Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01227/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01227-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 380
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Property Damage
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Injunctive &amp; Declaratory Relief

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WO 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Federal National Mortgage Association,

Plaintiff, 

vs. 

Marshall E. Home; Independent Rights 

Party, 

Defendants.

No. CV11-01227-PHX-DGC

ORDER 

 Plaintiff Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) brought its 

complaint (Doc. 1) after Defendants Marshall E. Home and Independent Rights Party 

used the name “Federal National Mortgage Association” to execute special warranty 

deeds transferring a number of Fannie Mae-owned properties to Defendants. On 

September 22, 2011, the Court entered default judgment against Defendants on all seven 

counts, found Plaintiff entitled to statutory damages in the amount of $141,200, entered a 

permanent injunction against Defendants, invalidated the special warranty deeds filed by 

Defendants, and cancelled Home’s registration of the trade name “Federal National 

Mortgage Association” with the Arizona Secretary of State. Doc. 50. The Court granted 

Plaintiff’s request to seek attorneys’ fees in accordance with Local Rule of Civil 

Procedure 54.2. Id. at 5. 

 Plaintiff has filed a motion for attorneys’ fees and costs. Doc. 51. No response 

has been filed, and the time for filing one has passed. See LRCiv 54.2(b)(3). 

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 Plaintiff seeks $70,192.50 in attorneys’ fees and $1,219.00 in costs against 

Defendants pursuant to A.R.S. § 33-420(A). That section provides: 

A person purporting to claim an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance 

against, real property, who causes a document asserting such claim to be recorded in the office of the county recorder, knowing or having reason to know that the document is forged, groundless, contains a material 

misstatement or false claim or is otherwise invalid is liable to the owner or 

beneficial title holder of the real property . . . reasonable attorney fees and costs of the action. 

A.R.S. § 33-420(A). 

 Given the default judgment against Defendants on all counts in the complaint, 

including count three which alleged Defendants’ wrongful efforts to claim an interest in 

and purport to hold title to the property evidenced by the special warranty deeds in 

violation of A.R.S. § 33-420(A), Plaintiff clearly is entitled to a fee award under that 

section. See Allied Mortg. Group, Inc. v. Peter Strojnik, P.C., No. CV-08-0376, 2009 

WL 2581400 at *5 (Ariz. App. Aug. 20, 2009). Having reviewed Plaintiff’s supporting 

memorandum (Doc. 51, at 3-11) and counsel’s declaration and statement of fees and 

costs (Docs. 51-1, 51-2, 51-3), the Court finds the requested fees and costs to be 

reasonable and appropriate. 

IT IS ORDERED: 

1. Plaintiff’s motion for attorneys’ fees and costs (Doc. 51) is granted. 

 2. Plaintiff is awarded attorneys’ fees in the amount of $70,192.50 and costs 

in the amount of $1,219.00. 

 Dated this 3rd day of January, 2012. 

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