Mowan v. Anweiler

Decision Date27 September 1983
Docket NumberNo. 4-483A122,4-483A122
Citation454 N.E.2d 436
Parties37 UCC Rep.Serv. 749 Lewis A. MOWAN d/b/a Three Rivers GMC, Appellant (Defendant Below), v. Robert D. ANWEILER and Christine Beckstedt d/b/a Christy's Auto Sales, Appellees (Plaintiffs Below).
CourtIndiana Appellate Court

Robert O. Vegeler, Dumas, Backs, Salin & Vegeler, Fort Wayne, for appellant.

Ward W. Miller, Torborg, Miller, Moss & Harris, Fort Wayne, for appellees.

CONOVER, Presiding Judge.

Lewis A. Mowan, d/b/a Three Rivers GMC (Mowan) appeals the trial court's entry of summary judgment against him and its order permitting garnishment of his corporation's bank account in order to satisfy the judgment.

We reverse.

ISSUE

Since we reverse, we need only address the following issue:

Did the trial court err by entering summary judgment against Mowan?

FACTS

Robert D. Anweiler (Anweiler) and Christine Beckstedt (Beckstedt) d/b/a Christy's Auto Sales are used car dealers. On June 18, 1982, Anweiler, on behalf of Beckstedt, delivered a 1981 Oldsmobile Cutlass to Karl F. Seiler (Seiler), also a used car dealer. Anweiler gave an unsigned and incomplete Reassignment of Registered Dealer affidavit and certificate of title to Seiler in exchange for a $6,200 check. On June 21, Mowan purchased the car from Seiler and was given a completed and notarized transfer of title certificate. Seiler's check to Anweiler was not honored and he filed bankruptcy.

On October 19, 1982, Anweiler and Beckstedt filed a complaint for damages against Mowan. After he answered, Anweiler and Beckstedt moved for summary judgment. The trial court granted the motion on January 11, 1983. Anweiler and Beckstedt then filed proceedings supplemental adding the Allen County Bank and Trust Company (Bank) as garnishee/defendant. After a hearing on the proceedings supplemental, the trial court allowed the garnishment of Mowan's corporate account, finding the transfer of funds to that account was fraudulent to creditors. From both the order granting summary judgment and the order permitting garnishment of the bank account, Mowan appeals.

DISCUSSION AND DECISION

Mowan argues the trial court erred by entering summary judgment against him on the plaintiff's claim for damages. Specifically, he claims he was a good faith purchaser of the automobile and may be entitled to protection under Ind.Code 26-1-2-403. We agree.

Our standard of review on summary judgment issues is well known.

When reviewing the trial court's entry of summary judgment, this court must determine whether there is any genuine issue of material fact and whether the law was applied correctly. Zalewski v Simpson, (1982) Ind.App., 435 N.E.2d 74; Carroll v. Lordy, (1982) Ind.App., 431 N.E.2d 118. The burden is on the proponent to prove no genuine issue of material fact exists. Podgorny v. Great Central Insurance Co., (1974) 160 Ind .App. 244, 311 N.E.2d 640. While summary judgment is a desirable tool to allow the trial court to dispose of cases where only legal issues exist, it may not be used as a substitute for trial in determining factual disputes. Id.

Clipp v. Weaver, (1983) Ind., 451 N.E.2d 1092, at 1092-93, quoting Clipp v. Weaver, (1982) Ind.App., 439 N.E.2d 1189, 1190.

The plaintiffs initially argue Mowan waived this issue by failing to specifically plead the "good faith" defense. They claim Mowan was required under Ind.Rules of Procedure, Trial Rule 9.1(D) to plead and prove his status as a "bona fide purchaser for value." However, when the parties present an issue to the court by consent, an exception to the pleading requirement rule is recognized . Dawson v. St. Vincent Hospital and Health Care Center, Inc., (1981) Ind.App., 426 N.E.2d 1328, 1331; Lawshe v. Glen Park Lumber Co., (1978) 176 Ind.App. 344, 375 N.E.2d 275, 278. See also T.R. 15(B).

Here, the plaintiffs' complaint raises the good faith issue. It states Seiler "sold the car", "transferred the vehicle to the defendant", "absconded with the proceeds" and he had no valid title "notwithstanding Mowan's good faith in the matter" (emphasis supplied). In Mowan's affidavit in opposition to the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment, he stated the defendant "purchased an automobile in good faith" and the defendant "has subsequently sold the automobile in the normal course of business." The plaintiffs never moved to strike any part of the affidavit as immaterial. Thus, the "good faith" defense was sufficiently raised by the consent of the parties.

Mowan claims he was a good faith purchaser and is protected since he received voidable title from Seiler. The plaintiffs argue Seiler only had void title and therefore Mowan received nothing. We find two cases dispositive of this issue.

The facts in Fryer v. Downard, (1963) 134 Ind.App. 226, 187 N .E.2d 105 are similar and clearly analogous to the instant case. There, the car owner agreed to sell it to Gray. Gray gave the owner a check, which was not honored, the owner giving Gray an unsigned certificate of title. Gray then took the car and the certificate of title, with a forged signature appended, and sold the car to a used car dealer. He then sold it to the appellant-purchaser. The original car owner sued the appellant-purchaser seeking replevin and damages.

The court held:

Indiana courts have consistently held that legal title passes to a defrauding buyer. This title is not void; it is voidable, which means that when title gets into the hands of a bona fide purchaser for value then he will prevail over the defrauded seller.

The court said in Dresher v. Roy Wilmeth Co., supra [118 Ind .App. 542], at p. 548, 82 N.E.2d at p. 262; ....

... Under such circumstances, appellant was not entitled to recover possession of the automobile from appellee.

This holding is in accord with the Uniform Sales Act, which Indiana adopted several years later, Sec. 58-208, Burns' 1951 Replacement: 1

"Where the seller of goods has a voidable title thereto, but his title has not been avoided at the time of the sale, the buyer acquires a good title to the goods, provided he buys them in good faith, for value, and without notice of the seller's defect of title."

The only basis for distinction between the case before us and the authorities above cited is the fact that Mrs. Downard did not sign the form of assignment on the Certificate of Title, which she gave to Gray. We do not believe that the failure to sign is a substantial difference, which should result in a change of the equities. The same principle can be applied.

"The principle that, where one of two innocent persons must suffer by the acts of a third person, he who has enabled such third person to occasion the loss must sustain it, controls in this case." (Citations omitted.)

Id. at 229-30, 187 N.E.2d at 107.

In Sacks v. State, (1977) 172 Ind.App. 185, 360 N.E.2d 21, under IC 26-1-2-403, the court held:

Section 2-403 was intended to determine the priorities between the two innocent parties: (1) the original owner who parts with his goods through fraudulent conduct of another and (2) an innocent third party who gives value for the goods to the perpetrator of the fraud without knowledge of the fraud. By favoring the innocent third party, the Uniform Commercial Code endeavors to promote the flow of commerce by placing the burden of ascertaining and preventing fraudulent transactions on the one in the best position to prevent them, the original seller. (Emphasis in original.)

Id. at 198, 360 N.E.2d at 28 (footnote omitted). The plaintiffs, however, argue Mowan was not a good faith purchaser for value.

The terms here involved are defined as follows:

(19) "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned.

....

(32) "Purchase" includes taking by sale, discount,...

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5 cases
  • Inmi-Etti v. Aluisi
    • United States
    • Court of Special Appeals of Maryland
    • September 1, 1984
    ...seem to support Hawkland's theory that only a voluntary transfer by the owner can vest "voidable title" in a "person." In Mowan v. Anweiler, 454 N.E.2d 436 (1983) the Court of Appeals of Indiana held that the purchaser of an automobile gained title from his seller who had purchased the car ......
  • Lilge v. Russell's Trailer Repair, Inc.
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    ...set forth as an affirmative defense, the issue was litigated by the parties' implied consent at summary judgment. Mowan v. Anweiler (1983), Ind.App., 454 N.E.2d 436, 438.1 I also agree with the Swenson Trucking court's caveat: the court expressly did not decide "that a business that fabrica......
  • Madrid v. Bloomington Auto Co., Inc.
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    • January 22, 2003
    ...and preventing fraudulent transactions on the one in the best position to prevent them, the original seller. Mowan v. Anweiler, 454 N.E.2d 436, 439 (Ind.Ct.App.1983) (quoting Sacks v. State, 172 Ind.App. 185, 360 N.E.2d 21 (1977), reh'g denied). Here, we must determine the priorities betwee......
  • Marlow v. Conley
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    ...when title gets into the hands of a bona fide purchaser for value then he will prevail over the defrauded seller." Mowan v. Anweiler, 454 N.E.2d 436, 438 (Ind.Ct.App.1983). Thus, a "defrauding buyer" obtains voidable title. However, a thief obtains void title. See, e.g., Mc-Donald's Chevrol......
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