Court Opinion

ID: 2692730
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-08-01 21:52:05.449839+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:13:12.138416
License: Public Domain

[Cite as PNC Bank, N.A. v. O'Malley, 2014-Ohio-2450.]

                         IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                            SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
                               MONTGOMERY COUNTY

PNC BANK, N.A.                                  :
                                                :      Appellate Case No. 25931
        Plaintiff-Appellee                      :
                                                :      Trial Court Case No. 11-CV-7104
v.                                              :
                                                :
TERESA L. O’MALLEY, et al.                      :      (Civil Appeal from
                                                :      (Common Pleas Court)
        Defendant-Appellant                     :
                                                :
                                            ..........
                                          OPINION
                             Rendered on the 6th day of June, 2014.
                                            ..........

ADAM R. FOGELMAN, Atty. Reg. No. 0073970, 120 East Fourth Street, 8th Floor,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
       Attorney for Plaintiff-Appellee

GRACE M. DOBERDRUK, Atty. Reg. No. 0085547 and MARC E. DANN, Atty. Reg. No.
0039425 and DANIEL M. SOLAR, Atty. Reg. No. 0085632, 4600 Prospect Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio 44103
       Attorneys for Defendant-Appellant, Teresa O’Malley

DOUGLAS TROUT, Atty. Reg. No. 0072027, 301 W. Third Street, 5th Floor, Dayton, Ohio
45422
      Attorney for Montgomery County Treasurer
                                   ..........

FAIN, J.

        {¶ 1}    Defendant-appellant Teresa O’Malley appeals from an order confirming a
                                                                                                2

foreclosure sale. O’Malley argues that the trial court’s jurisdiction was never properly

invoked, because the complaint filed by plaintiff-appellee PNC Bank, N.A., fails to establish

that it has standing.

        {¶ 2}    We conclude that the complaint alleges sufficient facts to establish PNC

Bank’s standing. The complaint includes both allegations that O’Malley entered into a loan

modification agreement with National City Mortgage Co., and that there were successions in

interest from National City Mortgage Co., to National City Mortgage, Inc., to National City

Real Estate Services LLC, to PNC Bank, the plaintiff. Accordingly, the order confirming

the foreclosure sale is Affirmed.

                        I. The Essential Facts Alleged in the Complaint

        {¶ 3}    In its complaint, PNC alleges that it is the holder of a note

                and loan modification agreements, and that by “reason of

                default under the terms of the note, loan modification

                agreements and the mortgage securing same, plaintiff has

                declared the debt evidenced thereby said due; and there is due

                thereon from the defendant, Teresa O’Malley, $45,784.64,

                together with interest at the rate of 7.375% per year from July

                1, 2009,” as well as court costs and advances. PNC alleges

                that the note is secured by a mortgage which “constitutes a

                valid first lien upon the real estate,” and further that:

                         The mortgage was filed for record on March 26, 1992,
                                                                                              3

               in Volume 92-0943, Page C07, of the county recorder’s

               records and it was assigned to the plaintiff herein.       The

               conditions of defeasance contained therein have been broken;

               plaintiff has complied with all conditions precedent; and

               plaintiff is entitled to have said mortgage foreclosed. A copy

               of said Assignment is attached hereto as Exhibit ‘E’. PNC

               Bank, National Association is successor in interest to National

               City Real Estate Services LLC, as evidenced by the documents

               attached hereto as Exhibit ‘F’.    National City Real Estate

               Services LLC is successor by merger to National City

               Mortgage, Inc., as evidenced by the document attached hereto

               as Exhibit ‘G’.    National City Mortgage, Inc. is formerly

               known as National City Mortgage Co., as evidenced by the

               document attached hereto as Exhibit ‘H’.        National City

               Mortgage Co. is successor by merger to Integra Mortgage Co.,

               as evidenced by the documents attached hereto as Exhibits ‘I’

               and ‘J’.

       {¶ 4}    Attached to the complaint as Exhibit A is a “Balloon Note,” dated March 13,

1992, in the amount of $44,500.00, identifying Mayflower Mortgage, Inc., as the lender,

Patrick A. O’Malley and Teresa O’Malley as borrowers, and 5923 Kevin Drive as the

property at issue. There is an undated endorsement signed by Julie Davis, Assistant Vice

President:
                                                                                             4

       PAY TO THE ORDER OF

       ______________________

       WITHOUT RECOURSE

       MAYFLOWER MORTGAGE, INC.

       {¶ 5}    There is also an endorsement, dated August 2, 1999, signed by Debra Conley,

Assignment Specialist:

       PAY TO THE ORDER OF

       ______________________

       WITHOUT RECOURSE

       NATIONAL CITY MORTGAGE CO.

       {¶ 6}    Attached to the “Balloon Note” is a “Balloon Note Addendum.”

       {¶ 7}    Attached to the Complaint as Exhibit B is a Mortgage Modification Agreement,

dated April 9, 1999, signed by Patrick O’Malley and Teresa O’Malley as borrowers, and

identifying National City Mortgage Co. as the lender. It includes the following provision:

               In return for a loan that I have received, I promise to pay U.S. $40,987.76

       (this amount is called “principal”), plus interest, to the order of Lender.       I

       understand that the Lender may transfer this Note. The Lender or anyone who

       takes this Note by transfer and who is entitled to receive payments under this Note

       is called the “Note Holder.”

       {¶ 8}    Attached to the Complaint as Exhibit C is a Loan Modification Agreement, dated

August 1, 2004, identifying Teresa O’Malley as the borrower and National City Mortgage Co. as

the lender. The Loan Modification Agreement provides that it “amends and supplements (1) the
                                                                                                5

Note (the ‘Note’) made by the Borrower and NATIONAL CITY MORTGAGE COMPANY,

dated March 13, 1992, in the original principal sum of U.S. $44,500.00 and (2) the Mortgage,

Deed of Trust, or Deed to Secure Debt (the Security Instrument), * * * .”              The Loan

Modification Agreement also provides: “The Security Instrument, which was entered into as

security for the performance of the Note, encumbers the real and personal property described in

the Security Instrument * * * which is located at 5923 Kevin Drive, Dayton OH 45432.” The

Loan Modification Agreement provides, “The Borrower and Lender agree that the provisions of

this Modification supersede and replace any inconsistent provisions set forth in the Note and

Security Instrument.” The Loan Modification Agreement provides that $8,350.97 in accrued

and unpaid interest has been “added to the indebtedness under the terms of the Note and Security

Instrument. As of August 1, 2004, the amount including such amounts which have been added

to the indebtedness (if any), payable under the Note and Security Instrument * * * is $45,834.94.”

Attached is a “Modification Due on Transfer Rider” and a “1-4 Family Modification Agreement

Rider Assignment of Rents.”

        {¶ 9}   Attached to the Complaint as Exhibit D is an “Open End Mortgage,” dated

March 13, 1992, identifying Patrick O’Malley and Teresa O’Malley as borrowers and Mayflower

Mortgage, Inc. as the lender. It provides that “Borrower owes Lender the principal sum of Forty

Four Thousand Five Hundred and 00/100 Dollars,” and it identifies the Kevin Drive address.

The mortgage bears a time stamp from the Montgomery County Recorder’s Office of March 26,

1992.

        {¶ 10} Exhibit E attached to PNC’s complaint appears to be an assignment of mortgage

by Mayflower Mortgage Company to Integra Mortgage Company, dated February 28, 1995,
                                                                                                  6

although the document is barely legible. We note that the Preliminary Judicial Report herein

indicates, in an exception, as follows:

               Mortgage Assignment from Mayflower Mortgage, Inc., 208 West

       Monument Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45402, to Integra Mortgage Company, its

       successors and/or assigns, Atima, 116 Allegheny Center Mall, Pittsburgh,

       Pennsylvania 15212, dated February 28, 1995, filed April 25, 1995 at 8:06 a.m.,

       as Official Record Volume No. 95-1009, Page D05, in the Records of

       Montgomery County, Ohio.

       {¶ 11} Attached to the complaint as Exhibit F is a “Certificate,” that provides in part:

               The undersigned, Janet L. Deringer, Assistant Secretary of PNC Bank,

       National Association, does hereby certify that the following is a true and correct

       copy of an excerpt from the By-Laws of PNC Bank, National Association and a

       true and correct copy of Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of PNC

       Bank, National Association on April 25, 2006 and that said excerpt and

       Resolutions are in full force and effect, and further that, Michael D. Ferguson is a

       duly appointed Vice President of PNC Bank, National Association.

       {¶ 12} The By-Laws and Resolutions provide that the Assistant Secretary of PNC has

the “authority to affix and attest the corporate seal of the Bank.” The certificate is dated

November 9, 2009 and bears the seal of PNC. Exhibit F also contains a “Certificate,” dated

November 6, 2009, bearing the PNC seal and signed by Janet Deringer, which provides:

               1. National City Bank was a wholly owned subsidiary of National City

       Corporation.
                                                                                            7

                2. Effective December 31, 2008, National City Corporation merged into

       The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. and National City Bank became a wholly

       owned subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

                3. Effective as of November 6, 2009, National City Bank and pursuant to

       approval granted by the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

       (as evidenced by the official certification dated November 6, 2009 attached hereto

       as Exhibit “A”), was merged with and into PNC Bank, National Association.

                4. PNC Bank, National Association is a duly organized and existing

       national banking association * * * and wholly owned subsidiary of PNC Bancorp,

       Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.) * *

       *.

       {¶ 13} “Exhibit A” to the “Certificate” is correspondence, dated November 6, 2009,

from the office of the Comptroller of Currency, Licensing Division, to the Chief Regulatory

Counsel of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., that provides, “This letter is the official

certification of the Comptroller of the Currency to merge National City Bank, Cleveland, Ohio

“(NCB”), with and into PNC Bank, National Association * * * . The resulting bank’s title is

PNC Bank, National Association, charter number 1316.

       {¶ 14}    Attached to the complaint as Exhibit G are documents from the office of the

Ohio Secretary of State reflecting that National City Mortgage, Inc. merged into National City

Real Estate Services LLC, effective January 1, 2007.    Attached to the complaint as Exhibit H

are documents from the office of the Ohio Secretary of State regarding the “amendment to

articles” of National City Mortgage Inc., dated January 4, 2005, reflecting that National City
                                                                                               8

Mortgage, Inc., was formerly known as National City Mortgage Co. Attached to the complaint

as Exhibit I is another “Certificate,” dated December 14, 2010, and signed by Janet Deringer,

which is repetitive of the “Certificate” quoted above in Exhibit F. Finally, attached to the

complaint as Exhibit J is a “Certificate,” dated December 15, 2010, and signed by Janet Deringer,

which provides as follows:

                     ***

                     1. Effective May 3, 1996, Integra Financial Corporation was acquired by

            National City Corporation.

                     2. Effective December 31, 2008, National City Corporation merged with

          and into The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.

          {¶ 15} The trial court rendered a judgment of foreclosure. After sundry proceedings,

including a stay occasioned by O’Malley’s Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding, the trial court

entered a Journal Entry Confirming Sale, Ordering Deed and Distributing Sale Proceeds, the

order from which this appeal is taken.

                          II. In its Complaint, PNC Bank Alleged Sufficient Facts

                         to Set Forth its Standing to Bring this Foreclosure Action

          {¶ 16} O’Malley’s sole assignment of error is as follows1:

                     THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY CONFIRMING THE SALE WHEN

          APPELLEE PNC LACKED STANDING.

          {¶ 17} PNC asserts that “the judgment awarding default judgment in PNC’s favor and

   1
       Patrick O’Malley has not appealed.
                                                                                                     9

Decree in Foreclosure was entered almost two years” before O’Malley filed her notice of appeal,

that it is a final appealable order, and that “this Court lacks jurisdiction to hear this appeal

because O’Malley did not file a notice of appeal within the 30 days allotted under Rule 4 of the

Rules of Appellate Procedure.” PNC asserts that an “order confirming a foreclosure sale is a

final appealable order, and appellate court’s review of the trial court’s order of confirmation of

sale is limited to whether a sale was conducted in accordance with R.C. 2329.01 through R.C.

2329.61.” PNC asserts, once “a sale is confirmed, and proceeds from the sale are distributed,

there is no controversy and an appellate court lacks the ability to afford relief to the parties.”

       {¶ 18} If, under Federal Home Loan Mortg. Corp. v. Schwartzwald, 134 Ohio St.3d 13,

2012-Ohio-5017, 979 N.E.2d 1214, a plaintiff’s lack of standing at the time of filing of the

complaint is fatal to the trial court’s subject-matter jurisdiction, because the plaintiff is without

standing to invoke the trial court’s jurisdiction, then a foreclosure judgment previously entered

would be not merely voidable, but void, and the foreclosure defendant could raise the standing

issue, thereby collaterally attacking the foreclosure judgment, at any time. Because we find that

PNC Bank did have standing when the complaint was filed, we need not determine whether a

lack of standing at the time a complaint is filed renders the resulting judgment not merely

voidable, but void.

       {¶ 19} O’Malley argues that the “trial court erred by confirming the sale when Appellee

PNC filed a foreclosure complaint with a note originally payable to Mayflower Mortgage Inc.,

the assignment of mortgage was unreadable, the merger documents do not demonstrate that

Appellee had an interest in the note or mortgage, and Appellee failed to invoke the subject matter

jurisdiction of the court making both the judgment and sale void ab initio.” O’Malley relies
                                                                                                                                         10

      upon Schwartzwald and Wells Fargo Bank, NA v. Horn, 9th Dist. Lorain No 12CA010230,

      2013-Ohio-2374.

                {¶ 20} We conclude that the complaint in this case was sufficient to set forth standing

      on the part of PNC to bring this action.

                {¶ 21} PNC’s complaint is captioned in part, “PNC Bank, National Association

      successor in interest to National City Real Estate Services LLC successor by merger to National

      City Mortgage, Inc., fka National City Mortgage Co. * * * .” Exhibit H to the complaint

      establishes that National City Mortgage, Inc. was formerly known as National City Mortgage

      Company, and Exhibit G establishes that National City Mortgage Inc. merged into National City

      Real Estate Services as PNC alleges.

                {¶ 22} Exhibit F establishes that National City Bank, a wholly-owned subsidiary of

      National City Corporation, was merged into PNC Bank, NA. What is not expressly evident

      from the documents is that National City Real Estate Services, LLC was the mortgage arm of,

      and a wholly-owned subsidiary of, National City Bank.2 When National City Bank was merged

      into PNC Bank, its various merchandising subsidiaries were or became part of the merged bank.

      Therefore National City’s merger with PNC would have included the transfer of everything

      National City owned, including its wholly owned subsidiaries. Although Exhibit F does not

          2
              Our record neither supports, nor refutes, that National City Real Estate Services was part of National City Bank. But in
National City Real Estate Services LLC [NCRES] v. Shields, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2012-T-0076, 2013-Ohio-2839, an affidavit in
support of summary judgment revealed: “NCMI [National City Mortgage Inc.] (loan originator) merged with and into National City Real
Estate Services [NCRES] (a wholly owned subsidiary of National City Bank) effective January 1, 2007. NCMC (loan servicer) merged with
and into National City Bank (NCB) effective October 1, 2008. NCB later merged with and into PNC on November 6, 2009. NCRES became
a wholly-owned subsidiary of PNC at the time of the merger between NCB and PNC and then was dissolved as a corporate entity the next
day.” Id. at ¶ 23.
                                                                                                    11

directly support PNC’s allegation, in its complaint, that it is a successor in interest to National

City Real Estate Services, LLC, it does not rebut or impeach that allegation either, since nothing

in Exhibit F is inconsistent with the proposition that National City Real Estate Services was a

subsidiary of National City Bank when it merged into PNC Bank, the plaintiff. Thus, Exhibit F

does not contradict or undermine the allegation in PNC Bank’s complaint that it is a successor in

interest to National City Real Estate Services, LLC.

       {¶ 23} Because the allegations in PNC Bank’s complaint allege that it is a successor in

interest to National City Mortgage Company, the original obligee under the loan and mortgage

modification agreements executed by O’Malley, we conclude that PNC Bank sufficiently alleged

standing to invoke the jurisdiction of the trial court. O’Malley’s sole assignment of error is

overruled.

                                          III. Conclusion

       {¶ 24} O’Malley’s sole assignment of error having been overruled, the order of

confirmation of sale, from which this appeal is taken, is Affirmed.

                                             ..........

DONOVAN, J., concurs in judgment only.

HALL, J., concurring,

       {¶ 25} I agree with the analysis and conclusions in the lead opinion.

       {¶ 26} I write separately to emphasize that, in my view, the fact that plaintiff PNC Bank

is the holder of the note is not at all in dispute. In addition to the allegation in the complaint that
                                                                                                                                                12

      PNC is the holder of the note, PNC also submitted a December 2, 2011 affidavit stating: “PNC

      Bank National Association is the holder of, and has the right to enforce, a certain promissory note

      * * *.” The balance due is described in the affidavit. There is no evidence to the contrary.

      O’Malley failed to answer and a default judgment was entered. Civil Rule 55 governs default

      judgments. It applies the provisions of Civ.R. 8(D), which states: “Averments in a pleading to

      which a responsive pleading is required, other than those as to the amount of damage, are

      admitted when not denied in the responsive pleading.” Consequently, the fact that the plaintiff,

      PNC, is the holder of the note, entitled to enforce it and the mortgage securing the note,3 has

      been admitted due to the lack of an answer and the default judgment. There was never a Civ. R.

      60(B) motion filed to contest any facts alleged in the complaint. No contrary evidentiary material

      was presented. The first appearance by the appellant was through a motion to stay further

      execution of judgment and eviction, filed September 26, 2013, six days after an order of

      confirmation of sale (filed 9-20-13) and nearly two years after the judgment entry and foreclosure

      decree (filed 12-5-2011). In that motion to stay, the appellant did not raise the issues now raised

      on appeal concerning the unclear documentation of transfer of the original note and the

      inadequate documentation of the merger of PNC and National City. Rather, at that time the

      appellant attempted to argue that “(‘Fannie Mae’) is the holder and party entitled to enforce the

      note at issue.” (Defendant’s Motion, etc., pg. 3). In support, attached to the motion was an

      internet printout purportedly from the Fannie Mae website reflecting that Fannie Mae is the

          3
           In addition to the complaint’s allegations that the note is secured by a mortgage, which is attached to the complaint as exhibit D
and which was assigned to PNC, we previously have held that “the transfer of a note automatically results in equitable assignment of a
mortgage securing the note.” (Citation omitted) PHH Mtge. Corp. v. Unknown Heirs, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25617, 2013-Ohio-4614,
¶ 7.
                                                                                                  13

“owner” of the loan. Obviously, PNC need not be the “owner” of the note to enforce it.4 In

addition, not only is the attachment not of evidentiary quality, but close inspection also reveals

that it states: “Your mortgage company is PNC Bank, N.A.” Thus, even the appellant’s dubious

attempt to produce some evidence in support of her position actually solidifies the default

judgment and the undisputed facts it embodies.

       {¶ 27} I also emphasize that because of the modification agreements directly between

appellant and National City in 1999 (exhibit B) and 2004 (exhibit C), National City had standing

to enforce the note and mortgage as of the execution of those agreements. The only remaining

question is whether PNC acquired National City’s interests. PNC alleged that it did. Those

allegations are confirmed by the failure to answer. Averments in the complaint that are admitted

by failure to answer do not become less established simply because some unnecessary

attachments to the complaint may not precisely confirm the complaint’s allegations. When a

complaint is based on a note or mortgage, Civ.R. 10(D)(1) requires that the instruments be

attached or their omission explained. When a plaintiff alleges it is the holder of an attached note,

no further explanation is required. Here the appellant’s challenge to the complaint, and thus to

PNC’s standing, is that surplus documents attached to the complaint do not entirely support the

allegation that PNC Bank is a successor to National City Mortgage Company. The surplus

attachments need not support the allegation as long as they do not expressly contradict it.

Because the attachments are not inconsistent with the complaint’s allegations, the allegations of

the complaint that PNC is holder of the note, and was assigned the mortgage, are undisputed,

leading to PNC’s standing to pursue this action.

   4
   Nationstar Mtge, LLC v. West, 2d Dist. Montgomery Nos. 25813, 25837, 2014-Ohio-735, ¶ 29-33.
                                           14

                              ..........

Copies mailed to:

Adam R. Fogelman
Grace M. Doberdruk
Marc E. Dann
Daniel M. Solar
Douglas Trout
Hon. Mary Katherine Huffman