Court Opinion

ID: 8484260
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-16 20:03:58.595469+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:49:52.018527
License: Public Domain

STATE OF LOUISIANA

                                        COURT OF APPEAL

                                           FIRST CIRCUIT

                                            2022 CA 0415

                                     BMO HARRIS BANK N.A.

                                               VERSUS
9111f,
                                       KENNETH GAUGLER
      r
 jr" W
                                                       Judgment Rendered:
                                                                               NOV 16 2022

                            On Appeal from the 21 st Judicial District Court
                                  In and for the Parish of Livingston
                                          State of Louisiana
                             Trial Court Docket Number 169916 Div. "F"

                           The Honorable William S. Dykes, Judge Presiding

         Dale M. Maas                                  Counsel for Defendant/Appellant,
         Baton Rouge, Louisiana                        Kenneth Gaugler

         Gary J. Giepert                               Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee,
         New Orleans, Louisiana                        BMO Harris Bank N.A.

                      BEFORE: WELCH, PENZATO, AND LANIER, JJ.
PENZATO, J.

       Defendant/ appellant,        Kenneth   Gaugler,        appeals    from    the   trial   court' s

judgment,      which    granted     a   motion   for     summary        judgment       in    favor     of

plaintiff/appellee, BMO Harris Bank, and ordered that Mr. Gaugler is obligated to

BMO Harris Bank in the amount of $126, 250. 61, plus interest of 9. 06%                     per annum

in accordance with the notes executed,               costs   of $541.   36,   and attorney fees of

 3, 700. 00.   For the following reasons, we affirm.

                       FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       From October 2016 to November 2019, Kenneth Gaugler, as debtor, entered

into seven loan and security agreements with BMO Harris Bank, as lender, wherein

BMO agreed to loan funds to Mr. Gaugler for the purchase of trucks and trailers to

be used in connection with Mr. Gaugler' s trucking business.                      Each agreement

obligated      Mr. Gaugler     to   repay   a stated amount of funds (              principal        plus

precalculated     interest)   to BMO by making a specified number of monthly

installment payments.         In total,   Mr. Gaugler agreed to repay $            1, 101, 939. 56 in

principal and precalculated interest to BMO as a result of the seven loan and

security agreements he signed.

       Each loan was secured by a truck or trailer identified in the agreement.

Importantly, the agreements also included the following terms:

       2. 1 Security Interest. Debtor hereby grants to Lender a first priority
       security interest in the Equipment to secure ( a)           payment of the Total
       Amount and all other obligations of Debtor to Lender under this
       Agreement, ( b) the payment and performance of all other debts,
       liabilities,
                 and obligations of Debtor of every kind and character,
       whether now existing or hereafter arising, to Lender, whether under
       this Agreement or any other agreement....

       5. 1 Events of Default. Time is of the essence. An event of default
       shall occur if: (
                       a)Debtor fails to pay when due any amount owed by it
       to Lender or any Affiliate of Lender under this Agreement, ( b) Debtor
       or Guarantor fails to pay any Liabilities when due to Lender or any
       Affiliate of Lender or is otherwise in default under any other
       document, agreement or instrument....

                                                 2
       5.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, and at any
       time thereafter as long as the default continues, Lender may, at its
       option, with or without notice to Debtor ( i) declare this Agreement to
       be in default, ( ii) declare the indebtedness hereunder to be
       immediately due and payable, ( iii) declare all other debts then owing
       by Debtor to Lender to be immediately due and payable,                        and (   iv)
       exercise all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under the
       Uniform Commercial Code and any other applicable laws.... Debtor
       shall also pay to Lender all expenses of retaking, holding, preparing
       for sale, selling and the like, including without limitation ( a) the
       reasonable fees of any attorneys retained by lender , and ( b) all other
       legal expenses incurred by Lender...           Debtor agrees that Debtor is
       liable for any deficiency remaining after any disposition of Equipment
       after default.....

       In April    2020,    Mr. Gaugler       and   BMO        entered   into    a    Modification

Agreement, wherein the parties agreed that no payments were due on the seven

loans in April 2020, May 2020, and June 2020.                  The payment schedules were

adjusted accordingly; however, all other terms of the original agreements remained

in effect and unchanged.       In a letter dated September 8, 2020, BMO granted Mr.

Gaugler' s request to defer two additional monthly payments and recalculated his

monthly installment payments for the seven loans.

       In March 2021,       BMO filed suit against Mr. Gaugler,                 alleging that he

breached the seven loan and security agreements,                 as well as      the     subsequent

modification agreements, by failing to timely make the required monthly minimum

payments.'    BMO sought judgment in the amount of $705, 844. 15,                     plus attorney

fees, costs, and disbursements.

1 The seven agreements identified in BMO' s suit are: (   1) August 8, 2018 Loan and Security
Agreement ( identified as no. 5002) in the total amount of $66, 696.48, secured by 2019 Fontaine
Steel Drop Deck Flatbed, Serial Number 13N2532CXK1528379; ( 2) October 20, 2016 Loan and
Security Agreement (identified as no. 7003) in the total amount of $224, 933. 36, secured by 2017
Peterbilt 389 -Series, Serial Number 1XPXD49X3HD444678; ( 3) October 9, 2016 Loan and
Security Agreement ( identified as no. 9001) in the amount of $219, 857. 04, secured by 2020
Peterbilt 567, Serial Number 1XPCD49X6LD659415; ( 4) October 16, 2019 Loan and Security
Agreement ( identified as no. 3001) in the total amount of $ 95, 979. 00, secured by 2019
Eagerbeaver Lowbed ( Lowboy), Serial Number 112SD5528KL08914; ( 5) November 26, 2019
Loan and Security Agreement ( identified as no. 99001) in the total amount of $219,963. 60,
secured by 2020 Peterbilt 567, Serial Number 1XPCD49X9LD667167; ( 6) June 8, 2018 Loan
and Security Agreement ( identified as no. 6001) in the total amount of $212,379. 84, secured by
2018 Peterbilt 389 -Series, Serial Number 1XPXD49X4JD488355 and 2018 Thermo King APU,
Serial Number HTG1117392; and ( 7) July 19, 2018 Loan and Security Agreement (identified as
no. 1001)   in the total amount of $ 62, 130.24, secured by 2018 Fontaine 53' x102" Infinity
Dropdeck, Serial Number 13N2532C2K1529834.

                                                3
       Mr. Gaugler answered BMO' s petition, citing the agreements as the best

evidence of their terms and conditions and denying that he was in default on any of
the loans.

       BMO filed the subject motion for summary judgment in August 2021 to

obtain a deficiency judgment against Mr. Gaugler in the amount of $126, 250. 61.

According to the affidavit of Micki Koepke, BMO' s litigation specialist, the trucks

and trailers that secured each loan and security agreement were seized after Mr.

Gaugler defaulted on the notes and were sold. The net proceeds were applied to

the total deficiency owed by Mr. Gaugler, resulting in a deficiency balance of

 126, 250. 61.

       Mr. Gaugler opposed the motion for summary judgment and relied on his

own affidavit to dispute BMO' s entitlement to a deficiency judgment.                      In his

affidavit, Mr. Gaugler denied that he was in default on all seven loans but admitted

that he " got behind" on two of the loans.           After getting behind on the payments,

Mr. Gaugler spoke to " Preston," an employee of BMO, " about turning over the two

vehicles only that were in arrears."       However, BMO " demanded" that he turn in all

of the vehicles.    Mr. Gaugler attested that he told Preston where the vehicles were

located and " understood BMD arranged to seize them."                     Mr. Gaugler further

attested that he was "      led to believe that by turning over all of the vehicles,

including those vehicles on which he was current on payments due, he would not

owe anything after that surrender."         Mr. Gaugler was not asked to sign anything

and has no documentation reflecting this purported agreement.

       In its reply memorandum in support of its motion for summary judgment,

BMO pointed out that, pursuant to paragraphs 2. 1, 5. 1, and 5. 2, the agreements are

2 Mr. Gaugler also filed a supplemental and amending answer to the petition in September 2021,
asserting the affirmative defenses of "full payment and satisfaction, accord and satisfaction, full
compensation, remission of the debts, extinguishment of obligations and full performance of
compromise."

                                                F1
cross -collateralized and a default on one loan means a default on all others such

that   BMO        may     declare      all    indebtedness   immediately        due    and    payable.

Additionally, paragraph 5. 2 permits BMO to sell the equipment,                         and "   Debtor

agrees that Debtor is liable for any deficiency remaining after any disposition of

 ejquipment after default."'

        BMO' s motion for summary judgment was granted at the conclusion of the

contradictory hearing on October 12, 2021. A written judgment was signed on

November 5, 2021, ordering that Mr. Gaugler is obligated to BMO in the amount

of $126, 250.61     " plus interest in accordance with the notes executed and all costs of

these proceedings."        This appeal by Mr. Gaugler followed.

        On July 5, 2022, this court issued an interim order, noting that the November

5, 2021 judgment failed to specify the amount of "costs"                   of the proceedings and

the amount or rate of interest.4 Consequently, the precise amount awarded to BMO

could not be determined from the face of the November 5, 2021 judgment, as

required.    See D' Luca a          Kirkland, 2020- 0713, 2020- 0714 ( La.            App.      1st Cir.

2119121),    321 So -3d 411, 414.            Therefore, the case was remanded for the limited

purpose of instructing the trial court to sign an amended judgment correcting the

3 In his affidavit, Mr. Gaugler stated that he was not given notice either before or after the
disposition of the trucks and trailers.  Pursuant to La. R. S. 10: 9- 611( b), a secured party that
disposes of collateral under La. R.S. 10: 9- 610 shall send a reasonable authenticated notification
of disposition to the debtor. See La. R.S. 14: 9- 610( a) (" After default, a secured party may sell,
lease, license, or otherwise dispose of any or all of the collateral in its present condition or
following any commercially reasonable preparation or processing.") Louisiana Revised Statutes
10: 9- 612( b) pertinently states that a " notification of disposition sent after default and ten days or
more before the earliest time of disposition set forth in the notification is sent within a reasonable
time before the disposition."   BMO attached documents to its reply memorandum, which
purportedly evidence its compliance with the notice obligations. However, these documents are
not proper summary judgment evidence, since they are unauthenticated and are attached to a
reply memorandum. See La. C. C. P. art. 966( A)( 4) and ( B)( 3). Nevertheless, on appeal, Mr.
Gaugler abandoned the argument that BMO failed to provide notice pursuant to La. R. S. 10: 9-
610 and did not raise this as an issue. Since BMO does not have the burden of proving
compliance with the applicable provisions of Louisiana' s Uniform Commercial Code - Secured
Transactions, we find, on our de novo review, that BMO' s failure to prove compliance with the
notice requirements is not fatal to its ability to satisfy its initial summary judgment burden of
proof. See La. R. S. 10: 9- 626( a)( 1) and ( 2).

4 Prior to the issuance of the interim order, this court issued a show cause order to the parties
concerning the deficiencies in the judgment. The appeal was maintained upon receipt of the
amended judgment.

                                                     5
identified deficiencies.   Pursuant to this court' s interim order, the appeal record

was supplemented with an amended judgment,              signed on July 22,     2022,   which

states that Mr. Gaugler is obligated to BMO in the amount of $ 126, 250. 61,             plus

interest of 9. 06% per annum in accordance with the notes executed,                  costs   of

 541. 36, and attorney fees of $3, 700. 00.

                           ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

      On appeal, Mr. Gaugler asserts that he "          understood,   from talking to Mr.

Preston,"   that turning over all vehicles would " extinguish all obligations that he

had to BMW'      Thus, he asserts the trial court erred by failing to " presume and find

such debts were remitted."         Mr. Gaugler further asserts that summary judgment

was improperly granted because genuine issues of material fact remain concerning

the intent and understanding of the parties as to the remittance of the debt.

                                      DISCUSSION

Summary Judgment Burden ofProof

      After an opportunity for adequate discovery,              a   motion    for summary

judgment shall be granted if the motion, memorandum, and supporting documents

show there is no genuine issue as to material fact and the mover is entitled to

judgment as a matter of law. La. C. C. P. art. 966( A)(3).      A genuine issue is one as

to which reasonable persons could disagree; if reasonable persons could reach only

one conclusion, summary judgment is appropriate.           A fact is "   material"   when its

existence or nonexistence may be essential to plaintiff' s cause of action under the

applicable theory of recovery.        Simply put, a "   material"   fact is one that would

matter at a trial on the merits.    Any doubt as to a dispute regarding a material issue

of fact must be resolved against granting the motion and in favor of a trial on the

merits.   Using the same criteria as the trial court, appellate courts review evidence

de novo to determine whether summary judgment is appropriate.                    Aucoin v.

                                              2
Larpenter, 2020- 0792 (        La. App.    1st Cir. 4/ 16/ 21),      324 So. 3d 626, 632- 33,   writ

denied, 2021- 00688 ( La. 9/ 27/ 21), 324 So. 3d 87.

        The burden of proof rests with the mover. La. C. C.P. art. 966( D)( 1).            When,

as here, the moving party will bear the burden of proof at trial, he must support his

motion for summary judgment with credible evidence that would entitle him to a

directed verdict if not controverted at trial. Aucoin, 324 So.3d at 632, citing Hines

v. Garrett, 2004- 0806 ( La. 6/ 25/ 04), 876 So.2d 764, 766 ( per curiam). 5              Such an

affirmative showing shifts the burden of production to the party opposing the

motion and requires the opposing party to produce evidence to demonstrate the

existence of a genuine issue for trial.          Aucoin, 324 So.3d at 632, citing Hines, 876

So.2d at 766- 67.

BMWs Burden ofProof

        It is undisputed that Mr. Gaugler agreed to the terms of the seven loan and

security agreements in evidence, including his obligation to make monthly

payments during the specified term.              It also undisputed that Mr. Gaugler failed to

make timely payments on at least two of the loans.                 Pursuant to paragraphs 5. 1 and

5. 2 of the agreements, this " event of default" triggered BMO' s remedy option to

declare all indebtedness immediately due and payable and to sell the equipment,

which served as cross -collateral on all notes pursuant to paragraph 2. 1.               See also

La. R.S. 10: 9- 109( x)( 1)    and La. R.S. 10: 9- 601, et seq. Finally, it is undisputed that

Mr. Gaugler expressly agreed, by signing the loan documents, to be liable for any

deficiency, as set forth in paragraph 5. 2.             BMO' s evidence establishes the amount

of the deficiency following the sale of the vehicles, which secured the notes.                  See

also La. R.S. 10: 9- 615( a)( 1), (    a)( 2),   and (   d)( 2).   Thus, BMO satisfied its initial

s A motion for directed verdict is appropriately granted when, after considering all evidentiary
inferences in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion, it is clear the facts and
inferences are so overwhelmingly in favor of the moving party that reasonable persons could not
arrive at a contrary verdict. Wachovia Mortgage Corp. v. Hoover, 2021- 1035 ( La. App. 1st Cir.
4! 8/ 22), 342. So. 3d 1, 4.

                                                    7
burden of proof and the burden shifted to Mr. Gaugler to produce evidence to

demonstrate the existence of a genuine issue for trial. La. C. C. P. art. 966( D)( 1);

see Aucoin, 324 So. 3d at 632.

Remission

         Mr.   Gaugler     asserts   on   appeal      that    he "   understood    there   was     an

extinguishment/ remission of the debts that would deny any right to a deficiency

judgment for BMW'              A remission of debt by an obligee extinguishes the

obligation. Remission may be express or tacit.               La. C. C. art. 1888. The affirmative

defense of remission of a debt is never presumed unless it clearly appears that a

creditor intended it.'        GE Commercial Finance Business Corp.                   a Louisiana

Hospital Center, L.L.C., 2010- 1838 ( La. App. 1st Cir. 6110111), 69 So. 3d 649, 657.

The burden of proving remission, express or tacit, rests with the party claiming the

benefit.    GE Commercial Finance Business Corp.,              69 So. 3d at 657.

         Mr. Gaugler' s affidavit stated only that he "              was led to believe" that he

    would not owe anything" after " turning over" all trucks and trailers to BMO. Mr.

Gaugler did not attest that Preston expressly stated, on behalf of BMO, that all debt

would be extinguished if the vehicles were surrendered, nor did Mr. Gaugler

explain what Preston said that " led"       him to have this belief or understanding.             Mr.

Gaugler' s barebones assertions do not establish that BMO intended to remit the

debt and are insufficient to create a genuine of material fact as to whether BMO,

either tacitly or expressly, agreed to remit the debt.'

6
    Contrary to Mr. Gaugler' s argument, remission is not presumed unless the obligee voluntarily
surrenders the instrument evidencing the obligation to the obligor. See La. C. C. art.           1889.
However, there is no evidence that BMO surrendered the instruments of indebtedness to Mr.
Gaugler.    Conversely, the acceptance of remission is always presumed unless the obligor rejects
the remission within a reasonable time. See La. C. C. art. 1890.

7 For this reason, we find no merit in Mr. Gaugler' s assertion that summary judgment was
improper because questions remain regarding his subjective intent. See Tozel v. Tozel, 21- 134
 La. App. 5th Cir. 11/ 3/ 21), 330 So. 3d 1171, 1176 ( Although summary judgment is seldom
appropriate for determinations based on subjective facts of motive or intent, summary judgment
may be granted on subjective intent issues when no issue of material fact exists concerning the
pertinent intent.)

                                                 n.
        The jurisprudence cited by Mr. Gaugler is equally as unpersuasive.                 First,

Mr. Gaugler relies on Estate of Levitz v. Broadway, 37, 246 ( La. App.                   2d Cir.

5114/ 03),    847 So.2d 170, to support his argument that summary judgment in favor

of BMG was improper because a question of fact remains regarding whether the

parties agreed to extinguish the obligations.            In Estate ofLevitz, the court of appeal

reversed summary judgment granted in favor of the debtor upon finding a genuine

issue of material fact remained regarding whether the decedent/obligor intended to

remit the debt.          The debtors'     affidavits stated that the decedent/ obligor " had

declared to them— that        she had forgiven payment of the promissory note at issue."

Estate of Levitz, 847 So. 2d at 172.             However, according to the executrix of the

obligor' s estate, the obligor told the debtors " not to worry about paying me right

now"    and "[
                 w] e will worry about the money later." Estate of Levitz, 847 So. 2d at

172.    These conflicting express statements purportedly made by the obligor created

a genuine issue of material fact. Estate of Levitz, 847 So. 2d at 174.              In contrast,

Mr. Gaugler' s affidavit provided no details regarding any express representations

made by Preston or anyone else associated with BMQ.

        Mr. Gaugler also cites Ford Motor Credit Co. v Arnold, 2004- 0042 ( La.

App. 1 st Cir. 12/ 17/ 04),      897 So. 2d 705, 709, which relied on former La. R.S. 10: 9-

505( 3), to state, " when a secured party accepts the voluntary surrender of collateral

subject to a security agreement, he is presumed to accept in full satisfaction of the

underlying obligation unless he notifies the debtor, in writing or otherwise, of his

intention to reserve in full his right to a deficiency judgment."           Mr. Gaugler argues

that this presumption applies here. We disagree.

        The security agreement at issue in Ford Motor Credit, 897 So. 2d at 706, 709

n. 3,   was    entered    into    prior   to   the   2001   revision   of Louisiana' s   Uniform

Commercial Code -         Secured Transactions, La. R.S. 10: 9- 101, et seq.      The provision

relied on in Ford Motor Credit, La. R.S. 10: 9- 505( 3),                is not contained in the

                                                     E
revised version of Louisiana Uniform Commercial Code Chapter 9, amended by
La. Acts 2001, No. 128, §               1, eff. July 1, 2001. Thus, the cases applying La. R. S.

10: 9- 505( 3),    like Ford Motor Credit, are no longer authoritative on that point. See

La. Prac. Secured Transactions § 10: 86 ( 2022- 2023 ed.)

         Louisiana Revised Statutes 10: 9- 620 now sets forth the procedure for the

acceptance of collateral in full or partial satisfaction of an obligation. " A debtor' s

voluntary surrender of collateral to a secured party and the secured party' s

acceptance of possession of the collateral does not, of itself, necessarily raise an

implication that the secured party intends or is proposing to accept the collateral in

satisfaction of the            secured obligation under this section."          La. R.S. 10: 9- 620,

Uniform Commercial Code Comment 5. 8 The evidence in the record establishes -

that BMG did not utilize the " strict foreclosure" procedure set forth in La. R.S.

10: 9- 620, and Mr. Gaugler does not assert that it did.               Instead, BMG declared all

agreements to be in default upon Mr. Gaugler' s admitted default on two loans and

exercised its right to take possession of and sell the property and to seek a

deficiency. See La. R.S. 10: 9- 609, 9- 610, 9- 615.

         Finally, Mr. Gaugler cites Jackson a Slidell Nissan, 96- 1017 ( La. App.                     1st

Cir. 519! 97), 693 So -2d 1257.              There, the summary judgment evidence established

that the creditor communicated a settlement proposal to the debtor,                             through

counsel, which suggested that the debtor settle her redhibition claim against the

creditor by voluntarily surrendering the truck at issue,                    and,   in exchange, the

remaining debt owed to the creditor would be cancelled.                      Jackson, 693 So.2d at

1259.      The evidence established that, after receiving this proposal,                     the debtor

voluntarily surrendered the vehicle to the creditor.                    Mr. Gaugler asserts that

8 An acceptance of collateral in a strict foreclosure occurs only if all applicable conditions of La.
R. S.   10: 9- 620( a)   are   satisfied,   and the secured party consents to the acceptance in an
authenticated record or sends a proposal to the debtor. La. R.S. 10: 9- 620( b)( 1), (   2). See La, Prac.
Secured Transactions § 10: 86 ( 2022- 2023 ed.).

                                                       10
summary judgment was improper in Jackson because an issue of fact remained

regarding " what each party thought had happened" — which he likens to the present

situation,
             where an alleged dispute remains concerning the parties'              agreement.

However, the issue of fact in Jackson was whether the parties perfected a contract

through offer and acceptance.       Reversing the grant of summary judgment, the court

noted that, if "such a contract existed and [ the debtor] performed her part of the

agreement, [   the   creditor]   no longer had any right to a deficiency judgment."

Jackson, 693 So. 2d at 1264.       As previously explained, Mr. Gaugler' s affidavit does

not create a genuine issue of material fact concerning whether BMO agreed to

remit the entirety of Mr. Gaugler' s indebtedness. Thus, Mr. Gaugler' s reliance on

Jackson is misplaced.

      Finding no merit in Mr. Gaugler' s assignments of error, we find the trial

court properly granted BMO' s motion for summary judgment.

                                      CONCLUSION

      For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the trial court' s judgment, as amended

on July 22,    2022,   granting a motion for summary judgment in favor of BMO

Harris Bank and against Kenneth Gaugler, ordering that Mr. Gaugler is obligated to

BMO in the amount of $ 126, 250. 61, plus interest of 9. 06% per annum in

accordance     with the    notes   executed,           of $ 541.   36,
                                               costs
                                                                         and attorney fees of

 3, 700. 00. All costs of this appeal are assessed against Kenneth Gaugler.

AFFIRMED.

                                               11