Herb v. CitiMortgage, Inc.

955 F. Supp. 2d 441, 2013 WL 3423133, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94859
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Pennsylvania
DecidedJuly 8, 2013
DocketNo. 3:11-CV-1637
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 955 F. Supp. 2d 441 (Herb v. CitiMortgage, Inc.) 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
Herb v. CitiMortgage, Inc., 955 F. Supp. 2d 441, 2013 WL 3423133, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94859 (M.D. Pa. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

WILLIAM J. NEALON, District Judge.

On July 21, 2011, Plaintiff, Terry L. Herb, filed a complaint to quiet title in the [444]*444Court of Common Pleas of York County, Pennsylvania against Defendant, Citimortgage, Inc., seeking an order quieting the title to the property at 333 Newcomer Road, Windsor, Pennsylvania and an order stating that a certain mortgage is not a lien on the property. (Doc. 1-2, pp. 3-26). Defendant removed the matter to this Court on August 31, 2011 based on diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332. (Doc. 1). Following discovery, Plaintiff moved for summary judgment on February 27, 2013 by filing a motion, statement of facts, and brief in support with exhibits. (Does. 13-15). On April 4, 2013, Defendant filed a cross-motion for summary judgment, brief with exhibits, and statement of facts. (Docs. 18-20). On April 22, 2013, Plaintiff filed a brief in opposition and answer to the statement of facts and on May 6, 2013 Defendant filed a reply brief. (Docs. 21-23). The cross motions for summary judgment are now ripe for disposition and, for the reasons set forth below, both motions -will be denied.

I. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Summary judgment “should be rendered if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Turner v. Schering-Plough Corp., 901 F.2d 335, 340 (3d Cir.1990). The party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of showing the absence of a genuine issue as to any material fact. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Once such a showing has been made, the non-moving party must offer specific facts contradicting those averred by the movant to establish a genuine issue of material fact. Lujan v. National Wildlife Federation, 497 U.S. 871, 888, 110 S.Ct. 3177, 111 L.Ed.2d 695 (1990). All inferences “should be drawn in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, and where the nonmoving party’s evidence contradicts the movant’s, then the nonmovant’s must be taken as true.” Pastore v. Bell Tel. Co., 24 F.3d 508, 512 (3d Cir.1994) quoting Big Apple BMW, Inc. v. BMW of North America, Inc., 974 F.2d 1358, 1363 (3d Cir.1992), cert. denied.,. 507 U.S. 912, 113 S.Ct. 1262, 122 L.Ed.2d 659 (1993).

II. STATEMENT OF FACTS

Plaintiff was the sole owner of the subject property, 333 Newcomer Road, Windsor, Pennsylvania, from July 27, 1987 until June 18, 1999. (Doc. 14, ¶¶ 3 & 5) admitted in (Doc. 20, ¶¶ 3 & 5). Plaintiff married Scott Herb in 1990. (Doc. 14, ¶ 4) admitted in (Doc. 20, ¶ 4). On June 18, 1999, Plaintiff deeded the subject property to herself and her husband, Scott W. Herb, forming a tenancy by the entirety.1 (Doc. 15-6, pp. 1-3) (deed dated June 18, 1999 with Grantees “Scott W. Herb and Terry L. Herb, husband and wife”). A house was constructed on the property and Scott Herb used credit cards to pay off the debt incurred from the construction. (Doc. 14, ¶ 6) admitted in (Doc. 20, ¶ 6). Plaintiff and Scott Herb took out loans to consoli[445]*445date the credit card debt. (Doc. 14, ¶ 7) admitted in (Doc. 20, ¶ 7). On June 18, 1999, Plaintiff and Scott Herb signed a thirty-year loan in the amount of $138,000 with The Drovers & Mechanics Bank and a mortgage on the subject property securing the loan which were both filed with the Recorder of Deeds of York County, Pennsylvania. (Doc. 19-6); see also (Doc. 19-3, pp. 25-26). On April 23, 2002, Plaintiff and Scott Herb signed a five-year loan in the amount of $28,000 and a fifteen-year loan in the amount of $50,000 with Drovers Bank, a Division of Fulton Bank. (Docs. 19-7 & 19-8) see also (Doc. 19-3, pp. 25-26). Mortgages securing both loans with the subject property were signed by Plaintiff and Scott Herb, and both the loans and the mortgages were filed with the Recorder of Deeds of York County, Pennsylvania. (Docs. 19-7 & 19-8); see also (Doc. 19-3, pp. 25-26). Plaintiff interchangeably signed these documents as “Terry L. Herb” and as “TL Herb.” (Docs. 19-6, 19-7, & 19-8); see also (Doc. 19-3, p. 26).

On April 28, 2003, the three loans were refinanced into one loan with Allfirst, a Division of M & T Trust Company, in the amount of $207,544.00. (Doc. 19-10); (Doc. 14, ¶ 9) admitted in (Doc. 20, ¶ 9); see also (Doc. 19-3, p. 27) and (Doc. 19-14). The Allfirst loan is solely in the name of Scott W. Herb and was solely signed and initialed by him. (Doc. 19-10); (Doc. 14, ¶ 9) admitted in (Doc. 20, ¶ 9). The Allfirst loan was secured by a mortgage listing “Borrower” as “Scott W Herb, A MARRIED MAN, and TERRY L. HERB, his wife,” and initialed “SH” and “TLH” on every page and signed “TL Herb” under Terry L. Herb. (Doc. 19-11) and (Doc. 19-3, p. 31)2. Plaintiff was not present at the April 28, 2003, closing for the refinance. See (Doc. 14, ¶ 10); (Doc. 19-12, ¶ 9) (Declaration of Scott W. Hérb); (Doc. 19-3, pp. 10-11) (Deposition of Plaintiff); see also (Doc. 15-7, p. 18) (Deposition of Notary Public Shelley Pinckney); (Docs. 19-9 & 19-10) (Closing documents including a U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Settlement Statement and a “SIGNATURE/NAME AFFIDAVIT” signed solely by Scott Herb).

Plaintiff testified that she knows for a fact that she did not sign or initial the mortgage document at any time. (Doc. 19-3, p. 32). Whereas, Plaintiffs husband, Scott Herb, declares that, subsequent to the closing held on April 28, 2003, Plaintiff signed and initialed the mortgage. (Doc. 19-12, ¶ 9) (Declaration of Scott W. Herb). A “FINAL TRUTH-IN-LENDING DISCLOSURE” and a “NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CANCEL,” bank closing documents for the loan in question, contain the signature “Scott W. Herb” with the date “4/28/03” and the signature “TL Herb” with the date “4-29-03.” (Docs. 19-18 & 19-19).

III. DISCUSSION

A. Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment

Plaintiff argues that “[t]he undisputable facts show that the signature and initials that appear on the recorded mortgage documents are not her signature and initials and were not placed there by her hand,” and because “[tjhere is no dispute of fact that the mortgage was forged” it should be held invalid. (Doc. 15, pp. & 12). Plaintiff also states that “[t]here is no evidence contradicting the fact that Plaintiff had no part in the execution of the mort[446]*446gage.” (Doc. 15, p. 15). The Undersigned does not agree with these contentions. Based on the declaration of Plaintiffs husband, Scott W. Herb, that the Plaintiff did sign and initial the mortgage, a genuine issue of material fact exists. See (Doc. 19-12, ¶ 9).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
955 F. Supp. 2d 441, 2013 WL 3423133, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94859, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/herb-v-citimortgage-inc-pamd-2013.