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Transcript of ALLIANCE Bank
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Raoul Barrie Clymer14150 Grant St., Suite 33Moreno Valley, CA 92553(951) [email protected]
Propria persona
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTCENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
RAOUL BARRIE CLYMER, : CASE NO. EDCV 11-1414-VAP (OPX)Plaintiff, :
v. ::
KEVIN ELDER, RICHARD ELDER, :SCOTT WOODSIDE, PIMLICO : OBJECTION TO ALLIANCERANCH LLC, DRAKE DEVOLOP- : BANK’S MOTION TO DISMISSMENT, LLC, GOWIRELESS, INC., :ALLIANCE BANK, MARK COHEN, : et al., :
Defendants. :
Comes now, Raoul Barrie Clymer, plaintiff respectfully filing his objection to Alliance
Bank’s Motion to Dismiss and sets forth the following in support thereof:
I. INTRODUCTION I. INTRODUCTION
It is a sad day in the annals of American Jurisprudence when the filing of a Civil action is
considered by some as only “…to further harass…“ A families lifetime savings were invested
with the Defendants based upon promises and obligations that were all made with false
pretenses. Upon learning of the fraud Plaintiff attempted to circumvent litigation by approaching
certain of the named Defendants asking them to honor their contractual obligations and avoid
Civil R.I.C.O. prosecution. For being forthright and stalwart plaintiff was rewarded with a
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 1
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plethora of false accusations resulting in a TRO1 lodged against him.
II. SUMMARY OF THE FACTS AND ALLEGATIONS:
B&D was induced into a business venture by K. Elder; called the Pimlico Ranch LLC
Project. K. Elder stated he was the sole shareholder of GoWireless, Inc., and gave his personal
guarantee2, backed by GoWireless, Inc., for a timely completion of said business venture3. K.
Elder stated that he needed $3.5 to purchase the Pimlico Ranch LLC project with property
outright. Based upon K. Elder’s personal guarantee backed by his holdings in GoWireless B&D
accepted the terms stated within the Prospectus. B&D liquidated family owned real estate for
investment in Pimlico Ranch LLC. Subsequently, K. Elder directed B&D to wire more than six
Bank transfers totaling $3.5 into K. Elder’s personal bank account. B&D agreed to Subordination
of Deed of Trust for the sole purpose of a Construction Loan4. Alliance prepared and filed
Subordination of Deed of Trust on behalf of B&D thereby placing Alliance Bank as first in line
on Pimlico Ranch LLC title. Alliance Bank concealed the Loan Agreement and the amount
contained therein from B&D5. Defendant Woodside, on behalf of Pimlico Ranch LLC, prepared
the application for the Construction Loan. Alliance Bank approved said Application with
1 It should be noted that the State Court hearing for the TRO was held in a private Courtroom, without the ability to cross-examine the false bearing witnesses. When Plaintiff stated the right to cross-examine false bearing witnesses the Judge plainly stated “I don’t care about the U.S. Constitution, California Constitution, or the Fiji Constitution for that matter. They don’t have to be here they have their Attorney here.” There is no court record and the docket entry has Elder as present [which he was not.]. Plaintiff understands why Defendants want this Court to dismiss the R.I.C.O. claims and relinquish jurisdiction to the State Court.2 Besides the testimony of three witnesses to verify this, it can also be inferred from the fact that K. Elder gave his personal guarantee to obtain the $13.9 million dollar loan, so why wouldn’t he give his personal guarantee for the $3.5 million necessary to procure the $13.9 million loan.3 It should be noted K. Elder provided all three Body Shop phones free of charge thru GoWireless, Inc. as a bonus.4 Findlaw: Legal definition of construction loan - a short-term, to finance the cost of building a new home. The lender pays the builder based on milestones accomplished during the building process. For example, once a sub-contractor pours the foundation and it is approved by inspectors the lender will pay for their service.5 The Successor-in-interest, CB&T Bank, also denied Plaintiff a copy of the Loan Agreement and refused to state the total amount granted allegedly based upon their client’s privacy . However, they did provide the amount then currently owed once informed of Pimlico‘s default status with B&D.
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 2
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conditions.
K. Elder was required to deposit equity funds totaling $3.5 into Alliance Bank6 to procure
the $13.9 million “Construction Loan.” [See exhibit 1, Construction Loan Agreement, page 2.]
As mandated in the Construction Loan Agreement for “Budget and Schedule of Estimated
Advances” wherein “Lender shall have approved detailed budget and cash flow projections of
total Project costs ….” a “Release Price Schedule by Lot” was created. See Exhibit 2.
Ultimately, Alliance Bank authorized the requested funds for construction and mandated
that “UNDISBURSED FUNDS” must be “REQUESTED….IN WRITING”. See Exhibit 3.
In the “Construction Loan” there was $3.8 million allocated from the Construction Loan
to Stewart Title for “pay off” which was not disclosed or agreed to by B&D. [See exhibit 3,
Other Disbursements:] Alliance Bank materially altered the Subordination Agreement by
changing the terms of the Construction Loan Agreement, from a short term loan for construction
purposes, containing a draw down payment schedule which protected B&D, into a purchase
money/long term personal loan; which was concealed by Alliance and others party to said
agreement from B&D.
Although the Trustee for B&D would continually inquire into the status of the Project the
named Defendants continually provided banking and/or permit excuses.
In the interim K. Elder paid interest as agreed the first three years using funds from
sources other than Pimlico Ranch LLC utilizing bank transfers and the U.S. Mail. K. Elder
refused to pay interest in the fourth year which precipitated Plaintiff’s investigation. All interest
payments were made in interstate commerce from Nevada to California.
Plaintiff has been making substantial cumulative lease payments7 for the Body Shops (3
6 Plaintiff is no scholar of Banking, however ,with “fractionalized reserve banking methods” that $3.5 million would equate to well over $35 million dollars for Alliance Bank.7 The family real estate was sold with lease back options and buy back options.
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 3
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shops in the Inland Empire) totaling approximately $50,000.00 per month for six years which is
attributable solely to the investment in Pimlico Ranch LLC Project. This causes Plaintiff and his
family undue stress and vexation in the current economy.
SUMMARY OF THE ALLEGATIONS:
Contrary to what the successor-in-interest, California Bank &Trust, would contend,
Alliance Bank is without clean hands. This was not simply a real estate business deal gone awry.
Nor is this a simple breach of contract. The property in question is as vacant a lot as the day it
was initially presented to the Trustee of B&D. However, there is $32,600,000.00 [$32.6 million]
verifiable funds invested in the Pimlico Ranch LLC project that are unaccounted for by any of
the named Defendants.
The first time that Alliance Bank and Pimlico Ranch LLC collaborated to manipulate
investment funds, Pimlico Ranch LLC ,by and through defendant Woodside, submitted an
Application for a secured “construction loan“ in early 2004. Alliance8 granted Pimlico Ranch
LLC a $11.4 million Construction Loan [hereinafter First Loan] back on or about April 28,
2004; a year and a half before B&D became involved with Pimlico. This loan was secured by a
Construction Deed of Trust. See exhibit 4.
On or about October 21, 2005, Defendants procured a $3.8 million loan against Pimlico
Ranch LLC title [hereinafter Second Loan] from Diversified Builder Services. This loan was
secured by a Deed of Trust. See exhibit 5.
On or about December 31, 2005, defendants secured a $3.5 million loan from B&D
[hereinafter Third Loan]. This loan was secured by a Deed of Trust. See exhibit 6.
Again in early 2006 defendant Woodside submits another Application to Alliance Bank
on behalf of Pimlico Ranch LLC for second “Construction Loan.“ On or about May 25, 2006,
8 It is unknown at this point who represented Alliance Bank in working with defendant Woodside for the First Loan. This will be resolved by discovery.
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 4
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Alliance issues a Construction Loan for $13.9 million to Pimlico Ranch LLC [hereinafter Fourth
Loan]. This loan was secured by a Construction Deed of Trust. See exhibit 7.
If the First Loan was subject to the same contractual conditions as the Fourth Loan,
Alliance benefited to the tune of $1.3 million on the First Loan. The Fourth Loan established that
Alliance retained $720,238.00 in Undisbursed Interest Reserve, $386,234.00 in Undisbursed
Contingency, $174,500.00 in Loan Fees, $30,000.00 in Construction Inspection & Fund
Control Fees [Emphasis added]. This is a combined total of approximately $2.6 million in their
coffers over a two year span on two transactions collateralized by the same 30 acre bare lot.
Plaintiff posits this pattern of activity gives rise to a cause of action for RICO conspiracy.
Approximately $32,600,000.00 invested in construction of the Pimlico Ranch LLC Project and
not one piece of heavy equipment touched the soil. It can be reasonably inferred that bank money
was disbursed knowing that it would not be utilized for the purpose of construction by a failing
financial institution: Especially in light of the fact the first “Construction Loan“ was not spent for
construction. It is little wonder why Alliance Bank failed.
Alliance Bank committed fraud by processing a “Construction loan” that was a “purchase
money/personal loan.” Alliance intentionally concealed the fact the “construction loan”
contained a $3.8 million pay off from B&D whom subordinated to the “construction loan” as
defined in the Construction Loan Agreement.
The aforesaid actions of Alliance Bank defrauded the Federal Reserve Bank. Discovery
will prove that Alliance securitized the Pimlico Ranch LLC Promissory Note, which was signed
and personally guaranteed by the managing members of Pimlico Ranch LLC, defendants K.
Elder, R. Elder, and Scott Woodside, to secure the funds from the Federal Reserve Bank.
III. PLAINTIFF LACKS STANDING
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 5
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Plaintiff is one member of a family that owns “Ben Clymer’s The Body Shop, Inc.”
[hereinafter Body Shop]. The Body Shop liquidated its real estate properties with lease back
options to finance the Pimlico Ranch LLC Project, which equates to a burden of approximately
$50,000.00 [$49,392.30] per month. Plaintiff contends that this ongoing financial burden is an
“injury to his business and property.“ This injury to Plaintiff’s business ipso facto gives Plaintiff
standing. The only requirement for RICO standing is that one be a "person injured in his business
or property by reason of a violation of section 1962." 18 U.S.C. § 1964(c). And the Supreme
Court has already told us that "by reason of" incorporates a proximate cause standard, Holmes v.
Sec. Investor Prot. Corp., 503 U.S. 258, @ 265-68, (1992), which is generous enough to include
the unintended, though foreseeable, consequences of RICO predicate acts.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid, Plaintiff has acquired assignment for 100% of the Pimlico
Ranch LLC Project from the successor-in-interest to B&D Clymer Real Estate, A Trust,
including but not limited to right to chose in action. It is Plaintiff’s position that he has standing
to seek redress.
IV. UNLESS PLAINTIFF SUFFICIENTLY ALLEGES A RICO CLAIMTHE COURT LACKS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION
Even if the RICO conspiracy should not survive, this Court may exercise jurisdiction
based on diversity of the parties. Diversity jurisdiction extends to "all civil actions where the
matter in controversy exceeds . . . $75,000 . . . and is between . . . [c]itizens of different States."
28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1). The Complaint names, Defendant, GoWireless, Inc., stating the place of
incorporation and having headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada and defendant, K. Elder, whom is
also a resident of Nevada. The pleadings of the said complaint also state an amount in
controversy exceeding $75,000.00. A Plaintiff must set forth affirmatively not only the state by
which these corporations have been incorporated, but also the state where each of them has its
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 6
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principal place of business. Brandt v. Bay City Super Market, D.C., 182 F.Supp. 937 (1960); and
Cameron v. Hodges, 127 U.S. 322, 8 S.Ct. 1154, 32 L.Ed. 132 (1888) Recently the U.S. Supreme
held “…..that the phrase "principal place of business" refers to the place where the corporation's
high level officers direct, control, and coordinate the corporation's activities.” Hertz.Corp. v.
Friend, 130 S. Ct. 1181, @ 1186 (2009)
V. NONE OF THE PLAINTIFF’S SIX CAUSES OF ACTION CANNOT [Sic] WITHSTAND A RULE 12(B)(6) MOTION
A. Plaintiff has not satisfactorily alleged a RICO Claim
Counsel for Alliance claims “[t]he Complaint has failed to allege any predicate acts as to
Alliance Bank.” However, Plaintiff has pled that “Alliance Bank, by and through its acting
agent, Mark Cohen, did conspire with K. Elder, and others to commit bank fraud by issuing a
$13.9 million dollar ‘construction loan’ without regard for performance.” [Complaint page 10,
para. 54] Plaintiff also attached to Complaint, exhibit 8, which is the “Construction Deed of
Trust” based upon said “construction loan” filed in the Official Records of Riverside County by
Alliance dated May 25, 2006.
The bank fraud statute prohibits one who "knowingly executes, or attempts to execute, a
scheme or artifice ... to obtain any of the moneys ... credits ... or other property owned by" a
federally insured institution by making false pretenses. The plain language of the statute states
that each execution of the scheme constitutes a separate offense. See United States v. Poliak, 823
F.2d 371, @ 372 (9th Cir.1987), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 1029, 108 S.Ct. 1586, 99 L.Ed.2d 901
(1988).
Rule 9(b) provides that "[i]n all averments of fraud ... the circumstances constituting
fraud ... shall be stated with particularity." "A pleading is sufficient under rule 9(b) if it identifies
the circumstances constituting fraud so that a defendant can prepare an adequate answer from the
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 7
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allegations." Moore v. Kayport Package Express, Inc., 885 F.2d 531, @ 540 (9th Cir. 1989)
(citations omitted). "The plaintiff must set forth what is false or misleading about a statement,
and why it is false." In re GlenFed Inc. Sec. Litig., 42 F.3d 1541, @ 1548 (9th Cir.1994)
The aforesaid facts pled, combined with the exhibits, articulate the who, what, when and
where necessary for submitting a defense. Plaintiff believes this satisfies the requirements of
Rule 9(b).
It is an undeniable fact that the terms of said “Construction Loan Agreement” stated the
purpose of the loan with specificity as:
“CONSTRUCTION LOAN TO COMPLETE PHASE I OF A SEMI-CUSTOM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION IN MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA (PHASE I INCLUDES COMPLETION OF ALL 25 LOTS AND BUILD OUT OF ONE MODEL HOME AND EIGHT PRODUCTION UNITS).” See exhibit 8
Alliance memorialized the method of payment in the “Construction Loan Agreement” as follows:
“Conditions precedent to each advance….Equity Funds. Borrower shall provide evidence of equity funds totaling $3,500,000.00 prior to the initial advance from the Loan Fund….Disbursement of Loan Funds. ….Borrower shall apply only for disbursement with respect to work actually done by the General Contractor and for materials and equipment actually incorporated into the Project…..Construction of the project. Commence construction of the project no later than June 25, 2006, and cause the improvements to be constructed and equipped in a diligent and orderly manner and in strict accordance with the plans and specifications approved by lender, the construction contract, and all applicable laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, and rights of adjoining or concurrent property owners. Borrower agrees to complete the Project for purposes of final payment to the General Contractor on or before May 25, 2007, regardless of the reason for delay.”
It is also an undeniable fact that Alliance assessed a $30,000.00 prepaid finance charge
for “Construction Inspections & Fund Control Fee” as evidenced by their document entitled
“Disbursement Request and Authorization”. See exhibit 8.
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 8
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In said exhibit is further evidence of bank fraud whereby a closer reading of said
document revels under the subheading:
“DISBURSEMENT INSTRUCTIONS: Other Disbursements: $3,800,000.00 Wire to Stewart
Title for payoff”.
When Alliance sold the Pimlico Ranch LLC Promissory Note, which was based upon the
Construction Deed of Trust, to the Federal Reserve Bank they committed Bank Fraud in
violation of Title 18 U.S.C. section 1344.
RICO CONSPIRACY:
Title 18 section 1962(d) proscribes a conspiracy to violate RICO. It provides: "It shall be
unlawful for any person to conspire to violate any of the [other RICO] provisions." 18 U.S.C. §
1962(d). Bank Fraud is a predicate act for RICO. When Alliance agreed to issue an open line of
credit for Pimlico Ranch LLC, when all documentation sold to the Federal Reserve Bank was for
a “Construction Loan“, Alliance Bank by and through its acting agent, Cohen, committed bank
fraud. It is the mere agreement to violate RICO that § 1962(d) forbids; it is not necessary to
prove any substantive RICO violations ever occurred as a result of the conspiracy. Aetna Cas.
Sur. Co. v. P & B Autobody, 43 F.3d 1546, 1562 (1st Cir.1994). See also, Salinas v. United
States, 522 U.S. 52, 118 S.Ct. 469, 139 L.Ed.2d 352 (1997), (which held that a defendant who
was acquitted of the substantive racketeering charge nonetheless could be convicted of
conspiracy to violate RICO.)
Paramount is the fact that the illegal agreement need not be express as long as its
existence can be inferred from the words, actions, or interdependence of activities and persons
involved. Id. If a RICO conspiracy is demonstrated, "[a]ll conspirators are liable for the acts of
their co-conspirators." Sec. Investor Prot. Corp. v. Vigman, 908 F.2d 1461, 1468 (9th Cir.1990)
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 9
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rev'd on other grounds sub nom. Holmes v. Sec. Investor Prot. Corp., 503 U.S. 258, 112 S.Ct.
1311, 117 L.Ed.2d 532 (1992) (internal quotations and citations omitted). Holding RICO
conspirators jointly and severally liable for the acts of their co-conspirators reflects the notion
that the damage wrought by the conspiracy "is not to be judged by dismembering it and viewing
its separate parts, but only by looking at it as a whole." Vigman, 908 F.2d @ 1468. As a whole it
is impossible for Alliance to avert liability for fraudulently selling the Federal Reserve Bank a
short term Promissory Note backed by a “Construction Deed of Trust” with full knowledge the
money purchased would not be utilized for the intended purpose.
Although Alliance pleads that specific conduct of other named conspirators do not state a
claim against Alliance, Plaintiff would remind them that "…one who joins with the existing
conspirators in the criminal plan does not create a new conspiracy but becomes a member of the
existing conspiracy. Hence, an overt act committed prior to the new member joining will be just
as effective against him or her as against the prior parties....". U.S. v. Fernandez, 388 F.3d 1199
@ 1225 (9th Cir., 2004)
ALLIANCE’S BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY:
“Alliance Bank, by and through its acting agent, Mark Cohen, did conspire with K. Elder,
and others to commit bank fraud by issuing a $13.9 million dollar “construction
loan” without regard for performance……. K. Elder, R. Elder, Woodside submitted application
for a “$13.9 million Construction Loan” utilizing the Pimlico Ranch LLC property as collateral,
approved by Alliance Bank, by and through its acting agent, Mark Cohen; with the knowledge by
all named herein that the “Construction Loan” was not going to be used for constructing the
Pimlico Ranch Project LLC.”
Plaintiff has submitted documentary evidence that establishes Alliance Bank prepared
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 10
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and filed in the Office of Records, in Riverside County, California, a Subornation of Deed of
Trust [on behalf of B&D] and a Construction Deed of Trust on the Pimlico Ranch LLC Project
Title.
It is Alliance’s position that ”… Plaintiff failed to allege facts demonstrating the existence
of any relationship between Alliance Bank and Plaintiff, let alone one that was fiduciary in
nature.” [Motion to Dismiss, page 10, ln 3-5] It is agreed that there was no “debtor and creditor”
relationship between B&D and Alliance. There is, however, evidence in the record that B&D, a
creditor already on title of Pimlico Ranch LLC Project, agreed to Alliances terms to subordinate
to Alliances position on the Pimlico Ranch LLC Projects title. The negotiating of, and agreeing
to terms between B&D and Alliance allowed both lenders to share in the profits of a “joint
venture.”
"A joint venture is 'an undertaking by two or more persons jointly to carry out a single
business enterprise for profit." Weiner v. Fleischman 54 Cal.3d 476 (1991) There are three basic
elements of a joint venture: (1) the members must have joint control over the venture (even
though they may delegate it), (2) they must share the profits of the undertaking, and (3) the
members must each have an ownership interest in the enterprise. Unruh-Haxton v. Regents of
University of California 162 Cal.App.4th 343 (2008) "A joint venture . . . may be formed orally
or assumed to have been organized from a reasonable deduction from the acts and declarations of
the parties." (Weiner, @ 482-483.) In this case we have B&D who delegated controlling
position to Alliance as the principal lender in control of the project. Alliance was to maintain
control of the project by allocating the Construction Loan in a “draw down” as evidenced by
Alliance’s document called the “Release Price Schedule by Lot“. Both B&D and Alliance were
sharing in the profits of the Pimlico Project as evidenced by their respective contractual
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 11
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agreements and both said parties had an interest in the project as exhibited by their respective
Deed of Trust on Title to the Pimlico Ranch LLC Project.
Even should this Honorable Court find Plaintiff’s “joint venture” argument tenuous, it
can not be denied that the failure of Alliance to execute their contract utilizing the “draw down”
payment was the proximate cause of B&D’s loss. Should Alliance have paid out according to
performance B&D’s position would have been protected inasmuch as Pimlico would not have
had access to the funds without completion ,step by step, of the Construction as projected.
B&D was led to believe that subornation of their position was to a Construction Loan the
specific purpose of building the Pimlico Ranch LLC homes.9 This is confirmed by Alliance’s
document entitled “Construction Loan Agreement,” which states:
““CONSTRUCTION LOAN TO COMPLETE PHASE I OF A SEMI-CUSTOM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION IN MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA (PHASE I INCLUDES COMPLETION OF ALL 25 LOTS AND BUILD OUT OF ONE MODEL HOME AND EIGHT PRODUCTION UNITS).”
And again in the document entitled “Disbursement Request and Authorization“ wherein is
found:
“SPECIFIC PURPOSE: The specific purpose of this loan is: CONSTRUCTION LOAN TO COMPLETE PHASE I OF A SEMI-CUSTOM SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION IN MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA (PHASE I INCLUDES COMPLETION OF ALL 25 LOTS AND BUILD OUT OF ONE MODEL HOME AND EIGHT PRODUCTION UNITS).” [See Exhibit 8]
However, a closer reading of said document revels under the subheading
“DISBURSEMENT INSTRUCTIONS: Other Disbursements: $3,800,000.00 Wire to Stewart Title for payoff”.
This fact was intentionally withheld from B&D because B&D was led to believe that
their $3.5 million cash investment was utilized to purchase the property and project outright.
9 B&D was never provided with a copy of the construction loan agreement or the amount of the loan. CB&T agents denied B&D a copy of the Contract agreement with Pimlico Ranch LLC when requested during investigation of the Projects true status.
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 12
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This would have raised questions from the onset.
Alliance would have this Court overlook the fact that Alliance filed a fraudulent
document in the Office of Records by recording a “Construction Deed of Trust” when Alliance
knew it was not a “Construction” loan but a money purchase/personal loan backed by personal
guarantees for acquisition. These facts were known to Alliance.
Alliance purports that “….. the Complaint fails to specify what conduct constituted
breach, or what damages resulted therefrom.” [MTD, page 10, ln 7&8]
Alliance issued a $13.9 million dollar “Construction Loan” with the knowledge that B&D
subordinated and yet Alliance clandestinely incorporated the purchase money into the
Construction loan and then failed to monitor and control the release of construction funds as per
contract; AND, by so doing B&D lost their entire equity of $3.5 million, plus 35% of the profits
and 10% annual interest. “The duty of a lender to supervise the use of loan funds arises only
from a written agreement to do so, or perhaps from the knowledge that the seller is relying on
such monitoring and the lender does not disclaim such reliance or the lender actively undertakes
such a role“. Resolution Trust Corp. v. BVS Development, Inc, 42 F.3d 1206 @ 1215 (9th Cir,
1994) By Contract Alliance was literally paid “$30,000.00 for Construction Inspections & Fund
Control Fee.”
The excerpts from Alliance’s “Construction Loan Agreement” are as follows:
“Conditions precedent to each advance….Equity Funds. Borrower shall provide evidence of equity funds totaling $3,500,000.00 prior to the initial advance from the Loan Fund….Disbursement of Loan Funds. ….Borrower shall apply only for disbursement with respect to work actually done by the General Contractor and for materials and equipment actually incorporated into the Project…..Construction of the project. Commence construction of the project no later than June 25, 2006, and cause the improvements to be constructed and equipped in a diligent and orderly manner and in strict accordance with the plans and specifications approved by lender, the construction contract, and all applicable
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 13
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laws, ordinances, codes, regulations, and rights of adjoining or concurrent property owners. Borrower agrees to complete the Project for purposes of final payment to the General Contractor on or before May 25, 2007, regardless of the reason for delay.”
Unfortunately May 25, 2007, came and went. Alliance and Pimlico modified the Construction
Loan numerous times extended said loan from eleven months to over six years. All the while
Plaintiff is making almost $50,000.00 a month payments for the money invested in Pimlico.
Under California law, "a lender and a borrower may not bilaterally make a material
modification in the loan to which the seller10 has subordinated, without the knowledge and
consent of the seller to that modification, if the modification materially affects the seller's rights."
Gluskin v. Atlantic Sav. & Loan Assn., 32 Cal.App.3d 307, @ 314, (1973). B&D subordinated
to a “Construction Loan”, not purchase money loan; thereby Alliance did modify the loan. To
exacerbate the issue Alliance provided extensions without notice. But, paramount is the issue of
modifying the “construction loan” due in eleven months after issuance of funds, into a personal
loan that is due on a unknown date over six years after receipt of funds.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recognized Gluskin and held that:
Gluskin discerns a public policy need for protecting the seller from such reprehensible conduct even in the absence of a malevolent purpose. Read properly, Gluskin does no more than find a duty of good faith and fair dealing in a subordination agreement, preventing two of the parties from substantially impairing the third's interest in the joint enterprise. As the Ninth Circuit has explained, "[t]he rule articulated in Gluskin aims to protect subordinated sellers from secret agreements between buyers and lenders against the interest of the subordinated seller." Resolution Trust Corp. v. BVS Development, Inc. 42 F.3d 1206, @ 1215 (9th Cir.1994) [Emphasis added.]
Plaintiff contends that Alliance Bank had a contractual and fiduciary duty to B&D to inspect the
construction and control the funds; especially since this was the second “Construction Loan“
10 The California Appellate “court expressly refused to decide whether public policy justified granting a subordinating hard money lender less protection than a subordinating seller…” Lennar Northeast Partners v. Buice (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 1576, @ 1587-88
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issued on the same vacant lot for the same LLC. Plaintiff believes it would be reasonable to infer
by Alliance’s deliberate avoidance of monitoring the funds that Alliance had prior knowledge the
funds were not going to be used for the construction of the Pimlico Ranch LLC Project.
“Therefore, we conclude that under California law, when a seller subordinates his purchase
money lien to a lender's lien by permitting the lender to record first, and the lender knows that
the seller has agreed to record his deed second for the purpose of affecting a subordination, the
priority of the lender's lien is contingent upon the fulfillment of any conditions stated in the
seller's lien, whether or not the lender has actual knowledge of those conditions at the time the
deeds are recorded.” Sunset Bay Associates, In re, 944 F.2d 1503, @ 1513 (9th Cir. 1991)
Alliance Bank had full knowledge B&D was NOT subordinating to a construction loan.
PROMISSORY FRAUD:
Alliance made an agreement with B&D with the assurance that they would act as
specified. However, when the breaching party never intended to perform in the first place, the
promise is fraudulent, plain and simple. Promisees have a right to think that they are bargaining
for performance, not an action for breach of contract.
“Promissory fraud is a subspecies of the action for fraud.” See Behnke v. State Farm
General Ins. Co., 196 Cal. App. 4th 1443, 1453 (2011). "A promise to do something necessarily
implies the intention to perform; hence, where a promise is made without such intention, there is
an implied misrepresentation of fact that may be actionable fraud." Id. The elements of
promissory fraud are a promise made regarding a material fact without any intention of
performing it; the existence of the intent not to perform at the time the promise was made; intent
to deceive or induce the promisee to enter into a transaction; reasonable reliance by the
promisee; nonperformance by the party making the promise; and resulting damage to the
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 15
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promise. Id. “
Here Alliance promised to issue a “Construction Loan”; not a purchase money/personal
line of credit. B&D subordinated to a “construction loan” based upon the representations of
Alliance.
The United States Supreme Court has recently discussed the fraud scienter requirement,
holding in Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues and Rights, Ltd., 127 S.Ct. 2499 (2007), that a strong
inference "must be cogent and compelling, thus strong in light of other explanations." According
to the Court, "[t]he reviewing court must ask: When the allegations are accepted as true and
taken collectively, would a reasonable person deem the inference of scienter at least as strong as
any opposing inference?" Id. @ 2511.
The facts are that Alliance gave Pimlico a first loan of $11.4 million and never built a
house. Alliance gave Pimlico a second loan for $13.9 million and never built a house. Alliance
mislead B&D by stating they subordinating to a “construction loan” when it was a “money
purchase loan/personal loan.”
Plaintiff believes that one can reasonably infer that there was no intent to build Phase I of
Pimlico Ranch LLC within the time-frame stated in the Prospectus and that Alliance knew the
project would never be completed in a timely fashion. An iinference can be derived from the fact
Allaince issued a unbridled line of credit for $13.9 million; in lieu of the contractually obligated
draw down for performance. Plaintiff would ask that this Court follow the U.S. Supreme Court‘s
admonition "We reiterate, however, that the court's job is not to scrutinize each allegation in
isolation but to assess all the allegations holistically." Tellabs, Id. @ 2511
UNJUST ENRICHMENT:
Plaintiff incorporated paragraphs 1 through 56 into the cause of action for unjust
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enrichment. Plaintiff states that Alliance benefited almost $2.6 million unjustly by fraudulently
providing a purchase money/personal line of credit to Pimlico at Plaintiff’s expense.
Notwithstanding that Alliance’s breach of fiduciary duty is the proximate cause of K. Elder’s
unjust enrichment.
BREACH OF CONTRACT:
Plaintiff incorporated paragraphs 1 through 52 into the cause of action for breach of
contract. It is admitted that Alliance Bank is not a party to the contract in question. However, it
was Alliance Bank’s failure to execute the Construction Loan Agreement and inspect the
construction and control the release of funds, for which they were paid and contractually bound,
that is the proximate cause of the breach complained off.
Plaintiff will seek leave to amend his complaint to include a cause of action for
intentional interference of contract against Cohen, Alliance, and others to be named pursuant to
discovery.
FRAUD:
Plaintiff incorporated paragraphs 1 through 66 into the cause of action for fraud.
Everyone of the named Defendants knew that the Subordination of Deed of Trust Alliance
executed on behalf of B&D was fraudulent. All parties had knowledge the loan contained
purchase money and there was not going to be “construction inspections and fund control.” All
parties knew that failure to build Pimlico Ranch LLC as projected would financially ruin B&D’s
subordinated position in the project.
Plaintiff contends that he has met the standard of Rule 9 in pleading fraud by Alliance
Bank.
WHEREFORE, it is respectfully requested that a ruling on Alliance Bank’s Motion to
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Dismiss be deferred until such time as limited discovery can be conducted to find Mark Cohen
and depose him. Limited discovery requested will vitiate the need to make repetitive
amendments to the complaint.
IN ALTERNATIVE, should the Court dismiss any cause of action that Plaintiff be
granted leave to amend the defects articulated.
DATE: January 9, 2012
Respectfully submitted,
Raoul Barrie Clymer
OBJECTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS Page 18