Stonehill v. Security National Bank

68 F.R.D. 24, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11649
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedJune 30, 1975
DocketNo. 73 Civ. 1358
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 68 F.R.D. 24 (Stonehill v. Security National Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stonehill v. Security National Bank, 68 F.R.D. 24, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11649 (S.D.N.Y. 1975).

Opinion

OPINION

ROBERT L. CARTER, District Judge.

This action concerns a series of loans which allegedly violated the margin requirements of Regulation U, 12 C.F.R. § 221.1 et seq., promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board pursuant to § 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78g. All of the parties now move for summary judgment.

The Pleadings

Plaintiff Maurice L. Stonehill’s amended complaint alleges that on or about January 21, 1970, plaintiff agreed to lend 24,000 shares of Jeanette Corporation (“Jeanette”) common stock to defendant John B. Fowler, Jr.; that Stone-hill agreed that the Jeanette stock was to be used by Fowler as collateral for a loan to provide working capital for Fowler and J. S. Love & Co., Inc. (“J. S. Love”), a duly registered broker-dealer of which Fowler was chairman, chief executive officer and stockholder; that plaintiff agreed that the working capital was to be used “to buy, sell, and trade registered securities * * * and to purchase such securities under certain underwritingsthat defendant Security National Bank (“Security”) is the successor in interest of Royal National Bank of New York (“Royal”); and that Fowler pledged plaintiff’s 24,000 shares [28]*28of Jeanette stock as collateral for a loan of $225,000 from Royal to Fowler for the benefit of Fowler and J. S. Love.

The first count of the amended complaint asserts that Royal’s loan to Fowler violated Regulation U and § 7 of the Exchange Act. Regulation U provides that no bank shall grant any loan in an amount exceeding a certain percentage of the value of stock pledged as collateral (the “maximum loan value”)1 where the purpose of the loan is to “purchase or carry” margin stock2.

Count 1 alleges that Fowler and J. S. Love used the proceeds of the loan for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock;3 that Royal knew or should have known that the proceeds would be used for that purpose; that the amount of the loan exceeded the maximum loan value of the 24,000 Jeanette shares; that Fowler defaulted on payment of the loan; and that Security still holds the Jeanette collateral. Count 1 seeks a declaratory judgment declaring the loan to Fowler void as a violation of Regulation U, and an injunction ordering Security to return the 24,000 Jeanette shares to Stonehill free of all liens and claims. The second count asserts that Fowler obtained the Jeanette shares from plaintiff by fraud; that Royal knew or should have known of the fraud; that Royal was therefore not a holder in due course of plaintiff’s stock; and that plaintiff was wrongfully deprived of possession of his stock. Plaintiff seeks damages for the loss in value of his stock from the date of its delivery to Royal to the present.

In addition to a general denial, Security’s answer contains a counterclaim which alleges that in order to induce Royal to make loans to Fowler, plaintiff executed a written “Guarantee of All Liability” of defendant Fowler (“the guarantee”); that Royal lent funds to Fowler in reliance on the guarantee; that neither Fowler nor plaintiff has repaid the loans; and that plaintiff is liable on the guarantee for the outstanding balance of $215,000.

Stonehill’s reply asserts as an affirmative defense that the loan to Fowler is void as a violation of Regulation U, and that the guarantee is void as a violation of Regulation U and contrary to public policy.

In its cross-claim, Security seeks to recover against Fowler on his note for the outstanding balance of $215,000. In his answer, Fowler asserts by way of affirmative defense, inter alia, that the loan violated Regulation U and was contrary to public policy; that Royal knew or should have known that fact; and that the loans were therefore void and unenforceable. Fowler also cross-claims for a declaratory judgment declaring the loans null and void and for an order directing the return of the 24,000 shares.

The Instant Motions

Plaintiff Stonehill now moves for summary judgment with respect to his claims against Security and Security’s counterclaim; and Security moves for summary judgment dismissing the amended complaint and granting the relief requested in its counterclaim against Stonehill. In addition, defendant Fowler moves for summary judgment dismissing Security’s cross-claim and granting the declaratory and other relief sought in his cross-claim against Security.

Factual Background

The following facts, which are relevant to all of the instant motions, are substantially undisputed. Defendant [29]*29Fowler, a resident of Pennsylvania, has been a stockbroker and registered representative since 1936. From on or about January 2, 1970, to January 5, 1972, he was chairman, chief executive officer, and principal shareholder of J. S. Love. J. S. Love is a duly registered brokerage firm, underwriter and member of the New York Stock Exchange which trades in securities for customers and on its own account. In 1970, Fowler knew that banks were subject to restrictions on the amounts they could lend. He believed that the reason banks were required to secure U-l Forms from customers stating the purposes of their loans was “for the bank to conform to Regulation U.” Prior to 1970 and before the loans here in issue, Fowler had taken out stock-earned loans for the purpose of purchasing stock, and he had been required to sign Regulation U statements. (Fowler Tr. 119-23).4

In 1970, plaintiff Stonehill, a resident of Ohio, was president, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Jeanette Corporation, a Pennsylvania glass manufacturing company whose common shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange. Stonehill owns 175,000 shares or 17% of the total outstanding common stock of Jeanette, and Stonehill’s shares are “control” stock within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933. Stonehill and Fowler met in 1958 or 1959 and became friends, and Fowler served on the board of Jeanette until his resignation in 1971.

Royal National Bank, Security’s predecessor in interest,5 was a national bank subject to Regulation U in 1970 and 1971. Herbert D. Bacher, an executive vice president of Royal, was the account officer who handled the six separate loan transactions with Fowler which are involved in this case.

In and around January, 1970, Stone-hill, at Fowler’s request, lent Fowler a total of 48,013 shares of Jeanette common stock on two separate occasions. (Fowler Tr. 32-33; Stonehill Tr. 14-16). The same month, Stonehill also signed three documents: a “Guarantee of All Liability” of Fowler to Royal; a “Collateral Loan Agreement”; and a letter of consent to hypothecation of 5,000 shares of Jeanette stock. In April, Stonehill refused to sign a letter of consent to hypothecation of 24,000 Jeanette shares.6 Fowler told Stonehill that he would repay the bank loans and return the stock in about 45 days. (Fowler Tr. 33-34).7

As noted, six loan transactions are involved in this case:

(1) On January 21, 1970, Royal lent Fowler $100,000,8 secured by 5,000 shares of Jeanette stock.9

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Bluebook (online)
68 F.R.D. 24, 1975 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11649, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stonehill-v-security-national-bank-nysd-1975.