In re Nick Julian Motors
| Decision Date | 24 November 1992 |
| Docket Number | Adv. No. 391-3599.,Bankruptcy No. 391-31820 RSM-11 |
| Citation | 148 BR 22 |
| Parties | In re NICK JULIAN MOTORS, a/k/a Nick Julian, and Leonidas Nixon Julian, Debtor. FDIC as Receiver for Iredell State Bank, Plaintiff, v. NICK JULIAN MOTORS, Defendant. |
| Court | U.S. Bankruptcy Court — Northern District of Texas |
Michael L. Hood, Dallas, TX, Roger Fuller, F.D.I.C., Dallas, TX, for Debtor.
Following are the Court's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 7052, with respect to the F.R.C.P. 60(b)(6) (Bankruptcy Rule 9024) motion of debtor Nick Julian Motors, a/k/a Nick Julian and Leonidas Nixon Julian ("Defendant" or "Debtor") to set aside the judgment of FDIC as Receiver for Iredell State Bank ("Plaintiff" or "FDIC"). The motion is denied because it was not filed within a reasonable time. In Crutcher v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 746 F.2d 1076, 1082 (5th Cir.1984), the Fifth Circuit discussed the factors the court should consider on a Rule 60(b) motion.
In United States v. Gould, 301 F.2d 353, 355-56 (5th Cir.1962), quoting 7 Moore\'s Federal Practice ¶ 60.19, at 237-39, this Court delineated factors that should inform the district court\'s consideration of a motion under Rule 60(b): (1) final judgments should not be lightly disturbed; (2) a Rule 60(b) motion is not to be used as a substitute for appeal; (3) the rule should be liberally construed in order to achieve substantial justice; (4) whether the motion was filed within a reasonable time; (5) whether — if the judgment was a default or a dismissal in which there was no consideration of the merits — the interest in deciding cases on the merits outweighs, in the particular case, the interest in the finality of judgments, and there is merit in the movant\'s claim or defense; (6) whether — if the judgment was rendered after a trial on the merits — the movant had a fair opportunity to present his claim or defense; (7) whether there are intervening equities that would make it inequitable to grant relief; and (8) any other factors relevant to the justice of the judgment under attack. We have often observed that these factors are to be considered in the light of the great desirability of preserving the principle of the finality of judgments.
On March 5, 1991, Debtor filed for relief under 11 U.S.C. Chapter 11.
At all times material hereto, Defendant has operated a used car dealership known as Nick Julian Motors. On or about January 12, 1987, Defendant entered into a written financing agreement at Iredell State Bank (the "Bank"), under which the Bank provided Defendant with an operating line of credit. A similar financing agreement was entered on May 15, 1989 (collectively, the "Financing Agreements"). FDIC has taken over the Bank's position.
Defendant would obtain a retail installment note from the car purchaser. The Debtor was responsible for servicing the retail installment notes.
The January 12, 1987 and May 15, 1989 Financing Agreements both provided that the Bank would purchase retail installment notes issued to Defendant's retail customers under the Financing Agreements. The Bank agreed to purchase the retail installment notes, with recourse to Defendant, at 4% over the Bank's prime rate.
On or about September 11, 1991, FDIC filed Adversary Proceeding Nos. 391-3598 and 391-3599 (the "Adversary Proceedings").
By Judgment entered January 6, 1992, FDIC obtained a $92,030.66 judgment styled "Default Judgment Granting Complaint Objecting to Dischargeability of Debt Under 11 U.S.C. § 523". After some initial skirmishes over a tardily-filed answer and an FDIC F.R.C.P. 55 motion for default, Defendant filed an answer through an attorney, but failed to appear in person or by an attorney at a duly-scheduled January 6, 1992 trial. FDIC, through a witness, proved up a case allegedly for embezzlement under § 523(a)(4). Neither side brought forth the record of such default trial and the Court accepted the unchallenged open court representations of FDIC's counsel on October 23, 1992, as to what occurred in substance on January 6, 1992.
Defendant contends that he has a valid defense to the Adversary Proceedings, that his counsel was aware of such defense, and nevertheless, failed to appear or represent him at the trial on January 6, 1992. The Court finds Debtor's counsel was aware of his alleged defense and assured him that his defense would be brought to the Court's attention, and nevertheless, such attorney did not appear for the trial or require his client to attend the trial. This was gross negligence and gross neglect on the attorney's part.
Without ultimately deciding the resolution of the underlying merits, the Court finds there was some facial merit in Defendant's defense. In Jack Gray Transport, Inc. v. Shaw, 105 F.R.D. 485, 489 (N.D.Ill.E.D.1984), the court points out that the Defendant does not have to show the likelihood of success, but only the existence of a defense good at law. Matter of Levy, 75 B.R. 894, 896 (Bankr.S.D.Ohio 1987). Also see, Seven Elves, Inc. v. Eskenazi, 635 F.2d 396, 403 (5th Cir.1981), where the court talks in terms of "a defense of sufficient merit to indicate the possibility that the outcome would differ upon retrial. . . ." Citing the case of Federal Sav. & Loan Ins. v. Two Rivers Associates, 880 F.2d 1267 (11th Cir.1989), FDIC takes the position that the D'Oench, Duhme doctrine prevents Defendant from asserting any defense under Defendant's Exhibit ("Ex.") A from the October 23, 1992 hearing because, in effect, such exhibit would not, on its face, permit Defendant to recover for Defendant's share of earned interest. The agreement provides that Defendant's earned interest is transferred into the dealer reserve account. Under Paragraph III, subparagraph one, it appears that there may be a maximum reserve account of $50,000, thereby apparently indicating that, once such amount was established, Defendant was entitled to his earned interest, if any, in excess of such amount.
Further, and aside from any such contention, there was some testimony that Defendant had entered into a post bank takeover agreement with FDIC whereby Defendant was permitted to collect the customer obligations in question, presumably under some fee arrangement or ratification of Ex. A. The Defendant showed the existence of a defense of sufficient merit to indicate the possibility the outcome would be different upon a retrial. Seven Elves, Inc. v. Eskenazi, supra.
It was appropriate that FDIC did not testify at the F.R.C.P. 60(b) hearing to refute such contentions since resolution of the underlying merits is not necessary or appropriate at a 60(b) hearing.
There was no showing by FDIC that there were any intervening rights that would be prejudiced by the granting of the motion; no great delay is likely to occur. The amount of money involved is very great. Seven Elves, Inc. v. Eskenazi, supra. There was no showing by either side as to whether any malpractice action against Defendant's prior attorney would be adequate to restore Defendant to his prejudgment position. Id. at 403.
Defendant has been aware of the default judgment since January 1992. His prior attorney told him not to worry about the default judgment. Defendant's reliance on such advice was negligent. FDIC served both Defendant and his counsel with all pleadings and notices of proceedings. The default judgment was served on Defendant and his counsel on January 7, 1992. FDIC served Defendant's present counsel with a copy of the judgment on February 12, 1992. See, Ex. B to the FDIC response.
Defendant contends by his set aside motion, filed August 31, 1992, that the judgment should be set aside because, until recently, he was unable to locate an attorney to contest the judgment.
FDIC contends that Defendant's initial counsel's negligence is attributable to him, citing Link v. Wabash Railroad Co., 370 U.S. 626, 633, 82 S.Ct. 1386, 1390, 8 L.Ed.2d 734 (1962), for the proposition that:
There is certainly no merit to the contention that dismissal of a party\'s claim because of his counsel\'s unexcused conduct imposes an unjust penalty on the client.
Despite the decision in Link, some cases have adhered to the view that counsel neglect or error, especially gross counsel neglect or error, while unavoidable as "excusable" neglect under Rule 60(b)(1), may come within the "any other reason" language of Rule 60(b)(6). 7 Moore's Federal Practice ¶ 60.272 at 60-286. In response to Link, Defendant cites Seven Elves v. Eskenazi, supra, for the availability of counsel error as justification for a Rule 60(b) motion. In Crutcher v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., supra, 746 F.2d 1076, the Fifth Circuit discussed its Seven Elves decision and the Supreme Court Link decision. In distinguishing Seven Elves, Inc. from the Crutcher case under consideration, the court pointed out in Crutcher, supra at 1082-1083 that: In this case, Defendant's attorney's gross negligence and gross neglect deprived him of the opportunity to present his defense.
Defendant was aware of the judgment on or about January 7, 1992, but waited until August 31, 1992, approximately seven months and three weeks later, to file the Rule 60(b) motion. Defendant had a relationship with his present counsel in February 1992. On October 23, 1992, Defendant's present counsel explained, in statements to the Court, the delay as being occasioned by the complexity of Defendant's business affairs and the difficulty in...
To continue reading
Request your trial