Opinion ID: 811330
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Tender Payment

Text: We also reject the Portises’ argument that Deutsche Bank’s failure to tender payment for the Property within one year of foreclosure cannot be excused. The redemption statute provides, in pertinent part, that “[a]nyone entitled and desiring to redeem real estate under the provisions of this article must also pay or tender to the purchaser . . . the purchase price paid at the sale, with interest . . ., and all other lawful charges, also with interest . . . .” Ala. Code § 6-5-253. The Portises correctly state that “[p]ayment or tender to the purchaser . . . [is] a condition precedent to filing a complaint to redeem, unless excused.” Nichols v. Colvin, 674 So. 2d 576, 579 (Ala. Civ. App. 1995). As the district court recognized, however, under Alabama Supreme Court precedent a redemptioner’s failure to make payment or tender prior to filing a complaint to redeem is excused if the redemptioner “submits himself to the jurisdiction of the court and offers to do equity.” Robino v. Green, 119 So. 2d 897, 899 (Ala. 1960). Here, Deutsche Bank’s complaint sought a declaration that the Citibank foreclosure was void and of no effect. In the alternative, Deutsche Bank requested that “if the Court determines that Deutsche Bank is not entitled to the relief requested . . . above, Deutsche Bank be entitled to redeem the Subject property from Citibank for an 12 Case: 11-15790 Date Filed: 11/06/2012 Page: 13 of 17 appropriate redemption price.” Under Robino, once Deutsche Bank submitted itself to the court’s jurisdiction and offered to pay the appropriate redemption price, it was excused from making payment or tender prior to filing its complaint. Thus, we affirm the district court’s holding that Deutsche Bank’s failure to tender payment is excused.