EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO ET AL., APPELLANTS,
v.
ROTOCAST PLASTICS PRODUCTS, INC., ET AL., APPELLEES
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
Exchange National Bank of Chicago appeals the denial of its motion to dismiss for improper venue in a usury and fraud action filed in Florida. The Florida District Court of Appeal reverses, holding that the federal venue statute for national banks is mandatory and was not waived, requiring the action to be brought only in the district where the bank is located.
The federal venue statute for national banks, 12 U.S.C.A. § 94, is mandatory and was not waived by Exchange Bank; therefore, the trial court erred in denying Exchange Bank's motion to dismiss for improper venue. Additionally, service of process on Edward Sax was insufficient because it did not comply with Florida Statute § 48.031 requirements.
[1] Venue for actions against a national banking association is exclusively limited to the district in which the association is established or located, unless that privilege…
[2] The commission of a tort or the entering into a contract in a foreign district is insufficient to establish a waiver of a national bank's venue privilege.
Previewing 2 of 5 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“The federal statute prescribing venue in the district or county in which the bank is located is mandatory unless waived.”
Establishes that the federal venue statute for national banks is mandatory and cannot be ignored despite tortious conduct or contractual arrangements in another district.
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceRotocast Products, Inc. and individual guarantors Robert and Carolyn Grossman sued Exchange National Bank of Chicago, Lincolnshire Financial Services,…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Usual Place Of Abode cases and more on FLexlaw
HAVERFIELD, Judge.
By way of this interlocutory appeal, defendants seek re.view of an order denying their motions to dismiss in this action for usury, breach of contract and fraud.
The instant litigation arises out of an agreement for an accounts receivable financing loan between plaintiff Rotocast Products, Inc. and one of the defendants Exchange National Bank of Chicago. The loan was guaranteed by the individual plaintiffs Robert and Carolyn Grossman. An eight count complaint seeking compensatory and punitive damages was filed against Exchange Bank, Lincolnshire Financial Services, Inc., Edward Sax and Steven Bronson. In their complaint, plaintiffs alleged in pertinent part that (1) Exchange Bank has full time officers and employees who work out of the same offices as its subsidiary Lincolnshire, a Florida corporation; (2) some of these Exchange Bank employees at times purport to be employees of Lincolnshire; (3) Exchange Bank conducts its business from the Miami office of Lincolnshire under the guise of operating Lincolnshire’s business; (4) Edward Sax is a citizen and resident of Dade County and a vice president of Exchange Bank; (5) Steven Bronson is a citizen and resident of Chicago and a vice president of Exchange Bank.
Appellant Exchange Bank moved to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction over its person and improper venue in that being a national banking corporation with its office and principal place of business in Illinois, an action against it may be brought only in the district in which it is located as set out by § 94 of Title 12 U.S.C.A., which provides:
“Actions and proceedings against any association under this chapter may be had in any district or Territorial court of the United States held within the district in which such association may be established, or in any State, county, or municipal court in the county or city in which said association is located having jurisdiction in similar cases.”
Appellant Lincolnshire moved to dismiss for failure to join an indispensable party, Exchange Bank, since the complaint alleges that the acts committed by Lincolnshire were done as agent for or on behalf of Exchange Bank. Therefore, if Exchange Bank is not found subject to the court’s jurisdiction, then Lincolnshire should be dismissed.
Appellant Edward Sax moved to dismiss and quash service of process for insufficiency of service of process alleging that (1) his usual place of abode is Mexico, (2) service had been attempted upon him by serving his brother, George, and (3) proof of service did not show that the Dade County address given was his usual place of abode.
Defendant Steven Bronson (not a party to this appeal) moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction and insufficiency of service of process.
The trial judge denied all the motions to dismiss except that of Bronson. Exchange Bank, Lincolnshire and Sax appeal the denial of their respective motions to dismiss.
Appellants first contend that the court erred in failing to dismiss Exchange Bank on the ground of improper venue. We find this point well taken.
The federal statute prescribing venue in the district or county in which the bank is located is mandatory unless waived. National Bank of North America v. Associates of Obstetrics and Female Surgery, Inc., 425 U.S. 460, 96 S.Ct. 1632, 48 L.Ed.2d 92 (1976); Exchange National Bank of Chicago v. Rock, Fla.App.1967, 197 So. 2d 52. Further the commission of a tort or the entering into a contractual arrangement in a foreign district is an insufficient basis for inferring a waiver of the venue privilege. National Bank of North America, supra; Northside Iron & Metal Co., Inc. v. Dobson & Johnson, Inc., 480 F. 2d 798 (5th Cir. 1973); Exchange National Bank, supra. Exchange Bank not having waived the prescribed venue privilege, we conclude the court erred in the denial of the motion to dismiss for improper venue.
With respect to appellants’ second contention that the court erred in denying the motion of Edward Sax to dismiss for insufficiency of process and insufficiency of service of process, we find that the requirements of § 48.031,1 Fla.Stat., F.S.A. were not complied with in that, inter alia, the proof of service did not state that service was made on Edward Sax, nor did it show that service was made on Sax at his usual place of abode or copies left there with some person of the family over the age of 15 years.2
We also considered the final point on appeal with respect to the denial of Lincoln-shire’s motion to dismiss and find it is without merit.
For the reasons stated, this cause is remanded to the trial court with directions to grant the motions to dismiss of appellants Exchange Bank and Edward Sax.
. “48.031 Service of process generally
“Service of original process is made by delivering a copy thereof to the person to be served with a copy of the complaint, petition or other initial pleading or paper or by leaving such copies at his usual place of abode with some person of the family over fifteen years of age and informing such person of their contents. Minors who are or have been married shall be served as provided in this section.”
. Edward’s brother, George, being a visitor and not a member of the household.
NATHAN, Judge,
concurring specially.
I must concur based on the authority of National Bank of North America v. Associates of Obstetrics and Female Surgery, Inc., 425 U.S. 460, 96 S.Ct. 1632, 48 L.Ed. 92, (1976). I also am of the view that we must recede from our opinion in Vann v. First National Bank in Little Rock, 324 So. 2d 94 (Fla. 3rd DCA 1975), which held that when a bank “locates” itself in another jurisdiction for the limited transaction of business and commits tortious acts, by and through its agent, the bank has waived its privilege to the extent of being sued on the local transaction or activity involving the alleged tortious acts. Compare Buffum v. Chase Nat. Bank of City of New York, 192 F. 2d 58 (7th Cir. 1951). In Buffum, it was held that venue was waived where the bank applied for and obtained leave to transact business in the state of Illinois for a limited purpose; the bank had consented to be sued there as to transactions growing out of that purpose.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
-
The MAC Org., Inc. v. Harry Rich Corp., 374 So. 2d 81 (Fla. 3d DCA 1979)…and Hayes v. Greenwold, 149 So. 2d 586 (Fla. 3d DCA 1963). Further, to achieve proper service of process, there must be strict compliance with the applicable statute. See, e. g., Exchange National Bank of Chicago v. Rotocast Plastic Products, Inc., 341 So. 2d 787 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977); and Ludlum Enterprises, Inc. v. Outdoor Media, Inc., 250 So. 2d 649 (Fla. 4th DCA 1971). Our review of the record shows that the summons and complaint in this action were served on Joseph Conti on July 18, 1978. However, contrary…
-
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. v. Banco del Atlantico, 343 So. 2d 936 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977)…this case under 12 U.S.C. § 94. See National Bank of North America v. Associates of Obstetrics and Female Surgery, Inc., 425 U.S. 460, 96 S.Ct. 1632, 48 L.Ed.2d 92 (1976); Exchange [*938] National Bank of Chicago v. Rotocast Plastics Products, Inc., 341 So. 2d 787 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977) (Opinion filed Jan. 11, 1977). We do not pass upon this contention because the issue is not properly before us. The record does not reflect that Chase Manhattan ever made a motion to dismiss the complaint on the ground of improper…
-
Landmark Bank OF W. Broward v. Giroux, 345 So. 2d 847 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977)…ord, 332 So. 2d 81 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976), cert. den., 339 So. 2d 1167 (Fla.1976). . Northside Iron & Metal Co., Inc. v. Dobson & Johnson, Inc., at p. 800. . See Annotation at 1 ALR 3d 904 et seq. . Exchange Nat’l. Bank of Chicago v. R. P. P., Inc., 341 So. 2d 787 (Fla.3d DCA 1977). . Michigan National Bank v. Robertson, 372 U.S. 591, 83 S.Ct. 914, 9 L.Ed.2d 961 (1963); National Bank of North America v. Associates of Obstetrics and Female Surgery, Inc., supra.…
Previewing 3 of 7 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Nat'l Bank of N. Am. v. Assocs. of Obstetrics & Female Surgery, Inc., 425 U.S. 460 (U.S. 1976)
- Buffum v. Chase Nat. Bank of City of N.Y., 192 F.2d 58 (7th Cir. 1951)
- Northside Iron & Metal Co., Inc. v. Dobson & Johnson, Inc., 480 F.2d 798 (5th Cir. 1973)
- Vann v. First Nat'l Bank IN Little Rock, 324 So. 2d 94 (Fla. 3d DCA 1975)
- The Exch. Nat'l Bank OF Chicago v. Arne Rock & Grand Turk Line, Ltd., 197 So. 2d 52 (Fla. 3d DCA 1967)