in accordance with its obligations under the terms of the reinsurance agreement with
INTIC. (Oates Dep. at 111-12; Partington Dep, at 184-186; Partington DE 6, 10).

Meanwhile, Pollard’s investigation into Old and New Intercounty’s scheme
continued. Pollard gradually uncovered Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s scheme to pillage
Intercounty’s (both Old and New) escrow accounts, a scheme that resulted in ever-
increasing escrow shortage in those escrow accounts. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 57).
Pollard prepared weekly or biweekly status reports informing Fidelity of Deloitte’s
investigation. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement {] 102). For eight weeks, Deloitte and Fidelity had
access to a warehouse where New Intercounty, Old Intercounty, and ITI Enterprises stored
their records. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement {| 104; Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement {[ 120-121). But
both the volume and haphazard arrangement of the documents stored within the
warehouse made Fidelity’s review of the records difficult. (Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement {J
120-126).

Eventually, Pollard learned that by 1996, the cash shortage in the escrow accounts
was $66.9 million. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 58). The shortage reached $77.8 million by
1997. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 61). And by 1999, it had reached $96.4 million. (Def.

56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 67). Fidelity sued INTIC, New Intercounty, Capriottiand Hargrove,

things that haven’t been turned over,” and reminding both parties that “what is discoverable is
much broader than what is ultimately admissible as a proper and legal defense.” While the
Banks might have overstated their case in pressing for this discovery, the material certainly was
discoverable (and Fidelity was resisting its discovery on relevancy and overbreadth grounds) and
the transcript makes clear that Judge Castillo was not misled by the Banks’ overstatement.
Fidelity’s motion for sanctions is DENIED.

19



As the new corporations formed, Capriotti and Hargrove also sought to obtain a
reinsurance agreement. William Craig, Old Intercounty’s Chief Operating Officer,
contacted Thomas Simonton (who then was employed by Commonwealth Land Title
Insurance Company). (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 16). Simonton met with Capriotti,
Hargrove and other New Intercounty officers shortly thereafter. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement
{J 36-28). In September 1995, Simonton joined Fidelity. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 26).
Simonton’s arrival at Fidelity was fortuitous because Fidelity desired to bolster its market
share in the Midwest and Simonton brought New Intercounty’s potential business with
him to Fidelity. (Def. Joint 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 25; Simonton Dep. at 38-39). And so on
September 14, 1995, Simonton signed on behalf of Fidelity a reinsurance agreement with
INTIC. (Def. Joint 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 27; Simonton Dep. at 39-41).

The agreement signed by Fidelity and INTIC was a form agreement that had been
modified by Simonton and a colleague to fit the parties’ needs. (Def. Joint 56.1(a)(3)
Statement {| 22). Under the reinsurance agreement, Fidelity and INTEC agreed that
Fidelity would automatically reinsure INTIC against loss sustained on its title policies in
excess of INTIC’s primary retention. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 21-22; Def. Joint 56.1(a)(3)
Statement {/{] 28-30). Because INTIC was a new underwriter, the reinsurance agreement
between INTIC and Fidelity allowed INTIC to request Fidelity’s joinder on the insured

closing letters it issued to indemnify New Intercounty customers against loss in connection

transferred funds to Old Intercounty’s accounts,

13


the party against whom the motion under consideration is made. Allen v. City of Chi., 351
F.3d 306, 311 (7th Cir.2003).
Ill. Analysis

The Defendant Banks first argue that they are entitled to summary judgment
because Fidelity’s claims are untimely. The Illinois Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act
(UFTA) requires plaintiffs to file claims within four years after the transfer was made or,
iflater, “within one year after the transfer or obligation was or could reasonably have been
discovered by the claimant.” 740 ILCS 160/ 10(a); see also Gilbert Bros., Inc. v. Gilbert, 258
Ill_App.3d 395, 400, 630 N.E.2d 189,193 (1994), The Defendant Banks argue that the statute
of limitations began to run no later than December 21, 2000, when Fidelity’s counsel
interviewed Stimac and Stimac informed counsel that escrow funds were used by the
Intercounty insiders to purchase certificates of deposit that were pledged for the personal
use of insiders. Fidelity argues that the limitations period did not begin to run until
February 2001, when it learned through the use of subpoena which banks received
allegedly fraudulent transfers. Although the application of the discovery rule usually is
an issue of fact, it can be resolved on a motion for summary judgment where the material
facts are undisputed and there is only one inference that can be drawn from them.
Cathedral of Joy Baptist Church v. Village of Hazel Crest, 22 F.3d 713, 719 (7th Cir. 1994).

The Illinois UFTA incorporates the discovery rule into its statute of limitations. The
discovery rule postpones the running of the statute of limitations until a party knew or

should have known his injury was wrongfully caused. Knox College v. Celotex Corp., 88 Ill.

23


issued Capriotti a cashier's check for $25,048.50 (representing the balance of the pledged
certificate of deposit), which Capriotti endorsed and transferred to Capjac Investments
Group, Inc.,a real estate investment company that he and Hargrove owned. (PL. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement {| 56-58).
2. Charter Bank

On March 7, 1990, Old Intercounty wired $1,000,000 from an account in order to
purchase a $1,000,000 certificate of deposit. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 77-78). On March
8, 1990, Hargrove and Capriotti obtained a loan from Charter Bank in the amount of
$1,000,000, pledging the certificate of deposit as collateral. (P1. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 79-80).
Old Intercounty renewed the certificate of deposit in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995 and
after each renewal re-pled, ged the certificate as collateral for the original $1,000,000 loan to
Capriotti and Hargrove. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Jf 87-88).

In 1993, however, Charter Bank requested an opinion from Old Intercounty’s
counsel verifying that Hargrove and Capriotti could pledge the certificate of deposit as
collateral for their loan even though it belonged to Old Intercounty. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement { 92). Old Intercounty’s counsel sent Charter Bank a letter stating that Old
Intercounty’s by-laws allowed it to hypothecate the certificate of deposit for the benefit of
Capriotti and Hargrove and that Old Intercounty had taken all the appropriate actions to

allow Capriotti and Hargrove to use the certificate of deposit as collateral for their loan.

56.1(a)(3) Statement fff 53-54. The Court finds it unnecessary to repeat, for each transaction,
the details concerning the maturation and repledging of each certificate.

4



and other insiders in September 2000, alleging among other things that “monies that were
deposited in escrow by thousands of unsuspecting customers of Intercounty Title
Company . . . were systematically stolen . . . and used for improper purposes.” (Def.
56.1(a)(3) Statement {[ 112). Sometime before December 2000, Fidelity learned that Banco
Popular had used a certificate of deposit that had served as INTIC’s statutory bond to
satisfy personal obligations of Peloza and Cornell. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 9§ 112-113;
Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement J 155-164).
D. __ Fidelity Learns of Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s Scheme

Around the same time as Fidelity initiated the Banco Popular lawsuit, its counsel
interviewed George Stimac, the former controller of IT] Enterprises. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement
{ 117; Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement {[ 175). Among other things, Stimac shared with counsel
the “office scuttlebutt” that Intercounty insiders had pledged certificates of deposit
purchased with escrow funds for personal loans. (Lepinskas Dep. at 48, 61). Stimac,
however, had no personal knowledge of the scheme and could not provide counsel with
the names of any banks where the certificates of deposit were held. (Lepinskas Dep. at 61).
Counsel for Fidelity then arranged for Pollard to speak with Stimac. (PI. 56.1(b)(3)(B)
Statement § 178).

Deloitte’s status report for the Week of December 11, 2000 indicates that for the
upcoming week of December 18 Deloitte would begin “an investigation into potential
investments in Certificates of Deposit.” (Def. 56.1(a) Statement Ex. 5), Pollard had reason

to take Stimac’s allegations seriously because on December 8, 2000, Pollard had received

20



F.2d 212, 217 (7th Cir. 1985); Sparano v. Southland Corp., No. 94 C 2098, 1995 WL 470267, at
*9 (NLD. Ill. Aug. 4, 1995). Fidelity pleaded that because of Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s
coverups, it could not have discovered its cause of action until February 2001. On
summary judgment, Fidelity is not entitled to the presumption that all well-pleaded facts
are true, the factual record before the Court now is more developed, and consequently the
Court must revisit the issue of whether Fidelity has timely filed its suit. See Curran v. Kwon,
153 F.3d 481, 487 (7th Cir. 1998) (law of the case not applicable when the Court is presented
with additional evidence calling into question the original ruling).

Gilbert Brothers makes clear that the statute of limitations begins to run prior to the
time when the injured party acquires “the knowledge that [it] has a cause of action against
another.” Gilbert Bros., Inc., 630 N.E. 2d at 192 (citing Knox College, 88 Ill. 2d at 415). The
statute of limitations can begin to run even if a plaintiff does not know the full extent of the
injury or is not certain that a cause of action lies against a particular defendant. Hoffman v.
Orthopedic Serv., 327 Ill. App. 3d 1004, 1010; 765 N.E.d2d 116, 121-122 (2002); McCormick,
621 N.E. 2d 57. Accordingly, Gilbert Brothers marks the significant point, for statute of
limitations purposes, as the time at which a party is put on notice of a possible claim,
triggering a duty to make a diligent inquiry into whether a cause of action lies. Gilbert
Bros., Inc., 630 N.E. 2d at 192; see also Knox College, 88 Ill. 2d at 415-416, 430 N.E.2d at 980.
In other words, the statute of limitations begins to run when a plaintiff is under an
obligation to begin an investigation, not (as Fidelity suggests) when Plaintiff completes that

investigation. The Court holds that in this case the statute of limitations began to run when

26


CD’s may possibly have been kept and later converted” and that “these banks [had been]
served with subpoenas, and [we] are currently awaiting records.” (Def. 56.1(a) Statement
Ex. 12). On January 26, 2001, IRS Special Agent Lischka sent Deloitte a schedule he had
prepared summarizing various certificates of deposit purchased by Old Intercounty. (Pl.
56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement [ 203).

Fidelity filed these suits on January 25, 2002.

II. Standard of Review

Summary judgment is proper when "the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there
is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a
judgment as a matter of law." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317,
322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). In a summary judgment action, the moving
party shoulders the initial burden of production. It must identify "those portions of 'the
pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with
the affidavits, if any,’ which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of
material fact." Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323 (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)). When the movant
satisfies that burden, the nonmovant must "set forth specific facts showing that there is a
genuine issue for trial." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). "If no genuine issue of material fact exists, the
sole question is whether the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law."
Santaella v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 123 F.3d 456, 461 (7th Cir.1997). In considering

cross-motions for summary judgment, the Court must construe all inferences in favor of

22


was the certificate used by Capriotti and Hargrove to obtain the loan from Charter
National Bank. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement Ex. 4), Gallaher sent these notes to Simonton via
facsimile on May 15, 2000. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement Ex. 4). Fidelity’s investigative efforts
to this point were to determine the size of the escrow deficiency, to identify any assets that
existed to offset it, and to ensure that current funds were properly disbursed. (Def. 56.1(a)
Statement { 88; Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement 71).

As Fidelity continued its investigation, it began to look deeper into the Intercounty
records in order to determine its own liability as well as whether the escrow shortage
might have been caused by wrongdoing. Hunsinger had become concerned that the
reinsurance agreement with INTIC may obligated Fidelity for some part of the escrow
shortage. (Hunsinger Dep. at 125). Consequently, Fidelity, through its counsel, hired
Deloitte & Touche to investigate the “potential inappropriate financial transactions
surrounding escrow accounts of Intercounty National Title Insurance Company [Old

Intercounty].” (Pollard DE 9). In June 2000, William Pollard, a Senior Manager in the

” Pollard prepared an expert report. But the Banks argue that Pollard selectively
destroyed evidence that cast doubt on his report and that as a sanction Fidelity’s references to
Pollard’s report should be stricken. The Banks’ argument is unconvincing. First, the Banks
misread the Pollard’s deposition testimony. Although Pollard might have discarded handwritten
notes taken during a meeting with Stimac, Fidelity did produce the typed version of these notes.
Further, when deposed, Pollard also testified that some various work papers were discarded. The
Banks seize upon a careless response to the question “So work that you did which would not
support your working theory you destroyed?” to which Pollard answered affirmatively. But
Pollard clarifies his response immediately, explaining that he and other Deloitte employees on
his team would investigate many different leads to find the various ways in which Capriotti and
Hargrove siphoned money from the escrow accounts and that the team would discard notes on
leads that turned out to be fruitless. In addition, the Banks themselves rely heavily on Pollard’s
report, citing it in many of their own statements of fact. The Court finds that while Pollard’s

17


$900,000 certificate of deposit on its escrow bank reconciliation statements from March 1991
until January 2000. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 166).
6. Standard Bank

In September 1990, Old Intercounty wired $900,000 from an account at Exchange
National Bank of Chicago to Standard Bank to purchase a certificate of deposit. (Pl.
56.1(a)(3) Statement {] 167). In a now all to familiar fashion, Capriotti and Hargrove then
used Old Intercounty’s certificate of deposit as collateral to secure a $900,000 loan. (Pl.
56.1(a)(3) Statement J 168-69). Prior to receiving the loan, Capriotti, as President of Old
Intercounty, signed a “Collateral Agreement” with Standard Bank, which among other
things asserted that Old Intercounty was the “lawful owner of the Collateral” and that it
had the power to pledge the certificate of deposit as collateral. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement
Ex. 30 at SBT 190). In addition, Allen Brown, acting as counsel for Old Intercounty, wrote
Standard Bank a letter in which he repeated Capriotti’s assurances, stating that the use of
the certificate as collateral had been authorized by the corporation and that pledging the
certificate did not violate any laws. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 30 at SBT 279).
Ultimately, Old Intercounty redeemed the certificate of deposit and used the proceeds to
pay off the loan to Capriotti and Hargrove. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 9] 175-176; Def.
56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 30 at SBT 390). Old Intercounty continued to list the certificate of
deposit purchased from Standard Bank on its escrow bank reconciliations until January
2000. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 178).

7. TCF Bank



Defendants’ motions for summary judgment are GRANTED. Fidelity’s motion for
summary judgment is DENIED. Defendants’ motion to strike Pollard’s report is DENIED.
Fidelity’s motion for sanctions against certain banks is DENIED. Any and all other
pending motions are DENIED as moot.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

VA Mo flv

Dated The Hon le William J. Hibbler
United States District Court

32


and asserting the belief that Intercounty insiders had used certificates of deposit to convert
escrow funds to their personal use. Thus, not only was Fidelity put on notice that it should
begin an investigation into claims for fraudulent transfer — but it actually did begin such
an investigation.

Fidelity argues that Stimac’s interview was mere “office scuttlebutt” and only
created a suspicion that its injury had been wrongfully caused. It is true that the statute of
limitations period is not triggered during the period that a party is attempting to discover
whether an injury was wrongfully caused. Young v. McKiegue, 303 Il]. App. 3d 380, 390, 708
N.E, 2d 493, 501 (1999). But as explained earlier, the IRS's interest in certificates of deposit
and the Banco Popular lawsuit provided some corroboration of Stimac’s suspicions.

Fidelity also argues that until February 2001 it did not know which banks were
duped by the Intercounty agents and thus it only had a suspicion that its injuries were
wrongfully caused. But here Fidelity confuses its investigation into who caused the
wrongful injury with the investigation into whether the injury was wrongfully caused. In
April 2000, Fidelity knew that it had been injured: New Intercounty had enormous escrow
deficiencies and it had been joined on insured closing letters. At this point Fidelity had
only a mere suspicion that the injury was wrongfully caused, but because of the size of the
deficiency it believed there might have been some foul play involved, Thus (as the Court
held on the motions to dismiss) the statute of limitations did not begin to run when Fidelity
learned of the initial injury. At that point, Fidelity’s initial investigative efforts focused on

determining the size of the deficiency and on locating any assets it could use to offset it.

29


deposit, issued in the name of Intercounty Title Company of Illinois . . . as it relates to the
hypothecation of the principal sum of . . . $750,000 for a loan to Jack L. Hargrove and
Laurence W. Capriotti.” (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 24). Old Intercounty’s counsel also
supplied the Bank of Homewood witha corporate resolution authorizing it to hypothecate
the certificate of deposit. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 24).

In January 1993, when renewing Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s loan, the Bank
requested that Old Intercounty verify in writing that the funds to purchase the certificate
of deposit were not escrowed funds. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 24). On March 19, 1993,
Susan Peloza, Old Intercounty’s Secretary, informed the Bank of Homewood that “the
certificate of deposit is not escrowed funds, but unrestricted funds of Intercounty Title.”
(Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 24). In March 1996, Homewood Bank liquidated the
certificate of deposit to pay off the $750,000 loan. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {[ 116). Again,
despite the liquidation of the certificate, Old Intercounty listed the $750,000 certificate on
its escrow bank reconciliations until December 1992. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 120).

4, Howard Bank

In February 1990, Old Intercounty purchased a certificate of deposit in the amount
of $1,000,000 from Howard Bank. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 122). The check drafted by
Old Intercounty to purchase the certificate identified the account from which the funds
came as an escrow account. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 123, Ex. Podromos DE 2). At the
same time as Old Intercounty purchased the certificate of deposit, Capriotti and Hargrove

obtained a $1,000,000 loan from Howard Bank, pledging the Old Intercounty certificate of



(Def. Charter Bank’s 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement of Additional Facts { 5). In 1996, Capriotti
directed Charter Bank to pay off the loan using the $1,000,000 certificate of deposit, which
Charter Bank did. (P1.56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. Altenberger DE17,19). Despite the fact that
Capriotti and Hargrove had used the certificate to pay off the loan, Old Intercounty listed
the certificate on its monthly escrow bank reconciliations statements until January 2000.
(Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {j 99).

3. Homewood Bank

In January 1990, Old Intercounty wired $750,000 from an account at American
National Bank & Trust Company of Chicago to Homewood Bank. (P1.56.1(a)(3) Statement
(101). Later that month, Homewood Bank issued a certificate of deposit in the amount of
$750,000 to Old Intercounty. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 102). And Old Intercounty then
executed a Power to Hypothecate the certificate, thus allowing it to be pledged as collateral
for aloan to Capriotti and Hargrove. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 103). Approximately one
month later, Capriotti and Hargrove obtained a personal loan from Homewood Bank for
$750,000 and pledged Old Intercounty’s certificate of deposit as collateral. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement {| 104-105).

Shortly after approving the loan, the Bank of Homewood requested, among other
things, an opinion from Old Intercounty’s counsel “affirming that the pledge of the CD is
avalid and binding obligation of Intercounty.” (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 24). Counsel
for Old Intercounty, Joseph Planera, wrote the Bank of Homewood in March 1991 and

affirmed that “there appears to be no restrictions . . relative to the specific certificate of



Forensic Accounting Department at Deloitte & Touche, produced a report for Fidelity in
which he informed Fidelity that he suspected that New Intercounty’s escrow shortages had
been caused by a variety of inappropriate transfers, (Pollard DE 29).

After reviewing Pollard’s June 2000 report, Fidelity informed INTIC that it was
terminating that Automatic Reinsurance Agreement, under which INTIC had been issuing
joint insured closing letters. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 30). That same day, the Illinois
Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) issued a Cease and Desist Order against INTIC,
directing it to stop issuing title insurance policies. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {[ 31). A few
days later, the DFI appointed Fidelity as trustee of INTIC to insure the proper
disbursement of escrow funds held by INTIC and its agents. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 32).
And in late summer 2000, Pollard met with an FBI agent and Mark Lischka, an IRS Special
Agent, who were also investigating the Intercounty insiders. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement

111)." Over the course of the next year, Fidelity paid nearly $37 million in escrow claims

quick-to-discard policy may have been careless, it does not warrant the exclusion of his report,
particularly since Defendants rely on it to present their own motions. Defendants’ motion to
strike is DENIED.

" Tn June 2003, the Banks moved to compel discovery of communications between
Fidelity and its agents and the Government. In their motion, the Banks asserted that Fidelity had
supplied information to the Government that led to a grand jury investigation, which now turns
out to be false. Fidelity moves for sanctions against the Banks, arguing that it made a false
representation to the Court and thus caused Fidelity to waste time on the discovery motion that it
otherwise would not have had to spend. But the context of the motion, and the argument before
Judge Castillo makes clear that: (1) the Banks sought information that might lead to material
relevant to their statute of limitations argument; (2) Fidelity had been objecting to providing the
information on grounds of relevancy; (3) Fidelity informed Judge Castillo that it had supplied no
information to the Government to cause it to begin a grand jury investigation; and (4) the Banks
made clear that they believed Fidelity’s communications with the Government might contain
discoverable information. Judge Castillo agreed, stating that he was “dismayed at some of the

18



In March 1991, Old Intercounty wired LaGrange Bank $900,000 in order to purchase
a certificate of deposit. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 158). One day after Old Intercounty
purchased the certificate, LaGrange Bank loaned Capriotti and Hargrove $900,000. (PI.
56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 160), The certificate of deposit purchased by Old Intercounty was
pledged as collateral for the loan. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 161). Prior to issuing the loan,
however, LaGrange Bank required Old Intercounty to pass a corporate resolution
approving the hypothecation of the certificate of deposit for the loan to Capriotti and
Hargrove. (Def. LaGrange Bank 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 8). Old Intercounty did so, and its
legal counsel also sent the Bank a letter affirming that the funds used by Old Intercounty
to purchase the certificate of deposit were “funds owned by Intercounty Title Company of
Illinois . . . [with] no restrictions on the pledging of said funds.” (Def. LaGrange Bank
56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 7). Finally, Old Intercounty also delivered to the Bank a Power to
Hypothecate, representing that Old Intercounty consented to the use of their certificate of
deposit as collateral for Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s loan. (Def. LaGrange Bank 56. 1{a)(3)
Statement Ex. 5).

In December 1991, the certificate of deposit matured and the proceeds were invested
into a new certificate of deposit. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 163). At the same time, the
proceeds of the second certificate of deposit were used to pay off the $900,000 loan to
Capriotti and Hargrove. (PI, 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 164; Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 12 1

37-38; Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Haley Dep. at 29). Old Intercounty nevertheless listed a


2d 407, 414, 430 N.E. 2d 976, 979 (1981). Under the discovery rule, the event that triggers
the running of the statute of limitations is neither the first knowledge a person has about
his injury, nor the acquisition of the knowledge that one has a cause of action against
another. Id. at 414, 430 N.E. at 980. In other words, the discovery rule does not toll the
statute until the plaintiff learns of defendants’ wrongful conduct. Hermitage Corp. v.
Contractors Adjustment Co., 166 Ill. 2d 72, 85, 651 N.E. 2d 1132, 1139 (1995) (citing Nolan v.
Johns-Manville Asbestos, 85 I11.2d 161, 170-71, 421 N.E.2d 864 (1981)). Thus, the limitations
period begins to run when the plaintiff knows his injury is wrongfully caused, not when
he realizes he has a cause of action against a particular defendant. McCormick v. Uppuluri,
250 Ill. App.3d 386, 621 N.E. 2d 57 (1993); Wells v. Travis, 284 Ill. App.3d 282, 672 N.E. 2d. 789
(1996). In the context of the Illinois UFTA, the statute of limitations begins to run when a
plaintiff “should have reasonably known that a possible cause of action may have existed
for fraudulent transfer of funds and ... should have investigated further.” Gilbert Bros.,
Inc., 258 Ill. App. 3d at 400, 630 N.E.2d at 192.

The Banks argue that Gilbert Brothers stands for the proposition that the statute of
limitations began to run when Fidelity should have reasonably known thata possible cause
of action for fraudulent transfer may have existed and should have begun an investigation
into that cause of action. Fidelity, on the other hand, argues that the statute of limitations
should not begin to run until it had completed its investigation into the certificates of
deposit and knew for certain which banks received fraudulent transfers. Fidelity further

suggests that its position is the law of the case, pointing to the Court's ruling on the Banks’

24



Frinule Order We 91)

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois

ven Magistrate Judge William J. Hibbler “(nan Assigned Sudge

CASE NUMBER 02 C 667 DATE 9/17/2004
CASE Fidelity vs. Standard Bank & Trust
TITLE

[In the following box (a) indicate the party filing the motion, e.g., plaintiff, defendant, 3rd party plaintiff, and (b) state briefly the nature
of the motion being presented.]

MOTION:

DOCKET ENTRY:

(1) o Filed motion of [ use listing in “Motion” box above.]

(2) oO Brief in support of motion due

(3) o Answer brief to motion due . Reply to answer brief due.

(4) oOo Ruling/Hearingon___setfor_____att

(5) Oo Status hearing{held/continued to] [set for/re-set for] on set for at

(6) Oo Pretrial conference[held/continued to] [set for/re-set for]on___set for at

(7) oO Trial[set for/re-set for] on at

(8) o [Bench/Jury trial] [Hearing] held/continued to__at

(9) Oo This case is dismissed {with/without] prejudice and without costs[by/agreement/pursuant to]
OOFRCP4(m) Local Rule 41.1 OFRCP41(a)(1) O FRCP41(a)(2).

ao) of [Other docket entry] Enter Memorandum Opinion and Order. Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment

(Doc. # 0-1) is GRANTED. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (doc. 0-1) is DENIED. Defendant’s Motions to
strike the 6/02/03 Expert Report of William J. Pollard (doc, # 0-1) are DENIED. Plaintiff's Motion to Sanction Certain
Banks (doc. # 0-1) is DENIED. Any and all other pending motions are DENIED as moot.

No notices required, advised in open court.

(For further detail see order attached to the original minute order.]

qu)

i .
No notices required. number of notices

SEP 2.02004

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8. Westbank

In March 1989, Old Intercounty transferred $306,125 to Westbank from an account
at Exchange National Bank in order to purchase a certificate of deposit. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement {| 202). During the same month, Westbank then issued a loan to Chartwell
Financial Corporation in the amount of $306,125. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 203). The loan
to Chartwell was secured by Old Intercounty’s certificate of deposit. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement {| 204). In November 1989, the name on the loan was changed to Madison
Avenue Investments, a company owned by Hargrove. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 206; Def.
Banks 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 25M). In December 1990, the certificate of deposit serving
as collateral for the loan to Madison Avenue Investments was liquidated to pay off the
loan, (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 210). And after the certificate was liquidated, Old
Intercounty continued to list the certificate on its escrow bank reconciliation statements
until January 2000. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 212).

B, New Intercounty, INTIC and Fidelity

In 1995, the business relationship between Stewart and Old Intercounty had soured
and Capriotti and Hargrove desired a new underwriter. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 45,
Simonton Dep. at35-37). Asa result, Intercounty Title Company (“New Intercounty”) and
Intercounty National Title Insurance Company (“INTIC”) were formed. (Pollard Dep. at
393; Thyfault Dep. at 95). Susan Peloza and Terry Cornell, both former officers of Old

Intercounty, owned New Intercounty. (Pollard Dep. at 393). At the same time, Capriotti

11



On September 1, 1988, Garfield Ridge Trust and Savings Bank’ issued a certificate
of deposit in the amount of $250,000 to Susan Peloza, Old Intercounty’s Secretary. (Pl.
56.1(a)(3) Statement { 180). Shortly thereafter Peloza obtained a $250,000 loan from
Garfield Bank, and pledged the earlier-obtained certificate of deposit as collateral. (PI.
56.1(a)(3) Statement { 183-84). The proceeds of the loan were used by Peloza to remodel
and landscape her home, which upon completion would be rented to Old Intercounty to
use for business functions. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 187). In May 1992, Old Intercounty,
serving as Peloza’s escrow agent, received a check from Chicago Heights National Bank
in the amount of $786,101.67 and used those funds to pay off the balances of Peloza’s
original $550,000 mortgage and also the 1988 $250,000 loan from Garfield Bank. (Pl.
56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. Doering DE 10, 12; Def. TCF Bank 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement Ex. B).
Shortly after the loan from Garfield Bank was paid off, Garfield Bank informed Peloza that
it transferred the certificate of deposit to its “Safekeeping file” until its maturity. (Def.
Banks 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 26B at 000072). When TCF acquired Garfield Bank in 1997,
there was no record of the certificate of deposit as being in existence or as an active

account. (Doering Dep. at 118).°

“ TCF Bank is a successor to Garfield Ridge Trust and Savings Bank. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement { 9). In its statement of facts, Fidelity repeatedly refers to the transactions at issue as
involving TCF Bank, not Garfield Bank, causing TCF to dispute every statement of fact.

5 Fidelity also alleges that Old Intercounty purchased two additional certificates
($100,000 and $75,000) that it used as collateral to secure a $175,000 loan from TCF Bank (or its
predecessor in interest) to Homeland Mortgage Corporation. TCF Bank disputes these facts.

The dispute, however, is not material for the purposes of this opinion.

10


scheme is irrelevant to the inquiry presented here. The fact that Capriotti and Hargrove
concealed their scheme from other Intercounty employees demonstrates nothing about
when Fidelity learned its injury had been wrongfully caused; it only demonstrates that
Fidelity could not have learned of the scheme while it was ongoing, But the Defendant
Banks do not argue that the discovery rule should not apply at all (otherwise the statutes
of limitations, for the most part, would have ran during the mid-nineties, four years after
most of the certificates were pledged). Fidelity also argues that equitable estoppel should
toll the statute of limitations. Fidelity argues that Intercounty’s records were a mess, that
insiders threatened them during its investigation, that the United States’ investigation
interfered with its own. Perhaps if Fidelity’s investigation was so hindered by the
shenanigans of Intercounty insiders that it could not have learned the identity of the banks
involved in the scheme until after December 2001, an argument for equitable estoppel
could be made. But the fact remains that Fidelity knew with certainty which Banks it
believed to have been involved with the insiders scheme by February 2001 ~ leaving them
ten months (out of twelve) in the limitations period to press its claims. Jt had more than
sufficient time to draft a complaint, It simply chose to wait.

Unfortunately, Fidelity waited toolong. The Illinois UFTA allows plaintiffs one year
after the discovery of the fraudulent transfer to file their lawsuits. The Court finds that the
statute of limitations began to run on December 21, 2000. Fidelity filed this suit on January

25, 2002. It is therefore untimely.

31


But by September 2000, Fidelity’s agent, Pollard, wrote that Capriotti and Hargrove had
“systematically stolen” from Old and New Intercounty’s escrow accounts. In September
2000 Fidelity thus knew its injury had been wrongfully caused — but because of the
vastness of the scheme and the manner in which it had been covered up, Fidelity still had
no idea that it could have been caused by fraudulent transfers. And so the statute of
limitations for these claims could not yet begin to run (as opposed to its claims verses the
Intercounty insiders). But by December 2000, Fidelity had reason to believe that one way
in which the injury had been wrongfully caused had been through Hargrove’s and
Capriotti’s use of certificates of deposit. In December 2000, Fidelity began an investigation
into precisely which certificates of deposit were used in the Intercounty insiders’ scheme.
In other words, by December 2000, Fidelity knew that it had been wrongfully injured; it
just didn’t know which Banks were involved (albeit passively) in the insiders’ scheme. As
noted earlier, a plaintiff need not know that a cause of action lies against a particular
defendant in order to trigger the limitations period. McCormick, 621 N.E. 2d at 58-59.
Instead, Fidelity need to have known only that its injury was wrongfully caused to trigger
the running of the statute of limitations.

Fidelity makes numerous other arguments to extend the period in which it could
file, none of which are convincing. It argues that the liquidation of the certificates of
deposit was concealed even from employees of Old Intercounty. The facts in the record
demonstrate that several Old Intercounty officials were unaware of Capriotti’s and

Hargrove’s scheme. However, the fact that Old Intercounty officials were unaware of the

30



deposit as collateral. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 4 127-128). Capriotti and Hargrove signed
an affidavit in which they averred that the loan from Howard Bank was for business
purposes only. (Def. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement Ex. 7). Several months after Howard Bank
issued the loan, Old Intercounty executed a Power to Hypothecate the certificate of deposit
that it had pledged as collateral. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 132), And in 1995, the
certificate of deposit securing the loan was liquidated to pay off the February 1990 loan.
(Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 136).

Old Intercounty also purchased a second $1,000,000 certificate of deposit from
Howard Bank in July 1990. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 4142-143). To purchase the second
$1,000,000 certificate of deposit, Old Intercounty drafted a check with the label “Title
Indemnity Account.” (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 144, Ex. Podromos DE 22). The same day,
Capriotti and Hargrove obtained a second $1,000,000 loan from Howard Bank. (PI.
56.1(a)(3) Statement { 146). Capriotti and Hargrove once again signed an affidavit averring
that the loan was to be used for business purposes only. (Def. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement
Ex. 9). And, as in the previous transactions, Capriotti and Hargrove pledged Old
Intercounty’s certificate of deposit as collateral for their loan. (Pl. 56.1(a)(8) Statement 7
147). The July 1990 Howard Bank loan was also paid off in 1995 when Howard Bank
liquidated the certificate of deposit pledged as collateral. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 152-
153).

5. LaGrange Bank


a letter from the IRS Agent Lischka asking Pollard to supply him with “any evidence,
documentation or files pertaining to Certificates of Deposit purchased with escrow funds.”
(Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 6; Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 144), Pollard then met with
Stimac on December 26, 2000, (Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement § 178). According to Pollard,
Stimac was the first person with knowledge of Old Intercounty’s accounting practices who
agreed to cooperate with Fidelity’s and Deloitte's investigation. (Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement
{| 179). Stimac suggested that Pollard examine Old Intercounty’s escrow reconciliations,
which listed certificates of deposit that had been purchased with escrow funds as
investments. (Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement § 183).

Based on the information provided by Stimac, Deloitte first examined Old
Intercounty’s bank reconciliations. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement § 152). When Pollard examined
these reconciliations, he complied a list of 51 certificates of deposit held at various banks
that might have been used by Capriotti and Hargrove in their scheme. (Def. 56.1(a)
Statement {J 154, 158; Ex. 11). Fidelity subpoenaed various banks to determine at which
banks Capriotti and Hargrove may have perpetrated their scheme. (Lepinskas Dep. at 152-
156). The subpoenas requested information regarding certificates of deposit that had been
pledged for the personal use of Intercounty insiders. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement 127).

On January 22, 2001, Ronald Lepinskas, counsel for Fidelity, prepared a
memorandum for Fidelity’s lead counsel in the Intercounty matters, explaining the results
of his and Pollard’s investigation into the escrow defalcation. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement Ex.

12). In that memo, Lepinskas explains that he had “identified many various banks where

21


Fidelity should have known that it had a possible cause of action for fraudulent transfer
and should have begun an investigation into whether such a cause of action lies against the
Defendant Banks. Here that date is no later than December 21, 2000.

The undisputed facts establish that on December 21, 2000, Fidelity knew that: (1) IRS
Agent Lischka, who was investigating Intercounty insiders’ wrongdoing, had asked
Pollard on December 8 to provide evidence or documentation related to certificates of
deposit purchased with escrow funds; (2) Intercounty insiders had converted funds at
Banco Popular through the purchase, pledge and liquidation of a certificate of deposit; and
(3) Intercounty’s former controller believed that Intercounty insiders had used escrow
funds to purchase certificates of deposit, which were then pledged as collateral for personal
loans, Over the next few weeks (and before January 25, 2001 — the date one year prior to
the date Fidelity filed these suits), Fidelity responded to this information by: (1) requesting
Deloitte to produce a list of “potentially suspicious” bank transactions; (2) serving
numerous banks with subpoenas in connection with certificates of deposit purchased with
escrow funds; and (3) sending the IRS a letter that included a list of banks where
Intercounty Title Company held certificates of deposit. Furthermore, on January 22, 2001,
Fidelity’s counsel wrote a memorandum regarding the certificates of deposit and their
misuse, stating that “[a]t the high water mark for this practice, Stimac said that Intercounty
had invested $7-8 million in CDs. Stimac understands (apparently through office

scuttlebutt) that these CDs were sometimes pledged for personal use.”

27


certificates as collateral for personal loans. According to the Banks, the accounts from
which Fidelity transferred money for the purchase of certificates of deposit contained more
than just escrow funds. In any event, much of the dispute between the parties is not
material to the resolution of the pending motions, and the Court finds the following facts
to be undisputed.

A. The Transactions at Issue
1, Bank Calumet

On December 23, 1991, Old Intercounty wired $175,000 from an account at LaSalle
National Bank to Bank Calumet in order to purchase a certificate of deposit. (PI. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement § 48). Bank Calumet points to no measures it took to ascertain whether the
certificate of deposit was purchased with funds from Old Intercounty’s escrow account.
(Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 48). Ten months later, Capriotti and Hargrove received a
$175,000 loan from Bank Calumet, the proceeds of which they used to payoff a loan
obtained by James Burke, another Intercounty insider, in December 1991. (PI. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement { 51, Pl. Ex. Azzarello DE 12). As collateral for the loan, Capriotti and Hargrove
pledged the certificate of deposit obtained from Bank Calumet in December 1991. (Pl.
56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 52-54). On March 24, 1993, Capriotti and Hargrove directed Bank
Calumet to liquidate the certificate of deposit and applied $149,951.50 of the proceeds to

pay off Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s loan. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 55).> Bank Calumet

3 In many of the transactions at issue, including this one, the original certificates of
deposit purchased by Old Intercounty had matured and been rolled over into new certificates of
deposit and pledged again as collateral for Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s loans. See, e.g., Pl.

3



with escrow closing activity. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {/ 25; Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 30;
Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement Ex. 1 at 5-6; Simonton Dep. at 42).

After signing the reinsurance agreement, Simonton provided INTIC via facsimile
a form insured closing letter bearing his signature. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement 33).
Simonton never inquired whether INTIC was joining Fidelity on any insured closing letters
and assumed instead that because the reinsurance agreement required INTIC to make a
request to join Fidelity on the closing letters that he would be notified if INTIC did in fact
join Fidelity on the letters. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement | 52). In fact, according to Simonton,
the provision to allow INTIC to issue joint closing protection letters was just a “thrown-in”
because he believed that INTIC would not need the provision after the first few months of
operation. (Simonton Dep. at 44-45). But although INTIC never made any such requests,
it nevertheless joined Fidelity on every transaction it underwrote. (Def. 56.1(a)(3)
Statement {| 30; Simonton Dep. at 54-55, 90-91; Maudsley Dep. at 93). And until April 2000,
Simonton remained unaware that INTIC was issuing joint insured closing letters. (PI.

56.1(a)(3) Statement { 26; Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement § 56)’.

7 It should be noted that Plaintiff's Paragraph 26 and Defendants’ Paragraph 56 are
virtually identical. And yet Defendants curiously and obstinately dispute Plaintiffs Paragraph
26, But in that dispute Defendants do not point to any evidence that directly refutes the fact
presented — that Fidelity (or Simonton) was unaware that INTIC was issuing joint insured
closing letters until April 2000. Instead, Defendants present evidence that shows that Fidelity
was aware that “insured closing letters were contemplated with its reinsurance of INTIC.”
Whether the letters were contemplated sheds no light on whether Fidelity (or Simonton) was
aware that the letters were in fact being used. Thus, the Defendants point to no evidence to place
the fact presented by the Plaintiff in dispute. The local rules for summary judgment are designed
to streamline the process, pointing the judge to the averments that are in dispute and the record
evidence to support that dispute — not to force the judge to wade through a virtual quagmire of

14



Intercounty’s escrow account at Harris Bank had not been reconciled. (Def. 56.1(a)
Statement 81). Thus, Hunsinger and the auditors determined New Intercounty’s escrow
shortage primarily by comparing the outstanding checks against the current bank balances.
(Def. 56.1(a) Statement Ex. 3), By April 2000, Hunsinger had discovered that the shortages
in the escrow accounts was approximately $45 million. (Hunsinger Dep. at 123-125). Later
in April 2000, Gallaher prepared a report explaining the audit team’s analysis of New
Intercounty’s escrow account estimating New Intercounty’s escrow shortage to be in excess
of $55 million. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement Ex. 3). After the discovery of the extent of the
escrow shortage, Fidelity began to monitor New Intercounty’s escrow account to ensure
that escrow funds were properly disbursed. (Pl. 56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement 71).

At some point during this process, Gallaher received several pages of handwritten
notes listing various banks and certificates of deposit and controlled disbursement accounts

at those banks. (Def. 56.1(a) Statement Ex. 4).? Among the certificates listed in the notes

was apparently unaware. (Hunsinger Dep. at 114).

° Fidelity objects that the notes are unauthenticated and hearsay, pointing to Gallaher’s
affidavit in which he claims that he does not know who provided him with the notes. But
Gallaher’s affidavit therefore implicitly admits that he did review the notes and that he did
forward them to Simonton. The notes put Gallaher, Simonton and Fidelity on notice of the
information contained within them, Furthermore, the Banks do not use the notes to prove that
the information contained within is true (i.e. that Account #103694707 at Charter National Bank
was closed). The Banks use the notes to show the effect on the listener — that Gallaher,
Simonton, and Fidelity were told that Account #103694707 at Charter National Bank was closed.
For that purpose, the notes are not hearsay at all.

Fidelity also objects to the fact that the notes are misleading, claiming that the
abbreviation “CD” used to in the notes meant “controlled disbursement accounts.” But in at least
one instance, as noted above, the “CD” referred to one of the certificates of deposit that was part
of a transaction at issue in this case.

16



the Bank Defendants.” The parties have filed cross-motions for summary judgment, as well
as numerous other non-dispositive motions.
I. Factual Background

Laurence Capriotti and Jack Hargrove were principals of Intercounty Title Company
of Illinois (“Old Intercounty”). (Def. Banks’ Joint 56.1(a)(3) Statement of Facts { 3). Old
Intercounty served as the exclusive agent in the Chicago Area for Stewart Title Guaranty
Company, a title insurer. (Def. Joint 56.1(a)(3) Statement {{ 3). Old Intercounty also acted
as an escrow agent for real estate transactions. (Def. Joint 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 3).
Unfortunately, for all parties involved, Capriotti and Hargrove were not the most
trustworthy businessmen.

Because of Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s malfeasance, Old Intercounty experienced a
cash shortage in its accounts that amounted to $17.7 million in 1990 and grew to $96
million by 1999. (PI. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {| 17; Def. Joint 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 1999). This
is where the parties’ agreement as to the facts end and the parties dispute the remaining
course of events. Principal among these disputes are the nature of the accounts where the
shortfall occurred and the time at which Fidelity discovered the scheme. According to
Fidelity, Capriotti and Hargrove pillaged Old Intercounty’s escrow accounts and used
escrow funds entrusted to Old Intercounty to purchase certificates of deposit at the

Defendant Banks. Fidelity states that Capriotti and Hargrove then pledged these

2 One of the banks, Westbank, has reached settlement with the Plaintiff and is no longer a
party to this suit.



motions to dismiss. See Fidelity Nat'l Title Ins. Co. v. Howard Sav. Bank, 02 C 643 (Feb. 10,
2003 Memorandum Opinion and Order).

But Fidelity misreads the Court's February opinion on the motions to dismiss. In
those motions, the Court was not asked to determine whether the statute of limitations
began to run either when Fidelity first learned it had potential claims for fraudulent
transfers or when it completed its investigation into which banks might have received
fraudulent transfers. Instead, the question before the Court on the motions to dismiss was
whether the statute of limitations began to run when Fidelity learned of the escrow
deficiency created by the Intercounty insiders. In their motions to dismiss, the Defendant
Banks argued that the statute of limitations began to run in Spring 2000, when Fidelity
learned of Intercounty’s escrow deficiency and suspected that the deficiency, because of
its size, was wrongfully caused. See id. at4. The Court noted that the Defendant Banks had
“confuse[d] the injury Fidelity suffered from Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s scheme to siphon
funds from the escrow accounts with the injury Fidelity suffered from the fraudulent
transfers committed to conduct that scheme.” Id. Thus, the Court held that Fidelity’s
knowledge that the escrow accounts had been depleted did not put it on notice that
fraudulent transfers might have occurred.

Furthermore in resolving the motions to dismiss, the Court accepted Fidelity’s well-
pleaded factual assertions as true. Although a limitations issue can be raised on a motion
to dismiss, it can succeed only if the allegations in the complaint demonstrate that nothing

the plaintiff can prove would bring the claim within the statute. Curry v. A.H. Robbins, 775

25



IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
EASTERN DIVISION

FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a New York

corporation,
Plaintiff,
Nos. 02 C 643, 02 C 644, 02 C 646,
02 C 647, 02 C 649, 02 C 651,
02 C 667, 02 C 668

The Honorable William J. Hibbler

Dp
S€p Oy

HOWARD SAV. BANK; BANK CALUMET,
N.A.; CHARTER BANK & TRUST, N.A,;
BRIDGEVIEW BANK & TRUST; FIRST
NAT'L BANK OF LAGRANGE; BANK OF
HOMEWOOD; STANDARD BANK &
Trust Co.; TCF NAT'L BANK ILL.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
v. )
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Defendants.

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff Fidelity National Title Insurance Company of New York (Fidelity) sued
nine banks! under the Illinois Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act (UFTA), 740 ILCS § 160/5
et seq. alleging that an Illinois title insurer, Intercounty Title Company of Illinois (Old

Intercounty) had fraudulently transferred certificates of deposit in excess of $7 million to

' Several of the Defendant Banks have changed names since the transactions at issue in
this case. For the sake of convenience and clarity, the Court refers to the Defendant Banks only
by the names that they now use.



The only reasonable inference that can be drawn from these undisputed facts is that
Fidelity had sufficient knowledge by December 21, 2000 to put it on notice that it had a
possible claim for fraudulent transfers and obligate it to investigate that claim, which
Fidelity, in fact, did over the next two months. Under Gilbert Brothers, the statute of
limitations thus began to run on December 21, 2000, when Fidelity had an obligation to
investigate whether the cause of action for fraudulent transfers lies. 630 N.E. 2d at 192.
Stimac suggested to them that Intercounty insiders were pledging certificates of deposit
purchased with escrow funds as collateral for personal loans. Fidelity had some
corroborating evidence to bolster Stimac’s suspicion: (1) it knew that the IRS (which was
also investigating the Intercounty fraud) had an interest in certificates of deposit and (2)
it knew that Intercounty insiders had used a certificate of deposit that had served as
INTIC’s statutory bond as collateral to obtain personal loans from Banco Popular. These
facts triggered a duty on Fidelity to investigate whether the Intercounty insiders
fraudulently transferred escrow assets to the banks using certificates of deposit purchased
with escrow funds to obtain personal loans. And in fact, Fidelity did begin such an
investigation. In the three weeks following Stimac’s revelation, Fidelity responded by : (1)
requesting that Deloitte and Touche produce a list of banks that might have received
fraudulent transfers; (2) issuing subpoenas to these banks to obtain records of the transfers
that it could not locate in Intercounty’s files; and (3) scrutinizing Old and New
Intercounty’s escrow reconciliations. By January 22, 2001, Fidelity’s counsel prepared a

memorandum explaining the results of the investigation to that point (among other things)

28



and Hargrove also formed ITI Enterprises to manage and control New Intercounty’s
escrow accounts. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement { 11).

ITI Enterprises assumed control over the employees and assets of Old Intercounty,
whereby former Old Intercounty employees became ITI Enterprises employees. (Thyfault
Dep. at 28-29). New Intercounty became the exclusive agent of INTIC for issuing title
insurance policies in Illinois and also acted as an escrow agent, holding funds in trust for
various real estate transactions. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {{ 6-10). INTIC, which served
as the underwriter for New Intercounty, issued closing protection letters under which it
indemnified parties to the escrow against loss in connection with closing activity. (Def.
56.1(a)(3) Statement 7] 12-13; Thyfault Dep. at 94-95).

According to Fidelity, Old and New Intercounty manipulated their books during
a three-month period between November 1995 and January 1996 in order to transfer nearly
$30 million in cash shortages in Old Intercounty’s escrow accounts (likely created in large
part because of Capriotti’s and Hargrove’s schemes, some of which were previously

described) to New Intercounty’s escrow accounts. (Pollard Rep. at 47-48).

° Defendant Banks dispute Pollard’s finding, claiming that “Pollard’s opinion is not
supported by citation to foundational facts nor does it explain how a ‘shortage’ in one account
can be ‘transferred’ to another.” The Court agrees in part. Pollard’s report directs the Court to
“Attachments C-24, C-25.” No such attachments, however, are appended to the report.
Although Pollard specifies the documents that he reviews, the Court is unable to assess these
documents because they are not attached to the report. Contrary to the Banks’ argument that
Pollard does not explain how a shortage can be transferred from one account to another,
however, the Court finds that he has done so. According to Pollard, escrow deposits were made
into Old Intercounty’s account, while corresponding withdrawals were made from New
Intercounty’s account — thus resulting in a net transfer in favor of Old Intercounty and against
New Intercounty. Pollard also explained that sometimes New Intercounty simply directly

12



Cc. Fidelity Discovers Escrow Shortages

In February or March 2000, Simonton discovered that there may have been a
shortage in New Intercounty’s escrow accounts. (Pl. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {[ 27). Although
Fidelity had a standard audit program, it was not designed for use with a reinsurance
agreement and thus had not monitored INTIC’s accounts. (Hunsinger Dep. at 13-15). In
April 2000, Simonton wrote a memorandum to his supervisor, Ronald Maudsley, claiming
that he had sent Fidelity employees to “look at INTIC policy recording procedures and
escrow practices,” in an effort to deflect blame from himself for any liability resulting from
the INTIC deal. (Def. 56.1(a)(3) Statement {{ 50-51; Simonton Dep. at 113).

In March and April 2000, Michael Gallaher, Fidelity’s Agency Audit Director and
Manager, began to investigate the extent of the New Intercounty’s escrow shortage. (Pl.
56.1(b)(3)(B) Statement { 48). As part of the investigation, Paul Hunsinger, a Fidelity Audit
Manager, went to New Intercounty to perform an escrow account analysis to determine
whether New Intercounty did, in fact, have an cash shortage in its escrow account.

‘Hunsinger Dep. at 110-112).2 Hunsinger learned, among other things, that New
g Pp. 8 g g

paper hunting for a dispute. See Waldridge v. American Hoechst Corp., 24 F.3d 918, 921-22 (7th
Cir. 1994). This is but one example of numerous “disputed” facts that are not truly in dispute.
Judging from the “disputes” in the parties’ statements of facts, all parties seem to be of the
mindset that any fact presented by their opponent cannot possibly be left undisputed. Ail parties
are encouraged to avoid knee-jerk, “dispute-everything” reactions to the opposing party’s
statement of facts and to reserve disputes for those facts where they can point to evidence that
actually refutes the opposing party’s fact.

* While performing the analysis, Hunsinger discovered that New Intercounty’s
escrow account was controlled by ITI Enterprises, a fact which until that point Fidelity

15