The Great. N.Y. Svgs. Bk. v. Welch Ctr., No. Cv 94-0358199-S (Dec. 29, 1994)

1994 Conn. Super. Ct. 12896, 13 Conn. L. Rptr. 272
CourtConnecticut Superior Court
DecidedDecember 29, 1994
DocketNo. CV94-0358199-S
StatusUnpublished

This text of 1994 Conn. Super. Ct. 12896 (The Great. N.Y. Svgs. Bk. v. Welch Ctr., No. Cv 94-0358199-S (Dec. 29, 1994)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Connecticut Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
The Great. N.Y. Svgs. Bk. v. Welch Ctr., No. Cv 94-0358199-S (Dec. 29, 1994), 1994 Conn. Super. Ct. 12896, 13 Conn. L. Rptr. 272 (Colo. Ct. App. 1994).

Opinion

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This case is unpublished as indicated by the issuing court.]MEMORANDUM OF DECISION The plaintiff (hereinafter referred to as "the Bank") proceeded on its four count Second Amended Complaint dated August 23, 1994 against the defendant Welch Center Associates Limited Partnership (hereinafter "Welch"); the defendant Branig New Haven Corporation (hereinafter "Branig"); and the defendant 495 Congress Avenue Associates Limited Partnership (hereinafter referred to as "495 Congress"). The complaint seeks foreclosure of a mortgage, deficiency judgment, declaratory relief and damages.

The First Count of the Amended Complaint alleges, inter alia, that on December 28, 1989, Welch and Branig, who is a general partner of Welch, a limited partnership, borrowed $2,400,000.00 from the Bank. They executed and delivered a mortgage note payable to the Bank. The defendant Welch executed and delivered to the Bank a mortgage deed (hereinafter "the Mortgage") wherein it conveyed a first mortgage in certain real property it owned at 495 Congress Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut (hereinafter referred to as "the mortgaged premises"), dated December 28, 1989 and recorded on January 2, 1990. In addition to the mortgage, as further security Welch executed and delivered an Assignment of Rents dated December 28, 1989 and recorded January 2, 1990. Also, as further security Welch executed and delivered a Security Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "The Security Agreement"), which granted to the Bank CT Page 12897 a security interest in all furnishings, furniture equipment, inventory, fixtures, personalty and chattels (hereafter referred to as the "collateral") located at Welch's property at 495 Congress Avenue, New Haven, Connecticut. Welch, on December 28, 1989, executed and delivered to the Bank a UCC-1 Financing Statement (hereinafter "UCC-1") evidencing the Bank's security in the aforementioned collateral which was filed with the Secretary of State of Connecticut and recorded in the land records for the City of New Haven. The Bank alleges that on July 1, 1993 Welch failed to make payments on the note. The Bank gave notice to Welch of the default and accelerated payments of all sums due under the mortgage note. As to the First Count, Welch, Branig and 495 Congress do not oppose the right of the Bank to have a strict foreclosure decreed in its favor to the premises. The Bank introduced evidence that the amount of the debt due as of November 9, 1994, the date of the trial, is $2,350,142.63 principal, interest $312,822.46, late charges $26,053.83, legal fees $26,933.50, appraisal fee $4,000.00, environmental survey $4,100.00; the total debt being $2,724,052.42.

The appraisal as to the value of the property for purposes of this hearing (Exh. A) is $1,865,000.00. The defendants do not dispute that a strict foreclosure enter as to the First Count.

The defendants Welch and Branig argue strenuously as to the relief sought under the Second Count of the Amended Complaint which essentially seeks a declaratory judgment that the nonrecourse language of the note does not prevent the Bank from seeking a deficiency against Welch and Branig on the grounds that they negligently and intentionally impaired the security of the loan. The Third Count of the Amended complaint seeks a declaratory judgment determining the Bank's rights under a parking agreement between Welch and 495 Congress. The Fourth Count of the Amended Complaint essentially seeks damages for the failure of the defendant Welch to assemble and turn over the collateral securing the loan under the UCC-1; proceeds from the sale of the collateral and attorney's fees.

In the Post Trial Briefs of the defendants, Welch and Branig argued the issues as to the right to a deficiency and failure to assemble the collateral. 495 Congress argued its special defense claim that the Bank cannot foreclose on the parking rights because the property is owned by 495 Congress and that it is not included in the mortgage deed. Further 495 Congress argues, the Bank is not entitled to the relief sought because the parking agreement is not a lease but rather a license requiring the Bank to proceed against CT Page 12898 495 Congress in accordance with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42a-9-501 et seq.

Peter Beekman of Greenwich, Connecticut (hereinafter "Beekman"), in this case wore many hats. He was essentially in control of the entities involved in the overall transactions from the inception of the financing to date. During trial to assist the Court in understanding the interrelationships of the various entities, the defendants provided a chart (Defendant's Exh. 7):

WELCH Center Associates, L.P.

__________________________ | Welch Center Assoc. L.P. | | 33 Limited Partners | |__________________________| | | ________________________|___________________________ | | | 2nd Mortgage Day to Day Management General Partner Working Capital Loans Working Capital Loans | Parking Agreement Cash Flow Loan | | | | | | | | | | | | | ________|___________ _______|__________ ___________|__________ | 495 Congress Ave. | | ICON Group, Inc. | | Branig New Haven | | Assoc, L.P. | | | | Corp. | | ICON Group, Inc. |____| PDB — President |____| PDB — President | | — Gen Ptr. | | | | Owned by ICON Group, | | 2 Limited Partners | | Owned by PDB | | Inc. | |____________________| |__________________| |______________________|

Welch Center Associates L.P. is the owner of the mortgaged premises; Branig New Haven Corp. is a general partner of Welch. PDB, Beekman, is President of Branig. Icon Group Inc. (hereinafter "Icon") is owned by Beekman and is the managing agent for the day-to-day operation of Welch. 495 Congress Avenue Associates L.P. is the owner of the parking lot which rents 56 parking spaces to Welch for the tenants of Welch (Plaintiff's Exh. C). The value of the mortgaged premises is substantially adversely impacted without the use of the parking spaces. The Bank seeks a declaratory judgment as to their rights in the 56 spaces since their tenants need CT Page 12899 parking. An examination of the appraisal of the property (Plaintiff's Exh. A) at page 15 assumes the site improvement, the macadam paved parking area providing a total of 56 parking spaces, adequate walkways and drive areas. The defendants agree to a 21 day law day the minimum period allowed considering appeal periods. 495 Congress asserts that the right to rent is not part of the mortgage. The Bank asserts that the Parking Lease Agreement (Exh. C) is part of the loan transaction and is security for repayment of the indebtedness evidenced by the note (Exhs. H and V), and in exercising its Assignment of Rents assumes Welch's rights and interest under the Parking Lease Agreement (Exh. BB). Notice to exercise the Assignment of Rents was given on January 20, 1994.

The court will first address the issues raised by the Amended Complaint and the defenses of Welch and Branig. The defendants Welch and Branig assert that the issues are as follows (Post Trial Brief of Welch and Branig):

"A. Has The Plaintiff Proved That It Has A Right to Foreclosure Of The Mortgaged Property?

B. Has The Plaintiff Proved That The Value Of The Mortgaged Property Has Been Impaired?

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Bluebook (online)
1994 Conn. Super. Ct. 12896, 13 Conn. L. Rptr. 272, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/the-great-ny-svgs-bk-v-welch-ctr-no-cv-94-0358199-s-dec-29-connsuperct-1994.