Gewin v. TCF Asset Management Corp.

• Decision Date: 19 May 1995
• Citation: 668 So.2d 523
• Parties: Logan U. GEWIN and Julien E. Marx v. TCF ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION. 1931439.
• Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Page 523

668 So.2d 523

Logan U. GEWIN and Julien E. Marx v. TCF ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION.

1931439.

Supreme Court of Alabama.

May 19, 1995.

Rehearing Denied Aug. 18, 1995.

Appeal from Mobile Circuit Court, No. CV-92-1440; Clatus Junkin, Judge.

I. David Cherniak and E. Erich Bergdolt of Johnstone, Adams, Bailey, Gordon and Harris, Mobile, for Appellants.

Patrick H. Sims and David L. Kane of Cabaniss, Johnston, Gardner, Dumas & O'Neal, Mobile, for Appellee.

BUTTS, Justice.

Logan Gewin and Julien Marx, the plaintiffs in this business dispute, appeal from a judgment based on a directed verdict entered by the trial judge in favor of the defendant TCF Asset Management Corporation ("TCF") on the plaintiffs' claims alleging breach of contract, promissory fraud, and fraudulent suppression.

The lawsuit arose from negotiations for a real estate transaction between the plaintiffs and TCF involving the "Scott's Furniture" warehouse in Mobile, which was owned by TCF. TCF and Gewin and Marx did not negotiate directly. Rather, TCF was represented by Adam Metcalfe, a Mobile real estate broker with whom TCF had listed the property, and Gewin and Marx were represented by Ben Diamond, a Mobile real estate broker who had brought the property to their attention. On June 4, 1991, Gewin and Marx and TCF entered into a written contract for the sale of the property. The sale was contingent upon certain financing arrangements, including Gewin and Marx's assuming, and TCF's being totally released from, the existing mortgage on the property, which was held by Pan American Life Insurance Company ("Pan American"). Gewin and Marx wished to assume the existing mortgage rather than obtain new financing, because the mortgage was of such an age that most of the payments were being applied to reduce the principal rather than to pay interest. The purchase price was set at $675,000, and Gewin and Marx made a refundable payment of $10,000 in earnest money. The closing was planned for July 21, 1991.

The sales contract provided that if Gewin and Marx could not meet the financing contingencies within 30 days of the contract date, they had the option of extending the contract period for another 30 days, by making a nonrefundable payment of $7,330 to TCF. The contract provided for two such options periods. If the sale was completed, the extension payments were to be credited against the purchase price. Shortly after the sales contract was signed, Gewin and Marx contacted Pan American, seeking to assume TCF's mortgage and to have TCF released from that mortgage. On July 3, 1991, Gewin and Marx made their first payment to TCF to extend the contract for another 30 days. On July 18, 1991, Pan American informed Gewin and Marx that it would permit them to assume the mortgage if they purchased the property, but that it would not release TCF from its liability under the mortgage. Thereafter, Gewin and Marx began to negotiate with TCF as to whether it was willing to let them assume the mortgage, yet still remain liable on it itself. On August 2, 1991, Gewin and Marx made a second payment to TCF to extend the contract for another 30 days while negotiations continued.

Eventually, TCF refused to remain liable on the mortgage to Pan American, and the sale of the property was never completed. Gewin and Marx later learned that at the time they were asking Pan American to release TCF from the mortgage on the property, TCF and Pan American were involved in litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. In 1989, TCF had filed an action seeking a declaration that a judgment lien it held on a certain Mobile property was superior to all other liens on that property, including a mortgage held by Pan American. The property involved in the federal lawsuit is not the Scott's Furniture warehouse involved in this litigation.

In April 1992, Gewin and Marx sued TCF, seeking specific performance of the June 4, 1991, sales contract. Thereafter, TCF moved for a summary judgment. In response, Gewin and Marx asserted that the contract they wished to have specifically performed consisted of both the June 4, 1991, contract and a series of letters amending it. On December 10, 1992, the trial judge entered a summary judgment in favor of TCF, holding that there was substantial disagreement over the fundamental terms of the contract and that it therefore could not be specifically enforced. On December 16, 1992, Gewin and Marx moved to amend their complaint. The trial judge treated the motion as a Rule 59(e), Ala.R.Civ.P., motion and set aside the final judgment. In March 1993, the plaintiffs added claims alleging breach of contract and promissory fraud. The complaint was again amended in August 1993 to add claims alleging fraudulent suppression and conversion. The case was tried in March 1994, and the trial judge entered a directed verdict in favor of TCF on all of the plaintiffs' claims. Gewin and Marx moved for a new trial, but their motion was denied. They appeal.

I.

Gewin and Marx first argue that the trial court erred in denying their motion for a new trial as to their breach of contract, promissory fraud, and fraudulent suppression claims. They contend that in support of each of those claims they produced the substantial evidence necessary to defeat TCF's motion for a directed verdict. They also argue that the trial court erred in ruling that the Statute of Frauds was applicable to their breach of contract claim and that the court erred in granting TCF's motions in limine relating to the lawsuit between TCF and Pan American and relating to expert testimony regarding the conditions of the commercial lending industry in 1991.

"In reviewing a trial court's ruling on a motion for a directed verdict, the appellate court must determine whether the party having the burden of proof has produced substantial evidence creating a question requiring resolution by the jury." Bell v. Sugarwood Homes, Inc., 619 So.2d 1298, 1300 (Ala.1993). See Ala.Code 1975, § 12-21-12. However, in reviewing the record to determine whether a trial court properly directed a verdict, we "must view all the evidence in a light most favorable to the nonmovant and must entertain such reasonable evidentiary inferences as the jury would be free to draw." Renfro v. Georgia Power Co., 604 So.2d 408, 411 (Ala.1992). We address below the propriety of the trial court's directed verdict, as to each of the plaintiffs' claims against TCF.

II.

We first consider whether Gewin and Marx presented substantial evidence in support of the promissory fraud claim. As the basis for this claim, Gewin and Marx allege that when they entered into the sales contract with TCF, which included an agreement that they could extend the contract deadline 60 days by paying TCF two nonrefundable amounts totalling $14,660, TCF intended not to perform in accordance with the terms of that agreement.

"In order to establish promissory fraud, a plaintiff must show: (1) a false representation; (2) of an existing material fact; (3) that is justifiably relied upon; (4) damage resulting as a proximate cause; and that, (5) at the time of the misrepresentation, the defendant had the intention not to perform the promised act and (6) that the defendant had an intent to deceive." Pinyan v. Community Bank, 644 So.2d 919, 923 (Ala.1994). The mere fact that TCF failed to perform as Gewin and Marx allege it promised it would is "insufficient by itself to prove a fraudulent intent." Pinyan, 644 So.2d at 924.

As proof of fraudulent intent, Gewin and Marx cite the testimony of a TCF employee who stated that when the parties entered the June 4, 1991, contract he was not sure Pan American would release TCF from the mortgage when the plaintiffs assumed it, but that he hoped Pan American would release TCF. Gewin and Marx also rely on deposition testimony from the attorney who represented TCF in the proposed transaction; he stated that in August and September 1991 it was his intention for Gewin and Marx to continue toward a closing of the sale even though it was his understanding that the June 4, 1991, contract had expired. Finally, Gewin and Marx cite other circumstantial evidence relating to a delay in the preparation of the closing documents and to a new proposed contract prepared by TCF, under which the extension payments the plaintiffs had made would not be credited against the purchase price.

In its order directing a verdict in favor of TCF, the trial court held that Gewin and Marx had presented "simply no evidence whatsoever" in support of their promissory fraud claim. Although we note that circumstantial evidence can be used to support an allegation of fraudulent intent, the evidence must be of such a quality that "the jury, as reasonable persons, may fairly and reasonably infer the ultimate fact to be proved." Marshall Durbin Farms, Inc. v. Landers, 470 So.2d 1098, 1101 (Ala.1985). See Pinyan, supra. Viewing the record in a light most favorable to the plaintiffs, we conclude that they failed to present substantial evidence that, when TCF entered the June 4, 1991, contract, or when it accepted the extension payments in July and August 1991, TCF intended not to complete the sale of the property if the financing contingencies were met and the plaintiffs tendered the sales price. Thus, the trial court properly directed the verdict in favor of TCF on this claim.

III.

We next address whether the trial court erred in directing the verdict in favor of TCF on the plaintiffs' breach of contract claim. We must determine whether the plaintiffs presented substantial evidence that there was an enforceable contract between the parties. Gewin and Marx contend that the June 4, 1991, contract was amended or modified by later writings and that TCF breached the amended or modified contract. In response, TCF argues that the June 1991 contract expired by its own terms when the two time extensions elapsed and that no new contract was...