Great Plains Royalty Corporation v. Earl Schwartz Company

Filed 5/16/19 by Clerk of Supreme Court
IN THE SUPREME COURT
STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA
2019 ND124
Great Plains Royalty Corporation,
a North Dakota Corporation, Plaintiff and Appellant
v.
Earl Schwartz Company,
a North Dakota partnership,
Basin Minerals, LLC, a North Dakota
limited liability company, SunBehm Gas, Inc.,
a North Dakota corporation, and
Kay Schwartz York, Kathy Schwartz Mau,
and Kara Schwartz Johnson, as the
Co-Personal Representative of the
Estate of Earl N. Schwartz, Defendants and Appellees
No. 20180285
Appeal from the District Court of McKenzie County, Northwest Judicial
District, the Honorable Daniel S. El-Dweek, Judge.
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
Opinion of the Court by McEvers, Justice.
Daniel H. Oster (argued) and James J. Coles (appeared), Bismarck, ND, for
plaintiff and appellant.
Spencer D. Ptacek (argued) and Lawrence Bender (appeared), Bismarck, ND,
for defendants and appellees Earl Schwartz Company, a North Dakota partnership,
Basin Minerals, LLC, a North Dakota limited liability company, Kay Schwartz York,
Kathy Schwartz Mau, and Kara Schwartz Johnson, as the Co-Personal Representative
of the Estate of Earl N. Schwartz.
Jordan L. Selinger (argued) and Jon Bogner (appeared), Dickinson, ND, for
defendant and appellee SunBehm Gas, Inc., a North Dakota corporation.
2
Great Plains Royalty v. Earl Schwartz Co.
No. 20180285
McEvers, Justice.
[¶1] Great Plains Royalty Corp. appeals from a judgment dismissing its complaint
and deciding ownership of certain real property in favor of Earl Schwartz Co.
(“ESCO”); Basin Minerals, LLC; SunBehm Gas, Inc.; and other defendants. Great
Plains argues the district court erred in deciding ownership of the disputed properties
in favor of the defendants. We reverse and remand.
I
[¶2] In 1968, Great Plains’ creditors initiated a bankruptcy case by filing an
involuntary petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Myron Atkinson was
appointed trustee for the bankruptcy estate, the bankruptcy court ruled Great Plains
was “a bankrupt,” and the case was converted to a liquidation proceeding under
Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. The trustee received permission to sell the estate’s
assets, an auction sale was held, and Earl Schwartz was the winning bidder. An order
confirming sale of the assets was entered, and an amended order was later entered.
The order stated Schwartz entered into an agreement with SunBehm to purchase
certain properties in the bankruptcy estate, and title was transferred on those
properties directly from the estate to SunBehm. The trustee did not collect sufficient
funds from the auction to pay all creditors in full. The bankruptcy case was closed
in 1974.
[¶3] In 2013, the bankruptcy case was reopened, and a successor trustee was
appointed. The successor trustee collected funds sufficient to pay “a 100 percent
dividend” to the estate’s creditors, and he attempted to disburse the funds to the
unpaid creditors. While the case was open various adversary proceedings were
brought, including some to determine ownership of certain properties. Some of the
adversary proceedings were decided, and others were dismissed for lack of
1
jurisdiction. The bankruptcy court discharged the trustee and closed the bankruptcy
case in May 2016.
[¶4] In December 2016, Great Plains sued ESCO, Basin, and SunBehm to quiet title
to oil, gas, and other minerals in and under three properties located in McKenzie
County. ESCO and Basin are successors in interest to Schwartz. The properties are
certain oil, gas, and other minerals and interests in and under land in McKenzie
County described as:
Property No. 1:
Township 153 North, Range 95 West
Section 7: S1/2 SE1/4 and NW1/4 SE1/4
Section 8: S1/2 SE1/4 and SW1/4 SW1/4
Section 17: N1/2 NE1/4
Property No. 2:
Township 152 North, Range 96 West
Section 24: NW1/4
Property No. 3:
Township 152 North, Range 95 West
Section 16: NW1/4
SunBehm answered and counterclaimed, requesting the district court quiet title to
1/320ths mineral interest in Property No. 1 in its favor. ESCO and Basin answered
and counterclaimed, requesting the court quiet title and declare they own 100 percent
of the minerals, royalties, and other interests in and under Property Nos. 1, 2, and 3,
and ten additional described properties (collectively “subject properties”) that were
owned by Great Plains at the time the bankruptcy petition was filed in 1968.
[¶5] In July 2017, Great Plains moved to amend its complaint and to add party
defendants, requesting Kay Schwartz York, Kathy Schwartz Mau, and Kara Schwartz
Johnson, as the co-personal representatives of the estate of Earl Schwartz be added
as defendants. Great Plains also stated it wished to withdraw any and all claims to
Property No. 1 and admitted it had no interest in the property. The district court
granted Great Plains’ motion. An amended complaint adding the Schwartz estate
defendants and withdrawing all claim to Property No. 1 was filed. The amended
complaint also added claims of slander of title and conversion related to Property Nos.
2
2 and 3. SunBehm answered the amended complaint and counterclaimed, requesting
the court quiet title in Property No. 3 in its favor. ESCO, Basin, and the personal
representatives of the Schwartz estate (collectively “Schwartz defendants”) filed an
amended answer.
[¶6] A bench trial was held in January 2018. During the trial, Great Plains moved
to amend its answer to the Schwartz defendants’ counterclaim. Great Plains requested
the district court allow it to amend its answer to request the court quiet title in its favor
in all of the subject properties the Schwartz defendants listed in their counterclaim,
which included the ten additional properties. The court denied Great Plains’ motion,
but stated the motion could be renewed at some point. At the close of evidence, Great
Plains renewed its motion. The Schwartz defendants objected, arguing they would
have presented different evidence if they knew Great Plains was claiming an interest
in all of the subject properties. Great Plains filed a brief in support of its motion. The
Schwartz defendants opposed the motion. The court denied Great Plains’ motion to
amend.
[¶7] On May 17, 2018, the district court entered its findings of fact, conclusions of
law, and order for judgment. The court found the parties to the bankruptcy
proceeding and sale of the bankruptcy estate intended to sell all of Great Plains’
assets. The court declared that “one hundred percent (100%) of the minerals,
royalties, and other interests in and under the Subject Properties that belonged to
Great Plains at the time the bankruptcy petition was filed in 1968, with the exception
of that portion comprising Property No. 3, are now owned by ESCO and Basin,” and
the court quieted title in those properties. The court declared that “one hundred
percent (100%) of Property No. 3 that belonged to Great Plains at the time the
bankruptcy petition was filed in 1968 is now owned by SunBehm” and quieted titled
to that property in favor of SunBehm. The court also dismissed Great Plains’
amended complaint with prejudice. Judgment consistent with the order was entered.
II
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[¶8] In an appeal from a bench trial, this Court reviews the district court’s findings
of fact under the clearly erroneous standard. W. Energy Corp. v. Stauffer, 2019 ND
26, ¶ 5, 921 N.W.2d 431. A finding of fact is clearly erroneous if it is induced by an
erroneous view of the law, there is no evidence to support it, or if this Court is
convinced, based on the entire record, that a mistake has been made. Id. The district
court’s conclusions of law are fully reviewable. Id.III
[¶9] Great Plains argues the district court erred by finding the bankruptcy trustee
intended to sell all of Great Plains’ assets, including those not listed in the auction sale
notice, to Earl Schwartz.
A
[¶10] Great Plains contends the doctrines of estoppel and res judicata bar the
defendants’ claims because the bankruptcy court already decided issues raised before
the district court. Great Plains asserts ESCO and Basin were the defendants in
bankruptcy adversary proceedings, the central issue in one of the adversary
proceedings was what did Earl Schwartz purchase from the bankruptcy estate in 1969,
and the doctrine of issue preclusion bars the defendants from re-litigating the issue of
the trustee’s intent at the bankruptcy sale auction.
[¶11] “The doctrines of res judicata and collateral estoppel bar courts from
relitigating claims and issues in order to promote the finality of judgments, which
increases certainty, avoids multiple litigation, wasteful delay and expense, and
ultimately conserves judicial resources.” Hector v. City of Fargo, 2014 ND 53, ¶ 7,
844 N.W.2d 542 (quoting Ungar v. N.D. State Univ., 2006 ND 185, ¶ 10, 721 N.W.2d
16). Whether res judicata or collateral estoppel applies is a question of law, which is
fully reviewable on appeal. Estate of Pedro v. Scheeler, 2014 ND 237, ¶ 10, 856
N.W.2d 775.
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[¶12] “Res judicata, or claim preclusion, prevents relitigation of claims that were
raised, or could have been raised, in prior actions between the same parties or their
privies.” Kulczyk v. Tioga Ready Mix Co., 2017 ND 218, ¶ 10, 902 N.W.2d 485(quoting Missouri Breaks v. Burns, 2010 ND 221, ¶ 10, 791 N.W.2d 33). “Res
judicata means a valid, final judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction is
conclusive with regard to claims raised, or claims that could have been raised, as to
the parties and their privies in future actions.” Kulczyk, at ¶ 10. Res judicata applies
even if subsequent claims are based on a different legal theory. Hector, 2014 ND 53,
¶ 7, 844 N.W.2d 542.
[¶13] Collateral estoppel is a branch of the broader law of res judicata, but it is not
the same. Hector, 2014 ND 53, ¶ 7, 844 N.W.2d 542. “[C]ollateral estoppel, or issue
preclusion, generally forecloses the relitigation, in a second action based on a
different claim, of particular issues of either fact or law which were, or by logical and
necessary implication must have been, litigated and determined in the prior suit.”
Norberg v. Norberg, 2017 ND 14, ¶ 9, 889 N.W.2d 889. We have said an issue must
satisfy a four-part test for collateral estoppel to bar relitigation of the issue:
(1) Was the issue decided in the prior adjudication identical to the one
presented in the action in question?;
(2) Was there a final judgment on the merits?;
(3) Was the party against whom the plea is asserted a party or in privity
with a party to the prior adjudication?; and
(4) Was the party against whom the plea is asserted given a fair
opportunity to be heard on the issue?
Id. at ¶ 12 (quoting Riemers v. Peters-Riemers, 2004 ND 153, ¶ 9, 684 N.W.2d 619).
[¶14] To meet the first part of the test the court must determine whether the factual
issues in the current case are identical to the factual issues in the prior case and
“‘ascertain what facts were necessarily decided in the prior action with regard to the
issue’ and then ‘determine if [the non-movant] is attempting to relitigate those facts.’”
Norberg, 2017 ND 14, ¶ 13, 889 N.W.2d 889 (quoting State v. Lange, 497 N.W.2d
83, 86 (N.D. 1993)). “[T]he first step is to determine whether ‘identical factual
5
allegations’ are at stake in the two proceedings, and then to ascertain whether the facts
were ‘necessarily decided.’” Norberg, at ¶ 13.
[¶15] In this case, the district court found it was the intent of the parties to the
bankruptcy proceeding and sale to sell all of Great Plains’ assets. The court
explained:
Based on the evidence and the arguments presented by the
parties in this case, the Court is effectively faced with two possible
outcomes: 1) that [Great Plains] managed to somehow retain interests
in property over forty years after it was liquidated in bankruptcy and
nearly thirty years after it was involuntarily dissolved by the North
Dakota Secretary of State; or 2) that the bankruptcy trustee sold the
entire estate to Earl Schwartz/ESCO. The only conclusion that makes
sense in this case is that everything owned by [Great Plains] was sold
in 1969 by the bankruptcy trustee to Earl Schwartz/ESCO.
Accordingly, as explained below, the Court concludes that it was the
intent of the parties to the bankruptcy proceeding and sale to sell all of
[Great Plains’] assets to Earl Schwartz at the June 5, 1969 sale.
The court found the bankruptcy trustee was appointed for the purpose of liquidating
Great Plains’ entire estate, the report of sale and order confirming sale indicate that
Earl Schwartz purchased “all of the assets” of Great Plains, and it was the trustee’s
and Earl Schwartz’s intent to sell and buy all of the assets Great Plains held at the
time of the bankruptcy. The court further found that even if the parties were uncertain
about whether all of the assets had been located, the sale of the assets “as is” rendered
any uncertainty moot because a purchaser would understand that its purchase included
the risk that the interest conveyed may be greater or lesser than that identified in the
notice of sale. The court concluded, “all of the assets of [Great Plains], including
Property No. 2 and Property No. 3, passed by sale to Earl Schwartz in 1969.”
[¶16] In bankruptcy adversary proceeding no. 13-07018, the bankruptcy court found
Great Plains initiated the adversary proceeding in October 2013 seeking declaratory
relief regarding the legal status of certain disputed assets. The court also found ESCO
and Basin filed a counterclaim requesting the court enter a judgment declaring the
disputed assets were sold to Earl Schwartz and also seeking a declaration that “the
Trustee intended to, and did in fact, sell and convey any and all of Great Plains’ assets
6
to Schwartz and that Great Plains has no interest in any property it owned prior to the
commencement of the bankruptcy proceeding.” The court said one of the issues Great
Plains raised in its motion for partial summary judgment was “whether the Trustee
offered all of the estate’s assets for sale in June 1969.” On October 1, 2014, the court
granted summary judgment in favor of Great Plains on that issue, explaining:
ESCO and Basin concede in their brief opposing the motion for partial
summary judgment that “some assets were apparently never found or
sold by the Trustee. As a result, they presumably remain part of the
bankruptcy estate and neither ESCO nor Basin claims any interest in
them.” In their brief, Defendants also state that “ESCO and Basin now
concede they cannot demonstrate that ‘all’ assets once owned by the
bankrupt corporation were assigned to ESCO.” In support of its
argument, Great Plains cites the Trustee Atkinson’s deposition during
which he testified that he never made representations that he was
selling all assets owned by Great Plains. In addition, Great Plains cites
the testimony of Robert Mau, who stated that he was aware, ten to
twenty years ago, that there were other assets owned by Great Plains
and not purchased by Schwartz during the administration of the
bankruptcy case. This testimony, along with ESCO and Basin’s
admission that Schwartz did not purchase all of Great Plains assets,
satisfies the Court that there is no genuine dispute as to any material
fact on this issue. Great Plains’ request for judgment on this issue is
granted.
The bankruptcy court ordered, “Plaintiff Great Plains’ Motion for Summary Judgment
on ESCO and Basin’s Counterclaim alleging that Defendants purchased 100% of the
assets owned by Great Plains at the time the bankruptcy proceeding was commenced
is GRANTED. This cause of action is dismissed.”
[¶17] In both the bankruptcy adversary case and this case, the issue decided was
whether Earl Schwartz purchased all the assets Great Plains owned when the
bankruptcy proceeding began, including assets that were not listed in the notice of
sale. The factual issue in this case is identical to the factual issue decided in the prior
bankruptcy adversary proceeding. The facts were “necessarily decided” in the
bankruptcy case. “For issue preclusion to apply, the issue must have been actually
litigated and have been essential to the prior decision.” Norberg, 2017 ND 14, ¶ 21,
889 N.W.2d 889 (quoting Riverwood Commercial Park, L.L.C. v. Standard Oil Co.,
7
Inc., 2007 ND 36, ¶ 21, 729 N.W.2d 101). The bankruptcy court granted summary
judgment in favor of Great Plains after finding that there were no genuine issues of
material fact and that the trustee did not sell all of the assets Great Plains owned to
Earl Schwartz. The bankruptcy court dismissed ESCO and Basin’s counterclaim
requesting the court declare Schwartz purchased one hundred percent of the assets
Great Plains owned at the time the bankruptcy proceeding was commenced. The
issue was actually litigated and was essential to the prior decision. The first test is
satisfied.
[¶18] The second part of the test is whether there was a final judgment on the merits.
Although the issue was decided on summary judgment, and an order deciding a
motion for summary judgment generally is an interlocutory order, the bankruptcy
court subsequently held a trial to determine ownership of specific property, and the
bankruptcy court decided ownership of the property without revisiting the issue
decided on summary judgment. The order granting summary judgment dismissed
ESCO and Basin’s counterclaim on this issue. There was a final judgment on the
merits.
[¶19] The third part of the test requires us to determine whether the party against
whom the plea is asserted was a party or in privity with a party to the prior
adjudication. ESCO and Basin were defendants in the bankruptcy adversary
proceeding. They are also defendants in the current case. ESCO and Basin may be
bound by the prior proceedings.
[¶20] The final part of the test requires us to determine whether ESCO and Basin
were given a fair opportunity to be heard on the issue. ESCO and Basin filed a
counterclaim in the bankruptcy adversary proceeding requesting declaratory judgment
on the issue. Great Plains moved for summary judgment on the issue. ESCO and
Basin were given a fair opportunity to be heard on the issue.
[¶21] All four parts of the test for collateral estoppel are satisfied as to ESCO and
Basin. ESCO and Basin are bound by the bankruptcy court’s decision whether or not
collateral estoppel also bars SunBehm. See 50 C.J.S. Judgments § 1075 (2009)
8
(stating the presence of additional parties not included in the prior suit does not
prevent the estoppel from binding those who were parties to the prior judgment). We
conclude the district court erred by finding “it was the intent of the parties to the
bankruptcy proceeding and sale to sell all of [Great Plains’] assets to Earl Schwartz
at the June 5, 1969 sale” for purposes of ESCO and Basin’s claims.
[¶22] To the extent Great Plains argues res judicata also applies, ownership of
Property Nos. 2 and 3 were not decided in bankruptcy adversary proceeding 13-
07018. However, res judicata bars Great Plains, ESCO, and Basin from relitigating
any claims in this case to specific properties in which ownership was previously
determined in the bankruptcy adversary proceedings involving these three parties.
B
[¶23] SunBehm is also a defendant in the current case, but it was not a party to the
bankruptcy proceeding. If SunBehm is in privity with ESCO or Basin, collateral
estoppel would also preclude a finding that the trustee sold all of Great Plains’ assets
to Schwartz for purposes of SunBehm’s claims.
[¶24] This Court has adopted an “expanded” version of privity for collateral
estoppel. Ungar, 2006 ND 185, ¶ 12, 721 N.W.2d 16. We have said, [P]rivity exists
if a person is so identified in interest with another that he represents the same legal
right.” Id. (quoting Hofsommer v. Hofsommer Excavating, Inc., 488 N.W.2d 380, 384
(N.D. 1992)). This Court has also said:
It has been held that all person are privies to a judgment who succeed
to the estate, interest, or rights of property thereby adjudicated or
affected where such succession was derived through or under one or
other of the parties to the action, and accrued subsequent to the
commencement of that suit or subsequent to the rendition of the
judgment; and one is not a privy to a judgment where his succession to
the rights of property thereby affected occurred previous to the
institution of the suit.
Bismarck Pub. Sch. Dist. No. 1 v. Hirsch, 136 N.W.2d 449, 451-52 (N.D. 1965); see
also Gerrity Bakken, LLC v. Oasis Petroleum N. Am., LLC, 2018 ND 180, ¶ 17, 915
9
N.W.2d 677 (stating “the privity doctrine cannot be applied if the rights to property
were acquired by the person sought to be bound before the adjudication”).
[¶25] In Hirsch, 136 N.W.2d at 454, this Court considered whether a third party had
privity. In Hirsch, at 450, the parties disputed ownership of wood and steel bleachers
located on a tract of land owned by Hirsch. Rose Mary Hassa sold the land on
contract for deed to William Kirchmeier, Kirchmeier built the bleachers, the contract
for deed was later cancelled, and Hassa became the sole owner of the land. Id. at 451.
After the contract for deed was cancelled, Kirchmeier gave a chattel mortgage
covering the bleachers, the company holding the mortgage foreclosed, and Hassa
commenced an action against the company and Kirchmeier alleging she owned the
bleachers because they were permanently affixed to her land. Id. Hassa was granted
a temporary injunction restraining the company from removing the bleachers, but that
action was subsequently dismissed with prejudice and no appeal was taken. Id. Later
in a separate action Hirsch claimed he owned the bleachers because they were
attached to the land, which he acquired from Hassa. Id. The district court held Hirsch
was in privity with Hassa and res judicata applied and precluded Hirsch from
asserting a claim of ownership of the bleachers. Id. at 450. This Court reversed the
district court’s decision on res judicata and held Hirsch was not in privity with Hassa.
Id. This Court said Hirsch was not a party to the prior action and he was not in privity
with Hassa because his succession to the rights of the property did not occur
subsequent to the commencement of the Hassa action. Id. at 454. The Court also
noted that applying the doctrine of collateral estoppel or res judicata cannot be
defended on principles of fundamental fairness in the due process sense, nor can it be
said that Hirsch was fully protected in the Hassa action. Id.
[¶26] The Court’s decision and reasoning in Hirsch is consistent with other
authorities. See, e.g., 50 C.J.S. Judgments § 1099 (2009) (discussing privity in
general and stating a party is not privy to a judgment when his right to the property
thereby affected occurred prior to the institution of the suit); E.H. Schopler,
Annotation, Mutuality of Estoppel as Prerequisite of Availability of Doctrine of
10
Collateral Estoppel to a Stranger to the Judgment, 31 A.L.R. 3d. 1044, 1061, § 3(a)
(1970) (defining a “privy” as one who acquired an interest in the subject matter
affected by the judgment through one of the parties after rendition of the judgment).
[¶27] Here, the district court found ESCO purchased assets at the auction sale on
June 5, 1969, and the purchase of Property No. 3 was subsequently assigned to
SunBehm. The court did not find the exact date the property was assigned to
SunBehm, but there was evidence in the record SunBehm claimed an interest in
Property No. 3 before the bankruptcy adversary proceeding commenced in 2013,
including that Earl Schwartz agreed to assign certain properties to SunBehm at the
time of the bankruptcy auction and that the properties were transferred directly from
the bankruptcy estate to SunBehm.
[¶28] Because SunBehm acquired any interest it has in Property No. 3 from ESCO
before the bankruptcy adversary proceeding, it is not in privity with ESCO for
purposes of collateral estoppel. SunBehm is not precluded from arguing Schwartz
purchased all of the assets Great Plains owned at the time of the bankruptcy, and we
must consider Great Plains’ remaining arguments about the district court’s findings.
C
[¶29] Great Plains argues the district court erred by finding the parties to the
bankruptcy court proceeding and sale intended to sell all of Great Plains’ assets.
Great Plains claims it possessed record title, the evidence of the parties’ intent is
contrary to the court’s finding, and the court disregarded the limiting terms in the
notice of sale.
[¶30] The district court found “it was the intent of the parties to the bankruptcy
proceeding and sale to sell all of [Great Plains’] assets to Earl Schwartz at the June
5, 1969 sale.” The court explained:
Bankruptcy courts have concluded that where property is
advertised for sale “as is,” the property conveyed will be that actually
held by the trustee, whether or not such property is accurately described
in a notice thereof. See Matter of A.H. - R.S. Coal Corp., 8 B.R. 455,
458 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 1981). In the present case, as noted above, the
11
Report of Sale and Petition for Order Confirming Sale, filed one day
after the actual sale of [Great Plains’] property, as well as the Order
Confirming Sale of Assets (Nunc Pro Tunc), filed within a month of the
sale of [Great Plains’] property, both indicate that Earl Schwartz
purchased “all of the assets” of [Great Plains], and that Atkinson was
merely selling the interest of [Great Plains] “as is.” These
representations accord with the fact that Atkinson was appointed
bankruptcy trustee for the purpose of liquidating [Great Plains’] estate
in its entirety. Based on the foregoing, this Court concludes that it was
the intent of Atkinson and Earl Schwartz to sell and buy, respectively,
all of the assets held by [Great Plains] at the time of its bankruptcy
during the sale occurring on June 5, 1969. But even if the parties were
uncertain as to whether all of the assets of [Great Plains] had been
located and properly noticed for sale, the sale of all [Great Plains’]
assets “as is” rendered any such uncertainty moot insofar as any
purchaser would thus have understood that its purchase of the assets of
[Great Plains] included the risk that the interest conveyed may be
greater or lesser than that identified in the Notice of Sale. Finally,
given that Atkinson was tasked with liquidating [Great Plains’] estate
in order to pay its creditors and that [Great Plains’] estate was closed
in 1974 without having paid off all unsecured creditors, the Court can
ascertain no appropriate reason for Atkinson to have deliberately
withheld property from the sale to Earl Schwartz. Accordingly, all of
the assets of [Great Plains], including Property No. 2 and Property No.
3, passed by sale to Earl Schwartz in 1969, as confirmed by the
Referee’s Order Confirming Sale of Assets (Nunc Pro Tunc).
[¶31] The evidence from the bench trial in this case does not support the district
court’s finding that the parties to the bankruptcy sale intended to sell all of Great
Plains’ assets, including those assets not listed in the notice of sale, to Earl Schwartz.
Myron Atkinson, the trustee, testified in a deposition submitted as an exhibit at trial
about the auction sale of the bankruptcy estate’s assets. Atkinson testified a list of
Great Plains’ assets was compiled from Great Plains’ business records, he and an
attorney working on the bankruptcy estate decided it would be best to compile the list
of assets from the business documents because they could not justify the cost to do
a title search, they did their best to assemble a list of the assets, but they were
concerned there were properties they had not identified.
[¶32] Atkinson testified he did not make any representations at the auction about
anything other than the properties described in the advertised notice. Atkinson was
12
asked if there were any representations made to Earl Schwartz or ESCO “that what
they were bidding on was all of the assets of Great Plains,” and he responded, “No,
absolutely not.” He testified it was his intent to sell all of the assets that had been
identified and were listed for sale, and it was his intention as trustee to transfer to
Schwartz all of the assets that had been sold at the sale to Schwartz.
[¶33] Robert Mau, a partner in the ESCO partnership and an ESCO manager,
testified during the trial that ESCO and Basin were not claiming Earl Schwartz
purchased all of Great Plains’ assets, ESCO and Basin conceded there were properties
that were not listed in the bankruptcy estate, and they did not claim ownership of all
of the assets Great Plains owned. Mau testified there were some assets the trustee did
not find before the sale, and Schwartz only purchased all of the assets that were
identified by the bankruptcy court and trustee, whether or not the descriptions of the
assets were entirely correct and complete. He testified ESCO and Basin were not
claiming any assets that were not identified at the time of the 1969 bankruptcy sale.
[¶34] The notice of the 1969 bankruptcy sale was published in various newspapers
and the notice included a list of assets that would be sold at the auction. The trustee’s
report of sale and petition for order confirming sale from the bankruptcy proceeding
stated that “the assets of the bankrupt estate were offered for sale” at the auction, that
the notice of sale was published multiple times in various publications, that “in each
of the above mentioned publications the entire list of the assets to be sold was
published,” and that the trustee was petitioning for “an order confirming the sale of
all of the assets of Great Plains . . . to Earl Schwartz.” The report also stated that it
was announced at the auction “all sales of the property were ‘as is’; that the Trustee
warranted neither title nor condition of the property and that the Trustee was selling
merely the interest of the bankrupt estate and no more.” The trustee’s report states the
entire list of assets to be sold was published in various newspapers and all of the
assets listed were sold to Schwartz. The bankruptcy court’s order confirming sale of
assets states, “[T]he Referee confirms the sale of all of the assets of the bankrupt
corporation to Earl Schwartz[.]” A nunc pro tunc amended order confirming the sale
13
of assets was subsequently entered stating, “the Referee confirms the sale of all of the
assets of the bankrupt corporation included in the Notice of Sale to Earl Schwartz[.]”
SunBehm has not challenged the validity of the amended order on appeal. The
language of the orders and the trustee’s report, when considered together, indicate the
trustee and court believed at the time of the sale that the assets listed in the notice of
sale were all of Great Plains’ assets, but the trustee and court did not intend to sell any
assets that had not been identified and therefore were not listed.
[¶35] As part of the district court’s analysis about the parties’ intent, the court found
that even if the parties were uncertain about whether all of the assets had been located
and noticed for sale, the sale of the assets “as is” rendered any uncertainty moot.
SunBehm argues the court properly concluded it was the parties’ intent to sell all of
Great Plains’ assets because the property was advertised for sale “as is.” SunBehm
claims property advertised for sale “as is” includes all of the property held by the
trustee whether or not it is accurately described in the notice of sale, the trustee had
control of all of Great Plains’ assets, the assets were sold at the auction “as is,” and
therefore the trustee sold all of the assets at the auction, including any unidentified
assets.
[¶36] The district court cited In re A.H. R.S. Coal Corp., 8 B.R. 455 (Bankr. W.D.
Pa. 1981), in support of its analysis. In A.H. R.S. Coal Corp., 8 B.R. at 456, the
personal property sold at the bankruptcy sale was described as a “Lima 2400” shovel.
The plaintiff alleged the bankruptcy sale advertisement listed the Lima shovel as
model 2400, it received model 2000 instead, and parts of the shovel were stolen after
the sale. Id. The bankruptcy court held the plaintiff failed to meet its burden of
proving it was sold the 2000 model instead of the 2400 model. Id. at 458. The court
further stated that even if the plaintiff had proven it received the 2000 model, it would
not be entitled to recover because the advertisement was clear that the description was
only based on what the debtor-in-possession believed was correct and that the
defendant did not warrant the condition of the equipment, and the plaintiff inspected
14
the equipment before the sale and had an opportunity to inquire about the model
number. Id.[¶37] This case is different from A.H. R.S. Coal Corp. In A.H. R.S. Coal Corp., the
description of the personal property sold was alleged to be incorrect, but the actual
property sold was included in the sale advertisement. This case involves more than
an incorrect description. The district court found all the property owned by Great
Plains was sold at the auction, including property that was not listed or described in
the notice of sale. The court found selling the property “as is” means property that
was not described or identified in any way was included in the sale. We disagree.
The term “as is” as it relates to real property generally refers to the condition of the
property and relieves a seller of real property from defects in condition. See In re
Landsource Communities, Dev. LLC, 485 B.R. 310, 320 (D. Del. 2013). The A.H.
R.S. Coal Corp. case does not support SunBehm’s argument or the court’s finding that
selling the assets “as is” rendered moot any uncertainty about whether all of the
property had been located and identified. The A.H. R.S. Coal Corp. case does not
support the district court’s interpretation of the “as is” clause, and the parties have not
cited any other authorities that would support the district court’s interpretation.
[¶38] The evidence does not support the district court’s finding that the parties to the
bankruptcy sale intended to sell all of Great Plains’ assets to Earl Schwartz at the
auction sale, including property that had not been identified. The court also
misapplied the law in interpreting the “as is” clause. We conclude the court’s finding
is clearly erroneous.
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IV
[¶39] The district court alternately found, even if the parties did not intend to sell all
of Great Plains’ assets to Schwartz, Great Plains lost its ability to claim title to
property when it was involuntarily dissolved by the North Dakota Secretary of State.
The court explained that because Great Plains ceased to exist as a corporation as of
August 1983, it was not capable of owning or possessing any property and therefore
it could not presently own an interest in Property Nos. 2 and 3. Great Plains argued
it never lost title to the properties by virtue of a 2011 order for reinstatement issued
by a Burleigh County district court. However, the court in this case found the
reinstatement order was not binding on the defendants here because none of the
defendants were parties to the reinstatement action and ownership of Property Nos.
2 and 3 was not raised in the Burleigh County case.
[¶40] Section 10-19.1-148, N.D.C.C., authorizes a district court to order
reinstatement of a dissolved corporation. The defendants allege, and Great Plains
does not dispute, that the Secretary of State dissolved Great Plains in 1983 for failure
to file its annual report and fees. In September 2011, the district court in Burleigh
County ordered reinstatement under N.D.C.C. § 10-19.1-148(4) and (5) based on the
court’s review of the petition for reinstatement and the admission of service and
consent to reinstatement of the Secretary of State. See Great Plains Royalty Corp. v.
Jaeger, Case No. 08-2011-CV-01921 (N.D. Dist. Ct. 2011). The court also ordered
that, upon reinstatement, Great Plains would have all of the rights and privileges it
would have possessed if it had properly and timely submitted all annual reports and
fees. The Secretary of State issued a certificate of good standing.
[¶41] “In general, when a suspended or revoked corporation is reinstated or revived,
its powers and privileges are restored retroactively to the date of the suspension or
revocation, or nunc pro tunc, except as to those rights and assets of which the
corporation was divested prior to the reinstatement or revival.” 19 Am. Jur. 2d
Corporations § 2481 (2019). The corporation is treated as if it had never been
dissolved. Id. If all rights the corporation held before dissolution are reinstated, then
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the reincorporated corporation generally regains title to property it owned prior to the
dissolution, except as to those assets transferred prior to the reinstatement. See 19
Am. Jur. 2d Corporations § 2485 (2019).
[¶42] The Burleigh County district court ordered Great Plains be reinstated and that
Great Plains had all rights and privileges upon reinstatement that it would have
possessed had it properly and timely submitted all annual reports and fees. The
Burleigh County district court’s decision was not appealed and will not be reviewed
in this appeal. Under the Burleigh County district court’s decision Great Plains
regained any title to property it owned prior to the dissolution. Therefore, the district
court erred in finding Great Plains no longer had any interest in the disputed property
because it was dissolved in 1983.
[¶43] The district court in this case acknowledged that the Burleigh County district
court ordered reinstatement, but the court stated that order was not binding on the
defendants because they were not parties to the Burleigh County case. The court said
the decision of the Burleigh County district court is not binding on the defendants in
the present action because “[t]o conclude otherwise would suggest that a court may,
by virtue of a perfunctory, two-week proceeding, transplant property rights that a
party abandoned over a quarter of a century ago, with no regard for the property’s
present possessor or condition.”
[¶44] The Burleigh County district court’s decision did not decide ownership of
Property Nos. 2 and 3; rather, the court only determined Great Plains should be
reinstated, it should be treated as if it was never dissolved, and it regained any title it
had before dissolution, except as to assets that were transferred before the
reinstatement. The district court erred to the extent its decision suggests the
defendants could challenge the reinstatement. “[A] statute addressing the
reinstatement . . . of an administratively dissolved corporation does not extend
statutory standing to third parties to challenge the general fitness of an applicant for
reinstatement.” 19 Am. Jur. 2d Corporations § 2479 (2019); see also Pascarella v.
Comm’r of Rev. Servs., 989 A.2d 1092, 1094-95 (Conn. App. Ct. 2010) (plaintiffs,
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who were defendants against a corporation in an unrelated action, did not have
standing to challenge the general fitness of the applicant for reinstatement of the
corporation).
[¶45] The district court erred in holding Great Plains lost its ability to claim title to
any assets it owned because it was involuntarily dissolved and ceased to exist as a
corporation. We conclude the court’s finding that Great Plains cannot establish a
present interest in the property because the corporation was dissolved and the
defendants were not a party to the reinstatement was induced by an erroneous view
of the law and is clearly erroneous.
V
[¶46] The district court’s decision to quiet title in favor of the defendants is based on
its misapplications of the law and findings that are not supported by the evidence. We
have considered the remaining issues and arguments and conclude they are either
without merit or are unnecessary to our decision. Because the court’s findings are
clearly erroneous, we reverse the district court’s judgment deciding ownership of
certain properties and dismissing Great Plains’ complaint with prejudice. We remand
for further proceedings to determine the parties’ claims and ownership of the
properties consistent with this opinion.
[¶47] Lisa Fair McEvers
Daniel J. Crothers
Jerod E. Tufte
Jon J. Jensen
Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.
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