Steinfurth v. Ski Lodge Apartments, LLC

179 So. 3d 106, 2015 Ala. LEXIS 47, 2015 WL 1779552
CourtSupreme Court of Alabama
DecidedApril 17, 2015
Docket1130832
StatusPublished

This text of 179 So. 3d 106 (Steinfurth v. Ski Lodge Apartments, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Steinfurth v. Ski Lodge Apartments, LLC, 179 So. 3d 106, 2015 Ala. LEXIS 47, 2015 WL 1779552 (Ala. 2015).

Opinions

PARKER, Justice.

Paul R. Steinfurth (“Paul R.”) and Paul C. Steinfurth (“Paul C.”) (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the guarantors”) appeal from the denial by the Montgomery Circuit Court of their postjudgment motion requesting that a judgment entered against them and in favor of Ski Lodge Apartments, LLC (“Ski Lodge”), be amended insofar as the judgment held that the guarantors had waived their personal exemptions under § 6-10-123, Ala.Code 1975.

[108]*108 Facts cmd Procedural History

The facts are undisputed. On or about February 18, 2009, Styles Manager, LLO (“Styles Manager”), purchased from Vintage Pointe Apartments, LLO (“Vintage Pointe”), an interest in an apartment complex located in Montgomery (“the apartment complex”). On February 13, 2009, as part of this transaction, Styles Manager executed a promissory note promising to pay Vintage Pointe $800,000 (“the promissory note”). Paul C. signed the promissory note in his official capacity as “manager” of Styles Manager. In pertinent part, the promissory note states:

“12. Renunciation and Assignment of E'xmnpUons. To the fullest extent allowed by law, the Maker hereby waives and renounces for itself, its legal representatives, successors and assigns, all rights to the benefits of any moratorium, reinstatement, marshaling, forbearance, valuation, stay, extension, appraisement, and exemption now provided, or which may hereafter be provided, by the Constitution or laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof, both as to itself and in and to all of its property, real and personal, against the enforcement and collection of the obligations evidenced by this Note. The undersigned hereby transfers, conveys, and assigns to the Holder a sufficient amount of such exemption, as may be set apart in bankruptcy, to pay this Note in full, with all cost of collection, and does hereby direct any trustee in bankruptcy having possession of such exemption to deliver to the Holder a sufficient amount of the property or monies set apart as exempt to pay the indebtedness evidenced hereby, or any renewal thereof, and does hereby appoint the Holder as the attorney-in-fact for the undersigned to claim any and all exemptions allowed by law.
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“20. Loan Documents. As used herein, the term ‘Loan Documents’ shall refer to any and all documents or agreements executed in connection with or related to the loan evidenced by this ■ Note including, but not limited to, letters of credit, guaranties, security agreements and instruments, and financing statements (and any renewals, extensions and modifications thereof) whenever any such documents are executed.”

As security for the performance of the payment of the promissory note, the guarantors, in their individual capacities, executed a “guaranty of payment and performance” of the promissory note (“the guaranty agreement”). The guaranty agreement states, in pertinent part:

“A. Styles Manager, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the ‘Maker’), has requested that the Holder [(Vintage Pointe)] loan to the Maker the principal sum of EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND AND NO/lOt) DOLLARS ($ 800,000.00) (the ‘Loan’), to be evidenced by a Promissory Note of even date herewith (the ‘Note’) payable by the Maker to the Holder and such other documents as are more particularly set forth in the Note. As a condition to making the Loan (and as an obligation in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below)), the Holder has required that the Guarantor guarantee the Loan and any other obligations of the Maker to the Holder pursuant to the Loan Documents (as such term is defined in Note) executed in connection therewith, whether now existing or hereafter incurred.
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“NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, and as an inducement to the Holder to make the Loan to the Maker, and as additional [109]*109security for the payment of the Loan and all interest thereon, all modifications, renewals and extensions thereof, and all other, indemnities, charges, expenses and any other indebtedness of any nature now existing and hereafter incurred by the Maker to the Holder in connection therewith or otherwise, and the performance of all other obligations of the Maker under the Note, the Loan Documents or any other obligations of any nature of the Maker to the Holder (the Loan and all othér indebtedness, liabilities, and obligations secured hereby being .hereinafter called ‘Obligations’), the Guarantor agrees and covenants with the Holder and represents and warrants to the Holder as follows:
' “1. The Guarantor héreby absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to the Holder when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), the regular, complete and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations. The Guarantor hereby further guarantees the prompt performance of any other obligations of any kind or character of the Maker to the Holder set forth in any of the Loan Documents, as the same may hereafter be amended by the Maker and the Holder, the consent of the Guarantor to which shall not be required, and upon failure of the Maker to timely do so, the Guarantor guarantees to the Holder the payment of all costs and expenses incurred by the Holder in performing such obligations. Further, the Guarantor guarantees the payment of all costs, reasonable attorney fees or expenses which may be incurred by the Holder, by reason of a default of the Maker under the Obligations.
. “Should an- Event of Default as defined in the Note (an ‘Event of Default’) occur, the Guarantor unconditionally promises to pay to the Holder such amounts and/or perform such Obligations as are necessary to cure the default, or at the option of the Holder, the Guarantor agrees to pay the entire indebtedness owed the Holder by the Maker at the time.of such default. .
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“2. The Guarantor represents and warrants to the Holder that: (a) the Guarantor has full power and unrestricted right to enter into this Guaranty, to incur the obligations provided for herein, and to execute and deliver this Guaranty to the Holder, and that when executed and delivered,.this Guaranty will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms; (b) this Guaranty is executed at the request of the Maker; (c) the Guarantor has established' adequate means of obtaining from the Maker on a continuing basis information pertaining’ to, and is now and on a continuing basis Will be completely familiar with, .the financial condition, operations, properties and prospects of the Maker; (d) the Guarantor has received and approved copies of the Note and' all other Loan Documents; and (e) no oral promises, assurances, representations or warranties have been made by or on behalf of the Holder to induce the Guarantor to execute and deliver this Guaranty.”

(Capitalization in original.) On September 8, 2010, Vintage Pointe assigned to Ski Lodge the “loan documents,” as that term is defined in the promissory note, set forth above (“the assignment”), including the promissory note and the guaranty agreement.

The parties agree that Styles Manager defaulted on the promissory note in January 2011. Pursuant to the, promissory note, the entire principal amount of the promissory note and all accrued interest [110]

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
179 So. 3d 106, 2015 Ala. LEXIS 47, 2015 WL 1779552, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/steinfurth-v-ski-lodge-apartments-llc-ala-2015.