Dommel Properties, LLC v. Jonestown Bank

162 F. Supp. 3d 438, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20848, 2016 WL 695098
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedFebruary 22, 2016
DocketCIVIL ACTION NO. 1:11-CV-2316
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 162 F. Supp. 3d 438 (Dommel Properties, LLC v. Jonestown Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District 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
Dommel Properties, LLC v. Jonestown Bank, 162 F. Supp. 3d 438, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20848, 2016 WL 695098 (M.D. Pa. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

Christopher C. Conner, Chief Judge

This matter is before the court on remand from the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. (See Doc. 165). The court’s task on remand is to consider the impact of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s intervening decision in Bruno v. Erie Insurance Co., 106 A.3d 48 (Pa.2014), on our prior “gist of the action” analysis. At the court’s behest, the parties filed supplemental memoranda debating Bruno’s effect on the Dommels’ claims for fraud and negligence. Hence, the issues on remand are ripe for disposition.

I. Factual Background & Procedural History

The material facts are set forth in the court’s July 9, 2014 decision, Dommel Properties, LLC v. Jonestown Bank & Trust Co., No. 1:11-CV-2316, 2014 WL 3385100, at *1-6 (M.D.Pa. July 9, 2014) (“Pommel I”), familiarity with which is [440]*440presumed. In view of the inquiry on remand, pertinent facts are reiterated and elaborated as appropriate below.

William Dommel (“Dommel”) and his late father, Robert Dommel,1 participated in the commercial horse-breeding business for over twenty-five years. (Doc. 97 ¶ 7; Doc. 106 ¶7). Between March 2006 and May 2007, the Dommels entered into three loan agreements with Jonestown Bank and Trust Company (“the Bank”), totaling approximately $4,330,000. (Doc. 97 ¶¶ 13-14, 22, 24; Doc. 106 ¶¶ 13-14, 22, 24). The documents memorializing these agreements consist of promissory notes, mortgages, and guaranties (collectively, “the loan documents”). (See Doc. 92-2, Exs. J, O, P).

The Dommels pledged three properties in toto as security for the loans: (1) “Farm One” located at 83 Sherk’s Church Road, Palmyra, Pennsylvania, consisting of 96 acres, (2) “Farm Two” located at 7 Coon Creek Road, Palmyra, Pennsylvania, consisting of 68 acres, and (3) a hunting camp located in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, consisting of 500 acres. (Doc. 97 ¶ 11; Doc. 106 ¶ 11). According to the terms of each mortgage, the Dommels waived “all notices of Mortgagor’s default of, or Mortgagee’s election to exercise, or Mortgagee’s actual exercise of any right, remedy or option under, this Mortgage or under the Note, unless expressly required under this Mortgage or documents evidencing or collater-alizing the Note.” (Doc. 92-2, Exs. J at 38, P at 124).

The Dommels also tendered guaranties to the Bank, wherein plaintiff entities Land of Believe Farm, Inc., a corporation owned by the Dommels, and Dommel Properties, Inc., a limited liability company, agreed to satisfy the Dommels’ debt obligations upon occurrence of default. (Id. Exs. J at 26-28, O at 113-15, P at 138-40). Each guaranty includes the following waiver: “[IJntending to be legally bound hereby, and to induce LENDER to make this loan to BORROWERS...GUARANTOR hereby waives all notices whatsoever with respect to this Guaranty and the Note, including, but not being limited to.. .notice of the LENDER’S intention to act in reliance hereon.” (Id. Exs. J at 26, O at 113, P at 138).

In the event of the Dommels’ default, the loan documents authorize the Bank to confess judgment, to foreclose on the properties, and to pursue any and all rights and remedies under the agreements. (Doc. 92 ¶¶ 22, 44-46; Doc. 113 ¶¶ 22, 44-46). Specifically, the mortgage provision governing the “Rights of Mortgagee After Default” states as follows:

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Mortgagee shall have the option to declare all of the Liabilities to be immediately due and owing. Whether or not it elects to accelerate the Liabilities, mortgagee may take any action and exercise any rights and remedies which may be available at law or in equity for the enforcement of this Mortgage or the collection of the Liabilities including, without limitation, foreclosure.

(Doc. 92-2, Exs. J at 38, P at 124).

The Dommels ultimately failed to make their monthly loan payments. (Doc. 92 ¶¶ 49-50; Doc. 113 ¶¶ 49-50). On March 11, 2008, the Bank’s Board of Directors (“the Board”) voted to declare default. (Doc. 97 ¶¶ 42-43; Doc. 106 ¶¶ 42-43). The Bank worked with the Dommels thereafter to resolve their substantial outstanding debt obligations. (Doc. 97 ¶ 45; Doc. 106 ¶ 45). Unsuccessful in this endeavor, the Bank [441]*441confessed judgment on the loans in October 2008. (Doc. 97 ¶ 65; Doc. 106 ¶65).

On July 23, 2009, the Bank conducted a sheriffs sale of Farm One in partial execution of the judgment. (Doc. 97 ¶ 75; Doc. 106 ¶ 75). The Bank tendered the sole bid of $1.5 million and purchased Farm One for $11,053.31. (Doc. 97 ¶ 75; Doc. 106 ¶ 75). The Bank then filed a petition to fix fair market value; following a hearing thereon, the Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas set the fair market value of Farm One at $1.5 million. (Doc. 92 ¶ 80; Doc. 113 ¶ 80).

The Bank subsequently entered into a one-year forbearance agreement with the Dommels on Farm Two in August 2009. (Doc. 92 ¶¶ 86-87; Doc. 113 ¶¶ 86-87). Therein, the Dommels acknowledged their default and reaffirmed the rights and remedies available to the Bank under the loan documents. (Doc. 92 ¶ 88; Doc. 113 ¶ 88). The Dommels also agreed to pay the Bank $10,000 per month and to market the hunting camp for sale. (Doc. 92 ¶ 88; Doc. 113 ¶ 88). The hunting camp eventually sold for $575,000 in March 2010. (Doc. 92 ¶ 89; Doc. 97 ¶ 12; Doc. 106 ¶ 12; Doc. 113 ¶ 89). Following expiration of the forbearance agreement, the Bank scheduled Farm Two for sheriffs sale, to occur in October 2011. (Doc. 92 ¶ 94; Doc. 113 ¶ 94).

Concomitant with the foregoing default, the Dommels failed to pay property taxes on Farm Two for tax years 2008 through 2010. (Doc. 92 ¶ 96; Doc. 94 ¶ 18; Doc. Ill ¶ 18; Doc. 113 ¶ 96). The Lebanon County Tax Claim Bureau scheduled a tax sale of Farm Two for September 12, 2011 to recover delinquent taxes against the property. (Doc. 92 ¶ 99; Doc. 113 ¶ 99).

The parties’ accounts of events circu-mambient to the tax sale diverge considerably. On September 9, 2011, Dommel met with the Bank’s Senior Vice President of Lending, Roger Jeremiah (“Jeremiah”), and tendered a $5,000 check to the Bank. (Doc. 97 ¶ 98; Doc. 106 ¶ 98). Dommel testified that during the meeting Jeremiah assured him that the Bank would not bid on Farm Two at the tax sale. (Doc. 92-1, Ex. B, Dommel Dep. 146:24-147:4, 198:2-198:8, July 29, 2013 (“Dommel Dep.”)). Thereafter, Dommel called the Bank’s Vice President of Commercial Lending, Richard Rollman (“Rollman”). (Doc. 97 ¶ 103). Dommel inquired “whether the Bank would buy the property,” to which Rollman purportedly replied, “I’m not sure how that would happen.” (Id.; Doc. 106 ¶ 103). According to the Dommels, “Rollman believed ... Dommel was making the $5,000 payment as part of a workout scenario with the Bank to resolve the Dommels’ outstanding indebtedness.” (Doc. 97 ¶ 99). The Dommels contend that they did not attend the tax sale based on their communications with the Bank. (Id. ¶ 109).

Counterpoising the Dommels’ representations, Jeremiah testified in his deposition as follows:

A: I accepted the check. I gave [Dom-mel] a letter stating that we would accept the check, but it didn’t change our relationship at all, that it was not part of any agreement.
Q: Did you tell Mr. Dommel that the bank wouldn’t bid at the tax sale?
A: I did not.

(Doc. 92-1, Ex.

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162 F. Supp. 3d 438, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20848, 2016 WL 695098, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/dommel-properties-llc-v-jonestown-bank-pamd-2016.