Cit Bank, N.A. v. Neris

385 F. Supp. 3d 241
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Illinois
DecidedJune 13, 2019
Docket18 Civ. 1511 (VM)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 385 F. Supp. 3d 241 (Cit Bank, N.A. v. Neris) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cit Bank, N.A. v. Neris, 385 F. Supp. 3d 241 (S.D. Ill. 2019).

Opinion

VICTOR MARRERO, United States District Judge

I. BACKGROUND

This is a residential mortgage foreclosure action. On May 1, 2006, defendant Ramon Neris ("Neris") purchased the property at 64 Clinton Place, Bronx, New York 10453 (the "Property"). (See Dkt. No. 1-1 at 52.)

A little over a year later, on August 15, 2007, Neris borrowed $451,250.00 (the "Loan") from IndyMack Bank, F.S.B. (See id. at 3.) Neris secured the Loan by executing and delivering a mortgage (the "Mortgage") dated August 15, 2007 (see id. at 11), which was duly recorded in the real estate records of the Office of the City Register of the New York City Department of Finance on October 27, 2008 (see id. at 10). To evidence the loan, Neris executed a fixed/adjustable rate note (the "Note") dated August 15, 2007. (See id. at 29.)

On March 12, 2012, the Mortgage was assigned to OneWest Bank, FSB. (See id. at 36.) Plaintiff CIT Bank, N.A. ("CIT Bank") is a California-based national banking association that is formerly known as OneWest Bank, FSB, which was formerly known as OneWest Bank, N.A. (See "Complaint," Dkt. No. 1 ¶¶ 2, 14; see also *243Dkt. No. 1-1 at 36, 38 (listing the same addresses for OneWest Bank, N.A. and CIT Bank on documents regarding the Property).)

According to CIT Bank, Neris failed to make payments in accordance with the Note and Mortgage after June 1, 2017. (See Complaint ¶ 15.) CIT Bank claims that, as of February 20, 2018, Neris owed $428,711.24, with interest accruing at 3% since May 1, 2017, plus an additional $184,741.12 amount of a deferred balance. (Id. ¶ 16.)

On February 20, 2018, CIT Bank commenced this action against Neris. Although Neris initially failed to appear (see Dkt. No. 23), he subsequently appeared and answered the Complaint (see Dkt. No. 27).

By letter dated July 30, 2018, CIT Bank wrote to this Court, requesting a pre-motion conference to discuss its anticipated motion for summary judgment pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. CIT Bank argues that it can establish its prima facie case "by presenting the [N]ote, [M]ortgage, and proof of default." (See "July 30, 2018 Letter," Dkt. No. 30, at 1 (citing Kondaur Capital Corp. v. Cajuste, 849 F. Supp. 2d 363, 369 (E.D.N.Y. 2012) ).) CIT Bank explains that, to meet that presentation, it has "annexed copies of the unpaid Note and Mortgage to the Complaint ... and will submit an affidavit setting forth when the default occurred and the amount of damages due under the Note and Mortgage." (Id. at 1.)

On August 15, 2018, Neris responded to CIT Bank's letter, indicating his intention to oppose such a motion. (See "August 15, 2018 Letter," Dkt. No. 32.) Neris argues that (1) CIT Bank cannot demonstrate that it was the holder of the Note when it commenced the suit; (2) that CIT Bank cannot submit sufficient admissible evidence; (3) and that CIT Bank failed to properly serve required foreclosure notices.

By letter dated August 20, 2018, CIT Bank rebutted Neris's argument and reaffirmed its request to file a motion for summary judgment. (See "August 20, 2018 Letter," Dkt. No. 33.)

The Court held a telephone conference with the parties to discuss CIT Bank's anticipated motion, during which it was agreed that the parties would attempt to reach a resolution and CIT Bank would not file a summary judgment motion. (See Dkt. Minute Entry dated 9/21/2018.) Over the ensuing months, the parties attempted to reach a resolution, but were ultimately unsuccessful. (See Dkt. Nos. 40, 41.) During a telephone conference on March 7, 2019, the Court indicated that it would construe CIT Bank's July 30, 2018 Letter and August 20, 2018 Letter as a motion for a judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (" Rule 12(c)") and directed Neris to respond. (See Dkt. Minute Entry dated 3/7/2019.) Neris never responded.

On April 24, 2019, the Court ordered CIT Bank to produce by May 3, 2019, "any remaining necessary affidavits or exhibits," such as those described in its July 30, 2018 Letter, "to support the so-deemed motion for a judgment on the pleadings." (See "April 24, 2019 Order," Dkt. No. 42.) CIT Bank never responded or produced such documents.

The Court now construes CIT Bank's letters described above as an uncontested motion for a judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Rule 12(c) (the "Motion"). For the reasons set forth below, CIT Bank's Motion is DENIED without prejudice.

II. DISCUSSION

A. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Rule 12(c) permits a party to "move for judgment on the pleadings."

*244Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). "Disposition of a litigation on the pleadings 'is appropriate where material facts are undisputed and where a judgment on the merits is possible merely by considering the contents of the pleadings.' " Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. v. Deutsche Bank Tr. Co. Ams., No. 04 Civ. 10014, 2005 WL 1950116, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 12, 2005) (quoting Sellers v. M.C. Floor Crafters Inc., 842 F.2d 639, 642 (2d Cir. 1988) ). "The standard for addressing a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings is the same as that for a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim." Cleveland v. Caplaw Enters., 448 F.3d 518, 521 (2d Cir. 2006). "The granting of a motion for judgment on the pleadings is appropriate only if, with all reasonable inferences drawn in favor of the non-moving party, the non-moving party has failed to allege facts that would give rise to a plausible claim or defense." Prowley v. Hemar Ins. Corp. of Am., No. 05 Civ. 981, 2010 WL 1848222, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. May 7, 2010).

B. APPLICATION

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385 F. Supp. 3d 241, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cit-bank-na-v-neris-ilsd-2019.