Case ID: f-appx_519/html/0909-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      JANE R. ROTH, Circuit Judge.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Leodis HARRIS, Fatimah M. Harris, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. OPTION ONE MORTGAGE CORPORATION, et al., Defendants-Appellants.
    No. 12-3709.
    United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit.
    March 15, 2013.
    Before: CLAY, COOK, and ROTH, Circuit Judges.
    
      
       The Honorable Jane R. Roth, Senior Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, sitting by designation.
    
   JANE R. ROTH, Circuit Judge.

I. Introduction

Leodis and Fatimah Harris appeal the district court’s decision dismissing their quiet title action against Option One Mortgage Corporation, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, and American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (collectively, ap-pellees). For the reasons that follow, we affirm the decision of the district court.

II. Background

On July 10, 2006, Option One loaned the Harrises $325,000, which was evidenced by a note. The loan was secured by a mortgage on the Harrises’ home in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The mortgage was recorded with the Cuyahoga County Recorder’s Office on July 14, 2006. Option One, which is now defunct, subsequently assigned the note to Deutsche Bank, although the assignment of the mortgage was never recorded.

On February 16, 2012, the Harrises filed a quiet title action against appellees in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. The case was removed to the Northern District of Ohio, where Deutsche Bank filed a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Although Option One and American Home Mortgage Servicing did not file motions to dismiss, the district court treated Deutsche Bank’s motion as filed on their behalf. On May 15, 2012, the district court granted the motion to dismiss. The Har-rises appealed.

III.Discussion

The Harrises assert that, because Option One never recorded the assignment of the Harrises’ mortgage to Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Bank may no longer claim an interest in the Harrises’ property. This argument is misguided.

“For nearly a century, Ohio courts have held that whenever a promissory note is secured by a mortgage, the note constitutes the evidence of the debt and the mortgage is a mere incident to the obligation.” U.S. Bank Nat’l Assn. v. Marcino, 181 Ohio App.3d 328, 908 N.E.2d 1032, 1038 (2009) (citing Edgar v. Haines, 109 Ohio St. 159, 141 N.E. 837, 838 (1923)). “Therefore, the negotiation of a note operates as an equitable assignment of the mortgage, even though the mortgage is not assigned or delivered.” Id. (emphasis added) (citation omitted). Applying the rule from Marcino to this case, Deutsche Bank may maintain an interest in the Har-rises’ home because Option One’s assignment of the note to Deutsche Bank was sufficient to transfer the mortgage to Deutsche Bank, even though Deutsche Bank never recorded the mortgage. See id.; see also Restatement (Third) of Property § 5.4 cmt. b (noting that “the mortgage follows the note”). Therefore, the district court properly dismissed the Har-rises’ cause of action for failure to state a claim.

Additionally, to the extent that the Har-rises argue that the district court improperly viewed Deutsche Bank’s motion to dismiss as filed on behalf of Option One and American Home Mortgage Servicing, this argument is without merit. See Rowe v. Register, 172 Fed.Appx. 660, 661 n. 1 (6th Cir.2006) (noting that the district court could properly treat a motion to dismiss filed by one defendant as filed on behalf of all defendants).

III. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the district court. 
      
      . The district court had subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. We have jurisdiction over this appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review a district court's decision to grant a Rule 12(b)(6) motion de novo. Dudenhoefer v. Fifth Third Bancorp, 692 F.3d 410, 416 (6th Cir.2012).
     
      
      . Appellants' citation to Ohio's recordation statute is unavailing. The recordation requirement under Ohio law is designed "to protect subsequent bona fide purchasers.” BAC Home Loan Servicing, L.P. v. Hall, No. CA2009-10-135, 2010 WL 2891780, at *3 (Ohio Ct.App. July 26, 2010) (citing O.R.C. § 5301.25). The recordation requirement thus has nothing to do with Appellants' claim because it was enacted to protect subsequent purchasers, not the current owner.