Court Opinion

ID: 4707060
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-28 06:16:01.485307+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:41.526868
License: Public Domain

REVERSED AND REMANDED IN PART AND DISMISSED IN PART and
Opinion Filed July 26, 2021

                                     In the
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                              No. 05-20-00940-CV

  FIVE STAR GLOBAL, LLC, FIVE STAR GLOBAL HOLDINGS, LLC,
  FIVE STAR GLOBAL INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, LLC, CALIDANT
 CAPITAL, LLC A/K/A CCP WOLF HOLDINGS, LLC, DREW N. BAGOT,
                  AND DAVID W. LAI, Appellants
                             V.
    MARK HULME AND FIVE POINTS HOLDINGS, LLC, Appellees

                On Appeal from the 68th Judicial District Court
                            Dallas County, Texas
                     Trial Court Cause No. DC-20-08643

                        MEMORANDUM OPINION
                  Before Justices Schenck, Reichek, and Carlyle
                           Opinion by Justice Carlyle
      Appellants Five Star Global, LLC (“FSG”), Five Star Global Holdings, LLC,

Five Star Global Investment Holdings, LLC, Calidant Capital, LLC, Drew N. Bagot,

and David W. Lai (collectively, the “FSG Parties”) appeal the trial court’s

interlocutory Order on Plaintiffs’ Application to Appoint Receiver over Five Star

Global, LLC. We reverse in part and dismiss in part in this memorandum opinion.

See TEX. R. APP. P. 47.4.
      FSG organizes and supports trade shows, conferences, and other events

related to the residential mortgage and real estate industries. In May 2018, FSG

acquired certain assets from Five Points Holdings, LLC (“FPH”), in a deal that made

FPH a minority member of the holding company that owns FSG. At the same time,

FSG hired FPH’s owner, Mark Hulme, as its chief creative officer.

      According to Mr. Hulme, FSG wrongfully terminated his employment in April

2019. FSG contends it fired him for cause in January 2020. Regardless, Mr. Hulme

and FPH sued the FSG parties in June 2020 and filed an application to appoint a

receiver over FSG two months later. In their application, they alleged that FSG’s

managers were making preferential payments to themselves and mismanaging the

company, leaving FSG at or near the point of insolvency.

      In support of their application, Mr. Hulme and FPH attached affidavits which

they contend show FSG: (1) wrongfully withheld financial records from FPH; (2)

sustained operating losses in 2018 and 2019; (3) defaulted on a loan from FPH;

(4) defaulted on a loan from Southfield Mezzanine Capital LP; (5) defaulted on a

credit agreement with Veritex Bank; (6) decreased marketing efforts, despite lagging

revenues; and (7) raised limited additional operating capital in 2020, at a valuation

significantly lower than the company’s 2018 valuation, which management then

used to pay insider loans and their own management fees.

      The FSG Parties responded with their own evidence, blaming FSG’s recent

struggles on both record-low foreclosure volumes, which adversely affected demand

                                        –2–
from core customers, and the pandemic, which further drove down foreclosure

volumes and limited its core business of organizing in-person conferences. They

denied that FSG reduced its marketing efforts and asserted the company was being

appropriately managed—as evidenced by, among other things, recent gains made in

transitioning to virtual events. In addition, the FSG parties denied that FSG was

either in default on its loans or insolvent, noting that it projected nearly $300,000

cash on hand by the end of 2020 and more than $1.1 million in adjusted EBITDA in

2021.1 Thus, they argued, there was no imminent danger of great loss that might

warrant a receiver. In fact, appointing a receiver would only harm FSG by potentially

triggering defaults on its loans.

         At the hearing on the application, the trial court said it did not know what to

believe regarding FSG’s financial condition. On the one hand, it thought Mr. Hulme

and FPH “ma[de] a very good argument that this company seems to be on the verge

of collapse.” On the other hand, the FSG Parties “made a very good argument that

it’s not as bad as it seems.” The trial court attributed the confusion, at least in part,

to the fact that the parties were basing their arguments on different information. The

trial court thus entered an order appointing Kevin Buchanan to act as a “limited

receiver” for the purpose of taking possession of FSG’s books and records,

investigating the company’s financial condition, and reporting back on whether the

court should expand his “limited powers.”

   1
       EBITDA refers to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.
                                                    –3–
      The FSG Parties contend the trial court lacked a sufficient basis to appoint a

receiver, an issue we review for abuse of discretion. See Spiritas v. Davidoff, 459

S.W.3d 224, 231 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2015, no pet.). But before we can review the

trial court’s order here, we must determine the extent of our jurisdiction. See

Stevenson v. Ford Motor Co., 608 S.W.3d 109, 115 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2020, no

pet. h.) (appellate courts are obligated to review sua sponte issues affecting

jurisdiction because appellate jurisdiction is never presumed).

      A party may appeal from an interlocutory order only if expressly permitted by

statute, and we strictly apply such statutes “because they are a narrow exception to

the general rule that interlocutory orders are not immediately appealable.” CMH

Homes v. Perez, 340 S.W.3d 444, 447 (Tex. 2011). Where only a portion of an order

qualifies for interlocutory review, we generally cannot exercise jurisdiction over

other portions of the order. See Walker v. Pegasus Eventing, LLC, No. 05-19-00252-

CV, 2020 WL 3248476, at *5 (Tex. App.—Dallas June 16, 2020, pet. denied) (mem.

op.); Schlumberger Ltd. v. Rutherford, 472 S.W.3d 881, 890–91 (Tex. App.—

Houston [1st Dist.] 2015, no pet.); but see Dallas Symphony Ass’n, Inc. v. Reyes, 571

S.W.3d 753, 760–61 & n.36 (Tex. 2019) (neither approving nor disapproving of this

reasoning but noting at least one exception where the statute’s text specifically

authorizes an appeal from an order denying a motion based in whole or in part on an

appealable ground).

                                        –4–
      The Civil Practices and Remedies Code provides that a party may appeal from

an interlocutory order that “appoints a receiver or trustee.” TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.

CODE § 51.014(a)(1). Thus, we have jurisdiction to review the trial court’s order to

the extent it in fact appoints Mr. Buchanan as a receiver. See Chapa v. Chapa, No.

04-12-00519-CV, 2012 WL 6728242, at *5 (Tex. App.—San Antonio Dec. 28, 2012,

no pet.) (mem. op.). But our jurisdiction does not depend on how the trial court labels

its order; rather the order’s substance and function determines its classification for

purposes of our jurisdiction. See Del Valle Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Lopez, 845 S.W.2d

808, 809 (Tex. 1992); Chapa, 2012 WL 6728242, at *5. Here, the trial court’s order

conflates the roles of auditors, masters, and receivers. Compare TEX. CIV. PRAC. &

REM. CODE § 64.031, with TEX. R. CIV. P. 171 (“Master in Chancery”), 172

(“Audit”); see also Chapa, 2012 WL 6728242, at *5 (“Even though the . . . order is

titled ‘Order Appointing Special Master’ and consistently refers to Banales as a

‘Special Master’ in defining his powers, it conflates the roles of master and

receiver.”).

      An auditor is a neutral person appointed by the court to audit accounts,

examine witnesses, and report back to the court. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 172; Diana

Rivera & Assocs., P.C. v. Calvillo, 986 S.W.2d 795, 797 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi

1999, pet. denied). A master, also referred to as a “special master” or “master of

chancery,” is a neutral person appointed by the court to assist with specified legal

matters. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 171; Chapa, 2012 WL 6728242, at *3; see also

                                         –5–
Simpson v. Canales, 806 S.W.2d 802, 805–12 (Tex. 1991) (explaining the historical

role of masters and outlining the requirements for appointing a master in Texas). A

master’s powers typically “include the authority to contact the parties, to conduct

hearings, to require the production of evidence, and to make recommendations to the

court.” Chapa, 2012 WL 6728242, at *3. In contrast, a “receiver,” while also a

neutral person appointed by the court, “is focused on the protection of the property

or funds that are the subject of the case.” Id. A “receiver’s powers and duties include

taking charge and keeping possession of the property, receiving rents, collecting and

compromising demands, making transfers of the property, and performing any other

act in regard to the property authorized by the court.” Id.; see TEX. CIV. PRAC. &

REM. CODE § 64.031.

      In this case, the trial court’s order authorizes Mr. Buchanan to take possession

of and analyze FSG’s books and records, and it requires him to interview

witnesses—including Mr. Hulme and FSG’s key officers—before “fil[ing] a report

with the Court . . . detailing his findings and opinions regarding the current and

future financial condition of FSG, including the reasons for its current financial

condition, its ability to operate as a going concern, and any other matter [he] deems

relevant.” In addition, the court ordered Mr. Buchanan to “include in his report a

recommendation as to whether his limited powers . . . should be expanded and, if so,

a detailed basis for the reasons why.” Notably, the order prohibits Mr. Buchanan

from exercising certain powers typically associated with receivership over an entity.

                                         –6–
In fact, the court specifically ordered that “the management and day-to-day

operations of FSG shall continue unchanged.”

      In substance, the trial court’s order appointed Mr. Buchanan to act as an

auditor, tasked with investigating and reporting on FSG’s financial condition, and a

master, making a recommendation to the court on the legal issue of whether the

evidence suggests a receiver is warranted. The only part of the trial court’s order

arguably giving Mr. Buchanan a receiver’s powers is its authorization to take

possession of FSG’s books and records. It appears in context that the trial court

intended to authorize Mr. Buchanan to obtain FSG’s books and records to audit its

accounts, rather than act as a receiver over those books and records. Regardless, to

the extent the trial court appointed Mr. Buchanan to act as a limited receiver over

FSG’s books and records, it abused its discretion.

      “The appointment of a receiver is disfavored in the law and is only permitted

if it is conclusively shown that: (1) the property is in danger of being lost, removed,

or materially injured; (2) the trial court considered other available options; and (3)

from the evidence before it, the trial court concluded that a less harsh remedy was

unavailable.” Mallou v. Payne & Vendig, 750 S.W.2d 251, 255 (Tex. App.—Dallas

1988, writ denied); see also TEX. BUS. ORGS. CODE § 11.403(a)(3), (b) (authorizing

receiver over specific property of a foreign entity only if the property “is in danger

of being lost, removed, or materially injured” and the court determines all other

available legal and equitable remedies are inadequate); Parness v. Parness, 560

                                         –7–
S.W.2d 181, 182 (Tex. Civ. App.—Dallas 1977, no writ) (“[A] receiver should be

appointed only in those situations where the property involved is in present danger

of being lost, removed or materially injured and should never be ordered if another

remedy, less harsh, is available which will afford the needed protection.”).2 Though

there is some disputed evidence that FSG refused to provide FPH with access to its

books and records outside of litigation, there is no evidence FSG’s books and records

were in danger of being lost or destroyed. Nor is there any reason to think the

discovery process would not adequately facilitate FPH’s access to those records.

        We reverse the trial court’s order to the extent it appoints Mr. Buchanan to act

as a receiver over FSG’s books and records. And because we lack jurisdiction to

review the trial court’s order to the extent it appoints Mr. Buchanan to act as an

auditor or master, we dismiss the remainder of this appeal. See Chapa, 2012 WL

6728242 at *3; Calvillo, 986 S.W.2d at 798. If the FSG parties wish to challenge

other aspects of Mr. Buchanan’s appointment, the proper vehicle to do so is a petition

    2
      The parties agree that Delaware law governs certain substantive aspects of their dispute, while Texas
law governs matters of procedure. See Arkoma Basin Exploration Co., Inc. v. FMF Assocs. 1990-A, Ltd.,
249 S.W.3d 380, 387 & n.17 (Tex. 2008). They disagree, however, about whether the standard for
appointing a receiver is a procedural issue governed by Texas law. We need not determine that issue here
because, under these circumstances, a receiver over FSG’s books and records is not warranted under either
body of law. See Ross Holding & Mgmt. Co. v. Advance Realty Grp., LLC, No. 4113-VCN, 2010 WL
3448227, at *6 (Del. Ch. Sept. 2, 2010) (“[A] court may utilize its equitable powers to appoint a receiver
only ‘when fraud and gross mismanagement by corporate officers, causing real imminent danger of great
loss, clearly appears, and cannot be otherwise prevented.’” (quoting Drob v. Natl’l Mem’l Park, 41 A.2d
589, 597 (Del. Ch. 1945)); Jagodzinski v. Silicon Valley Innovation Co., LLC, No. 6203-VCP, 2012 WL
593613, at *2–3 (Del. Ch. Feb. 14, 2012) (ordering a receiver over books and records only as a remedy for
contempt after the LLC refused to provide the books and records under court order). Further, because we
conclude there is no basis for appointing a receiver over FSG’s books and records, we need not address the
FSG parties’ alternative arguments for reversal on that issue.
                                                   –8–
for a writ of mandamus. See Simpson, 806 S.W.2d at 812; Chapa, 2012 WL 6728242

at *3.3

200940f.p05                                         /Cory L. Carlyle/
                                                    CORY L. CARLYLE
                                                    JUSTICE

   3
      That said, “we are mindful that the trial court will, on remand, have occasion to reconsider its
interlocutory” ruling, so long as that is requested. See Sheikh v. Sheikh, 248 S.W.3d 381, 394–95 (Tex.
App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007, no pet.) (quoting Roebuck v. Horn, 74 S.W.3d 160, 165 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont 2002, no pet.)).
                                                 –9–
                            Court of Appeals
                     Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
                                  JUDGMENT

FIVE STAR GLOBAL, LLC, FIVE                   On Appeal from the 68th Judicial
STAR GLOBAL HOLDINGS, LLC,                    District Court, Dallas County, Texas
FIVE STAR GLOBAL                              Trial Court Cause No. DC-20-08643.
INVESTMENT HOLDINGS, LLC,                     Opinion delivered by Justice Carlyle.
CALIDANT CAPITAL, LLC A/K/A                   Justices Schenck and Reichek
CCP WOLF HOLDINGS, LLC,                       participating.
DREW N. BAGOT, AND DAVID W.
LAI, Appellants

No. 05-20-00940-CV          V.

MARK HULME AND FIVE
POINTS HOLDINGS, LLC,
Appellees

       In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the trial court’s
interlocutory Order on Plaintiffs’ Application to Appoint Receiver over Five Star
Global, LLC is REVERSED to the extent it appoints Kevin Buchanan as a
receiver over Five Star Global, LLC’s books and records, and this cause is
REMANDED to the trial court for further proceedings consistent with this
opinion. The remainder of this appeal is DISMISSED for want of jurisdiction.

       It is ORDERED that appellants Five Star Global, LLC, Five Star Global
Holdings, LLC, Five Star Global Investment Holdings, LLC, Calidant Capital,
LLC a/k/a CCP Wolf Holdings, LLC, Drew N. Bagot, and David W. Lai recover
their costs of this appeal from appellees Mark Hulme and Five Points Holdings,
LLC.

Judgment entered this 26th day of July, 2021.

                                       –10–