D'Angelo v. Blue Chip Federal Credit Union (In re D'Angelo)

505 B.R. 181
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedFebruary 7, 2014
DocketBankruptcy No. 1:11-bk-07248-RNO; Adversary No. 1:12-ap-00144-RNO
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 505 B.R. 181 (D'Angelo v. Blue Chip Federal Credit Union (In re D'Angelo)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, M.D. Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
D'Angelo v. Blue Chip Federal Credit Union (In re D'Angelo), 505 B.R. 181 (Pa. 2014).

Opinion

OPINION1

ROBERT N. OPEL, II, Bankruptcy Judge.

Presently pending are two motions for summary judgment. The first is Defendant, Metro Bank’s (“Metro”), Motion for Summary Judgment which was filed on October 1, 2013 (“Metro Motion”). The second is Defendant, Blue Chip Federal Credit Union’s (“Blue Chip”), Cross Motion for Summary Judgment filed on December 6, 2013 (“Blue Chip Motion”). For the reasons stated below, both Motions are denied.

I. Jurisdiction

The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334. This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(E).

II. Facts and Procedural History

The issues raised in the Motions originate when Ronda and Timothy D’Angelo (“Debtors”) were business owners and before they filed their bankruptcy petition. Our discussion starts there.

The Debtors were owners of two businesses, Tángelo, LLC, and Tángelo Enterprises, Inc., both formed in 2008. Mot. for Summ. J. Ex. E 7:24-25 [hereinafter Dep. Tr.]. Ronda is the majority owner of both. Dep. Tr. 7:14-19; 10:6-15. Tángelo Enterprises, Inc. was a Pennsylvania corporation formed to run a tanning salon business. Dep. Tr. 15:19-22. Tángelo LLC was a Pennsylvania limited liability company formed to own the properties on which the tanning salons operated. Dep. Tr. 15:8-18. Their principal residence during this time and throughout their bankruptcy is 4611 Tarryton Road, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109.2

On July 25, 2008, the Debtors signed a series of loan documents with Commerce Bank with legal advice being provided by their attorney at that time, Anthony Nesti-co (“Nestico”). Dep. Tr. 20:1-25; 21:1-9. The loans provided by Commerce Bank supplied the financing for the Debtors to start their business venture. Dep. Tr. 27:11-25. (It should be noted that Commerce Bank became Metro Bank sometime after the loan documents were signed. Dep. Tr. 36:20-22.) The loan documents, and their relevance to the instant matter, include:

1. Note and mortgage in the face amount of $118,000. The Note is guaranteed by the Small Business Association (“SBA”). The mortgage was later recorded on August 1, 2008, and it allegedly holds first priority based on a Subordination Agreement recorded on February 4, 2009. The Debtors signed the note in their individual capacities and it secures their principal residence directly.3 Metro’s Proof of Claim 9-1 was filed on behalf of this debt.
2. Note and mortgage in the face amount of $42,000 guaranteed by the [184]*184SBA. This was recorded on July 25, 2008, but was allegedly subordinated by agreement on February 4, 2009. The note is signed by the Debtors in their individual capacities and secures the Tarryton Property.4 There exists a duplicative mortgage for an identical principal amount securing the Debtors’ business property, but it does not secure any additional sum for Metro in terms of the Tarryton Property. Metro’s Proof of Claim 10-1 was filed on behalf of this debt.
3. Note and mortgage in the face amount of $256,800. The borrower here is Tángelo, LLC, and the mortgage was secured by the business properties owned by the LLC. Both Ronda and Timothy D’Angelo signed the documents as members of the LLC. This note is also guaranteed by the SBA and was recorded on July 25, 2008. Both sides agree that this lien does not appear on a title search for the Tarryton Property.5 Metro’s Proof of Claim 11-1 was filed on behalf of this debt.
4. Two U.S. Small Business Association Unconditional Guarantees associated with Metro Mortgage 3 (“Unconditional Guarantees”). Ronda D’Angelo signed one in her individual capacity, and Timothy D’Angelo signed another in his individual capacity. See Metro Mot. for Summ. J. Ex. C, D.
5. A document titled Cross Default and Cross Collateralization Agreement between Tángelo, LLC, Tángelo Enterprises, Inc., the Debtors, and Commerce Bank (“C.C. Agreement”).

Particularly important to this matter is language contained in Metro Mortgage 2. Printed on the bottom of page 1 of the mortgage is the following clause:

CROSS-COLLATERALIZATION. In addition to the Note, this Mortgage secures all obligations, debts and liabilities, plus interest thereon, of either Grantor or Borrower to Lender, or any one or more of them, as well as all claims by Lender against Borrower and Grantor or any one or more of them, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether related or unrelated to the purpose of the Note....

Metro Mot. for Summ. J. Ex. A. After that clause, in bold print and capitalized, is the following language:

This Mortgage ... is given to secure (a) payment of the indebtedness and (b) performance of any and all obligations under the Note in the original principal amount of $42,000.00, the related documents, and this Mortgage.

Id. Finally, the following definition is provided on page 10:

Indebtedness. The word “Indebtedness” means all principal, interest, and other amounts, costs and expenses payable under the Note or Related Documents.... Specifically, without limitation, Indebtedness includes all amounts that may be indirectly secured by the Cross-Collat-eralization provision of this Mortgage.

Id.

As stated above, Nestico was the Debtors’ attorney throughout the process of forming their businesses and borrowing funds from Commerce Bank. Dep. Tr. 20:1-25; 21:1-9. Metro has provided a signed affidavit by Nestico accounting his recollection of the facts of July 25, 2008, in which he states:

[185]*185I have a well-established pattern, practice, and habit of reviewing each and every document a borrower is expected to sign at closing prior to closing, and reviewing each document with and explaining each document to the borrower prior to asking the borrower to execute any document....
[DJuring the ... closing, I believe and therefore state that I would have explained each document ... to [the Debtors] prior to asking them to execute those documents. If they had any questions about the documents, I would have answered them.

Metro Mot. for Summ. J. Ex. G. ¶ 8-9 [hereinafter “Nestico Aff.”].

Sometime in 2010, Timothy D’Angelo took out a home equity loan with Blue Chip on the Tarryton Property. Dep. Tr. 51:12-15. The mortgage and accompanying note were for the value of $52,500 (“Blue Chip Mortgage”). The Blue Chip Mortgage was recorded on March 18, 2010. Dep. Tr. 52:19-25.

For reasons not relevant here, the Debtors’ businesses failed and the offices closed on October 25, 2011. Dep. Tr. 57:1-7. That same day, the Debtors filed then-voluntary petition for Chapter 13 relief. On May 24, 2012, this adversary proceeding commenced by way of the Debtors’ Complaint to Determine Extent of Secured Status (“Complaint”) pursuant to 11 U.S.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)
505 B.R. 181, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dangelo-v-blue-chip-federal-credit-union-in-re-dangelo-pamb-2014.