Hibernia Nat. Bank v. Carner ( 1993 )

United States Court of Appeals,
Fifth Circuit.
No. 92-3734.
HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
John W. CARNER, Defendant-Appellant.
Aug. 5, 1993.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.
Before KING, HIGGINBOTHAM and DEMOSS, Circuit Judges.
KING, Circuit Judge:
We are asked to consider whether the Louisiana legislature, in 1981, changed the
time-honored definition of "virile share" in the context of a general partner's liability for his or her
partnership's debt. We are also asked to consider whether a judgment obtained by a creditor against
a Louisiana general partnership is res judicata in a suit in federal district court for the amount of any
deficiency owed by a general partner. Finding that the Louisiana legislature has not departed from
the established definition of "virile share" and that a judgment obtained against the partnership is res
judicata on the amount of a deficiency owed by a general partner, we affirm in part, reverse in part,
and remand.
I. BACKGROUND
In September 1985, John W. Carner, a citizen of California, joined several Louisiana citizens
and a Louisiana corporation to form Jefferson Hills Partnership (JHP), a Louisiana partnership. The
Articles of Partnership, as amended, set forth the partners' ownership interests and the respective
percentages for the sharing of profits and losses. Under the articles, Carner holds a five-percent
interest in JHP, which constitutes the smallest partnership share.
The purpose of JHP was to purchase the Jefferson Hills Apartment complex (Jefferson Hills),
which is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and to convert this complex into a retirement
condominium community. JHP's acquisition of Jefferson Hills was accomplished through "Sale(s)
with Assumption of Mortgage(s)," under which the partnership assumed all indebtedness represented
by thirty promissory notes executed to construct the complex's thirty separate, four-unit apartment
buildings. These notes were held by Fidelity National Bank.1 Fidelity later merged with Hibernia
National Bank of New Orleans, which then merged with other banks to become Hibernia National
Bank.
In March 1987, JHP defaulted on the promissory notes and Hibernia instituted a foreclosure
action in Louisiana state court.2 As a result of this default, JHP filed for protection under Chapter
11 of the Bankruptcy Code, and the state court foreclosure action was removed to federal court and
given an adversary proceeding number. JHP also filed a counterclaim in the bankruptcy court,
alleging that Hibernia breached an agreement with JHP to release the JHP properties on a per-unit
basis and that Hibernia wro ngfully induced JHP into assuming troubled loans. Hibernia sought a
judgment for the full amount due under the terms of the notes—including attorney's fees, costs, and
interest—in its adversary proceeding against JHP and in its motion for summary judgment;
nevertheless, Hibernia obtained a summary judgment against JHP from the bankruptcy court in
December 1988 for an amount that approximates the principal ($4,156,895.76) and pre-petition
interest ($309,169.14) due under the terms of the notes at the time JHP filed its bankruptcy petition.
Hibernia's motion for summary judgment was not opposed (nor was the judgment appealed) because
JHP and a number of individual partners had reached partial settlement agreements with Hibernia.
Hibernia then commenced a federal seizure proceeding through the United States Marshal's Office
against JHP's mortgaged real estate and movable property. A United States Marshal's sale of JHP's
assets was conducted, and the Jefferson Hills Apartments were sold to a third party for $2,125,000;
the property had been appraised earlier for $2,600,000. JHP's movable property, which was
appraised at $20,410, was sold to a third party for $5,200. Accordingly, following the Marshal's sale
and payments of the Marshal's costs and expenses, Hibernia was left with a deficiency of more than
1
JHP also completed a loan agreement for a second mortgage to American Bank & Trust
Company, which was taken over by Hancock Bank.
2
Hibernia sent Carner copies of the default letters for each of the underlying Jefferson Hills
notes.
$2 million.
Hibernia then commenced proceedings against JHP's eight individual partners. Hibernia then
entered into settlement agreements with all of the JHP partners but Carner and reached a partial
settlement with JHP. This settlement with JHP was executed by Sam Gallo, JHP's managing partner,
after notice was sent to all the partners, including Carner. In all of these settlement agreements,
Hibernia reserved its rights against JHP and any non-settling partners. The final effect of the
agreements was that, in exchange for a release from liability for the underlying notes, the partnership
and settling partners (1) paid Hibernia a total of $296,920, (2) released the JHP counterclaim, and
(3) by not opposing Hibernia's motion for summary judgment, allowed Hibernia to foreclose on the
JHP property. After giving effect to these settlements, Hibernia still was left with a substantial
deficiency on its judgment against JHP.
In March 1990, Hibernia brought this action against Carner—at that time, the only remaining
non-settling partner—to collect his virile share3 of the amount that Hibernia considered to be the JHP
deficiency. Hibernia then moved for summary judgment. The district court, finding that Carner is
liable to Hibernia as a matter of law, granted that motion. However, the court reserved its decision
on the amount of the judgment and set that matter for trial. Following a trial on the issue of damages,
the court rendered judgment in favor of Hibernia for: one-eighth of the outstanding JHP deficiency
as determined by the bankruptcy court's December 1988 judgment, or $437,414.58; additional
interest as provided for in the thirty promissory notes; attorney's fees in the amount of one-eighth
of $200,000, or $25,000; and legal interest as provided for by Louisiana law on the total sum of the
principal and interest awarded from the date of judicial demand to the date the judgment is paid in
full. Carner appeals from that judgment.
II. STANDARD OF REVIEW
In reviewing a grant of summary judgment, we apply the same standard as the district court.
Waltman v. International Paper Co., 875 F.2d 468, 474 (5th Cir.1989) (we review grants of
summary judgment de novo). Specifically, we ask whether "the pleadings, depositions, answers to
3
The definition of this term under Louisiana law is discussed infra at Part III.A.
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter
of law." FED.R.CIV.P. 56(c). In making this determination, we view all of the evidence and
inferences drawn from that evidence in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion for
summary judgment. Reid v. State Farm Mutual Auto Ins. Co., 784 F.2d 577, 578 (5th Cir.1986).
To defeat a motion for summary judgment, Rule 56(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure requires the non-moving party to set forth specific facts sufficient to establish that there
is a genuine issue for trial. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S. Ct. 2505,
2511, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (1986). While a mere allegation of the existence of a dispute over material
facts is not sufficient to defeat a motion for summary judgment, if the evidence shows that a
reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party, the dispute is genuine. Id. at 247-48,
106 S.Ct. at 2510. On the other hand, if a rational trier of fact, based upon the record as a whole,
could not find for the non-moving party, there is no genuine issue for trial. Amoco Production Co.
v. Horwell Energy, Inc., 969 F.2d 146, 147-48 (5th Cir.1992). Such a finding may be supported by
the absence of evidence to establish an essential element of the nonmoving party's case. See Celotex
Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S. Ct. 2548, 2552, 91 L. Ed. 2d 265 (1986); Topalian v.
Ehrman, 954 F.2d 1125, 1131 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 113 S. Ct. 82, 121 L. Ed. 2d 46
(1992); International Ass'n of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Lodge No. 2504 v. Intercontinental
Mfg. Co., 812 F.2d 219, 222 (5th Cir.1987).
Finally, where the non-moving party has presented evidence to support the essential elements
of its claims but that "evidence is merely colorable, or is not significantly probative, summary
judgment may be granted." Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249-50, 106 S.Ct. at 2510-11 (citations omitted).
And a summary assertion made in an affidavit is simply not enough evidence to raise a genuine issue
of material fact. See Lechuga v. Southern Pacific Transp. Co., 949 F.2d 790, 798 (5th Cir.1992)
("Conclusory statements in an affidavit do not provide facts that will counter summary judgment
evidence, and testimony based on conjecture alone is insufficient to raise an issue to defeat summary
judgment."); Galindo v. Precision American Corp., 754 F.2d 1212, 1216 (5th Cir.1985)
("[A]ffidavits setting forth "ultimate or conclusory facts ...' are insufficient to either support or defeat
a motion for summary judgment....") (citation omitted). Similarly, it is insufficient for the nonmovant
to argue in the abstract that the legal theory involved in the case encompasses factual questions. See
Pennington v. Vistron Corp., 876 F.2d 414, 426 (5th Cir.1989).
III. DISCUSSION
All that is in dispute in the case before us is the extent of Carner's liability for JHP's obligation
to Hibernia pursuant to the JHP notes. Carner raises the following issues on appeal: (a) whether the
district court erred in (i) determining Carner's share of liability and (ii) concluding that Carner has
failed to present evidence of genuine issues of material fact regarding whether Hibernia agreed to limit
his maximum liability to five percent; (b) whether the district court erred in (i) refusing to value the
partnership's counterclaim against Hibernia and reduce the partnership's debt accordingly and (ii)
determining that Hibernia is entitled to summary judgment on Carner's claim that Hibernia
participated in a breach of fiduciary duty by agreeing to the dismissal of JHP's counterclaim; (c)
whether the district court erred in awarding Hibernia attorney's fees, costs, and interest under the
terms of the notes beyond that awarded by the bankruptcy court; and (d) whether the district court
erred in awarding post-petition interest and interest under Louisiana law from the date of judicial
demand.
A. Carner's Share of JHP's Liability
Carner challenges the district court's determination that, as one of eight JHP partners, he is
liable for one-eighth (12.5 percent) of JHP's deficiency. According to Carner, his liability is limited
to five percent—the amount of his interest in JHP.
The parties agree that Carner's share of JHP liability is controlled by LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art.
2817 (West Supp.1993), which is part of the revision of Louisiana's partnership law which became
effective January 1, 1981. Prior to the enactment of article 2817, partnership liability was controlled
by article 2873, which provided that each partner was liable for an equal share of the partnership
debt. LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 2873 (repealed 1981) (stating that each partner is "bound for his share
of the partnership debt, calculating such share in proportion to the number of partners, without any
attention to the proportion of the stock or profits each is entitled to."). Under article 2817, "[a]
partnership as principal obligor is primarily liable for its debts. A partner is bound for his virile share
of the debts of the part nership but may plead discussion of the assets of the partnership."
LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 2817 (West Supp.1993).
The dispute between the parties regarding Carner's share of JHP's deficiency is limited to
what constitutes a "virile share" under article 2817. The use of the term virile share to describe per
head liability among the partners of a general partnership is well-established within Louisiana
partnership jurisprudence.4 Moreover, although the Louisiana legislature was virtually silent as to
its intended definition of virile share when enacting article 2817, the legislature's comments
accompanying article 2817 suggest that its intention was to continue with the established definition.
Specifically, the comments provide that, under prior law, "[a] partner of an ordinary partnership had
virile share liability.... Under the new law, ... for all partnerships, each partner is liable only for his
virile share." LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 2817 (West Supp.1993) (emphasis added). Moreover, the
reporters' introduction to the 1980 partnership revision, PREC.LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 2801 (West
Supp.1993), addresses the revisions in partnership, including the liability of partners, as follows:
Under prior law the partners of a commercial partnership were solidarily liable, but partners
of an ordinary partnership were jointly liable, counting by heads. The new revision provides
for joint liability[5] in all cases, so that solidary liability does not exist in the absence of an
express stipulation.
Book III of the Different Modes of Acquiring The Ownership of Things at p. 3, in LA.CIV.CODE ANN.
art. 1789 (West 1993).
4
See, e.g., Moore v. LeBlanc, 430 So. 2d 339, 341 (La.App. 3d Cir.1983) (applying former
law); American Fidelity Fire Ins. Co. v. Atkison, 420 So. 2d 691, 695 (La.App. 2d Cir.1982)
(applying former law); LaCoste v. C & C Contractors, 328 So. 2d 802, 804 (La.App. 1st
Cir.1976); Cortiza v. Rosenblat, 291 So. 2d 425, 428-29 (La.App. 4th Cir.1974); Dupuy v.
Parish Constructors, Inc., 275 So. 2d 872, 874 (La.App. 4th Cir.1970); Edkins v. Edwards, 235
So. 2d 200, 206 (La.App. 4th Cir.1970); Champagne v. Southern Farm Bureau Cas. Ins. Co.,
170 So. 2d 226, 232 (La.App. 4th Cir.1964), writ refused, 171 So. 2d 668, 247 La. 417 (1965);
Modern Appliance & Supply Co., Inc. v. B.F. Ibos & Sons, 16 So. 2d 552, 554-55 (La.App.1944);
R.P. Farnsworth & Co., Inc. v. Estrade, Cotton & Fricke, 166 So. 160, 167 (La.App.1936), reh'g
denied, 166 So. 676.
5
Under Louisiana law, each joint obligor owes an equal share, which is calculated by dividing
the amount owed by the number of obligors. See LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 1789 (West 1993).
Nevertheless, Carner asserts that what constitutes a virile share changed with the enactment
of article 2817 from a per-head share to actual partnership interest. To support his definition of virile
share, Carner relies upon French commentators,6 a dictionary dating back to the nineteenth century,7
and a law review Note.8 Specifically, Carner asserts that, although there is a presumption that the
virile share is equal among those liable, this presumption does not apply (1) where "the act"9 expressly
indicates a division on another basis, and (2) where it has been demonstrated that the interests of the
partners are unequal. According to Carner, "[i]n the instant case, the partnership agreement set forth
that Carner was liable for five percent of the Partnership's losses and ... Hibernia knew,
acknowledged, and agreed to this maximum limit of Carner's virile share liability." Carner also relies
upon Burks v. Lombard, 533 So. 2d 161, 162-63 (La.App. 4th Cir.1988) ("Under the civil law,
persons are generally charged with knowledge of what is in the public records."), writ denied, 534
So. 2d 431 (La.1988), asserting that JHP's articles indicating Carner's five-percent partnership share
were a matter of public record. Finally, Carner surveys the use of the term virile share in other
6
4 C. AUBRY & C. RAU, DROIT CIVIL FRANCAIS § 298b (6th ed. Barten 1959); 2 G. BAUDRY-
LACANTINERIE ET L. BARDE, TRAITE DE DROIT CIVIL, DES OBLIGATIONS, § 1256a at 367 (3d ed.
1907); 2 M. PLANIOL, CIVIL LAW TREATISE, pt. 1, no. 767, at 413 (11th ed. La.St.C.Inst. trans.
1959).
7
FREUND'S LATIN DICTIONARY (E. Andrews ed. 1879) (C. Lewis & C. Short rev. 1907).
8
Note, Louisiana's New Partnership Provisions: A Review of the Changes and Some
Continuing Problem Areas, 42 LA.L.REV. 1429, 1443 (1982) (interpreting "virile share" under
French and Louisiana law, considering the policy implications surrounding interpretations of this
term, and presenting policy arguments in favor of adopting Carner's interpretation).
9
The parties dispute the meaning of this term, which is a legal term under Louisiana law.
According to Carner, the partnership agreement constitutes an act between the partners, while
Hibernia asserts that:
the "act" referred to is not the "act" amongst the partners, but the recognition that
any partner can contract with a creditor of the partnership such that the involved
partners' actual contractual obligation to the particular creditor would be more or
less than the art. 2817 virile share liability. No written "act" existed in this case
and the District Court concluded that Carner failed to show under Louisiana law
that Hibernia "knew, acknowledged or agreed" to the five (5%) percent limit
Carner maintains is his liability.
articles of the Louisiana Code.10
In sum, although (1) it is established under relevant Louisiana jurisprudence that virile share
means per-head liability, (2) the semblances of intent provided in the legislature's comments and the
introduction to the partnership revision suggest an acceptance of this established definition, and (3)
the Louisiana legislature expressed no intention to change the established definition of virile share
when enacting article 2817, Carner asserts that the Louisiana legislature has abandoned its per-head
10
For example, he relies upon article 2803, entitled "Participation of Partners," which provides
that:
Each partner participates equally in profits, commercial benefits, and losses of the
partnership, unless the partners have agreed otherwise. The same rule applies to
the distribution of assets, but in the absence of contrary agreement, contributions
to capital are restored to each partner according to the contribution made.
The 1980 revision comments accompanying article 2803 provide that:
The partners have complete freedom to contract regarding the manner and extent
to which they are to participate in the profits, benefits, assets, and losses of the
partnership. If the parties agree, the participation may be unequal, and it may
differ among the four categories, namely, profits, benefits, assets, and losses. It is
only when the parties have not agreed on fixed percentages that the parties are
presumed to have intended equal participation.
Article 2803 simply enables partners to divide partnership assets and liabilities among
themselves on a basis other than per head. Hibernia is, of course, not a participant in the
JHP partnership agreement, and, therefore, article 2803 cannot be relied upon as authority
for restricting Hibernia's ability to collect Carner's full per head share.
Similarly, Carner relies upon article 1804, which states that:
Among solidary obligors, each is liable for his virile portion. If the obligation
arises from a contract or quasi-contract, virile portions are equal in the absence of
agreement or judgment to the contrary. If the obligation arises from an offense or
quasi-offense, a virile portion is proportionate to the fault of the obligor.
Again, article 1804 deals with the liability of solidary obligors among themselves. Article
1804 does not address the measure of liability to third parties, such as Hibernia.
Finally, Carner addresses article 2815, entitled "Effect of Loss Stipulation on Third
Persons[,]" which states that "[a] provision that a partner shall not participate in losses
does not affect third persons." The revision comment accompanying article 2815 provides
that "[a] partner is liable toward third persons for his virile share of the debts of the
partnership[,]" and Carner asserts that, under this provision, "if a partner's virile share of a
partnership debt is five percent, then he is liable to a third person for that five percent,
regardless of whether he has an agreement with another partner that holds him harmless."
As is true with his interpretation of virile share for article 2817 purposes, Carner has not
provided conclusive authority to support his definition of virile share.
definition of virile share. The change in definition asserted by Carner would substantially change the
liability of the individual partners of Louisiana's general partnerships. Although the Louisiana
legislature is certainly free to abandon its established definition of virile share, we conclude that such
a break from what is established cannot arise from silence.
Carner also asserts that he has raised genuine issues of material fact as to whether Hibernia
agreed to limit his liability to a maximum of five percent. Specifically, as stated by Carner,
The reco rd is clear that Hibernia had full knowledge that Carner only had a five percent
interest in the Partnership. Having such knowledge, Hibernia cannot deny that there may
have been an express or tacit understanding to limit the partner's liability to his stipulated
percentage. Hibernia cannot argue that Carner is liable for 12.5 percent of the Partnership
debt when it was well aware of Carner's five percent interest in the Partnership.
Carner relies primarily upon Hibernia's initial complaint and a demand letter Hibernia sent to
Carner which states that Carner is liable for five percent of JHP's deficiency. According to Hibernia,
"the letter amounts to an offer to settle the claim which Carner rejected. Under the law, the offer is
not admissible in evidence. FED.R.EVID. 408 (West 1992)." Moreover, Hibernia amended its original
complaint before Carner filed an answer, and, pursuant to Rule 15 of the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure, this amendment relates back to the original pleading. See FED.R.CIV.P. 15 (West 1992).
To the extent that Hibernia did make a "judicial confession," that confession was amended away. See
Revision Comment (d), LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 1853 (West 1991); Guidry v. Barras, 368 So. 2d
1129, 1132 (La.App.3d Cir.1979); see also White v. Arco/Polymers, Inc., 720 F.2d 1391, 1396 n.
5 (5th Cir.1983); In re Fordson Engineering Corp., 25 B.R. 506, 509 (Bankr.E.D.Mich.1982).
Carner also contends that a genuine issue of material fact has been raised regarding this issue
by the testimony of Wolfe Decker, the Hibernia officer in charge of the JHP loan. Decker testified
that it was Hibernia's understanding that Carner's liability was limited to his percentage of interest in
JHP. In response, Hibernia asserts that, "even if the material is relevant, the material is not competent
to establish the legal liability of the individual partners.... No contract of guaranty or security
document limits Carner's liability."
In sum, Carner relies upon (1) a loan officer's testimony as to what he believed and (2) a
subsequently corrected statement as to liability in Hibernia's initial complaint to establish that Hibernia
agreed to limit his liability to a maximum of five percent. This evidence, taken as true, simply
suggests that there was some confusion on the part of some individuals employed by Hibernia as to
what constitutes a virile share under Louisiana law. Accordingly, we conclude that Carner has failed
to raise a genuine issue of material fact as to whether Hibernia entered into an express agreement to
limit Carner's liability to his interest in JHP. See generally supra Part II.
B. JHP's Counterclaim
Carner asserts that a counterclaim brought by JHP against Hibernia in the underlying
adversary proceeding should be valued and that the deficiency judgment against him should be
reduced by his virile share of that amount. This counterclaim was for an alleged breach of contract
and lender liability, and it was based upo n an assertion that Hibernia agreed to release each of the
thirty mortgages (approximately $140,000 per four-plex) assumed by JHP when just one of the four
units was sold.11 During the course of the settlement agreements between JHP, individual partners,
and Hibernia, the counterclaim was dismissed. According to Carner, (1) JHP's counterclaim against
Hibernia should be valued and credited against its debt to Hibernia for it was "transferred to Hibernia
for absolutely no dollar credit towards the deficiency owed[,]" and (2) the dismissal of JHP's
counterclaim constitutes a breach of fiduciary duty, Hibernia participated in that breach of fiduciary
duty, and, therefore, Carner is entitled to damages.
The proper vehicle for Carner to have had the JHP counterclaim recognized as an asset of
the partnership, valued, and taken into account is article 5155 of the Louisiana Code of Civil
Procedure. Article 5155, which enables a secondary obligor to plead discussion to restrain the
enforcement of a mortgage against his or her property, provides:
Discussion may be pleaded by a surety or transferee in a revocatory action only in the dilatory
exception.
In pleading discussion, the secondary obligor shall:
(1) Point by a description sufficient to identify it, property in the state belonging to
the primary o bligor, or otherwise subject to discussion, which is not in litigation, is not
exempt from seizure, is free of mortgages and privileges, and is worth more than the total
amount of the judgment or mortgage; and
11
The record contains no documentation of this alleged agreement.
(2) Deposit into the registry of the court, for the use of the creditor, an amount
sufficient to defray the costs of executing the judgment or enforcing the mortgage against the
property discussed.
LA.CODE CIV.PROC.ANN. art. 5155 (West Supp.1993). Carner has acknowledged that he has not
properly pled discussion and, therefore, that he has not met the requirements of article 5155.
Accordingly, Carner's opportunity to obtain an adjustment to JHP's deficiency and his virile share of
that deficiency for the value12 of JHP's dismissed counterclaim has now passed.13
In his second effort to obtain value for JHP's dismissed counterclaim, Carner asserts that the
counterclaim was dismissed as the result of a breach of fiduciary dut y on the part of Sam Gallo,14
JHP's managing partner, and that Hibernia participated in this alleged breach of fiduciary duty. All
that the record reveals to support Carner's assertion is that Hibernia (1) actively sought to collect on
JHP's notes, (2) participated in settlement negotiations with JHP and its partners, (3) and reached
settlement agreements with JHP and all of its partners other than Carner. The record also establishes
12
We note that the alleged value of the JHP counterclaim is highly questionable. Specifically,
the record establishes that (1) none of the JHP partners ever actively pursued this counterclaim
before it was settled, (2) no value was ever placed upon this counterclaim when all of JHP's assets
that were transferred as part of each partner's settlement were valued pursuant to
LA.REV.STAT.ANN. 13:4108.01, et seq., and (3) Carner has provided no documentation of the
alleged release agreement which was the basis of the JHP counterclaim.
13
To circumvent his failure to plead discussion pursuant to article 5155, Carner relies upon
American Security Bank v. E-Z Pik, Inc., 499 So. 2d 1113, 1115 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1986), for the
proposition that the dismissed JHP counterclaim should be valued, and that the value given to the
counterclaim should be applied to JHP's obligation to Hibernia. In American Security, the court
held that, where a judgment rendered against a partnership and in favor of a bank failed to
account for payments made two days prior to the issuance of that judgment, the bank could not
then secure the judgment against a partner for its full amount. We conclude that Carner's reliance
on American Security is misplaced, for the holding in that case is premised upon the fact that the
payments received on the eve of judgment and not reflected in the judgment had partially
extinguished the partnership debt. Id. at 1115. As we have explained in the text above, Carner's
failure to plead discussion has extinguished his opportunity to realize such a reduction in JHP's
debt.
14
Carner asserts that Gallo breached the duty recognized in article 2809 of the Louisiana Civil
Code, which provides that:
[a] partner owes a fiduciary duty to the partnership and to his partners. He may
not conduct any activity for himself or on behalf of a third party that is contrary to
his fiduciary duty or is prejudicial to the Partnership. If he does so, he must
account to the Partnership and his partners for the resulting profits.
LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 2809; LA.REV.STAT.ANN. 9:3801.
that Carner was invited to participate in settlement negotiations with Hibernia but chose not to.15
Accordingly, we conclude, as did the district court, that Carner has failed to present a genuine issue
of material fact regarding this breach-of-fiduciary-duty assertion, and Carner is therefore entitled to
summary judgment as a matter of law. FED.R.CIV.P. 56(c); see generally supra Part II.
C. The District Court's Award of Attorney's Fees, Costs, and Post-Petition Interest under the Notes
The bankruptcy court's December 13, 1988 award in favor of Hibernia is for the outstanding
principal and interest under the terms of the notes up to the date JHP filed its bankruptcy petition.
That award did not include post-petition interest and attorney's fees as part of the debt owed by JHP
to Hibernia. In addition to ordering Carner t o pay Hibernia his virile share of JHP's deficiency as
determined by the bankruptcy court's judgment, the district court ordered Carner to pay one-eighth
of the attorney's fees and costs incurred by Hibernia and one-eighth of the post-petition interest due
under the terms of the notes. Carner now challenges the district court's award of attorney's fees,
costs, and po st-petition interest. What is at issue before us is the effect of the bankruptcy court's
December 1988 grant of summary judgment in favor of Hibernia. Specifically, Carner asserts that
the judgment constitutes a final adjudication of the amount of JHP's debt to Hibernia, while Hibernia
asserts that the judgment simply constitutes a recognition of the allowed amount of Hibernia's claim
against JHP, which in turn would be limited by the value of the security pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 506
15
Carner is the only JHP partner who has not settled with Hibernia. According to Hibernia, the
reason that Carner has been left to hold JHP's liability is that,
until recently, Carner never negotiated with Hibernia; he has refused to provide
Hibernia with financial information to analyze his financial ability to settle and has
consistently taken the position that by being an out-of-state partner, he could
ignore his liability.
The record establishes that Gallo even wrote Carner to tell him that it was important for
him to contact the attorney acting as JHP's spokesperson if he wanted to "buy [his] way
out of this problem."
Moreover, Carner was notified of the JHP meeting in which Gallo was authorized
to enter a settlement agreement on behalf of JHP, but he chose not to attend. All of JHP's
other partners did attend, and they unanimously passed a resolution authorizing Gallo to
"execute settlement documents and other pleadings on behalf of the partnership whereby
the partnership itself will be released from any further liability to Hibernia National Bank
in return for dismissing its counterclaim...."
("Determination of secured status.").16
Hibernia was required under Louisiana law to exhaust its rights against JHP before proceeding
against Carner.17 Hibernia complied with Louisiana law by asserting all of its claims against JHP and
seeking a judgment for the entire amount owed by JHP under the terms of the notes. The bankruptcy
court vehicle correctly chosen by Hibernia was an adversary proceeding to establish the amount of
JHP's debt to Hibernia. Finally, the bankruptcy court's December 1988 order constitutes an award
of summary judgment on Hibernia's motion for a judgment for the entire amount due and owning
under the notes, even if the amount of the judgment is incorrect. The record provides evidence
suggesting that the claims for post-petition interest and attorney's fees now in dispute were
16
Section 506 is explained in COLLIER'S ON BANKRUPTCY as:
the basic Code provision governing the determination of the secured status of
allowed claims. It covers the extent to which an allowed claim of a creditor
secured by a lien on, or a right of setoff against, property in which the holder of an
allowed claim may be allowed post petition interest thereon and fees, costs or
charges arising in connection therewith, the costs and expenses from such
property, and the circumstances under which such lien may pass through the
bankruptcy estate or be avoided.
3 COLLIER'S ON BANKRUPTCY § 506.01 (15th ed. 1992).
17
As explained in comment (a), article 2817 "sets forth the rule that creditors must look to the
partnership first for the debts of the partnership. The partners are only secondarily liable."
LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 2817 (West Supp.1993). Moreover, comment (c) expressly provides
that,
[e]xcept where solidary liability may arise in other contexts, such as in delictual
matters in which solidary liability is imposed by operation of law, if a creditor of
the partnership wants solidary liability, he is now required to obtain express
agreement from the partners to the effect that they are solidarily liable for the debt.
Id. In fact, "[t]he partners of an existing partnership may not be sued on a partnership
obligation unless the partnership is joined as a defendant." LA.CODE CIV.P.ANN. art. 737
(1960 & Supp.1993); see Melancon v. Morrison-Knudsen International Co., 329 F. Supp.
981, 984 (W.D.La.) ("[A] judgment cannot be obtained against a member of a partnership
upon a partnership obligation, while the partnership exists, except by also obtaining a
judgment against the partnership itself"), aff'd, 449 F.2d 1289 (5th Cir.1971), cert. denied,
404 U.S. 1048, 92 S. Ct. 715, 30 L. Ed. 2d 739 (1972); Travelers Ins. Co. v. St. Judge
Hospital of Kenner, La., 1993 WL 177208, at *1 (E.D.La.1993) ("Louisiana courts have
interpreted these articles to require that a partnership creditor first exhaust his rights
against the partnership before he proceeds against the individual partners."), citing
Koppers Co. v. Mackie Roofing & Sheet Metal Works, 544 So. 2d 25, 26 (La.App. 4th
Cir.1989).
considered by the bankruptcy court, and Hibernia's counsel led the court to believe that they were
mooted by JHP's lack of assets.18 Because Hibernia never appealed from nor sought clarification of
the bankruptcy court's grant of summary judgment,19 we conclude that the district court erred in
construing the bankruptcy court's judgment as a partial judgment on Hibernia's claims for the principal
and pre-petition interest due at the time JHP filed its bankruptcy petition. In short, the district court's
added award of attorney's fees, costs, and interest under the terms of the notes is precluded by the
bankruptcy court's December 1988 judgment in favor of Hibernia.20
D. The District Court's Award of Both Post-Petition Contractual Interest and Interest From the
Date of Judicial Demand
The final issue raised by Carner is a challenge to the district court's award of both
post-petition interest under the terms of the notes and legal interest from the date of judicial demand
(March 26, 1990). The parties agree that the district court's award of both forms of interest is
18
Specifically, at the bankruptcy court's November 30, 1988 hearing on Hibernia's motion for
summary judgment, Hibernia's counsel stated before the court:
Your honor, we've asked for judgment for the principal amounts on the
notes plus the interest as stated in Mr. Decker's affidavit. We have not submitted
any evidence regarding attorney's fees. The notes provided for reasonable
attorney's fees and we would simply leave that to the court's discretion.
There is not enough value in the property to come close to the principal
and interest. So, it's really a moot issue as to what award....
19
The essence of Hibernia's assertion is that, in granting its motion for summary judgment for
the entire amount due under the terms of the notes, the bankruptcy court did not rule on its claims
for attorney's fees, costs, and interest. We note that, pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9024, Rule
60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure applies to cases governed by the Bankruptcy Code.
Under Rule 60(b), a party may seek to amend a judgment for mistake or inadvertence by filing a
motion for relief within one year from the date a judgment is entered. Hibernia never exercised
this option.
20
"The preclusive effect of the prior decision of the bankruptcy court is determined under
federal res judicata standards." McClain v. Apodaca, 793 F.2d 1031, 1033 (9th Cir.1988). As
stated by this court, "[u]nder the federal law of res judicata, a prior judgment rendered by a court
of competent jurisdiction bars a subsequent cause of action between the same parties as to not
only all matters litigated in the first suit, but also all matters that could have been litigated
regarding the same cause of action." Kurzweg v. Marple, 841 F.2d 635, 639-40 (5th Cir.1988);
see Commercial Box & Lumber v. Uniroyal, Inc., 623 F.2d 371, 373 (5th Cir.1980).
duplicative and precluded by article 2000 of the Louisiana Civil Code21 and relevant jurisprudence.
See, e.g., Ken's Construction Co., Inc. v. Liles, 560 So. 2d 103, 106 (La.App. 3rd Cir.1990) (holding
that an award of interest from the date of judicial demand on an amount due is duplicative of an
award of interest on that amount from the date it became due). The duplication between these
awards o f interest has been eliminated by our determination that the district court's award of
post-petition contractual interest is barred by the bankruptcy court's grant of summary judgment in
favor of Hibernia. See supra Part III.C. Accordingly, we conclude that, when altering its award of
interest on remand, the district court may award Hibernia interest from the date of judicial demand
pursuant to article 2000.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the district court's determinations that Carner is liable
for one-eighth (12.5 percent) of JHP's deficiency and that Carner failed to raise a genuine issue of
material fact regarding JHP's counterclaim. However, because the bankruptcy court's grant of
summary judgment constitutes a final adjudication of Hibernia's claims under the terms of the notes,
we conclude that the bankruptcy court's judgment precludes the district court's award of attorney's
fees, costs, and added interest under the terms of the notes. We also conclude that, when altering the
amount of its judgment on remand, the district court may award Hibernia interest from the date of
judicial demand in acco rdance with article 2000 of the Louisiana Civil Code. Accordingly, we
AFFIRM in part, REVERSE in part, and REMAND.
21
Article 2000 provides:
When the object of the performance is a sum of money, damages for delay
in performance are measured by the interest on that sum from the time it is due, at
the rate agreed by the parties, or in the absence of agreement, at the rate of legal
interest as fixed by Article 2924. The obligee may recover these damages without
having to prove any loss and whatever loss he may have suffered he can recover no
more.
LA.CIV.CODE ANN. art. 2000 (emphasis added).