Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Smuck

407 S.W.3d 830, 2013 WL 3422888, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 8285
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJuly 9, 2013
DocketNo. 14-12-00574-CV
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 407 S.W.3d 830 (Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Smuck) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Smuck, 407 S.W.3d 830, 2013 WL 3422888, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 8285 (Tex. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinions

OPINION

JOHN DONOVAN, Justice.

Appellant, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. FKA Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as Trustee for the Registered Holders of J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp., Commercial Pass Through Certificates, Series 200S-PMI, acting through service Orix Capital Markets LLC (“Wells Fargo”), appeals a take-nothing judgment in favor of appellees, Michael B. Smuck and Edwin A. White, in Wells Fargo’s suit to recover under a Non-Recourse Indemnification Agreement. We reverse the trial court’s judgment and render judgment in favor of Wells Fargo against ap-pellees, jointly and severally, for $10,068,453.49.

I. BACKGROUND

MBS-The Falls, Ltd. (“MBS-The Falls”) was formed as a “special purpose entity” to borrow funds to acquire an apartment complex named “The Falls.” Another company, 9001 S. Normandale, L.L.C. (“Normandale”), was formed to act as general partner of MBS-The Falls. Smuck is the managing member of Nor-mandale, and White’s company, Ed White & Associates, LLC, is a member.

MBS-The Falls executed a promissory note (“the Note”) for $9 million in favor of the lender and a deed of trust and security agreement pledging the real, and other personal, property as collateral. By assignment, Wells Fargo eventually became holder of these loan documents. The nature of the loan was non-recourse financing. Specifically, the Note included a provision limiting MBS-The Falls’s liability to the property pledged as collateral, unless one of the “Non-Recourse Exceptions” listed therein was satisfied. Two of the Non-Recourse Exceptions, items (a) and (b), are relevant in the present case. The provision containing the Non-Recourse Exceptions states, in pertinent part,

12. Exculpation. Subject to the provisions of this Section, Borrower’s liability under this Note, the Security Instrument or the Other Security Documents shall only extend to the Mortgaged Property and other collateral given to secure the Debt, and Lender shall not enforce such liability against any other asset, property or funds of Borrower or any person or entity constituting Borrower; provided, however, the foregoing shall not: (a) impair the right of Lender to bring suit and obtain personal, recourse judgment against any person or entity (including Borrower or any person or entity constituting Borrower) relating to any losses sustained by Lender in connection with any fraud, intentional misrepresentation, waste, or misappropriation of tenant security deposits or rents collected more than one (1) month in advance by Borrower; (b) impair the right of Lender to name, and obtain a [833]*833judgment against any person or entity (including Borrower or any person or entity constituting Borrower) to the extent required by law to either obtain a judgment of specific performance with respect to any of the provisions of this Note, the Security Instrument or any of the Other Security Documents (other than any requirement contained therein to pay the Debt), or to foreclose the Security Instrument and obtain title to the Mortgaged Property and other collateral given to secure the Debt; ... [ (c)-(f) — defined circumstances inapplicable in the present case]. Items (a) through (f) above are collectively the “Non-Recourse Exceptions”. Borrower’s liability under the Non-Recourse Exceptions ... shall be limited to the amount of any losses or damages sustained by Lender in connection with such Non-Recourse Exceptions....

Thus, in the event of a default, including a deficiency on the balance owed after foreclosure, MBS-The Falls’s liability was limited to the lender’s rights under the Non-Recourse Exceptions.

As a condition for making the loan, the lender required appellees to individually sign a “NON-RECOURSE INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT” (“the Indemnification Agreement”), contemporaneously with execution of the note. Both appellees are defined as “Indemnitor,” and Wells Fargo’s assignor is defined as “Lender,” under the Indemnification Agreement. The pertinent provision of the Indemnification Agreement states,

2. Indemnity. INDEMNITOR HEREBY ASSUMES LIABILITY FOR AND AGREES TO PAY, PROTECT, INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS LENDER (AND ANY ASSIGNEE OR PURCHASER OF ALL OR ANY INTEREST IN THE NOTE AND THE SECURITY INSTRUMENT) FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITIES, OBLIGATIONS, LOSSES, DAMAGES, COSTS AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES), CAUSES OF ACTION, SUITS, CLAIMS, DEMANDS AND JUDGMENTS WHICH AT ANY TIME MAY BE IMPOSED UPON, INCURRED BY OR AWARDED AGAINST LENDER AND FOR WHICH BORROWER AT ANY TIME MAY BE PERSONALLY LIABLE PURSUANT TO THE NONRECOURSE EXCEPTIONS (AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 12 OF THE NOTE). EACH PERSON OR PARTY EXECUTING THIS INDEMNITY AGREES THAT THE LIABILITY HEREUNDER SHALL BE JOINT AND SEVERAL.

As we will discuss, central to the present case is Wells Fargo’s contention that ap-pellees assumed liability under the Indemnification Agreement for any liability of MBS-The Falls under the Non-Recourse Exceptions.1

MBS-The Falls defaulted on the Note, and Wells Fargo foreclosed on the property.2 Wells Fargo filed suit in Tarrant County, Texas against MBS-The Falls, Normandale, and appellees. Wells Fargo sought damages from MBS-The Falls and Normandale under Non-Recourse Exceptions (a) and (b), alleging they committed waste and permitted liens to be filed on [834]*834the property, thereby impairing the value of the collateral and Wells Fargo’s rights relative to foreclosure. Wells Fargo pleaded claims against appellees under the Indemnification Agreement.

Wells Fargo obtained an interlocutory summary judgment (“the Tarrant County Judgment”) on its claims against MBS-The Falls and Normandale for $8,985,142.86, pre-judgment interest of $1,051,972.41, post-judgment interest, and attorney’s fees of $31,338.22. The Tarrant County Judgment became final when Wells Fargo non-suited, without prejudice, its claims against appellees in that suit.

Wells Fargo then filed the present case in Harris County seeking recovery from appellees under the Indemnification Agreement for the Tarrant County Judgment against MBS-The Falls. The trial court conducted a bench trial. Among other evidence, Wells Fargo offered the Note, the Indemnification Agreement, its petition in the Tarrant County case, and the interlocutory and final judgments in the Tarrant County case. On May 10, 2012, the trial court signed a final judgment ordering that Wells Fargo take nothing on its claims against appellees. The trial court subsequently made written findings of fact and conclusions of law.

II. Analysis

In its sole issue, Wells Fargo contends it conclusively proved appellees’ liability under the Indemnification Agreement by presenting the Tarrant County Judgment which established MBS-The Falls’s liability under the Non-Recourse Exceptions.

Appellees have filed separate briefs and present distinct arguments. Smuck’s sole argument is that the Indemnification Agreement is applicable only when MBS-The Falls is liable to Wells Fargo under the Non-Recourse Exceptions for a third-party’s claims against Wells Fargo — not when MBS-The Falls is liable under the Non-Recourse Exceptions for Wells Fargo’s own losses. In contrast, White seems to acknowledge appellees are liable under the Indemnification Agreement for any liability of MBS-The Falls under the Non-Recourse Exceptions.

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407 S.W.3d 830, 2013 WL 3422888, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 8285, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wells-fargo-bank-na-v-smuck-texapp-2013.