Teran v. Citicorp Person-To-Person Financial Center

706 P.2d 382, 146 Ariz. 370, 1985 Ariz. App. LEXIS 599
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedMarch 26, 1985
Docket2 CA-CIV 5135
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 706 P.2d 382 (Teran v. Citicorp Person-To-Person Financial Center) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Teran v. Citicorp Person-To-Person Financial Center, 706 P.2d 382, 146 Ariz. 370, 1985 Ariz. App. LEXIS 599 (Ark. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

OPINION

BIRDSALL, Chief Judge.

This is an appeal from two summary judgments, both in favor of the defendant/appellee, Citicorp Person-to-Person Financial Center. The first judgment dismissed Counts 1, 2, and 4 of the complaint of the appellants, Augustin V. Teran and wife, Soila, and the second dismissed Count 5. Count 3 did not involve Citicorp, being against other defendants, SMK Investments, Inc. and Sydney M. Katz and his wife. That count was also summarily dismissed.

According to the documentary evidence before the trial court, the Terans, in 1978, borrowed $9,854 from Citicorp to pay off other debts they owed and to make certain improvements to their home. The money borrowed was:

$5090 owed Pacific Finance

1000 owed U.S. Credit Life

3184 for Terans

$9274

An insurance premium of $580 brought the total to $9854. The loan was for 10 years and called for monthly payments of $165, a smaller monthly payment than the Terans had been paying before this consolidation.

The Terans signed a note, security agreement, deed of trust on their home, notice of right to rescind, and a request for life, health, and accident insurance.

Mr. Teran was a miner, and when the union went on strike, he had no work and failed to make his payments. In his affidavit, Mr. Teran says he called Citicorp and someone there, who remains unidentified, told him he did not have to make his payments during the strike.

In October 1980, Citicorp gave notice of default and election to sell under the deed of trust and the Terans’ home was sold to SMK and Katz in January 1981, giving rise to the proceedings in the trial court.

The complaint, after two amendments, was in five counts. Count 3 made no claim against Citicorp. Count 1 alleged a defective notice and sale under the deed of trust; Count 2 alleged willful or negligent conduct; Count 4, a violation of civil rights, 42 U.S.C. § 1983; and Count 5 alleged consumer fraud.

The thrust of the appellants’ case and this appeal arises out of the fact that they are Spanish-speaking and do not speak, .read, or understand English. In their affidavits they assert that they did not realize they were giving their home as security for payment of the loan.

The actual issues as presented on appeal by the appellants are:

1. There were disputed material issues of fact precluding summary judgment.

2. The appellants should not be bound by the documents.

3. Citicorp was estopped from declaring the default because payments were waived.

4. Notice of the trustee’s sale should have been given appellants in Spanish.

5. Failure to disclose that their home was the collateral for the loan was a consumer fraud violation.

We have attempted to state the facts in the light most favorable to the appellants, which is the appropriate standard of review when summary judgment has been entered in the trial court. We are handicapped because of the appellants’ total failure to comply with Rule 13(a)(4), Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure, 17A A.R.S., which requires specific citations to the record.

In order to discuss the first issue presented, it is necessary to also relate the facts pertaining to the loan transaction and the execution of the documents. The Terans had first gone to another lending institution to borrow funds to pay for the desired insulation in their home from Golden West Insulation. That lender would not finance the project because of the prior purchase money mortgage and the exist *372 ence of two prior deeds of trust given on the home by the Terans, one to U.S. Credit Life and the other to Pacific Finance. The Terans and Golden West were referred to Citicorp. Golden West presented all the information to Citicorp for the Terans and the loan was approved and the necessary documents prepared. A Spanish-speaking salesman for Golden West and the Terans then went to the Citicorp office for the purpose of completing the transaction. At that time the documents were signed, the other debts were paid, the prior deeds were released, and the Terans got their money after the three day waiting period.

The appellants argue that there are twelve disputed fact questions as follow:

1. Whether at the time of the transactions in dispute, appellants comprehended the difference between a deed of trust instrument and a mortgage instrument.

2. Whether the appellants understood at the time of the transactions here in question, the significance of legal instruments provided for by state and federal law, which made their home equity security for a money loan.

3. What legal relationship existed, if any, between the Terans and the representative from Golden West Insulation Company, known only as “Alex,” at the time of the loan transaction here in dispute.

4. What legal relationship, if any, existed between appellee Citicorp and “Alex” of Golden West Insulation Company at the time of the transaction here in question.

5. Whether full disclosure and explanation in the Spanish language of the various loan documents associated with the transaction occurring in April and May 1978, were required by appellee Citicorp for the benefits of appellants herein; and further, whether such disclosure and explanation were in fact appropriately and properly made.

6. Whether any misrepresentations, concealments, or omissions occurred in the May 31, 1978, loan presentation to the appellants, by appellee Citicorp or its duly authorized agents and representatives.

7. Whether in fact the substance, terms, and provisions of the deed of trust securing the appellee Citicorp loan were made known in a meaningful fashion to the appellants herein.

8. Whether the Terans knowingly and intelligently assumed excessive financial obligations as a result of appellee Citicorp’s encouragement.

9. Whether appellee Citicorp deviated from its own established policies and practices at the time of negotiations and consummation of the loan with the Terans in May 1978.

10. Whether representations were made by agents of appellee Citicorp, at any time, that appellants could safely not make payments on their loan obligation during Mr. Teran’s unemployment between July 1980 and February 1981.

11. The actual cost appellee Citicorp would have had to incur to provide notice of trustee’s sale to the Terans in Spanish as well as English.

12. When in fact appellants learned that their home would be sold at a trustee’s sale.

For different reasons we reject each of these questions as excuses for avoiding summary disposition of the appellants’ complaint. In order to discuss questions one through seven, we must review the Arizona law and review additional facts concerning the meeting at Citicorp when the loan documents were signed. The general rule holds that one who signs a written document is bound to know and assent to its provisions in the absence of fraud, misrepresentation, or other wrongful acts by the other party.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
706 P.2d 382, 146 Ariz. 370, 1985 Ariz. App. LEXIS 599, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/teran-v-citicorp-person-to-person-financial-center-arizctapp-1985.