United American Life Insurance Co. v. Zions First National Bank
United American Life Insurance Co. v. Zions First National Bank
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff brought this action to compel defendant Zions First National Bank to re-convey a trust deed on unimproved land and permanently to enjoin the bank from proceeding with a trustee’s sale. The trial court found in favor of the bank and plaintiff appeals.
The record supports the following facts. In November, 1968, the bank loaned $150,-
By 1973, no payments had been made on the principal. Interest payments had been made but not on a timely basis. Negotiations ultimately resulted in extension and modification agreements which changed the interest rate and extended the time to July 1, 1978, when the entire balance was to become due and payable.
From August 6, 1973, through December 10, 1973, Franklin Johnson and Wayne Hintze, the bank’s Senior Vice President, exchanged correspondence regarding payment of $75,000 on the loan and amortization of the balance of $75,000 over a five-year period. On December 10, 1973, Johnson visited Hintze at the bank. Although disputed by Johnson,
TO: FILE
FROM: Wayne S. Hintze, Vice President
SUBJECT: Bar 70 Ranches
Today Mr. Franklin Johnson indicated that he would be able- to pay $75,000 on the principle [sic] of the subject loan reducing it to $75,000, that then he would ask that the balance of the $75,000 be taken over by our Commercial Loan Department with the understanding that they would pay $25,000 within 30 days and the balance of $50,000 within a 90 day period on a personal loan to he [sic] and Glendon Johnson.
The court also found that Hintze agreed that the bank would release its trust deed lien on Bar 70 Ranches when and if the bank received full payment.
Also in December, 1973, Franklin Johnson and United American Life (plaintiff) agreed to a refinancing package wherein plaintiff agreed to advance Johnson $185,-000 in addition to a prior loan outstanding on property located in Weber County, Utah; provided it be given additional collateral, including a first lien on the Bar 70 Ranches.
In January, 1974, plaintiff mailed a check in the amount of $152,816.98 to Title Insurance Agency of Salt Lake City, Utah, with instructions to pay the bank $50,000.
On January 23, 1974, Title Insurance Agency drew a check in the sum of $50,000 payable to the bank. On the voucher portion of the check were printed the following words:
Attached check is in settlement of accounts listed hereon. Before depositing, detach this duplicate of voucher and retain for your record. If not correct, return.
Thereunder, the following language had been typewritten:
Payment in full of Trust Deed dated November 19, 1968, executed by Bar 70 Ranches, Inc. recorded November 20, 1968, as Entry No. _, in Book 170, pages 198 — 200.
Sometime subsequent to January 25, 1974, one George Robinson of Title Insurance Agency went to the bank and delivered the $50,000 check to either Hintze or Hintze’s secretary. Hintze saw the check but neglected to note the language con
On December 21, 1976, Johnson Land Company (by Franklin Johnson) conveyed Bar 70 Ranches property to plaintiff. On or about January 4, 1977, Title Insurance Agency wrote for plaintiff an owner’s policy of title insurance. No reference was made therein as to the bank’s trust deed lien although it was still of record.
When Johnson’s loan became delinquent, on March 31, 1978, the bank recorded a notice of default. Plaintiff secured a temporary restraining order, which halted foreclosure pending this action. After hearing the evidence, the trial court found in favor of the bank. The court concluded that the bank was entitled to proceed with the foreclosure action and that in the event plaintiff pays the bank the total amount of the indebtedness
On appeal, plaintiff claims that the trial court erred in failing to find “accord and satisfaction” and “equitable estoppel.”
Plaintiff contends that endorsement of the check for $50,000 constituted an accord and satisfaction of the bank’s lien. An accord and satisfaction is a method of discharging a contract, or settling a claim arising from a contract, by substituting for such contract or claim an agreement for the satisfaction thereof, and the execution of the substituted agreement.
Ordinarily, the payment of part of a debt does not discharge it; and this is- true even though the paying debtor exacts a promise that it will do so. The reason for this is that in making the part payment, the debtor is doing nothing more than he is legally obligated to do, and therefore he gives the creditor no consideration for the promise that the part payment will be accepted to discharge the entire debt.
The party alleging accord and satisfaction has the burden of proving
Plaintiff also claims that the doctrine of equitable estoppel precludes the bank from denying its duty to reconvey the trust deed.
Elements of equitable estoppel are as follows: conduct by one party which leads another party, in reliance thereon, to adopt a course of action resulting in detriment or damage if the first party is permitted to repudiate his conduct.
Just as was the case for the accord and satisfaction issue discussed supra, the issue of equitable estoppel also turns on the facts. There being substantial evidence in the record to support the trial judge’s findings, we do not substitute our judgment for his.
Affirmed. Costs to the bank.
. Johnson testified that Hintze agreed to release the trust deed upon payment of $75,000, with the balance to be carried as a personal unsecured loan.
. By letter dated January 2, 1974, plaintiff advised Title Insurance Agency that “... there is a lien due to Zions First National Bank in the amount of $150,000. It is understood that this lien may be released upon payment of $50,000 to the Zions First National Bank.”
. On June 12, 1974, Franklin Johnson paid an additional $25,000, which was applied on the loan.
. “The balance of $83,906.23 with accrued interest of $31,850.00 and late charges of $12,-515.63 to the date of trial and attorney’s fees [to the date of the judgment] in the sum of $8,200.00 _”
. Cannon v. Stevens School of Business, Inc., Utah, 560 P.2d 1383 (1977). See also, 1 Am. Jur.2d, Accord and Satisfaction, § 1.
. Utah, 535 P.2d 1228 (1975).
. Hintze v. Seaich, 20 Utah 2d 275, 437 P.2d 202 (1968).
. Tates, Inc. v. Little America Refining Co., supra, note 6.
. This Court must assume that the trial court believed those aspects of the evidence which may be deemed to support his findings and judgment. Tates, Inc. v. Little America Refining Co., supra, note 6, citing Memmott v. United States Fuel Co., 22 Utah 2d 356, 453 P.2d 155 (1969).
.Carnesecca v. Carnesecca, Utah, 572 P.2d 708 (1977), citing Koch, Inc. v. J.C. Penney Co., Utah, 543 P.2d 903 (1975). See also. Celebrity Club, Inc. v. Utah Liquor Control, Utah, 602 P.2d 689 (1979).
. See also, discussion supra with respect to the required consideration for an accord and satisfaction.
. Utah County v. Baxter, Utah, 635 P.2d 61 (1981).
Concurring Opinion
(concurring):
I concur in affirming the lower court’s findings and conclusions that there was not an accord and satisfaction here. I also agree that there should be no estoppel invoked because the plaintiff made its loan to Johnson and took back and recorded its trust deed before the $50,000 check was delivered to the Bank. Also, the Title Insurance Agency wrote and issued its policy insuring the plaintiff’s trust deed as a first lien before the $50,000 check was delivered to the Bank. In view of those facts, neither the plaintiff nor the Title Insurance Agency could have relied on the conduct of the Bank in accepting and cashing the check. However, I do not think it is fatal to the defense of estoppel that Title Insurance Agency is not a party to this action and that the Bank did not make any representation to either Title Insurance Agency or plaintiff. Further, I believe it makes no difference that the $50,000 received by the
Had the plaintiff or Title Insurance Agency relied upon the acceptance of the check by the Bank in the making of the loan or in the writing of the title policy, the existence of these other facts which the majority opinion mentions and apparently relies upon, should not prevent an estoppel from being imposed on the Bank.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Corporation, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. ZIONS FIRST NATIONAL BANK, a National Association, Defendant, Third-Party Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Franklin D. JOHNSON and Kathleen Johnson, His Wife; Glendon E. Johnson and Bobette Johnson, His Wife; Clifton I. Johnson; Johnson Lank Company, a Partnership; And Bar 70 Ranches, Inc., a Nevada Corporation, Third-Party and Additional Party Defendants and Respondents
- Cited By
- 20 cases
- Status
- Published