Petition — Morsey v. Green
Supreme Court brief1980
Ask Donna
What actually matters in this document.
Text
Supreme Court, U.S.
PELE D
Aue 7 = 1980
eben ICHAEL RODAK, JR., CLERK
CASE No. 80-20
in the
Supreme Court
of the
United States
October Term, 1979
CHASE MORSEY, JR.,
Petitioner,
US.
ELMER G. GREEN and FIRST NATIONAL
BANK IN PALM BEACH,
Respondents.
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF
APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
August 7, 1980 Guy B. Bailey, Jr.,
Bailey & Dawes, a
professional association
Attorney for Petitioner
Suite 1820 One Biscayne Tower
Two South Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 374-5505
Of Counsel:
Jesse C. Jones
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
I.
WHETHER FACT QUESTIONS
NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE
EXISTENCE OF A SECURITY ARE FOR
THE JURY
II.
WHERE THE PROMOTER PROMISED TO
MANAGE INCOME STREAMS AND TO
USE HIS EXPERTISE, REPUTATION, AND
MARKET POSITION TO SELL THE LAND
AT A PROFIT, WHETHER A
PARTICIPATION IN A_ LAND
SYNDICATION IS A SECURITY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW ....... i
Beads OF AUTHORITING 6... ccciccccstccccvennce ili
es SRIRAM ereverps of 3 1
REPORTS OF OPINIONS BELOW .............. 2
SIRENS BP LIN VOLVED occ cae dccvccdedevcveces 3
STATEMENT OF THE CASE ..............0008- 9
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE OF THE WRIT... 12
NE nx 5.9. 0:4 40a pu'ss004 chs ccenane eee tean A-1
ii
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Ahrens v. American-Canadian Beaver Co.,
428 F.2d 926 (10th Cir. 1970) .......censeces
Altshuler v. Cohen,
471 F.Supp. 1372 (S.D. Tex. 1979) .........
Bartels v. Algonquin Properties Ltd.,
471 F.Supp. 1132 (D. Vt. 1979) .............
Beacon Theatres v. Westover,
GOP Ass SUPA ENOOD sic cccdevecdanssdccstcens
Cameron v. Outdoor Resorts of America, Inc.,
608 F.2d 187, modified on other grounds,
611 F.2d 106 (5th Cir. 1979) .........se000-
Commander’s Palace Park Assoc. v. Girard &
Pastel Corp.,
572 F.2d 1084 (5th Cir. 1978) .............4.
Ferland v. Orange Groves of Florida, Inc.,
377 F.Supp. 690 (M.D.Fla. 1974) ..........
Goodman v. Epstein,
582 F.2d 388 (7th Cir. 1978) ..........ee008.
Great Western Bank and Trust v. Kotz,
§32 F.2d 1252 (9th Cir. 1976) ............64.
Page
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES (Cont.)
Page
Happy Investment Group v. Lake World
Properties, Inc.,
396 F.Supp 175 (N.D.Cal. 1975) ............. 18, 21
Johnson vu. Nationwide Industries, Inc., -
450 F.Supp. 948 (N.D.IIl. 1978) ............... 21
Kroungold v. Treister,
407 F.Supp. 414 (E.D.Pa. 1975) ............... 20
McCown v Heidler,
527 F.2d 204 (10th Cir. 1975) ......sccccccscecs 20
Owners of ‘SW 8” Real Estate v. McQuaid,
513 F.2d 668 (9th Cir. 1975) .......cccccccscecs 21
Oxford Finance Co. v. Harvey,
385 F.Supp. 431 (E.D.Pa. 1974) ............... 21
Roe v. United States,
287 F.2d 435 (Sth Cir. 1961) .........cccececees 13
Sandusky Land, Ltd. v. Uniplan Groups, Inc.,
400 F.Supp. 440 (N.D. Ohio 1975) .......... a
Schultz v. Dain Corp.,
568 F.2d 612 (8th Cir. 1978) ........ccececececs 21
iv
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES (Cont.)
Page
SEC vu. W.J. Howey Co.,
fee eft. rrr 13, 15, 16, 17, 20
SEC v. C.M. Joiner Leasing Corp.,
320 U.S. 344. (1943) ....cccccccess 12, 13, 14, 17, 20
SEC v. Lake Mavasu Estates, .
340 F.Supp. 1318 (D.Minn. 1972) ............. 20
Tarvestad v. United States,
418 F.2d 1043 (8th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 397
Ri PC Haya ncédciusy tedauacaeeeieel 13, 14
Tcherepnin v. Knight,
ls OD vn. bese kkncncucscceunces 17
Timmreck v. Munn,
433 F.Supp. 396 (N.D.IIl. 1977) ............... 20
United Housing Foundation, Inc. v. Forman,
GRE RI. Fe CRE enka datnsivesscshens 17, 18, 20
United States v. Carman,
577 F.2d 566 (9th Cir. 1978) ........ccccccccees 14
Van Arsdale v. Claxton,
391 F.Supp. 538 (S.D. Cal. 1979) .............. 18
Woodward v. Terracor,
574 F.2d 1023 (10th Cir. 1978) ..............06. 20
CASE NO. ___
in the
Supreme Court
of the
United States
October Term, 1979
CHASE MORSEY, JR.,
Petitioner,
US.
ELMER G. GREEN and FIRST NATIONAL
BANK IN PALM BEACH,
: Respondents.
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF
APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
JURISDICTION
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth
Circuit affirmed without opinion on April 11, 1980, and
denied rehearing on May 9, 1980.
Jurisdiction is invoked under 28 U.S.C. §1254(1)
(1976).
REPORTS OF OPINIONS BELOW
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth
Circuit affirmed without opinion. Morsey v. Green, 615
F.2d 917 (5th Cir. 1980). The opinion of the United
States District Court, Southern District of Florida, is
unreported.
STATUTES INVOLVED
The Securities Act of 1933 §2(1), 15 U.S.C. §77b(1)
(1976):
The term “security”? means any note, stock,
treasury stock, bond, debenture, evidence of
indebtedness, certificate of interest or
participation in any profit-sharing agreement,
collateral-trust certificate, pre-organization
certificate or subscription, transferable share,
investment contract, voting-trust certificate,
certificate of deposit for a security, fractional
undivided interest in oil, gas, or other mineral
rights, or, in general, any interest or
instrument commonly known as a “security,”
or any certificate of interest or participation in,
temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for,
guarantee of, or warrant or right to subscribe to
or purchase, any of the foregoing.
The Securities Act of 1933 §5(a), 15 U.S.C. §77e(a)
(1976):
(a) Unless a registration statement is in effect
as to a security, it shall be unlawful for any
person, directly or indirectly —
(1) to make use of any means or
instruments of transportation or
communication in interstate commerce or of
the mails to sell such security through the use
or medium of any prospectus or otherwise; or
(2) to carry or cause to be carried through
the mails or in interstate commerce, by any
means or instruments of transportation, any
such security for the purpose of sale or for
delivery after sale.
The Securities Act of 1933 $12, 15 U.S.C. §771
(1976):
Civil liabilities arising in connection with
prospectuses and communications
Any person who —
(1) offers or sells a security in violation of
section 5, or
(2) offers or sells a security (whether or not
exempted by the provisions of section 3, other
than paragraph (2) of subsection (a) thereof),
by the use of any means or instruments of
transportation or communication in interstate
commerce or of the mails, by means of a
prospectus or oral communication,» which
includes an untrue statement of a material fact
or omits to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (the purchaser not
knowing of such untruth or omission), and who
shall not sustain the burden of proof that he
did not know, and in the exercise of reasonable
care could not have known, of such untruth or
omission, shall be liable to the person
purchasing such security from him, who may
sue either at law or in equity in any court of
competent jurisdiction, to recover the
af
consideration paid for such security with
interest thereon, less the amount of any income
received thereon, upon the tender of such
security, or for damages if he no longer owns
the security.
The Securities Act of 1933 §17(a), 15 U.S.C.
§77q(a) (1976):
It shall be unlawful for any person in the offer
or sale of any securities by the use of any means
or instruments of transportation or
communication in interstate commerce or by
the use of the mails, directly or indirectly —-
(1) to employ any device, scheme, or
artifice to defraud, or
(2) to obtain money or property by means
of any untrue statement of a material fact or
any omission to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements made, in the
light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, or
(3) to engage in any transaction, practice,
or course of business which operates or would
operate as a fraud or deceit upon the purchaser.
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 §3(a)(10), 15
U.S.C. §78c(a)(10) (1976):
The term “security” means any note, stock,
treasury stock, bond, debenture, certificate of
interest or participation in any profit-sharing
agreement or in any oil, gas, or other mineral
royalty or lease, any collateral-trust certificate,
preorganization certificate or subscription,
transferable share, investment contract,
voting-trust certificate, certificate of deposit,
for a security, or in general, any instrument
commonly known as a “security”, or any
certificate of interest or participation in,
temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for,
or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase,
any of the foregoing; but shall not include
currency or any note, draft, bill of exchange, or
banker’s acceptance, which has a maturity at
the time of issuance of not exceeding nine
months, exclusive of days of grace, or any
renewal thereof the maturity of which is
likewise limited.
The Securities Act of 1933 §15, 15 U.S.C. §770
(1976):
Liability of controlling persons
Every person who, by or through stock
ownership, agency, or otherwise, or who,
pursuant to or in connection with an agreement
or understanding with one or more other
persons by or through stock ownership, agency,
or otherwise, controls any person liable under
section 11 or 12, shall also be liable jointly and
severally with and to the same extent as such
controlled person to any person to whom such
controlled person is liable, unless the
controlling person had no knowledge of or
reasonable ground to believe in the existence of
the facts by reason of which the liability of the
controlled person is alleged to exist.
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 §10, 15 U.S.C.
§78) (1976):
Manipulative and decentive devices
It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or
indirectly, by the use of any means or
instrumentality of interstate commerce or of
the mails, or of any facility of any national
securities exchange —
(a) To effect a short sale, or to use or
employ any stop-loss order in connection with
the purchase or sale, of any security registered
on a national securities exchange, in
contravention of such rules and regulations as
the Commission may prescribe as necessary or
appropriate in the public interest or for the
protection of investors.
(b) To use or employ, in connection with
the purchase or sale of any security registered
on a national securities exchange or any
security not so registered, any manipulative or
deceptive device or contrivance in
contravention of such rules and regulations as
the Commission may prescribe as necessary or
appropriate in the public interest or for the
protection of investors.
United States Constitution Amend. VII:
Trial by jury in civil cases.
In Suits at common law, where the value in
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the
right of trial by jurv shall be preserved, and no
fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-
examined in any Court of the United States,
than according to the rules of the common law.
’
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Proceedings Below
Petitioner, Chase Morsey, Jr. (‘“Morsey’’), sued
Respondents, Elmer G. Green (“Green’’) and First
National Bank in Palm Beach (the ‘‘Bank’’), for the sale
of unregistered securities and for deceptive acts and
practices in violation of federal securities law.
Green and the Bank moved to dismiss for lack of
subject matter jurisdiction. The district court, without
receiving evidence, granted the motion, holding that, on
the face of the complaint, Morsey’s investment was not
a security.
Then the district court granted Morsey’s motion for
rehearing. However, in spite of Morsey’s timely jury
demand, the district judge received evidence
(purportedly under Fed.R.Civ.P. 42), entered findings of
fact and conclusions of law, and adhered to the earlier
dismissal. '
The Fifth Circuit affirmed without opinion.’
Statement of the Facts
The suit arose from Morsey’s purchase of a 20%
participation in a real estate syndicate.°
‘App. pp. 28-32. The case proceeded to trial on Morsey’s
pendent state claims.
*App. p. 33.
‘App. p. 29 49.
Morsey disputes much of the district court’s fact
findings, as well as the court’s right to make them.
However, the district court correctly found that
Green proposed the purchase of a 16,000 acre operating
ranch, in undivided shares, through a land title trust
managed by the Bank. with a plan for a quick profitable
resale.‘ And, the court correctly found, Green
represented that income streams on the ranch would
partially offset mortgage payments,» making it feasible
for the syndicate to hold the ranch through the requisite
capital gains tax period.
Green chose the property, purchased it through a
shell corporation, and structured the syndicate.’ He
boasted of his expertise, reputation, and market
position as a speculator. He told Morsey that the
property could be developed, and could be sold to a
developer at a handsome profit.
Green told Morsey he would (and he did) take
exclusive control of the investment. The written land
title trust agreement (which Morsey did not even see
until after he parted with his money) purported to give
Morsey pro rata authority to control the syndicate. The
district court, relying on that instrument, incorrectly
found Morsey himself had substantial control.
‘App. p. 29.
‘App. p. 29 43.
‘App. p. 29 96.
10
The district court further found that Morsey’s
expectation of profit was based on an anticipated rise in
value on resale’ — i.e., capital appreciation rather than
operating income. But the income streams were in fact a
material part of the investment, and Green promised to
manage those income streams, to offset a portion of the
mortgage expense. And, in fact, the expectation of a
profitable resale was based solely on Green’s unique
expertise, reputation, and market position. The
expectation was, therefore, not based on a rising market.
It was based on Green.
7App. p. 29 94.
11
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE OF THE WRIT
The issues presented go to the heart not only of the
fundamental right to a jury trial, but also of the scope of
federal securities laws.
Morsey submits that the questions presented
should plainly be answered affirmatively. And because
of the fundamental importance of these issues and the
absence in the case law of express, definitive answers,
this Court should grant the writ of certiorari.
I.
WHETHER FACT QUESTIONS
NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE
EXISTENCE OF A SECURITY ARE FOR
THE JURY
In making the crucial (and disputed) factual
determinations necessary to determine whether
Morsey’s syndicate participation was an “investment
contract,’ the trial judge improperly preempted the
jury.§
In SEC v. C.M. Joiner Leasing Corp., 320 U.S. 344
(1943), this Court indicated that factual questions
necessary to determine the existence of a security are for
the jury. The Court stated that the existence of a
security could be proven either by the document itself,
or by extraneous circumstances. And, the Court clearly
"The legal determination was necessarily and expressly based
on the factual determinations (1) that Morsey shared control of the
enterprise and (2) that the expectation of profit was based on
market appreciation rather than on Green’s entrepreneurial efforts.
There was ample evidence for a jury to find otherwise.
12
indicated the obvious: extraneous circumstances
present factual questions (which necessarily are for the
jury):
In some cases it might be done by proving the
document itself, which on its face would be a
note, a bond, or a share of stock. In others proof
must go outside the instrument itself as we do
here. Where this proof is offered in a civil
action, as here, a preponderance of the
evidence will establish the case; if it were
offered in a criminal case, it would have to
meet the stricter requirement of satisfying the
jury beyond reasonable doubt.
320 U.S. at 355.
In Roe v. United States, 287 F.2d 435 (5th Cir.
1961), the court held that factual questions necessary for
determining the existence of a security were properly for
the jury. The district court had instructed the jury that
the particular mineral leases were securities. Citing the
language quoted above from Joiner and the emphasis in
SEC v. W.J. Howey Co., 328 U.S. 293 (1946), on
substance and economic realities, the court reversed:
By its very nature, it is the peculiar facts of the
setting which turns the offer from a mere sale of
property into a sale of a security. That means
that the trier of fact, here a jury, must
determine the issue.
In Tarvestad v. United States, 418 F.2d 1043, 1048
(8th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 397 U.S. 935 (1970), the
13
court affirmed a jury instruction reciting the /:atut “ty
language to determine the existence of a security:
Y
Under the circumstances surrounding their
sale, we have no difficulty in. approving the
submission of the question to the jury.
Great Western Bank and Trust v. Kotz, 532 F.2d
1252 (9th Cir. 1976) followed Joiner and Tarvestad. The
district court, on a finding that the promissory note in
question was not a security, dismissed the case for lack
of subject matter jurisdiction. The court of appeals
stated that the dismissal was erroneous, and, noting
that the district court had considered evidentiary
material, reviewed the dismissal as a defense summary
judgment. The court affirmed only by concluding that
there was no genuine issue of fact: .
Viewing all the evidence in a light most
favorable to GWB, we conclude that the
promissory note given by Artco bears no
economic resemblance to the “securities”
defined by the 1933 and 1934 acts.
532 F.2d at 1260.
The court recognized that while “the issue raised is
ultimately one of law,” 532 F.2d at 1255, unless the
standards for summary judgment or directed verdict are
met, the factual questions necessary to make that legal
determination are for the jury.
In United States v. Carman, 577 F.2d 556, 563 (9th
Cir. 1978), the court (while reversing on other grounds)
14
approved a jtry verdict finding an investment contract,
where the jury instruction was based on the statutory
language and on Howey:
Finding that the court’s statement of the
applicable law was correct and complete, our
review becomes limited to the sufficiency of the
evidence to support the jury’s verdict.
In Goodman v. Epstein, 582 F.2d 388 (7th Cir.
1978), the court reversed the trial judge’s denial of a
directed verdict finding a security. However, the court
implicitly recognized that the factual questions can be
taken from the jury only on the standards for summary
judgment or directed verdict. Noting that the existence
of an investment contract “‘must be determined from
the actual facts and circumstances,’’ 582 F.2d at 406,
the court held:
We do not accept defendant’s assertion that
they raised sufficient factual questions to
necessitate the trial judge’s sending this issue
to the jury. A summary perusal of the evidence
adduced at trial reveals no debatable question
of the plaintiff's interests meeting all three of
the Howey/Forman tests.
582 F.2d at 407.
These decisions all indicate an affirmative answer
to the question presented here — i.e., that the factual
questions necessary to determine the existence of a
security are for the jury. However, in Ahrens v.
American-Canadian Beaver Co., 428 F.2d 926, 928 (10th
Cir. 1970), the court suggested a contrary rule:
15
The nature of the contracts here concerned and
the application of the securities acts as the
issue here arose before the trial court was a
question of law and not of fact. Since the
question whether the beaver contracts were
“investment contracts” within the acts were
submitted to the jury by the trial court, we
must reverse.
Morsey submits that the result is clear: the factual
questions necessary to determine the existence of a
security are for the jury. However, the result in this case
itself demonstrates that the case law permits some
ambiguity. The district judge here took it upon himself
to make factual determinations, in clear derogation of
Morsey’s fundamental right to a jury trial. See Beacon
Theatres v. Westover, 359 U.S. 500, 501 (1959):
Maintenance of the jury as a fact-finding body
is of such importance and occupies so firm a
place in our history and jurisprudence that any
seeming curtailment of the right to a jury trial
should be scrutinized with the utmost care.
This Court should grant the petition, to clarify the
application of Howey and its progeny, and to insure the
fundamental right to a jury trial.
16
Il.
WHERE THE PROMOTER PROMISED
TO MANAGE INCOME STREAMS AND
TO USE HIS EXPERTISE, REPUTATION,
AND MARKET POSITION TO SELL THE
LAND AT A PROFIT, WHETHER A
PARTICIPATION IN A LAND
SYNDICATION IS A SECURITY
Even apart from the fundamental jury issue, this
Court should grant the petition to determine the
applicability of the securities laws to land syndications.
Morsey purchased a 20% participation in a
syndicate Green formed to purchase, operate, and resell
a 16,000 acre operating ranch.
Morsey plainly invested in a common enterprise
with the expectation of profits solely from the efforts of
others. The district court’s contrary conclusion
misconstrued the nature of profits and efforts cognizable
under Howey and its progeny.®
The district court in finding no security relied
heavily on the fact that the expected profit was
principally from a resale of the property.'!° However, in
United Housing Foundation, Inc. v. Forman, 421 U.S.
837, 852, this Court stated that “profit’? means either
%See generally United Housing Foundation, Inc. v. Forman, 421
U.S. 837 (1975); Tcherepnin v. Knight, 389 U.S. 332 (1967); SEC v.
W.J. Howey Co., 328 U.S. 293 (1946); SEC v. C.M. Joiner Leasing
Corp., 320 U.S. 344 (1943).
“App. p. 29 94.
17
“capital appreciation” or income. See also Cameron v.
Outdoor Resorts of America, Inc., 608 F.2d 187,
modified on other grounds, 611 F.2d 105 (5th Cir. 1979):
It is irrelevant that their investment purpose
might have been profit from appreciation
rather than from rent. ‘By profits, the court has
meant either capital appreciation resulting
from the development of the initial investment
. or a participation in earnings resulting
from the use of the investors’ funds. . . .”
But see Happy Investment Group v. Lake World
Properties, Inc., 396 F.Supp. 175, 180 (N.D. Cal. 1975)
(emphasizing that ‘“‘at no time until sale of the land will
plaintiffs realize any actual monetary profit’’).
The district court’s limiting “profits” to income is
unwarranted and is contrary to Forman.
The district court also relied on the fact that Green
did not propose physically to develop the property.!!
Green’s promised efforts were to manage the income
streams (partially to offset mortgage payments),
structure the syndicate, and find a buyer, using his
reputation, market position, and expertise. The district
court held that these efforts are not cognizable under the
securities laws, relying on Van Arsdale v. Claxton, 391
F.Supp. 538, 541 (S.D. Cal. 1979): 12
''App. p. 29 96.
"Quoting Loss, Securities Regulation, 491-492 (2d ed. 1961). .
18
For example, no investment contract is
involved when a person invests in real estate,
with the hope perhaps of earning a profit as a
result of a general increase in values concurrent
with the development of the neighborhood, as
long as he does not do so as part of an
enterprise whereby it is expressly or impliedly
understood that the property will be developed
or operated by others.
But see Altshuler v. Cohen, 471 F.Supp. 1372, 1380
(S.D. Tex. 1979)!3 and Bartels v. Algonquin Properties
Ltd., 471 F.Supp. 1132 (D. Vt. 1979) (holding interests
in speculative real estate ventures to be securities,
notwithstanding the absence of any physical
development).
The district court’s limiting cognizable efforts in
real estate syndications to physical development is
unwarranted. Morsey did not invest in a piece of real
estate. He invested in Green. Green structured this deal
and told Morsey that he would manage the income and
find a quick buyer — not because of any inherent value
in the property, but because, as he boasted to Morsey,
1 Although the plaintiffs were primarily dependent for success
upon economic trends, it is also true that they were primarily
passive, and were to some degree dependent upon management
skills of the syndicators. Investors in any enterprise, are, to varying
degrees, subject to economic trends and the success of their
investment is dependent upon, in part, economic trends. It was not
contemplated that plaintiffs themselves would actively participate
in the management of the affairs of the venture. Plaintiffs invested
for the purpose of creating profits through the efforts of the
defendant in conjunction with what was hoped to be favorable
economic trends. Defendant’s skill in marketing the property was a
material factor in the success of the enterprise.”
19
he was “‘Florida’s Master Real Estate Sleuth.” The fact
that Green was master-minding a speculative venture
rather than building houses in no way diminishes the
crucial importance of his efforts.
Applicability of the securities laws plainly does not
depend on “the nature of the assets back of a particular
document or offering.” Joiner, 320 U.S. at 352.4 A
‘'Real estate cases commonly turn on issues of control or an
investment/consumption dichotomy. See generally, SEC v. Wa.
Howey Co., 328 U.S. 293 (1946) (sales of orange grove tracts held
securities); Cameron v. Outdoor Resorts of America, Inc., 608 F.2d
187, modified on other grounds, 611 F.2d 105 (5th Cir. 1979)
(condominium campsite sales held securities); McCown v. Heidler,
527 F.2d 204 (10th Cir. 1975) (dismissal of complaint by purchasers
of undeveloped lots in real estate development project reversed
where purchase depended on promised improvements and purchase
price was used for improvements); Altshuler v. Cohen, 471 F.Supp.
1372, 1380 (S.D. Tex. 1979) (real estate joint venture, formed for
speculation and not for development of tract, held a security);
Bartels v. Algonquin Properties, Ltd., 471 F.Supp. 1132 (D. Vt.
1979) (limited partnership interest in speculative real estate
venture held a security); Timmreck v. Munn, 433 F.Supp. 396, 402-
404 (N.D. Ill. 1977) (motion to dismiss security claim denied where
plaintiffs purchased lots with expectation of profitable resale based
on developers’ efforts); Kroungold v. Treister, 407 F.Supp. 414
(E.D. Pa. 1975) (limited partnership interest in apartment
development held a security); Sandusky Land, Ltd. v. Uniplan
Groups, Inc., 400 F.Supp. 440 (N.D. Ohio 1975) (limited
partnership in housing development as a security); Ferland uv.
Orange Groves of Florida, Inc., 377 F.Supp 690 (M.D. Fla. 1974)
(orange grove tracts held securities); SEC v. Lake Mavasu Estates,
340 F.Supp. 1318 (D. Minn 1972) (purchase of land purchase
contracts held a security). But see United Housing Foundation, Inc.
v. Forman, 421 U.S. 837 (1975) (housing cooperative sales held not
securities, where primary inducement was consumption, not
investment); Woodward v. Terracor, 574 F.2d 1023 (10th Cir. 1978)
20
volatile market and profits deferred until sale are factors
normally present in any real estate venture. To hold, as
the district court did, that either factor vitiates the
significance of profits based on the efforts of others
defeats Howey and ignores the economic realities of real
estate speculation.
This Court should grant the petition, to resolve the
meaning of “profits” and “efforts” and to clarify the
applicability of the securities laws to real estate
investments.
Footnote 14 (Continued)
(lot purchases in residential development held not securities, where
prospective improvements were not part of a common enterprise);
Commander’s Palace Park Assoc. v. Girard & Pastel Corp., 572
F.2d 1084 (5th Cir. 1978) (mobile home sale-leaseback held not a
security where purchasers retained management control); Schultz
v. Dain Corp., 568 F.2d 612 (8th Cir. 1978) (apartment complex
investment held not a security where purchaser retained
management control); Owners of “SW 8” Real Estate v. McQuaid,
513 F.2d 558 (9th Cir. 1975) (shopping center investment held not a
security where purchaser retained control of his portion); Johnson
v. Nationwide Industries, Inc., 450 F.Supp. 948 (N.D. Ill. 1978)
(condominium sales held not securities): Happy Investment Group
v. Lake World Properties, Inc., 396 F.Supp. 1975 (N.D. Cal. 1975)
(capital appreciation held insufficient to establish expectation of
“profit’’); Oxford Finance Co. v. Harvey, 385 F.Supp. 431 (E.D. Pa.
1974) (real estate joint venture held not a security where investors
retained management authority).
21
CONCLUSION
For these reasons, the Court should grant the
petition for writ of certiorari.
Respectfully submitted,
Guy B. Bailey, Jr.
Bailey & Dawes, a
professional association
Attorney for Petitioner
Suite 1820, One Biscayne Tower
‘T'wo South Biscayne Boulevard
Miami, Florida 33131
(305) 374-5505
Of Counsel:
Jesse C. Jones
22
in the
Supreme Court
of the
United States
October Term, 1979
CASE NO.
CHASE MORSEY, JR.,
Petitioner,
US.
ELMER G. GREEN and FIRST NATIONAL
BANK IN PALM BEACH,
Respondents.
APPENDIX TO
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF
APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Complaint ..cccccccccecensecdsanssscvuseausnenees A-1
Order of Dismissal .........cccccccccceccseccvvecs A-26
Order Granting Rehearing ...........sseeeeeeeees A-27
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law ......... A-28
Order of Affirmance .........cccscccccveceseceees A-33
Order Denying Rehearing ...........:eeeeeeeeeees A-34
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
NO. WPB-76-8044-Civ-CA
SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR
RESCISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
OF FLORIDA AND OF NEW YORK FOUNDED
UPON DIVERSITY OF CITIZENSHIP AND FOR
RESCISSION UNDER THE FEDERAL
SECURITIES LAWS, FOR DAMAGES FOR
FRAUD, BREACH OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF
FIDUCIARY DUTY, BREACH OF TRUST, LEGAL
MALPRACTICE, AND FOR OTHER RELIEF
Plaintiff, Chase Morsey, Jr., sues Elmer G. Green,
individually; First National Bank in Palm Beach, a
National banking association, individually and as
Trustee (‘‘First National”); Gustave T. Broberg, Jr.,
individually; Phillip H. Reid, individually; Coe,
Broberg & Reid, a Florida law partnership; and Legal
Negligence Insurer, a foreign insurance company, jointly
and severally, and alleges:
JURISDICTION
1. This is an action for rescission under Federal,
New York and Florida securities laws, alternatively or
cumulatively for damages under such laws or under
common law fraud, breach of contract, and breach of
trust.
2. Jurisdiction is found on diversity of citizenship
and jurisdictional amount, under Title 28 United States
Code §1332, as well as on the existence of a question
arising under particular Federal statutes [Title 15
United States Code §77a et seq.) (the ‘1933 Act’’), the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Title 15
United States Code §78a et seq.) (the ‘1934 Act’’), the
rules and regulations promulgated under the 1933 Act
and the 1934 Act (the ‘“‘Regulations’’), the Investment
Advisors Act of 1940, as amended (Title 15 United
States Code §806 et seq.) (the “1940 Act’’)].
3. As to diversity of citizenship:
(a) Plaintiff, Chase Morsey, Jr., is a citizen of
the State of Connecticut, residing in Greenwich,
Connecticut.
(b) Defendant Elmer G. (‘“‘Ed’’) Green is a
citizen and resident of the State of Florida.
(c) Defendant First National is a national
banking association having its principal and only place
of business in Palm Beach County, Florida, and is a
citizen of the State of Florida.
| (d) Defendant Gustave T. Broberg, Jr., is a
citizen and resident of the State of Florida.
(e) Defendant Phillip H. Reid is a citizen and
resident of the State of Florida.
(f) Defendant Coe, Broberg & Reid is a Florida
law partnership with its place of business in Palm Beach
A-2
County, Florida, and all of whose partners are citizens
and residents of Palm Beach County, Florida.
(g) Legal Negligence Insurer is a foreign
insurance company, with its principal place of business
not in Florida or in Connecticut.
4, The matter in controversy exceeds, exclusive of
interest and costs, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000.00) by Morsey as against each Defendant.
5. This Court has diversity jurisdiction under
Title 28 United States Code §1332.
6. This Court has jurisdiction over the Federal
claims stated herein under Section 22 of the 1933 Act
and Section 27 of the 1934 Act (Title 15 United States
Code §§77v(a) and 78aa), and over the state claims as
diversity claims, as well as under the doctrine of
pendent jurisdiction.
A-3
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
7. Green represented himself to Morsey and other
investors in the Magnolia Ranch as an expert Florida
real estate syndicator and manager, having successfully
syndicated and managed nearly thirty Florida real
estate promotions.
8. On May 18, 1973, Green, while in Florida,
telephoned Morsey in New York City and offered
Morsey the opportunity to purchase a security interest
in a Florida real estate syndication known as the
Magnolia Ranch, which Green stated he was organizing
and promoting, would operate, manage and resell.
9. Green represented to Morsey that the Magnolia
Ranch was located near Orlando, Florida, and contained
about 16,000 acres, had a hay-drying operation, was
engaged in cattle ranching, the operation of citrus
groves, the operation of hunting concessions, and carried
on farming and other enterprises primarily under the
Terry family. The ranch, said Green, was available for
sale at a sacrifice price due to the illness of Mr. Terry,
Sr. Among other things, Green represented to Morsey
that: |
(a) Green had made substantial profits for
himself and many other investors in the Central Florida
area; he knew the value of the Magnolia Ranch and that
it was far in excess of the $755 per acre he was buying it
for; that, indeed, the Ranch property was worth some
$1100 per acre; and that Green had two prospective
investors already interested in the Ranch;
(b) the Magnolia Ranch had been offered many
times previously to Green at about $1100 per acre;
(c) the Magnolia Ranch was an operating
property;
(i) it was a successful farming and ranching
operation with sales of sod, cattle grazing and pasturage
under a commercial cattle lease, producing citrus
groves, and income from hunting leases and concessions;
(ii) the foregoing activities, tended by a
number of permanent employees, was producing a net
income of some $200,000 a year; this income and other
potential and increased income from the operation
(grove income to increase 20% per year) would
substantially and significantly reduce Morsey’s (and the
other investors’) costs of carrying the investment;
(iii) the commercial cattle grazing lease on
the Ranch utilized some 6700 acres of improved pasture
as well as some 6000 to 7000 acres of unimproved pasture
— 80 to 85% of the Ranch acreage — meant that more
than % of the Ranch was put to commercial,
operational use;
(d) Green had ‘‘a plan’’ to manage the
investment for not more than a year and then to sell it
for $1150 per acre; Green wrote of his intentions
concerning the Ranch: “‘my plan is to sell in less than
one year for about $1,150 per acre.’ He repeated this in
writing on a map.
(e) Green controlled so much land in Central
Florida through a multitude of other syndications that
Green could effectively make his own market price. To
“substantiate” this claim, Green sent to Morsey a copy
of an article about Green contained in “The Floridian”
Sunday supplement to the St. Petersburg (Florida)
Times for May 13, 1973, a copy of which is annexed and
made part of this Second Amended Complaint as
Exhibit ‘‘A’’.
10. Green represented to Morsey that he, Green,
was forming a syndicate to purchase the Magnolia
Ranch, that he would manage the Magnolia Ranch for
Morsey and other investors, that the profits resulting
from Green’s management of the Magnolia Ranch would
help defray some $200,000 of the yearly carrying costs.
11. Green further represented that the Orlando
area, where the Magnolia Ranch was located, was a
growing area, that he, Green, was particularly well-
acquainted and expert in this area, that as a result of his
expertise in operating, managing, and buying and
selling such operating properties and his extraordinary
reputation and following of investors, that he, Green,
had purchasers already available for the Ranch. His
most substantial problem, said Green, was to be able to
keep from reselling the property before his investors
could satisfy the six months’ holding period requisite for
capital gains treatment.
12. Green further represented that he had
successfully managed many other similar syndicates for
other investors, was indeed doing so at the present time,
that all he required or allowed Morsey, as well as the
A-6
other investors, to do was to put up their money, which
Green promised, due to the leverage of the investment,
to multiply within a year.
13. Green represented to Morsey that he, Green,
would take care of full managerial responsibilities for
the operation of the Magnolia Ranch, and that the
investors should “not bother him” about its
management and operation.
14. Green told Morsey that he had other
prominent investors to invest in the Magnolia Ranch
with Morsey.
15. Green told Morsey that the format he had
used in his other real estate syndicates was that of a
trust which would hold title to the property, the trustee
being First National, and that he, Green, would manage
the property for the benefit of all the investors, the
investors to receive a security interest in the trust called
a “Participation.”
16. By letter mailed from Florida, delivered to
Morsey at Morsey’s office in New York City on May 19,
1973, Green repeated his offer; the letter is annexed and
made part of this Second Amended Complaint as
Exhibit “B”’,
17. Green continued to repeat his offer of the
Participation in numerous telephone conversations with
Morsey during the period May 19, 1973, through the
early part of June, 1973.
A-7
——a
18. Green represented that Magnolia Ranch could
be developed — with golf tousses, homes, ranchettes,
condominiums and apartments, and that Magnolia
Ranch was zoned for such development.
19. The investment syndicate proposed by Green
amounted to a common enterprise in which several
investors invested their money, the management and
hopeful expectation of profits being made for them by
Green, who promised effectively to manage and resell
the property for Morsey and the other investors.
20. On June 8, 1973, Morsey accepted Green’s
offer and decided to invest in the Participation offered
by Green by depositing in the mail in New York City
Morsey’s check to Green’s order in the amount of
$250,000, addressed to Green in Florida. The check was
delivered by the U.S. Postal Service, accepted by Green
and First National.
21. In connection with the sale of the
Participation to Morsey, Green told Morsey that Morsey
could and should use Broberg as Morsey’s attorney to
represent Morsey in connection with the trust to be set
up and the acquisition of the Magnolia Ranch. In a
meeting set up by Green, Broberg told Morsey that he
would, on Morsey’s behalf, prepare the documents, that
Morsey need not worry about them, that everything
would be appropriately and properly documented.
22. Morsey relied upon Broberg’s representation
that everything was in proper form and that Morsey
need not worry about the legal technicalities, since
Broberg had taken care of that, and Morsey, relying
A-8
upon “‘his attorney’s” advices and assurances, did not,
until much later, review any of the documents furnished
him.
23. Unknown to Morsey and despite the fact that
Broberg had accepted money from Morsey to act as
Morsey’s attorney, Broberg was operating under a
conflict of interest, in that he was actually acting by and
for Green (as he had on many other previous occasions
in the formation of real estate syndications).
24. The documents which Broberg furnished
Morsey contained many provisions which were not to
Morsey’s best interest, such as a putative forfeiture
clause and other provisions which Broberg never
explained to Morsey.
25. The Participation was not registered for sale
under the Securities Act of 1933, the Florida Blue Sky
Laws or the New York Blue Sky Laws.
26. The offer for sale of the Participation was in
violation of the 1933 Act, the Florida Blue Sky Laws and
the New York Blue Sky Laws.
27. During the course of the communications
referred to in the preceding paragraphs, Green failed to
disclose numerous facts. The facts not disclosed by
Green included, inter alia, (a) the size and schedule of
the mortgage payments with respect to the real estate;
(b) the fact that Morsey would be required to advance
substantial funds to the Trust to enable the Trust to
meet periodic and recurring mortgage payments and
expenses; (c) that there was a provision in the Trust
A-9
Agreement whereby, if Morsey failed to make any such
payment, Morsey would forfeit his Participation; (d)
that Green would receive a substantial real estate
commission in connection with the transaction; (e) that
there were additional fees and expenses which Morsey
would be required to pay over and above the $250,000
purchase price of the Participation in connection with
the consummation of the purchase of the real estate,
including a substantial legal fee to Broberg; (f) that
commercial exploitation of this real estate was highly
improbable because almost the entire area was (and still
is) zoned for agricultural use only and the Orange
County Planning Department had in 1972 officially
classified the real estate as “Agriculture” and “Flood
Plains.”’
28. In the latter part of June, 1973, Morsey
received numerous documents from Broberg, who was
Green’s attorney and agent. Broberg requested that
Morsey execute and return the Trust Agreement.
29. These documents comprised only a portion of
the closing documents (the “Closing Documents”’)
generated in connection with the purchase of the real
estate and included a Trust Agreement dated as of June
20, 1973 (the “Trust Agreement’) between First
_ National and the beneficiaries named therein.
30. Neither Green nor his agent Broberg disclosed
to Morsey the contents of the Closing Documents and
particularly the contents of the Trust Agreement. In
fact, Green assured Morsey that there was nothing out
of the ordinary in the documents.
A-10
31. Relying thereon, Morsey executed the Trust
Agreement and mailed it in New York City to Broberg in
Florida.
32. Green and Broberg’s statements contained
misstatements of material facts and omitted to state
material facts necessary to make their statements not
misleading.
33. The representations that Green directly and
through his agent and attorney Broberg indirectly made
to Morsey were materially false in that, among other
things,
(a) the price for the Magnolia Ranch was not
favorable; the Ranch property was not worth $1100 per
acre;
(b) Green did not have prospective investors
ready to purchase the property and in fact, as of the
time of this Second Amended Complaint, Green has
never found a purchaser for the Magnolia Ranch, and
the Ranch is now being foreclosed against Morsey and
the other investors in Green’s syndication;
(c) Green had no plan and in fact had only
briefly visited the area of the Ranch on one occasion
subsequent to conceiving the idea of purchasing it;
(d) although Green apparently was involved in
many other syndications and therefore was uniquely
involved in the market for Central Florida syndications,
Green was not able to and did not use his position to
—
effect an increase in the market price and to find any
other purchaser for the property;
(e) although Green did for all of the period of
time from Morsey’s investment to the commencement of
this lawsuit engage in management of the Magnolia
Ranch, both directly and indirectly through the sellers
of the said Ranch, and among other things, effected an
increase in the operating income of one of the portions of
the ranch operations, Green was not able to make the
Magnolia Ranch operations sufficiently profitable or to
sell the Ranch in a sufficiently short period of time to
avoid the heavy encumbrances of the federal land bank
mortgage or the second mortgage due to the sellers;
(f) contrary to the apparent terms of the Trust
Agreement, Morsey and the other investors did not have
any voice in the management or have any right to affect
or change any decisions being made by Green. By
prearrangement and based upon the history of Green’s
dealing with First National, First National yielded all
management decisions to Green and became and was
Green’s agent to manage the Magnolia Ranch;
(g) Green had no expertise in operation or
management of operating properties such as the
Magnolia Ranch;
(h) Green had no “plan” for developing
Magnolia Ranch with golf courses, homes, ranchettes,
and the like, and knew that the appropriate
governmental authorities had in fact zoned and planned
the area of the Magnolia Ranch as “Agricultural Flood
Plains” and did not permit the Terrys or Green to
develop the property in question in accordance with
Green’s putative “plan.”
34. Among the other omissions to state material
facts to Morsey, Green failed to disclose to him that:
(a) the zoning history and the true development
potential of the Magnolia Ranch contradicted Green’s
“plan”;
(b) Green’s prior repeated use and control both
of First National and of Broberg as his agents in
operating such syndications for all practical purposes as
if Morsey and the other investors were limited partners;
(c) neither Broberg nor First National would,
nor had they in other syndications in the past, question
or dispute any actions by Green with reference to the
investment;
(d) Green had committed himself to purchase
the Magnolia Ranch real estate before he sold the
Participation to Morsey;
(e) Green had an additional pecuniary interest
in the promotion of the real estate venture in that he
would receive a substantial commission in connection
therewith;
(f) further, Green’s pecuniary interests in the
venture’s promotion placed him in a conflict of interest
with Morsey;
(g) Green did not disclose this conflict of
interest to Morsey prior to selling Morsey the
Participation.
35. At the time of the purchase of the
Participation, the transmittal, execution and delivery of
the Trust Agreement and on numerous occasions
thereafter, up to and including August of 1975,
Defendants repeated and reaffirmed the
misrepresentations referred to above and continued to
conceal the omissions referred to above.
36. At the time of the offer for sale and sale of the
Participation and at the times of the subsequent
misrepresentations and omissions referred to above,
Green knew or should have known (a) that the
representations made to Morsey were false, and (b) of
the existence of the material omissions and Morsey’s
ignorance thereof.
37. Prior to the purchase of the Participation,
Morsey advised Green that Morsey did not have
sufficient liquid resources to purchase the Participation
and that he would have to borrow the funds from his
bank in order to consummate the purchase.
38. Green knew that it was improper and
imprudent for Morsey to borrow the funds to purchase
the Participation and remained silent.
39. Green made the foregoing misrepresentations
and omissions in order to induce Morsey to purchase the
Participation and to borrow the funds required.
A-14
40. First National knew or should have known of
Green’s misrepresentations and omissions and failed to
inform Morsey thereof.
41. Morsey relied upon the misrepresentations
and omissions in purchasing the Participation and
borrowing the necessary funds.
42. For some time prior to the offer for sale and
sale of the Participation and thereafter, Green
cultivated a close personal relationship with Morsey and
held himself out to Morsey as an expert in Florida real
estate transactions.
43. Green solicitated and obtained Morsey’s trust
and confidence as an advisor to Morsey in connection
with Florida real estate matters. As a consequence,
Green placed himself in a fiduciary relationship vis-a-
vis Morsey.
44. Asaconsequence of the aforesaid relationship,
Green owed a duty to Morsey of full and fair disclosure
concerning the real estate transaction and the
Participation.
45. Green breached his duty as Morsey’s fiduciary
and agent.
46. Additionally, upon information and belief,
Green held himself out as an advisor to numerous other
individuals with respect to Florida real estate matters
and the investment merits of participations similar to
Morsey’s participation.
A-15
47. Upon information and belief, Green was not
and is not registered as an “investment advisor” under
the 1940 Act or the Florida Blue Sky Laws.
48. First National executed and delivered the
Trust Agreement as Trustee for the benefit of Plaintiff
and the other beneficiaries named in the Trust
Agreement.
49. By virtue of its execution and delivery of the
Trust Agreement and its undertaking to Act as Trustee
for the beneficiaries named herein, First National
entered into a fiduciary relationship vis-a-vis Morsey
and the other beneficiaries.
50. First National knew or should have known of
the misrepresentations and omissions referred to above
and failed to make full and fair disclosure thereof to
Morsey.
51. As a consequence, First National breached its
fiduciary duties to Morsey.
52. The Trust Agreement provides, in part, as
follows: ‘“‘that in transacting any business relative to the
property ... the Trustee shall be governed and
controlled by a majority consent of the Beneficiaries in
accordance with his percentage of ownership. .. . . a
53. Upon information and belief, on several
occasions during the period June, 1973, through and
including the date hereof, First National failed to solicit
and obtain the Beneficiaries’ consent to various material
transactions involving the assets of the Trust and, in
A-16
particular, disbursements to Green. Over $100,000 of
funds were expended without the investors’ approval.
54. First National, contrary to the provisions of
the Trust Agreement and in violation of its duties as
Trustee, followed Green’s directions with respect to the
Trust.
55. As Trustee, First National was required to
provide Morsey and other beneficiaries of the Trust with
regular periodic accountings and with the information
necessary to prepare their tax returns on a timely basis.
56. First National failed to do so. In the Spring of
1974, First National failed to provide Morsey with the
information required for his tax return in a timely
fashion and stated to Morsey that it had been instructed
by its accountant to withhold such information.
57. The withholding of such information was in
furtherance of Green’s scheme to violate the 1933 Act,
the 1934 Act, the Florida Blue Sky Laws and the New
York Blue Sky Laws and to defraud Morsey.
58. In 1975, when Morsey advised Green that he
could not continue to advance funds to the Trust, Green
assured Morsey that he would not lose the Participation.
59. Green had previously advised, represented
and promised to Morsey that Morsey could not and
would not lose his Participation and, in this regard,
caused Broberg to send Morsey papers showing that
Green and Green’s wife had in fact entered into a
guarantee of the payment of the second mortgage to the
Terrys. By so doing, in addition to his other obligations
A-17
to Morsey, Green entered into a contract of which
Morsey was the third party beneficiary. Green has
subsequently failed to honor that guarantee, breaching
his contractual as well as his disclosure duties to
Plaintiff, for he had represented in the delivery of the
article annexed to this Second Amended Complaint that
he, Green, had assets in excess of $50 million.
60. In July, 1975, Green, through his agent
Broberg, sought to obtain Morsey’s agreement to
relinquish all of Morsey’s right, title and interest in and
to the Participation.
61. In connection therewith, Green failed to make
full and fair disclosure to Morsey of all of the facts and
circumstances relevant thereto.
62. Green’s efforts to induce Morsey to relinquish
his interest in the Participation were wrongful and were
made with the intent to further defraud Morsey.
63. The solicitation of Morsey’s consent to
relinquish his interest in the Participation was made in
violation of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the Florida Blue
Sky Laws and the New York Blue Sky Laws, and
constituted a continuing attempt to cover up the prior
‘misstatements and omissions to make statements to
Morsey.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND WITH
REFERENCE TO BROBERG
64. As part and parcel of the series of transactions
described above, Broberg, Reid, and Coe, Broberg &
Reid undertook to provide competent legal services in a
manner commensurate with the standards of legal
practice in the community or in like communities on
behalf of Morsey.
65. Specifically, Broberg, on behalf of himself and
of the defendant partnership and its partners, undertook
to represent Morsey in the acquisition of the Magnolia
Ranch and sought and received substantial attorneys’
fees from Morsey for said undertaking.
66. Contrary to their undertaking and in violation
of their contractual duties and their duty of due care
under all circumstances, defendant attorneys breached
their contract of representation and failed to perform
their undertaking with the requisite due care and/or in
the alternative, committed gross negligence in their
representation of Morsey, initially and throughout the
course of the still on-going transaction.
67. As a result of their said breach of contract,
negligence and/or gross negligence, defendant attorneys,
jointly and severally, caused Morsey to suffer damages
in amounts in excess of $500,000.
68. In addition thereto, defendant attorneys’
activities caused Morsey to be required to expend sums
of money for attorneys’ fees and costs.
A-19
69. Defendant attorneys are therefore jointly and
severally liable to Morsey for compensatory damages in
excess of $500,000, for punitive damages for their gross
negligence, and for attorneys’ fees, pre-judgment
interest and costs.
COUNT I
CLAIM AGAINST GREEN, FIRST NATIONAL
AND BROBERG FOR VIOLATION OF
SECURITIES LAWS
70. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
71. The Participations were “securities’’ and were
not registered.
72. The actions of Green, First National, and
Broberg were fraudulent and deceptive.
73. Green offered the investment to an unknown
number of investors in New York, Florida, Illinois and
Minnesota. “a
74. The actions of Green, First National, and
Broberg constituted violations of the Federal, New
York, and Florida securities laws.
75. Morsey was damaged thereby.
A-20
COUNT II
CLAIM AGAINST GREEN, FIRST NATIONAL,
BROBERG, REID, AND COE, BROBERG
& REID FOR VIOLATION OF
FLORIDA STATUTES §§517.21(1)
76. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
77. First National, Broberg, Reid, and Coe,
Broberg & Reid, were agents of and for Green and
personally participated and aided and abetted Green in
making the sale of the Participation to Morsey and
perpetrating this scheme to defraud Morsey and the
other investors, all in violation of Florida Statutes
Chapter 517.
78. Morsey was damaged thereby.
COUNT III
CLAIM AGAINST GREEN FOR VIOLATION
OF 1940 ACT |
79. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
80. Green was not a registered investment advisor
under the 1940 Act.
81. Green’s actions therefore violated the 1940
Act.
82. Morsey was damaged thereby.
A-21
COUNT IV
CLAIM AGAINST GREEN, FIRST NATIONAL,
BROBERG, REID, AND COE, BROBERG & REID,
FOR FRAUD
83. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
84. Defendants Green, First National, Broberg,
Reid, and Coe, Broberg & Reid, were therefore guilty of
fraud against Morsey under the securities laws and
under common law.
85. Morsey was damaged thereby.
COUNT V
CLAIM AGAINST GREEN AND FIRST
NATIONAL FOR BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY
AND BREACH OF CONTRACT
86. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
87. Defendants Green and First National
_ therefore violated their fiduciary duties to Morsey.
88. Morsey was damaged thereby.
A-22
COUNT VI
CLAIM AGAINST GREEN FOR BREACH OF
REAL ESTATE BROKER’S DUTIES
89. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
90. Such conduct violated Green’s duties to
Morsey as a licensed Florida realtor.
91. Morsey was damaged thereby.
COUNT VII
CLAIM AGAINST BROBERG, REID AND COE,
BROBERG & REID FOR BREACH OF DUTY OF
LEGAL REPRESENTATION
92. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
93. Defendant attorneys’ actions fall below the
standard of legal care required of attorneys in the
community.
94. Morsey was damaged thereby.
COUNT VIII
CLAIM AGAINST LEGAL NEGLIGENCE
INSURER AS DIRECT ACTION
95. Plaintiff realleges Paragraphs 1 through 69,
inclusive.
A-23
96. On information and belief, at all times
material to this Second Amended Complaint, defendant
attorneys were covered by a contract of liability
insurance for matters arising out of incidents such as
those set forth above; such insurance company, under
Shingleton v. Bussie, is a real party in interest in this
suit, amenable to a direct action by Morsey in this
cause, and upon the discovery of the identity of said
insurance company, Morsey will seek to amend to join
said insurance company as a party defendant.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment
against Defendants and each of them as follows:
A. Rescission of the sale of the Participation and a
return of all consideration paid therefor plus interest
thereon.
B. Damages in an amount in excess of Five
Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($530,000.00), plus
interest from December 31, 1975, for the loss sustained
by Plaintiff as alleged herein in connection with
Plaintiff's purchase of the Participation.
C. Damages in an amount as yet undetermined
for such future losses as the evidence may show to have
_been sustained by Plaintiff after December 31, 1975.
D. Interest on the amounts referred to in
Paragraphs A and B above.
EK. Punitive damages in the sum of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000.00).
A-24
F. The cost and disbursements of this action,
including reasonable attorneys’ fees.
G. Such other and further relief of an equitable or
legal nature, or both, as the Court may deem just and
proper.
/s/ Guy B. Bailey, Jr.
A-25
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
NO. WPB 76-8044-Civ-CA
ORDER
THIS CAUSE having come before the Court on
motion of defendants to dismiss for lack of subject
matter jurisdiction, and the Court having considered
the record in this cause, and being otherwise duly
advised, it is
ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that said motion is
GRANTED. The transactions herein are similar to those
in Gordon v. Green, et al, WPM 76-8151-8155-Civ-CA,
the Order of Dismissal of which is attached. There, this
Court ruled that the transactions did not constitute a
securities transaction under Federal law (to wit, Section
2(1) of the 1933 Act), thereby divesting the Court of
Jurisdiction.
ACCORDINGLY, this cause is dismissed. The state
claims averred under the doctrine of pendent
jurisdiction are dismissed without prejudice to refiling
before a court of competent jurisdiction.
DONE AND ORDERED at Miami, Florida, this
28th day of October, 1976.
/s/ C. Clyde Atkins
UNITED STATES DISTRICT
JUDGE
A-26
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. WPB 76-8044-Civ-CA
ORDER
Plaintiff's motion for a rehearing is granted. An
evidentiary hearing on the question of whether or not a
security transaction was involved is set for December 14,
1976, at 8:30 A.M. The Court will enter findings of fact
and conclusions of law, and thus the parties should file
proposed findings and conclusions.
DONE AND ORDERED at Miami, Florida, this
30th day of November, 1976.
/s/C. Clyde Atkins
United States District Judge
A-27
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
CASE NO. WPB 76-8044-Civ-CA
FINDINGS OF FACTS &
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
RE: Rule 42(b) Hearing on the Issue of Whether A
Security was Transacted
THIS MATTER is before the Court on a Rule 42(b)
hearing to determine whether or not a securities
transaction occurred in the case sub Judice. Upon
reviewing the testimony from the witness Morsey, the
exhibits received in evidence (to the extent they are
relevant), the parties’ extensive memoranda of law, and
the relevant authorities, the Court herby enters the
following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. On or about May 18, 1973, defendant Elmer G.
Green (hereinafter referred to as “Green”) while in
Florida telephoned plaintiff, Chasey Morsey, Jr.
(hereinafter referred to as ““Morsey”’) in New York City
and offered Morsey the opportunity to purchase an
interest in certain Florida real estate.
2. At or about the same time, or thereafter, Green
represented to Morsey the possibility that the described
real estate had certain income-producing assets.
A-28
3. Green represented to Morsey the possibility
that such income-producing assets on the property
could be used to partially offset mortgage payment
obligations and other expenses incurred by the
purchasers of such property,
4. Green’s plan and Morsey’s reason for
purchasing was the expectation of profit and a rise in its
value and resale, and the realization of income
generated by on-going business thereon.
5. Pursuant to the trust agreement (defendants’
Exhibit 2), Morsey had substantial pro rata control over
the operation of said businesses.
6. Green did not make any representations to
Morsey that Green will undertake the responsibility of
developing the land.
7. Green represented to Morsey that the property
would be purchased by The Heminway Corporation and
thereafter transferred to a bank, as trustee, under a trust
agreement for the purposes of holding title and to
provide anonymity for the initial investors who would
become beneficiaries under the trust.
8. By letter delivered May 19, 1973, Green
provided Morsey with certain financial details of the
proposed investment.
9. On June 8, 1973, Morsey accepted Green’s offer
and mailed to Green in Florida a check payable to
Green.
A-29
10. During June, 1973, the subject property was
purchased in the name of The Heminway Corporation.
11. During June, 1973, Morsey received certain
documents from Attorney Gustav Broberg (hereinafter
referred to as “Broberg’’), chat is, closing documents
relating to the purchase of the property. In addition,
Morsey received a proposed trust agreement between
Morsey and others as beneficiaries, and the First
National Bank in Palm Beach, as Trustee.
12. Morsey executed the trust agreement
(defendants’ Exhibit 2) and mailed it to Broberg in
Florida.
13. In June, 1973, the subject property was
transferred to the Bank, as Trustee.
14. Any resale of the property was governed by the
terms of the trust agreement entered into by Morsey,
which provided that he and the other investors would be
governed by a majority consent of the beneficiaries
regarding the sale and the terms under which the sale of
the property would be made, and in accordance with
their percentage of ownership.
15. As indicated in Findings 5 and 6 supra,
Morsey was not led to expect profit solely from the
efforts of Green or any other third party.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. An investment contract is, within the meaning
of the Securities Act of 1933 (15 U.S.C. §77b(1)) and the
Securities Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. §78c(a)(10)), “‘a
A-30
_
contract, transaction or scheme whereby (1) a person
invests his money (2) in a common enterprise and (3) is
led to expect profits (4) solely from the efforts to the
promoters or a third party.” SEC v. Howey, 328 U.S.
293, 298-299 (1946).
2. The “solely” aspect of the fourth prong of the
Howey test means “[T]hose essential managerial efforts
which affect the failure and success of the enterprise.”’
SEC v. Glenn W. Turner Enterprises, Inc., 474 F.24 476,
482 (9th Cir. 1973), accord SEC v. Koscot
Interplanetary, Inc., 497 F.2d 473 (5th Cir. 1974).
3. Whether a particular investment scheme may
be characterized as a securities transaction depends
upon the facts and circumstances of each case, and the
Court must focus upon the ‘“‘economic reality” of the
transaction. SEC v. Joiner Corp., 320 U.S. 344 (1943).
See also Continental Marketing Corp. v. SEC, 387 F.2d
466 (10th Cir. 1967).
4, In determining whether an instrument partakes
of the nature of a §2(1) “security,” the court must
consider “‘the methods used in selling’”’ the instrument.
Gringer v. State Security Life Insurance Co., Slip. Op.
No. 75-301, p. 1620, 1623 (5th Cir., Feb. 18, 1977).
5. Morsey’s investment and involvement in a joint
venture with the expectation he would profit from a rise
in the value of the property upon his decision and that of
the other beneficiaries to sell or the expectation of
profits from on-going business of which he had
substantial control did not constitute the acquisition or
sale of a security under federal law. Van-Arsdale v.
A-31
Claxton, 391 F.Supp. 538 (S.D. Cal. 1975); Oxford
Financial Corp., Inc. v. Harvey, 385 F “Supp. 431 (E.D.
Pa. 1974).
6. The sale of an interest in real estate is not a
security under the New York Blue Sky Laws. Reiter v.
Greenburg, 288 N.Y.S. 2d 57 (N.Y. App. 1968; Maxine
Gerard, Inc. v. Fisher, 314 N.Y.S. 2d 688 (S.Ct. N.Y.
1970).
To the extent that the above Findings of Fact
constitute Conclusions of Law, they are adopted as
such. To the extent that the above Conclusions of Law
constitute Findings of Fact, they are adopted as such.
The Court will enter an Order in conformance with
the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
ENTERED at Miami, Florida, this 23rd day of
March, 1977.
/s/ C. Clyde Atkins
United States District Judge
A-32
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
NO. 78-1973
CHASE MORSEY, JR.,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
versus
ELMER G. GREEN and FIRST
NATIONAL BANK IN PALM BEACH,
individually and as Trustee
u/a dates as of June 20, 1973,
Defendants-Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
(APRIL 11, 1980)
Before VANCE and SAM D. JOHNSON, Circuit
Judges and THOMAS‘, District Judge.
PER CURIAM: AFFIRMED. See Local Rule 21.!
‘See N.L.R.B. v. Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America,
1970, 430 F.2d 966.
*District Judge of the Southern District of Alabama, sitting by
designation.
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
NO. 78-1973
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Southern District of Florida
ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
(May 9, 1980)
Before VANCE and SAM D. JOHNSON, Circuit
Judges and DANIEL H. THOMAS‘, District
Judge.
PER CURIAM:
IT IS ORDERED that the petition for rehearing
filed in the above entitled and numbered cause be and
the same is hereby Denied.
sm
*District Judge of the Southern District of Alabama, sitting by
designation.
A-34
This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.