Resolution Trust Corp. v. Winslow

9 Cal. App. 4th 1799, 12 Cal. Rptr. 2d 510, 20 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1062, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8356, 92 Daily Journal DAR 13646, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 1190
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedOctober 5, 1992
DocketH006506
StatusPublished
Cited by44 cases

This text of 9 Cal. App. 4th 1799 (Resolution Trust Corp. v. Winslow) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Resolution Trust Corp. v. Winslow, 9 Cal. App. 4th 1799, 12 Cal. Rptr. 2d 510, 20 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1062, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8356, 92 Daily Journal DAR 13646, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 1190 (Cal. Ct. App. 1992).

Opinion

Opinion

CAPACCIOLI, Acting P. J.

Judgment was entered for plaintiffs on their complaint and for defendant Winslow on his cross-complaint. Resolution Trust Corporation (hereafter RTC) was subsequently appointed conservator for Saratoga Savings & Loan Association (hereafter Association). Notice of appeal by plaintiffs from the judgment was timely filed. RTC thereafter substituted in as a party. On appeal, RTC asserts, for the first time, that federal statutory and common law bars Winslow from recovering from the RTC for misrepresentations made by Association and its subsidiary, Saratoga Service Corporation (hereafter Saratoga). In his cross-appeal, Winslow asserts that the trial court erroneously granted specific performance to plaintiffs. For the reasons expressed below, we reverse the judgments.

Facts

On June 4, 1985, Saratoga sued Winslow and Optcenters, Inc., seeking dissolution of Optcenters, appointment of a receiver, specific performance, damages and an accounting. Saratoga filed an amended complaint on August 11, 1988. The complaint was based on an agreement between Winslow and Saratoga which provided that Saratoga would invest $300,000 in Optcenters, Inc. Optcenters would then issue 30,000 shares of stock each to Saratoga and Winslow. “As part of the consideration for SSC [Saratoga] providing all of *1804 the capital for the start-up of the Corporation, as herein set forth, and as further security for the preservation of a portion of the capital provided by SSC as set forth herein, Winslow hereby assigns to SSC, including voting rights, as security for the return of $150,000 of SSC’s investment, 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Winslow Research Institute and 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Institute of Athletic Motivation. These assignments shall be released by SSC to Winslow when the total stockholders’ equity of the Corporation reaches $300,000, or in the event of dissolution, where SSC has received at least $150,000 in assets, or in such dissolution upon payment by Winslow to SSC of a sum, when combined with any dissolution of assets, distributed to SSC, equals $150,000.”

On June 16, 1986, Winslow and Optcenters filed a cross-complaint for fraud, misrepresentation, breach of contract and other related causes of action against Saratoga, Association, Saratoga employee Jess Rodrigues and others. The cross-complaint alleged that “it was understood, implied and agreed orally between cross-defendants and cross-complainant Winslow that the initial investment by cross-defendants was only the minimum amount of funding that was to be provided by cross-defendants for the business of Optcenters, and that additional monies would be loaned to Optcenters by cross-defendants over and above $315,000, as said funds became reasonably necessary for operation of the business . . . .” (Italics added.) Winslow’s misrepresentation causes of action were based on oral agreements and misrepresentations.

Association filed a cross-complaint against Winslow for fraud based on allegations that Winslow had misrepresented his qualifications.

Trial commenced on April 12, 1989. The equitable issues were tried to the court. On Saratoga’s complaint, the court found Winslow liable for breach of contract and ordered specific performance. Winslow was ordered to convey the stock specified in the agreement to Saratoga or pay Saratoga $150,000. On Winslow’s cross-complaint, the jury returned special verdicts with respect to liability. They found that Jess Rodrigues, Association and Saratoga had not intentionally defrauded Winslow but that Association and Saratoga were liable for negligent misrepresentations made to Winslow upon which he had relied. On June 28, 1989, the jury returned a general verdict setting damages on Winslow’s cross-complaint at $415,000. On Association’s cross-complaint, the jury returned a special verdict in which they found that Winslow was not liable to Association for fraud.

Judgment was entered on August 22, 1989. Notice of entry of judgment was filed on September 11, 1989. Plaintiffs moved for a new trial and for *1805 judgment notwithstanding the verdict asserting that the evidence was insufficient and the damages excessive. On November 6, 1989, the motions were denied. On December 4, 1989, Saratoga and Association appealed from the judgment on the cross-complaint. 1 On December 19, 1989, Winslow filed a cross-appeal from the judgment of specific performance.

Sometime between November 8, 1989, and December 8, 1989, RTC was appointed as conservator for Association pursuant to 12 United States Code section 1464. 2 On May 24, 1990, RTC was appointed as receiver for Association pursuant to section 1464 for the purpose of liquidation. On June 27, 1991, RTC obtained an order from the trial court substituting itself as a party to the action in place of Saratoga and Association. On July 8, 1991, pursuant to rule 48(a) of the California Rules of Court, we ordered that RTC be substituted in place of Saratoga and Association as appellant in this action. RTC filed its opening brief on July 18, 1991.

Discussion

A. D’Oench, Duhme and Section 1823, Subdivision (e)

Because the application of the “D’Oench, Duhme doctrine" determines the fate of this appeal, an introduction to this doctrine and its statutory counterpart is necessary. In 1942 the United States Supreme Court established the “D’Oench, Duhme doctrine” in D’Oench, Duhme & Co. v. F.D.I.C. (1942) 315 U.S. 447 [86 L.Ed. 956, 62 S.Ct. 676] (hereafter referred to as D’Oench). In D’Oench, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) sued on a note after it took over a bank. As a defense, the obligor asserted that he was not liable on the note due to a side agreement which did not appear in the records of the failed bank. Drawing on congressional intent expressed in federal “holder in due course” laws, the Supreme Court held that there was “a federal policy to protect [the FDIC], and the public funds which it administers, against misrepresentations as to the securities or other assets in the portfolios of the banks which [the FDIC] insures or to which it makes loans.” (Id. at p. 457 [86 L.Ed. at p. 962].) “ ‘Public policy requires that a person who, for the accommodation of the bank[,] exec○utes an instrument which is in form a binding obligation, should be estopped from thereafter asserting that simultaneously the parties agreed that the instrument should not be enforced.’ ’’ (Id. at p. 459 [86 L.Ed at p. 963], quoting Mount Vernon Trust Co. v. Bergoff (1936) 272 N.Y. 192 [5 N.E.2d 196, 197].) *1806

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9 Cal. App. 4th 1799, 12 Cal. Rptr. 2d 510, 20 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (West) 1062, 92 Cal. Daily Op. Serv. 8356, 92 Daily Journal DAR 13646, 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 1190, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/resolution-trust-corp-v-winslow-calctapp-1992.