Baggett v. First National Bank

United States Court of Appeals,
Eleventh Circuit.
No. 96-8019.
Rebecca Otwell BAGGETT, Teressa Latrelle Otwell, Frances Otwell Bagby, Plaintiffs-
Appellants,
v.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GAINESVILLE, Defendant-Appellee.
July 28, 1997.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. (No. 1:95-CV-
684-FMH), Frank Hull, Judge.
Before HATCHETT, Chief Judge, TJOFLAT, Circuit Judge, and CLARK, Senior Circuit Judge.
CLARK, Senior Circuit Judge:
We have reviewed plaintiffs/appellants' complaint filed in district court, appellants' brief,
the applicable statutes, and the Congressional History of the Bank Holding Company Act and we
agree with the district court's holding that the Act does not grant federal court jurisdiction of a
lawsuit brought by the heirs of a decedent challenging a bank's actions as Trustee and Executor of
the decedent's estate.
Since the opinion of the district court amply describes the issues and controlling law, we
hereby adopt the district court's opinion of November 28, 1995, attached hereto as Exhibit A.
AFFIRMED.
Exhibit A
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF
GEORGIA, ATLANTA DIVISION.
Rebecca Otwell Baggett, Teressa Latrelle Otwell, and Frances Otwell Bagby, Plaintiffs,
v.
First National Bank of Gainesville, Defendant.
CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:95-CV-684-FMH.
ORDER
This case is before the Court on the Defendant First National Bank of Gainesville's Motion
to Dismiss for want of subject matter jurisdiction [3-1]. After reviewing the record and hearing oral
argument from counsel for the parties, the Court grants Defendant's Motion to Dismiss.
I. FACTS
Plaintiffs Rebecca Otwell Baggett, Teressa Latrelle Otwell, and Frances Otwell Bagby
("Plaintiffs") are beneficiaries of the Estate of Roy P. Otwell, Sr. and contingent beneficiaries under
certain testamentary trusts created under the Last Will and Testament of Roy P. Otwell, Sr. The
Defendant First National Bank of Gainesville ("Defendant") serves as (a) Executor of the Last Will
and Testament of Roy P. Otwell and Trustee of the testamentary trust under that Will; (b) Trustee
of a trust created by the Will and a consent order entered in a state court action consented to by all
parties herein; and (c) as Trustee of an Inter Vivos Trust created by Roy P. Otwell in 1984 for the
benefit of Roy P. Otwell, Jr., an incompetent son of Roy P. Otwell, Sr. Plaintiffs are contingent
beneficiaries of the 1984 Inter Vivos Trust and beneficiaries of the testamentary trust under the Last
Will and Testament.
Plaintiffs contend, inter alia, that Defendant breached its fiduciary duties as trustee and
committed acts of mismanagement, neglect and self-dealing, by specifically (a) failing to fund
properly a testamentary trust for Roy Otwell, Jr.; (b) by overvaluing the real estate assets in the
estate thereby causing the estate to pay unnecessary taxes and administration fees; (c) engaging in
self-dealing by making a loan to the estate at an excessive rate of interest; (d) spending excessive
amounts of money remodeling a house for Roy Otwell, Jr.; (e) transferring an easement to the City
of Cumming for little or no consideration over Plaintiffs' objections; and (f) charging attorneys' fees
to the estate that should have been paid by Defendant. According to Plaintiffs, this alleged pattern
of misconduct resulted in a pecuniary gain to Defendant.
Plaintiffs assert that their Complaint presents a federal question under the Bank Holding
Company Act ("BHCA" or "Act"), 12 U.S.C. § 1972(2)(F) & 12 U.S.C. § 1975 (1994). Specifically,
Plaintiffs contend that Defendant's alleged misconduct violated the provisions of § 1972(2)(F)(ii),
that Plaintiffs lost money as a result, and that Plaintiffs may thus sue under § 1975 for injury in their
"property by reason of [conduct] forbidden in section 1972." 12 U.S.C. § 1975 (1994). As outlined
below, this Court finds that Plaintiffs' Complaint fails to state a cause of action under the BHCA,
and thus Plaintiffs' Complaint is dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
II. BANK HOLDING COMPANY ACT CLAIM
The jurisdiction of the federal courts is limited to the jurisdiction which Congress has
prescribed. Local Division 732, Amalgamated Transit Union v. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit
Authority, 667 F.2d 1327, 1330 (11th Cir.1982); accord Taylor v. Appleton, 30 F.3d 1365 (11th
Cir.1994). In determining whether Congress intended to confer a private right of action,
congressional intent is the dispositive inquiry. Amalgamated Transit Union, 667 F.2d at 1334-35;
see also Touche Ross & Co. v. Redington, 442 U.S. 560, 568, 99 S.Ct. 2479, 2485, 61 L.Ed.2d 82(1979) ("[O]ur task is limited solely to determining whether Congress intended to create the private
right of action."). Congressional intent to create a private right of action will not be presumed.
There must be clear evidence of Congress's intent to create a cause of action. Touche Ross, 442 U.S.
at 570, 99 S.Ct. at 2486 ("[I]mplying a private right of action on the basis on congressional silence
is a hazardous enterprise, at best."); Amalgamated Transit Union, 667 F.2d at 1335 ("In order for
us to infer a private right of action, or federal jurisdiction, we must have before us clear evidence
that Congress intended to provide such a remedy...."). Thus, the Court first examines the legislative
history of the BHCA.
A. Legislative History Of The Bank Holding Company Act
1. The Anti-Tying Provisions of the BHCA
The BHCA was enacted in 1956. The original focus of the BHCA was the regulation of the
power of bank holding companies to prevent a small number of powerful banks from dominating
commerce and to ensure a separation of economic power between banking and commerce. Parsons
Steel v. First Alabama Bank of Montgomery, 679 F.2d 242, 244 (11th Cir.1982); S.Rep. No. 91-
1084, 91st Cong., 2d Sess., reprinted in 1970 U.S.C.C.A.N. 5519, 5535 (1970); 116 Cong.Rec.
32127 (1970). In 1970, Congress amended the Act to reach the anti-competitive practices of even
smaller banks, which notwithstanding their comparative size, were able to exert economic power
over businesses because of their control over credit.
Against this backdrop, Congress drafted a one paragraph, five subpart section prohibiting
certain tying arrangements. The present incarnation of these provisions comprise § 1972(1), which
provides as follows:
(1) A bank shall not in any manner extend credit, lease or sell property of any king,
or furnish any service, or fix or vary the consideration for any of the foregoing, on the
condition or requirement—
(A) that the customer shall obtain some additional credit, property, or service
from such bank other than a loan, discount, deposit, or trust service;
(B) that the customer shall obtain some additional credit, property, or service
from a bank holding company of such bank, or from any other subsidiary of such
bank holding company;
(C) that the customer provide some additional credit, property, or service to
such bank, other than those related to and usually provided in connection with a loan,
discount, deposit, or trust service;
(D) that the customer provide some additional credit, property, or service to
a bank holding company of such bank, or to any other subsidiary of such bank
holding company; or
(E) that the customer shall not obtain some other credit, property, or service
from a competitor of such bank, a bank holding company of such bank, or any
subsidiary of such bank holding company, other than a condition or requirement that
such bank shall reasonably impose in a credit transaction to assure the soundness of
the credit.
The Board may by regulation or order permit such exceptions to the foregoing prohibition
as it considers will not be contrary to the purposes of this chapter.
12 U.S.C. § 1972(1) (1994). Simultaneously, Congress enacted § 1975 of the BHCA, creating a
private right of action in favor of individuals harmed by virtue of violations of the anti-tying
provisions of the BHCA. Section 1975 states as follows:
Any person who is injured in his business or property by reason of anything forbidden in
section 1972 of this title may sue therefor in any district court of the United States in which
the defendant resides or is found or has an agent, without regard to the amount in
controversy, and shall be entitled to recover three times the amount of the damages sustained
by him, and the cost of suit, including reasonable attorney's fees.
12 U.S.C. § 1975 (1994).
In enacting the anti-tying provision of the BHCA, and providing a private right of action in
favor of individuals injured by violations thereof, Congress was targeting anti-competitive banking
practices. The Act proscribes anti-competitive ties which condition the extension of credit on a
condition designed to increase the economic power of the bank and to reduce competition. Such a
tie can manifest itself in many different forms. The bank can refuse to extend credit unless the
consumer agrees to purchase a separate, unrelated bank service (a quintessential tie); the bank can
condition the extension of credit on the consumer providing the bank with a specific product or
service unrelated to the extension of credit (a reciprocal tie); or the bank can condition the extension
of credit on the consumer's agreement not to engage in any transactions with one of the bank's
competitors (an exclusive dealing arrangement). A tie can manifest itself in a number of other ways,
but the touchstone for actionability under the anti-tying provision of the BHCA is that the
arrangement be designed to lessen competition and increase the economic power of the creditor
bank. Davis v. First Nat'l Bank of Westville, 868 F.2d 206, 208 (7th Cir.1989) ("The antitrust laws
are concerned with tie-ins and reciprocity agreements when they enable a party with sufficient
power in one market to avoid the standard market criteria of price, quality, and service in another
market and thereby lessen competition.").
The purpose and effect of the anti-tying provisions of § 1972 are to apply general antitrust
principles to the field of commercial banking without requiring plaintiffs to prove anti-competitive
effect or market power. Nevertheless, the plaintiff must still complain of a practice that is
anti-competitive. Parsons Steel v. First Alabama Bank of Montgomery, 679 F.2d 242, 245 (11th
Cir.1982).
2. Regulation of Insider Activities
In the mid-1970s, the banking industry again was the subject of allegations of financial
misconduct. This time, however, banks were not accused of activities injuring individual
consumers, but rather insider activities harming the banking industry itself. Prompted in part by
revelations of insider activities, the House Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs
ordered the General Accounting Office to conduct a study of all three federal banking agencies and
the Committee itself launched a massive series of studies and hearings on the structure, powers, and
operations of financial institutions and the regulatory system. H.R.Rep. No. 95-1383, 95th Cong.,
2d Sess. 9, reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 9273, 9281 (1978). After reviewing these studies, the
Committee concluded that insider activities carried on between correspondent banks were a principal
vehicle of abuse by banks resulting in bank failures. H.R.Rep. No. 95-1383, reprinted in 1978
U.S.C.C.A.N. 9273, 9281 (1978).
In response to the study's findings, Congress enacted the Garn-St. Germain Depository
Institutions Act of 1982, officially titled the Financial Institutions Regulatory and Interest Rate
Control Act of 1978 ("FIRIRCA"). H.R.Rep. No. 95-1383, reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 9273
(1978). FIRIRCA proscribed banks from engaging in certain insider activities; specifically,
FIRIRCA prohibited certain loans to banks where correspondent accounts or insiders were involved.
These proscriptions formed the second paragraph within § 1972 of the BHCA, and currently are
contained in § 1972(2)(A)-(D), which states as follows:
(2)(A) No bank which maintains a correspondent account in the name of another
bank shall make an extension of credit to an executive officer or director of, or to any person
who directly or indirectly or acting through or in concert with one or more persons owns,
controls, or has the power to vote more than 10 per centum of any class of voting securities
of, such other bank or to any related interest of such person unless such extension of credit
is made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral as those
prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons and does not involve
more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.
(B) No bank shall open a correspondent account at another bank while such bank has
outstanding an extension of credit to an executive officer or director of, or other person who
directly or indirectly or acting through or in concert with one or more persons owns,
controls, or has the power to vote more than 10 per centum of any class of voting securities
of, the bank desiring to open the account or to any related interest of such person, unless
such extension of credit was made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates
and collateral as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons
and does not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable
features.
(C) No bank which maintains a correspondent account at another bank shall make
an extension of credit to an executive officer or director of, or to any person who directly or
indirectly acting through or in concert with one or more persons owns, controls, or has the
power to vote more than 10 per centum of any class of voting securities of, such other bank
or to any related interest of such person, unless such extension of credit is made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral as those prevailing at the
time for comparable transactions with other persons and does not involve more than the
normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.
(D) No bank which has outstanding an extension of credit to an executive officer or
director of, or to any person who directly or indirectly or acting through or in concert with
one or more persons owns, controls, or has the power to vote more than 10 per centum of any
class of voting securities of, another bank or to any related interest of such person shall open
a correspondent account at such other bank, unless such extension of credit was made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral as those prevailing at the
time for comparable transactions with other persons and does not involve more than the
normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.1
12 U.S.C. § 1972(2)(A)-(D) (1994).
When these proscriptions were placed within § 1972, Congress also included subparagraph
(F) of § 1972(2), which provided for the imposition of a civil money penalty of up to $1,000 per day
against any bank violating any of the proscriptions of § 1972(2)(A)-(D). H.R.Rep. No. 95-1383,
reprinted in 1978 U.S.C.C.A.N. 9273, 9314 (1978). In its original form, § 1972(2)(F) stated as
follows:
Any bank which violates or any officer, director, employee, agent, or other person
participating in the conduct of the affairs of such bank which violates any provision of [§
1972(2)(A)-(D) ] shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per day for
each day during which such violation continues.
P.L. No. 95-630, 92 Stat. 3690, 3691 (1978) (amended by Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery
and Enforcement Act of 1989).
The purpose of the civil money penalty was to deter banks from engaging in the insider
activities which injured the banking industry. H.R.Rep. No. 95-1383, reprinted in 1978
U.S.C.C.A.N. 9273, 9282-88 (1978). It is undisputed that § 1972(2)(F) in its original form did not
create a private right of action.2
1
Subparagraph (E) of § 1972(2) states as follows:
(E) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "extension of credit" shall
have the meaning prescribed by the Board pursuant to section 375b of this title
and the term "executive officer" shall have the same meaning given it under
section 375a of this title.
12 U.S.C. § 1972(2)(E) (1994).
2
House Report 95-1383 notes that H.R. 13471, the precursor to FIRIRCA, gave federal
banking agencies four major tools to assist in enforcing the provisions of FIRIRCA: (1) civil
money penalties; (2) improved cease-and-desist authority; (3) improved removal and
suspension of insider statutes; and (4) control over changes in control at financial institutions.
The House Report does not state that the agencies are also assisted by private enforcement
mechanisms such a private rights of action.
The BHCA was amended a second time in 1982. The 1982 amendment to the
BHCA made certain technical changes in the language of the Act and provided for
regulations to be issued by the appropriate agencies. The 1982 amendment left intact the
prohibition against anti-tying arrangements and correspondent and insider loans and the
penalties therefor.
3. Response to the Savings & Loans Crisis
Notwithstanding the overhaul in banking laws by FIRIRCA, the American banking industry
suffered financial problems again in the early 1980s during the thrift and savings and loan debacle.
The acute and massive financial crisis of the thrift industry and the Federal Savings and Loan
Insurance Corporation was caused in large part by fraud and more insider abuse. H.R.Rep. No. 101-
54(I), 101st Cong., 1st Sess. 294, 300-01, reprinted in 1989 U.S.C.C.A.N. 86, 90, 96-97 (1989).
Thus, Congress passed the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989
("FIRREA"), P.L. 101-73, 103 Stat. 183. FIRREA amended § 1972(2)(F) to enhance and clarify
the enforcement powers of financial institution regulatory agencies by increasing the civil money
penalties imposed against banks which violate the provisions of § 1972(2)(A)-(D). H.R.Rep. No.
101-222, 101st Cong., 1st Sess. 440, reprinted in 1989 U.S.C.C.A.N. 86, 479 (1989).
The pertinent language of § 1972(2)(F) of the Bank Holding Company Act is entitled "Civil
Money Penalty" and provides as follows:
(F) Civil money penalty
(i) First tier. Any bank which, and any institution-affiliated party (within the
meaning of section 1813(u) of this title) with respect to such bank who, violates any
provision of this paragraph shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for
each day during which such violation continues.
(ii) Second tier. Notwithstanding clause (i), any bank which, any institution affiliated
party (within the meaning of section 1813(u) of this title) with respect to such bank who—
(I)(aa) commits any violation described in clause (i);
(bb) recklessly engages in an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting the
affairs of such bank; or
(cc) breaches any fiduciary duty;
(II) which violation, practice or breach—
(aa) is part of a pattern of misconduct;
(bb) causes or is likely to cause more than a minimal loss to such bank; or
(cc) results in pecuniary gain or other benefit to such party,
shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of not more than $25,000 for each day during which such
violation, practice, or breach continues.
(iii) Third tier. Notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii), any bank which, and any
institution-affiliated party (within the meaning of section 1813(u) of this title) with respect
to such bank who—
(I) knowingly—
(aa) commits any violation describe in clause (i);
(bb) engages in any unsafe or unsound practice in conducting the affairs of
such bank; or
(cc) breaches any fiduciary duty; and
(II) knowingly or recklessly causes a substantial loss to such bank or a
substantial pecuniary gain or other benefit to such party by reason of such violation,
practice or breach,
shall forfeit an pay a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed the applicable maximum
amount determined under clause (iv) for each day during which such violation, practice or
breach, continues.
12 U.S.C. § 1972(2)(F)(i)-(iii) (1994) (emphasis supplied).
The amended version of § 1972(2)(F) increases the civil money penalties and provides that
a bank "who breaches any fiduciary duty ... shall forfeit and pay a civil money penalty of not more
than $25,000 for each day during which such ... breach continues." Plaintiffs contend that this
language in the amended version of § 1972(2)(F) not only provides for the penalty but also creates
an affirmative duty on banks not to breach any fiduciary duty and also creates a private cause of
action for any customer to sue any bank for any breaches of fiduciary duties. Plaintiffs' argument
is without merit for numerous reasons outlined below.
B. Section 1972(2)(F) Does Not Create A Private Cause Of Action For Breaches Of Fiduciary
Duties
First, § 1972(2)(F) in its current form only enhances the civil money penalties already
sanctioned by its predecessor. Section 1972(2)(F), as amended, did not create any cause of action,
but instead merely expanded what subparagraph (F) already sanctioned—civil money penalties.
Subparagraph (F) in its original form provided for a $1,000 per day penalty for certain violations.
Subparagraph (F) as amended provides for only a more elaborate scheme of penalties.
Under the first tier of § 1972(2)(F), banks (and other financial institutions) may incur civil
money penalties of up to $5,000 per day for violating any of the provisions of § 1972(2)(A)-(D).
12 U.S.C. § 1972(2)(F)(i) (1994). Under the second tier of § 1972(2)(F), banks may incur civil
money penalties of up to $25,000 per day for (a) violating the provisions of § 1972(2)(A)-(D); (b)
recklessly engaging in an unsound practice; or (c) breaching any fiduciary duty, if such violation,
practice or breach is (1) part of a pattern of misconduct; (2) causes or is likely to cause more than
a minimal loss to such bank; or (3) results in a pecuniary gain or other benefit to such party. 12
U.S.C. § 1972(2)(F)(ii) (1994). Under the third tier of § 1972(2)(F), banks can incur civil money
penalties of up to $1,000,000 or 1% of the total assets of such bank per day for knowingly (a)
violating the provisions of § 1972(2)(A)-(D); (b) recklessly engaging in an unsound practice; or
(c) breaching any fiduciary duty, and, knowingly or recklessly causing a substantial loss to such
bank or a substantial pecuniary gain or other benefit to such party by reason of such violation,
practice or breach. 12 U.S.C. § 1972(2)(F)(iii) (1994).
Second, the legislative history of § 1972 does not indicate an intention to create a private
right of action for breaches of fiduciary duties. The legislative history of § 1972 nowhere mentions
congressional intent to create a federal cause of action to provide a remedy to parties injured solely
as a result of misconduct outlined in the civil money penalty provision of the BHCA. Rather, the
only thing the legislative history of the BHCA, and specifically FIRREA, clearly evidences is that
in amending subparagraph (F) to provide for the three-tier system of civil money penalties, Congress
merely sought to stiffen the deterrent value of the fines Congress previously had sanctioned through
the original enactment of subparagraph (F).
Third, the language Congress used in drafting §§ 1972 & 1975 does not support the existence
of a private right of action under the BHCA for breaches of fiduciary duties. Plaintiffs' principal
argument is based on statutory construction. Plaintiffs claim that the plain language of §§
1972(2)(F)(ii) & 1975 creates a cause of action because § 1975 creates a cause of action in favor of
any person injured by any conduct forbidden in § 1972 and that breaches of fiduciary duties are
forbidden in § 1972(2)(F)(ii). However, there is no plain language forbidding any conduct in §
1972(2)(F)(ii). Congress uses prohibitory language in other parts of § 1972. For example,
paragraph (1) of § 1972 states: "A bank shall not in any manner extend credit ... on the condition
or requirement...." 12 U.S.C. § 1972(1) (1994). Additionally, the first four paragraphs of § 1972(2)
employ the words "no bank shall...." 12 U.S.C. § 1972(2)(A)-(D) (1994).
Plaintiffs do not rely on any of the prohibitions in § 1972(2)(A)-(D) for their claim that
Defendant committed prohibited conduct. Instead, Plaintiffs contend that the civil money penalty
section of the BHCA not only provides for civil money penalties, but also proscribes the conduct
for which the civil money penalties can be imposed. Plaintiff ignores the fact that, unlike §
1972(2)(A)-(D), subparagraph (F) never affirmatively states that no bank shall breach any fiduciary
duty. Instead, it just states the penalty for breaches of fiduciary duties. If Congress desired to create
a cause of action arising out of the acts contained in § 1972(2)(F)(ii), it is apparent Congress would
convey its message that these acts are "forbidden" for purposes of § 1975 through clearer means.
Congress would say "no banks shall breach any fiduciary duty." Also, if Congress intended to create
a cause of action for breaches of fiduciary duties, it is unlikely that Congress would bury the
proscription of such breaches in a section entitled, "Civil Money Penalties."
Fourth, interpreting § 1972 in the manner Plaintiffs suggest runs afoul of the
well-established canon of statutory construction that words have the same meaning throughout a
given statute. See Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc., 510 U.S. 517, 114 S.Ct. 1023, 127 L.Ed.2d 455 (1994)
(noting that different language implies different meaning); Flight Attendants v. Zipes, 491 U.S. 754,
758, 109 S.Ct. 2732, 2735, 105 L.Ed.2d 639 (1989) (same); Neal v. Honeywell, Inc., 33 F.3d 860,
863 (7th Cir.1994). Section 1972(2)(F)(ii)(I)(aa) provides that any bank which "commits any
violation described in clause (i) ... which violation ... is part of a pattern of misconduct ... or results
in pecuniary gain or other benefit to such party, shall forfeit and pay a civil penalty of no more than
$25,000 for each day during which such violation, practice, or breach continues." 12 U.S.C. §
1972(2)(F)(ii)(I)(aa) & (II)(cc) (1994).3 This is the exact same language Plaintiffs rely on in §
1972(2)(F)(ii)(I)(cc) & (II)(cc) for their proposition that § 1972(2)(F)(ii) proscribes breaches of
fiduciary duties. The sole distinction between the two provisions is that § 1972(2)(F)(ii)(I)(aa)
authorizes civil money penalties for violations described in clause (i), i.e., violations of §
3
The violations described in clause (i) refer to violations of § 1972(2)(A)-(D).
1972(2)(A)-(D), and § 1972(2)(F)(ii)(I)(cc), the provision on which Plaintiffs rely, authorize civil
money penalties for breaches of fiduciary duties. It is clear that § 1972(2)(F)(ii)(I)(aa) does not
proscribe anything because the activities for which it sanctions civil money penalties already are
prohibited by § 1972(2)(A)-(D). Since under Plaintiffs' construction of the statute these exact same
words in the same clause of § 1972(2)(F) would have two totally different meanings, the Court finds
that Plaintiffs' construction of § 1972(2)(F)(ii) is incorrect.
Fifth, the statutory scheme Congress utilized in drafting § 1972 bespeaks loudly to
Congress's intention only to create a private right of action arising out of the forbidden conduct
contained within the anti-tying provisions of the BHCA, or paragraph (1) of § 1972. Section 1972
is divided into two paragraphs, both outlining various forms of forbidden conduct. The conduct in
paragraph (1) relates to various tying activities, while the conduct in paragraph (2) relates to various
forms of insider activities. Although § 1975 creates a cause of action for anyone injured by any
conduct forbidden in § 1972, it is readily apparent that § 1975 does not apply to the "forbidden"
conduct in paragraph (2), because the conduct outlined therein is not the type of conduct which
injures individuals. Any one individual would have difficulty showing that he even has standing to
bring a claim based on the "forbidden" conduct contained in § 1972(2). Thus, instead of using a
private right of action as the vehicle through which § 1972(2) is enforced, Congress authorized the
sanction of civil money penalties. The strongest support for this conclusion can be drawn from the
fact that the civil money penalties sanctioned in § 1972(2)(F) apply only to conduct "forbidden" in
paragraph (2) of § 1972.
Sixth, in discussing the amendment to § 1972(2)(F) of the BHCA, the FIRREA Joint
Conference Report states that the purpose of the section was to increase the maximum amount for
civil money penalties and to expand the grounds for imposing them, as follows:
This section increases the maximum amount for civil money penalties ("CMPs"); expands
the grounds for imposing them; provides for judicial review under the Administrative
Procedure Act; and authorizes the banking agencies to take action to collect CMPs. It
creates three tiers of civil penalties, based on the seriousness of the misconduct. By greatly
expanding the scope of misconduct covered by the civil penalty provisions and by making
substantial increases to the penalty amounts, the Conferees intend for the Federal banking
agencies to aggressively utilize this new authority, whenever it is justified in law and by the
facts.
1989 U.S.C.C.A.N. 86, 479 (1989). In other words, § 1972(2)(F) as amended adds breaches of
fiduciary duties to the list of conduct for which banks may be subject to paying civil money
penalties. Section 1972(2)(F) does not add breaches of fiduciary duties to the list of conduct for
which bank customers can sustain a private cause of action.
Considering the foregoing, the clarity of Congress's purpose in amending § 1972(2)(F)(ii)
becomes magnified. With the realization that subparagraph (F) is purely the enforcement vehicle
of § 1972(2), it becomes clear that by expanding subparagraph (F) Congress intended only to
strengthen the penalties banks could incur by committing the acts "forbidden" in § 1972(2)(A)-(D)
and to expand the forms of conduct for which civil money penalties can be imposed. Congress did
not intend to create a cause of action for the activities contained only in the civil money penalty
provision of the BHCA.
Subparagraph (F) as originally enacted did not create a cause of action, but only authorized
the sanction of fines against banks which engaged in insider activities. Subparagraph (F) as it
currently exists does not create a right of action where one previously did not exist, but only
enhanced the fines which already existed. Thus, the Court finds that the legislative history of the
BHCA reveals no congressional intent to create a cause of action to private parties arising out of the
conduct outlined in § 1972(2)(F)(ii), specifically breaches of fiduciary duties.
C. Application Of The Cort Factors To The BHCA Supports The Conclusion That Congress Did Not
Intend To Create A Cause Of Action For Breaches of Fiduciary Duties
Additionally, an application of the Cort factors supports the conclusion that Congress did
not intend to create a cause of action in favor individuals harmed by conduct outlined in the civil
penalty provision of the BHCA. In Cort v. Ash, 422 U.S. 66, 95 S.Ct. 2080, 45 L.Ed.2d 26 (1975),
the United States Supreme Court set out a four-factor test to assist in determining whether Congress
intended to create a cause of action in a given statutory provision. The four factors are as follows:
(1) Whether the plaintiff is a member of the class for whose benefit the statute was enacted;
(2) Whether there is any indication of legislative intent, explicit or implicit, either to create
such a remedy or to deny one;
(3) Whether the creation of a cause of action is consistent with the underlying purposes of
the legislative scheme to imply such a remedy; and
(4) Whether the cause of action is one traditionally relegated to state law so that it would be
inappropriate to infer a cause of action based solely on federal law.
Id. at 80-85, 95 S.Ct. at 2089-91. Each of these factors counsels against implying a right of action
arising out of the commission of acts outlined in the civil money penalty provision of the BHCA.
First, although breaches of fiduciary duties clearly injure consumers, it is clear from the
legislative history of the BHCA that subparagraph (F) of § 1972(2) was designed to curb activities
which harmed the banking industry, as opposed to individual consumers. Second, there is absolutely
no indication of a legislative intent to create a cause of action. Third, it is apparent that Congress's
intent in enacting § 1972(2)(F) was to discourage certain forms of conduct by increasing the civil
money penalties applicable to certain kinds of conduct and to expand the scope of conduct which
sanctions the imposition of civil money penalties as opposed to creating a cause of action for new
forms of conduct. Lastly, causes of action for breaches of fiduciary duties are traditionally creatures
of state law, and under Cort, it would be inappropriate to infer a cause of action for such based
solely on federal law.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds that Plaintiff's Complaint fails to state a cause of
action under the BHCA, and accordingly, the Court dismisses Plaintiff's claim under the BHCA for
lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
III. PLAINTIFFS' STATE LAW CLAIMS
Plaintiffs' only remaining claims against Defendant are state law claims. The Court sua
sponte may raise a jurisdiction defect at any time. Barnett v. Bailey, 956 F.2d 1036, 1039 (11th
Cir.1992); Fitzgerald v. Seaboard System R.R., Inc., 760 F.2d 1249, 1251 (11th Cir.1985). The
Court, sua sponte, will examine whether it continues to have jurisdiction over this action.
Since Plaintiffs are Georgia domiciliaries and Defendant is a Georgia corporation, diversity
does not exist. Strawbridge v. Curtiss, 7 U.S. (3 Cranch) 267, 2 L.Ed. 435 (1806). Thus, there is
no basis for original federal jurisdiction over Plaintiffs' state law claims against Defendant. The
state law claims previously were before the court properly as supplemental claims supported by
Plaintiffs' federal question claim. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) (1994). However, with the dismissal of
Plaintiffs' federal claim, there remains no independent original federal jurisdiction to support the
Court's exercise of supplemental jurisdiction over the state claims against Defendant.
The Court must now inquire into whether a jurisdictional basis exists to support Plaintiffs'
state law claims in federal court. The Court's inquiry is twofold. First, the Court must decide
whether it has the power to hear the state law claims. Second, if the Court does have the power to
hear the state claims, the Court must decide whether, in its discretion, it will retain jurisdiction over
the state claims. United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 725-26, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 1138-39, 16
L.Ed.2d 218 (1966).
The question whether subject matter jurisdiction exists is measured as of the time the
Complaint was filed. In re Carter, 618 F.2d 1093 (5th Cir.1980), cert. denied sub nom. Sheet Metal
Workers' Int'l Ass'n, AFL-CIO v. Carter, 450 U.S. 949, 101 S.Ct. 1410, 67 L.Ed.2d 378 (1981).
When Plaintiffs filed their Complaint, Plaintiffs were Georgia domiciliaries and Defendant was a
Georgia corporation. When Plaintiffs filed his Complaint, Plaintiffs had a federal question claim
against Defendant and Plaintiffs' state law claims against Defendant were a proper exercise of the
Court's supplemental jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a) (1994); see also Palmer v. Hospital
Authority of Randolph County, 22 F.3d 1559, 1567 (11th Cir.1994). The dismissal of Plaintiffs'
underlying federal question claim does not deprive the Court of supplemental jurisdiction over the
remaining state law claims. See Palmer, 22 F.3d at 1568; Edwards v. Okaloosa County, 5 F.3d
1431, 1433-35 (11th Cir.1993). Indeed, under 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), the Court has the discretion to
decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over non-diverse state law claims, where the Court has
dismissed all claims over which it had original jurisdiction, but is not required to dismiss the case.
See Palmer, 22 F.3d at 1567-68.
As the Eleventh Circuit made clear in Palmer, once a court decides that it has power to
exercise supplemental jurisdiction under § 1367(a), then the court should exercise that jurisdiction,
unless § 1367(b) or (c) applies to limit the exercise.4 In this case, § 1367(c) applies because the
4
28 U.S.C. § 1367 codifies the traditional concepts of ancillary and pendent jurisdiction under
the name supplemental jurisdiction. Simply explained, § 1367(a) grants the federal judiciary
congressional approval to extend supplemental jurisdiction to the limits of the Constitution.
Section 1367(b) and (c) reduce that grant.
Court "has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction;" namely, Plaintiffs' claim
against Defendant under the Bank Holding Company Act. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c) (1994). While
§ 1367(c) permits a court to dismiss any state law claims where the court has dismissed all the
claims over which it had original jurisdiction, the court also can consider other factors. Where §
1367(c) applies, considerations of judicial economy, convenience, fairness, and comity may
influence the court's discretion to exercise supplemental jurisdiction. See Palmer, 22 F.3d at 1569;
Executive Software N. Am. v. United States Dist. Court, 15 F.3d 1484, 1493 (9th Cir.1994); New
England Co. v. Bank of Gwinnett County, 891 F.Supp. 1569, 1578 (N.D.Ga.1995); Fallin v. Mindis
Metals, Inc., 865 F.Supp. 834, 841 (N.D.Ga.1994).
Resolution of Plaintiffs' state law claims depends on determinations of state law. State
courts, not federal courts, should be the final arbiters of state law. Hardy v. Birmingham Bd. of
Educ., 954 F.2d 1546, 1553 (11th Cir.1992). When coupled with the Court's discretion to exercise
supplemental jurisdiction under § 1367(c), this Court finds that the state law claims remaining in this
action are best resolved by the Georgia courts. This is especially true here where the Court is
dismissing Plaintiffs' federal law claim prior to trial. See United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S.
715, 726, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 1139, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966) (dismissal of state law claims strongly
encouraged when federal law claims are dismissed prior to trial); Carnegie-Mellon Univ. v. Cohill,
484 U.S. 343, 350 n. 7, 108 S.Ct. 614, 619 n. 7, 98 L.Ed.2d 720 (1988) ("When federal law claims
have dropped out of the lawsuit in its early stages and only state-law claims remain, the federal court
should decline the exercise of jurisdiction by dismissing the case without prejudice."); Eubanks v.
Gerwen, 40 F.3d 1157 (11th Cir.1994) (remanding case to district court to dismiss plaintiff's state
law claims where court had granted summary judgment on plaintiff's federal law claims). The Court
finds that judicial economy, fairness, convenience, and comity dictate having these state law claims
decided by the state courts.
IV. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS Defendant's Motion to Dismiss [3-1]
Plaintiffs' claim under the BHCA for want of subject matter jurisdiction. The Court DISMISSES
Plaintiff's state law claims WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
The Clerk is directed to enter final judgment in favor of Defendant on Plaintiffs' claim under
federal law. The Clerk is directed to dismiss Plaintiffs' claims under state law.
It is SO ORDERED, this 28th day of November, 1995.
/s/ Frank M. Hull
Frank M. Hull
United States District
Judge