Wooten v. Republic Savings Bank

876 N.E.2d 1260, 172 Ohio App. 3d 722, 2007 Ohio 3804
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedJuly 27, 2007
DocketNo. 06-CA-24.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 876 N.E.2d 1260 (Wooten v. Republic Savings Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wooten v. Republic Savings Bank, 876 N.E.2d 1260, 172 Ohio App. 3d 722, 2007 Ohio 3804 (Ohio Ct. App. 2007).

Opinion

Brogan, Judge.

{¶ 1} Thomas and Amy Wooten appeal from the judgment of the Champaign County Court of Common Pleas granting summary judgment in favor of Republic Savings Bank.

{¶ 2} On May 22, 1998, the Wootens obtained a convertible construction loan from Republic Savings Bank to build a new house in Champaign County, Ohio. The loan was secured by a mortgage on the real property owned by the Wootens and located at 12233 State Rte. 55, Paris, Ohio. The home was to be constructed on this site by the original contractor, Southwest Builders, Inc. (“Southwest”) for $129,220.

{¶ 3} Also on May 22, 1998, the bank paid the first draw in the amount of $6,400 to Southwest pursuant to a settlement statement signed by the Wootens on May 22, 1998. Before disbursing the first draw to Southwest, however, the bank had not received an original contractor affidavit as required by R.C. 1311.011(B)(4). This section of the Revised Code provides that “[n]o lending institution shall make any payment to any original contractor until the original contractor has given the lending institution the original contractor’s affidavit stating:

{¶ 4} “(a) That the original contractor has paid in full for all labor and work performed and for all materials furnished by the original contractor and all subcontractors, material suppliers, and laborers prior to the date of the closing of the purchase or during and prior to the payment period, except such unpaid claims as the original contractor specifically sets forth and identifies both by claimant and by amount claimed;

{¶ 5} “(b) That no claims exist other than those claims set forth and identified in the affidavit required by division (B)(4) of this section.”

{¶ 6} On June 6, 1998, the Wootens authorized a second draw in the amount of $18,423 to be paid to Southwest. The bank received the progress draw-release authorization signed by the Wootens on the same day. Furthermore, Southwest *725 submitted an original contractor’s affidavit pursuant to R.C. 1311.011(B)(4) in conjunction with this draw-release request.

{¶ 7} On June 13,1998, an officer and builder of Southwest, Mr. Gasaway, died. The Wootens were in contact with Southwest several days following Mr. Gasaway’s death, at which time they were informed that construction would be delayed for two to three months. Southwest performed no further work on the Wootens’ property. 1

{¶ 8} On June 24, 1998, the bank paid the second draw in the amount of $10,700 to Southwest. The bank made no subsequent draw payments on the Wootens’ construction loan to Southwest after this June 24, 1998 disbursement.

{¶ 9} Early in July 1998, the Wootens met with the bank’s agent, Craig R. Johnson, to discuss the status of their construction loan account following the death of Mr. Gasaway. Johnson told the Wootens that they could continue to build, acting as their own contractors; they could find another contractor; or they could continue with Lou Gasaway, Mr. Gasaway’s wife, as builder/contractor for Southwest. Moreover, in response to a question regarding the Wootens’ authorization for payment from the second draw, Johnson stated that all assets of Southwest were frozen. The Wootens eventually decided to act as their own contractors and continue building.

{¶ 10} Subsequent to their meeting with Johnson, the Wootens received a receipt from the bank indicating that Southwest had been paid from the second draw on June 24, 1998. Consequently, they contacted the bank by telephone to discuss that payment. The Wootens spoke to the bank’s representative, Mr. Hyland, who informed them that they should seek advice from an attorney. It wasn’t until the following year that they sought the legal advice of attorney Anthony Kohler. On April 9, 1999, Kohler sent a letter to Mr. Hyland regarding a March 23, 1999 conversation in which they discussed claims against Southwest directly involving the bank. Mr. Wooten testified in a deposition that he had met with Kohler prior to April 9, 1999, concerning the dispute with the bank.

{¶ 11} Four mechanics’ liens were placed on the Wootens’ property by materialmen and subcontractors. First, Julie Schwartz, d.b.a. C.E. Ment, filed a mechanics’ lien on July 17, 1998, for materials and labor provided between June 1 and June 3,1998, in the amount of $2,308.66. The Wootens received a copy of the hen on July 17, 1998. They also received a letter from the company in January 1999, indicating that a lien had been placed on the property. Following receipt of the letter, the Wootens contacted the lienholder. Next, Ernst Enterprises recorded its lien on July 28, 1998. The lien stated that it covered materials *726 furnished on June 2, 1998, in the amount of $995.46. The Wootens received a copy of this lien on July 28, 1998. They also discussed the lien with the company’s secretary. Third, Bryce Hill, Inc., recorded a lien on the property on August 14, 1998. The lien indicated that it was for labor and materials provided between June 2 and June 3, 1998, in the amount of $1,162.77. The Wootens received their copy of the hen on August 14, 1998. Finally, Easter Masonry & Construction Company recorded its lien on August 14,1998. The lien stated that the last date the company furnished materials and labor was June 20,1998, in the amount of $1,725. The Wootens received a copy of this hen on August 14, 1998. They also discussed the hen with a representative from the company following receipt of their copy. In total, the Wootens paid $6,191.89 to release all of the mechanics’ hens from their property.

{¶ 12} The Wootens filed a complaint against the bank on May 19, 2003, including causes of action for negligence, gross negligence, unjust enrichment, breach of obhgations of good faith and fair deahng, breach of contract, breach of implied contract, promissory estoppel, fraud, and constructive fraud. The Woo-tens claimed that subsequent to the death of Mr. Gasaway and the bankruptcy of Southwest Builders, Inc., and after being advised that their construction loan account with Southwest was “frozen,” the bank paid Southwest $10,700 from the Wootens’ account. 2 Specifically, the Wootens alleged that the bank failed to control payment of the construction phase and assure that subcontractors and material suppliers were paid for labor and material. Furthermore, they argued that the bank’s agent, Craig Johnson, made a fraudulent representation that Southwest’s assets were frozen following the death of Mr. Gasaway and that the bank would not pay draws without assuring potential lienholders were paid. As part of this fraud, the Wootens contend that the bank negligently disbursed $10,700 from the second draw to Southwest. According to the Wootens, the earliest date at which they discovered or should have discovered the alleged fraud of the bank was December 2002. At that time, they received a letter from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation acknowledging the receipt of their complaint against the bank and indicating that the bank was pursuing internal discovery and a proposed resolution of the matter.

{¶ 13} Both parties filed a motion for summary judgment. On June 30, 2006, the trial court granted the bank’s motion. It is from this decision that the present appeal comes.

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Bluebook (online)
876 N.E.2d 1260, 172 Ohio App. 3d 722, 2007 Ohio 3804, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wooten-v-republic-savings-bank-ohioctapp-2007.