Court Opinion

ID: 2726678
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-09-08 21:07:57.734225+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:03:11.877989
License: Public Domain

FOR PUBLICATION

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT:                      ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:

MATTHEW E. DUMAS                             JOHN B. DRUMMY
Hostetter & O’Hara                           JAMES R. COHEE
Brownsburg, Indiana                          Kightlinger & Gray, LLP
                                             Indianapolis, Indiana

                                                                       Aug 01 2013, 8:49 am
                             IN THE
                   COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA

LUXURY TOWNHOMES,                            )
LLC/LP XXIV, LLC, et al.,                    )
                                             )
      Appellants-Defendants,                 )
                                             )
             vs.                             )      No. 49A05-1210-MF-514
                                             )
McKINLEY PROPERTIES, INC.                    )
AND KENNETH POLSINELLI,                      )
                                             )
      Appellees-Non-Parties.                 )

                   APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
                        The Honorable Michael D. Keele, Judge
                          Cause No. 49D07-1004-MF-15176

                                   August 1, 2013

                            OPINION - FOR PUBLICATION

BRADFORD, Judge
       This case arises from a foreclosure action and concerns about the court-appointed

receiver’s maintenance of the collateral during the proceedings. Plaintiff PNC Bank1

(“PNC”) filed foreclosure proceedings against Appellants-Defendants Luxury Townhomes,

LLC and LP XXIV, LLC (collectively, “Luxury”) after Luxury failed to make scheduled

payments as set forth in the relevant mortgage documents. PNC requested that a receiver be

appointed to oversee the collateral during the pendency of the foreclosure proceedings. The

trial court subsequently appointed Appellee-Non-party Kenneth Polsinelli of McKinley

Properties, Inc. (“McKinley”) as receiver.

       Luxury and PNC eventually settled and jointly moved to dismiss the foreclosure

proceedings. Shortly thereafter, Polsinelli, acting in his capacity as receiver, filed his final

report concerning the receivership estate. Luxury objected to the report and requested

permission to assert claims against Polsinelli and McKinley. The parties requested an

evidentiary hearing. Following the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the trial court

accepted Polsinelli’s final report, discharged Polsinelli, and closed the receivership estate.

Luxury’s subsequently filed motion to correct error was denied by the trial court. On appeal,

the parties raise numerous issues, one of which we find dispositive. Concluding that the

subsequent claims which Luxury seeks to bring against Polsinelli or McKinley are barred by

the doctrine of res judicata, we affirm the trial court’s order denying Luxury’s motion to

correct error.

                            FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       Luxury is the owner of two apartment complexes, the Las Palmas Apartments n/k/a

       1
           PNC does not participate in the instant appeal.
                                                      2
Carmel Creek and Private Reserve, (collectively, “the collateral”) located in Indianapolis. In

order to secure funding to purchase the collateral, Luxury executed a promissory note and

mortgage agreement with PNC. Luxury, however, failed to make payments pursuant to the

terms of the mortgage documents.

       On April 5, 2010, mortgagee PNC filed a foreclosure action against mortgagor

Luxury. That same day, PNC filed a motion seeking the immediate appointment of a receiver

to maintain the collateral during the pendency of the foreclosure proceedings. Over Luxury’s

objection, on July 21, 2010, the trial court appointed Polsinelli as receiver.

       Pursuant to the trial court’s order appointing Polsinelli as receiver, Polsinelli was

granted numerous powers, including the power to take possession of, manage, operate, and

maintain the collateral; collect rents and other receivables; negotiate with others concerning

use of the collateral; make payments that Polsinelli judged to be necessary; and to “do any

other acts it deems proper to protect and operate the [c]ollateral.” Appellants’ App. p. 33.

Polsinelli was granted the power to enter into an agreement with a management company for

the day-to-day management and operation of the collateral. Polsinelli was ordered to obtain

insurance or maintain the existing policy for the collateral. Polsinelli was also authorized to

seek protective funding advances from PNC that he deemed necessary to preserve the

collateral. The order required Polsinelli to swear to perform his duties faithfully and to

secure his oath by issuing a bond in the amount of $150,000.

       Upon taking possession of the collateral, Polsinelli noted that the collateral was

largely in a state of disrepair. Specifically, Polsinelli found numerous broken windows and

                                              3
doors, graffiti and vandalism throughout the apartment complexes, decay, weathering over

damaged areas, gutters that had not been maintained, damage to a roof, collapsed ceilings,

mold and mildew in some of the apartments, landscaping overgrown and in disrepair, non-

functional lighting, flea infestations in some of the apartments, evidence of rodent

infestation, outstanding notices of violations from the Marion County Health Department,

and pools that had not been properly maintained and were not operating correctly. Polsinelli

also found that the asphalt was in a state of disrepair, a waterline had ruptured, and some

apartments were missing appliances. In addition, hail damage, for which Luxury had

received an insurance check, had not been fixed.             Polsinelli was able to recover

approximately $68,000 in outstanding rent, approximately $32,000 of which the receiver

found in desk drawers or leasing files in the rental offices. In the leasing offices, Polsinelli

also found that multiple files were missing and there were no office supplies, computers, or

maintenance equipment.

       Polsinelli contracted with McKinley to operate and manage the collateral on a day-to-

day basis. Polsinelli established relationships with vendors to make repairs and set up a 24-

hour emergency hotline for residents. Polsinelli secured the open buildings, increased

lighting, and hired a professional security company to add a layer of security and to reduce

potential liability to the collateral. Polsinelli began running both credit and criminal

background checks on prospective tenants and for residents seeking to renew their leases.

Over the course of the receivership, Polsinelli answered hundreds of maintenance calls and

“turned” numerous apartments, meaning that apartments that were previously uninhabitable

                                               4
were once again available for leasing. Polsinelli collected what rent he could and from

January of 2011 until June of 2011, was able to increase revenue and collections at both

properties.

       Despite Polsinelli’s efforts to make improvements to the collateral, the distressed state

of the collateral demanded additional funds to sustain the turnaround and make additional

needed improvements. To obtain the funds needed for the additional projects, Polsinelli

invoked his power to request financial advances from PNC. PNC partially granted some of

Polsinelli’s requests but often forwarded the partial funds months after Polsinelli first made

the request. Because of the lack of funds, Polsinelli was not able to make all necessary

repairs, and, as a result, some apartments became uninhabitable and the receiver was forced

to stop leasing activity for these apartments. Polsinelli returned the collateral to Luxury on

August 8, 2011.

       With respect to the foreclosure proceedings, PNC and Luxury eventually reached a

settlement, and, on August 4, 2011, filed a joint motion requesting dismissal of PNC’s

foreclosure action against Luxury. In making this request, PNC and Luxury agreed that the

trial court should have continuing jurisdiction for the purpose of settling the receivership

estate. Also on August 4, 2011, a motion was filed to discharge Polsinelli and to settle the

receivership estate. Luxury also filed a request for leave to join and assert claims against

Polsinelli and McKinley. On August 16, 2011, the trial court conducted a teleconference on

Luxury and PNC’s joint motion to dismiss. During this teleconference, Luxury, PNC, and

Polsinelli agreed to submit a combined proposed scheduling order.

                                               5
       On September 30, 2011, Polsinelli filed his final report on the receivership estate. On

October 25, 2011, Polsinelli filed an “Unopposed Proposed Scheduling Order” in which

Luxury, PNC, and Polsinelli requested that an evidentiary hearing be set to review

Polsinelli’s final report and Luxury’s objections to Polsinelli’s final report, as well as to

“address and determine [Luxury’s] Motion for Leave.” Appellees’ App. pp. 368-69. On

October 27, 2011, the trial court approved the motion and scheduled an evidentiary hearing.

The next day, Luxury filed its objections to Polsinelli’s final report.

       Prior to the start of the evidentiary hearing, Luxury requested that the trial court enter

“Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law” pursuant to Trial Rule 52. The trial court

conducted an evidentiary hearing over the course of three days, March 7, 2012, March 8,

2012, and April 19, 2012. During the hearing, the trial court received evidence and heard

testimony relating to Polsinelli’s final report, Luxury’s objections to that report, and Luxury’s

request for permission to assert claims against Polsinelli and McKinley.

       On July 6, 2012, the trial court issued “Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and

Judgment Entry” in which it accepted Polsinelli’s final report, “fully and finally” discharged

Polsinelli and the surety on his bond, and denied Luxury’s motion for leave to join and assert

claims against Polsinelli and McKinley. Appellants’ App. pp. 26-31. On July 31, 2012,

Luxury filed a motion to correct error.2 The trial court denied Luxury’s motion to correct

error on August 21, 2012. This appeal follows.

                               DISCUSSION AND DECISION

       2
          This motion was signed by Luxury’s counsel who was admitted pro hac vice, and not by Luxury’s
local counsel.

                                                  6
             I. Overview of Relevant Authority Relating to Receiverships

       A trial court may appoint a receiver in actions where, as here, a mortgagee seeks to

foreclose the mortgage. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-1(4). Upon motion by the mortgagee, the court

shall appoint a receiver if, at the time the motion is filed, the property is not occupied by the

owner as the owner’s principal residence and:

       (A) it appears that the property is in danger of being lost, removed, or
       materially injured;
       (B) it appears that the property may not be sufficient to discharge the
       mortgaged debt;
       (C) either the mortgagor or the owner of the property has agreed in the
       mortgage or in some other writing to the appointment of a receiver;
       (D) a person not personally liable for the debt secured by the mortgage has, or
       is entitled to, possession of all or a portion of the property;
       (E) the owner of the property is not personally liable for the debt secured by
       the mortgage; or
       (F) all or any portion of the property is being, or is intended to be, leased for
       any purpose.

Id.

       Before beginning his duties as a receiver, a receiver must swear to perform the duties

of a receiver faithfully and execute a written undertaking, i.e., a bond, with one or more

sureties, to ensure that he faithfully discharges his duties and obeys the court’s orders. Ind.

Code § 32-30-5-3. “A receiver may, under control of the court or judge: (1) bring and defend

actions; (2) take and keep possession of the property; (3) receive rents; (4) collect debts; and

(5) sell property; in the receiver’s own name, and generally do other acts respecting the

property as the court or judge may authorize.” Ind. Code § 32-30-5-7.

       Before a receiver can be discharged from his duties, he must file a report in final

settlement of the receivership proceedings. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-14. The report must set

                                               7
forth all receipts and disbursements to the date of the accounting, as well as other appropriate

information relative to the administration of the receivership, liquidation of the receivership,

and declaration and payment of dividends. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-15. Interested parties may

file objections to the receiver’s report within thirty days of its filing. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-

18(a). If objections are not filed within thirty days, they are forever barred. Ind. Code § 32-

30-5-18(b). After the expiration of the thirty day period to object, the trial court shall,

without delay, proceed with a hearing and determination of the objections or exceptions, pass

upon the account or report, order the payment of a partial or final dividend, and make other

appropriate orders. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-19.

       The trial court’s approval of a receiver’s report releases and discharges the receiver

and the surety on the receiver’s bond “for all matters and things related to or contained in”

the report. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-20. Upon the trial court’s approval of the receiver’s final

report and the receiver’s performance and compliance with the trial court’s order made on the

final report, “the receiver and the surety on the receiver’s bond shall be fully and finally

discharged and the court shall declare the receivership estate finally settled and closed subject

to the right of appeal of the receiver or any creditor, shareholder, or other interested party

who has filed objections or exceptions” to the report. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-21.

                                   II. Standard of Review

       Luxury appeals from the denial of its motion to correct error.

       A trial court is vested with broad discretion to determine whether it will grant
       or deny a motion to correct error. Volunteers of America v. Premier Auto
       Acceptance Corp., 755 N.E.2d 656, 658 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). A trial court has
       abused its discretion only if its decision is clearly against the logic and effect

                                               8
       of the facts and circumstances before the court or the reasonable inferences
       therefrom. Id. The trial court’s decision comes to us cloaked in a presumption
       of correctness, and the appellant has the burden of proving that the trial court
       abused its discretion. Id. In making our determination, we may neither
       reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of witnesses. Id.

Jones v. Jones, 866 N.E.2d 812, 814 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).

       Upon reviewing a motion to correct error, this court also considers the standard of

review for the underlying ruling. Life v. F.C. Tucker Co., Inc., 948 N.E.2d 346, 349 (Ind. Ct.

App. 2011) (citing Shane v. Home Depot USA, Inc., 869 N.E.2d 1232, 1234 (Ind. Ct. App.

2007)). Here, pursuant to Luxury’s request, the trial court entered findings of fact and

conclusions thereon pursuant to Indiana Trial Rule 52. Where a trial court has entered

findings of fact and conclusions thereon pursuant to a party’s request, we engage in the

following two-tiered standard of review:

               We must first determine whether the evidence supports the findings of
       fact and then whether the findings support the judgment. We will not reverse
       the trial court’s findings and judgment unless they are clearly erroneous.
       Findings of fact are clearly erroneous when the record lacks any facts or
       reasonable inferences from the evidence to support them. The judgment is
       clearly erroneous when it is unsupported by the findings of fact and
       conclusions entered on the findings. In making these determinations, we will
       neither reweigh the evidence nor judge witness credibility, considering only
       the evidence favorable to the judgment and all reasonable inferences
       therefrom.
               While we defer substantially to findings of fact, we do not do so for
       conclusions of law. We apply a de novo standard of review to conclusions of
       law and owe no deference to the trial court’s determination of such questions.

Gates v. Houston, 897 N.E.2d 532, 534-35 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008) (quoting Mueller v. Karns,

873 N.E.2d 652, 657 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007)).

                                       III. Analysis

                                              9
       Generally, when one seeks to sue a receiver in an independent action, “there is a

condition precedent that leave to sue the receiver must be obtained from the receivership

court.” Hazifotis v. Citizens Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 537 N.E.2d 35, 38 (Ind. Ct. App.

1989). “The condition precedent has its basis in common law.” Id. The question of whether

to grant a motion for leave to sue a receiver in an independent suit is a matter for the court’s

discretion. Martin v. Forrey, 100 Ind. App. 371, 376, 193 N.E. 679, 681 (1935).

       In the instant matter, the trial court conducted a three-day evidentiary hearing during

which it heard evidence relating to Polsinelli’s final report, Luxury’s objections to the report,

and Luxury’s motion for leave to sue Polsinelli and McKinley. Luxury asserted that

Polsinelli had negligently performed his duties and wanted permission to recover both

Polsinelli’s bond and additional funds through a separate negligence action.              Upon

considering the evidence and arguments presented by the parties, the court determined that

Polsinelli did not act negligently in performing his duties, accepted Polsinelli’s final report,

denied Luxury’s motion for leave to file a separate action against Polsinelli, “fully and finally

discharged” Polsinelli and his bond, and closed the receivership estate. Appellants’ App. p.

31. Luxury does not challenge the trial court’s approval of Polsinelli’s final report,

Polsinelli’s discharge, or the settling of the receivership estate on appeal.

       Again, the trial court’s approval of the final report releases and discharges the receiver

and surety on the receiver’s bond for all matters and things related to or contained in the

report. Ind. Code § 32-30-5-20. This rule is consistent with this court’s prior opinion in

Ratcliff v. Citizens Bank of Western Indiana, 768 N.E.2d 964, 970 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002), in

                                               10
which we concluded:

          Even before the non-claim statute, Indiana Code Section 34-48-4-5, it was the
          common law in Indiana that once the court approves a receiver’s Final Report,
          it is conclusive as to the rights of the parties thereunder. Put another way:
                  “[A] party to an action, in which a receiver has been appointed,
                  must take notice of everything done in that action, including the
                  final report filed by the receiver and his discharge as such.... A
                  party properly brought into court is chargeable with notice of all
                  subsequent steps taken in the cause down to and including the
                  judgment.”
          Flanders v. Ostrom, 206 Ind. 87, 187 N.E. 673, 676 (1933) (holding court did
          not err when it denied motion to vacate judgment approving receiver’s Final
          Report).

As such, Polsinelli and McKinley argue that the trial court acted within its discretion in

denying Luxury’s motion for leave and motion to correct error because Luxury is barred from

raising any subsequent claims against either Polsinelli or his agent, McKinley. We agree.

          In Hazifotis, this court considered whether a party was barred from bringing a separate

suit against a receiver after the receivership court determined that the receiver had faithfully

carried out his duties as receiver, accepted the receiver’s final report, and discharged the

receiver. 537 N.E.2d at 38. In finding that a subsequent suit by the party against the receiver

would be barred by the issue preclusion branch of the doctrine of res judicata, the court

stated:

                 The doctrine of res judicata is described as consisting of two branches,
          claim preclusion and issue preclusion. Claim preclusion applies when there
          has been a final judgment on the merits which acts as a complete bar to a
          subsequent action on the same claim between the same parties or those in
          privity with them. Town of Flora v. Indiana Service Corp. (1944), 222 Ind.
          253, 256, 53 N.E.2d 161, 163. Issue preclusion arises when the claims are not
          the same, but some fact or question has been determined in the former suit and
          is again put in issue in a subsequent suit between the same parties or their
          privies. Id. at 257, 53 N.E.2d at 163. The question presented to this Court is

                                                11
       whether issue preclusion bars relitigation of the adequacy of [one’s]
       performance as receiver.
              To invoke the issue preclusion branch of res judicata, four elements
       must be satisfied: 1) the former judgment must have been rendered by a court
       of competent jurisdiction; 2) the matter now in issue was determined in the
       former suit; 3) the particular controversy adjudicated in the former action must
       have been between parties to the present suit or their privies; and 4) the
       judgment in the former suit must have been rendered on the merits. Peterson
       v. Culver Educational Foundation (1980), Ind. App., 402 N.E.2d 448, 460-
       461.

Id. at 38-39.

       The court concluded that the elements of issue preclusion were satisfied and the party

was barred from bringing the independent suit because the pivotal issue in Hazifotis’s

collateral suit was the adequacy of the receiver’s performance as receiver, and that the issue

had been brought before the receivership court by an objection to the receiver’s discharge.

Id. at 39. The judgment of the receivership court was rendered on the merits and all relevant

parties were parties in both the receivership proceedings and the collateral suit. Id. The

court concluded that “[t]he doctrine of res judicata precluded relitigation of the issue whether

[the receiver] faithfully carried out his duties as receiver. Because that issue was the basis

for Hazifotis’[s] collateral suit, [the receiver and the mortgagee bank] were entitled to

judgment as a matter of law.” Id.

       This conclusion is consistent with the findings of other jurisdictions as well. In Hogg

v. Siebrecht, 464 N.W.2d 209, 210-11 (S.D. 1990), the Supreme Court of South Dakota held

that the doctrine of res judicata barred a party’s subsequent suit against a receiver because the

matters sought to be litigated in the subsequent suit could have been or should have been

litigated at the time the receiver’s final report and account were approved. In Aviation Brake

                                               12
Systems, Ltd. v. Voorhis, 133 Cal. App. 3d 230, 234-35 (Ca. 1982), the California Court of

Appeal concluded that a subsequent suit against a receiver was barred by the doctrine of res

judicata because the receiver’s final report had been submitted and accepted and the issues

which the party sought to bring in the subsequent suit were not issues that could not have

been raised at the time the trial court considered the receiver’s final report and the objections

thereto.

       Likewise, in Yaw v. Beeghly, 109 Ill. App. 3d 627 (1982), the Appellate Court of

Illinois considered whether the discharge of the receiver and acceptance of the receiver’s

final report barred a subsequent negligence action against the receiver. The court concluded

that it did, finding that “[a]lthough a new suit in negligence was brought against the receiver,

it was clearly based on his conduct in executing his duties as receiver.” 109 Ill. App. 3d at

632. In making this conclusion, the court stated that “[t]o allow appellants to avoid the

doctrine of res judicata simply by bringing a new suit would undermine its very purpose,”

and, accordingly, the doctrine of res judicata bars appellants from bringing a negligence suit

against the receiver. Id. at 632-33.

       Here, like in Hazifotis, the pivotal issue in Luxury’s collateral suit was the adequacy

of Polsinelli’s performance as receiver. This issue was considered by the trial court during

the three-day evidentiary hearing by Luxury’s objection to Polsinelli’s final report. After the

three-day evidentiary hearing, the trial court rendered judgment on the merits. The trial court

accepted the report, discharged Polsinelli, and closed the receivership estate. In doing so, the

trial court determined that Polsinelli and his agent, McKinley, had acted in an appropriate

                                               13
fashion and that Polsinelli had adequately performed his duties as receiver. This factual

determination would preclude a subsequent determination that Polsinelli had acted

negligently in his administration of the receivership estate. Also, nothing in the record

indicates that Luxury sought to bring any claims against Polsinelli’s agent separate from

those it desired to bring against Polsinelli or that Polsinelli’s agent had any duty to Luxury.

At most, McKinley had a duty to Polsinelli to act appropriately as his agent, and, the trial

court effectively found that McKinley had met this duty by determining that Polsinelli,

through McKinley’s acts, had faithfully carried out his duty as receiver.

       Moreover, Luxury’s reliance upon the recent opinion of the Ohio Court of Appeals in

PNC Bank, National Association v. Kidz Real Estate Group, LLC, et al., 2013 WL 1385638

(Oh. Ct. App. April 5, 2013), can easily be distinguished from the instant matter because,

unlike in the instant matter, in Kidz, the trial court did not hold an evidentiary hearing before

denying Kidz’s motion for leave or accepting the receiver’s final report. The Ohio Court of

Appeals reversed the trial court’s denial of Kidz’s motion to leave and order discharging the

receiver finding that it was an abuse of discretion for the trial court to do so without first

conducting an evidentiary hearing. Id. at *10.

       Because the trial court has already made a factual determination on Polsinelli’s

performance as receiver after a three-day evidentiary hearing and has discharged Polsinelli

and closed the receivership estate, we conclude that any subsequent suit by Luxury regarding

issue of whether Polsinelli faithfully carried out his duties as receiver is barred by the issue

preclusion branch of the doctrine of res judicata. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the

                                               14
trial court.

        The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

BAILEY, J., and MAY, J., concur

                                             15