Brumley v. Mallard, L.L.C.
Brumley v. Mallard, L.L.C.
Opinion of the Court
Mallard, L.L.C., and Bonn A. Gilbert, Jr., (“defendants”) appeal from the trial court’s granting of summary judgment in favor of A. Neal Brumley (“plaintiff’) and award of $150,000 plus interest and attorneys’ fees. On appeal, defendants have two assignments of error: (1) that the trial court erred in granting plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment; and (2) that the trial court erred in denying defendants’ motion for summary judgment. We discern no error and affirm.
The evidence tends to show the following. Plaintiff is the executor of the estate of William Dellinger. The estate owned two tracts of land. As executor, plaintiff contracted on 6 May 1996 with Bonn Gilbert (“Gilbert”) to sell the two parcels of land. The total purchase price was $532,000; $354,666 of the purchase price was to be a promissory note secured by a purchase money deed of trust.
At the property closing on 31 December 1996, plaintiff was informed that Gilbert intended for plaintiff to convey the land to Mallard, L.L.C. (“Mallard”) instead of conveying it to Gilbert personally. Mallard’s articles of incorporation were filed in the North Carolina Secretary of State’s office on 31 December 1996 as well. Plaintiff refused to convey land to Mallard unless the security instruments were amended to show they were “for consideration” instead of “purchase money” and unless Gilbert personally guaranteed the obligations. Gilbert’s attorney, Jameson Wells, prepared the documents according to those specifications.
The parties’ motions for summary judgment were heard in Mecklenburg County Superior Court on 30 April 2001. The trial court granted plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and denied defendants’ motion for summary judgment. The trial court ordered that plaintiff recover $150,000 plus interest. Defendants appeal.
I
On appeal, defendants argue that the trial court erred by granting plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. Defendants’ argument is based on its contention that the promissory note here was a purchase money note. We disagree.
Summary judgment is appropriate when the only issues to.be decided are issues of law. Mortgage Co. v. Real Estate, Inc., 39 N.C. App. 1, 4, 249 S.E.2d 727, 729, aff'd, 297 N.C. 696, 256 S.E.2d 688 (1978). Here, the only issues contested are questions of law, namely the applicability of the anti-deficiency statute. The anti-deficiency statute reads:
In all sales of real property by mortgagees and/or trustees under powers of sale contained in any mortgage or deed of trust executed after February 6, 1933, or where judgment or decree is given for the foreclosure of any mortgage executed after February 6, 1933, to secure to the seller the payment of the balance of the purchase price of real property, the mortgagee or trustee or holder of the notes secured by such mortgage or deed of trust shall not be entitled to a deficiency judgment on account of such mortgage, deed of trust, or obligation secured by the same: Provided, said evidence of indebtedness shows upon the face that it is for balance of purchase money for real estate.
G.S. § 45-21.38 (2001). This section of the anti-deficiency statute is only applicable if the “evidence of indebtedness” indicates on its face that it is a purchase-money transaction.
The phrase “evidence of the indebtedness” in G.S. § 45-21.38 refers only to the promissory note and the deed of trust. Gambill v. Bare, 32 N.C. App. 597, 598, 232 S.E.2d 870, 870, disc. rev. denied, 292 N.C. 640, 235 S.E.2d 61 (1977). If there is no indication on the face of the promissory note or deed of trust that “the indebtedness is for the balance of purchase money,” the anti-deficiency statute cannot be applied by implication. Gambill, 32 N.C. App. at 598, 232 S.E.2d at 870; see also Merritt v. Edwards Ridge, 323 N.C. 330, 372 S.E.2d 559 (1988); In re Foreclosure of Fuller, 94 N.C. App. 207, 380 S.E.2d 120, disc. rev. denied, 325 N.C. 271, 384 S.E.2d 515 (1989); Bigley v. Lombardo, 90 N.C. App. 79, 367 S.E.2d 389 (1988). If there is language in the promissory note that denominates the transaction which does not appear in the deed of trust, the deed of trust is deemed to include the same language as the note. See Bank v. Belk, 41 N.C. App. 356, 365, 255 S.E.2d 421, 427, disc. rev. denied, 298 N.C. 293, 259 S.E.2d 911 (1979).
In Green Park Inn, Inc. v. Moore, 149 N.C. App. 531, 562 S.E.2d 53 (2002), this Court did not apply the anti-deficiency statute to a long-term lease followed by an option to purchase. “We hold that the Anti-Deficiency Statute does not apply to this transaction, in which there is neither an instrument of debt nor a securing instrument stating on its face that the transaction is a purchase money mortgage.” Moore, 149 N.C. App. at 537, 562 S.E.2d at 57-58. Accordingly, this assignment of error fails.
II
Defendants alternatively allege that plaintiff must indemnify them for any loss as a result of the transaction because the promissory note was prepared under the supervision of plaintiff as seller. Defendants argue plaintiff’s insistence that the words “purchase money” be removed from the promissory note before the sale, cou
Defendants rely on a portion of the anti-deficiency statute that reads, in pertinent part:
Provided, further, that when said note or notes are prepared under the direction and supervision of the seller or sellers, he, it, or they shall cause a provision to be inserted in said note disclosing that it is for purchase money of real estate; in default of which the seller or sellers shall be liable to purchaser for any loss which he might sustain by reason of the failure to insert said provisions as herein set out.
G.S. § 45-21.38 (2001). This portion of the anti-deficiency statute has never been judicially interpreted. Plaintiff, the seller here, took no part in the preparation of the promissory note or deed of trust. His only involvement was his refusal to sign the original documents as purchase money instruments. Defendant Gilbert’s attorney prepared the documents according to the agreement of the parties at the property closing. The above portion of the statute upon which the defendants rely anticipates a situation where the seller prepares security documents without the buyer’s participation and consent, unlike the instant case. Here, defendants were present and represented by counsel when the security documents were amended. In fact, defendants’ attorney prepared the amended documents. Accordingly, the provision of the anti-deficiency statute relied upon by defendants does not require plaintiff here to indemnify defendants for actions taken by their own attorney.
Ill
Finally, defendants allege that the agreement to amend the security documents at closing was not supported by consideration. Plaintiff was under a contractual obligation to sell to defendant Gilbert or his designee as a result of the offer to purchase. Defendants contend that Gilbert’s agreement to personally guarantee the loan and the changing of the words “purchase money” to “for consideration” in the promissory note were not supported by additional consideration and are unenforceable. We disagree.
It is well-settled law that a contract must be supported by consideration in order to be enforceable. Investment Properties v. Norbum, 281 N.C. 191, 195, 188 S.E.2d 342, 345 (1972). A modification
In addition, there was ample consideration to support the modification of the contract at the property closing. Plaintiff accepted a different buyer (Defendant Mallard, L.L.C.), with different potential for liability than the original buyer (Defendant Gilbert). The new buyer Mallard had not even been created as a legal entity when the original contract was formed between plaintiff and Gilbert. In return, the language of the security instruments was amended and Gilbert agreed to guarantee the transactions. This exchange represents sufficient consideration to support the contract as modified.
For the foregoing reasons, we conclude that the trial court did not err in granting plaintiffs motion for summary judgment and denying defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, we dissolve the temporary stay preventing execution of summary judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor on 30 May 2001.
Affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I agree with the majority that “the evidence of indebtedness” in the case sub judice fails to indicate on its face that the transaction is a purchase money transaction, as required by N.C.G.S. § 45-21.38. However, I do believe the evidence raises a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether the closing documents were “prepared under the direction and supervision of the seller.” In addition, I do not agree that the modified agreement is supported by consideration. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.
As recognized by the majority, N.C.G.S. § 45-21.38 provides in pertinent part:
[Wjhen said note or notes are prepared under the direction and supervision of the seller . . . [he] shall cause a provision to be inserted in said note disclosing that it is for purchase money of real estate; in default of which the seller or sellers shall be liable to purchaser for any loss which he might sustain by reason of the failure to insert said provisions as herein set out.
The majority, however, in reaching its conclusion that plaintiff “took no part in the preparation of the promissory note or deed of trust” ignores the affidavit of the closing attorney, which states in relevant part:
3. I was employed by the buyer to conduct the closing and also represented the seller to the extent of preparing some of the documents in connection with the closing.
*570 4. ... Since [plaintiff] acted as lender in this transaction, I prepared the security instruments subject to his review and approval.
6. . . . This was a seller financed closing and Exhibit B is in reality a purchase money deed of trust[.]”
This affidavit, coupled with plaintiff’s insistence on the removal of the phrase “purchase money” from the promissory note and deed of trust creates a genuine issue regarding whether the security documents were prepared “under the direction and supervision of the seller,” and renders summary judgment improper.
Moreover, I disagree with the majority’s holding that the amendments to the security instruments — the replacement of the phrase “purchase money” with the phrase “for consideration” and adding Bonn Gilbert as guarantor — were supported by “ample consideration,” thereby removing the transaction from the scope of N.C.G.S. § 45-21.38. The general warranty deed, promissory note, deed of trust, and Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) settlement statement, were all executed on 31 January 1996, in a single real estate transaction. The general warranty deed transferred “3.85 acres Nevin Road” from plaintiff to defendant Mallard, Inc., (Mallard). The promissory note, executed by Mallard for $150,000, is secured by the deed of trust for “3.85 acres, Nevin Road,” which was given by Mallard to plaintiff, to secure defendant’s indebtedness for $150,000 “as evidenced by the Promissory Note.” Finally, the HUD statement, signed by all parties, states that plaintiff sold the Nevin Road property to Mallard and that plaintiff acted as lender, providing financing for the entire sale amount of $150,000. This undisputed evidence establishes that this was a seller financed real estate sale evidenced by a purchase money promissory note and deed of trust and, thus, was the type of transaction addressed in N.C.G.S. § 45-21.38.
The majority, however, concludes that because plaintiff originally intended to finance a land sale to Gilbert, his acceptance of Mallard as the buyer was consideration for the execution of the promissory note, and that the promissory note for $150,000 was executed in exchange for this consideration rather than for purchase money. I find the majority reasoning on this point unpersuasive.
First, as acknowledged in the majority opinion, the contract to purchase obligated plaintiff to sell to Gilbert “or his assignee.”
Plaintiff was not obligated to act as lender for this transaction; if he was concerned about Mallard’s financial solvency, he could have required defendants to obtain third party financing. However, having agreed to transfer the Nevin Road property in exchange for what is, in fact, a purchase money promissory note and deed of trust, the seller may neither require the buyer to waive the protections of N.C.G.S. § 45-21.38. Merritt v. Edwards Ridge, 323 N.C. 330, 336, 372 S.E.2d 559, 563 (1988) (“purchase money debtor cannot waive the protection of the anti-deficiency statute”), nor bring suit against a purported “personal guarantor” for the purchase money promissory note. Crocker v. Delta Group, Inc., 125 N.C. App. 583, 481 S.E.2d 694 (1997).
This Court is obliged to “give proper weight to the intent of the General Assembly as construed by [the North Carolina Supreme Court].” Merritt, 323 N.C. at 335, 372 S.E.2d at 562. “[T]he legislature did not intend to allow suit upon the note in a purchase-money mortgage.” Realty Co. v. Trust Co., 296 N.C. 366, 372, 250 S.E.2d 271, 275 (1976). Transactions like the one in the instant case must be rigorously examined to ensure that they are not designed to circumvent the sprit and purpose of N.C.G.S. § 45-21.38.
For the reasons stated herein, I conclude that the trial court’s grant of summary judgment was improper and should be reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- A. NEAL BRUMLEY, of the Estate of William Glenn Dellinger v. MALLARD, L.L.C. and BONN A. GILBERT, JR., a/k/a Bonn Gilbert
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published