United States of America v. Wheelock et al, No. 3:2012cv03055 - Document 22 (C.D. Ill. 2012)
Court Description: OPINION: 21 Motion for Judgment of Forfeiture/Foreclosure is GRANTED. See written Opinion. Entered by Judge Sue E. Myerscough on 7/27/2012. (MJ, ilcd)
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E-FILED Monday, 30 July, 2012 03:59:56 PM Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. MICHAEL WHEELOCK, JESSIE WHEELOCK, STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL OF ILLINOIS, HARRIS, N.A. AND CITY OF LINCOLN, Defendants. ) ) ) ) ) CIVIL NO. 12-3055 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) OPINION SUE E. MYERSCOUGH, U.S. District Judge: The Court now considers Plaintiff United States of America's Motion to Enter Judgment (d/e 21)(hereinafter the "Motion"). Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55, 28 U.S.C. § 2001, and for the reasons stated below, the Motion is GRANTED. In connection with its decision, the Court has considered all of the pleadings and evidence submitted to date. Based thereon, the Court makes these FINDINGS: I. JURISDICTION 1. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1345 and 1391, respectively. Defendants Michael Wheelock and Jessie Wheelock were both served with Summons and Complaint by the United States Marshal on April 9, 2012. Defendant Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois returned Waiver of Service of Summons on February 22, 2012. Defendant Harris, N.A. was served with Summons and Complaint by the United States Marshal on June 8, 2012. Defendants were served pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 and have acknowledged receipt of the Complaint as shown by the file in this case. Defendants, Michael Wheelock, Jessie Wheelock, Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois and Harris, N.A., did not thereafter voluntarily appear in these proceedings. 2. Defendant City of Lincoln consents to entry of judgment against it, in favor of the United States. II. EVIDENTIARY FINDINGS 2 1. Defendants, Michael Wheelock and Jessie Wheelock, executed a mortgage, attached as Exhibit A to the complaint, dated January 26, 2007, and on January 26, 2007, they executed a note (attached to the complaint as Exhibit B), in the amount of $33,200 secured by said mortgage. The UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, acting through the RURAL DEVELOPMENT, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, was the mortgagee on said mortgage executed by said Defendants as mortgagors. Said mortgage pertaining to the property described herein was recorded on January 29, 2007, as Instrument No. 200700046441, in the Office of the Logan County, Illinois, Recorder. 2. The material factual allegations stated in the Complaint filed herein have not been denied in any responsive pleading. 3. Plaintiff is the owner of the note and mortgage described in said complaint. 4. Plaintiff moved the court enter a Default Judgment of Foreclosure in this cause and has filed with said Motion an Affidavit of Costs by Molly K. Hammond, Acting State Director, Rural Development. 3 That pleading and Affidavit stated that as of May 22, 2012, Plaintiff was owed (via a Note and Mortgage hereinafter described) the sum of $39,429.11, plus a daily per diem accrual of $5.5781 thereafter to date of judgment and no objection being made to said Motion or Affidavit of said Motion, said motion is allowed and Affidavit admitted into evidence in this cause. 5. That the following are names of persons who may have claimed an interest in the above-described property, but who are foreclosed from asserting their claim, if any, because of their default in this action: Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois, Harris, N.A. and City of Lincoln 6. That all of the material allegations contained in the Complaint are true and that by virtue of the mortgage and indebtedness thereby secured, the plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, has a valid and subsisting lien arising out of a real estate mortgage on the property described as follows: Beginning at a point 522 feet West from the Southwest corner of Block 2 in West Lincoln, 4 Logan County, Illinois, now a part of the City of Lincoln and on the North side of Fifth Street and running from said point North 153 feet to the alley; thence East parallel with Fifth Street 32 feet; thence South 153 feet to the North line of Fifth Street; thence West along the North Line of Fifth Street 32 feet to the place of beginning, being 32 feet front on Fifth Street by 153 feet in depth to the alley. (Lot 9 of Abstracter s Plat) PIN No. 54-12-315-009-00 7. That by virtue of the mortgage and the indebtedness thereby secured, as alleged in the Complaint, there is due the Plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, as follows: a) For its own use and benefit for the costs of this suit and for: U.S. Attorney's Docket Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $350.00 U.S. Marshals' Costs for Service of Summons . $315.40 Recording Notice of a Suit to Foreclose Mortgage$40.00 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $705.40 b) Unpaid principal and interest: Unpaid principal balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $33,638.00 Accrued interest at $5.5781 per day 5 due and unpaid as of 5/22/12 . . . . . . . . . . . . $3,200.62 Late charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $31.68 Interest on Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $82.31 Fees Assessed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,771.10 Total amount due plaintiff as of 5/22/12, exclusive of foreclosure costs . . . . . . . . $39,429.11 c) In addition, plaintiff may be compelled to advance various sums of money in payment of costs, fees, expenses, and disbursements incurred in connection with the foreclosure, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, filing fees, stenographer's fees, witness fees, costs of publication, costs of procuring and preparing documentary evidence and costs of procuring abstracts of title, certificates, foreclosure minutes, a title insurance policy and fees, charges, and expenses provided by law incurred by or owing to the United States Marshal, including such fees and expenses relating to conducting of the judicial sale as required by this judgment of foreclosure. d) Under the terms of the mortgage, all such advances, costs and other fees, expenses and disbursements are made a lien upon the mortgaged real estate and the Plaintiff is entitled to recover all such advances, costs, expenses and disbursements, together with interest on all advances at the rate provided in the mortgage, or, if no rate, from the date on which such advances are made. e) In order to protect the lien of the mortgage, Plaintiff may necessarily have to pay taxes and assessments which have 6 been or may be levied upon the mortgaged real estate. f) In order to protect and preserve the mortgaged real estate, Plaintiff may have to make such repairs to the real estate as may reasonably be deemed necessary for the proper preservation thereof. g) Under the terms of the mortgage, any money so paid or expended has or will become an additional indebtedness secured by the mortgage and will bear interest from the date such monies are advanced at the rate provided in the mortgage, or, if no rate is provided, at the statutory judgment rate. 8. The present owners of the above-described real estate are: Michael Wheelock and Jessie Wheelock 9. Logan County, Illinois, has a valid lien on the above-described property for taxes for the years 2011 and 2012 and the property will be sold subject to the interest of Logan County, resulting from taxes, general or special, which are a valid lien against the above-described property. 10. Statewide Independent Living Council of Illinois, claims an interest in these proceedings by virtue of Recapture Agreements, both dated January 26, 2007 and recorded January 29, 2007 as Document Nos. 200700046442 and 200700046443. The interest of said 7 Defendant is inferior to that of the Plaintiff. Harris N.A., claims an interest in these proceedings by virtue of a Mortgage dated January 26, 2007 and recorded January 29, 2007 as Document No. 200700046444, in the amount of $5,000.00. The interest of said Defendant is inferior to that of the Plaintiff. The City of Lincoln, claims an interest in these proceedings by virtue of a notice of lien in favor of the City of Lincoln, against Michael and Jessie Wheelock, recorded February 21, 2008, as Document No. 200800052014, in the amount of $324.58. The interest of said Defendant is inferior to that of the Plaintiff. 11. The above-described property is abandoned, and Plaintiff is entitled to a shortened redemption period pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/151603. 12. The premises which are the subject of this proceeding are valuable, and unless the purchaser, as Plaintiff s assignee, is placed in immediate possession during the 30-day period following the confirmation of the Report of Sale of Real Estate, the premises would be subject to vandalism, waste, loss and possible destruction. 8 13. By reason of the defaults alleged and proved, if the indebtedness had not matured by its terms, the same became due by the exercise, by the Plaintiff or other persons having such power, of a right or power to declare immediately due and payable the whole of all indebtedness secured by the mortgage. 14. Any and all notices of default or election to declare the indebtedness due and payable or other notices required to be given have been duly and properly given. 15. Any and all periods of grace or other period of time allowed for the performance of the covenants or conditions claimed to be breached or for the curing of any breaches have expired. 16. All lien or mortgage claimants defaulted are found and declared to have no interest in the real estate foreclosed, as they have offered no evidence of said interest. 17. Said real estate is free and clear of all liens and encumbrances except: a) General real estate taxes for the years 2011 and 2012 and thereafter and special assessments, if any. 9 b) Said mortgage given to Plaintiff. c) Easements and restrictions of record. 18. Plaintiff's mortgage is prior and superior to all other mortgages, claims of interest and liens upon the real estate except for real estate taxes and special assessments, if any, and except for any mortgages or liens found herein to be prior and superior to Plaintiff's mortgage or prior liens of non-parties. WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED: III. ORDER UPON DEEMED REQUEST FOR FORECLOSURE 1. An accounting has been taken under the direction of the Court of the amounts due and owing to the Plaintiff as declared herein. 2. Defendants are ordered to pay to the Plaintiff before expiration of any redemption period (or, if no redemption period, within seven days after the date of this judgment) whatever sums may appear to be due upon the taking of such account, together with fees and costs of the proceedings to the extent provided in the mortgage or by law. 3. In default of such payment in accordance with this judgment, 10 the mortgaged real estate shall be sold as directed by the court, to satisfy the amount due to the Plaintiff as set forth in this judgment, together with the interest thereon at the statutory judgment rate from the date of the judgment. 4. In the event the Plaintiff is a purchaser of the mortgaged real estate at such sale, the Plaintiff may offset against the purchase price of such real estate the amounts due under the judgment for the foreclosure and order confirming the sale. 5. In the event of such sale and the failure of the person entitled thereto to redeem prior to such sale pursuant to statutory provisions, the Defendants made parties to the foreclosure in accordance with statutory provisions, and all non-record claimants given notice of the foreclosure in accordance with statutory provisions, and all persons claiming by, through or under them, and each and any and all of them, shall be forever barred and foreclosed of any right, title, interest, claim, lien, or right to redeem in and to the mortgaged real estate. 6. If no redemption is made prior to such sale, a deed shall be 11 issued to the purchaser according to law and such purchaser shall be let into possession of the mortgaged real estate in accordance with statutory provisions. IV. ORDER UPON SPECIAL MATTERS 1. Exceptions to which title in the real estate shall be subject at the sale shall include general real estate taxes for the current year and for the preceding year which have not become due and payable as of the date of this judgment and any special assessments upon the real estate and easements and restrictions of record. 2. In the event any party to this foreclosure is a successful bidder at the sale, such party may offset against the purchase price to be paid for such real estate all amounts due such party under this judgment of foreclosure or the order confirming the sale. 3. Said property is being sold at this judicial sale AS IS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF HABITABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. V. ORDER FOR JUDICIAL SALE 12 1. The real estate is ordered sold in accordance with the statutory provision by the U. S. Marshal or his representative. 2. Upon expiration of the redemption period, the real estate shall be sold by the U. S. Marshal for the Central District of Illinois at the front door of the Logan County Courthouse in the City of Lincoln, Illinois, at the time announced by the U. S. Marshal as provided hereinbelow subject to easements and restrictions of record and taxes, general or special, due and owing to Logan County, Illinois, in addition to the real estate transfer tax (35 ILCS 200/31-1, et. seq.), shall be paid by buyer(s). Said property shall be sold to the highest bidder who shall pay ten percent (10%) of the bid purchase price at the time and place of sale by Cashier's/Official Bank Check or Money Order made payable to the U. S. Marshals Service, tendered to the U.S. Marshal conducting the sale. The balance of the bid purchase price shall be paid by Cashier's/Official Bank Check or Money Order made payable to U.S. Marshals Service, to be received by the United States Marshal at 100 N.E. Monroe, Peoria, Illinois 61601 within thirty (30) days of date of 13 said sale. If the balance is not received within said time period, the ten percent (10%) payment made at time of sale shall be forfeited to the United States, the sale shall be void and a new sale shall be scheduled by the Court. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the U.S. Marshal for the Central District of Illinois give public notice of the sale as follows: a) The notice of sale shall include the following information, but an immaterial error in the information shall not invalidate the legal effect of the notice: i) The name, address, and telephone number of the person to contact for information regarding the real estate; ii) The common address and other common description (other than legal description), if any, of the real estate; iii) A legal description of the real estate sufficient to identify it with reasonable certainty; iv) A description of the improvements on the real estate; v) The real estate may be inspected prior to sale upon making reasonable arrangements with the person identified in paragraph i above; 14 vi) The time and place of the sale; vii) The terms of the sale; viii) The case title, case number, and the court in which the foreclosure was filed; and ix) No other information is required. b) The notice of sale shall be published at least four consecutive calendar weeks (Sunday through Saturday), once in each week, the first such notice to be published not more than 45 days prior to the sale, the last such notice to be published not less than 7 days prior to the sale, by: i) An advertisement in a newspaper regularly issued and of general circulation to the general public in the county in which the real estate is located in the section of that newspaper where legal notices are commonly placed; and ii) No other publication shall be required. c) The party who gives notice of public sale shall also give notice to all other parties in the action who have not heretofore been found by the court to be in default for failure to plead. Such notice shall be given in the manner provided in the applicable rules of court for service of papers other than process and complaint, not more than 45 days not less than seven days prior to the day of sale. After notice is given as required in this section, a copy thereof shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of this Court together with a certificate of counsel or other proof that notice has been served in compliance with this section. 15 d) The party who gives notice of a public sale shall again give notice of any adjourned sale; provided, however, that if the adjourned sale is to occur less than 60 days after the last scheduled sale, notice of any adjourned sale need be given only once, not less than 5 days prior to the day of the adjourned sale. e) Notice of the sale may be given prior to the expiration of the redemption period. f) No other notice by publication or posting shall be necessary. g) The person named in the notice of sale to be contacted for information about the real estate shall not be required to provide additional information other than that set forth in the notice of sale. 3. Division of Property. If the real estate is susceptible of division, the person conducting the sale may order it to be sold as necessary to satisfy this judgment. The person conducting the sale shall determine which real estate shall be sold, and the person conducting the sale may determine the order in which separate tracts may be sold. 4. Certificate of Sale. Upon the sale of mortgaged real estate, the person conducting the sale shall give a certificate of sale to the purchaser and cause such certificate of sale to be recorded. The certificate shall be 16 freely assignable by endorsement thereon. VI. TRANSFER OF TITLE 1. Upon or after confirmation of sale, the person who conducted the sale or the court shall execute a deed to the holder of the certificate of sale sufficient to convey title, which deed shall identify the court and the caption of the case in which judgment was entered authorizing issuance of the deed. Signature and the recital in the deed of the title or authority of the person signing the deed as grantor of authority pursuant to this judgment and of the giving of the notices required by statute shall be sufficient proof of the facts recited and of such authority to execute the deed, but such deed shall not be construed to contain any covenant on the part of the person executing it. 2. Delivery of the deed executed on the sale of the real estate, even if the purchaser or holder of the certificate of sale is a party to the foreclosure, shall be sufficient to pass the title thereto. Such conveyance shall be an entire bar of (i) all claims of parties to the foreclosure and (ii) all claims of any non-record claimant who is given notice of the 17 foreclosure as provided by statute. VII. APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS The proceeds resulting from the sale ordered herein shall be applied in the following order: 1. The reasonable expenses of sale including but not limited to costs of publication, notice of said sale, expenses, fees, and commissions incurred by or owing to the U.S. Marshal pursuant to law; 2. The reasonable expenses of securing possession before sale, holding, maintaining, and preparing the real estate for sale, including payment of taxes and other governmental charges, management fees, and to the extent provided for in the mortgage or other recorded agreement and not prohibited by law, payments made pursuant to Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 735, Section 5/15-1505, and other legal expenses incurred by the mortgagee; 3. Satisfaction of claims in the order of priority adjudicated in this judgment of foreclosure; and 4. Remittance of any surplus to the mortgagor or as otherwise 18 directed by the court. VIII. REDEMPTION - RESIDENTIAL 1. Only the owner of redemption may redeem from this foreclosure, and such owner of redemption may redeem only during the redemption period specified herein. 2. In this foreclosure the above-described property is abandoned and plaintiff is entitled to a shortened redemption period pursuant to Chapter 735, Paragraph 5/15-1603(b)(4), Illinois Compiled Statutes. The redemption period shall end 30 days after the date of entry of this Judgment. 3. This is a foreclosure of a mortgage of residential real estate. 4. The amount required to redeem shall consist of the Total Balance Due as declared above plus interest thereon at the statutory rate hereafter and all additional costs and other expenses allowed by the court. 5. If the purchaser at the judicial sale of residential real estate is a mortgagee who is a party to this proceeding or its nominee, and if the 19 sale price is less than the amount required to redeem specified in 735 ILCS 5/15-1603(d), an owner of redemption has a special right to redeem for a period ending 30 days after the date the sale is confirmed, by paying the mortgagee the sale price plus all additional costs and expenses incurred by the mortgagee set forth in the report of sale and confirmed by this Court. IX. OTHER MATTERS 1. Possession of Mortgaged Real Estate: A. Unless the mortgagor s right to possess this foreclosed residential real estate is or has been terminated, the mortgagor (homeowner) has the right to possess the foreclosed premises in accordance with Section 151701(c) of the Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law. B. Unless sooner ordered to vacate the premises, the mortgagor and all persons claiming a possessory right to said mortgaged premises through said mortgagor shall peaceably remove themselves and all of their possessions from the mortgaged premises in compliance with 735 ILCS 5/15-1701 on the 31st day after the judicial sale of this mortgaged 20 property has been approved. C. If any persons referenced in the above subparagraph remain on said premises on or after the 31st day of the approval of the judicial sale of this mortgaged real estate, the U.S. Marshal is hereby directed as soon as practicable thereafter to use any and all necessary reasonable force to enter the above described mortgaged premises, including any outbuildings and vehicles located thereon and to remove all occupants located thereon, who are present on the premises and refuse to vacate immediately and voluntarily at the U.S. Marshal s direction; in addition any and all personal property left on the mortgaged premises by the defendant mortgagor and/or any and all other persons having left said property, is hereby declared forfeited to the United States. If the U.S. Marshal determines that the above-described personal property is without value or of de minimus value that would neither exceed nor equal the costs of notice, storage, and sale, the U.S. Marshal may leave the personal property, at his discretion, on the premises for the purchaser of this real estate to claim, or dispose of, at will. 21 Upon taking possession and custody of the premises, and removing all occupants who are unauthorized to remain on the premises, the U.S. Marshal is then hereby directed to remit possession and custody of the premises to the purchaser of said property at the sale judicially approved by this Court. 2. Report of Sale. The person conducting the sale shall file a report of sale with the Clerk of this Court specifying the amount of proceeds of sale realized and the disposition thereof. 3. The purchaser of the foreclosed property shall be given possession effective immediately upon approval of the judicial sale of this real estate in compliance with 735 ILCS 5/15-1701(c) (1). 4. Homestead Waiver. Defendant-mortgagors waived their right to homestead or other exemptions in said real estate in the body of said mortgage, which was duly signed and acknowledged, and said Defendantmortgagors are therefore barred from claiming any right to homestead or other exemptions in said real estate. 5. Deficiency. If the money arising from said sale shall be 22 insufficient to pay the amounts due to plaintiff with interest and the costs and expenses of sale, the person conducting the sale shall specify the amount of such deficiency in the report of sale, and a judgment shall be entered therefore, if appropriate. AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED, that there is no just reason for delaying the enforcement of this judgment, or an appeal therefrom. ENTER: July 27, 2012 FOR THE COURT: s/ Sue E. Myerscough SUE E. MYERSCOUGH UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 23
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