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Indiana Bank Not Liable for BOP Restrictions Placed on Federal Prisoner's Account
Indiana federal prisoner John Burnside appealed a summary judgment dismissal in favor of Old National Bank (ONB) in his complaint for contractual and fiduciary breaches under Indiana law. Burnside alleged that ONB did not honor his request to provide checks to pay for post-conviction proceedings due to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) restrictions. The judgment was affirmed.
ONB’s written provisions stated that its policies were subject to change "at its sole discretion." The BOP required written authorization from a unit manager prior to prisoners' account withdrawals, and then only in emergencies. Burnside's requests that ONB issue checks for his post-conviction proceedings were not honored, and he filed a federal complaint that was dismissed by the district court.
On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that no harm or breach was shown and that an appropriate disclosure of terms had been provided by ONB. The Court further held that in Indiana, "the mere existence of a relationship between parties of bank and customer and depositor does not create a special relationship of trust and confidence," and that Burnside's only grievance was with the BOP for restricting access to his bank account. See: Burnside v. Old National Bank, 208 Fed.Appx. 495 (7th Cir. 2006) (unpublished).
ONB’s written provisions stated that its policies were subject to change "at its sole discretion." The BOP required written authorization from a unit manager prior to prisoners' account withdrawals, and then only in emergencies. Burnside's requests that ONB issue checks for his post-conviction proceedings were not honored, and he filed a federal complaint that was dismissed by the district court.
On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that no harm or breach was shown and that an appropriate disclosure of terms had been provided by ONB. The Court further held that in Indiana, "the mere existence of a relationship between parties of bank and customer and depositor does not create a special relationship of trust and confidence," and that Burnside's only grievance was with the BOP for restricting access to his bank account. See: Burnside v. Old National Bank, 208 Fed.Appx. 495 (7th Cir. 2006) (unpublished).
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Related legal case
Burnside v. Old National Bank
| Year | 2006 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 208 Fed.Appx. 495 (7th Cir. 2006) |
| Level | Court of Appeals |
| Injunction Status | N/A |
208 Fed. Appx. 495, *; 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 31221, **
JOHN O. BURNSIDE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. OLD NATIONAL BANK, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 06-2832
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
208 Fed. Appx. 495; 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 31221
December 15, 2006 *, Submitted
* After examining the briefs and the record, we have concluded that oral argument is unnecessary. Thus, the appeal is submitted on the briefs and the record. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
December 18, 2006, Decided
NOTICE: [**1] RULES OF THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS MAY LIMIT CITATION TO UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS. PLEASE REFER TO THE RULES OF THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THIS CIRCUIT.
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY: Rehearing denied by Burnside v. Old Nat'l Bank, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 4160 (7th Cir. Ind., Feb. 8, 2007)
PRIOR HISTORY: Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. No.04 C 116. John Daniel Tinder, Judge.
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED.
COUNSEL: JOHN O. BURNSIDE, Plaintiff - Appellant, Pro se, White Deer, PA USA.
For OLD NATIONAL BANK, Defendant - Appellee: Greg A. Small , KRIEG DEVAULT, Indianapolis, IN USA.
JUDGES: Before Hon. WILLIAM J. BAUER, Circuit Judge, Hon. DANIEL A. MANION, Circuit Judge, Hon. ANN CLAIRE WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge.
OPINION
[*496] ORDER
Federal prisoner John Burnside sued Old National Bank ("ONB") in this diversity action under Indiana law for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. The district court granted summary judgment for ONB. Burnside appeals, and we affirm.
Burnside maintained a "Liquid Gold Premium" account at Merchants National Bank ("Merchants") that became a "Basic Savings" account subject to a new interest rate when ONB acquired Merchants. The interest rate change applied to all Basic Savings accounts. Burnside's accounts were subject to an agreement [**2] stating that the bank has "the right to change the rates and fees in accordance with the terms of the Schedule" and "reserve[s] the right to change any other term of this Agreement at [its] sole discretion." After the acquisition, Burnside requested ONB to send checks from his account to pay for costs associated with post-conviction proceedings in his criminal cases. However, HN1Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") policy does not allow inmates to make withdrawals from savings accounts except in emergency situations, and even then the policy mandates that a BOP unit manager authorize the withdrawal in writing to the bank. No unit manager authorized Burnside's withdrawals, and ONB did not fulfill his check requests.
Burnside sued ONB, claiming that ONB breached the account agreement by changing his account without his consent and by preventing him from withdrawing funds. He also claimed that ONB breached its fiduciary duty when it failed to comply with his check requests. The district court granted summary judgment for ONB, finding that the account agreement gave ONB "sole discretion" to make the complained-of changes. The court also determined that ONB did not breach the account agreement by [**3] complying with the BOP restriction on withdrawals, and that no fiduciary relationship existed between the parties.
On appeal, Burnside argues that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether ONB breached the account agreement by not obtaining his approval or notifying him before changing his Liquid Gold Premium account to a Basic Savings account and applying a new interest rate. To prevail on a breach of contract claim, however, Burnside must demonstrate the existence of a contract with ONB, breach of that contract, and damages resulting from the breach. Nieto v. Kezy, 846 N.E.2d 327, 333 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). Burnside points to no contract term that would require ONB to obtain his approval before making the complained-of changes to his account. Nor does he explain how these changes were outside of ONB's right, as set forth in the account agreement, "to change the rates and fees in accordance with the terms of the Schedule" and to make changes to "any other term of this Agreement at [its] sole discretion." While the account agreement required ONB to give notice of amendments "as required by applicable law," Burnside has not identified what law, if any, he [**4] believes ONB violated by not giving him advance notice of the changes, and HN3we will not conduct legal research to determine whether any law exists that might support his claim. See Anderson v. Hardman, 241 F.3d 544, 545 (7th Cir. 2001); Muhich v. Commissioner, 238 F.3d 860, 864 n.10 (7th Cir. 2001).
Burnside also argues that the sprawling declaration he submitted in opposition to summary judgment--in which he asserted that the BOP policy did not apply to his account--"irrefutably contradicted" ONB's assertion that the policy prevented it from fulfilling Burnside's check requests. But Burnside's HN4assertion is not supported by [*497] the record, so his self-serving declaration does not create a genuine issue of fact. See Albiero v. City of Kankakee, 246 F.3d 927, 933 (7th Cir. 2001). And again, Burnside cannot prevail on his breach of contract claim unless ONB breached the account agreement, see Nieto, 846 N.E.2d at 333, and he has pointed to no provision in the account agreement that ONB breached by complying with the BOP restrictions. Nor has Burnside demonstrated that ONB damaged him by complying with the BOP restrictions. As the [**5] district court pointed out, Burnside's grievance lies with the BOP, which is the entity that restricted his ability to access his funds.
Burnside also argues that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether a fiduciary relationship exists between himself and ONB, but HN5it is well-settled in Indiana that "the mere existence of a relationship between parties of bank and customer or depositor does not create a special relationship of trust and confidence." See Wilson v. Lincoln Fed. Sav. Bank, 790 N.E.2d 1042, 1046 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Burnside points to no facts suggesting that he had any relationship with ONB that went beyond the typical bank-customer relationship.
Burnside has waived his remaining two arguments. He argues for the first time in his reply brief that the district court relied on the wrong account agreement, but arguments raised only in a reply brief are waived. See United States v. Adamson, 441 F.3d 513, 521 n.2 (7th Cir. 2006). Without elaboration, he also asserts that the court's decision "amounts to a judgment about the credibility of the Appellant's factual allegations." But the district court made no express credibility [**6] findings, and we cannot discern why Burnside thinks the court's decision rests on a credibility judgment. Burnside has HN7waived this argument by failing to develop it. See Campania Mgmt. Co. v. Rooks, Pitts & Poust, 290 F.3d 843, 852 n.6 (7th Cir. 2002).
AFFIRMED.
JOHN O. BURNSIDE, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. OLD NATIONAL BANK, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 06-2832
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT
208 Fed. Appx. 495; 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 31221
December 15, 2006 *, Submitted
* After examining the briefs and the record, we have concluded that oral argument is unnecessary. Thus, the appeal is submitted on the briefs and the record. See Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2).
December 18, 2006, Decided
NOTICE: [**1] RULES OF THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS MAY LIMIT CITATION TO UNPUBLISHED OPINIONS. PLEASE REFER TO THE RULES OF THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THIS CIRCUIT.
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY: Rehearing denied by Burnside v. Old Nat'l Bank, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 4160 (7th Cir. Ind., Feb. 8, 2007)
PRIOR HISTORY: Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division. No.04 C 116. John Daniel Tinder, Judge.
DISPOSITION: AFFIRMED.
COUNSEL: JOHN O. BURNSIDE, Plaintiff - Appellant, Pro se, White Deer, PA USA.
For OLD NATIONAL BANK, Defendant - Appellee: Greg A. Small , KRIEG DEVAULT, Indianapolis, IN USA.
JUDGES: Before Hon. WILLIAM J. BAUER, Circuit Judge, Hon. DANIEL A. MANION, Circuit Judge, Hon. ANN CLAIRE WILLIAMS, Circuit Judge.
OPINION
[*496] ORDER
Federal prisoner John Burnside sued Old National Bank ("ONB") in this diversity action under Indiana law for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. The district court granted summary judgment for ONB. Burnside appeals, and we affirm.
Burnside maintained a "Liquid Gold Premium" account at Merchants National Bank ("Merchants") that became a "Basic Savings" account subject to a new interest rate when ONB acquired Merchants. The interest rate change applied to all Basic Savings accounts. Burnside's accounts were subject to an agreement [**2] stating that the bank has "the right to change the rates and fees in accordance with the terms of the Schedule" and "reserve[s] the right to change any other term of this Agreement at [its] sole discretion." After the acquisition, Burnside requested ONB to send checks from his account to pay for costs associated with post-conviction proceedings in his criminal cases. However, HN1Bureau of Prisons ("BOP") policy does not allow inmates to make withdrawals from savings accounts except in emergency situations, and even then the policy mandates that a BOP unit manager authorize the withdrawal in writing to the bank. No unit manager authorized Burnside's withdrawals, and ONB did not fulfill his check requests.
Burnside sued ONB, claiming that ONB breached the account agreement by changing his account without his consent and by preventing him from withdrawing funds. He also claimed that ONB breached its fiduciary duty when it failed to comply with his check requests. The district court granted summary judgment for ONB, finding that the account agreement gave ONB "sole discretion" to make the complained-of changes. The court also determined that ONB did not breach the account agreement by [**3] complying with the BOP restriction on withdrawals, and that no fiduciary relationship existed between the parties.
On appeal, Burnside argues that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether ONB breached the account agreement by not obtaining his approval or notifying him before changing his Liquid Gold Premium account to a Basic Savings account and applying a new interest rate. To prevail on a breach of contract claim, however, Burnside must demonstrate the existence of a contract with ONB, breach of that contract, and damages resulting from the breach. Nieto v. Kezy, 846 N.E.2d 327, 333 (Ind. Ct. App. 2006). Burnside points to no contract term that would require ONB to obtain his approval before making the complained-of changes to his account. Nor does he explain how these changes were outside of ONB's right, as set forth in the account agreement, "to change the rates and fees in accordance with the terms of the Schedule" and to make changes to "any other term of this Agreement at [its] sole discretion." While the account agreement required ONB to give notice of amendments "as required by applicable law," Burnside has not identified what law, if any, he [**4] believes ONB violated by not giving him advance notice of the changes, and HN3we will not conduct legal research to determine whether any law exists that might support his claim. See Anderson v. Hardman, 241 F.3d 544, 545 (7th Cir. 2001); Muhich v. Commissioner, 238 F.3d 860, 864 n.10 (7th Cir. 2001).
Burnside also argues that the sprawling declaration he submitted in opposition to summary judgment--in which he asserted that the BOP policy did not apply to his account--"irrefutably contradicted" ONB's assertion that the policy prevented it from fulfilling Burnside's check requests. But Burnside's HN4assertion is not supported by [*497] the record, so his self-serving declaration does not create a genuine issue of fact. See Albiero v. City of Kankakee, 246 F.3d 927, 933 (7th Cir. 2001). And again, Burnside cannot prevail on his breach of contract claim unless ONB breached the account agreement, see Nieto, 846 N.E.2d at 333, and he has pointed to no provision in the account agreement that ONB breached by complying with the BOP restrictions. Nor has Burnside demonstrated that ONB damaged him by complying with the BOP restrictions. As the [**5] district court pointed out, Burnside's grievance lies with the BOP, which is the entity that restricted his ability to access his funds.
Burnside also argues that genuine issues of material fact exist as to whether a fiduciary relationship exists between himself and ONB, but HN5it is well-settled in Indiana that "the mere existence of a relationship between parties of bank and customer or depositor does not create a special relationship of trust and confidence." See Wilson v. Lincoln Fed. Sav. Bank, 790 N.E.2d 1042, 1046 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003). Burnside points to no facts suggesting that he had any relationship with ONB that went beyond the typical bank-customer relationship.
Burnside has waived his remaining two arguments. He argues for the first time in his reply brief that the district court relied on the wrong account agreement, but arguments raised only in a reply brief are waived. See United States v. Adamson, 441 F.3d 513, 521 n.2 (7th Cir. 2006). Without elaboration, he also asserts that the court's decision "amounts to a judgment about the credibility of the Appellant's factual allegations." But the district court made no express credibility [**6] findings, and we cannot discern why Burnside thinks the court's decision rests on a credibility judgment. Burnside has HN7waived this argument by failing to develop it. See Campania Mgmt. Co. v. Rooks, Pitts & Poust, 290 F.3d 843, 852 n.6 (7th Cir. 2002).
AFFIRMED.