Court Opinion

ID: 4702477
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-09 16:01:57.093343+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:25.098450
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                     United States Court of Appeals
                      UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS         Tenth Circuit

                            FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT                            July 9, 2021
                        _________________________________
                                                                        Christopher M. Wolpert
                                                                            Clerk of Court
 TWIFORD ENTERPRISES, INC., a
 Wyoming corporation; THOMAS JOSEPH
 TWIFORD; STANETTA RUTH
 TWIFORD; PATRICIA ANNETTE
 TWIFORD; JACK IRVING TWIFORD,
                                                              No. 20-8048
       Plaintiffs - Appellants,                      (D.C. No. 1:20-CV-00028-NDF)
                                                                (D. Wyo.)
 v.

 ROLLING HILLS BANK & TRUST, an
 Iowa corporation,

       Defendant - Appellee.
                      _________________________________

                            ORDER AND JUDGMENT*
                        _________________________________

Before MATHESON, BACHARACH, and CARSON, Circuit Judges.
                  _________________________________

       Plaintiffs-Appellants are Twiford Enterprises, Inc. (“TEI”), and Twiford family

members who are shareholders of TEI and guarantors of its loans (collectively, the

“Twifords”). TEI is a cattle-ranching business in Wyoming. The Twifords have owned

their family ranch since the 19th century. They sued their creditor, Defendant-Appellee

Rolling Hills Bank & Trust (“RHB”), an Iowa-based bank with a branch in Wyoming.

       *
         This order and judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of
law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. It may be cited, however, for its
persuasive value consistent with Fed. R. App. P. 32.1 and 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
       The complaint alleged that RHB misled the Twifords to induce them to refinance

their real estate loans with RHB. It further alleged that RHB, after refinancing the real

estate loans, manufactured a default. The district court granted summary judgment for

RHB. Exercising jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, we affirm.

                                   I. BACKGROUND

                                    A. Factual History

       In 2014, TEI refinanced its cattle loans with multiple loans from RHB. The cattle

loan notes each included the following choice-of-law provision:

              This Note is governed by the laws of Iowa, the United States
              of America, and to the extent required, by the laws of the
              jurisdiction where the Property is located, except to the extent
              such state laws are preempted by federal law.

App., Vol. 4 at 1022.

       When it approved TEI’s cattle loans, RHB also expressed interest in refinancing

TEI’s real estate loans. TEI was reticent because financing the cattle and real estate loans

with the same lender would cross-collateralize the loans and expose TEI’s real estate to

the cattle loans’ risks. RHB said it would not offer TEI a real estate loan unless it felt

comfortable with TEI’s business.

       TEI claims it requested an advance to pay one of its vendors shortly after RHB

issued the cattle loans. RHB expressed surprise, having understood when it issued the

cattle loans that TEI was current on its vendor payments. An RHB representative later

determined that RHB’s concerns had been resolved. But unbeknownst to TEI, RHB’s

board did not support continued involvement with TEI’s cattle loans.
                                              2
      RHB’s representative again told TEI that RHB wanted to finance its real estate

loans, and it did so in 2015. The real estate loans contained Iowa choice-of-law

provisions.

      After issuing TEI’s real estate loans, RHB stopped advancing funds to TEI,

causing TEI to fall behind on multiple loans. RHB then found TEI to be in default. TEI

was unable to find new lenders to refinance its loans. In May 2016, TEI signed several

debt modification agreements with RHB, which amended the maturity date of TEI’s

loans and revised the payment terms.

      The debt modification agreements each contained a waiver:

              WAIVER. I waive all claims, defenses, setoffs, or
              counterclaims relating to the Prior Obligation, or any
              document securing the Prior Obligation, that I may have.
              Any party to the Prior Obligation that does not sign this
              Modification, shall remain liable under the terms of the Prior
              Obligation unless released in writing by [RHB].

Id. at 1025, 1033, 1040, 1047.

      TEI also signed two forbearance agreements with RHB, one in June 2016 and one

in March 2017. They provided TEI with more time to pay off its loans and an additional

$350,000 and $500,000 of credit, respectively.

      The forbearance agreements contained similar releases (the “Releases”):

              BORROWER AND GUARANTORS . . . HEREBY
              ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY AND
              IRREVOCABLY RELEASE[], REMISE[] AND FOREVER
              DISCHARGE[] THE LENDER . . . OF AND FROM ALL
              DEMANDS, ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, SUITS,
              COVENANTS, CONTRACTS, CONTROVERSIES,
              AGREEMENTS, PROMISES, SUMS OF MONEY,
                                             3
              ACCOUNTS, BILLS, RECKONINGS, DAMAGES AND
              ANY AND ALL OTHER CLAIMS, COUNTERCLAIMS,
              DEFENSES, RIGHTS OF SET-OFF, DEMANDS AND
              LIABILITIES WHATSOEVER OF EVERY NAME AND
              NATURE, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR
              UNSUSPECTED, BOTH AT LAW AND IN EQUITY,
              WHICH ANY BORROWER . . . MAY NOW OR
              HEREAFTER OWN, HOLD, HAVE OR CLAIM TO HAVE
              AGAINST THE RELEASEES OR ANY OF THEM FOR,
              UPON, OR BY REASON OF ANY NATURE, CAUSE OR
              THING WHATSOEVER WHICH ARISES AT ANY TIME
              ON OR PRIOR TO THE DAY AND DATE OF THIS
              MODIFICATION AGREEMENT, FOR OR ON ACCOUNT
              OF, OR IN RELATION TO, OR IN ANY WAY IN
              CONNECTION WITH THIS MODIFICATION
              AGREEMENT AND/OR THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS
              AMENDED, SUPPLEMENTED, MODIFIED, RESTATED
              OR REPLACED THROUGH THE DATE HEREOF.

Id. at 1052-53, 1070. The Twifords all signed as guarantors, “specifically consent[ing] to

and join[ing] in the agreement and the waivers and releases contained therein.” See id.

at 1055-56, 1073. The forbearance agreements also contained Iowa choice-of-law

provisions. See id. at 1053, 1071 (“This Modification Agreement shall be governed and

construed under Iowa law and applicable laws of the United States of America.”).1

       1
         Although the debt modification agreements did not contain choice-of-law
clauses, they did contain a clause continuing the terms of the underlying agreements. See
App., Vol. 4 at 1024, 1032, 1039, 1046 (“[A]ll other terms and provisions in the Prior
Obligation survive and continue in full force and effect, except to the extent that they are
specifically and expressly amended by th[e] Modification.”). The underlying agreements
contained Iowa choice-of-law clauses.

                                             4
                                   B. Procedural History

       TEI filed a Chapter 11 petition in the Wyoming bankruptcy court.2 After taking

discovery, the Twifords filed an adversary complaint against RHB, claiming breach of

contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligence, fraud,

and negligent misrepresentation. They alleged that in offering the loans, RHB

misrepresented its confidence in the Twifords’ business and its intentions to engage in a

long-term banking relationship with them. Having induced the Twifords to refinance

their real estate loan with RHB based on these representations, RHB then allegedly

manufactured a default.

       RHB moved to dismiss. It also moved the district court to withdraw its referral of

the adversary case to the bankruptcy court.3 The district court granted the withdrawal

motion, thereby transferring proceedings to the district court.4

       2
         District courts have jurisdiction over “all cases under [T]itle 11,” see 28 U.S.C
§ 1334(a), as well as “all civil proceedings arising under [T]itle 11, or arising in or related
to cases under [T]itle 11,” id. § 1334(b). By Wyoming local rule, “[a]ll cases under
Title 11, United States Code, and all proceedings arising under Title 11 or arising in or
related to cases under Title 11, shall be automatically referred to the Bankruptcy Judge.”
See D. Wyo. L. Civ. R. 85(a); see also 28 U.S.C § 157(a).
       3
        See 28 U.S.C § 157(d) (“The district court may withdraw, in whole or in part,
any case or proceeding referred [to a bankruptcy judge] under this section [about Title 11
proceedings] . . . for cause shown.”).
       4
         The district court concluded that “this case does not ‘arise’ under Title 11” and
“the claims [are not] . . . sufficiently ‘related to a case under [T]itle 11’ such that
jurisdiction is proper in the Bankruptcy Court.” See App., Vol. 4 at 1011. The parties
agree that the district court had diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C § 1332(a).

                                              5
       The district court then converted RHB’s motion to dismiss to a motion for

summary judgment and granted the motion to RHB. It disposed of most of the Twifords’

claims by applying the Iowa Credit Agreement Statute of Frauds. But it also concluded

that “even if the majority of Plaintiffs’ claims were not barred by application of the

statute of frauds, . . . they would be barred by the releases.” App., Vol. 7 at 1783. The

Twifords now appeal.

                                    II. DISCUSSION

       The Releases bar the Twifords’ claims. We reject their contention that economic

duress made the Releases unenforceable. We thus affirm.

                                  A. Standard of Review

       We review the district court’s grant of summary judgment de novo. See Sandoval

v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 952 F.3d 1233, 1236 (10th Cir. 2020). “The court shall

grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any

material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ.

P. 56(a). We view the evidence and draw all reasonable inferences in the light most

favorable to the Twifords. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 255

(1986).

                                        B. Analysis

       In the following analysis, we conclude that (1) the choice-of-law provisions in the

various loan agreements and Wyoming’s choice-of-law rules call for the application of

                                             6
Iowa’s substantive law; (2) the Releases bar the Twifords’ claims; and (3) economic

duress, the only defense the Twifords present against the Releases, does not apply.

   Applicable Law

       a. Legal background

       In this diversity action, “[w]e look to the conflict of laws rules of . . . the forum

state[] to determine which state’s laws will be controlling.” Mountain Fuel Supply v.

Reliance Ins. Co., 933 F.2d 882, 887 (10th Cir. 1991) (citing Klaxon v. Stentor Elec. Mfg.

Co., 313 U.S. 487, 491 (1941)); see also Emps. Mut. Cas. Co. v. Bartile Roofs, Inc., 618

F.3d 1153, 1170 (10th Cir. 2010) (“In a diversity action, we apply the substantive law of

the forum state, including its choice of law rules.” (quotation omitted)).

       The parties’ agreements contain Iowa choice-of-law clauses. “The enforceability

of . . . choice of law . . . provisions are questions of law which we review de novo.” Riley

v. Kingsley Underwriting Agencies, Ltd., 969 F.2d 953, 956 (10th Cir. 1992); see also

Emps. Mut. Cas. Co., 618 F.3d at 1170 (“We review the district court’s choice-of-law

determination de novo.”). We thus apply Wyoming choice-of-law rules to determine

whether to enforce the parties’ choice of Iowa law.

       “Under Wyoming choice of law rules, the law of the state chosen by the parties to

govern their contract presumptively applies.” R&G Elec., Inc. v. Devon Energy Corp.,

53 F. App’x 857, 859 (10th Cir. 2002) (unpublished) (citing Res. Tech. Corp. v. Fisher

Sci. Co., 924 P.2d 972, 975 (Wyo. 1996); Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 187

                                               7
(Am. L. Inst. 1971) [hereinafter Restatement]).5 “If, however, the parties select foreign

law contrary to the law, public policy, or the general interests of Wyoming’s citizens,

Wyoming courts will not enforce the parties’ choice of law provision.” Id. (citing

Smithco Eng’g, Inc. v. Int’l Fabricators, Inc., 775 P.2d 1011, 1018 (Wyo. 1989)).

       The Wyoming Supreme Court also has said that “[i]n analyzing choice of law

questions, [it] uses the approach defined by the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of

Laws.” Elworthy v. First Tenn. Bank, 391 P.3d 1113, 1120 (Wyo. 2017). “The

Restatement . . . generally respects the parties’ contractual choice of law.” Bradley v.

Bradley, 164 P.3d 537, 543 (Wyo. 2007). When “the particular issue is one which the

parties could have resolved by an explicit provision in their agreement directed to that

issue,” then “[t]he law of the state chosen by the parties to govern their contractual rights

and duties will be applied.” Res. Tech. Corp., 924 P.2d at 975 (quoting Restatement

§ 187(1)).

       b. Iowa law applies

       The choice-of-law provisions in the parties’ contracts provide that Iowa law shall

govern. This selection “presumptively applies.” See R&G Elec., Inc., 53 F. App’x

at 859. Whether RHB has liability is an “issue . . . which the parties could have resolved

by an explicit provision in their agreement,” and under the Restatement, we apply “[t]he

       5
         We cite this unpublished opinion as instructive. See 10th Cir. R. 32.1
(“Unpublished decisions are not precedential, but may be cited for their persuasive
value.”); see also Fed. R. App. P. 32.1.

                                              8
law of the state chosen by the parties.” Res. Tech. Corp., 924 P.2d at 975 (quoting

Restatement § 187(1)).

       Iowa law applicable to the Releases is not “contrary to the law, public policy, or

the general interests of Wyoming’s citizens.” See id. Indeed, “long-established

Wyoming precedent” supports the enforcement of agreements relinquishing claims. See

Cowboy’s LLC v. Schumacher, 419 P.3d 498, 502 (Wyo. 2018). The Twifords concede

that “[f]or the examination of the District Court’s grant of summary judgment on

Plaintiffs’ claims that the forbearance agreements were unenforceable, it makes no

difference what law is applied.” See Aplt. Br. at 41. They cannot contend that applying

Iowa law to the forbearance agreements would contravene Wyoming public policy.6

       We thus use Iowa substantive law for our analysis.

   The Releases

       a. Legal background

       Under Iowa law, “a release is a contract . . . governed by the usual rules relating to

contracts.” Verne R. Houghton Ins. Agency, Inc. v. Orr Drywall Co., 470 N.W.2d 39, 42

       6
          The Twifords suggest in their reply brief that Iowa law violates Wyoming public
policy. See Aplt. Reply Br. at 6. But this contention appears limited to a continuation of
their opening brief’s argument that the Iowa Credit Agreement Statute of Frauds is
contrary to Wyoming policy. See Aplt. Br. at 35-38. Our holding based on the Releases
does not rely on that Iowa statute. If the Twifords intended to make a broader argument
in their reply brief, they have waived it. See United States v. Pickel, 863 F.3d 1240, 1259
(10th Cir. 2017) (stating that an appellant “waived” an argument made “for the first time
in [its] reply brief”). For the same reason, the Twifords have waived any argument that
the choice-of-law clauses “should not be strictly enforced” because the “loan documents
were contracts of adhesion.” See Aplt. Reply Br. at 6.

                                              9
(Iowa 1991). Thus, “the intent of the parties must control[,] and except in cases of

ambiguity, this is determined by what the contract itself says.” Id. “[I]f the instrument is

clearly. . . a full release, there is no room for construction.” Id.

       b. The Releases bar the claims

       The Releases bar the Twifords’ suit. The Twifords do not argue that their claims

fall outside the Releases. The Releases state that the Twifords “UNCONDITIONALLY

. . . RELEASE[] . . . THE LENDER . . . FROM ALL DEMANDS . . . WHATSOEVER

OF EVERY NAME AND NATURE, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, . . . BOTH AT LAW

AND IN EQUITY, WHICH ANY BORROWER . . . MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER . . .

HAVE OR CLAIM TO HAVE . . . IN ANY WAY IN CONNECTION WITH . . . THE

LOAN DOCUMENTS . . . .” App., Vol. 4 at 1052-53, 1070. The parties plainly

intended to enter into a “full release.” See Verne R. Houghton Ins. Agency, 470 N.W.2d

at 42; see also Lathrop v. Century, Inc., No. 01-1058, 2002 WL 31425215, at *4 (Iowa

Ct. App. Oct. 30, 2002) (“The appellate courts of [Iowa] have consistently upheld the

validity of broadly worded releases.”).7

       7
         We would reach the same conclusion under Wyoming law. As in Iowa, releases
in Wyoming are “scrutinize[d] . . . with [the] traditional standard for construing
contracts.” M & A Constr. Corp. v. Akzo Nobel Coatings, Inc., 936 P.2d 451, 456
(Wyo. 1997). The “basic purpose in construing or interpreting a contract is to determine
the intention and understanding of the parties. If the contract is in writing and the
language is clear and unambiguous, the intention is to be secured from the words of the
contract.” Id. (quotation omitted).

                                               10
   Economic Duress

       a. Legal background

       Under Iowa law,8 “a party claiming economic duress must prove the following

elements: (1) a party involuntarily accepted the terms made by another party,

(2) circumstances permitted no other alternative, and (3) such circumstances were the

result of coercive acts of the other party.” City of Asbury v. Iowa City Dev. Bd., 723

N.W.2d 188, 200 (Iowa 2006). “[T]he burden of proving economic duress is upon the

party alleging it.” Fees v. Mut. Fire & Auto. Ins. Co., 490 N.W.2d 55, 58 (Iowa 1992).

       “The assertion of duress must be proven by evidence that the duress resulted from

defendant’s wrongful and oppressive conduct and not by plaintiff’s necessities.” Turner

v. Low Rent Hous. Agency of City of Des Moines, 387 N.W.2d 596, 599 (Iowa 1986)

(quotation omitted). “[T]he plaintiff must go beyond the mere showing of a reluctance to

accept and of financial embar[r]assment.” Id. (quotation omitted).

       Also, the Iowa Supreme Court has said “an alleged victim of duress may not

obtain part of the benefits of an agreement and disavow the rest.” Id. Thus, receiving

payment under a settlement agreement precludes a defense of economic duress. See id.

       8
        “[Q]uestions involving the effect of misrepresentation, duress, undue influence
and mistake upon a contract are determined by the law chosen by the parties, if they have
made an effective choice.” Restatement § 201 cmt. a.

                                            11
       b. Economic duress does not apply

       The Twifords argue “[t]he release[s] contained with the two forbearance

agreements are unenforceable because they were wrongfully procured through economic

duress.” Aplt. Br. at 39 (all-capitalization and emphasis removed). Their economic

duress defense fails.

       First, the Twifords cannot overcome the Iowa rule that “an alleged victim of

duress may not obtain part of the benefits of an agreement and disavow the rest.” Turner,

387 N.W.2d at 599. The forbearance agreements extended the period to repay their

loans. See Iowa State Bd. of Eng’g Examiners v. Olson, 421 N.W.2d 523, 526 (Iowa

1988) (“Forbearance to press a claim may serve as a consideration for a contract of

settlement.”). They also received $850,000 in additional credit. The Twifords thus

received the benefits of both time and money through the forbearance agreements. They

therefore cannot disavow the Releases.9

       Second, to claim economic duress, plaintiffs must show that “no other alternative”

existed. See Turner, 387 N.W.2d at 598-99. The evidence, viewed in the light most

favorable to the Twifords, does not show lack of alternatives. For example, the Twifords

do not state they had no available assets they could have liquidated to generate capital in

lieu of signing the agreements. Nor do they explain why they could not have brought an

       9
         See also Roberts v. Wells Fargo AG Credit Corp., 990 F.2d 1169, 1174 (10th
Cir. 1993) (concluding under Oklahoma law that “because Wells Fargo was in no way
obligated to renew the line of credit note beyond the maturity date, . . . plaintiffs were not
entitled to assert economic duress” after accepting the credit extension).

                                             12
action for breach of contract earlier rather than signing the Releases. See id. at 599

(noting the possibility a party could “have sued on the contract” presented an

“alternative[]” undermining economic duress). They therefore have not “proven by

evidence that the duress resulted . . . not by plaintiff’s necessities.” See id. (emphasis and

quotation omitted).

       Thus, the Twifords cannot claim economic duress.10

                                    III. CONCLUSION

       We affirm the district court’s judgment.

                                               Entered for the Court

                                               Scott M. Matheson, Jr.
                                               Circuit Judge

       10
          We would reach the same conclusion under Wyoming law. See Pittard v. Great
Lakes Aviation, 156 P.3d 964, 975 (Wyo. 2007) (“In order to prove a claim of economic
duress, [a plaintiff] must show: (1) he involuntarily accepted the terms of [an]
agreement; (2) circumstances permitted no other alternative; and (3) such circumstances
were the result of coercive acts by [the defendant].”).

                                             13