Pennsylvania Cases February 09, 2024: Signature Fin. v. Shri Vighneshwar LLC

Case Description

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MEMORANDUM

GERALD J. PAPPERT, J.

Signature Financial seeks a default judgment against all twenty Defendants based on breach of contract and replevin claims stemming from a commercial loan agreement executed by some of the Defendants, with guarantees executed by others. Signature seeks the outstanding loan amount and a judgment awarding it possession of the collateral pledged pursuant to the loan agreement. For the following reasons, the Court grants Signature's motion as to the outstanding debt, but denies without prejudice their motion seeking replevin of collateral.

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I

In February 2018, Vendor Alliance Capital, Inc. (VAC) and the Borrowers entered into a loan agreement in the amount of $2,790,000 so the Borrowers could acquire eight Checkers Drive-In Restaurants in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. (Compl. ¶ 31). As part of the deal, VAC had the Guarantors each execute a separate guarantee. ( Id. ¶¶ 254, 269, 284, 299, 314, 329, 346, 363, 380, 397, 414, 431).

Pursuant to the loan agreement, the Borrowers executed eight separate Term Loan Notes totaling various amounts and requiring certain monthly payments, ( Id . ¶¶ 32-47), and VAC was given a first priority security interest in the collateral to the agreement, which consisted of “substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets owned by the Borrowers.” ( Id . ¶ 48). Later, VAC assigned all of its rights in the loans, loan agreements, collateral and guarantees to Signature, and Signature became VAC's successor in interest. ( Id . ¶ 49). Signature perfected its security interest in the collateral by filing UCC-1 Financing Statements with the Secretaries of State in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. ( Id . ¶ 51).

In April 2020, Signature and the Borrowers entered into eight separate modification agreements whereby Signature agreed to defer all principal and interest payments due under Notes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 for the months of April, May and June of 2020. ( Id . ¶ 52). Signature also agreed to defer all principal and interest payments due

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under Notes 2 and 7 for March, April, May and June 2020. ( Id. ) The Borrowers agreed to resume making full principal and interest payments again in July 2020. ( Id. ¶ 53). The Borrowers also agreed to pay Signature, on the maturity dates of the notes, all principal, interest and other amounts due, including the additional amount of outstanding principal accrued because the Borrowers did not make payments during the deferral period. ( Id. )

The Borrowers defaulted by failing to make payments for November and December 2022. Signature then declared the entire balance due, ( Id. ¶¶ 61, 65, 69, 73, 76, 81, 85, 88), which as of January 10, 2023, amounted to $2,052,711.33, plus interest at 1.5% per month ($983.79 per diem) going forward. ( Id. ¶ 90). Signature made a demand on the Borrowers for repayment, but to no avail. ( Id. ¶¶ 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136, 144, 152). Signature then made a demand on the Guarantors, but they also failed to pay up. ( Id. ¶¶ 263, 278, 293, 308, 323, 340, 357, 374, 391, 408, 425, 442). Signature demanded return of the collateral, but the Borrowers failed honor that request as well. (Decl. ¶ 103).

Signature filed a twenty-eight count complaint on January 25, 2023, asserting breach of contract claims against the Borrowers and Guarantors and seeking replevin of the collateral. (ECF No. 1). Initially, Signature was only able to serve one Defendant, Shri Mahaganapati, LLC. (ECF No. 8). Despite diligent efforts, however, it could not serve the other Defendants. (ECF No. 9). The Court allowed Signature leave to serve the remaining Defendants by mailing and posting, which Signature did pursuant to the Court's Order on September 14, 2023. See (ECF Nos. 11, 12). After the

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Defendants failed to timely respond, Signature sought and received an entry of default. (ECF Nos. 14, 15). Signature now seeks a default judgment.

II

Before the Court can enter default judgment, it must find that process was properly served. Gold Kist, Inc. v. Laurinburg Oil Co., Inc. , 756 F.2d 14, 19 (3d Cir. 1985). While not easy at first, Signature properly served all Defendants. It served Shri Mahaganapati LLC, through its registered agent, Krupa Patel, on April 12, 2023. (ECF No. 8). After multiple unsuccessful efforts to serve the other Defendants, Signature was granted leave to complete service through mailing and posting. (ECF No. 11). Signature sent via first class and certified mail, return receipt requested, the summons, complaint and Court's Order to all other Defendants at 8 Woodland Road, Newtown, PA, and 121 Friends Lane, Suite 301-302, Newtown, PA. Signature's independent investigation made it reasonable to believe mailing and posting at those addresses would give the Defendants notice of the proceedings against them.

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Signature then filed an affidavit of service of its mailing and posting with the Court. (ECF No. 13).

III

“[W]hen entry of a default judgment is sought against a party who has failed to plead or otherwise defend, the district court has an affirmative duty to look into its jurisdiction both over the subject matter and the parties.” D'Onofrio v. Il Mattino , 430 F.Supp.2d 431, 437 (E.D. Pa. 2006) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted).

On a motion for default judgment, a plaintiff need only make a prima facie showing of personal jurisdiction. D'Onofrio v. Il Mattino , 430 F.Supp.2d 431, 439 (E.D. Pa. 2006). All Defendants except Chintamani and Mahaganapati are either Pennsylvania LLC's, operate a principal place of business in Pennsylvania or live in Pennsylvania. (Compl. ¶¶ 5-7, 9-12, 14-25). While Chinatmani is a New Jersey LLC with a principal place of business in Camden and Mahaganapati is a Delaware LLC with a principal place of business in Wilmington, UCC financing statements with respect to the collateral indicate both maintain a mailing address in Pennsylvania-121 Friends Lane, Newtown, PA-suggesting “certain minimum contacts with . . . [Pennsylvania] such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.” O'Connor v. Sandy Lane Hotel Co. , 496 F.3d 312, 316-17 (3d Cir. 2007) (citing Int'l Shoe Co. v. Washington , 326 U.S. 310, 316 (1945)); see generally Hardwick v. Consumer Guardian Specialists, LLC , No. 20-60, 2021 WL 1152739, at *9 (W.D. Pa. Mar. 26, 2021); (ECF 1-13, at 4, 10).

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The Court has subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332 because there is complete diversity of citizenship and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. Signature is an LLC whose sole member is Signature Bank, which is incorporated under New York law and maintains its corporate headquarters in New York City. All Defendants are citizens of Pennsylvania, and the amount in controversy is over $2 million.

IV

“A consequence of the entry of a default judgment is that the factual allegations of the complaint, except those relating to the amount of damages, will be taken as true.” Comdyne I, Inc. v. Corbin , 908 F.2d 1142, 1149 (3d Cir. 1990) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). The Court need not, however, accept the moving party's legal conclusions or allegations relating to the amount of damages. Id. Therefore, before granting a default judgment, the Court must determine whether a legitimate cause of action exists, as a party in default does not admit mere conclusions of law. DirecTV, Inc. v. Asher , No. 03-1969, 2006 WL 680533, at *1 (D.N.J. Mar. 14, 2006) (citing 10A Wright & Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 2688, at 63 (3d ed. 1998)).

A

Signature alleges breach of contract claims against the Borrowers and Guarantors for breach of the loan agreements and guarantees. To establish a breach of

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contract claim under New York law, a plaintiff must establish: (1) the existence of a contract; (2) performance by the party seeking recovery; (3) breach by the other party; and (4) damages suffered as a result of the breach. See Johnson v. Nextel Commc'ns, Inc. , 660 F.3d 131, 142 (2d Cir. 2011).

Signature sufficiently alleges the elements of a breach of contract claim. The Borrowers and Guarantors entered into the loan agreements and guarantees, Signature performed pursuant to those agreements, which the Borrowers and Guarantors breached by not paying back the loan, resulting in damages, namely, the total unpaid amounts.

B

Signature has also set forth a valid cause of action for replevin of collateral. “The action of replevin is founded upon the wrongful taking and detention of property

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and seeks to recover property in the possession of another. Valley Gypsum Co. v. Pa. State Police , 581 A.2d 707, 710 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1990). To prevail, “the plaintiff must show not only title, but also the exclusive right of immediate possession of the property in question. Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Caiazzo , 564 A.2d 931, 933 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1989).

The Borrowers granted VAC a security interest in the collateral, which includes “all personal property” owned by the Borrowers, including the property used in their Checker's Drive In Restaurants. The loan agreement stated that upon a default, “VAC shall have the right to take possession of the Collateral . . . and for that purpose VAC may enter upon any premises on which the Collateral . . . may be situated and remove the same therefrom.” The Borrowers defaulted on the loan agreements when they failed to make the monthly payments starting in November 2022, and Signature first demanded the payment of all obligations, and then demanded possession of the collateral. Since the Borrowers defaulted on the loans, Signature has the right to take immediate possession of the collateral. See Susquehanna Commercial Finance, Inc. v. French , No. 10-7481, 2011 WL 1743503, at *4 (E.D. Pa. May 5, 2011).

IV

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(b)(2) authorizes a district court to enter a default judgment against a properly served defendant who fails to file a responsive

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pleading. See Anchorage Assocs. v. V.I. Bd. of Tax Review , 922 F.2d 168, 177 n.9 (3d Cir. 1990). Three factors control whether a default judgment should be granted: (1) prejudice to the plaintiff if default judgment is denied; (2) whether the defendant appears to have a litigable defense; and (3) whether the defendant's delay is due to culpable conduct. Chamberlain v. Giampapa , 210 F.3d 154, 164 (3d Cir. 2000).

All three Chamberlain factors support granting the motion. First, denying the motion will prejudice Signature because a plaintiff “will be prejudiced absent a default judgment when a defendant fails to respond to the plaintiff's claims because the ‘plaintiff will be left with no other means to vindicate his or her claims.'” United States v. Tran , No. 21-730, 2022 WL 159734, at *2 (E.D. Pa. Jan 18, 2022) (quoting United States v. Vo , No. 15-6327, 2016 WL 475313, at *3 (D.N.J. Feb. 8, 2016)). Nearly five months have passed since the Defendants were served, and they have not participated in this case at all, “portending an indefinite delay without default judgment.” See id ; see also State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Hunt , No. 14-06673, 2015 WL 1974772, at *4 (E.D. Pa. May 4, 2015).

The second factor-whether the Defendants have a litigable defense-favors entering a default judgment because the Defendants never answered, responded or otherwise participated in this litigation. The Court may presume, therefore, that Defendants have no meritorious defense. See Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. v. Yakubets , 3 F.Supp.3d 261, 271-72 (E.D. Pa. 2014) (adding “it is not the court's responsibility to research the law and construct the parties' arguments for them”).

Finally, the third factor also weighs in favor of default. A defendant's failure to engage in the litigation process can be considered culpable conduct, especially where

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the Court is “unable to ‘find [any] excuse or justification for default, apart from [the Defendants'] own culpability.'” Penumella v. Pham , 2023 WL 9004918, at *5 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 28, 2023) (quoting Einhorn v. Klayman Produce Co., Inc ., No. 13-1720, 2013 WL 6632521, at *4 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 17, 2013)). Signature undertook extensive efforts to locate Mital Pandya and Jignesh Pandya, the sole member and shareholder of the nonindividual defendants. On one occasion, a process server “attempted to serve an individual believed to be one of the defendants,” but the individual “fled in his car.” See (ECF No. 7). The Defendants have not engaged in the litigation process, culpable conduct which weighs in favor of entering default judgment. “[T]o to conclude otherwise would be to reward the recalcitrant or the oppositional and uncooperative.” See Eastern Elec. Corp. of N.J. v. Shoemaker Constr. Co. , 657 F.Supp.2d 545, 554 (E.D. Pa. 2009).

V

After granting the motion for default judgment, the Court must calculate the appropriate damages. See Rios v. Marv Loves 1 , No. 13-1619, 2015 WL 5161314, at *13 (E.D. Pa. Sept. 2, 2015). “Courts may rely upon detailed affidavits submitted by the parties instead of holding an evidentiary hearing to determine damages on default judgment.” J & J Sports Prods., Inc. v. Puentenueva , No. 14-3226, 2014 WL 7330477, at *2 n.1 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 22, 2014) (citation omitted).

Signature seeks $2,354,734.86, with post-judgment interest accruing at the statutory rate, and its attached declaration from David McGowan, Signature's Vice President/Director of Portfolio Management, sufficiently establishes that amount as the proper calculation of damages. (McGowan Decl. ¶¶ 5-105, ECF No. 16-3). The

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Borrowers defaulted under the terms of the loan agreement, and the Guarantors breached the guarantees. The total unpaid amount as of January 10, 2023 is $2,052,711.33, and accrued interest at the per diem rate of $983.79 from January 10 to November 13, 2023 totals $302,023.53. Thus, under the terms of the loan agreements and guarantees, the Defendants owe Signature $2,354,734.86.

The Court declines to grant Signature's request for replevin because Signature does not describe the collateral with any specificity. See, e.g., ApplePie Capital, Inc. v. Sirois Ventures III, LLC, No. 19-2719, 2020 WL 10058199, at *2-3 (M.D. Fl. Apr. 23, 2020). Signature says that the collateral “consists of substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets owned by the Borrowers . . . including, without limitation, all equipment and other assets owned by the Borrowers and located at each Checker's Drive-In Restaurant retail facility operated by each Borrower.” (McGowan Decl. ¶ 88). Moreover, since all the Checker's restaurants are apparently closed, Signature does not even know if any collateral remains. ( Id. ¶ 92). As such, this request is denied without prejudice.

An appropriate Order follows.