Taylor v. Taylor
Taylor v. Taylor
Opinion
Donna Taylor (Donna) appeals the Nez Perce County district court's judgment regarding her Series A Preferred Shares in AIA Services Corporation (AIA). In 1987, Donna received 200,000 Series A Preferred Shares in AIA as part of a divorce settlement. Between 1987 and 1996, Donna, AIA, and other relevant parties entered into various stock redemption agreements with differing terms and interest rates. One such agreement was challenged in
Taylor v. AIA Servs. Corp.
,
I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Donna and her husband Reed Taylor (Reed) created AIA in 1983. Donna and Reed divorced in 1987, and as part of the divorce settlement, Donna received 200,000 Series A Preferred Shares in AIA, making her the sole owner of all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares issued by the corporation.
*1120 AIA's articles of incorporation were amended in 1987 to reflect Donna's agreement and provided that her shares would be redeemed over a fifteen-year amortization schedule at the prime lending rate less one and one-half percent. In 1993, Donna provided a written demand to AIA to redeem her Series A Preferred Shares. In December 1993, Donna began receiving payments from AIA in the amount of $15,000 per month, increasing in 1995 to $24,000 per month which she received until February 2001.
In January 1995, AIA sought to reorganize and Donna, along with AIA, entered into an agreement memorialized in four letters (1995 Letter Agreement) that changed the redemption of Donna's shares to a ten-year amortization schedule at the prime lending rate plus one-quarter percent. Later in 1995, AIA, Donna, and Reed entered into a stock redemption agreement that incorporated and referenced the 1995 Letter Agreement. The corporation quickly went into default and in 1996 the parties entered a restructured stock redemption agreement, the Series A Preferred Shareholder Agreement (1996 PSA). Pursuant to the 1996 PSA, AIA was to continue redeeming Donna's shares at the higher interest rate and over a ten-year amortization schedule. The agreement also made Donna's debt senior to Reed's debt.
Reed's brother, John Taylor (John), is the president and majority shareholder in AIA. In February 2001, John informed Donna that AIA was developing a new insurance program called CropUSA and asked that AIA be allowed to defer five months of payments to Donna. Donna agreed based on the personal guarantee of the five payments by Reed and John. Thereafter, approximately $4,000 per month was paid to Donna from October 2001 to May 2004. In 2006, AIA was in default of its 1996 PSA with Donna and Reed. In December 2006, Donna and Reed entered into a written agreement that made the debt owed to Donna by AIA subordinate to the debt AIA owed to Reed; however, AIA was not informed of the subordination agreement. AIA continued to pay Donna $10,000 a month until June 2008 when AIA stopped payments based on pending litigation by Reed following the subordination agreement between Reed and Donna.
In January 2007, Reed sued AIA, John, and Connie Taylor (Connie) for numerous actions including breach of contract. In June 2008, while Reed's suit was pending, Donna filed suit against John, and later amended the suit to add Connie. The case was stayed pending the outcome of Reed's appeal. As to Reed's appeal, this Court affirmed the district court's determination that the 1996 PSA was illegal and unenforceable.
Taylor
,
Following this Court's ruling in Reed's case, John and Connie filed a motion for partial summary judgment, asking the district court to determine as a matter of law that Donna was owed $82,000 for her unredeemed shares, which Donna disputed. The district court denied the motion, lifted the stay, and informed the parties they could re-notice their 2009 motions and file additional briefing.
In May 2013, Donna filed a new complaint against AIA, John, Connie, James Beck (Beck) and Michael Cashman (Cashman), collectively "defendants." Donna asserted claims against AIA for breach of contract. Donna also asserted claims against John, Connie, Beck and Cashman for breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment. Donna asserted fraud claims against all parties and a cause of action seeking declaratory relief or specific performance. The defendants counterclaimed that Donna breached the 1996 PSA when she signed the subordination agreement with Reed. Donna's 2008 and 2013 lawsuits were consolidated. The parties re-filed their 2009 motions with the defendants moving to dismiss and for summary judgment, and Donna moving for partial summary judgment.
In July 2014 the district court 1) granted defendants' motion to dismiss finding Donna's claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duty were barred by the economic *1121 loss rule; 2) determined Donna failed to make a prima facie case for unjust enrichment; 3) determined Reed was not an indispensable party and the guarantee agreement was not void as to John; 4) held that the parties agreed the 1996 PSA between Donna and AIA was illegal; 5) determined the 1995 Letter Agreement was valid and enforceable and the number of shares redeemed must be in conformance with that agreement; 6) denied Donna's motion for partial summary judgment on whether the defendants breached any fiduciary duty to Donna; and 7) held Donna did not breach the 1996 PSA because one cannot breach an illegal agreement.
Following the district court's July 2014 ruling, both parties moved for reconsideration and clarification. The defendants contended the 1995 Letter Agreement was unlawful because it provided for a higher interest rate than in the applicable 1987 articles of incorporation. The district court again determined the 1995 Letter Agreement was legal and enforceable. The court reasoned that while there was insufficient earned surplus to satisfy the first redemption option in Idaho Code section 30-1-6, AIA had not presented evidence the shareholders did not vote to authorize the use of capital surplus or the higher interest rate. The district court also reconsidered and determined Donna's claim for breach of fiduciary duty was not barred by the economic loss rule.
In June 2015, defendants again moved the district court to reconsider the legality of the 1995 Letter Agreement. The defendants filed a declaration to demonstrate there had never been a shareholder vote authorizing the use of capital surplus to redeem Donna's shares, nor was there any record the shareholders had ever authorized a higher interest rate than provided by the articles of incorporation. In light of the new evidence, the district court held that it was now uncontroverted that the AIA shareholders never voted to pay a higher interest rate than in the articles of incorporation and therefore the 1995 Letter Agreement was illegal. Thus, the court held, the only equitable remedy was to recalculate the redemptions of Donna's shares at the only lawful interest rate-the rate established by the 1987 articles of incorporation which was the prime lending rate minus one and one-half percent. The court determined that Donna had received $2,696,797.80 in payments to redeem her shares since 1993. Using a calculation provided by AIA, the court held that applying the lawful rate of prime minus one and one-half percent, all but 7,110 of Donna's shares had been redeemed. Thus, the court entered judgment 1) dismissing Donna's claims for breach of the 1995 Letter Agreement and 1996 PSA; 2) dismissing Donna's claims for fraud and aiding and abetting fraud; 3) dismissing Donna's claim for unjust enrichment; 4) that Donna holds 7,110 unredeemed Series A Preferred Shares in AIA; and 5) dismissing AIA's counterclaim that Donna breached the 1996 PSA.
Donna subsequently moved for reconsideration and to set aside the judgment, which the district court denied. Donna timely appealed to this Court.
II. ISSUES ON APPEAL
1. Whether the 1996 Series A Shareholder Agreement (1996 PSA) is illegal as to Donna.
2. Whether the 1995 Letter Agreement is illegal and unenforceable.
3. Whether the district court erred when it dismissed Donna's fraud claims.
4. Whether the district court erred when it dismissed Donna's claim for unjust enrichment.
5. Whether Donna can appeal the denial of her motion for summary judgment.
6. Whether a new judge should be assigned on remand.
7. Whether the district court erred in dismissing AIA's counterclaim for breach of contract.
8. Whether either party is entitled to attorney fees on appeal.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
"When reviewing a grant of summary judgment, this Court employs the same standard as the district court."
*1122
Idaho Youth Ranch, Inc. v. Ada Cty. Bd. of Equalization
,
"[W]hen reviewing the grant or denial of a motion for reconsideration following the grant of summary judgment, this Court must determine whether the evidence presented a genuine issue of material fact to defeat summary judgment."
Fragnella v. Petrovich
,
IV. ANALYSIS
A. 1996 Series A Shareholder Agreement (1996 PSA).
The parties agree the 1996 PSA is illegal but disagree as to whether or not it can still be enforced. Donna argues it is enforceable as to Donna if Reed is severed from the agreement, or alternatively, under an exception to the illegality doctrine. The district court determined that the parties agreed the 1996 PSA between Donna and AIA is illegal for the same reason Reed's agreement was illegal, but did not address the exceptions to the illegality doctrine. For the reasons discussed below, the 1996 PSA is illegal and unenforceable.
" 'An illegal contract is one that rests on illegal consideration consisting of any act or forbearance which is contrary to law or public policy,' and such a contract 'is illegal and unenforceable.' "
Taylor
,
The general rule is that a contract prohibited by law is illegal and unenforceable. A contract which is made for the purpose of furthering any matter or thing prohibited by statute is void. This rule applies on the ground of public policy to every contract which is founded on a transaction prohibited by statute. The Idaho Court of Appeals has suggested that where a statute intends to prohibit an act, it must be held that its violation is illegal, without regard to the reason of the inhibition or to the ignorance of the parties as to the prohibiting statute.
Id.
at 564-65,
Idaho Code section 30-1-6, now repealed, was applicable at the time the parties entered the 1996 PSA. Section 30-1-6 provided in relevant part that a corporation can purchase its own shares but that,
purchases of its own shares, whether direct or indirect, shall be made only to the extent of unreserved and unrestricted earned surplus available therefor, and, if the articles of incorporation so permit or with the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of all shares entitled to vote thereon, to the extent of unreserved and restricted capital surplus available therefor.
"Thus, pursuant to I.C. § 30-1-6, a corporation is generally authorized to use earned surplus to redeem shares; whereas, the use of capital surplus to redeem shares requires authorization either in the articles of incorporation or by majority shareholder vote."
Taylor
,
In this case, the parties agree that the 1996 PSA is illegal. However, Donna argues that the agreement would be legal as to her if terms concerning Reed were severed. This argument is unavailing. Indeed, "[w]here a transaction is composed of both benign and offensive components and the different portions are severable, the unobjectionable parts are generally enforceable."
Farrell
,
Donna contends that even though the 1996 PSA is illegal, it should still be enforced under the public policy or
in pari delicto
exceptions to the illegality doctrine. We decline to address this argument, as Donna has raised this argument for the first time on appeal.
See
Obenchain v. McAlvain Const., Inc.
,
B. 1995 Letter Agreement.
The next issue is whether the terms in the 1995 Letter Agreement are enforceable. While the district court initially determined the 1995 Letter Agreement was enforceable, on reconsideration, AIA presented evidence that shareholders had never voted to pay Donna a higher interest rate than authorized in the articles of incorporation. In light of this evidence, the district court found the 1995 Letter Agreement was illegal and unenforceable. For reasons discussed below, the district court's analysis was in error.
As noted, Idaho Code section 30-1-6 authorized a corporation to purchase its shares from earned surplus, or from capital surplus if authorized in the articles of incorporation or by a shareholder vote.
See
Taylor
,
(i) Company's articles of incorporation and (ii) that certain letter agreement among the parties hereto and Cumer L. Green *1124 ("Green") dated January 11, 1995, as amended by (a) that certain letter from Green to Richard A Riley ("Riley") dated March 22, 1995, (b) that certain letter agreement among the parties, Green and Richard W. Campanaro dated July 18, 1995, and (c) that certain letter from Green to Riley dated August 10, 1995 (collectively, the "Series A Preferred Shareholder Letter Agreements").
(emphasis added). Thus, AIA stated in the 1996 PSA that the January 11, 1995 letter was to serve as the agreement between the parties, and subsequent letters served only as amendments to the earlier agreement. The January 11, 1995 Letter Agreement was entered into when the 1989 amended articles of incorporation were in effect, which authorized the use of capital surplus. Thus, the January 11, 1995 letter did not violate Idaho Code section 30-1-6 in the same way the 1996 PSA did.
See
Taylor
,
An ultra vires act is an act that is "[u]nauthorized; beyond the scope of power allowed or granted by a corporate charter or by law." Ultra Vires, Black's Law Dictionary 1755 (10th ed. 2014); see also Carlson , 17 Idaho at 742-433, 107 P. at 755-56. Idaho Code section 30-1-7 was applicable at the time of the agreement and provided for an affirmative defense of ultra vires, stating in relevant part:
No act of a corporation and no conveyance or transfer of real or personal property to or by a corporation shall be invalid by reason of the fact that the corporation was without capacity or power to do such act or to make or receive such conveyance or transfer, but such lack of capacity or power may be asserted:
(a) In a proceeding by a shareholder against the corporation to enjoin the doing of any act or the transfer of real or personal property by or to the corporation. ...
(b) In a proceeding by the corporation ...
(c) In a proceeding by the attorney general ...
"[T]he defense of ultra vires is special, must be specially pleaded and proven, and cannot be raised for the first time on appeal."
Wallace Bank & Tr. Co. v. First Nat. Bank
,
We have said "that the doctrine of ultra vires, when invoked for or against a corporation, should not be allowed to prevail where it would defeat the ends of justice or work a legal wrong."
Power Cty. v. Evans Bros. Land & Live Stock Co.
,
In this case, the 1995 Letter Agreement was an ultra vires act because it purported to authorize the redemption of Donna's shares at an interest rate higher than authorized in the articles of incorporation without shareholder approval. Thus, the "corporation was without capacity or power to do such act" when it entered into the 1995 Letter Agreement with Donna. I.C. § 30-1-7 (1995). However, AIA did not plead
*1125
a defense of ultra vires, and it cannot be raised for the first time on appeal.
Meholin v. Carlson
,
C. The district court erred when it dismissed Donna's fraud claim.
The district court dismissed Donna's claims for fraud, determining the tort claim was barred by the economic loss rule. Donna contends that she is alleging fraud which is an intentional, rather than negligent tort, so her claim is not barred by the economic loss rule. For reasons discussed below, the district court erred in dismissing Donna's fraud claim.
"The economic loss rule is a judicially created doctrine that applies to negligence cases."
Path to Health, LLP v. Long
,
As noted, prior cases have limited application of the economic loss rule to negligence causes of action.
See
Long
,
In this case, Donna has alleged the defendants committed fraud, which is an intentional tort.
See
Hegg v. I.R.S.
,
D. The district court properly dismissed Donna's claim for unjust enrichment.
The district court determined that Donna's deferment of five months of stock redemption payments when AIA developed CropUSA benefited AIA, not the individual defendants. The district court also stated there was no evidence Donna intended the individual defendants to benefit; rather, Donna was pursuing her own financial advantage. Therefore, the court held, Donna could not recover against the individual defendants under an unjust enrichment theory.
On appeal, Donna states, "[t]o the extent that this Court will consider matters outside of the record, Donna presented more than sufficient evidence to survive summary judgment on her unjust enrichment claim." Donna does not, however, specifically state what this evidence is, or how it supports her claim. As this Court has said, "[w]e are restricted to the record before us and may not consider matters outside the record."
State v. Flint
,
E. We will not review the district court's denial of summary judgment.
Donna asks this Court to overrule precedent and allow her to appeal the denial of her motion for partial summary judgment. The defendants contend that if this Court does so, that we consider the district court's determination that the economic loss rule does not bar Donna's breach of fiduciary duty claims. We decline to do so. This Court recently reaffirmed we will not review a district court's denial of a motion for summary judgment when the district court was not acting in an appellate capacity, and the appeal was not permissive.
Litke v. Munkhoff
,
F. We do not appoint a new judge on remand.
Donna requests that if this case is remanded a new judge be appointed. Donna contends that because this case has been ongoing for nearly ten years, a new judge would "bring a fresh perspective" and "eliminate any possible concern of potential bias." Donna cites to
Capstar Radio Operating Company v. Lawrence
,
G. The district court properly dismissed AIA's counterclaim for breach of contract.
AIA contends Donna breached the 1996 PSA and the 1995 Letter Agreement when she entered into a subordination agreement with Reed that subordinated the debt AIA owed Donna to the debt AIA owed Reed. The district court dismissed the claim, stating that the 1996 PSA was an illegal agreement, and Donna cannot have breached an illegal agreement. The district court also stated Donna did not breach the 1995 Letters Agreement because Donna did not need AIA's consent to subordinate her debt to Reed. We affirm the district court's dismissal.
As discussed, the 1996 PSA is an illegal agreement and is therefore void and
*1127
unenforceable. One cannot breach an illegal and void agreement.
See
AED, Inc. v. KDC Invs., LLC
,
As to the 1995 Letter Agreement, that agreement did not contain any limitation on Donna's ability to subordinate her right to be paid. While the 1996 PSA contained a provision that required a written agreement by all parties to modify any agreement term, no such requirement was contained in the 1995 Letter Agreement. "The burden of proving the existence of a contract and fact of its breach is upon the plaintiff, and once those facts are established, the defendant has burden of pleading and proving affirmative defenses, which legally excuse performance."
Tapadeera, LLC v. Knowlton
,
H. Attorney fees on appeal.
Both parties request attorney fees on appeal pursuant to I.A.R. 40, I.A.R. 41, and I.C. § 12-121. Donna contends she is entitled to attorney fees on appeal because the defendants' defense was frivolous and they engaged in widespread corporate malfeasance. The defendants contend Donna is not entitled to attorney fees on appeal because she did not prevail below and because the defendants' defense was not frivolous. Defendants also contend those fees should be assessed against Donna's counsel under I.R.C.P. 11(c)(3)-(4).
In any civil action, this Court may award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party. I.C. § 12-121 ;
Doe (2016-7) v. Doe
,
Here, we cannot say that either party's arguments were frivolous, unreasonable, or without foundation. Given the lengthy and arduous history of this case, we cannot say either party was unreasonable in their attempts to appeal or defend their positions. Accordingly, we do not award attorney fees to either party pursuant to Idaho Code section 12-121.
While we do not award fees under section 12-121, we reach a different result under Idaho Code section 12-120(3). Donna contends fees can be awarded under Section 12-120(3) because the redemption of her shares is a commercial transaction between her and AIA. Section 12-120(3) provides:
In any civil action to recover on an open account, account stated, note, bill, negotiable instrument, guaranty, or contract relating to the purchase or sale of goods, wares, merchandise, or services and in any commercial transaction unless otherwise provided by law, the prevailing party shall be allowed a reasonable attorney's fee to be set by the court, to be taxed and collected as costs.
This Court has stated that "attorney fees under I.C. § 12-120(3) are not appropriate where the commercial transaction is illegal."
Taylor
,
While both parties' claims are based upon the commercial relationship between them, neither party should be permitted to claim the benefit of I.C. § 12-120(3). The commercial transaction was illegal. In *1128 Kunz v. Lobo Lodge, Inc. ,133 Idaho 608 , 612,990 P.2d 1219 , 1223 (Ct. App. 1999), the Court of Appeals held the district court erred in awarding attorney fees underIdaho Code § 12-120 (3) because the basis of the commercial transaction was illegal (the leases at issue were entered into knowingly and in direct contravention of a municipal criminal ordinance). The Court of Appeals, therefore, concluded the parties should be left where they were found. ... Nash v. Meyer ,54 Idaho 283 ,31 P.2d 273 (1934) (citing as fundamental the position that rights based on violation of law will never be enforced by the courts and that when a transaction is shown to be illegal because of contravention of a statute, a court is justified in its refusal to uphold the transaction in any way); Libby v. Pelham ,30 Idaho 614 ,166 P. 575 (1917) (asserting the position that if a transaction is illegal because in contravention to a statute, it is sufficient to justify a refusal to uphold the transaction in any way, leaving the parties in the situation in which they have voluntarily placed themselves).
In this case, Donna filed this lawsuit to enforce the terms of a commercial transaction (the 1996 PSA or alternatively, the 1995 Letter Agreement). The 1996 PSA is illegal, and fees cannot be awarded for attempting to enforce it.
Taylor
,
V. CONCLUSION
We reverse the district court's dismissal of Donna's breach of contract claim as it relates to the 1995 Letter Agreement, and we remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion. We also reverse the district court's dismissal of Donna's fraud claims and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion. We affirm the district court's dismissal of Donna's unjust enrichment claim. We also affirm the district court's dismissal of AIA's counterclaim against Donna. We award attorney fees to Donna limited to enforcing the 1995 Letter Agreement on appeal. Costs on appeal to Donna.
Justices BRODY, BEVAN and Justices Pro Tem GRATTON and HIPPLER concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Donna J. TAYLOR, Plaintiff-Appellant-Cross Respondent, v. R. John TAYLOR, Connie Taylor (Aka Connie Taylor Henderson), James Beck, Michael W. Cashman Sr., and AIA Services Corporation, an Idaho Corporation, Defendants-Respondents-Cross Appellants.
- Cited By
- 19 cases
- Status
- Published