Target Corporation v. Kennon Amerson D/B/A South Coast Builders

CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedMarch 20, 2014
DocketA13A1737
StatusPublished

This text of Target Corporation v. Kennon Amerson D/B/A South Coast Builders (Target Corporation v. Kennon Amerson D/B/A South Coast Builders) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Target Corporation v. Kennon Amerson D/B/A South Coast Builders, (Ga. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

THIRD DIVISION ANDREWS, P. J., DILLARD and MCMILLIAN, JJ.

NOTICE: Motions for reconsideration must be physically received in our clerk’s office within ten days of the date of decision to be deemed timely filed. http://www.gaappeals.us/rules/

March 20, 2014

In the Court of Appeals of Georgia A13A1737; A13A1738. TARGET CORPORATION v. KENNON AMERSON d/b/a SOUTH COAST BUILDERS ET AL.; GREEN ET AL. v. KENNON AMERSON d/b/a SOUTH COAST BUILDERS ET AL.

DILLARD, Judge.

In these companion cases, Charlotte and Micah Green and Target Corporation

appeal from a verdict in which the jury concluded that the Greens and Target

conspired to convey a piece of real property with the intent of defrauding Kennon

Amerson d/b/a South Coast Builders and South Georgia Coast Builders, LLC

(collectively, “Amerson”), a judgment creditor of the Greens. The Greens and Target

assert that (1) Amerson failed to present any evidence of fraud and, therefore, they

are entitled to judgment as a matter of law (i.e., that the trial court erred in denying

their motions for directed verdict); and (2) Amerson’s judgment lien was improper and the trial court erred in failing to rule on that issue. And because we agree that the

evidence is insufficient to sustain the jury’s verdict of fraudulent conveyance as a

matter of law, we reverse the judgment.

The facts of this case are essentially uncontroverted. In January 2007, the

Greens contracted with Amerson, a general contractor, for the construction of their

home in McIntosh County, Georgia (the “Property”). Thereafter, a dispute between

the parties arose, and in December 2007, Amerson filed suit against the Greens.

At all times relevant to this case, Charlotte Green was employed by Target.

And in the fall of 2008, Charlotte—who transferred to Georgia for the purpose of

opening a distribution center—was approached by her manager and asked if she

would be willing to relocate to North Carolina to open yet another distribution center.

Charlotte had not tendered her name for consideration when Target announced the job

opening, but her manager nonetheless asked her to consider taking the position based

upon her success in opening the Georgia facility. She expressed some interest in the

move, and agreed to discuss the matter further with her husband. Charlotte also

informed her manager (during this same conversation) that she was engaged in

ongoing litigation with Amerson, indicating that she would need to explore what

impact, if any, the litigation would have on her ability to relocate.

2 Before making a final decision to accept the position in North Carolina,

Charlotte consulted with Target’s relocation department, a team dedicated to

providing assistance to Target’s relocating employees. And this consultation resulted

in an agreement to appraise the Greens’ Property in order to assess the feasibility of

such a move. Specifically, the relocation department placed the Greens in contact

with Target’s relocation agent, Plus Relocation Services, Inc. (“Plus Relocation”),

with whom Target contracted for the real-estate component of its relocation

packages—i.e., to aid employees in establishing the value of their homes, to assist

them in selling their homes, and/or to facilitate Target’s buyout of their homes, so as

to allow employee relocation without extensive delay.1 Then, in November 2008, Plus

Relocation obtained two separate appraisals on the Greens’ Property; and, after

averaging the two, it determined the fair-market value of the Property to be

$356,000.2

1 Target employs approximately 380,000 individuals nationwide. In addition to aiding relocating employees with the sale of their homes, Target’s relocation package funds the shipping of household goods, pays for closing costs and real-estate fees, and provides small, lump-sum payments to cover miscellaneous expenses. 2 Amerson does not dispute that $356,000 represented the fair-market value of the Greens’ Property.

3 And while the appraisal value of the Property was nearly $26,700 less than the

payoff price (due to an outstanding construction loan), Charlotte, nevertheless,

decided to pursue the relocation. She then accepted the position, and was directed to

report to work in North Carolina in February 2009.

In accordance with its standard relocation package, Target offered to purchase

the Property from the Greens at the appraised fair-market value after the house was

listed but failed to sell in 60 days. Then, in January 2009, Plus Relocation, on behalf

of Target, ordered a title search on the Property and determined it to be free and clear

of all liens and encumbrances (other than the Greens’ construction loan). The Greens

were also informed that the delivery of an unencumbered title was a prerequisite to

any sale.

But before the relocation was complete, the case between the Greens and

Amerson went to a jury trial and, on February 5, 2009, Amerson obtained a money

judgment against the Greens. The Greens filed a motion for new trial and

subsequently appealed the judgment.3

Immediately after the trial, Charlotte informed both Target and Plus Relocation

of the judgment. And acting upon the advice of her legal counsel, she also informed

3 The jury’s verdict was upheld by this Court in an unpublished opinion.

4 them that the judgment was a monetary one against the Greens personally and did not

impede the Greens’ ability to convey unencumbered title to the Property.

On March 26, 2009, Amerson filed its judgment lien on the general-execution

docket in McIntosh County during the pendency of the Greens’ motion for new trial.

Then, on March 30, 2009, Plus Relocation, on behalf of Target, ordered a revised title

search on the Property in preparation for its purchase of the Property. Apparently due

to the lag between the time of filing and the time it takes to appear on the docket,

Amerson’s lien was not discovered during the revised title search, and the title

analysis indicated that title on the Property remained clear.

Thus, unaware of the judgment lien, Plus Relocation, on behalf of Target,

purchased the Property on May 4, 2009 for $356,000.4 And because Target’s purchase

price was less than the payoff value of the construction loan, the Greens—who had

already moved to North Carolina—paid the remaining loan balance of nearly $26,700

at closing.

The Greens relinquished all possession and control of the Property to Target

at the time of the closing and, indeed, have not returned to the Property since moving

4 Target’s policy was to service, as opposed to pay off, the primary mortgages of its relocating employees. But as was its policy with all loans other than primary mortgages, Target paid off, rather than serviced, the Greens’ construction loan.

5 to North Carolina several months prior to the closing. Then, on September 1, 2009,

when Target attempted to sell the Property, it discovered for the first time Amerson’s

judgment lien. Target was thereafter precluded from effecting a third-party sale.

Target filed a petition to quiet title on the Property5 and, on the same day,

Amerson filed the instant action. In that complaint, Amerson alleged that (1) the

Greens fraudulently transferred the Property to Target for the purpose of avoiding its

judgment and requested that the sale be set aside, and (2) Amerson should be awarded

bad-faith damages and attorney fees for the Greens and Target’s alleged deceitful

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