Nelson v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (In re Barger)

490 B.R. 744, 2012 WL 7991237, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 3044
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedJuly 3, 2012
DocketBankruptcy No. 09-12251; Adversary Nos. 10-1178, 10-1179, 10-1180
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 490 B.R. 744 (Nelson v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (In re Barger)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Nelson v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (In re Barger), 490 B.R. 744, 2012 WL 7991237, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 3044 (Ohio 2012).

Opinion

DECISION DENYING MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

BETH A. BUCHANAN, Bankruptcy Judge.

The chapter 7 trustee seeks a declaratory judgment finding that the defendants’ mortgages do not encumber the debtor-wife’s dower interests in three properties owned by the debtor-husband. The chapter 7 trustee maintains that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because the debtor-wife is neither obligated on the underlying notes nor is she a “Borrower” (as that term is defined in the mortgages) and, therefore, her dower interests in the properties are not subject to the terms of the [747]*747mortgages. Moreover, the chapter 7 trustee contends that the debtor-wife’s dower interests in the properties were not effectively released by virtue of her signing the mortgages because there is no express release of her dower interests in the mortgages nor is it clear from the terms of the mortgages that the parties intended for the debtor-wife to relinquish her dower interests in the properties to the defendant-mortgagees.

For the reasons set forth below, this Court concludes that the debtor-wife effectively relinquished her dower interests in the properties to the defendant-mortgagees by joining in the mortgages, the terms of which adequately express the parties’ intent to subject the debtor-wife’s dower interests in the properties to the terms of the mortgages. Accordingly, the chapter 7 trustees’ motions for summary judgment are denied.

I. Background

Plaintiff, Richard D. Nelson, Chapter 7 Trustee’s (the “Trustee ”) commenced three adversary proceedings seeking a declaration from this Court that certain mortgages held by Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. and BAC Home Loan Servicing, LP (collectively, the “Defendants ”) do not encumber Debtor Mary Barger’s dower interest in three parcels of real estate owned by her husband, Debtor Larry Bar-ger. Although each adversary proceeding involves a difference parcel of real property, the facts of each case are similar and are not in dispute.

On July 20, 2007, Debtor Larry Barger (“Mr. Barger”) became the owner of certain real property located at 1830 Huron Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. The deed conveying the property to Mr. Barger identifies Mr. Barger as “Larry Barger, married.” On that same day, Mr. Barger executed a note in favor of Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. in the amount of $52,500, which note is secured by a mortgage on the Huron Avenue property. On August 22, 2007, Mr. Barger became the owner of certain real property located at 18 Tower Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. The deed conveying the property to Mr. Barger identifies Mr. Barger as “Larry Barger, unmarried.” On that same day, Mr. Barger executed a note in favor of Countrywide Bank, FSB (predecessor in interest to Defendant Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.) in the amount of $57,000, which note is secured by a mortgage on the Tower Street property. On August 22, 2007, Mr. Barger also became the owner of certain real property located at 809 Lincoln Avenue # B, Cincinnati, Ohio.1 The deed conveying the property to Mr. Barger identifies Mr. Barger as “Larry Barger, unmarried.” On that same day, Mr. Barger executed a note in favor of Countrywide Bank, FSB (predecessor in interest to Defendant BAC Home Loan Servicing, LP) in the amount of $58,500, which note is secured by a mortgage on the Lincoln Avenue property.2

The relevant provisions of each of the Mortgages are the same.3 Each Mortgage provides that “Borrower does hereby [748]*748mortgage, grant and convey to MERS (solely as nominee of Lender and Lender’s successors and assigns) and to the successors and assigns of MERS the following described property....” Paragraph 13 of each of the Mortgages further provides in relevant part that “any Borrower who cosigns this Security Instrument but does not execute the Note (a ‘cosigner’): (a) is co-signing this Security Instrument only to mortgage, grant and convey the co-signer’s interest in the Property under the terms of this Security Instrument.”

Mr. and Mrs. Barger signed each of the Mortgages on the pre-printed “Borrower” signature lines;4 however, the definitions section of each Mortgage defines only Mr. Barger as the “Borrower.” Both Mr. and Mrs. Barger’s signatures are acknowledged before a notary who certified the acknowledgment.

Each Mortgage contains a 1-4 Family Rider (the “Rider”) dated the same date as the respective Mortgages. The terms of the Rider provide that the Rider “is incorporated into and shall be deemed to amend and supplement the Mortgage, Deed of Trust, or Security Deed (the “Security Instrument”) of the same date given by the undersigned (the “Borrower”)' to secure the Borrower’s Note.” The Rider further provides that “BY SIGNING BELOW, Borrower accepts and agrees to the terms and covenants contained in this 1-4 Family Rider.” Mr. and Mrs. Barger signed the Riders on the pre-printed “Borrower” signature lines.5

Mr. Barger’s marital status is not stated in the Mortgages, however the parties stipulated at oral argument that Mr. and Mrs. Barger were married at the time of the execution of each of the Mortgages. The parties further agree that Mrs. Bar-ger held a dower interest in the Properties at the time the Mortgages were granted.

The Trustee filed a motion for summary judgment in each of the three adversary proceedings (the “Motions for Summary Judgment ”).6 The legal issues presented to this Court in the Motions for Summary Judgment are identical. The Trustee maintains that the Mortgages do not encumber Mrs. Barger’s dower interests in the Properties because she is not a “Borrower” under the terms of the Mortgages nor is she obligated on the underlying debt. The Trustee further contends that Mrs. Barger’s dower interests in the Properties were not effectively released because the Mortgages make no specific reference to release of her dower interests nor is it clear from the terms of the Mortgages that she intended to do so.7

[749]*749The Defendants contend that Mrs. Bar-ger relinquished her dower interests in the Properties pursuant to the terms of the Mortgages. The Defendants maintain that Mrs. Barger is a “Borrower” as such term is used in the Mortgages because the Riders to each of the Mortgages define Mrs. Barger as a “Borrower” and the Riders, by their own terms, amend each Mortgage.8 The Defendants further contend that Mrs. Barger does not need to specifically release her dower interests in the Mortgages in order to effectively relinquish such rights and that Mrs. Barger’s signature alone on the Mortgages is sufficient to subordinate her dower interest to the Defendant mortgagees.

II. Jurisdiction

This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over these adversary proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the general order of reference entered in this district. This is a core proceeding. See 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(E).

III. Legal Analysis

A.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
490 B.R. 744, 2012 WL 7991237, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 3044, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/nelson-v-countrywide-home-loans-inc-in-re-barger-ohsb-2012.