Martin v. Banco Popular De Puerto Rico

51 V.I. 895, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42824
CourtDistrict Court, Virgin Islands
DecidedMay 20, 2009
DocketCivil No. 2008-109
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 51 V.I. 895 (Martin v. Banco Popular De Puerto Rico) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Martin v. Banco Popular De Puerto Rico, 51 V.I. 895, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42824 (vid 2009).

Opinion

GÓMEZ, Chief Judge

MEMORANDUM OPINION

(May 20, 2009)

Before the Court is the motion of Ronald Martin (“Martin”) for summary judgment on his complaint against Banco Popular de Puerto Rico (“Banco Popular”). Additionally, Banco Popular has filed a cross-motion for summary judgment on its counterclaim against Martin. For the reasons stated below, the Court will grant Martin’s motion. The Court will deny Banco Popular’s motion.

I. FACTS1

James L. Reed (“James Reed”) owned a condominium unit described as Apartment No. 302E St. Maarten Building, Sapphire Hill Village Condominium, Parcel No. 16-1-lAEstate Smith Bay, Nos 1, 2, and 3 East End Quarter, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (the “Condominium”). The Condominium was subject to a mortgage (the “Mortgage”), which was originally executed in favor of the Home Mortgage Company. In 1992, the Mortgage was assigned to Banco Popular.

Reed died intestate in 1995. Helen M. Reed (“Helen Reed”) was appointed administratrix of the Estate of James Reed, in a probate action conducted in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Thomas and St. John, captioned Estate of James Leonard Reed, Terr. Ct. Probate No. 982/1995 (the “Probate Action”).

In July, 1999, the Estate of James Reed filed a Final Account in the Probate Action, which indicated that the only assets of the Estate were the Condominium and $969.76 in cash. In November, 1999, the Estate filed [901]*901a petition requesting that all of the assets of the Estate be distributed to Anngia Reed, James Reed’s daughter.

In August, 2002, Helen Reed sent a letter to the Superior Court stating that she wished to resign as administratrix, and requesting that she be released from any further obligations in the Probate Action.

On March 26, 2003, Helen Reed, individually and in her capacity as administratrix of the Estate, and Anngia Reed, individually, executed a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure in favor of Banco Popular. The Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure purported to transfer the Condominium to Banco Popular in exchange for satisfaction of the debt secured by the Mortgage. The Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure was recorded with the Recorder of Deeds for St. Thomas and St. John (the “Recorder”) on May 14, 2003, as document number 2003003389.

On September 12, 2003, Banco Popular entered into a Contract of Sale (the “Contract”) with Ronald Martin for the sale of the Condominium. Pursuant to the Contract, Banco Popular promised to convey the Condominium to Martin for the purchase price of $38,000. Paragraph eight of the Contract states that Martin, a licensed real estate broker in the Virgin Islands, is the selling realtor for the transaction. Cassandra Francis (“Francis”) of Francis Properties is the listing realtor. Paragraph eight further states that Martin and Francis are agents of Banco Popular for the sale of the Condominium, and are to be paid commissions by Banco Popular in connection therewith. Paragraph ten of the Contract provides:

[I]f the transaction contemplated herein is not closed by reason of Seller’s default or failure or refusal to perform through no fault of the Buyer, then Buyer shall have the right to elect either (1) to terminate this agreement, and receive a refund of the earnest money deposit paid hereunder, and no party shall have any rights, obligations or liabilities hereunder, except that the Seller shall be obligated to immediately pay Broker to the full commission as set forth in the listing agreement, or (ii) Buyer may pursue an action for specific performance.

(Ex. F to Stipulation of Undisputed Facts, Contract of Sale 4, ¶ 10, Sept. 12, 2003.) Martin paid the earnest money deposit for the Condominium to Francis.

On October 20, 2003, Juliette C. Kean (“Kean”), Vice-President of Banco Popular, executed a warranty deed conveying the Condominium to [902]*902Ronald Martin and Susan Martin for the purchase price of $38,000. That deed was never delivered to Martin.

Thereafter, Banco Popular claimed that it did not possess clear title to the Condominium. In a correspondence dated December 29,2003, Martin offered to rent the Condominium until such time as Banco Popular was prepared to close on the Contract of Sale. Banco Popular did not accept Martin’s offer to rent the Condominium. Between February 1, 2003, and February 22, 2007, Banco Popular paid a total of $32,420.84 in condominium dues and assessments for the Condominium.

On January 27,2004, Helen Reed filed a motion asking that her request to resign as administratrix of the Estate of James Reed be withdrawn, and that she be re-appointed as administratrix of the Estate. Also on January 27, 2004, Helen Reed, in her capacity as administratrix of the Estate, filed a motion to authorize the transfer of the Condominium to Banco Popular pursuant to the March 26, 2003, Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure.

On November 10, 2004, Helen Reed filed a renewed motion to authorize the transfer of the Condominium to Banco Popular pursuant to the Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. The renewed motion states that “[t]here is a Contract of Sale dated September 12, 2003[,] between Ronald Martin and the Bank for the purchase price of THIRTY EIGHT THOUSAND DOLLARS ($38,000), that remains to be consummated, thus the renewal of the motion to authorize transfer fo the real property from the Estate to the Bank.” (Ex. M. to Joint Stipulation of Facts, Renewed Mot. to Authorize Transfer of Property 2, Nov. 10, 2004.)

In a letter dated January 26, 2006, counsel for Banco Popular informed Martin that “after incessant efforts [Banco Popular] has yet to acquire clear title to [the Condominium]. Because Banco Popular does not effectively own the [Condominium], it is in no position to sell it to you.” (Ex. N. to Joint Stipulation of Facts, Letter from Dudley Topper and Feurzeig, LLP to Martin 1, Jan. 26, 2006.) The letter further stated that Banco Popular was terminating the Contract of Sale and returning Martin’s earnest money deposit.

In a letter dated January 30, 2006, Martin informed counsel for Banco Popular that he did not consent to the termination of the Contract.

In February, 2006, counsel for Banco Popular wrote to the Chief Deputy Clerk of the Probate Division of the Superior Court seeking a response to the renewed motion to authorize transfer of the [903]*903Condominium. In June, 2006, counsel for Banco Popular sent a letter to the Honorable Brenda J. Hollar, Judge of the Superior Court, asking for expedited consideration of the renewed motion to authorize transfer.

On July 13, 2006, Martin executed a Notice of Interest with respect to the Condominium. Martin recorded the Notice of Interest with the Recorder of Deeds.

In a letter dated July 28, 2006, counsel for Banco Popular notified Cassandra Francis of Francis Properties that Banco Popular was terminating the Contract and directed Francis to return Martin’s earnest money deposit for the Condominium. On July 31, 2006, Francis Properties issued a check to Martin in the amount of his deposit. On August 7, 2006, Martin returned the uncashed check for the Condominium deposit to Francis Properties, and informed Francis that he believed Banco Popular to be still bound by the Contract. That same day, counsel for Banco Popular wrote a letter to Martin, which reiterated that Banco Popular was terminating the Contract.

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Related

Miller v. Sorenson
67 V.I. 861 (Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands, 2017)
Beohm v. Pickel (In re Pickel)
493 B.R. 258 (D. New Mexico, 2013)
Martin v. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
52 V.I. 788 (Virgin Islands, 2009)

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51 V.I. 895, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42824, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/martin-v-banco-popular-de-puerto-rico-vid-2009.