RREF RB-AL SLDL, LLC v. Saxon Land Development

968 F. Supp. 2d 1133, 2013 WL 4804390, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 126659
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedSeptember 5, 2013
DocketCase No. 2:11-cv-925-MEF
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 968 F. Supp. 2d 1133 (RREF RB-AL SLDL, LLC v. Saxon Land Development) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
RREF RB-AL SLDL, LLC v. Saxon Land Development, 968 F. Supp. 2d 1133, 2013 WL 4804390, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 126659 (M.D. Ala. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

MARK E. FULLER, District Judge.

Plaintiff RREF RB-AL SLDL, LLC (“Plaintiff’ or “RREF RB-AL”) filed this action against Defendants Saxon Land Development, LLC (“Saxon”), Clifford W. Cleveland (“Cleveland”), and Richard M. Dorsey (“Dorsey”) (collectively, “Defendants”) to recover monies owed on a defaulted commercial loan. This cause is now before the Court on Plaintiff RREF RB-AL’s Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. # 45). Having reviewed the briefs of the parties, the evidentiary submissions, and the record as a whole, the Court finds that Plaintiff RREF RB-AL’s motion is due to be GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

I. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

The Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. The parties do not contest personal jurisdiction or venue, and the Court finds adequate allegations in support of both.

II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Under Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment is appropriate “if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine [dispute] as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). The party asking for summary judgment “always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of ‘the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,’ which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine [dispute] of material fact.” Id. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. One of the ways the movant can meet this burden is by presenting evidence showing that there is no dispute of material fact. Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

Once the moving party has met its burden, Rule 56(e) “requires the nonmoving party to go beyond the pleadings and by [their] own affidavits, or by the depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, designate specific facts showing that there is a genuine [dispute] for trial.” Id. at 324,106 S.Ct. 2548 (internal quotations omitted). “To avoid summary judgment, the nonmoving part may not rely on mere allegations, but must raise significant probative evidence that would be sufficient for a jury to find for [1137]*1137that party.” LaChance v. Duffy’s Draft House, Inc., 146 F.3d 832, 835 (11th Cir.1998). Indeed, the non-moving party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).

A court ruling on a motion for summary judgment must believe the evidence of the non-movant and must draw all justifiable inferences from the evidence in the non-moving party’s favor. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). After the nonmoving party has responded to the motion for summary judgment, the court must grant summary judgment if there is no genuine dispute of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c).

III. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

The Court has carefully considered the evidence submitted in support of and in opposition to the motion. The submissions of the parties, viewed in the light most favorable to Defendants, as the non-moving parties, establish the following facts:

A. Facts

Regions Bank (“Regions”) made a loan to Saxon, the borrower, in the amount of $511,696.00 for the acquisition of real property located in Elmore County, Alabama. That loan was evidenced by a promissory note and secured by a mortgage dated May 29, 2003. (Doc. # 33-1.) On February 19, 2008, Regions and Saxon agreed to modify this loan to increase it by an additional $200,000.00, resulting in Regions making Saxon a loan in the total amount of $711,696.00 (the “Saxon Loan”). (Doc. # 33-1.) This loan is evidenced by a promissory note dated February 19, 2008, in the principal amount of $711,696.00 made by the borrower, Saxon, in favor of Regions.

As an inducement for Regions to make the Saxon Loan, Dorsey and Cleveland1 (together the “Guarantors”) unconditionally, jointly, and severally guaranteed payment of the loan and any sums due under the note. The Cleveland guaranty is evidenced by a commercial guaranty dated February 19, 2008, made by Cleveland in favor of Regions. (Doc. #33-1.) The Dorsey guaranty is evidenced by a commercial guaranty dated February 19, 2008, made by Dorsey in favor of Regions. (Doc. # 33-1.) The note and guarantees, together with any other document or instruments evidencing or securing the Saxon Loan, constitute the “Original Loan Documents.”

Regions assigned the Saxon Loan and the Original Loan Documents to RREF RB Acquisitions, LLC (“RREF”) (the [1138]*1138“First Assignment Documents”) in March 2011. RREF then assigned the Saxon Loan and the Original Loan Documents to Plaintiff (the “Second Assignment Documents”) in August 2011. The promissory note provides that “[t]he terms of this Note ... shall inure to the benefit of the Lender and its successors and assigns[,]” making RREF RB-AL the holder of the note upon assignment. (Doc. # 38-1.) The Original Loan Documents, as assigned by the First Assignment Documents and the Second Assignment Documents, together with all other documents and instruments evidencing and/or securing the Saxon Loan, which were executed and/or delivered in connection with the foregoing, constitute the “Loan Documents.”

The Loan Documents obligate Defendants to pay the principal and interest as it becomes due on the loan. Specifically, the promissory note states that Saxon agrees to pay the lender, or its assigns, the principal amount of $711, 696.00, together with interest on the unpaid principal balance from February 19, 2008, until paid in full. (Doc. # 33-1.) The guarantees further state that the Guarantors “absolutely and unconditionally guarantee full and punctual payment and satisfaction of Guarantor’s share of the indebtedness of Borrower to Lender, and the performance and discharge of all Borrower’s obligations under the Note and Related Documents.” (Doc. # 33-1.) The Guarantors’ share of indebtedness is a sum not to exceed $711,696.00 of the principal amount, plus interest thereon. (Doc.

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Bluebook (online)
968 F. Supp. 2d 1133, 2013 WL 4804390, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 126659, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rref-rb-al-sldl-llc-v-saxon-land-development-almd-2013.