THOMPSON, Judge:
In this bank auditor malpractice case, Peoples Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc. and PBNK, Inc., f/k/a PBNK Bancorporation of Northern Kentucky, Inc. and members of its board of directors (collectively referred to as PBNK) appeal from a judgment of the Boone Circuit Court entered following a jury verdict in favor of Crowe Horwath, LLP, and William B. Brizendine. PBNK's arguments are summarized as follows: (1) it was reversible error to include
This case has previously been before this Court resulting in a published opinion, Peoples Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc. v. Crowe Chizek and Co. LLC, 277 S.W.3d 255 (Ky.App.2008). To the extent relevant to this appeal, we again reiterate the facts.
From 1991 through 2002, John O. Finnan served as PBNK's president and chief executive officer and Marc Menne worked as chief commercial loan officer. Both Finnan and Menne were also members of the board of directors.
In 1996, Eskew and Gresham, PSC, became the accountants and auditors for PBNK. As a partner with Eskew, Brizendine had primary responsibility for providing independent accounting and auditing services to PBNK. After Crowe acquired the assets of Eskew and Gresham in 1998, Brizendine became a partner with Crowe and continued to be primarily responsible for providing services to PBNK.
PBNK's largest loan customer was real estate developer William Erpenbeck and the entities he controlled (collectively "Erpenbeck"). Finnan and Menne supervised Erpenbeck's loan activities for PBNK and the three developed a close personal and business relationship.
In 1997, Finnan, Menne and their spouses, created JAMS Properties, LLP. JAMS purchased homes and condominiums built by Erpenbeck at cost, but created fictitious purchase contracts stating much higher costs. Prior to the purchase of the properties, false loan applications were submitted to out-of-town banks and mortgages secured. The excess loan proceeds were divided between Erpenbeck and JAMS. Erpenbeck rented the properties from JAMS, which used the rental payment to pay the mortgages. By 2000, JAMS had total mortgage indebtedness of nearly 3.9 million dollars.
In 1998, Finnan and Menne hired Crowe to perform tax services for JAMS. Crowe prepared the tax returns through 2001 and JAMS maintained its bank accounts with PBNK.
In January 2000, Erpenbeck was unable to make rental payments to JAMS and, consequently, JAMS was unable to make the mortgage payments. Erpenbeck began to deposit checks into his PBNK account that were payable to other individuals, entities or banks. In early 2001, Erpenbeck also caused a kite of insufficient funds checks to be conducted among various accounts, including his account at PBNK. When the kiting scheme was discovered by another bank, Erpenbeck's PBNK account became substantially overdrawn. Finnan and Menne authorized additional loans to Erpenbeck to cover these overdrafts.
In April of 2002, Finnan informed Brizendine of Erpenbeck's check conversion and check kiting schemes. Upon further review, Brizendine discovered the relationship among Erpenbeck, Finnan, Menne and JAMS. He advised Finnan to inform
Customers withdrew funds from PBNK and, eventually, PBNK ceased operations in November of 2002 and sold its remaining assets at a substantial loss. Erpenbeck was eventually convicted on numerous federal bank fraud charges. Finnan and Menne later pleaded guilty to other federal bank fraud charges.
In March 2003, PBNK filed this action against Crowe and Brizendine. The complaint, as later amended, asserted causes of action for: (1) aiding and abetting Finnan's and Menne's breaches of fiduciary duty; (2) aiding and abetting Finnan's and Menne's breaches of KRS 286.3-065; (3) professional negligence; (4) breach of fiduciary duty; and (5) violation of KRS 271B.8-300. PBNK sought both compensatory and punitive damages.
Crowe filed a third-party complaint against Erpenbeck, Finnan and Menne.
For reasons not relevant to this appeal, this Court held that summary judgment was appropriate on PBNK's claims for aiding and abetting liability. This Court also held that summary judgment was proper for damages from Erpenbeck's conversion of checks, and PBNK's asserted cause of action under KRS 271B.8-300. However, this Court held that the trial court erroneously issued summary judgment on PBNK's claims for professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. Additionally, it was held that PBNK's claims for consequential and punitive damages arising from Crowe's negligence prior to the 2001 audit were not precluded by the contract between PBNK and Crowe. Peoples Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc., 277 S.W.3d at 269.
After our Supreme Court denied discretionary review, the case proceeded to trial on the issues regarding PBNK's claims that Crowe and Brizendine were negligent and breached their fiduciary duties. The criminal wrongdoers did not participate in the trial.
Both parties introduced extensive evidence at trial. However, our discussion of the evidence is limited to that necessary to address the issues presented. Because PBNK does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support the jury's verdict and alleges only errors of law, we concisely state the evidence.
It was established that Crowe was responsible for conducting annual audits of PBNK's financial statements and Brizendine was at all times Crowe's employee and agent. PBNK presented expert testimony that because of the significant financial risk to PBNK, Crowe should have
At the conclusion of PBNK's case, Brizendine and Crowe moved for a directed verdict. The trial court directed a verdict in Brizendine's favor regarding any claims against him individually but denied a directed verdict as to PBNK's claims against Crowe.
Crowe introduced evidence that it performed its work in accordance with applicable standards and that any loss suffered was caused by Erpenbeck, Finnan, and Menne. Over PBNK's objection, Crowe presented Dr. Haywood as an expert on the standard that the directors were required to observe while serving on PBNK's board and his opinion that the directors violated those standards. Crowe introduced additional evidence that it was common for bank officers and directors to have business relationships with customers and that documents existed, which if reviewed by the directors, would have disclosed the basic facts regarding Erpenbeck's, Finnan's, Menne's and JAMS's business dealings. Further, although the directors knew Erpenbeck sold real estate to Finnan and Menne at cost and of Erpenbeck's financial troubles in 2000 or 2001, PBNK did not report that information to Crowe for use in its annual audit.
Jury Instruction No. 9 stated:
Instruction No. 14 was an apportionment instruction that included Erpenbeck, Finnan and Menne.
PBNK argues that apportionment was not an issue in this case and, therefore, the jury should not have been instructed that losses to PBNK were caused by Erpenbeck, Finnan and Menne. It contends that the court's instructions were confusing and misleading on loss causation because the jury could have reasonably believed that Crowe's conduct, even if negligent, could not have been a substantial factor in causing PBNK's losses.
PBNK vehemently argues that Instruction No. 9 would not have been submitted absent the trial court's erroneous determination that the third-party defendants should be included in an apportionment instruction. Consequently, both parties have skillfully briefed whether an apportionment instruction is appropriate where third-party defendants engaged in criminal conduct contributing to the plaintiff's losses.
PBNK points out that our apportionment statute, KRS 411.182, did not eliminate common law indemnity. Degener v. Hall Contracting Corp., 27 S.W.3d 775 (Ky.2000). It submits that under Kentucky law, when one tortfeasor commits an intentional tort and another negligently performs a duty to protect another from the other tortfeasor's intentional act, it is an indemnity case and not an apportionment case. Again, PBNK cites the Degener opinion and quotes the following passage:
Id. at 780-781.
Crowe counters that although Degener holds that common law indemnity is still viable in this jurisdiction, it does not preclude apportionment when joint tortfeasors are not in pari delicto. It heavily relies on the express language in KRS 411.182, which provides for apportionment in "all tort actions ... involving fault of more than one (1) party to the action, including third-party defendants[.]"
Despite the apparent ambiguity in our case law and the parties' well written arguments, we conclude that the issue presented does not depend upon the application of the apportionment statute. As explained in Owens Corning Fiberglas Corp. v. Parrish, 58 S.W.3d 467, 471 n. 5 (Ky. 2001) (citing KRS 411.182), apportionment is not a substantive cause of action itself but depends on an initial finding of fault. Without fault, there is no fault to allocate. Even if the trial court committed error by providing the apportionment instruction, any such error was harmless as it was cured by the verdict in this matter. Davis v. Lucas, 432 S.W.2d 411 (Ky.1968). Therefore, our inquiry turns to whether Instruction No. 9 was improper. We conclude that regardless of whether liability could be apportioned, Instruction No. 9 was in conformity with the evidence submitted and the law.
In CSX Transp., Inc. v. Begley, 313 S.W.3d 52, 60 (Ky.2010), our Supreme Court explained that:
To establish negligence and breaches of fiduciary duties by Crowe and Brizendine, PBNK introduced evidence that Erpenbeck, Finnan and Menne committed criminal acts that caused losses to PBNK that could have been avoided if Crowe and Brizendine had earlier informed PBNK about their relationship. Additionally, evidence was introduced that PBNK incurred losses caused by Erpenbeck's check conversion scheme and that Finnan and Menne approved the Erpenbeck overdrafts at PBNK resulting from Erpenbeck's check kiting scheme. Crowe presented evidence that Erpenbeck, Finnan and Menne were the proximate causes of PBNK's losses.
Instruction No. 9 was not confusing or misleading. The evidence and legal theories submitted by PBNK and Crowe supported the instruction that informed the jury that Erpenbeck, Finnan and Menne breached their duties owed to PBNK and that their breaches caused losses to PBNK. We conclude there was no error.
In the first appeal, this Court addressed whether PBNK could recover its losses arising from Erpenbeck's check conversion scheme. We held it could not and explained:
Peoples Bank of Northern Kentucky, Inc., 277 S.W.3d at 267.
At trial, evidence was introduced regarding the check conversion scheme and the losses incurred as result of the scheme. Instruction No. 5 stated as follows:
In Question No. 2, the jury was asked whether the bank's directors failed to perform their duties and if such failure was a substantial factor in causing loss to PBNK. PBNK alleges that when read in conjunction with Instruction No. 5, Question No. 2 was misleading and confusing because the jury could have determined that the directors were the agents referred to in Instruction No. 5. It maintains that because its losses were eliminated from the bank's damage claim, the instruction was unnecessary.
As in its initial argument, PBNK argues error that could not have been detrimental to its claims. Instruction No. 5 was an instruction regarding damages. Because the jury found in Crowe's favor, the damage issue was not reached.
Moreover, there is nothing confusing or misleading regarding the instruction. The evidence regarding the converted check scheme was presented to prove that the converted checks were the cause of PBNK's undercapitalization and ultimate closing. Although the parties disagreed regarding the amount of loss incurred as a result of the scheme, the parties agreed that PBNK could not recover losses from the converted check scheme and, therefore, Instruction No. 5 was consistent with, and necessitated by, the evidence. The use of the word "agents" instead of "tellers" is inconsequential. Therefore, we conclude that Question No. 2 was not confusing or misleading when read in conjunction with Instruction No. 5. Begley, 313 S.W.3d at 60.
KRE Rule 702 provides that:
A trial court's ruling on the admission of expert testimony will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. v. Thompson, 11 S.W.3d 575, 578 (Ky.2000).
PBNK does not challenge Dr. Haywood's qualifications but argues that expert testimony was not required because KRS 271B.8-300 sets forth a bank director's duties, and it is a matter within the common knowledge of a jury. We disagree.
KRS 271B.8-300 provides general guidelines regarding a director's duties. However, Dr. Haywood described the specific duties required by bank directors and, specifically, the PBNK directors. He testified that the directors had a duty to supervise Finnan's and Menne's lending activities, establish internal control and auditing, and review and respond to audit and examination reports. In addition to ensuring that the board minutes were complete and accurate, the directors had the basic function of placing PBNK's interests before their own.
We agree with the Court in Resolution Trust Corp. v. O'Bear, Overholser, Smith & Huffer, 886 F.Supp. 658, 669 (N.D.Ind.1995), that the "nature and scope of the duties owed a financial institution by its directors is a matter beyond the ken of the average juror, or the court." The average juror has no experience with the duties of a bank director including supervising management, establishing and monitoring internal control and a suitable internal audit program, supervision of lending activities, interacting with outside auditors, board procedures, and placing the bank's interest above personal interest. The trial court did not abuse its discretion when it admitted Dr. Haywood's testimony.
PBNK argues that it was error to direct a verdict in Brizendine's favor on the basis of vicarious liability. It requests that if this Court reverses on the grounds asserted and remands the matter for a new trial, Brizendine be included as a defendant.
For the reasons stated, we conclude there was no error. The jury was not informed that Brizendine was dismissed from the action and was properly instructed that Crowe was accountable for the conduct of its CPAs, including Brizendine. The jury considered his conduct when it determined that Crowe did not breach its duty of care and was not a substantial factor in causing PBNK's losses.
After a review of the record and the arguments presented by counsel, we conclude that there was no error. The statement by the Court in Callis v. Owensboro-Ashland Co., 551 S.W.2d 806, 808 (Ky.App. 1977) provides an apt conclusion:
Based on the foregoing, the judgment of the Boone Circuit Court is affirmed.
ALL CONCUR.
