Garden City Production Credit Assn. v. Lannan
Garden City Production Credit Assn. v. Lannan
Opinion of the Court
A protected Kansas lender seeks in replevin to recover 161 head of cattle in the possession of an innocent Nebraska purchaser. The basic issue is whether, under the Uniform Commercial Code, the lender has waived his otherwise protected security interest. The judgment of the district court was against the lender. We reverse the judgment of the district court.
Section 9-306(2), U. C. C., provides: “Except where this article otherwise provides, a security interest continues in collateral notwithstanding sale, exchange or other disposition thereof by the debtor unless his action was authorized by the secured party in the security agreement or otherwise, and also continues in any identifiable proceeds including collections received by the debtor.”
The cattle in question were from the ranch of Murlin and Doris Carter in Syracuse, Hamilton County, Kansas. The plaintiff, Garden City Production Credit Association, hereinafter referred to as P.C.A., extended the Carters a loan in 1965 to finance their farming and ranching operations. A signed financing statement, covering the cattle in question and executed and perfected pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Kansas, was filed with the Hamilton County register of deeds in Syracuse, Kansas, on May 2, 1966. Several subsequent security agreements were filed by P.C.A. pursuant to the Kansas Uniform Commercial Code covering farm machinery, crops, and branded likestock. On March 9, 1967, the Carters executed a security agreement which included the 161 head of cattle here involved. This agreement prohibited Carter from encumbering, removing, selling, or otherwise disposing of the cattle without the written consent of P.C.A., and provided the right to repossess in the event of default.
P.C.A. had knowledge of the intended sale on September 20, 1967, as Carter had informed a Mr. Jones at P.C.A. of the contract when Carter applied for an additional advance on the financing agreement in June 1967. On September 20, 1967, the contract date, Carter de-. livered the cattle to Western, the livestock broker, for shipment' to the Augustin lots in Columbus, Nebraska.
■ Because of rejects, only 161 head of steers were actu-, ally delivered to Nebraska. A second sight draft (in the amount of $28,537.76) was again drawn on a- C'olum
Carter endorsed the draft over to P.C.A. and forwarded it to it for credit to his account. P.C.A. sent the draft through regular banking channels for collection. Approximately 2 weeks later, P.C.A. was informed that the draft was being dishonored for insufficient funds and was being returned.
Augustin sold the cattle to defendant Lannan,- delivered possession, and received payment from Lannan. After learning of Lannan’s possession of the cattle, P.C.A. caused a financing statement covering the 161 head of steers to be recorded with the county clerk of Platte County, Nebraska, thus perfecting the security interest, pursuant to the Nebraska Uniform Commercial Code; and made a demand for return of the cattle from Lannan. The demand was refused, whereupon this action commenced.
The district court found that P.C.A. had knowledge of the proposed sale; that it had failed to rebuke or object to the salé; and therefore it “had waived its security interest in the cattle.”
There is no evidence in the record to support the defendant’s allegation in his amended answer that P.C.A. had orally or in writing waived its security interest under the terms, of the financing agreement. In essence, then, the defense to this action, in violation of the express terms of the security financing'agreement, is based on the doctrine of implied consent or authorization (§ 9-306(2), U: C. C.) flowing from P.C.A.’s-acknowledgment of the sale, and its failure to rebuke or object and require compliance with the express terms of the agreement when it accepted and applied the proceeds of the sale on the loan.
- "The evidence .reveals'¿.typical farm-ranch operation contemplating a’ course of dealing in the sale of farm products, and the necessity of securing credit financing for' such an operation. The Uniform Commercial Code,
Wie have already had occasion to construe section 9-306(2), U. C. C., in a slightly different factual context, but the principles therein announced furnish the guide for an approach and a determination in the factual context of this case. In Overland Nat. Bank v. Aurora Coop. Elevator Co., 184 Neb. 843, 172 N. W. 2d 786, we held that a provision in a security agreement granting a security interest in proceeds of collateral, as well as in the collateral itself, does not amount to written consent to dispose of collateral but only a provision that should a sale, exchange, or other disposition occur, the proceeds also would be covered by the security agreement.
In the Overland case, the borrower expressly promised not to sell or otherwise dispose of the collateral. In our case here the borrower covenanted not to dispose of the collateral without written consent. The financing agreement, herein, and the provisions of section 9-306(2), U. C. C., provide that the security interest of the lender continues in any identifiable proceeds including collections received by the debtor. It is difficult to see, either considering the purpose of the code, or examining the
In this case we have a coupling of a provision prohibiting disposition of the collateral without written consent, together with a reservation of a security interest in the proceeds of any sale. These provisions cannot be construed otherwise than a further protection for the security holder under the terms of the code, and cannot be construed as provisions which open up the door to an expanded permissiveness or consent to the borrower, or a purchaser bound by the filing and notice provisions of the code. See Overland Nat. Bank v. Aurora Coop. Elevator Co., supra.
Lannan, defendant here, must necessarily rely upon a previous course of dealing between the lender and the debtor, amounting to nothing more than a failure to object or rebuke the debtor for selling without written consent. At the same time P.C.A. was entitled to rely upon its agreement and the provisions of the code giving it a continuing perfected security interest in the identifiable proceeds of the sale. Considering the realities involved
We are aware that section 1-205, U. C. C., provides that a course of dealing which by previous conduct between the parties, may alter an agreement by fact recognition. But, as we have said, we fail to see how a failure to rebuke or object contemporaneous with a delivery by the debtor and acceptance of the proceeds to which the security agreement attaches, can be construed as a voluntary and intelligent waiver by the lender of its right under a perfected security agreement against a third party purchaser, and this is particularly true when the security agreement itself provides a specific means for obtaining such waiver.
The code does provide for certain situations where a security interest in collateral is defeated, even in the absence of authorization by the security agreement or by the secured party. These provisions need no detailed examination for the purpose of this case. They relate to purchasers in the ordinary course of trade and if applicable leave the secured party with only an interest in the proceeds from the sale. It is true that Western’s purchase of the cattle from Carter was in good faith and without knowledge of the course of dealing between
The cattle herein are by definition “farm products,” and they were bought from Carter, a seller engaged in “raising, fattening, grazing, or other farming operations.” (Emphasis supplied.) § 9-109(3), U. C. C. This being the case, Western did not take the cattle free of the security interest created by the seller, Carter, under these applicable provisions of the code. It therefore appears that since Western received the cattle subject to P.C.A.’s security interest, no person who thereafter purchased the cattle from the seller was free of the security interest of P.C.A.. P.C.A. had a continuously perfected security interest by virtue of its filing a financing statement in Nebraska within 4 months of the collateral’s removal to this state. See §§ 9-103(3) and 9-401(4), U. C. C.
The conclusion we come to herein is in harmony with the express provisions of section 1-205(4), U. C. C., which states: “The express terms of an agreement and an applicable course of dealing or usage of the trade shall be construed whenever reasonable as consistent with each other; but when such construction is unreasonable express terms control both course of dealing and usage of trade and course of dealing controls usage of trade.” (Emphasis supplied.)
As wie have pointed out the mere failure to rebuke the seller, the reasonable acceptance of the proceeds of the sale when actually delivered to apply upon the debt, are not acts which indicate intention to waive a security interest, but in the event such unreasonable act is inconsistent and contradictory of the express agreement, then the express terms control both the course of deal
We are not -called upon to decide this case on the basis of our previous case law. Our decision herein is in harmony with the general rule that in order to -establish a waiver of legal right there must be a clear, unequivocal and decisive act of a party showing such a purpose, or acts amounting to an estoppel on his part. 28 Am. Jur. 2d, Estoppel and Waiver, § 158, p. 842; Jessen v. Blackard, 159 Neb. 103, 65 N. W. 2d 345. In the last-mentioned case, a waiver was characterized as a “voluntary abandonment or surrender, by a capable person, of a right known by him to exist, with the intention that such right shall be surrendered and such person forever deprived of its benefit.”
We observe further that the record reveals that the secured agreements here between P.C.A. and Carter were periodically reexecuted and contained a prohibition against resale without written authorization. The record shows that P.C.A. was engaged in a business involving the extension of loans on collateral involving some $60,000,000 or $70,000,000. We feel it cannot seriously be contended that P.C.A., by the methods by which it carried out its business and dealt with its debtors'-during the continuing contemplated process of sales of collateral farm products, intended to waive its security interest in the collateral against third party purchasers.
For the reasons given the judgment of the district court holding that there was a valid waiver of the perfected security interest of P.C.A. is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
Plaintiff relies on the provisions of section 9-307(1)
I disagree with the result arrived at by the majority of the members of this court. It is held that since the security agreement provides that consent to sale must
Gilmore, in his work entitled “Security Interests in Personal Property,” in commenting on security interests in farm products states in Volume II, § 26:11, p. 715: “The usual common law rules of waiver and estoppel may of course be invoked against such a secured party, and the debtor’s authority to sell the collateral may derive either from an express provision in the security agreement or from the secured party’s actions or conduct. In his filed financing statement the secured party may claim not only the original collateral but its proceeds. If he does so, his interest in the proceeds continues perfected indefinitely after their receipt by the debtor. A ‘proceeds’ claim in a financing statement suggests, however, a financing arrangement under which the debtor is expected to sell the collateral and the secured party expects to be reimbursed from the proceeds. The statutory text stops short of saying that good faith buyers without actual notice take free of a security interest when the financing statement covers proceeds, but the Comment to § 9-306(2) cautiously remarks that such a claim ‘might be considered as impliedly author
We have held that a security agreement which covers proceeds may not be deemed to authorize sale by implication. See Overland Nat. Bank v. Aurora Coop. Elevator Co., 184 Neb. 843, 172 N. W. 2d 786. It is nevertheless a factor to be considered in determining whether an implied consent to sale has been given.
In Clovis National Bank v. Thomas, 77 N. M. 554, 425 P. 2d 726, cattle subject to a security agreement containing a similar provision forbidding sale without prior written consent was dealt with. The court stated: “The plaintiff, if not expressly consenting to the questioned sales, certainly impliedly acquiesced in .and consented thereto. It not only permitted Mr. Bunch, but permitted all its other debtors who granted security interests in cattle, to retain possession of the cattle and to sell the same from time to time as the debtor chose, and it relied upon the honesty of each debtor to bring in the proceeds from his sales to be applied on his indebtedness.
“Plaintiff was fully aware of its right to require its written authority to sell or otherwise dispose of the collateral, but it elected to waive this right. Waiver is the intentional abandonment or relinquishment of a known right.”
In Hempstead Bank v. Andy’s Car Rental System, Inc., 35 App. Div. 2d 35, 312 N. Y. S. 2d 317, an automobile rental company sold its used cars, which were subject to a security interest, to an automobile wholesaler. It was held that the purchase was not made from one in the business of selling automobiles and was therefore not made in the ordinary course of business. U. C. C., § 1-201(9). The court stated: “In sum, we hold that as a matter of law Auto Buyers did not purchase from a person in the business of selling automobiles and is not, therefore, entitled to the protection afforded to buyers
In Overland Nat. Bank v. Aurora Coop. Elevator Co., supra, this court conceded the possibility of an implied authorization to sell.
Plaintiff cites section 9-205, U. C. C., which states that a security interest is not invalid or fraudulent against creditors because the debtor may dispose of the collateral. Suffice it to say that this section does not include bona fide purchasers for value within its purview. It is limited in its scope to persons extending credit to the debtor.
There has been some criticism of the Clovis National Bank case due to the fact that in that case the security holder did not have actual knowledge of the particular sale at issue prior to delivery of the cattle. That is not true here. Plaintiff accepted and credited upon the debtor’s note the downpayment made by Augustin Brothers on the cattle. It likewise accepted and credited the final draft. It had frequently acquiesced in previous sales by the debtor and on the strength of this particular sale had made an additional loan to the debtor. Notwithstanding full knowledge of the sale before its final consummation and delivery of the cattle to the purchasers, it failed to object until the Augustin Brothers’ final draft was dishonored. By that time defendant had purchased the cattle in good faith and received possession. The conduct of plaintiff evidences an intentional relinquishment of its contract-right.to stop the sale and a deliberate waiver of that right. “The essential elements of a waiver, * * * are the existence, at the time of the .alleged waiver, of a right, advantage, or benefit, the knowledge, actual or constructive, of the existence thereof, and an intention to relinquish such right, advantage, or benefit.” 56 Am. Jur., Waiver, § 12, p. 113. All of the
There are also elements of estoppel present. By failing to question its debtor’s sale of the cattle to Augustin Brothers, plaintiff made it possible for defendant to suffer from the combined acts of its debtor and Augustin Brothers. “Where one of two innocent persons must suffer by the acts of a third, the one whose conduct, act, or omission enabled such third person to occasion the loss must sustain it if the other party acted in good faith without knowledge of the facts, and altered his position to his detriment.” Jordan v. Butler, 182 Neb. 626, 156 N. W. 2d 778.
I respectfully submit that the judgment of the district court should be affirmed.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting.
I concur in the opinion of Newton, J., that the circumstances in this case established both an authorization of the sale by the plaintiff, which waived its security interest in the cattle sold, and a ratification of the sale by the acceptance of the proceeds. See, Farmers’ Nat. Bank v. Missouri Livestock Commission Co., 53 F. 2d 991; First Nat. Bank & Trust Co. v. Stock Yards Loan Co., 65 F. 2d 226; Seymour v. Standard Live Stock Commission Co., 110 Neb. 185, 192 N. W. 398; Warrick v. Rasmussen, 112 Neb. 299, 199 N. W. 544. These long-standing principles of law and equity have not been displaced by any provision of the code. See § 1-103, U. C. C.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Garden City Production Credit Assn., Appellant, v. J. P. Lannan, Appellee
- Cited By
- 43 cases
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- Published