Opinion ID: 781254
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Dyer Lindblade Divorce and Dyer Bankruptcy

Text: 13 In March 1998, Dyer filed for divorce from Jeanie. Soon thereafter he filed for bankruptcy. In his original bankruptcy schedules, Dyer did not record any debt owed to Mr. Lindblade. 14 Attorney Patricia Teunisse (Teunisse) represented Jeanie in the divorce proceedings. She also represented Mr. Lindblade regarding his claim to a lien secured by the home. On April 28, 1999, Teunisse handed the deed of trust to an associate in her office and asked that the deed be recorded. The deed was not immediately recorded. 15 Teunisse asserts that when she initiated the recordation process, she was not yet aware of Dyer's bankruptcy. She became aware of the bankruptcy filing, however, the next day, when Dyer, Jeanie, Teunisse, and Mr. and Mrs. Lindblade all attended a property settlement negotiation regarding the Dyer-Lindblade divorce. 16 After learning of the bankruptcy proceedings, neither Teunisse nor Mr. Lindblade attempted to halt the recordation of the deed of trust. Instead, on May 1, 1998, Teunisse sent a letter to Dyer's bankruptcy counsel, stating: 17 The $143,000.00 initial down payment was secured by a promissory note and a deed of trust. A copy of each follows this letter. As I indicated to you over the telephone, the Lindblades were under the impression that Mr. Dyer had done everything necessary to secure their interest against the home. They did not understand that their trust deed had not been recorded. We are ensuring the recordation of the same. 18 Please notify the trustee of our position... I am not sure what action we will take yet to clear the title to the property but some action will be taken shortly. 19 The deed was recorded on May 11, 1998. Subsequently, in June 1998, Dyer amended his bankruptcy schedule to indicate that Mr. Lindblade had a second deed of trust on the home.