Mercuri v. Newhouse

26 Mass. L. Rptr. 535
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedOctober 30, 2009
DocketNo. 0504338L2
StatusPublished

This text of 26 Mass. L. Rptr. 535 (Mercuri v. Newhouse) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mercuri v. Newhouse, 26 Mass. L. Rptr. 535 (Mass. Ct. App. 2009).

Opinion

Garry V. Inge, J.

INTRODUCTION

This case arises from a real estate transaction in which the plaintiff, Carolyn Mercuri (“Mrs. Mercuri”), purchased a single-family home located at 176 McCarthy Way, Tewksbury, Massachusetts.2 Mrs. Mercuri asserts claims for breach of contract, legal malpractice, negligent infliction of emotional distress, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of G.L.c. 93A (“Chapter 93A”) against the defendants, Michael J. Newhouse (“Newhouse”) and Paul D. Lambert (“Lambert”) (collectively the “Defendants”), for improperly certifying title to the property she purchased. The matter is currently before the court on the Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and Mrs. Mercuri’s Cross Motion for Partial Summary Judgment. For the reasons .set forth below, Defendants’ motion is DENIED in part and ALLOWED in part; and Mrs. Mercuri’s cross motion is DENIED.

BACKGROUND

The undisputed facts are as follows.

On June 11, 1986, Armando DeCarolis, Jr. (“DeC-arolis”), Trustee of the Lynne Realty Trust, sold a parcel of land known as 176 McCarthy Way, Tewksbury, Massachusetts (“176 McCarthy Way”) to Anthony M. and Sandra J. Adinolfi (the “Adinolfis”). 176 McCarthy Way consists of 11,250 square feet and is comprised of lots 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375 on a plan entitled “Oakland Park Plan ‘B’ ” (the “Oakland Plan”). Brackett Street abuts and runs parallel with 176 McCarthy Way’s northern boundary for approximately ninety feet. According to the deed transferring 176 McCarthy Way to the Adinolfis, DeCarolis did not reserve any title, interest, or legal rights in Brackett Street.3

Approximately two years later, on June 6, 1988, DeCarolis sold a parcel of land known as 184 McCarthy Way, Tewksbury, Massachusetts (“184 McCarthy Way”) to George H. Barnes and Eve M. Barnes (the “Barneses”). This parcel consists of lots 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 376, 377, 378, and 379 of the Oakland Plan. Again, according to the deed transferring 184 McCarthy Way to the Barneses, DeCarolis did not reserve any title, interest, or legal rights in Brackett Street. Subsequently, in March 1996, John and Toni Calendrello (the “Calendrellos”) purchased 184 McCarthy Way from the Barneses.

Following these transactions, on June 19, 2001, despite not reserving any right or interest in Brackett Street during either of the above sales, DeCarolis transferred ownership of Brackett Street to the then owners of 176 McCarthy Way, Dana and Michele Bates (the “Bateses”). The driveway for 176 McCarthy Way sits on Brackett Street.

On March 3, 2002, Mrs. Mercuri contracted to purchase the “lane and buildings” known and numbered as 176 McCarthy Way from the Bateses. According to Mrs. Mercuri, she and Mr. Mercuri hired Newhouse’s law firm to negotiate their purchase of 176 McCarthy Way and to represent them at the closing.4 Pursuant to the terms of the purchase and sales agreement, the Bateses agreed to convey to Mrs. Mercuri “all their right, title and interest in the portion of the roadway known as Brackett Street . . . but make[] no representation as to whether they have good and clear record and marketable title hereto.” Mrs. Mercuri alleges this language raised concerns about the ownership of Brackett Street and thus, throughout the purchasing process she and Mr. Mercuri repeatedly asked Newhouse and/or Lambert whether ownership of Brackett Street would be included in their purchase of 176 McCarthy Way. In response to these inquiries, Mrs. Mercuri claims Newhouse and/or Lambert stated, “this is your land,” “this is a non-issue,” [536]*536the “neighbor has no right,” and “it’s your land; don’t worry about it.”

The closing for the purpose of 176 McCarthy Way occurred on May 21, 2002. On this same date, the deed was recorded in the Middlesex North Registry of Deeds. Newhouse was not present at the closing, but Lambert attended. Prior to executing the mortgage note, Mrs. Mercuri signed a disclosure notice pursuant to G.L.c. 184, §17B, which provides “[t]he responsibility of the attorney for the Lender is to protect the interest of the Lender. You, the Borrower, may at your own expense, engage an attorney of your own selection to represent your interest in this transaction.”

At the closing, Mrs. Mercuri was shown a plot plan prepared for the lender, Countrywide Home Loans (“Countrywide”), which delineated the boundaries of 176 McCarthy Way. This plot plan does not specifically identify a driveway, but it does depict Brackett Street, which was then being used as a driveway for 176 McCarthy Way. At the closing, Lambert presented a document prepared by Newhouse, certifying Mrs. Mercuri held “good and sufficient record title to the mortgaged premises” located at “176 McCarthy Way” (the “Title Certification”). The mortgage note defines the mortgaged premises as “the land in Tewksbury, with the buildings situated on the westerly side of Florida Road, and shown as lots 371, 372, 373, 374, and 375 on a plan of land entitled, Oakland Park Plan ”B" dated April 23, 1907 . . . containing according to said plan 11,250 square feet of land . . ." Neither Newhouse nor Lambert provided a separate title certification for Brackett Street. In addition, the Title Certification did not include any exclusions specifically exempting Brackett Street from the title search completed for 176 McCarthy Way.

Within days of the closing, Mr. Calendrello approached Mrs. Mercuri and/or Mr. Mercuri and informed them he owned the portion of Brackett Street on which their driveway was located. More specifically, Mr. Calendrello stated he could move his fence or make them move their driveway any time he wished because the driveway encroached on his property. Based on the Defendants’ previous assertions, during the purchase negotiations and at the closing, that Brackett Street was included with the purchase of 176 McCarthy Way, Mrs. Mercuri ignored these claims as the declarations of a disgruntled neighbor.

Disagreements regarding the ownership of Brackett Street continued until June 2003, when the Calendrellos filed a complaint in the Middlesex Superior Court. The Calendrellos, relying on G.L.c. 183, §58, claimed title to Brackett Street’s centerline and requested injunctive relief preventing Mrs. Mercuri and Mr. Mercuri from passing over their portion of the way, asserting ownership of Brackett Street. After receiving notice of this filing, Mrs. Mercuri and Mr. Mercuri returned to Newhouse’s office for an explanation and the Defendants, for the first time, admitted there may have been an error, acknowledging it was possible Mrs. Mercuri did not own Brackett Street. After two years of litigation, by order dated June 24, 2005, the Middlesex Superior Court (Fishman, J.) declared the Calandrellos and Mrs. Mercuri “each own the fee on their respective side of Brackett Street’s centerline to that centerline.” [19 Mass. L. Rptr. 585.] The court also ruled Mrs. Mercuri was not required to move her driveway. Nevertheless, according to Mrs. Mercuri, she spent approximately $30,000 in legal fees defending against the Callendrellos’ claim.

On December 16, 2005, Mrs. Mercuri filed the Complaint in the current matter.

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Bluebook (online)
26 Mass. L. Rptr. 535, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mercuri-v-newhouse-masssuperct-2009.