Western-Southern Life Assurance Co. v. Kaleh

193 F. Supp. 3d 756, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91462
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Texas
DecidedJune 16, 2016
DocketCivil Action No. H-13-1869
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 193 F. Supp. 3d 756 (Western-Southern Life Assurance Co. v. Kaleh) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Western-Southern Life Assurance Co. v. Kaleh, 193 F. Supp. 3d 756, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91462 (S.D. Tex. 2016).

Opinion

FINDINGS OF FACT & CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

DAVID HITTNER, United States District Judge

On October 5, 2015, this Court commenced a non-jury trial in the above-entitled matter. During the course of the five-day proceeding, the Court received evidence and heard sworn testimony. Having considered the evidence, testimony, and oral arguments presented during the trial, along with post-trial submissions and the applicable law, the Court now enters the following findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a). Any finding of fact that should be construed as a conclusion of law is hereby adopted as such. Any conclusion of law that should be construed as a finding of fact is hereby adopted as such.

I. BACKGROUND

This is a breach of guaranty case. Plaintiff Western-Southern Life Assurance Company (‘WSLAC”) brought suit seeking to enforce three guaranties signed by Defendant George W. Kaleh (“Kaleh”). The guaranties secured two loan agreements, which financed the development of a luxury apartment complex in Houston, Texas. The borrowers on the loan agreements defaulted and WSLAC subsequently foreclosed on the loans. WSLAC brought suit on the guaranties to recovery the deficiency on the loan agreements following the foreclosure, as well as other damages WSLAC asserts it is entitled to under the guaranties.

II. FINDINGS OF FACT

The following facts have been established by a preponderance of the evidence:

A. General Findings

1. Plaintiff WSLAC is an Ohio corporation with its principle place of business located in Cincinnati, Ohio.1

2. WSLAC, through its subsidiary Eagle Reality Group (“Eagle Reality”), engages [761]*761in commercial real estate lending and development.2

3. Defendant Kaleh is a Texas resident.3

4. Kaleh and Paul Buchanan (“Buchanan”), a non-party to this suit, solicited an investment from WSLAC in Ohio for financing to develop a luxury apartment complex located in Texas.4

5. The property for which Kaleh and Buchanan sought financing is located at 4550 N. Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas (the “Meritage”).5

6. David Rubsam (“Rubsam”), an assistant Vice President and Asset Management Director for Eagle Reality, negotiated the financing on behalf of WSLAC with Kaleh and Buchanan.6 Kaleh and Buchanan directed communications to WSLAC’s headquarters in Ohio, undertook negotiations in Ohio, and traveled to Ohio on multiple occasions to meet with WSLAC representatives.7

7. In order to secure financing from WSLAC for the Meritage, Kaleh and Buchanan signed three guaranties for the loans'in their personal capacity.8

B. The Underlying Loan Documents

8. Kaleh and Buchanan formed -three entities for the purpose of borrowing funds to develop the Meritage: (1) Sedona Apartments, LP; (2) Sedona Apts GP, LLC; and (3) Sedona Investors, L.P(collectively, the “Borrowers”).9

9. Sedona Apartments, LP was the borrower on the Construction Loan Agreement (“Construction Loan Agreement”) and executed the Non-Revolving Credit Promissory Note (“Construction Note”).10 Sedona Apts GP, LLC and Sedona Investors, L.P. were the borrowers on the Mezzanine Loan Agreement (“Mezzanine Loan Agreement”) and executed the Promissory Note (“Mezzanine Note”).11

10. On or about November 21, 2006,. the Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement, .and Fixture Filing (“Deed of Trust”) was executed by Sedona Apartments, LP, by and through its general partner, Sedona Apt GP, LLC.12 The Deed of Trust was recorded In Harris County real property records on December 1, 2006.13

11. On or about November 21, 2006, the Construction Loan Agreement, Construction Note, Mezzanine Loan Agreement, and Mezzanine Note (with the Deed of Trust, collectively, the “Loan Documents”) were entered into between the Borrowers and WSLAC.14

12. The Loan Documents were amended (“Amended Loan Documents”) on or about August 25, 2008, to reflect the addition of new borrowers on the Loan Documents. San Bernardino Design Center, LP was added as a borrower to the Construction Loan documents.15 Meritage Apartments [762]*762Investors LLC, SBDC Management LLC, and Carmenere LLC were added as borrowers on the Mezzanine Loan Documents.16

13. The Construction Note was secured by the Deed of Trust for the Meritage Property and gave WSLAC a first lien on the Meritage Property.17 WSLAC extended $22,738,000 to the borrowers under the Construction Loan Agreement.18

14. The Mezzanine Note was secured by a pledge of the ownership interests the respective borrowers had in the Meri-tage.19 WSLAC extended $6,139,200 to the borrowers under the Mezzanine Loan Agreement.20

15. The Loan Documents and Amended Loan Documents contain a Texas choice-of-law provision.21

C. The Guarantees

16. On November 21, 2006, Kaleh and Buchanan executed the following three guaranties (collectively, the “Guarantees”) in their personal capacities: (1) the Guarantee of Completion, Budgets and other Matters (“Completion Guarantee”)22; (2) the Guarantee (“Construction Loan Guarantee”)23; and (3) the Guarantee of Payment and Performance (“Mezzanine Loan Guarantee”)24.

17. The Guarantees contain an Ohio choice-of-law clause.25

18. The Mezzanine Loan Guarantee is a limited recourse guarantee. Under the Mezzanine Guarantee’s terms, the guarantors have no liability upon completion of the project as defined within the Mezzanine Loan Documents.26

19. The Mezzanine Loan Agreement lays out the terms of completion in Exhibit B to the Agreement under section 12 for the Additional Requirements, for Final Loan Disbursement as to Construction Work, which identifies the terms for the final loan disbursement.27 The following are required: (1) As-Built Survey; (2) Certificates of Occupancy; Licenses and Permits; (3) Architect’s Certification; (4) Contractor's Certification; (5) Permanent Insurance; (6) Final Applications for Payment from Subcontractors; (7) Owner’s Affidavit; (8) Personal Property Inventory; and (9) Affidavit of Completion.

20. The Completion Guarantee provides that “Lender shall terminate this Guarantee and it shall be of no further force and effect following completion of construction and the issuance of the Final Disbursement.”28

D. The Foreclosure On The Meritage Property

21.

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Bluebook (online)
193 F. Supp. 3d 756, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91462, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/western-southern-life-assurance-co-v-kaleh-txsd-2016.