Kosover v. Stenger

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA In The Court of Appeals Stanford Kosover, Appellant, v. Audrey H. Stenger and The Metro Wine Room, Inc., Respondents. Appeal From Greenville County John W. Kittredge, Circuit Court Judge Unpublished Opinion No. 2004-UP-202 Submitted March 8, 2004 – Filed March 24, 2004 AFFIRMED O. W. Bannister, Jr., of Greenville, for Appellant. Randall Scott Hiller, of Greenville, for Respondents. PER CURIAM: Stanford Kosover appeals from the dismissal of his complaint for an accounting and in quantum meruit. We affirm. FACTS Soon after Kosover was released from prison for a breach of trust charge, he decided to open a business for the purpose of buying, roasting, and selling coffee to local businesses. He contacted attorney Bobby Mann, a personal friend, who assisted Kosover in incorporating the business as Metro Coffee House, Inc. The business was organized with Mann as the sole stockholder, and he owned the building in which it was located. Kosover paid rent to Mann and handled all the operations and finances of the business. Several years after opening the Metro Coffee House, Kosover decided to slowly expand the premises to include retail sales and a wine bar. Approximately one to two years later, Kosover became romantically involved with Stenger, who assisted in expanding the shop. In order to finance the expansion, Kosover borrowed money from several individuals, and Stenger supplied personal funds and took out a bank loan. Stenger then entered into a lease with Mann for the building space and incorporated the new business as the Metro Wine Room, Inc. Stenger was the sole stockholder of the Metro Wine Room. A little over two years later, Kosover and Stenger ended their personal relationship, and Kosover sent Stenger a letter outlining their options with respect to dividing Metro Wine Room’s assets. Stenger replied that Kosover could acquire the property from her, if he desired. Stenger then changed the locks on the property, acquired new business partners, changed the name of the wine bar, and continued business in the location. Kosover filed a complaint against Stenger and Metro Wine Room seeking damages based on quantum meruit and alleging he was entitled to an accounting of the parties’ joint venture. Stenger and the Metro Wine Room filed an answer denying Kosover’s allegations. In addition, Stenger counterclaimed that she was entitled to reimbursement for certain rents and labors she performed. At trial, Kosover admitted on cross-examination that the lease had to be in Stenger’s name because a beer and wine permit eventually would be required. Kosover explained that his “prior criminal history” meant that he would be unable to apply for such a permit. After a bench trial, the trial court issued an order dismissing both Kosover’s complaint and Stenger’s counterclaim. The court found that Kosover was barred as a matter of law from obtaining a beer and wine permit due to his prior incarceration. The judge further found that, even if the enterprise were legal, Kosover’s testimony was not credible and there was a “complete lack of credible evidence as to any damages.” Kosover appeals. STANDARD OF REVIEW In equity actions tried by a trial judge alone, this court’s scope of review extends to the findings of fact which may be recast in this court’s own view of the preponderance of the evidence. Townes Assocs., Ltd. v. City of Greenville, 266 S.C. 81, 86, 221 S.E.2d 773, 775 (1976). “However, this broad scope of review does not require an appellate court to disregard the findings below or ignore the fact that the trial judge is in the better position to assess the credibility of the witnesses.” Pinckney v. Warren, 344 S.C. 382, 387, 544 S.E.2d 620, 623 (2001). ISSUES I. Did the trial court err in finding Kosover was barred as a matter of law from obtaining a beer and wine permit? II. Did the trial court err in finding Kosover was engaged in an illegal enterprise? III. Did the trial court err in finding there was no evidence of damages? LAW/ANALYSIS I. Beer and Wine Permit Kosover argues the trial court erred in finding he was barred as a matter of law from obtaining a beer and wine permit or from having an interest in a business that required such a permit. We do not agree. Kosover admitted on cross-examination that he was barred from receiving a beer and wine permit. Kosover also testified he personally completed the application for the beer and wine permit on Stenger’s behalf and neglected to provide any information about his status as a partner in Metro Wine Room. In so doing, Kosover knowingly violated at least three statutory sections. Section 61-4-520 states a beer and wine permit may not be issued unless “[t]he applicant, any partner or co-shareholder of the applicant . . . to be employed on the licensed premises are of good moral character.” S.C. Code Ann. § 61-4-520(1) (Supp. 2003) (emphasis added). It is clear Kosover and Stenger planned to operate Metro Wine Room as a joint venture. It is also clear that because Kosover had a recent conviction for breach of trust he could not be considered “of good moral character” for purposes of obtaining the permit. [1] Section 61-2-90 of the South Carolina Code (Supp. 2003) states each person seeking a beer and wine permit must file an application containing a sworn statement with the South Carolina Department of Revenue. Among other things, this section requires the applicant to include in this statement “information required by the department to determine if the application meets all statutory requirements for the license or permit and to determine the true owners of the business seeking the license or permit.” Id. Kosover admitted on cross-examination that he prepared the application for the beer and wine permit. As such, Kosover knew, as a partner in Metro Wine Room, that he must disclose both his interest in the business and his prior criminal history, pursuant to section 61-4-520(1). Section 61-2-100 states that beer and wine permits may only be issued to persons who own the qualifying business. S.C. Code Ann. § 61-2-100(A) (Supp. 2003). This section further states that a permit may not be issued to any applying person “unless the person and all principals are of good moral character.” Id. at § 61-2-100(D). Principals are defined to include all persons who own at least twenty-five percent of the value of the business, which would, by his own testimony, include Kosover. Id. at § 61-2-100(H)(2)(g). Similar to sections 61-4-520(1) and 61-2-90(6), Kosover would thus be excluded under section 61-2-100 from obtaining a beer and wine permit because his conviction for breach of trust prevents him from being of good moral character. The cumulative application of these three statutory sections supports the conclusion that Kosover was prohibited from obtaining a beer and wine permit. Further, Kosover was aware that his participation in the Metro Wine Room venture was unlawful. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in finding Kosover was barred as a matter of law from obtaining a beer and wine permit. II. Illegal Enterprise Kosover argues the trial court erred in finding he was engaged in an illegal enterprise. We disagree. The trial court found “the contract to enter into a partnership or joint venture was for an illegal purpose and as such may not and will not be enforced by this Court.” When Kosover and Stenger entered into their joint venture to form and operate Metro Wine Room, the ultimate goal was to receive a beer and wine permit in order to open a wine bar. To that end, Kosover persuaded Stenger to put all leases, documents, and filings in her name only, though he was an equal partner in the Metro Wine Room enterprise. As discussed above, Kosover was barred from obtaining a beer or wine permit because he had been imprisoned for breach of trust. Because Kosover was prohibited by law from obtaining this permit, which was integral to the ultimate purpose of the venture, the eventual acquisition of this permit and operation of the Metro Wine Room venture was an illegal enterprise. See W & N Constr. Co. v. Williams, 322 S.C. 448, 450, 472 S.E.2d 622, 623 (1996) (“It is a well-founded policy of law that no person be permitted to acquire a right of action from their own unlawful act and one who participates in an unlawful act cannot recover damages for the consequence of that act.”) (quoting Jackson v. Bi-Lo Stores, Inc., 313 S.C. 272, 276, 437 S.E.2d 168, 170 (Ct. App. 1993)). Accordingly, the trial court did not err in finding Kosover was engaged in an illegal enterprise. III. Evidence of Damages Kosover argues the trial court erred in finding there was no evidence of damages. We do not agree. Kosover had neither a leasehold interest in the business space nor any ownership interest in Metro Wine Room. Both interests were solely in Stenger’s name because Kosover testified that his criminal record would have prevented his association with any business applying for a beer and wine permit. Kosover did not present any evidence at trial that the loan money he was seeking to recoup was actually invested in Metro Wine Room. Although the record contains notes executed between various individuals and Kosover, none of these notes either mentioned Metro Wine Room or listed the business as a party to the notes. Further, Stenger testified she was not aware of certain loans Kosover claimed were to be used for the business and, with respect to the loans she was aware of, she did not know if they were actually used in furtherance of the business. The trial court found Kosover’s testimony was not credible and that there was “no credible evidence (beyond speculation) to establish [Kosover]’s alleged loss.” As the trial court was in a better position to determine Kosover’s credibility, we accept his assessment of Kosover’s testimony. See Pinckney v. Warren, 344 S.C. at 387, 544 S.E.2d at 623. Accordingly, the trial court did not err in finding Kosover failed to provide any evidence of damages. CONCLUSION Based upon the foregoing, the trial court’s order dismissing Kosover’s complaint is AFFIRMED. HEARN, C.J., ANDERSON, and BEATTY, JJ., concur. [1] Criminal breach of trust requires a fraudulent act. S.C. Code Ann. § 16-13-230 (2003). Our supreme court has further held that “[a]n act in which fraud is an ingredient involves moral turpitude.” See State v. Horton, 271 S.C. 413, 414, 248 S.E.2d 263, 263 (1978).