South Louisiana Bank v. Williams

591 So. 2d 375, 1991 WL 256347
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedDecember 4, 1991
Docket90-532
StatusPublished
Cited by89 cases

This text of 591 So. 2d 375 (South Louisiana Bank v. Williams) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
South Louisiana Bank v. Williams, 591 So. 2d 375, 1991 WL 256347 (La. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

591 So.2d 375 (1991)

SOUTH LOUISIANA BANK, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Alphonse WILLIAMS, in his Capacity as Liquidator of Pioneer Fishing and Rental Tools, Inc. and E.F. Realty Company, Inc., Defendants-Appellants.

No. 90-532.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Third Circuit.

December 4, 1991.
Rehearing Denied January 29, 1992.
Writ Denied April 10, 1992.

*376 Watkins & Walker, Kenneth Watkins, Robyn F. Moss, Houma, for plaintiff-appellee.

Henry T. Dart, Metairie, for defendant-appellant, Alphonse Williams.

Thomas E. Falgoust, Sr., in pro per.

Before GUIDRY, DOUCET, and KNOLL, Judges.

KNOLL, Judge.

This appeal concerns the correctness of the trial court's rendition of summary judgment in three consolidated cases against two corporations. The trial court rendered summary judgment finding no material issue of fact concerning the existence of the indebtednesses of Pioneer Fishing and Rental Tools, Inc. (Pioneer) and E.F. Realty Company, Inc. (E.F. Realty) to South Louisiana Bank (SLB). The trial court further found that the debtor corporations received the proceeds of the loans, and that there were corporate resolutions authorizing the loans which were executed by Thomas E. Falgout, Sr., the president of the two corporations.

We affirm in all aspects, except that we reverse the summary judgment against E.F. Realty in Docket No. 90-532, finding no corporate resolution of record authorizing Falgout to execute a continuing guarantee on its behalf.

FACTS

The indebtednesses sued upon were incurred between March 13, 1985, and October 7, 1987, when Falgout was president of Pioneer and E.F. Realty. Subsequently, Falgout was removed as president by way of litigation, and Alphonse Williams was appointed judicial liquidator of both corporations.

When Pioneer and E.F. Realty defaulted on their loans, SLB filed these suits to obtain judgment for the amount of the indebtedness and to recognize its mortgages on the corporations' immovable property. Named as defendants were Falgout, individually, and Williams in his capacity as liquidator of Pioneer and E.F. Realty. Attached to the petitions were the promissory notes, the security documents, and corporate resolutions purporting to authorize Falgout to incur the debts and mortgage corporate property. Falgout failed to answer the suits, and default judgments were obtained against him. Williams answered, alleging that the notes and mortgages were unenforceable against Pioneer and E.F. Realty because Falgout had no authority to borrow money and encumber corporate property. He further alleged that the promissory notes and security devices were null by virtue of error, mistake, and failure *377 of consideration. Williams alleged that the documents were executed by Falgout as part of a scheme to defraud Pioneer and E.F. Realty.

After the three suits were consolidated for trial, SLB filed a motion for summary judgment in each of the cases. In support of its motions, SLB attached affidavits of James C. Sublett, commercial loan officer of SLB, stating that the corporations had executed the notes, that Falgout endorsed them, and that the money was paid into corporate accounts or issued in payment to other creditors of the corporations at loan closing.

Williams opposed the motions, stating in his affidavits that the boards of directors of Pioneer and E.F. Realty had not passed resolutions authorizing Falgout to incur indebtedness or to mortgage corporate property. He attached the minutes of the board meetings for the pertinent dates.

After hearing the motions, the trial court granted SLB's motions for summary judgment, stating that SLB was justified in relying on the corporate resolutions presented to the bank. These appeals followed.

SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Pioneer and E.F. Realty contend that an issue of material fact remains with regard to Falgout's authority to bind the corporations. They argue that since the actual minutes of the boards of directors' meetings contain no reference to any resolution granting Falgout authority to incur debt and encumber corporate property, Falgout acted without authority. Accordingly, it is their contention that this unresolved material fact precluded the rendition of summary judgment.

LSA-C.C.P. Art. 966 provides that the moving party is entitled to summary judgment in his favor, if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue of material fact, and that mover is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.

The burden is on the mover to clearly show that there is not a genuine issue of material fact in dispute, and any reasonable doubt as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact must be resolved against the mover and in favor of trial on the merits. Weems v. Hickman, 524 So.2d 792 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1988).

A fact is material if its existence or nonexistence may be essential to plaintiff's cause of action under the applicable theory of recovery. Stated another way, facts are material if they potentially insure or preclude recovery, affect a litigant's ultimate success, or determine the outcome of the legal dispute. Doe v. Smith, 573 So.2d 238 (La.App. 1st Cir.1990), writ denied, 573 So.2d 1139 (La.1991). To carry this exacting burden, the mover must show that it is quite clear what the truth is and that absolutely no doubt remains as to the existence of a genuine issue of material fact. Weems, supra. If this standard is met, the burden of proof shifts to the opposing party to present evidence that a material fact remains at issue. The opposing party may no longer rest on the allegations in his pleadings. Sanders v. Hercules Sheet Metal, Inc., 385 So.2d 772 (La.1980). If the moving party has established both that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that, as a matter of law, he is entitled to judgment, it is incumbent upon the adverse party to present specific facts, showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. LSA-C.C.P. Art. 967.

Finally, on motions for summary judgment, inferences to be drawn from the underlying facts contained in the materials before the court must be viewed in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion. Vermilion Corp. v. Vaughn, 397 So.2d 490 (La.1981).

At the outset, we find that there is merit to E.F. Realty's contention that summary judgment was improperly granted against it in Docket No. 90-532. The basis of its attack is that no corporate resolution was introduced into evidence, authorizing Falgout to sign a continuing guaranty of Pioneer's indebtedness.

*378 SLB argues that Exhibit P-2 in Docket No. 90-542 is the corporate resolution it relied upon for authority for Falgout to sign a continuing guaranty on behalf of E.F. Realty. Exhibit P-2 provides, in pertinent part, that Falgout was authorized on behalf of E.F. Realty "to enter into and execute an Act of Collateral Mortgage ... to secure funds from South Louisiana Bank... to secure a loan benefitting [sic] Pioneer Fishing and Rental Tools, Inc." Furthermore, the resolution provided as follows:

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Bluebook (online)
591 So. 2d 375, 1991 WL 256347, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/south-louisiana-bank-v-williams-lactapp-1991.