Lowell Development & Finance Corp. v. Winter Hill Bank, FSB (In re Natale)

508 B.R. 790, 2014 WL 1652441, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1821
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedApril 24, 2014
DocketBankruptcy No. 12-13532-JNF; Adversary No. 13-1378
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 508 B.R. 790 (Lowell Development & Finance Corp. v. Winter Hill Bank, FSB (In re Natale)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lowell Development & Finance Corp. v. Winter Hill Bank, FSB (In re Natale), 508 B.R. 790, 2014 WL 1652441, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1821 (Mass. 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

JOAN N. FEENEY, Bankruptcy Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

The matters before the Court are Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment with respect to the “First Amended Complaint to Determine the Nature and Validity of Lien” filed by Lowell Development and Finance Corporation (“LDFC”). Through its Complaint and Motion for Summary Judgment, LDFC seeks a declaratory judgment that its second mortgage on property located at 338 Market Street in Lowell, Massachusetts has priority over the deficiency claim of the defendant, Winter Hill Bank, with respect to obligations secured by its first mortgages on properties located at 30-36 and 38 Gor-ham Street in Lowell — obligations which are purportedly cross-collateralized pursuant to a dragnet clause contained in Winter Hill Bank’s first mortgage on 338 Market Street. The Court heard the Cross-Motions on February 12, 2014 and took the motions under advisement. The issue presented is whether Winter Hill Bank has enforceable dragnet clauses and cross-col-lateralization provisions in its mortgages such that any deficiency with respect to its first mortgages on one group of properties located on Gorham Street in Lowell are secured by the value of the Market Street property, although the result would be that the second mortgage of LDFC on the Market Street property would be partially or wholly unsecured. Stated another way, Winter Hill Bank and LDFC disagree as to whether the equity in the Market Street property is available to Winter Hill Bank to cover its projected deficiencies in the values of the Gorham Street properties.

The parties agree that the material facts necessary to determine the Cross-Motions are not in dispute. Accordingly, summary judgment is appropriate. See Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a), made applicable to this proceeding by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056. The Court now makes its findings of fact and rulings of law in accordance with Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7052.

II. BACKGROUND

Christopher Thomas Natale (the “Debt- or”) filed a voluntary Chapter 11 petition on April 26, 2012 together with Schedules of Assets and Liabilities, a Statement of Financial Affairs and other required documents. On Schedule A-Real Property, the Debtor listed the following properties: 927 Franklin Street, Melrose, Massachusetts, 785 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, 295 Dutton Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, 586 Merrimack Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, 338 Market Street, Lowell, Massachusetts (also known as 338-340 Market Street), 30 Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts (also known as 30-36 Gor-ham Street), and 38 Gorham Street, described as an adjacent parking lot to 30 Gorham Street contaminated with environmental hazards. The Debtor ascribed a total value to the properties of $2.66 million. On Schedule D-Creditors Holding Secured Claims, the Debtor listed numerous secured creditors, including Winter Hill Bank with a first mortgage on 338 Market Street and a first mortgage on 30 [792]*792Gorham Street and 38 Gorham Street.1 He did not initially list LDFC on Schedule D, although Eastern Bank appears to have serviced its loans and was listed as holding the following mortgages: 1) a second mortgage on 295 Dutton Street; 2) a third mortgage on 295 Dutton Street; 3) a second mortgage on 586 Merrimack Street; 4) a second mortgage on 338 Market Street; and 5) a second mortgage on 30 Gorham Street and 38 Gorham Street. On March 6, 2013, the Debtor filed an Amended Schedule D to list LDFC as the holder of second mortgages on 295 Dutton Street, 586 Merrimack Street, 338 Market Street, and 30 and 38 Gorham Street.

In January and February of 2013, the Debtor filed several motions, which he subsequently amended, to determine secured status, including motions relating to 338 Market Street and the Gorham Street properties. The Debtor’s motions to determine secured status elicited objections from Winter Hill Bank and LDFC. Additionally, on August 15, 2013, LDFC filed a Motion to Determine the Validity, Priority and Extent of Lien to which Winter Hill Bank objected. On September 4, 2013, the Court denied LDFC’s Motion without prejudice to the commencement of an adversary proceeding. In accordance with the Court’s ruling, LDFC filed a Complaint on September 24, 2013, which it later amended on October 7, 2013. Winter Hill Bank filed an answer and a counterclaim seeking a declaration that its first mortgages on the Market Street and Gor-ham Street properties are cross-collateral-ized and that they have priority over LDFC’s second mortgages on those properties such that Winter Hill Bank can collect any unsecured deficiency on the Gor-ham Street mortgage from the Market Street property prior to LDFC’s ability to collect on its mortgages. Pending resolution of the adversary proceeding, the parties stipulated that the value of 338 Market Street is $805,000 and that the value of SO-SO Gorham Street and 38 Gorham Street is $470,000.00.

III. FACTS

On January 17, 2003, Winter Hill Bank issued a Commitment Letter to the Debtor for a loan in the principal amount of $787,500, which the Debtor accepted and signed on January 27, 2003. On February 5, 2003, Winter Hill Bank loaned the Debt- or the sum of $787,500 in connection with the purchase of the property located at 338 Market Street. The loan was evidenced by a note secured by a first mortgage on 338 Market Street, both of which were executed by the Debtor, individually. The mortgage provides in pertinent part that it secures repayment of the note and, in addition, provides the following definitions:

LOAN DOCUMENTS The NOTE (the Guaranty) as it may be amended, extended or renewed and any mortgage, security agreement, assignment of leases and rents, loan agreement or other agreement heretofore, now or hereafter executed, to secure, or entered into otherwise in connection with the NOTE (the Guaranty), including without limitation this Mortgage and Security Agreement.
OBLIGATIONS Payment of the PRINCIPAL, with INTEREST and all other charges evidenced by or becoming due and payable to the LENDER under the NOTE (the Guaranty)!,] this Mortgage and Security Agreement or any other [793]*793Loan Documents; payment and performance of all obligations, covenants and agreements of the BORROWER to the LENDER contained in the NOTE (the Guaranty) and all other Loan Documents; and payment and performance of all other obligations of the Borrower to the Lender, now existing or hereafter arising, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent.

The mortgage also provides the following:

For valuable consideration paid, the BORROWER grants to the LENDER, its successors and or assigns, with offices at 342 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145, with THE MORTGAGE COVENANTS, the Mortgaged Property, including all tenements, hereditaments and appurtenances and the rents, income and profits thereof, to secure the OBLIGATIONS of the BORROWER to the LENDER.

(emphasis supplied). Winter Hill Bank also holds a Collateral Assignment of. Rents and Other Rights with respect to 338 Market Street, recorded in the Middle-sex North District Registry of the Land Court.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
508 B.R. 790, 2014 WL 1652441, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 1821, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lowell-development-finance-corp-v-winter-hill-bank-fsb-in-re-natale-mab-2014.