Commercial Due Diligence. Or Not?

Jane Tang and her company Virginia Oak Venture, LLC brought a lawsuit regarding the purchase of a McKinney Texas apartment community. Ms. Tang was of the view that the amount paid was far in excess of its value.

Tang alleged that the defendants (for my purposes, sellers, broker and agent) severely over-represented the cash flow expected to be derived, and misrepresented the extent of repairs. Tang also contends that she was defrauded by a real estate salesman, his broker, and the prior owners.

The Collin County trial court rendered partial summary judgments in favor of some of the defendants. A jury trial followed against the remaining defendants, all of which ultimately resulted in a loss to Tang.

So she appealed.

With specific reference to the salesperson O.D. Fought, Jr., Tang argued that Fought grossly misrepresented the occupancy levels of the property, its income and expenses, supplied false data to the appraiser and lender, hid from Tang the existence of accurate rent rolls, financial data and a previous purchase of the property for half the price some 10 months earlier, and more.

Tang argued that Fought represented both Seller and Tang, and as such, owed fiduciary duties to both. As evidence to support that conclusion, Tang alleged that Fought located an attorney to create Tang’s LLC, agreed to be personally named as its registered agent, drove her to see 10 properties he was attempting to sell, directed her to a particular lender, and prepared all the documents involved in the deal.

Fought contended that he was merely working hard on the seller’s behalf to sell the apartments, and that he was never acting as Tang’s agent. Evidently the jury believed him.

The evidence furnished to the jury regarding rent rolls and income streams may have been accurate and largely correct as of the month of the sale, although it could also have been misleading. There was indeed evidence of high occupancy levels, but that circumstance changed after the expiration of “signup specials.” There was also the possibility that some evicted residents were allowed to reoccupy apartments, and thus become tenants yet once again.

More confusion followed Fought’s possible misrepresentations about the condition of the property, but it is possible that the jury deemed none of such matters material and disregarded such possible misrepresentations.

Tang then alleged that Fought and his broker committed fraud, since it was alleged that Fought only partially disclosed accurate rent rolls, financial statements and the property’s condition.

The Appellate Court’s analysis of the fraud claim against the sales agent was short-lived, since “. . . Tang made no effort to make an independent investigation to determine the physical condition of the property, the value of the apartment complex, the circumstances of occupancy levels, or other pertinent factors she should have taken into account when making the decision to purchase.”

The Appellate Court found no reason to disagree with the jury’s decisions, so the Defendants prevailed again. See Virginia Oak Venture, LLC and Jane Tang v. O.D. Fought, Jr., et al; No. 06-13-00076-CV; Texas Court of Appeals, 6th District; February 7, 2015.

Lessons learned:

1.  In the past, my stock suggestion to brokers and agents was to encourage the buyers and tenants to conduct as much due diligence as possible within the option period, by hiring independent professionals not suggested by the agents and brokers. In this situation the buyer evidently did none of that, but still the broker and agents were able to adequately defend a claim.

2.  However, I would like to believe that if the buyer had undertaken the normal due diligence I suggest of all buyers and tenants, she would have discovered some or all of these issues and either would not have made the decision to purchase or would have seriously negotiated the purchase price. Southward.

3.  Practice Point: Make clear to all parties who you represent. Do it at the inception – ‘first contact rule’ – but then there is nothing that precludes you from reminding the parties several more times before and at closing, in writing. Keep copies too.

Reprinted with the permission of North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS®, Inc.

Indemnity Equals Guaranty

Michael Smuck and Edwin White wanted to purchase an apartment complex known as “The Falls,” located generally in the southeast quadrant of I-30 and Loop 820 in Fort Worth. They formed a special purpose entity (SPE) called MBS-The Falls, Ltd. for that purpose, and yet another SPE to serve as the general partner of MBS-The Falls.

To acquire the apartments, MBS-The Falls signed a $9 million note, deed of trust, security agreement and other loan docs pledging the real estate. Wells Fargo Bank became the owner of the loan docs through an assignment.

The loan provided for non-recourse financing. As such, the liability of MBS-The Falls was limited to its equity in the apartment complex, unless a non-recourse exception was triggered. The non-recourse exceptions that could impose liability upon MBS-The Falls were listed in the Note.

MBS-The Falls defaulted on the Note, and Wells Fargo foreclosed. Wells Fargo filed suit in Tarrant County alleging waste and that the owner allowed liens to be filed against the property, which impaired the value of Wells’ collateral.

At trial in Tarrant County, Wells Fargo obtained a judgment against MBS-The Falls for $10+ million. With that judgment in hand, Wells Fargo then sued Messrs. Smuck and White in Harris County for that amount. Wells Fargo claimed that Smuck and White were 100% liable for the judgment obtained in Tarrant County against the owner of the apartments.

The basis for Wells’ Harris County lawsuit is contained in a document signed personally by Smuck and White captioned “Non-Recourse Indemnification Agreement.” In that agreement both Smuck and White agreed to indemnify the lender for all losses incurred.

Smuck argued that he would be liable to Wells Fargo only if a third-party asserted a claim, and not merely if Wells Fargo had incurred losses.

White claimed that the judgment rendered in Tarrant County was not based on the non-recourse exceptions, and further that Wells Fargo failed to establish that any non-recourse exceptions had been triggered.

The Harris County court agreed with Smuck and White. Wells Fargo appealed.

The Harris County Court of Appeals first looked at the Indemnification Agreement. Despite the terminology of “Indemnity,” the Court had little problem concluding that it was essentially a “Guaranty,” for which Smuck and White were jointly and severally 100% liable for all losses suffered by Wells Fargo.

And from there it wasn’t difficult for the Court of Appeals to toss out all the secondary arguments used by Smuck and White.

The Harris County Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s judgment. Wells Fargo won; Smuck and White lost.

See Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Smuck and White; No. 14-12-00574-CV; Texas 14^th Court of Appeals, July 9, 2013.

Lessons learned:

1.   It’s easy to be lazy and not carefully read loan docs, leases and contracts; goodness knows they are as boring as watching a little league baseball game. In August. In Texas. With a 4p start time. The only surprise here is that Smuck and White were able to convince a trial court that the Indemnity Agreement they signed did not impose liability on them for Wells Fargo’s substantial losses.

2.  Don’t assume that non-recourse means no liability can be imposed. There is a new theory being used across the nation right now that even diminishment in value caused by recessionary market conditions can impose personal liability. Most of us don’t think that was the real purpose of non-recourse, “bad boy” or “carve out” provisions but at least some Courts do not agree.

3.  Come see me at the NTCAR Commercial Real Estate Expo on August 28 at the Sheraton in downtown Dallas, and tell me how I can approve these articles and what I should write about. I’ve got a booth!


Reprinted with the permission of North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS®, Inc.

Commercial Foreclosures and Correction Deeds

It is rare that The Supremes review a real estate case. But in December 2009 the Texas Supreme Court decided Myrad Properties vs. LaSalle Bank. The case was about a timely subject – Texas foreclosure.

Myrad financed two apartment communities in Killeen with LaSalle Bank NA’s predecessor. Myrad signed a $1 million note and a deed of trust. The deed of trust was recorded in Bell County. The deed of trust contained separate property descriptions for both the Casa Grande Apartments and La Casa Apartments.

Myrad defaulted. LaSalle Bank posted a notice of foreclosure upon only the Casa Grande property. At the foreclosure auction in Bell County, the substitute trustee read only the property description for Casa Grande. LaSalle was the only bidder, offering almost $1 million.

LaSalle received and recorded a substitute trustee’s deed for the Casa Grande property.

Two days later Myrad sued LaSalle, to keep it from filing a correction deed covering the La Casa property. When LaSalle filed it anyway, Myrad asserted that LaSalle owned only the Casa Grande property, while Myrad retained ownership of La Casa free of LaSalle’s deed of trust lien.

Both the trial court and court of appeals held that LaSalle’s correction deed was effective to transfer ownership of both Casa Grande and La Casa to LaSalle.

The Texas Supreme Court reviewed the history of correction deeds and determined that such deeds can be used to correct minor defects and imperfections. However, correction deeds cannot be used to convey additional, separate properties. The correction deed filed by LaSalle was void.

Bottom line:
1. Foreclosures are risky business.
2. Purchasers at foreclosure auctions sometimes make mistakes. So do lenders. Trustees too.
3. Be wary of correction deeds.


Reprinted with the permission of North Texas Commercial Association of REALTORS®, Inc.