Court Opinion

ID: 9711831
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:40:09.178019+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:07.787515
License: Public Domain

BROOK, Chief Judge,
concurring in result.
I respectfully disagree with the majority's conclusion that Brenda waived her affirmative defense of illegality with respect to Geneva's action on her personal guarantee. Because I believe that Brenda has failed to establish the existence of a genuine issue of material fact, however, I would affirm the trial court's grant of summary judgment for Geneva.
When Brenda signed the Fourth Amendment to the Loan Agreement, she agreed to release Geneva from any and all "CLAIMS, LIABILITIES, DEMANDS, DAMAGES AND CAUSES OF ACTION[J' The majority summarily concludes that Brenda thereby waived her right to raise affirmative defenses to a claim brought by Geneva. I cannot agree with this conclusion.3 Simply put, Brenda waived her rights to sue Geneva, file a counterclaim against Geneva, or file claim against a third party; she did not waive her right to interpose affirmative defenses to a claim brought by Geneva. As such, I would address the merits of Brenda's appeal.
*394I believe that Brenda has failed to establish a genuine issue of material fact with respect to Geneva's claim or her affirmative defense of illegality and would affirm the trial court on that basis. In his affidavit, Slade listed the "factors" that led Geneva to determine that Wally was unere-ditworthy and affirmed that "Geneva was willing to extend the due date for the Note only if Geneva obtained additional security for repayment." See Appellant's App. at 35. This uncontradicted evidence establishes that Wally did not qualify under Geneva's standards of creditworthiness. As such, Geneva was permitted under Regulation B to require Brenda's signature before granting Wally's extension.

. A "claim" may be defined as "(tlhe assertion of an existing right." Buack's Law Dictto-Nary 240 (7th ed.1999). A "liability" may be defined as a "legal responsibility to another ... enforceable by civil remedy[.]" Id. at 925. A "demand" may be defined as "[the assertion of a legal right."; Id. at 441. "Damages" may be defined as "[mloney claimed by, or ordered to be paid to, a person as compensation for loss or injury[.]" Id. at 393. "Cause of action" may be defined as "[a] group of operative facts giving rise to one or more bases for suing[.]" Id. at 214.
In contrast, an "affirmative defense" is "[a] defendant's assertion raising new facts and arguments that, if true, will defeat the plaintiff's ... claim, even if all allegations in the complaint are true." Id. at 430 (emphasis added). It is also worth noting that Indiana Trial Rule 8 addresses "Claims for Relief" and "Affirmative defenses" separately.