CHASE HOME FINANCE LLC v. JACK MIDDLETON, et al.
Case No. 12 CA 10
COURT OF APPEALS FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
November 29, 2012
2012-Ohio-5547
Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P. J. Hon. John W. Wise, J. Hon. Julie A. Edwards, J.
CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil Appeal from the Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2010 CV 1030. JUDGMENT: Affirmed.
For Plaintiff-Appellee
PATRICIA K. BLOCK
LERNER, SAMPSON & ROTHFUSS
120 East Fourth Street
Suite 800
Cincinnati, Ohio 45201-5480
For Defendants-Appellants
DANIEL L. McGOOKEY
KATHRYN M. EYSTER
LAUREN McGOOKEY
McGOOKEY LAW OFFICES
225 Meigs Street
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
{¶1} Defendant-appellant Jack Middleton appeals the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Fairfield County, Ohio, which overruled his
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE
{¶2} On April 25, 2007, Appellant Jack D. Middleton executed a promissory note in the amount of $136,500.00 with an interest rate of 9.800%, to Chase Bank USA, N.A. The Note was secured by a mortgage executed on the same date by Appellant to Chase Bank USA, N.A. encumbering the real property located at 11069 Wyandotte Road Southwest, Stoutsville, Ohio, 43154, and was recorded in the Fairfield County Recorder‘s Office. The Mortgage was assigned to Appellee Chase Home Finance, LLC, by Chase Bank USA, N.A. on August 11, 2010. Appellee is the current holder of both the Note and Mortgage.
{¶3} In March 2009, Appellant contacted the Federal Loan Modification Program in an effort to obtain a loan modification with Chase Bank USA.
{¶4} According to Appellant, the Federal Loan Modification Program told him that he did not have to make payments to Chase Bank USA during the loan modification review process, that this was considered a “grace period” or “forbearance period” and, that once he was approved for a loan modification, he would start making payments under the loan modification. (Middleton Affidavit, at ¶5).
{¶5} Appellant did not make his April 2009, May 2009, and June 2009 payments. (Middleton Affidavit, at ¶10)
{¶7} Chase Bank USA notified Appellant that he qualified for a Making Homes Affordable Loan Modification and he was to make payments of $526.07, in accordance with payment coupons, and that he would receive a permanent loan modification in short order. Appellant started making $526.07 payments to Chase Bank USA in July 2009. (Middleton‘s Affidavit, at ¶12).
{¶8} Appellant claims that he continued to make payments in accordance with the coupons and Chase Bank USA‘s requests. Appellant claims that Chase Bank USA continuously requested that he provide them with more financial information. (Middleton‘s Affidavit, at ¶13).
{¶9} Chase Bank USA never sent Appellant a permanent loan modification.
{¶10} On August 20, 2010, Appellee filed a Complaint in Foreclosure.
{¶11} On October 1, 2010, Appellee filed its motion for default judgment.
{¶12} On October 4, 2010, Appellee was granted default judgment after Appellant failed to file an answer.
{¶13} On December 15, 2011, Appellee sought an order for judicial sale of the subject property.
{¶14} On December 19, 2011, Appellant filed a Motion for Relief from Judgment.
{¶16} On February 24, 2012, the property was sold and purchased by Appellee Chase Home Finance, LLC.
{¶17} On March 5, 2012, Appellant moved the trial court for an order staying the execution of the order of sale, which is pending before the trial court.
{¶18} Appellant now appeals, assigning the following sole error for review:
{¶19} “THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING MIDDLETON‘S MOTION FOR RELIEF FROM JUDGMENT AND ERRED WHEN IT FAILED TO HOLD AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING.”
{¶20} Appellant argues that the trial court erred in denying his
{¶21}
{¶22} (B) Mistakes; inadvertence; excusable neglect; newly discovered evidence; fraud; etc.
{¶23} On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party or his legal representative from a final judgment, order or proceeding for the following reasons: (1) mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect; (2) newly discovered evidence which by due diligence could not have been discovered in time to move for a new trial under
{¶24} In order to prevail on a motion for relief from judgment pursuant to
{¶25} The decision to grant or deny a
{¶26}
{¶27} The trial court addressed the matter only on the law regarding subsection (5), and we will do likewise. Thus, the question of whether appellants’ motion was timely is whether it was reasonable under the facts and circumstances of the case. Colley v. Bazell, 64 Ohio St.2d. 243, 249-250.
{¶28} The trial court found the motion was untimely. The court noted that Appellant’s motion was filed more than fourteen (14) months after judgment was issued in this matter, further explaining:
{¶29} “In this instance, Defendant failed to act to protect his interests in this action from the beginning. Defendant acknowledges that he received service of the Complaint, and that the Complaint was made in the name of an entity other than the one from whom he was pursuing a loan modification, but that he chose not to respond to the Complaint. Further, even after the entry of judgment, Defendant failed to respond for more than fourteen months, until Plaintiff finally applied for an order of sale. Defendant asserted no facts in his affidavit to justify his delay. In fact, the facts set forth in Defendant’s affidavit show that Defendant was able to actively pursue a loan modification by filling out and submitting multiple financial packets, a process that is more time-consuming and arduous than filing a pro se response in this action or seeking the assistance of an attorney.” (Feb. 10, 2012, Judgment Entry at 2-3.)
{¶31} Additionally, Appellants argue that the trial court erred in not finding that Appellee failed to comply with HUD requirements, i.e. a face-to face meeting, pursuant to U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Detweiler, Stark App. No. 2011 CA00095, 2012-Ohio-73.
{¶32} Appellant, however, concedes that the loan in this case is not an FHA loan. Further, the Fannie Mae Servicing Guidelines would represent a contractual agreement between Appellee and Fannie Mae. Appellant would not be a party to such an agreement.
{¶33} Appellant further argues the trial court erred in not conducting a hearing before ruling on his motion.
{¶34} We find that the trial court, having found the motion to be untimely, did not address the merits of Appellant’s motion. We find no error herein.
{¶35} We find the trial court did not err in determining Appellants’ motion pursuant to
{¶37} For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Fairfield County, Ohio, is affirmed.
By: Wise, J.
Gwin, P. J., and
Edwards, J., concur.
JUDGES
JWW/d 1113
CHASE HOME FINANCE LLC v. JACK MIDDLETON, et al.
Case No. 12 CA 10
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS FOR FAIRFIELD COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
JUDGMENT ENTRY
Costs assessed to Appellant.
JUDGES