Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Treglia

Connecticut Appellate Court·Decided March 17, 2015·No. AC36474·Published

Opinion

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WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., TRUSTEE v. ROBERT TREGLIA ET AL.

(AC 36474)

DiPentima, C. J., and Sheldon and Flynn, Js.

Argued November 13, 2014—officially released March 17, 2015

(Appeal from Superior Court, judicial district of

Stamford-Norwalk, Genuario, J. [summary judgment; motion to open]; Hon. Kevin Tierney, judge trial referee [motion to cite in a party defendant; strict foreclosure]).

Ridgely W. Brown, with whom, on the brief, was Benjamin Gershberg, for the appellants (defendant Patrick Treglia et al.). Zachary Grendi, for the appellee (plaintiff).

Opinion

FLYNN, J. The defendant Patrick A. Treglia and proposed intervenor Richard Treglia appeal from the judgment of strict foreclosure rendered by the trial court in favor of the plaintiff, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee.1 On appeal, Patrick Treglia claims that the trial court improperly denied his motion to set aside the default entered against him.2 Additionally, both Patrick Treglia and Richard Treglia claim that the court improperly denied their motion to cite in Richard Treglia as a party defendant. We reverse the judgment of the trial court denying Patrick Treglia’s motion to set aside the default and affirm the judgment denying the motion to cite in Richard Treglia as a party defendant.3 This appeal arises out of the plaintiff’s attempt to foreclose on certain real property located at 181 Fillow Street in Norwalk. On April 25, 2011, the plaintiff instituted an action for foreclosure on the Norwalk property in the Superior Court for the Judicial District of Stamford -Norwalk.4 The plaintiff’s complaint alleged the following facts. The Norwalk property had previously been owned by Edna N. Treglia. On August 29, 2002, Edna Treglia and Robert C. Treglia executed a note in the principal amount of $175,000 in favor of Option One Mortgage Corporation. The note was secured by a mortgage on the Norwalk property. On August 30, 2002, a quitclaim deed was recorded in the Norwalk land records, by which Edna Treglia transferred the entire interest in the Norwalk property to Robert Treglia. Option One subsequently assigned the note and the mortgage to the plaintiff. Edna Treglia died on July 5, 2003, and Robert B. Keyes was appointed as the administrator of her estate.

The plaintiff further alleged in its complaint that the note was in default and that it intended to accelerate the balance due on the note and foreclose on the Norwalk property. The plaintiff named Keyes, as the administrator of Edna Treglia’s estate, and Robert Treglia as defendants in the foreclosure action. By virtue of notices of lis pendens recorded on July 17, 2003, September 16, 2003, and October 7, 2004, in the Norwalk land records, the plaintiff also named Michael Treglia and Patrick Treglia as party defendants who also claimed an interest in the property.

Judgment for the plaintiff was ultimately rendered against Keyes, Robert Treglia, and Michael Treglia. They have not appealed from the judgment. Accordingly, the remainder of this opinion will discuss only the relevant facts and claims related to Patrick Treglia and Richard Treglia, who did appeal.

After the plaintiff instituted its foreclosure action, default was entered against Patrick Treglia for failure to plead. On August 10, 2012, the plaintiff moved for summary judgment. On November 5, 2012, Patrick Treg-

lia filed an objection to the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and an accompanying memorandum of law. On that day, he also filed an answer to the plaintiff’s complaint and a motion to set aside the default entered against him for failure to plead. Although Patrick Treglia had filed an answer to the plaintiff’s complaint, the clerk did not set aside the default. The court denied Patrick Treglia’s motion to set aside the default and granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment. On January 11, 2013, the plaintiff filed a motion for a judgment of strict foreclosure. The court rendered judgment of strict foreclosure in favor of the plaintiff. This appeal followed.

I

Patrick Treglia first claims that the trial court improperly denied his motion to set aside the default. He argues that the court improperly conflated the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment with a motion for judgment when it denied his motion to set aside the default entered against him. He asserts that, pursuant to Practice Book § 17-32 (b), the court did not have discretion over his motion and the clerk was required to set aside the default when he filed his answer. We agree.

The following additional facts are necessary for our review of this claim. On October 5, 2011, the plaintiff filed a demand for disclosure of defense, pursuant to Practice Book § 13-19, and a simultaneous motion for default against Patrick Treglia for failure to plead. Practice Book § 13-19 states in relevant part: ‘‘In any action to foreclose . . . in which there is an appearance by an attorney for any defendant, the plaintiff may at any time file and serve . . . a written demand that such attorney present to the court . . . a writing signed by the attorney stating whether he or she has reason to believe and does believe that there exists a bona fide defense to the plaintiff’s action and whether such defense will be made, together with a general statement of the nature or substance of such defense. If the defendant fails to disclose a defense within ten days of the filing of such demand . . . the plaintiff may file a written motion that a default be entered against the defendant by reason of the failure of the defendant to disclose a defense. . . .’’ Patrick Treglia did purport to disclose a defense to the plaintiff’s foreclosure action pursuant to § 13-19, but the clerk granted the plaintiff’s motion to enter default against him.5 Particularly relevant to the issue before us, Practice Book § 13-19 further states in relevant part: ‘‘If no disclosure of defense has been filed, the judicial authority may order judgment upon default to be entered for the plaintiff at the time the motion is heard or thereafter, provided that in any event a separate motion for such judgment has been filed.’’ Similarly, Practice Book § 17- 33 (b) states in relevant part: ‘‘Since the effect of a default is to preclude the defendant from making any further defense in the case so far as liability is concerned , the judicial authority, at or after the time it renders the default . . . may also render judgment in foreclosure cases . . . provided the plaintiff has also made a motion for judgment . . . .’’

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Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Treglia, (Colo. Ct. App. 2015).

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