Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Bowman , 2012 Ohio 576 ( 2012 )

[Cite as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Bowman, 2012-Ohio-576.]
COURT OF APPEALS
STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. JUDGES:
Hon. Patricia A. Delaney, P.J.
Plaintiff-Appellee Hon. William B. Hoffman, J.
Hon. Sheila G. Farmer, J.
-vs-
KAREN M. BOWMAN, ET AL. Case No. 2011CA00099
Defendant/Third-Party
Plaintiff/Appellant OPINION
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Appeal from the Court of Common
Pleas, Case No. 2008CV01288
JUDGMENT: Affirmed/Reversed in Part & Remanded
DATE OF JUDGMENT: February 13, 2012
APPEARANCES:
For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant
DARYL GORMLEY JOHN D. MORRIS
2450 Edison Boulevard P.O. Box 2566
P.O. Box 968 1610 South Union Avenue
Twinsburg, OH 44087 Alliance, OH 44601
DANIEL E. CLEVENGER For Ohio Bar Title Insurance Company
Millennium Center, Suite 300
200 Market Avenue BRADLEY P. TOMAN
Canton, OH 44702-4213 24755 Chagrin Boulevard, Suite 200
Cleveland, OH 44122
For Timothy J. Putman & Putman Properties, Inc.
ELLYN MEHENDALE
9200 South Hills Boulevard, Suite 300
Cleveland, OH 44147
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 2
Farmer, J.
{¶1} On August 21, 2001, appellant, Karen Bowman, purchased a home on
Vassar Avenue. On September 11, 2002, a survivorship deed was filed transferring the
property to appellant and her husband, Mark Bowman.
{¶2} On March 19, 2007, appellant filed an affidavit of facts with the Stark
County Recorder, stating it was the parties' intention to have the deed in appellant's
name only.
{¶3} On March 12, 2008, appellee, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., filed a foreclosure
action against appellant, her husband, and others not parties to this appeal. An
amended complaint was filed on March 19, 2008.
{¶4} On June 24, 2008, appellant filed a third-party complaint against
appellees, Timothy J. Putman and Putman Properties, Inc. and Ohio Bar Title
Insurance. As against appellees Putman, appellant alleged as attorney, real estate
agent, and title agent, they engaged in negligence, fraud, negligent misrepresentation,
breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty because at the time of transfer, the
subject property was encumbered by a National City Bank lien, the release of which had
not been recorded, and the deed to the property incorrectly included Mark Bowman's
name. As against appellee Ohio Bar Title, appellant alleged it negligently, fraudulently,
and in breach of fiduciary duties issued a title policy that stated the property was
transferable.
{¶5} On September 11, 2009, appellees Putman filed a motion for summary
judgment. On same date, appellee Wells Fargo filed a motion for summary judgment,
seeking reformation of the deed to remove Mark Bowman's name so that titled vested
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 3
with appellant only. By judgment entries filed February 5 and 8, 2010, the trial court
granted the motions, respectively.
{¶6} On February 23, 2010, appellee Ohio Bar Title filed a motion for summary
judgment and on July 7, 2010, appellee Wells Fargo filed a motion for summary
judgment on its foreclosure action. By judgment entry filed July 30, 2010, the trial court
granted appellee Ohio Bar Title's motion. On August 10, 2010, the trial court entered a
foreclosure judgment in favor of appellee Wells Fargo.
{¶7} On September 9, 2011, appellant filed a motion to vacate the August 10,
2010 foreclosure judgment. By judgment entry filed February 24, 2011, the trial court
granted the motion pending an appeal (App. No. 2010CA00230). The appeal was
subsequently dismissed on March 28, 2010.
{¶8} On April 4, 2011, appellant filed a motion to vacate the trial court's
February 5, 2010 and July 30, 2010 decisions granting summary judgment to appellees
Putman and Ohio Bar Title. On April 6, 2011, the trial court once again entered a
foreclosure judgment in favor of appellee Wells Fargo. By judgment entry filed April 8,
2011, the trial court denied appellant's motion to vacate.
{¶9} Appellant filed an appeal and this matter is now before this court for
consideration. Assignments of error are as follows:
I
{¶10} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN
GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT TO THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT PUTMAN AND
THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT, OHIO BAR TITLE."
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 4
II
{¶11} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED AND ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN
GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT TO PLAINTIFF, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A."
III
{¶12} "PLAINTIFF WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. WAS NOT THE REAL PARTY
IN INTEREST AT THE TIME IT FILED ITS FORECLOSURE COMPLAINT."
{¶13} Pursuant to App.R. 3(C)(2), appellees Putman assign the following cross-
assignment of error:
CROSS-ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
{¶14} "THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY NOT ENTERING SUMMARY
JUDGMENT FOR MR. PUTMAN AND PUTMAN PROPERTIES FOR THE
ADDITIONAL REASON THAT MRS. BOWMAN'S THIRD-PARTY TORT CLAIMS
WERE TIME-BARRED AS RECENTLY CONFIRMED BY THE OHIO SUPREME
COURT'S DECISION IN FLAGSTAR BANK, F.S.B. V. AIRLINE UNION'S MTGE. CO.,
2011-OHIO-1961, 2011 WL 1600462 (APRIL 27, 2011)."
I
{¶15} Appellant claims the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to
appellees Putman and Ohio Bar Title. Specifically, appellant claims the trial court erred
in finding no privity of contract between appellant and appellees Putman and in finding
no tort or breach of duty. Appellant also claims appellee Ohio Bar Title had a
contractual duty pursuant to the title policy.
{¶16} Summary Judgment motions are to be resolved in light of the dictates of
Civ.R. 56. Said rule was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in State ex rel.
Zimmerman v. Tompkins, 75 Ohio St.3d 447, 448, 1996-Ohio-211:
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 5
{¶17} "Civ.R. 56(C) provides that before summary judgment may be granted, it
must be determined that (1) no genuine issue as to any material fact remains to be
litigated, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) it
appears from the evidence that reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and
viewing such evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party, that conclusion is
adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is made. State
ex. rel. Parsons v. Fleming (1994), 68 Ohio St.3d 509, 511, 628 N.E.2d 1377, 1379,
citing Temple v. Wean United, Inc. (1977), 50 Ohio St.2d 317, 327, 4 O.O3d 466, 472,
364 N.E.2d 267, 274."
{¶18} As an appellate court reviewing summary judgment motions, we must
stand in the shoes of the trial court and review summary judgments on the same
standard and evidence as the trial court. Smiddy v. The Wedding Party, Inc. (1987), 30
Ohio St.3d 35.
Appellees Putman
{¶19} The first issue is privity of contract. Appellees Putman claim there was no
privity of contract between the parties as a result of their capacity as real estate agent
and attorney in the purchase of the Vassar property.
{¶20} In her deposition at 56-57, appellant admitted appellee Timothy Putman
was not her attorney or her realtor. Appellant had signed a "Disclosure of Agency
Relationship" indicating appellee Putman Properties was representing the sellers and a
"Notice and Waiver of Counsel" indicating appellee Timothy Putman was representing
the sellers and not her. See, Exhibit I attached to Putmans' Motion for Summary
Judgment filed September 11, 2009 and Exhibit J attached to Timothy Putman's Reply
filed December 31, 2009. The trial court was clearly correct in finding no privity of
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 6
contract between the parties as a result of appellees Putman's capacity as real estate
agent and attorney.
{¶21} The second issue is whether appellant has any claims against appellees
Putman regarding the release of the National City Bank lien. It is undisputed that
appellees Putman forwarded the payment and release of the mortgage lien to National
City Bank; however, inadvertently the mortgage was not released. In her deposition at
55, appellant admitted she suffered no damages as a result of the mistake. Because
there are no damages, the claim clearly cannot survive summary judgment.
{¶22} The final issue involves the title instructions. Appellant argues appellees
Putman owed her a contractual duty under the title contract signed by her and the
sellers. The claim arises out of the failure to follow the specific instruction to deed the
property in her name alone. In support of her argument, appellant cites this court to its
decision in McKinley Title Agency, Inc. v. Cheyney, Stark App. No. 2001CA00387,
2002-Ohio-4072, ¶18 wherein this court upheld a trial court award against a title agency
who was contractually "obligated to follow the terms of the purchase contract."
{¶23} Appellees Putman argue the facts sub judice are distinguishable from
McKinley. After reviewing the "Instruction to Closing Agent," we find the factual
distinction to be of no consequence. In said document, the closing agent, appellee
Timothy Putman, specifically agreed to the following:
{¶24} "CLOSING AGENT'S SIGNATURE HERETO INDICATES ITS
UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTANCE AND AGREEMENT TO FULLY COMPLY WITH
ALL OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS STATED ON PAGES 1-4 OF THE
CLOSING INSTRUCTIONS."
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 7
{¶25} Because both appellant and appellee Timothy Putman, individually, signed
the document, it clearly created a contractual relationship between the parties.
{¶26} The trial court erred in concluding that a contractual relationship between
appellant and appellee Timothy Putman did not exist. Appellee Timothy Putman argues
notwithstanding the contractual relationship, appellant has failed to assert any
damages. We disagree. In her deposition at 46-47, appellant discussed her inability to
refinance her mortgage as a result of Mark Bowman's name on the deed. Appellant
stated she stopped paying her mortgage after she was unable to refinance. Id. at 37,
40.
{¶27} Under a summary judgment standard of review, we are to construe the
evidence in a light most favorable to the non-moving party. Under this standard, we find
there is a claim, although not in monetary terms of damages, as a result of improperly
including Mark Bowman's name on the deed.
{¶28} We reject appellant's affidavit filed in response to appellee Wells Fargo's
summary judgment motion as untimely because it was filed after appellees Putman's
motion for summary judgment.
{¶29} Upon review, we find the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to
appellee Timothy Putman.
Appellee Ohio Bar Title
{¶30} Appellant claims the trial court erred in finding she was not a beneficiary of
the Ohio Bar Title Policy.
{¶31} From a plain reading of the title policy, appellant was a named insured in
the contract. Appellee Ohio Bar Title argues appellant failed to give notice of her claim
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 8
and proof of loss or damage as mandated by the Conditions and Stipulations,
paragraphs 3 and 5.
{¶32} Appellant's claims against appellee Ohio Bar Title arise out of the
unreleased National City Bank lien. In her deposition at 55, appellant admitted she was
not damaged by the mistake. Despite any failure to comply with the provisions of the
title policy, appellant's claim against appellee Ohio Bar Title fails for failure to assert
damages. We note appellant's claims against Ohio Bar Title do not include a claim for
the wrongful inclusion of Mark Bowman's name on the deed. In fact, the evidence
presented via appellee Timothy Putman's deposition established it was a clear clerical
error or misunderstanding.
{¶33} Upon review, we find the trial court did not err in granting summary
judgment to appellee Ohio Bar Title.
{¶34} Assignment of Error I is granted in part as to appellee Timothy Putman.
II
{¶35} Appellant claims the trial court erred in granting appellee Wells Fargo's
request to reform the deed. We disagree.
{¶36} In its judgment entry filed February 8, 2010, the trial court clarified the
mistake in deeding the property to appellant and her husband contrary to her admitted
specific request to deed the property in her name only. As a result of removing Mark
Bowman's name from the deed, his federal tax liens against the property were
eliminated.
{¶37} "Reformation is an equitable remedy that allows a court to change the
language in a contract where the parties' true intentions have not been expressed due
to a 'mutual mistake'-meaning a common mistake by all the parties to the
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 9
contract.***The party wishing to reform the deed must demonstrate the 'mutual mistake'
by clear and convincing evidence.***Clear and convincing evidence is the degree of
proof necessary 'to produce in the mind of the trier of facts a firm belief or conviction as
to the facts sought to be established.' " Huber v. Knock, Hamilton App. No. C-080071,
2008-Ohio-5900, ¶6. (Footnotes omitted.)
{¶38} Appellant argues the trial court erred in finding "***both Plaintiff and
Defendant intended that the deed be in the name of Karen Bowman only" because
appellees Putman originally denied that a mistake had occurred; therefore there was no
mutual mistake. See, Judgment Entry filed February 8, 2010.
{¶39} It is clear from all the evidence presented that appellant's mortgagor,
Option One Mortgage Loan Corporation, intended that the property be in appellant's
name alone. T. Putman depo. at 40-41. As discussed supra, the closing instructions
also indicated the deed was to be in appellant's name only. K. Bowman depo. at 104-
105. The Ohio Bar Title instrument, as well as the title commitment, promissory note,
and mortgage, identified one proposed property owner, appellant. Id. at 109-111.
{¶40} The fact that the title policy included Mark Bowman's name was an error
separate and apart from everyone's understanding and instructions.
{¶41} Upon review, we find no error in the trial court's reformation of the deed
and the subsequent extinguishment of the federal tax liens.
{¶42} Assignment of Error II is denied.
III
{¶43} Appellant claims appellee Wells Fargo was not the real party in interest at
the time of the filing of the foreclosure complaint.
{¶44} Civ.R. 17(A) governs real party in interest and states the following:
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 10
{¶45} "Every action shall be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest.
An executor, administrator, guardian, bailee, trustee of an express trust, a party with
whom or in whose name a contract has been made for the benefit of another, or a party
authorized by statute may sue in his name as such representative without joining with
him the party for whose benefit the action is brought. When a statute of this state so
provides, an action for the use or benefit of another shall be brought in the name of this
state. No action shall be dismissed on the ground that it is not prosecuted in the name
of the real party in interest until a reasonable time has been allowed after objection for
ratification of commencement of the action by, or joinder or substitution of, the real party
in interest. Such ratification, joinder, or substitution shall have the same effect as if the
action had been commenced in the name of the real party in interest."
{¶46} We have previously visited the issue of assigned mortgages and have
held that the failure to plead the assignment is not fatal to standing to sue if it is verified
prior to judgment. Provident Bank v. Taylor, Delaware App. No. 04CAE05042, 2005-
Ohio-2573; LaSalle Bank National Association v. Street, Licking App. No. 08CA60,
2009-Ohio-1855; Deutsche Bank National Trust Company v. Pagani, Knox App. No.
09CA000013, 2009-Ohio-5665.
{¶47} In this case, Option One Mortgage Loan Corporation assigned its interest
to appellee Wells Fargo on March 11, 2008 as evidenced by the assignment of
mortgage attached to appellee Wells Fargo's March 31, 2011 reply brief in support of
motion for summary judgment as Exhibit E. The evidence demonstrates the
assignment to appellee Wells Fargo occurred prior to the filing of the March 12, 2008
foreclosure complaint and the March 19, 2008 amended complaint.
Stark County, Case No. 2011CA00099 11
{¶48} From these findings, we find appellee Wells Fargo fulfilled the
requirements of Civ.R. 17.
{¶49} Assignment of Error III is denied.
CROSS-ASSIGNMENT OF ERROR I
{¶50} Appellees Putman claim appellant's tort claims fail because they were
time-barred under R.C. 2305.09 and R.C. 2305.11.
{¶51} As we noted in Assignment of Error I, the granting of summary judgment
to appellees Putman was correct as it pertained to any tort claims. What remains are
appellant's contractual claims against appellee Timothy Putman which are in writing
(Instructions to Closing Agent) and well within the statute of limitations (R.C. 2305.06).
{¶52} Cross-Assignment of Error I is denied consistent with our opinion in
Assignment of Error I.
{¶53} The judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio is
hereby affirmed in part and reversed in part.
By Farmer, J.
Delaney, P.J. and
Hoffman, J. concur.
_s/ Sheila G. Farmer____________
_s/ Patricia A. Delaney____________
_s/ William B. Hoffman _________
JUDGES
I
SGF/sg 119
N THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR STARK COUNTY, OHIO
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. :
:
Plaintiff-Appellee :
:
-vs- : JUDGMENT ENTRY
:
KAREN M. BOWMAN, ET AL. :
:
Defendant/Third-Party :
Plaintiff/Appellant : CASE NO. 2011CA00099
For the reasons stated in our accompanying Memorandum-Opinion, the
judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, Ohio is affirmed in part and
reversed in part and the matter is remanded to said court for further proceedings
consistent with this opinion. Costs to be divided equally between appellant Karen
Bowman and appellee Timothy Putman.
_s/ Sheila G. Farmer____________
_s/ Patricia A. Delaney____________
_s/ William B. Hoffman _________
JUDGES