WB Dunn Co., Inc. v. Mercantile Credit Corporation

275 So. 2d 311, 1973 Fla. App. LEXIS 7066
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedApril 3, 1973
DocketR-36
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 275 So. 2d 311 (WB Dunn Co., Inc. v. Mercantile Credit Corporation) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
WB Dunn Co., Inc. v. Mercantile Credit Corporation, 275 So. 2d 311, 1973 Fla. App. LEXIS 7066 (Fla. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

275 So.2d 311 (1973)

The W.B. DUNN CO., INC., et al., Appellants,
v.
MERCANTILE CREDIT CORPORATION, a Texas Corporation, Appellee.

No. R-36.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

April 3, 1973.

*312 E.C. Deeno Kitchen of Ervin, Varn, Jacobs & Odom, Tallahassee, for appellants.

Julius F. Parker, Jr., of Madigan, Parker, Gatlin & Swedmark, Tallahassee, for appellee.

RAWLS, Acting Chief Judge.

Were certain assignments of installment loan contracts from appellants, W.B. Dunn Co., Inc., W.B. Dunn and Eugenia Dunn [hereinafter referred to as Dunn], to appellee, Mercantile Credit Corporation, a Texas corporation [hereinafter referred to as MCC], security for loans of money to Dunn or a sale of such contracts to MCC? And if the transactions were determined to be loans, was the interest computed thereon usurious? These are the two principal questions posed by Dunn's appeal from a final judgment finding the transactions to be a sale.

The trial court in an extensive eighteen-page final judgment containing detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law, entered a declaration of the rights and liabilities of the parties. The parties have not taken issue with a portion of the final judgment; thus, we are only concerned with the foregoing points.

Facts material to our consideration of the issues being reviewed are extracted from the final judgment entered by the trial court.

Dunn is and has been for about 25 years engaged in the retail furniture business at Monticello, Florida, and nearby places in Georgia and Florida. A substantial part of its business involves sales on a deferred payment basis evidenced by notes or other marketable paper providing for future payment in regular periodic installments. Prior to commencement of its dealings with MCC in 1964, Dunn obtained financing by selling its installment contracts to purchasers of same who thereafter would make collections of the installments directly from the debtors. This system had its disadvantages to Dunn because the purchaser on the deferred payment plan would make his payments elsewhere than the retail store and there would be no opportunities to make other sales to such customer.

In 1964, contact was made by Dunn with MCC for financing the installment contracts. Under the system employed the installment purchaser would have no dealings with MCC but would make payments to Dunn, and thus rapport and contacts were maintained directly with such customer. In 1964 and subsequently, a large volume of business was transacted between the parties and it was not until 1970 that difficulties arose which ultimately resulted in this complex lawsuit.

The instruments executed and deemed significant are:

1. A "guaranty" dated March 16, 1964, signed by Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, separately, in which the "guarantor" guarantees MCC "the prompt payment when due of any and all liability or indebtedness" of the Dunn Co. to MCC "now existing or which hereafter may arise". The obligation of the guarantor is an "absolute, unconditional and continuing guaranty" of payment of any indebtedness and any extensions, renewals, or substitutions therefor.

2. A "Financing Statement Security Agreement", dated January 1, 1967, by Dunn Co. to MCC, which "assigns and grants" to MCC a "security interest" in "(a) all inventory; of (b) all contract rights of debtor; (c) all accounts receivable; (d) all instruments, documents ... chattel paper, deposits, cash or *313 other property owned by debtor ... which are now or hereafter be in possession of [MCC]" and "proceeds and products of the foregoing". It recites that from time to time MCC will lend certain amounts to Dunn and that the security interest is given "to secure all liabilities of all kinds ... whether now existing or thereafter arising, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or to become due". This instrument was recorded in Jefferson County, Florida, and Thomas County, Georgia. We pause here to note that no liabilities existed on the part of Dunn at the time this instrument was recorded save any which might arise out of the transfer to MCC of installment contracts. More than a year and one-half later, on August 15, 1968, Dunn borrowed a sum of money from MCC and on January 1, 1970, it borrowed another sum of money from MCC evidenced by promissory notes. These sums are not included in this appeal, save as evidence in construing the "security agreement".

3. Periodically, Dunn would send to MCC a group of installment contracts accompanied by a "contract schedule" on which was listed the contracts being forwarded therewith. A printed agreement executed by Dunn on the reverse side of the "contract schedule" provided for recourse and for value received that Dunn does hereby bargain, sell and transfer to and assign to MCC all of the installment and/or conditional sales contract agreements listed on the "contract schedule". Further, contract provisions are for monthly remission by Dunn "all sums due upon all said contracts during the preceding month"; and that if any contract becomes delinquent inasmuch as three payments, or the merchandise for the sale is repossessed, or is prepaid by the maker, Dunn will either repurchase the contract, or "... replace the same with another or other contracts of equal or greater value". It also provided that in addition to a "discount accorded it" MCC had deducted a portion of the principal sum which shall be styled the reserve fund of the dealer. MCC retained the reserve fund with the right to apply it to any liabilities on the part of Dunn from "... this or any other transaction". After discharge of all obligations to MCC, "the balance, if any," of the reserve fund was to be paid to Dunn. The contract on each schedule further provided that "... upon the breach of any provision hereof ... the Company [MCC] may, after written notice to him offer for sale at either public sale all the interest of Dealer [Dunn] in the contracts listed... . At such sale the Company [MCC] may purchase such interest, crediting any amount paid therefor on Dealer's [Dunn] indebtedness to it after paying all reasonable expenses for such sale. Dealer [Dunn] shall remain liable for any deficiency and any excess shall be paid to Dealer [Dunn]." After the sale "all of the records of the Dealer ... shall become the purchaser" who "shall have the right to enter upon the premises of the Dealer to take possession of the contracts and/or to utilize the premises of Dealer to effectuate collection of such contracts."

The trial court in weighing the foregoing documentary evidence and testimony summarized, the following factors supporting Dunn's contention that the transactions involving installment sales payments were loans and not sales, viz: On each schedule of contracts both a discount and reserve were withheld; Dunn was required to repurchase contracts in default by replacing them with new paper (and we observe in equal value or greater); MCC had recourse to reserve fund against Dunn in event of default by a retail purchaser; Dunn accepted payments on the contracts after assignment to MCC; personal guarantees were made by Mr. and Mrs. Dunn; execution and recording of financing statements and security agreements; payment by Dunn of 12 equal monthly payments on the schedules even though individual contracts attached to the schedules provided for payments varying from 6 months to 36 months; presence of "foreclosure language" *314 in assignment of agreement; the discount rate charged was generally adjusted to reflect fluctuations of prime interest rates; and bookkeeping entries of the parties referring to notes and accounts receivable.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
275 So. 2d 311, 1973 Fla. App. LEXIS 7066, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wb-dunn-co-inc-v-mercantile-credit-corporation-fladistctapp-1973.