TPF Deeds, LLC v. United States

138 F. Supp. 3d 1268, 2015 WL 5918432
CourtDistrict Court, D. Utah
DecidedOctober 9, 2015
DocketNo. 2:13-cv-01116-DN
StatusPublished

This text of 138 F. Supp. 3d 1268 (TPF Deeds, LLC v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Utah primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
TPF Deeds, LLC v. United States, 138 F. Supp. 3d 1268, 2015 WL 5918432 (D. Utah 2015).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART TPF DEEDS, LLC’S AND PRM INVESTMENT COMPANY’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

DAVID NUFFER, District Judge.

In this federal tax lien dispute, TPF Deeds, LLC (“TPF”) and PRM Investment Company (“PRM”) seek declaratory judgment that certain federal tax liens have been extinguished or do not attach to their respective interests in a piece of real property. For the reasons stated below, the United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment1 is GRANTED, and TPF and PRM’s Motion for Summary Judgment2 is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.'

UNDISPUTED FACTS

1. On December 27, 2004, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) made a timely and proper assessment pursuant to 26 [1270]*1270U.S.C. § 6203 against Ernest Hewlett, ¡with notice and demand for payment sent to; Mr. Hewlett, for unpaid federal income taxes for the 1997 tax year, creating a lien upon Ernest Hewlett’s property, including after-acquired property.3

2. On August 23, 2005, a Notice of Federal Tax Lien. (“NFTL”) against Ernest Hewlett in the amount of $1,068,560.44 dated August 17, 2005 was recorded as Entry No. 287694, in the Official Records of Wasatch County, Utah (“Lien No. I”).4 By the express terms of Lien No. 1, it self-released and operated as a “Certificate of Release” the day after the last day for re-filing of that lien, which was September 19, 2011. Lien No. 1 was not re-filed by the September 19, 2011 deadline.5

3. On August 26, 2005, a NFTL against Ernest Hewlett and Colleen Hewlett in the amount of $3,618.99 dated Augüst 17, 2005 was récordéd as Entry No. 287695, in the Official Records of Wasatch County, Utah (“Lien No. 2”). A Certificate of Release of Federal Tax Lien dated January 24, 2013, and recorded February 1, 2013, as Entry No. 386472, in the Official Records of Wasatch County, Utah, released Colleen Hewlett'from Lien No. 2 but not Ernest Hewlett.6 Lien No. 2 correctly spelled the name of each taxpayer.7

4. On August 31, 2006, Ernest Hewlett acquired a one-third interest in real property located at 98 N. River Road, Midway, Wasatch County, Utah, and more particularly described as Township 3 South, Range 4 East, Salt Lake Base and Meridian:

Section 35:

Commencing at a point having State Plane Rectangular Coordinates of X:2010325.09 and Y:793753.38 (based on the Lambert Conformal Projection, Utah Central Zone), said point also being North 1941.03 feet and West 463.62 feet and North 00°18'35" East 382.8 feet from the South quarter' corner to the point of beginning; thence North 00°18'35" East 80 feet; 'thence North 86°34'19" East 334.51 feet; thence South O1049/37" East 100.05 feet; thence West 337.53 feet to the point of beginning. Tax Serial ho. OMI-0471-4, 00-0014-1460. ’ “ ’

(“Property”).8

5. The Property was conveyed by Claud Josiah McLendon III and Patricia S. McLendon, as grantors, to Ernest Hewlett, Colleen Hewlett, and Michael Hewlett, as grantees, via a warranty deed (“McLendon Deed”). The McLendon Deed was recorded on August 31, 2006 at [1271]*12713:24 p.m. as Entry No. 306938 in the Official Records of Wasatch County.9

6'. The purchasers of the Property are listed on 'the real estate agreement as Michael, Colleen, and Ernest Hewlett.10

7. The final HUD settlement statements also show that the purchasers of the Property are Michael, Colleen, and Ernest Hewlett.11

8. At the moment Ernest Hewlett acquired his interest in the Property, Lien No. 2 attached to that interest.12

9. That same day, Ernest Hewlett, Colleen Hewlett, and Michael Hewlett, as grantors, conveyed the Property to Celeste Hewlett, as granted, via a warranty deed (“Celeste Hewlett Deed”). The Celeste Hewlett Deed was recorded on August 31, 2006 at 3:25 p.m. as Entry No. 306939 in the Official Records of Wasatch County.13

10. On December 1, 2008, a NFTL against Ernest Hewlett in the amount of $117,065.04 dated November 17, 2008 was recorded as Entry No. 342502 in the Official Records of ■ Wasatch County; Utah (“Lien No. 3”). ■ Lién Nó. 3 indicates that the delinquent taxes on'which it is based were assessed in 2008.14

11. On December 1, 2008, a NFTL against Ernest Hewlett in the amount of $809,307.22 dated November 18, 2008 was recorded as Entry No. 342503 in the Official Records of Wasatch County, Utah (“Lien No. 4”). Lien No, 4 indicates that the delinquent taxes on which it is based were assessed in 2007 and 2008.15

12. On December 1, 2008, a NFTL against Ernest Hewlett in. the amount of $260,585.31 dated November 18, 2008 was recorded as Entry No. 342504 in the Official Records of' Wasatch County, Utah (“Lien No. 5”). Lien No. 5 indicates that the delinquent taxes on which it is based were assessed in 2007 and 2008.16

13. On April 21, 2009, a NFTL against Ernest Hewlett in the amount of $207,535.85 dated April 8, 2009 was recorded as. Entry No. 347061 in the Official Records of Wasatch County,. Utah (“Lien No. 6”). Lien No. 6 indicates that the delinquent taxes on which it is based were assessed in 2008.17

14. On October 20, 2009, SourceOne Financial, Inc. made a load (“Loan”) to Céleste Hewlett in the original principal amount of $150,000.00 evidenced by a Trust Deéd Note.18

15. To secure payment of the Loan, Celeste Hewlett, as trustor, executed and delivered to SourceOne Financial, Inc., a Trust Deed with Assignment-of Rents dated October 20, 2009, naming Celeste Hewlett, as trustor, and SourceOne Financial, Inc., as beneficiary, was recorded against the Property on October 22, 2009, as Entry No. 353524, in Book 1002, at Pages 1596-1600, in the Official Records of Wasatch County, Utah (the “SourceOne Trust Deed”).19

16. SourceOne Financial, Inc. ordered a title report from Founders Title when it [1272]*1272made the $150,000 loan to Celeste Hewlett in order to ascertain whether there were any outstanding liens against the Property. The title commitment dated October 12, 2009, Order No. F-W16665, did not list any liens, such as federal tax liens, as exceptions. SourceOne Financial, Inc. relied upon the title commitment, and, without actual knowledge of any federal tax liens or other liens, closed the loan with Celeste Hewlett.20

17. On November 2, 2009, Source One-Financial, Inc., executed and delivered to TPF Deeds, LLC, for valuable consideration, an Assignment of Trust Deed dated November 2, 2009, in which SourceOne Financial, Inc. assigned to TPF Deeds, LLC, a 69.833% undivided beneficial interest in the SourceOne Trust Deed and the indebtedness secured by the SourceOne Trust Deed, was recorded November 5, 2009, as Entry No. 353901, in Book 1003, at Page 1390, in the Official Records of Wasatch County, Utah (the “Assignment”).21 /

18.

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Bluebook (online)
138 F. Supp. 3d 1268, 2015 WL 5918432, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tpf-deeds-llc-v-united-states-utd-2015.