued whether the "D'Oench Duhme" doctrine prohibited the Adamses from invoking personal defenses to the action against them, although neither party raised the issue in written pleadings. See D'Oench, Duhme & Co. v. Federal Deposit Ins. Corp., 315 U.S. 447 (1942). Because we conclude the summary-judgment record raised no genuine issues of material fact on the Adamses' pleaded defenses, we need not decide whether D'Oench Duhme would bar the defenses if raised by the summary judgment record.