Stewart v. Lucero

918 P.2d 1, 121 N.M. 722
CourtNew Mexico Supreme Court
DecidedMay 14, 1996
Docket22683
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 918 P.2d 1 (Stewart v. Lucero) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New Mexico Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stewart v. Lucero, 918 P.2d 1, 121 N.M. 722 (N.M. 1996).

Opinion

OPINION

RANSOM, Justice.

1. James and Bette Stewart sued Horace and Julie Lucero for debt owing under a sales agreement whereby the Stewarts transferred a Sears Authorized Catalog Sales Merchant business to the Luceros and another couple. The Luceros counterclaimed with allegations of statutory and regulatory violations concerning disclosure and allegations of fraudulent representations that induced the Luceros to enter into the sales agreement. The trial court found that the Stewarts had made no material misrepresentations and that the Luceros owed the Stewarts $20,-225.69. The court entered judgment accordingly. The Luceros appeal pursuant to SCRA 1986, 12-102(A)(1) (Repl.Pamp.1992) (count sounding in contract). Because we conclude as a matter of law that the transfer of the catalog business gave rise to no special statutory or regulatory claims, and because we conclude there is substantial evidence supporting the trial court’s express finding that the Stewarts made no material misrepresentations, we affirm.

2. The agreement with the Stewarts. On May 9, 1990, the Luceros, together with Joe and Marcella Coca who are not parties to this action, entered into a sales agreement with' the Stewarts for the transfer of a Sears, Roebuck, and Co. catalog business located in Las Vegas, New Mexico. This transfer was subject to the approval of Sears. An addendum to the agreement, dated August 1, recites that the conditions agreed to by the parties had been met, the down payment had been tendered, and Sears had approved the transfer. Although Horace testified that he never saw this addendum, nor an assignment dated August 1 reciting Sears’ consent to the transfer from James to Marcella, the addendum was signed by Horace’s wife Julie as well as Marcella and the Stewarts. The purchase price was $70,000, and the Luceros and the Cocas each contributed $10,000 toward a $20,000 down payment. The Stewarts carried a promissory note at ten percent interest for the balance of $50,000 which was to be paid off by the Luceros and the Cocas over ten years in monthly installments of $660.75.

3. Before entering into the sales agreement, the Luceros met with the Stewarts to discuss the manner in which the Stewarts had conducted their business with Sears, and Horace reviewed the books and records of the catalog business. Horace also reviewed the contract between the Stewarts and Sears. In addition, the third provision of the sales agreement recites: “Buyer acknowledges having read and received a copy of the Franchise Agreement to be entered into between [Buyer] and Sears Company.” The referenced “Franchise Agreement” was an exemplar of the merchant agreement under which the Luceros and Cocas operated the catalog business. The actual agreement recites that “THIS AGREEMENT is made between Marcella Coca (hereinafter referred to as ‘Merchant’) and Sears, Roebuck, and Co.” and provides that “Merchant is appointed by Sears to operate one Sears Catalog merchandise facility within the following described nonexclusive territory: (Zip Code 87701).”

4. The Luceros and Cocas took over the catalog business as of August 1, 1990. On January 25, 1993, Sears announced its intention to cease all catalog business by the end of the year. Sears notified the Luceros and the Cocas of this intention by memorandum. As part of the shut down, Sears promised to pay each catalog business operator ten percent of his or her 1991 or 1992 net sales, whichever value was higher, in exchange for a release of claims. Over objections by the Luceros, Marcella accepted Sears’ offer, and the catalog business was closed in June 1993. This appeal raises no issue regarding any claims the Luceros may have against Marcella for breach of any duty owed by her as a joint venturer.

5. The merchant agreement with Sears. Under the merchant agreement the Merchant was required to pay directly to Sears— no later than the next business day following receipt — all payments for orders, payments on credit previously extended by Sears, payments made on C.O.D. deliveries, and other such payments. Sears would then remit a commission on or before the twelfth calendar day of each month. This commission was calculated at a rate of ten and one half percent of net sales for the first $300,000 in sales made during the calendar year and ten percent of all sales in excess of $300,000. The arrangements under which the Luceros and Cocas operated the catalog business were neither argued nor demonstrated to differ in any material respect from the arrangements under which the Stewarts had operated it.

6. As for Sears’ regulation of the business, the location of the business was subject to Sears approval, store hours had to be established in conformity with the practice of other businesses in the Las Vegas community, equipment designated by Sears had to be used for the purpose of transmitting orders, and displayed merchandise had to be in quantities determined by Sears. Sears required the Luceros and Cocas to keep documentation of receipts, inventory, distribution, and refunds for review by Sears, and to maintain insurance coverage for general commercial liability (covering bodily injury, property damage, etc., arising from operation of the Las Vegas store), vehicle liability insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. Sears agreed to provide consulting services to the Luceros and Cocas “relating to product knowledge and promotions.” The Luceros and Cocas retained discretion over personnel and could advertise within their assigned territory “subject to Sears control of its trade names and trademarks.”

7. Like ■ the Stewarts before them, the Luceros and Cocas could not assign their merchant agreement without the approval of Sears. They were permitted under the agreement to engage in business other than the sale of Sears catalog merchandise, with the exception of businesses involving the sale of “catalog merchandise through other than Sears catalogs.” Upon termination or expiration of the agreement,, the Luceros and Cocas agreed to “immediately discontinue the use ... of any and all Sears or Sears owned trade names or trademarks.”

8. The issues. The Luceros’ primary contentions are that (1) the Stewarts misrepresented the value of the business, and (2) the Stewarts had agreed to transfer the cata-, log business to both the Luceros and the Cocas, but, unbeknownst to the Luceros, an assignment document and the merchant agreement were in Marcella’s name only. They posit two statutory or regulatory grounds upon which they should be allowed to avoid or rescind the sales agreement. First, they claim violations of New Mexico Uniform Commercial Code — Sales. S'ee NMSA 1978, §§ 55-2-101 to -725 (Repl. Pamp.1993 & Cum.Supp.1995). 1 Second, they contend that the Stewarts did not dis- ■ close information as required under Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations. See Disclosure Requirements and Prohibitions Concerning Franchising and Business Opportunity Ventures, 16 C.F.R. § 436 (1995). Related to each of these two grounds is the Luceros’ contention that the sales agreement involved the sale of a franchise.

9. Article 2 of the New Mexico Uniform Commercial Code does not apply to the sale of a business as a going concern. The Luceros contend that the Stewarts breached duties of good faith and fair dealing imposed by the New Mexico Uniform Commercial Code.

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Bluebook (online)
918 P.2d 1, 121 N.M. 722, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stewart-v-lucero-nm-1996.