Eastern Nat'l. Bank v. G.A. Hops Enterprises

42 Pa. D. & C.3d 339, 1986 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 263
Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Bucks County·Decided July 9, 1986·No. no. 84-006734-15-2·Published

Opinion

SOKOLOVE, J.,

This is an action in mortgage foreclosure upon property owned by Gary A. Hops, located at 653 Old Lincoln Highway, Langhorne, Bucks County, Pa. Defendants have appealed from our order dated April 16, 1986 granting plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.

Defendants concede that the mortgage on the property owned by Gary A. Hops is in default due to G. A. Hops Enterprises, Inc.’s “Enterprise” failure to make payments on a $250,000 commercial term note.1 Gary Hops had executed an Endorsement [340] document with the note, and also executed an unlimited guaranty in the amount of $250,000 to Enterprise.2

Defendants allege in the answer and new matter that plaintiff had previously brought an action against defendants on the note in the Superior Court of New Jersey and a judgment was obtained ¡ September 27, 1984. Defendants claim that since the New Jersey action involved the same parties and the breach of the payment provisions of the commercial term note, the New Jersey judgment would be res judicata to the present action to foreclose on the property located in Pennsylvania. We note that the amended judgment rendered by the Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division, Burlington County, no. L-047648-84 is titled Eastern National Bank v. G. A. Hops Enterprises, Inc., a New Jersey Corporation,'individually, and t/a Brass Key Restaurant and Gary A. Hops, jointly, severally and alternatively. The judgment by confession is entered against G. A. Hops Enterprises, Inc. t/a Brass Key Restaurant jointly, severally and alternatively, and not against Mr. Hops individually. We did not find the defendants’ argument compelling in light of the present in rem foreclosure action against the property located in Pennsylvania. We note that it is well established that,

“A final valid judgment upon the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction bars any future suit between the parties, on the same cause of action. Identity of the thing sued for, the causes of action, and of the quality of the capacity of the parties suing or sued, is essential to the application of the doctrine [of res judicata]. Keystone Building Corporation v. [341] Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, 468 Pa. 85, 360 A.2d 191 (1976), (additional cites omitted).”

However, the “essential inquiry (as to res judicata) is whether the ultimate and controlling issues have been decided in a prior proceeding in which the parties had an opportunity to appear and assert their rights.” In re jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, 328 Pa. Super. 442, 477 A.2d 527 (1984) p. 530 (cites omitted).

A mortgage and an accompanying note are- separate obligations. The note is evidence of the debt; and the mortgage provides collateral security for the debt. Haggerty v. Fetner, 332 Pa. Super. 333, 481 A.2d 641 (1984); Courtney v. Ryan Homes, Inc., 345 Pa. Super. 109, 497 A.2d 938 (1985). The holder of a bond and mortgage can proceed by enforcing his claim either in personam or in rem by filing either an action in mortgage foreclosure or by filing an action on the note which is secured by the mortgage. Bank of Pennsylvania v. G/N Enterprises, Inc., 316 Pa. Super. 367, 463 A.2d 4 (1983); Raneri v. Inn America of Pennsylvania, Inc., 29 D. & C.3d 239 (1984) (additional cites omitted). A judgment entered on the note, in general, is not restricted to the mortgaged premises and is a judgment against the maker of the note personally. Bank of Pennsylvania v. G/N Enterprises, Ibid. p. 6.

The New Jersey suit brought against defendants on the note, therefore, would not preclude a later suit to proceed against the real estate secured by the note. Since the New Jersey judgment did not adjudicate the proceeding in rem on the mortgaged property, that judgment would not be res judicata to the within, suit in mortgage foreclosure.

Defendants next assert that this court lacks jurisdiction over this matter due to certain language contained in the instruments which purport to limit [342] jurisdiction to the Superior Court or the Federal District Court in New Jersey. Defendants are referring to the note between plaintiff and Enterprise which states at page 9, “The undersigned and each of them agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Superior Court of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in all disputes which may arise between Bank and the Undersigned.”3 However, Paragraph 32 of the mortgage states:

“This mortgage has been made and delivered in and is to be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, and the rights, duties and obligations of the Mortgagor and Mortgagee hereunder are to be governed by the laws of that State.”

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Eastern Nat'l. Bank v. G.A. Hops Enterprises, 42 Pa. D. & C.3d 339, 1986 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 263 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1986).

42 Pa. D. & C.3d 339 (Eastern Nat'l. Bank v. G.A. Hops Enterprises) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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