Redmond v. Merrill Lynch Relocation Management, Inc.

294 S.E.2d 575, 163 Ga. App. 346, 1982 Ga. App. LEXIS 2485
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedSeptember 7, 1982
Docket63947
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 294 S.E.2d 575 (Redmond v. Merrill Lynch Relocation Management, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Redmond v. Merrill Lynch Relocation Management, Inc., 294 S.E.2d 575, 163 Ga. App. 346, 1982 Ga. App. LEXIS 2485 (Ga. Ct. App. 1982).

Opinion

McMurray, Presiding Judge.

This case involves an action for declaratory relief with reference to whether or not the holder of a deed to secure debt and note was entitled to accelerate the indebtedness and whether the plaintiffs [347]*347could restrain the holder from instituting any judicial action or from advertising the property for sale under the powers contained in the deed.

For the purposes of consideration of the case, the following facts have been admitted by stipulation of the parties or otherwise: On September 26,1979, (stipulation shows September 26,1981) W. Allen Eubanks and Patricia B. Eubanks executed a deed to secure debt and promissory note to Dwight W. Redmond with reference to an indebtedness of $34,000, plus interest, same being repayable in monthly installments of $297.06 each, commencing on November 1, 1979, and continuing on each and every month thereafter until the principal and interest had been paid in full, each installment when paid to be applied first to the payment of interest accrued on unpaid principal and the residue thereof to be credited on the principal.

On April 8, 1981, the Eubanks sold the property and assigned their obligation to Merrill Lynch Relocation Management, Inc. The deed was recorded on July 24, 1981. On that date, July 24, 1981, Merrill Lynch executed a deed conveying the property to Wilbur B. McCurry and Mary E. McCurry. The closing attorney contacted Redmond on July 23,1981, about two days before the closing, for the purpose of determining the status of the note. Redmond informed him that the July payment had not been made, there was no proof of insurance and he wanted the closing attorney to bring foreclosure proceedings, at which time the closing attorney referred Redmond to another lawyer.

Merrill Lynch was responsible to the Eubanks to meet their obligations as to the note and loan deed and did not make the payment due July 1,1981, until July 28,1981. The payment was made to the closing attorney with reference to the sale of the property on July 24, 1981, and was duly received and accepted by Redmond’s designated agent on July 28, 1981.

In the meantime, on July 27,1981, Redmond had contacted his attorney and directed him to inform the Eubanks that the terms of the deed to secure debt and note would be strictly enforced and “that the entire debt would be accelerated.”

Notice of the default and acceleration to the Eubanks was received by certified mail on August 3,1981, which was five days after receipt of the payment of $297.06 by the designated agent to receive payment under the note held by Redmond. The note shows the designated agent to be Citizens First National Bank of Crystal River, Crystal River, Florida.

On October 13, 1981, the present action seeking declaratory relief was brought by Merrill Lynch and the McCurrys against Redmond, the defendant, a resident of Crystal River, Florida, by and [348]*348through his Georgia attorney who had given notice to the plaintiffs of his intention to sell the property in Rabun County, Georgia. Plaintiffs contend therein that they have proper jurisdiction and venue in Georgia for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief. Attached to the petition were a certified copy of the deed to secure debt, the notice of foreclosure seeking attorney fees, an additional letter on September 11,1981, demanding full payment, contending, however, that the receipt of $591.12 paid by Merrill Lynch after the date of default was claimed as a set-off against damages, and enclosing a notice of sale under power in the deed to secure debt and the note.

The defendant Redmond answered, by and through his local attorney, admitting jurisdiction and venue and the substance of the complaint shown above, including the fact that the closing attorney of the sale from Merrill Lynch to the McCurrys had forwarded a check for the monthly installment payment due the defendant Redmond on July 1,1981, to defendant’s duly authorized agent which had been deposited to defendant’s account by his agent on July 28, 1981. Defendant denied that he was not entitled to advertise and foreclose under the terms of the deed to secure debt or that any payment received after July 1, 1981, cured any default which may have existed prior to defendant’s declaration and notice of acceleration or that no declaration of acceleration and notice was communicated to the owner of record as of July 30,1981, namely the plaintiff McCurrys, although the defendant had been notified by receipt of a letter on July 29, 1981, of the assumption of said obligation by these plaintiffs.

Based upon the stipulation of counsel and admissions in the case defendant moved for summary judgment. The complaint and motion for summary judgment was heard by the court without a jury, based on the agreed stipulations of counsel. The court found defendant was not entitled to judgment as a matter of law in that the defendant did not negate any claim plaintiffs would have to equitable relief. The court then found in ruling on the declaratory judgment, that even though the defendant had the option to accelerate the maturity of the note and foreclose under the powers of sale contained in the deed to secure debt without notice to the maker after default and did, in fact, on July 27,1981, instruct his attorney to mail a certified letter to the original obligors who had executed the note and deed to secure debt informing them of the default which had occurred and accelerate the maturity of the indebtedness, the defendant at that time knew that the Eubanks had conveyed the property to the plaintiff Merrill Lynch which had made several installment payments and that on July 24, 1981, a sale of the property to the plaintiff McCurrys had occurred. [349]*349However, on July 28,1981, defendant’s designated agent (the Florida bank) had accepted two full monthly installment payments (one from plaintiff McCurrys for August 1981 and one from the escrow account of the closing attorney stating that it was for the July 1981 payment (the delinquent installment)). The acceptance by the defendant was one day after the date of the letter giving notice of the default and acceleration which was forwarded by defendant’s attorney to the Eubanks who did not receive said letter until “8-3-81.” The court held these facts show the default under the terms of the note had been cured by defendant’s acceptance of the two checks prior to the receipt of the notice of a default. The court also called attention to the fact that the defendant did, in fact, accept the delinquent payment, as well as another installment payment for September 1981 from the new owner prior to his further correspondence dated September 11, 1981, from his attorney to the Eubanks “in which the intention to exercise the power of sale was first communicated.” The court held that in this instance waiver may be implied by acts and conduct “from which an intention to waive may be reasonably inferred by another party, and when such other party or parties relies upon such conduct, then equity should protect such parties and estop the party who waived such rights from a later attempt to exercise same,” and the defendant’s actions and conduct here constitute a waiver of his right to accelerate the note in question and to foreclose on the property described in the deed to secure debt under the power of sale contained therein. Defendant appeals contending the court erred in finding a waiver and in denying his motion for summary judgment based on the stipulation of facts. Held:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
294 S.E.2d 575, 163 Ga. App. 346, 1982 Ga. App. LEXIS 2485, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/redmond-v-merrill-lynch-relocation-management-inc-gactapp-1982.