Union Savings Bank v. White Family Companies, Inc.

853 N.E.2d 1182, 167 Ohio App. 3d 51, 2006 Ohio 2629
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 19, 2006
DocketNo. 21137.
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 853 N.E.2d 1182 (Union Savings Bank v. White Family Companies, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Union Savings Bank v. White Family Companies, Inc., 853 N.E.2d 1182, 167 Ohio App. 3d 51, 2006 Ohio 2629 (Ohio Ct. App. 2006).

Opinion

Wolff, Judge.

{¶ 1} Union Savings Bank (“Union”) appeals from a judgment of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, which granted the motion of White Family Companies, Inc. (“WFC”) for summary judgment and Nelson D. Wenrick’s motion to dismiss.

{¶ 2} Union alleged the following facts in its complaint.

{¶ 3} From time to time, Union used Dayton Title Warranty Agency, Inc. (“Dayton Title”) as a closing agent in connection with certain residential-mortgage loans, including the refinancing of such loans. At all times, Dayton Title maintained an escrow account at National City Bank (“NCB”). Dayton Title *54 used that NCB account to escrow and distribute funds in connection with real-estate transactions in which Dayton Title was involved.

{¶ 4} On September 3, 1999, WFC and Wenrick loaned $3.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively, to Invesco, L.L.C. Invesco was owned by two individuals: Krishan Chari and Michael Karaman. The ostensible purpose of Invesco was to engage in real-estate transactions.

{¶ 5} On October 19, 1999, Chari delivered a $5 million check to Dayton Title, and Dayton Title deposited that check in the NCB account. That same day, Dayton Title issued checks from the NCB account to WFC and Wenrick in the amounts of $3.26 million and $1,625 million, respectively, in payment of the September loans. WFC’s check from the NCB account cleared on October 20, 1999, and Wenrick’s check cleared on October 25,1999.

{¶ 6} On October 25, 1999, and October 29, 1999, Chari presented two additional $5 million checks for deposit into the NCB account. On October 26, 1999, Chari’s original $5 million check was dishonored for insufficient funds. The two subsequent $5 million checks were also later dishonored for insufficient funds. Union alleged that among the funds constituting the $3.26 million and $1,625 million transferred to WFC and Wenrick from the NCB account were $742,848.62 that belonged to third parties, including Union.

{¶ 7} In particular, Union alleged that on October 25,1999, Dayton Title closed a loan from Union to Doug J. Noll and Amenda L. McGuffin, whereby Noll and McGuffin refinanced their existing residential-mortgage loan from Union with a new residential-mortgage loan from Union. Because the loan was a refinancing of an existing loan, the loan was to be “net funded” with Union providing the difference between the amount of the new loan ($134,194.78) and the payoff of the old loan ($105,866.68). The net-funding amount was therefore $28,328.10.

{¶ 8} Union placed the net-funding amount into an account maintained in Dayton Title’s name at Union. Union provided written instructions to Dayton Title according to which Dayton Title was to withdraw the net-funding amount from the Union account. Rather than withdrawing the net-funding amount, however, Dayton Title withdrew $134,194.78 from the Union account, which it deposited into the NCB account. Dayton Title then wrote a check on the NCB account in the amount of $105,866.68 and delivered that check to Union. Union returned that check to Dayton Title with a note that the transaction was to be net funded. Rather than depositing that returned check into the Union account, Dayton Title left the $105,866.68 in the NCB account. Union alleged that the $105,866.68 was part of the funds that were transferred to WFC and Wenrick from the NCB account. Union also asserted that the day of the actual transfer of funds to WFC and Wenrick was “inconsequential.” Union referred to the August 11, 2003 decision of the court in Dayton Title’s bankruptcy action, which stated, in *55 part, that a determination of the source and ownership of funds received by WFC and Wenrick could not be determined until November 19, 1999, the day when all activity in the NCB account ceased.

{¶ 9} On October 14, 2003, Union brought suit against WFC and Nelson D. Wenrick asserting claims of conversion, unjust enrichment, constructive trust, fraudulent transfer, and preferential transfer. WFC responded by filing a motion to dismiss, pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6). WFC argued, in essence, that it could not have received Union’s funds related to the Noll/McGuffin loan because those funds were deposited into the NCB account after the check to WFC had cleared. Union responded, in part, by asserting that the trial court was bound by the bankruptcy court’s decision under the doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel. On March 24, 2004, the court granted WFC’s motion. On December 10, 2004, Wenrick filed a motion for summary judgment, also asserting that Union could not establish that the money he received was Union’s property. On June 10, 2005, the trial court granted Wenrick’s motion.

{¶ 10} Union raises two assignments of error on appeal, asserting that the trial court erred in granting Wenrick’s and WFC’s motions.

{¶ 11} “In order for a court to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted (Civ.R.12(B)(6)), it must appear beyond doubt from the complaint that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts entitling him to recovery.” O’Brien v. Univ. Community Tenants Union, Inc. (1975), 42 Ohio St.2d 242, 71 O.O.2d 223, 327 N.E.2d 753, syllabus. “In construing a complaint upon a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim, we must presume that all factual allegations of the complaint are true and make all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party.” Mitchell v. Lawson Milk Co. (1988), 40 Ohio St.3d 190, 192, 532 N.E.2d 753. Although the factual allegations of the complaint are taken as true, “[unsupported conclusions of a complaint are * * * not sufficient to withstand a motion to dismiss.” State ex rel. Hickman v. Capots (1989), 45 Ohio St.3d 324, 324, 544 N.E.2d 639; see, also, Garofalo v. Chicago Title Ins. Co. (1995), 104 Ohio App.3d 95, 104, 661 N.E.2d 218. “A court cannot dismiss a complaint under Civ.R. 12(B)(6) merely because it doubts the plaintiff will prevail.” Leichtman v. WLW Jacor Communications, Inc. (1994), 92 Ohio App.3d 232, 234, 634 N.E.2d 697.

{¶ 12} Summary judgment may be granted when the moving party demonstrates that (1) there is no genuine issue of material fact, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) viewing the evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party, reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made. Civ.R. 56(C); State ex rel. Grady v. *56 State Emp. Relations Bd. (1997), 78 Ohio St.3d 181, 183, 677 N.E.2d 343; Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co.

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Bluebook (online)
853 N.E.2d 1182, 167 Ohio App. 3d 51, 2006 Ohio 2629, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/union-savings-bank-v-white-family-companies-inc-ohioctapp-2006.