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Summary of Opinion: United States of America v. McINTYRE VENEER, INC., et al. (M.D. La. June 22, 1972)

Factual and Procedural Background

On October 27, 1964, McIntyre Veneer, Inc., through its President James D. McIntyre, executed a promissory note for $290,000 payable to Louisiana National Bank; James D. McIntyre and Joyce McIntyre personally guaranteed the note by an Act of Guaranty executed the same day. The note was secured by a mortgage on corporate real and personal property. On November 8, 1965, a second promissory note for $66,000 was executed by the corporation, likewise guaranteed by James D. and Joyce McIntyre and secured by mortgage. Both loans were made pursuant to the Aid To Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.A. § 636) in cooperation with Louisiana National Bank. Defendants defaulted. On June 22, 1967, the notes were assigned without recourse by Louisiana National Bank to the Small Business Administration (S.B.A.). The United States filed suit against McIntyre Veneer, Inc., James D. McIntyre, and Joyce McIntyre seeking judgment in solido for the unpaid balances, interest, and recognition and enforcement of plaintiff's liens and mortgages, including sale without appraisement and priority of proceeds. Defendants made no appearance; default was entered and, on September 11, 1968, final judgment was entered as prayed. The mortgaged property was seized and sold at public auction without appraisement for a gross of $130,000. To collect the remaining judgment, the United States filed garnishment proceedings against Red Oak Veneer Mill, Inc., believing it possessed property of the defendants. Defendants and the garnishee answered and contested the unpaid balance and refused to answer interrogatories, arguing that because the sale was without appraisement the United States was not entitled to a deficiency judgment; the garnishee moved to vacate the garnishment.

Legal Issues Presented

  1. Whether the United States (via the S.B.A.) is entitled to obtain and collect a deficiency judgment following foreclosure and sale of mortgaged property sold without appraisement.
  2. Whether the right of the United States to obtain a deficiency judgment in this context is governed by Federal law or by State law (specifically whether La. R.S. 13:4106-4107, the Louisiana Deficiency Judgment Act, bars a deficiency when sale is without appraisement).

Arguments of the Parties

Defendants' Arguments

  • Because the mortgaged property was sold without appraisement, no deficiency can be recovered; allowance of a deficiency judgment would violate La. R.S. 13:4106-4107 (the Louisiana Deficiency Judgment Act), which provides that if a mortgagee takes advantage of a waiver of appraisement and proceeds are insufficient to satisfy the debt, the debt shall stand fully satisfied and no deficiency judgment may be obtained.

Government's Arguments

  • The right of the Government to obtain and collect a deficiency judgment is governed by Federal law, not State law.
  • Alternatively (if State law were applicable), the Louisiana Deficiency Judgment Act would not apply where ordinary rather than executory process is used in securing the judgment (the Court did not reach a decision on this alternative).

Table of Precedents Cited

Precedent Rule or Principle Cited For Application by the Court
15 U.S.C.A. § 636 Statutory source authorizing loans under the Aid To Small Business Act (context for the loans at issue). Identifies the federal program under which the loans were made and the S.B.A.'s role as assignee of the notes.
15 U.S.C.A. §§ 631-647 General citation to the Aid To Small Business Act (statutory framework). Frames the federal program governing the S.B.A. loans and supports analysis that the Act is to be construed under federal law.
15 U.S.C.A. § 634(b)(4) Provides authority to the S.B.A. Administrator to pursue claims "to obtain deficiency judgments or otherwise in the case of mortgages assigned to the Administrator." Shows statutory grant of authority to obtain deficiency judgments; used to support the Government's federal entitlement to pursue deficiency relief.
First National Bank, Henrietta v. Small Business Administration, 429 F.2d 280 (CA 5 — 1970) Holds construction of the Aid To Small Business Act is a matter of Federal rather than State law; emphasizes uniformity of decision and national scope of the Act. Quoted to support the proposition that questions arising under the Small Business Act should be governed by federal law rather than varying state rules.
Royal Services, Inc. v. Maintenance, Inc., 361 F.2d 86 (CA 5 — 1966) Held that Federal law applied to a dispute under the Small Business Act and that the Act's public purpose precluded creation of private civil rights under state law. Used as an example of federal law governing disputes involving the Small Business Act and the tendency of courts to apply federal rules.
United States v. Skipper Smith's Marina Inc., 283 F. Supp. 408 (S.D.Fla. — 1968) Refused to apply a Florida statute limiting deficiency decrees against the S.B.A.; held Federal law controlled the granting of a deficiency decree. Considered more directly pertinent; supports holding that federal law governs deficiency decrees against guarantors/creditor under S.B.A. assigned notes.
United States v. Wells, 403 F.2d 596 (CA 5 — 1968) Holds that the granting of a deficiency decree in the context of a V.A. loan is controlled by Federal law; discusses Rules of Decision Act (28 U.S.C. § 1652) and that deficiency judgments are a remedy available to the United States. Relied upon to analogize other federal loan programs where federal law governs remedies and to list acceptable defenses to a federal deficiency claim (traditional defenses), noting none include failure to appraise where appraisal was waived.
United States v. Walker Park Realty, Inc., 383 F.2d 732 (CA 2 — 1967) Applied Federal law in foreclosure of an F.H.A. mortgage; allowed a deficiency judgment even though the original judgment did not expressly provide for it. Supports the proposition that federal law governs remedies (including deficiencies) in federal loan programs.
United States v. View Crest Garden Apartments, Inc., 268 F.2d 380 (CA 9 — 1959) Held the source of law governing relations between the United States and parties to a mortgage assigned to a federal program is federal; state law only applies if adopted to further federal policy; distinguished acquisition of security from remedies after default. Quoted extensively to support the court's choice of federal law for remedies and the distinction that local rules limiting federal remedies should not be adopted when federal policy favors uniform remedies.
Clearfield Trust Co. v. United States, 318 U.S. 363, 63 S.Ct. 573, 87 L.Ed. 838 Supreme Court precedent referenced regarding selection of applicable federal rule and occasional selection of state law only where appropriate; cited in View Crest quotation. Used within View Crest discussion to show precedent for selecting federal rules to ensure uniformity in federal programs.
United States v. Allegheny County, 322 U.S. 174, 64 S.Ct. 908, 88 L.Ed. 1209 Referenced as part of authorities supporting federal source of law governing federal mortgage relations (cited in View Crest passage). Contained in View Crest quotation to bolster the proposition that federal law is the source for relation between United States and mortgage parties.
United States v. Matthews, 9 Cir., 1957, 244 F.2d 626 Referenced in View Crest quotation as part of the body of authority treating federal source of law for federal mortgages. Included in the chain of authority cited in View Crest to support federal governance of remedies.
McKnight v. United States, 9 Cir., 1958, 259 F.2d 540 Referenced in View Crest quotation as part of authorities bearing on federal rule selection. Part of the cited authority in View Crest supporting federal rule selection.
Bank of America Nat. Trust Sav. Ass'n v. Parnell, 352 U.S. 29, 77 S.Ct. 119, 1 L.Ed.2d 93 Referenced in View Crest quotation as related authority (comparative context regarding federal versus state rule selection). Quoted in the View Crest passage relied upon by the court to justify federal law's predominance for remedies.
Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 Cited in View Crest quotation to distinguish the present federal-law context from Erie concerns in diversity cases. Used to explain that Erie does not mandate state law in this federal-program context; included in the court's reasoning about choice of law.
Bumb v. United States, 276 F.2d 729 (CA 9 — 1960) Held S.B.A. as intended mortgagee of personal property was not exempt from state bulk sales law because that law regulated acquisition of a valid security interest, not remedies after default. Distinguished acquisition-of-security rules (where state law can apply) from remedies after default (where federal remedies predominate); used to clarify scope of federal preemption.
United States v. Yazell, 382 U.S. 341, 86 S.Ct. 500, 15 L.Ed.2d 404 (1966) Recognized for the proposition that some state rules (e.g., Texas law of coverture) can limit S.B.A. proceedings against property in certain circumstances. Distinguished from the present case to note limits on federal preemption when state law concerns acquisition/competency or other unique contexts.
28 U.S.C. § 1652 Rules of Decision Act cited in United States v. Wells reasoning to support application of federal law to questions of federal rights and liabilities stemming from a federal program. Quoted (via Wells) to support the proposition that federal law should be applied to remedies in federal loan programs.
28 U.S.C. § 2001 Statutory provision governing public judicial sales; cited for the proposition that Federal law does not require appraisal before public judicial sales. Used by the court to state that federal law does not require appraisal before judicial sales, undermining defendants' contention that waiver of appraisement bars a deficiency.
Pan American Petroleum Co. v. Chase National Bank, 83 F.2d 447 (CA 9 — 1936) Authority cited for the proposition that federal law does not require appraisal before public judicial sales. Applied together with 28 U.S.C. § 2001 to conclude federal law imposes no appraisal requirement for public judicial sales.

Court's Reasoning and Analysis

The Court began with the statutory framework: the loans were made pursuant to the Aid To Small Business Act and the S.B.A. had statutory authority to obtain deficiency judgments (15 U.S.C.A. § 634(b)(4)). Because the statute is silent on whether state or federal law governs deficiencies and whether appraisal is required, the Court examined existing authority. Citing a line of authorities, the Court observed a prevailing rule that construction of the Small Business Act and related federal loan-program questions are matters of federal, not state, law (First National Bank, Henrietta; Royal Services; United States v. Skipper Smith's Marina).

The Court relied on analogous decisions involving other federal loan programs (e.g., V.A. and F.H.A.) where federal law governed remedies after foreclosure (United States v. Wells; United States v. Walker Park Realty; United States v. View Crest). In particular, View Crest (and its citation to Clearfield Trust Co. and related authorities) was used to explain that the source of law for relations between the United States and mortgage parties is federal; state law may be adopted only to further federal policy and not to limit federal remedies where uniform federal rules are desirable.

The Court distinguished issues concerning the acquisition of valid security interests (where state law may regulate acquisition and be applied) from post-default remedies (where federal policy to protect the treasury and federal investment predominates). Bumb was cited to illustrate that state law regulating acquisition does not necessarily control remedies after default.

Applying these principles, the Court concluded that federal law governs the right of the United States to obtain a deficiency judgment following foreclosure on a mortgage assigned to the S.B.A. The Court further observed that federal law does not require appraisal before public judicial sales (28 U.S.C. § 2001; Pan American Petroleum Co. v. Chase National Bank). Finally, the Court noted that defendants had made no showing that the sale price was so grossly inadequate as to shock the Court's conscience or that any traditional defenses to a deficiency (e.g., release, disputing service or amount due, laches, estoppel) existed.

Holding and Implications

Holding: The Court denied the motion to vacate the garnishment and ordered that judgment be entered accordingly. Motion to vacate the garnishment is DENIED.

Implications:

  • The Court held that federal law controls the right of the United States (via the S.B.A.) to obtain a deficiency judgment following foreclosure on a mortgage assigned to the S.B.A.
  • The Court stated that federal law does not require appraisal before public judicial sales (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2001 and Pan American Petroleum Co.).
  • The direct effect is that the defendants' contention that Louisiana's Deficiency Judgment Act barred a federal deficiency because the sale was without appraisement was rejected through the Court's application of federal law; the garnishment proceedings were not vacated.
  • The opinion did not announce that it was adopting or creating a novel nationwide rule beyond applying established federal precedents in this context; it expressly relied on existing federal authority and analogies to other federal loan programs.

UNITED STATES of America v. McINTYRE VENEER, INC., et al.

E. GORDON WEST, District Judge:

On October 27, 1964, McIntyre Veneer, Inc., represented by its President, James D. McIntyre, executed a promissory note in the principal amount of $290,000, payable in stipulated installments to the order of the Louisiana National Bank in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This note was personally guaranteed by James D. McIntyre and Joyce McIntyre as evidenced by an Act of Guaranty executed by them individually on the same day. The note was further secured by a mortgage of even date therewith given by McIntyre Veneer, Inc. covering certain real and personal property belonging to the corporation. On November 8, 1965, McIntyre Veneer, Inc., represented by its President, James D. McIntyre, executed another promissory note in the principal amount of $66,000, which note was also payable in stipulated payments to the order of the Louisiana National Bank. This note was similarly guaranteed by James D. McIntyre and Joyce McIntyre, and was also secured by a mortgage covering real and personal property of the corporation. These loans were made pursuant to the Aid To Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 636, in cooperation with the Louisiana National Bank. Defendants defaulted in their payments, and on June 22, 1967, both notes were transferred and assigned, without recourse, by Louisiana National Bank to the Small Business Administration, an agency of the United States Government. This suit was then filed by the United States of America against the three defendants, McIntyre Veneer, Inc., James D. McIntyre, and Joyce McIntyre, seeking judgment against the defendants, in solido, for the total amount of the unpaid balance on both notes, together with accrued interest to date of payment. The suit further asked that plaintiff's "liens, privilege and mortgage be recognized and maintained upon the real property and personalty described in said act of mortgages, and that said property be sold without benefit of appraisement according to law at public auction to the highest bidder; that out of the proceeds of said sale the United States of America be paid by preference and priority over all other persons * * * and that the amount realized * * * be credited `pro tanto' upon the amount of the judgment herein." No appearance was made by any of the defendants, and on September 11, 1968, after entry of default on September 9, 1968, a final judgment was entered as prayed for against all defendants, in solido. The judgment recognized the plaintiff's "lien, privilege and mortgage," and ordered the mortgaged property to be sold without appraisement as prayed for by plaintiff. Thereafter, the mortgaged property was seized and sold at public auction, without appraisement, to the highest bidder, for a gross of $130,000. In an attempt to collect the remainder of the judgment, the United States, believing that Red Oak Veneer Mill, Inc. had in its possession property belonging to the defendants, filed garnishment proceedings against Red Oak, and the Court ordered said garnishee to answer the interrogatories propounded. Both the defendants and Red Oak, the garnishee, hereinafter jointly referred to as defendants, responded, contesting the amount of the alleged unpaid balance on the judgment and further refusing to answer the interrogatories on the ground that since the sale of the mortgaged property was made without appraisement, the plaintiff is not entitled to a deficiency judgment. Garnishee therefore prays that the garnishment proceedings be vacated.

Defendants contend that no deficiency can be recovered because the sale of the mortgaged property was made without appraisal. They assert that the allowance of a deficiency judgment in this case would violate the provisions of La. R.S. 13:4106-4107, known as the Louisiana Deficiency Judgment Act, which provides, inter alia, that if a mortgagee takes advantage of a waiver of appraisement, and the proceeds of the judicial sale are insufficient to satisfy the debt, the debt nevertheless shall stand fully satisfied and the mortgagee may not obtain a deficiency judgment against the debtor.

The Government answers this contention first by urging that the right of the Government to obtain and collect a deficiency judgment is governed by Federal law and not State law, and secondly, that if State law applies, the Louisiana Deficiency Judgment Act is not applicable to cases where ordinary rather than executory process is used in securing the judgment. Since the Court concludes that the rights of the United States of America are governed by Federal law, it does not reach a determination of whether or not the Louisiana Deficiency Judgment Act applies in cases where ordinary process is used.

The Aid To Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C.A. §§ 631- 647, specifically provides that the Administrator of the Small Business Administration has the power to:

"* * * pursue to final collection, by way of compromise or otherwise, all claims against third parties assigned to the Administrator in connection with loans made by him. This shall include authority to obtain deficiency judgments or otherwise in the case of mortgages assigned to the Administrator * * *." (Emphasis added.) 15 U.S.C.A. § 634(b)(4).

This statute is silent as to whether State law or Federal law should apply in cases where a deficiency exists, and it is also silent as to whether or not appraisal is required or can be waived. While we find no cases directly in point, we do note a number of cases holding generally that the construction of the Aid To Small Business Act is a matter of Federal rather than State law. First National Bank, Henrietta v. Small Business Administration, 429 F.2d 280 (CA 5 — 1970); Royal Services, Inc. v. Maintenance, Inc., 361 F.2d 86 (CA 5 — 1966); United States v. Skipper Smith's Marina Inc., 283 F. Supp. 408 (S.D.Fla. — 1968).

First National Bank, Henrietta v. Small Business Administration, supra, was a suit by a bank to enforce a loan guaranty agreement with the S.B.A. The Court held that in a contract suit where the United States is a party, as a general rule, contract principles of Federal law govern. In the course of the opinion the Court said:

"The reason behind the rule, uniformity of decision, is plainly applicable to the instant case. The policy manifested in the Small Business Act is national in scope." 429 F.2d at 286.

In Royal Services, Inc. v. Maintenance, Inc., supra, plaintiff, who was the second lowest bidder on a project, sought to recover loss of profits and damages from the successful bidder because of false statements made by the latter in his certification respecting his status as a small business concern. Plaintiff sought to apply the Florida law as to third party beneficiaries. The Court held that Federal law applied; that the purpose of the Small Business Act was public in character, and that it did not intend to create civil rights of action in private persons.

While both of the above cases can be distinguished from the issue presented here as to deficiency decrees, nevertheless they are helpful in showing the tendency of the courts when looking at the Small Business Act.

More pertinent is United States v. Skipper Smith's Marina, supra. This was an action for a deficiency decree against the guarantors on a note due the S.B.A. after foreclosing on the chattel mortgage securing the note. Defendants urged that a Florida statute setting forth defenses to a deficiency judgment should be applied. This the Court refused to do, holding that Federal law controlled the granting of a deficiency decree.

Similar rulings have been made with respect to other Federal loan programs, such as F.H.A. or V.A. loans. In United States v. Wells, 403 F.2d 596 (CA 5 — 1968), the Government sought a deficiency judgment after foreclosure on a mortgage pursuant to a V.A. loan. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the granting of a deficiency decree was controlled by Federal law. In that case the Court said:

"The national loan program of the Veterans Administration cannot be subjected to the vagaries of the various state laws which might otherwise control all or some phases of the loan program. This has been the uniform holding of the courts with respect to the Veterans Loan Guaranty program and we think the reasoning applies with equal force to the Vendee Loan program. * * * We have no clear statutory authority for overriding the state law, nor do we have regulations promulgated pursuant to a federal statute * * *. Nevertheless, we think this is a typical situation where under the Rules of Decision Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1652, Congress has indicated that federal law should be applied to questions of federal rights and liabilities stemming from a federal program. * * *
"We do not doubt that a deficiency judgment is a remedy afforded the United States to recover any portion of its debt which may not have been satisfied by the proceeds from a foreclosure sale." 403 F.2d at 597, 598.

The Court went on to say that while the defenses which may be asserted to a claim for deficiency judgment where the United States is the creditor have not been delineated by statute, nevertheless such defenses are only the traditional defenses such as release, disputing service or the amount due, laches, or estoppel, or such defenses as may have been fashioned by Federal case law. Nowhere has Federal case law fashioned a defense to a deficiency judgment based upon failure to have the mortgaged property appraised, and even if an appraisal were required, Federal law has never fashioned a defense based upon failure to appraise when the appraisal has been specifically waived as one of the terms of the mortgage instrument itself.

In the foreclosure of an F.H.A. mortgage, Federal law applies. In United States v. Walker Park Realty, Inc., 383 F.2d 732 (CA 2 — 1967), a deficiency judgment was allowed even though the original judgment did not expressly provide for its entry.

In United States v. View Crest Garden Apartments, Inc., 268 F.2d 380 (CA 9 — 1959), the Government foreclosed on a mortgage which had been assigned to the F.H.A. and prayed for the appointment of a receiver. The District Court refused to appoint a receiver on the ground that no sufficient showing had been made under State law to warrant such an appointment. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed, holding the Federal law applied.

"[W]e do find it to be clear that the source of the law governing the relations between the United States and the parties to the mortgage here involved is federal. Clearfield Trust Co. v. United States, 318 U.S. 363, 63 S.Ct. 573, 87 L.Ed. 838; United States v. Allegheny County, [Pa.], 322 U.S. 174, 64 S.Ct. 908, 88 L.Ed. 1209; United States v. Matthews, 9 Cir., 1957, 244 F.2d 626; McKnight v. United States, 9 Cir., 1958, 259 F.2d 540. Cf. Bank of America Nat. Trust Sav. Ass'n v. Parnell, 352 U.S. 29, 77 S.Ct. 119, 1 L.Ed.2d 93. It is therefore equally clear that if the law of the State of Washington is to have any application in the foreclosure proceeding it is not because it applies of its own force, but because either the Congress, the FHA, or the Federal Court adopts the local rule to further federal policy. As it is made certain in the cases just cited, this action arises under federal law, and not as an action between persons of diverse citizenship, hence the rule of Erie R. Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64, 58 S.Ct. 817, 82 L.Ed. 1188 is inapplicable. Nevertheless state law is sometimes adopted to fulfil the federal policies involved. As the Supreme Court of the United States stated in Clearfield Trust, supra, `in our choice of the applicable federal rule we have occasionally selected state law.' But not when `the desirability of a uniform federal rule is plain.' 318 U.S. at page 367, 63 S.Ct. at page 575." 268 F.2d at 382.

In determining whether or not State law should be adopted to fill in a gap, the Court weighed the competing Federal interest against the local policy involved. It distinguished between the acquisition of valid security interests and the remedies which the United States can pursue.

"After a default the sole situation presented is one of remedies. * * * Now the federal policy to protect the treasury and to promote the security of federal investment which in turn promotes the prime purpose of the Act — to facilitate the building of homes by the use of federal credit — becomes predominant. Local rules limiting the effectiveness of the remedies available to the United States for breach of a federal duty can not be adopted." 268 F.2d at 383.

This distinction was used again by the Ninth Circuit Court in a case involving the S.B.A. In Bumb v. United States, 276 F.2d 729 (CA 9 — 1960), the Court held that the S.B.A., as intended mortgagee of personal property in the State of California, was not exempt from the provisions of the State bulk sales law. It must be borne in mind, said the Court, that the State law "regulates only the manner of acquisition of a valid security interest, and does not purport to regulate the remedy of the mortgagee after default by the mortgagor in foreclosing the validly created security interest and liquidating the loan which the chattel mortgage was given to secure." 276 F.2d 729 at 737.

The motion here under submission also concerns the matter of remedies available to the United States in pursuance of debts due it under a federal program. It does not concern the acquisition of an enforceable security interest or marketable title. Nor does it concern an individually negotiated contract or competency to contract as were involved in United States v. Yazell, 382 U.S. 341, 86 S.Ct. 500, 15 L.Ed.2d 404 (1966), (where the Court held that the Texas law of coverture prevented the S.B.A. from proceeding against a wife's separate property). Nor is this simply a diversity case between two citizens. Therefore, this Court is constrained to follow the reasoning in the above cited cases and hold that Federal law controls the right of the United States to obtain a deficiency judgment following foreclosure on a mortgage assigned to the S.B.A.

Federal law does not require appraisal before public judicial sales. 28 U.S.C. § 2001; Pan American Petroleum Co. v. Chase National Bank, 83 F.2d 447 (CA 9 — 1936).

There has been no showing that the sale price obtained in the foreclosure involved here was so grossly inadequate as to shock the Court's conscience, nor has there been any showing that any of the other possible "traditional defenses" to a deficiency exist. See United States v. Wells, supra.

For these reasons, the motion to vacate the garnishment is denied, and judgment will be entered accordingly.

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UNITED STATES v. McINTYRE VENEER, INC., (M.D.La. 1972)
(Jun 22, 1972)