Women's Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n of Cleveland v. Nevada National Bank

673 F. Supp. 405, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9933
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Women's Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n of Cleveland v. Nevada National Bank. Read the opinion of the Court — 607 F. Supp. 1129
District Court, D. Nevada·Decided October 21, 1987·No. No. CV-R-82-360-ECR·Published

Opinion

ORDER

EDWARD C. REED, Jr., Chief Judge.

This case is before the Court on remand. See Women’s Federal Sav. and Loan Ass’n v. Nevada Nat’l Bank, 811 F.2d 1255 (9th Cir.1987), reversing and remanding, Women’s Federal Sav. and Loan Ass’n v. Nevada Nat’l Bank, 607 F.Supp. 1129 (D.Nev.1985). The factual determination to be made is the amount of profit earned by Nevada National Bank (“NNB”) on certain financing extended to John and Barbara Cavanaugh between July, 1977, and November, 1981.

The detailed background of this case may be found in this Court’s 1985 Memorandum Decision and Order, published at 607 F.Supp. 1129.

In 1977 NNB entered into a “Loan Participation Agreement” (“LPA”) with Women’s Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland (“WOFED”), the plaintiff herein. Pursuant to the LPA a loan of $2.8 million was to be made to the Cavanaughs. The loan was to be made in the name of NNB, but shared to the extent of $2.5 million by WOFED. The LPA required NNB to service the loan with respect to such matters as collecting the Cavanaughs' monthly payments, collecting impound payments on a monthly basis for taxes and insurance premiums, segregating in a separate custodial account funds received that were to be divided between the participating lenders, and providing certain information to WOFED during the repayment period. The security for the loan was real property in Reno, Nevada, on which the Cavanaughs developed and operated a casino-motel known as the Gold Dust West. On July 26, 1977, the loan was closed and the funds were disbursed to the Cava-naughs.

Subsequently, from July, 1977, to November, 1981, NNB extended a series of financing to the Cavanaughs. It is undisputed that the average principal balance for all such “secondary” financing was: $22,603 in 1977; $967,000 in 1978; $1,458,-000 in 1979; $1,649,350 in 1980; $1,523,670 in 1981; and $1,467,655 in 1982. Much of the secondary financing was secured by a second deed of trust on the Gold Dust West real property. The parties stipulated to the fact that total interest of $1,105,000 was paid by the Cavanaughs to NNB on the secondary financing before all such debt was discharged on December 2, 1982.

In the fall of 1982, the Cavanaughs became delinquent on the NNB/WOFED loan. It was then that WOFED was first advised that NNB had provided the secondary financing to the Cavanaughs and that the Cavanaughs were delinquent in repaying those loans as well as the NNB/WOFED loan. Also, at that time WOFED learned that NNB had not met some of the requirements of the LPA. For example, NNB had failed to establish a custodial account for receipt of the Cava-naughs’ payments and had failed to set up an impound account for real estate taxes and insurance premiums.

Eventually, instructions were given by WOFED, in accordance with the LPA, requiring NNB to prepare and file a notice of default on the first deed of trust on the Gold Dust West property. An amended notice of default and election to sell was filed on October 1,1982. The Cavanaughs, however, made up the delinquent installment payments on the first deed of trust and brought it current within the 35-day period allowed under Nevada law. Thereafter, the Cavanaughs, though occasionally late, paid all payments due on the NNB/WOFED loan until its discharge.

On November 5, 1982, WOFED filed its complaint in this case. Plaintiff sought rescission of the LPA, disgorgement of profit earned by NNB on the secondary [407]*407financing, damages incurred by WOFED in seeking to protect its position and collect sums due it, and punitive damages. WOFED argued that NNB breached the LPA by failing to establish a custodial account for receipt of funds on the first deed of trust, failing to establish and maintain an impound account for reserves to pay taxes and insurance premiums, failing to forward to WOFED information concerning the sometimes desperate financial condition of the Cavanaughs, and advancing the secondary financing without the knowledge and approval of WOFED. The case was tried before the Court from January 14 to 16,1985. This Court found that NNB breached the LPA by failing to establish a custodial account, by failing to establish and maintain an impound account, and by failing to forward to WOFED certain financial data concerning the Cavanaughs. The Court found that there was no breach in NNB’s extension of secondary financing to the Cavanaughs. The Court awarded plaintiff damages of $3,918.63 but denied rescission, disgorgement, and punitive damages. See Women’s Federal Sav. and Loan, 607 F.Supp. 1129 (D.Nev.1985).

The plaintiff appealed. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals found two breaches by NNB beyond those found by this Court. Plrst, the Court of Appeals found that NNB breached the LPA by failing to offer WOFED an opportunity to accelerate the loan. Second, the court found that “NNB violated [a] basic fiduciary duty by extending more than $2 million in secondary financing to the Cavanaughs without informing WOFED and seeking its consent.” Women’s Federal Sav. and Loan, 811 F.2d 1255, 1259 (9th Cir.1987). The Court of Appeals held that the breaches by NNB of the LPA and of its fiduciary duties warranted rescission of the LPA. The court remanded the case to this Court for further proceedings.

This Court has since entered orders effecting rescission of the LPA. WOFED has recovered the principal balance on its participation interest in the NNB/WOFED loan along with the appropriate interest. Further, this Court has determined that, in view of the Court of Appeals’ Opinion, disgorgement of profits earned by NNB on the secondary financing is an appropriate remedy.

The issue remaining, then, is the amount of such profits. A hearing was held on this issue on September 8, 1987.

In this diversity action, the Court must apply the substantive law of the forum state, Nevada. Kabatoff v. Safeco Ins. Co. of America, 627 F.2d 207, 209 (9th Cir.1980). The task of this Court is to approximate state law as closely as possible. Gee v. Tenneco, Inc., 615 F.2d 857, 861 (9th Cir.1980). Where Nevada’s highest court has not decided an issue, this Court must predict how the state high court would resolve it. Dimidowich v. Bell & Howell, 803 F.2d 1473, 1482 (9th Cir.1986). The Court has found no Nevada authority which offers guidance on the equitable remedy of disgorgement of profits.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, in explaining the disgorgement remedy as it applies to this case said:

When a fiduciary’s personal interests compete with those of the party to whom the fiduciary duty is owed, creating the risk that the needs of that party may be subordinated to those of the fiduciary, the slighted party may be awarded profits earned in the disloyal activity.

Women’s Federal Sav. and Loan, 811 F.2d 1255, 1260 (9th Cir.1987). The Court of Appeals also stated:

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Women's Federal Savings & Loan Ass'n of Cleveland v. Nevada National Bank, 673 F. Supp. 405, 1987 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9933 (D. Nev. 1987).

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