Wachovia Bank & Trust Co. v. Glass

575 S.W.2d 950, 1978 Tenn. App. LEXIS 322
CourtCourt of Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedJuly 28, 1978
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 575 S.W.2d 950 (Wachovia Bank & Trust Co. v. Glass) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wachovia Bank & Trust Co. v. Glass, 575 S.W.2d 950, 1978 Tenn. App. LEXIS 322 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1978).

Opinion

OPINION

TODD, Judge.

The defendant, Harold W. Glass, has appealed from a summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff, Wachovia Bank & Trust Company, N.A. in the amount of $4,010.98 plus 20% attorney fee.

Plaintiff claims to be the holder in due course of a note in the amount of $5,120.00 executed by defendant to Preferred Development Corporation which endorsed and assigned the note to Yegen Development Corporation which endorsed and assigned the note to plaintiff.

Defendant’s answer admits the execution and transfer of the note, but insists that plaintiff was, at all material times, aware of the nature of the dealings between defendant and Preferred, and particularly that the note was given in consideration of a contract which Preferred did not perform, thereby effecting a failure of consideration. By cross complaint defendant alleged that, as agent of Preferred, plaintiff has been guilty of violation of the Interstate Land Sales Development Act and is therefore liable to defendant for refunds and expenses in unspecified amounts.

Plaintiff moved for summary judgment dismissing the counterclaim, supported by affidavit of an officer of plaintiff. Defendant responded with an unsworn “Response to Motion” with photostatic copies of two (2) letters and of an advertising circular and a photostatic copy of an opinion of this Court.

The Chancellor found that the counter-suit under the Interstate Land Full Disclosure Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1701 et seq. was barred by the statute of limitations stated in 15 U.S.C. § 1711 and rendered summary judgment dismissing the countersuit.

Plaintiff then moved for summary judgment in its favor on the note, supported by affidavit of an officer of plaintiff. Defendant made no response to the motion. The Chancellor sustained the motion and rendered summary judgment for plaintiff.

[953]*953Defendant’s first two assignments of error complain of the first summary judgment dismissing the countersuit.

In the first assignment, defendant insists that it was error to sustain a motion for summary judgment based upon an affidavit not made on personal knowledge of affiant, citing Rule 56.05, Rules of Civil Procedure, as follows:

“56.05. Form of affidavits — Further testimony — Defense required. — Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. Sworn or certified copies of all papers or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit shall be attached thereto or served therewith. The court may permit affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by depositions, answers to interrogatories, or further affidavits. When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleading, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If he does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him.”

The affidavit in question reads as follows:

"William 0. Bland, being first duly sworn, deposes and says:
1. That at all times pertinent to this litigation he was and is a Senior Vice President of Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A.
2. That at various times during the years 1973 and 1974, Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A., purchased notes from Yegen Development Corporation. Yegen Development Corporation (a wholly owned subsidiary of Yegen Associates, Inc., Teaneck, New Jersey) had purchased said notes from Preferred Development Corporation, said notes having been given by various purchasers to Preferred Development Corporation as evidence of debts owed by them in connection with the purchase of various lots in the development known as English Mountain. Wa-chovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A. also purchased from Yegen Development Corporation certain other notes arising out of the purchase by individuals of lots at other developments. The developers were and are in no way related to Preferred Development Corporation, and its parent, Yegen Associates, Inc., are financial service companies and that neither of said companies is in any way related by way of ownership or management, to Preferred Development Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.
3. That at no time did Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A., its agents or employees, directly or indirectly sell or offer to sell or advertise for sale any lots in the development known as English Mountain.
4. That, further, at no time did Wa-chovia Bank and Trust Company represent, act for, or on behalf of Preferred Development Corporation in selling or offering to sell any lot in the aforesaid development.
5. That Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A., its agents and employees, did not assume any power or authority to oversee, influence or control land sales transactions between Preferred Development Corporation and the various land purchasers.
6. That Wachovia Bank and Trust Company, N.A., is not and has never been in control of the seller, Preferred Development Corporation, either through stock ownership or membership on the Board of Directors or otherwise.”

Defendant’s objection to the form of the affidavit is contained in his unsworn “Response to Motion” in the following language:

“3. Defendant further asserts that much of the affidavit filed in support of the motion by the plaintiff herein is of such a nature that it is in violation of the [954]*954Tennessee Rules of Civil Procedure and therefore should be stricken. Additionally, the defendant believes and asserts that this affidavit is not such that it forecloses all issues of fact so as to make a judgment at this time improper.”

Defendant’s objection to the evidence just quoted was not sufficiently specific to preserve exceptions to its consideration.

Under Rule 56 TRCP, evidence offered in support of or opposition to a motion is subject to objection on grounds of hearsay. However, such objection must be presented with the same specificity as any other «objection to evidence. See numerous authorities annotated in 18A Tenn. Digest, Trial § 82, pp. 47, 48.

Appellant’s objection does not point out what parts of the affidavit are objectionable and on what ground. Attachment of an eight (8) page unreported opinion of this Court did not supply specificity.

The only obvious hearsay in the above quoted affidavit is an immaterial assertion as to the nature and relationship of organizations not parties to this suit.

The material issue on the first motion for summary judgment was whether or not plaintiff’s agents or employees had been guilty of any tortious acts against defendant as alleged in defendant’s counterclaim, as follows:

“. . . .

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Bluebook (online)
575 S.W.2d 950, 1978 Tenn. App. LEXIS 322, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wachovia-bank-trust-co-v-glass-tennctapp-1978.