Equity Mortgage Corp. v. Loftus

323 F. Supp. 144, 26 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5713, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10050
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedSeptember 30, 1970
DocketCiv. A. No. 431-69-N
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 323 F. Supp. 144 (Equity Mortgage Corp. v. Loftus) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Equity Mortgage Corp. v. Loftus, 323 F. Supp. 144, 26 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5713, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10050 (E.D. Va. 1970).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

WALTER E. HOFFMAN, Chief Judge.

The issue for decision presented by both the Government’s and Equity Mortgage’s motions for summary judgment involves a question, apparently of first impression, under 28 U.S.C., section 2410 (d), as to what sum must be paid by the United States to Equity Mortgage Corporation for the purpose of the United States exercising its statutory right of redemption under 26 U.S.C., section 7425, and 28 U.S.C., section 2410.

The pertinent facts are not in dispute.

Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association is the holder of a note or notes executed by Harold J. Loftus, Jr. and Leanne M. Loftus, secured by a first deed of trust on the Loftus residence. As of March 21, 1969, there was an outstanding principal balance of $17,956.33 due to Mutual Federal on this deed of trust note.

Equity Mortgage Corporation is the holder of a deed of trust note dated J une 13, 1966, signed by the defendants, Mr. and Mrs. Loftus, and secured by a second deed of trust on the Loftus residence duly recorded on June 15, 1966. This note provided inter alia:

“Should default be made in the payment of any installment of this principal amount, then so much of said principal amount as remains unpaid, shall become due and payable at the option of the holder hereof.
“Negotiable and payable at the Virginia National Bank at its principal offices in the City of Norfolk, Virginia, or at such other place as the holder hereof may designate. The makers and endorsers hereof hereby waive the benefit of their homestead exemptions as to this debt, and do further waive demand, presentment, protest and notice of dishonor, and agree to pay all expenses incurred in collecting the same, including fifteen percent attorney’s fee in case this note shall not be paid at maturity.”

The second deed of trust was given to secure the note in accordance with the provisions of sections 55-59 and 55-60 of the Code of Virginia as then amended. It provided that the deed of trust was to be construed to impose and confer upon the parties the duties, rights, and obligations set forth in the above sections of the Code.

On June 15, 1967, a federal tax lien which arose by reason of assessments made against Mr. and Mrs. Loftus for 1961-1963 was filed with the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach against the same property already subject to both the Mutual Federal and Equity Mortgage deeds of trust. This lien, in the sum of $17,221.79, was junior to both of the above deeds of trust.

Subsequently Mr. and Mrs. Loftus defaulted on the payments due under both deeds of trust. Equity Mortgage on July 15, 1968; January 13, 1969; Jan[146]*146uary 30, 1969; and February 28, 1969, made payments aggregating $1,796.40 to Mutual Federal on the note secured by the first deed of trust.

After proper notice to the Commissioner, as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, sections 7425(b) and (c) (1), Equity Mortgage instructed the trustee to foreclose on the second deed of trust. On March 21, 1969, the property was publicly offered for sale at auction and was purchased by Equity Mortgage, subject to the first deed of trust, for $1,-000. As of the date of this sale the principal balance outstanding on the second deed of trust note was $3,210.28. By an accounting report filed April 14, 1970, the trustee under the second deed of trust indicated that, after deducting expenses of the sale from the $1,000 bid price, $801.95 was credited to the note-holder. Representatives from the Internal Revenue Service were present at the sale but neither bid nor informed Equity Mortgage of any intention to redeem. Equity Mortgage recorded the deed of bargain and sale at a cost of $103.50. This recording cost was based on an estimated fair market value for the property of $32,500.

On March 26, 1969, an attorney for Equity Mortgage wrote to the Internal Revenue Service that the total amount owed to it by Mr. and Mrs. Loftus was $5,224.80, exclusive of trustee’s commission. This balance was broken down as follows:

Principal balance on second deed of trust ....................... $3,210.28
Payments made by Equity Mortgage Corporation to Mutual Federal Savings & Loan on account of the first mortgage (including interest) .... 1,866.47
Newspaper advertisement of foreclosure sale ................. 98.05
Commissioner of accounts......... 25.00
Trustee's Deed.................. 25.00
Trustee's Commission ............Five percent
TOTAL (exclusive of Trustee's Commission) ..................... $5,224.80

Equity Mortgage indicated that it was willing to assign the property to the Internal Revenue Service for the above sum.1

On July 16, 1969, within the statutorily required 120 days from the date of the foreclosure sale, the United States tendered to Equity Mortgage a U. S. Treasury check payable to Equity Mortgage in the sum of $1,019.27 for the purpose of exercising its right of redemption under 26 U.S.C., section 7425(d), and 28 U.S.C., section 2410(d). This sum represented the $1,000 bid for the property by Equity Mortgage on March 21, 1969, plus interest at 6% from the date of sale to the date of the tender. Equity Mortgage refused to accept the Government’s tender on the grounds that it was insufficient. On July 18, 1969, the District Director of Internal Revenue caused a certificate of redemption to be recorded in the Circuit Court of the City of Virginia Beach.

Between the date of the foreclosure sale and the date of the tender, Equity Mortgage made payments to Mutual Federal on the note secured by the first deed of trust of $563.80. Since the date of the tender and through June 1, 1970, Equity Mortgage has made further payments of $1,656.20 to Mutual Federal. As of June 1, 1970, the total payments by Equity Mortgage to Mutual Federal were $4,016.40.

Equity Mortgage, in August 1969, filed a bill of complaint in the Circuit Court of Virginia Beach against both the United States and Mr. and Mrs. Loftus, seeking to quiet the title and to recover costs, damages, attorney fees, and allowances against both defendants in this action. The United States removed the case to this court. It was then dismissed as a defendant, but allowed to file an amended complaint in intervention. In its complaint in intervention, the United States has asked this court to adjudge that the Government exercised its right [147]*147of redemption under 26 U.S.C., section 7425(d) and 28 U.S.C., section 2410(d), thereby acquiring title and ownership of the property in question, subject only to the balance due and owing as of July 16, 1969, on the note of Mutual Federal, the holder of the first deed of trust. Based on the above facts, each side has now moved for summary judgment.

In support of its position the Government cites 28 U.S.C., section 2410, as amended by the Federal Tax Lien Act of 1966. This section, together with 26 U.S.C., section 7425, allows the United States, when it has a tax lien extinguished by the foreclosure of a lien senior to its own, to redeem such property by making a tender to the purchaser as set forth in 28 U.S.C. 2410(d) below:

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323 F. Supp. 144, 26 A.F.T.R.2d (RIA) 5713, 1970 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10050, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/equity-mortgage-corp-v-loftus-vaed-1970.