200 North Gilmor, LLC v. Capital One, National Ass'n

863 F. Supp. 2d 480, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36537
CourtDistrict Court, D. Maryland
DecidedMarch 19, 2012
DocketCivil Action No. ELH-11-03164
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 863 F. Supp. 2d 480 (200 North Gilmor, LLC v. Capital One, National Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maryland primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
200 North Gilmor, LLC v. Capital One, National Ass'n, 863 F. Supp. 2d 480, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36537 (D. Md. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ELLEN LIPTON HOLLANDER, District Judge.

Plaintiff 200 North Gilmor, LLC (“Gilmor”) is a Maryland limited liability company engaged in business pertaining to real estate. See “Verified Complaint” (“Complaint,” ECF 2) ¶ 1. Its sole member is Tammy Phelps. Id. ¶ 5. Gilmor has filed suit against defendant Capital One, National Association (“Capital One”), a national banking association, based on Capital One’s failure to tender insurance proceeds to Gilmor with respect to real property purchased by Gilmor. Id. ¶¶ 2, 58. The Complaint contains claims for Breach of Contract (Count I); Detrimental Reliance (Count II); Fraud — Intentional Misrepresentation (Count III); Fraud — Concealment (Count IV); Negligent Misrepresentation (Count V); and Unjust Enrichment (Count VI). Several exhibits are appended to the suit.1

Capital One has moved to dismiss all but Count VI of plaintiffs Complaint (“Motion,” ECF 9), supported by a memorandum of law (“Motion Memo,” ECF 9-1). According to defendant, Count I fails to satisfy the Maryland Statute of Frauds, codified in Maryland Code (2010 Repl. Vol.), § 5-104 of the Real Property Article (“R.P.”); Counts II, III, IV, and V fail to allege facts sufficient to demonstrate reasonable reliance; Counts IV and V fail to allege facts sufficient to impose a tort duty on Capital One; and Count V, negligent misrepresentation, is not actionable because it pertains to an expression of future intentions. Motion at 1; Motion Memo at 11. Gilmor opposes the Motion (ECF 17), and has filed a memorandum in support of its position (“Opposition,” ECF 18), to [484]*484which Capital One has replied (“Reply,” ECF 22).

As the matter has been fully briefed, the Court now rules pursuant to Local Rule 105.6, no hearing being necessary.

Factual and Procedural Background2

On or about January 22, 2010, Gilmor, through Phelps, entered into a written contract (the “Contract”) to purchase from S.E.T.Y. Group, LLC (“SETY”), an apartment building located in Baltimore, Maryland, containing eighteen dwelling units (the “Property”). Id. ¶¶ 6, 8, 12. The Property is commonly known as 200-210 North Gilmor Street. Id. ¶ 8. SETY is a limited liability company with two members, Yohannes Debesai and Eskinder Isayas. Id. ¶ 7. Gilmor intended to rent out all eighteen units, and agreed to pay $350,000 for the Property. Id. ¶¶ 9, 12. A copy of the Contract is appended to the Complaint as plaintiffs Exhibit A.

The Property was encumbered by a “Deed of Trust and Security Agreement” (“Deed of Trust”) between Debesai and Isayas, as grantors, and Greenpoint Mortgage Funding, Inc. (“Greenpoint”), as lender. Id. ¶ 13. The original principal amount of the Deed of Trust was $945,000. Id. As a result of various fees, such as default interest, late fees, and other charges, the principal amount escalated to more than $1,000,000. Id.3

Capital One is a successor to Green-point. Id. ¶ 14. Through its authorized representative, Veeno Suchdeve of the Special Assets Division, Capital One agreed to a “short sale” of the Property, by which it agreed to accept the net sum of $303,450.34. Id. ¶ 16. Closing was set for July 12, 2010. Id. ¶ 17. As a result of a fire on June 25, 2010, the Property was damaged. Id. ¶ 18. Moreover, because neither SETY nor Capital One secured the Property after the fire, it was further damaged by vandalism. Id. ¶ 19. All eighteen units were damaged, and nine of them were rendered uninhabitable. Id. ¶¶ 22, 23.

Phelps discovered the fire damage and vandalism when she visited the Property on or about June 30, 2010. Id. ¶ 20.4 Paragraph 7 of the Contract stated:

If the [PJroperty is damaged by fire or other casualty prior to closing, and cost of restoration does not exceed 3% of the assessed valuation of the improvements located on the Property, cost of restoration will be an obligation of the Seller and closing will proceed pursuant to the terms of this Agreement with cost thereof escrowing at closing. In the event cost of restoration exceeds 3% of the assessed valuation of the improvements and Seller declines to repair or restore, Buyer will have the option of either taking the Property as is, together with either the said 3% or any insurance proceeds payable by virtue of such loss or damage, with Seller paying Buyer in cash any insurance deductible, OR of canceling this Agreement.

Put another way, “if (a) the [Property is damaged by fire or other casualty prior to closing, (b) the cost of restoration exceeds 3% of the assessed valuation of the improvements, and (c) the Seller declines to repair or restore the Property,” the Buyer “has the option of cancelling the [Contract.” Complaint ¶ 11. Or, the Buyer can take the Property as is, but access any [485]*485applicable insurance proceeds. See Exhibit A ¶ 7.

SETY refused to restore the Property. Complaint ¶26. Phelps contacted Suchdeve on or about July 2, 2010, “to discuss the condition of the Property.” Id. ¶ 27. Suchdeve requested photographs and video documenting the damage, which Phelps provided. Id. ¶ 28. Phelps called Suchdeve again on July 5, 2010 and July 6, 2010, to inquire “as to what actions Capital One planned to take with regard to the damaged Property.” Id. ¶ 29. Phelps “requested that an insurance claim be filed and paid to [Gilmor] or that the purchase price [of the Property] be reduced.” Id. Suchdeve advised Phelps that the price of the Property would not be reduced because Capital One “was already losing money with the short sale of the Property.” Id. ¶ 30. However, he advised Phelps that Capital One did maintain “a forced placed insurance policy on the Property” (the “Policy”). Id. ¶ 31.

According to Gilmor, the cost of restoring the Property would exceed 3% of the assessed valuation of the improvements. Id. ¶ 24. On or about July 9, 2010, Phelps notified Suchdeve that Gilmor “intended to cancel the Contract pursuant to paragraph 7,” quoted above, “because of the substantial damages sustained to the Property and because Capital One did not sufficiently respond to her request for an insurance claim and/or a price reduction.” Id. ¶ 32. According to Gilmor, Suchdeve explained “that the Property was in tax sale and that Capital One needed to get to closing.” Id. ¶ 33. Moreover, he “promised Ms. Phelps that, if Gilmor proceeded to Closing and purchased the Property, Capital One would add Gilmor to its Insurance Policy as an additional insured and that all insurance proceeds would be paid to Gilmor for the repair of the Property.” Id. Gilmor claims that it “accepted Capital One’s promises” and “proceeded to Closing with the expectation that it had been or would be added to Capital One’s Insurance Policy,” and that Gilmor “would be paid all insurance proceeds” for “damage to the Property.” Id. ¶ 34.

Closing took place, as scheduled, on July 12, 2010. Id. ¶ 35. A “Payoff Statement” issued to Debesai and Isayas, signed by Suchdeve for Capital One on July 12, 2010, reflects that the amount of the unpaid balance for the Deed of Trust was $1,010,148.72. Id. ¶ 15. A copy of the Payoff Statement for Loan # 202672473 is appended to the Complaint as plaintiffs Exhibit C.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
863 F. Supp. 2d 480, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36537, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/200-north-gilmor-llc-v-capital-one-national-assn-mdd-2012.