United States of America v. Sass et al, No. 3:2013cv03005 - Document 18 (C.D. Ill. 2014)
Court Description: OPINION: Plaintiff United States of America's 17 Motion to Enter Judgment is ALLOWED. SEE WRITTEN OPINION. Entered by Judge Sue E. Myerscough on 1/8/2014. (MJ, ilcd)
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E-FILED Thursday, 09 January, 2014 11:58:01 AM Clerk, U.S. District Court, ILCD IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS SPRINGFIELD DIVISION UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ) ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CIVIL NO. 13-3005 ) THOMAS S. SASS, ) JESSICA K. VOWELS n/k/a ) JESSICA K. WEESE AND GEM ) CITY ACCOUNT SERVICE, ) ) Defendants. ) OPINION Sue E. Myerscough, U.S. District Judge: The Court now considers Plaintiff United States of America s Motion to Enter Judgment (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 ALLOWED. In connection with this decision, the Court has considered all of the pleadings and evidence submitted to date. Based thereon, the court makes these FINDINGS: I. JURISDICTION The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C '' 1345 and 1391, respectively. Defendant Gem City Account Service returned Waiver of Service of Summons on January 14, 2013 (d/e 3); Defendant Jessica Vowels-Weese returned Waiver of Service of Summons on January 27, 2013 (d/e 4); and Defendant Thomas Sass was served by the U.S. Marshal on September 9, 2013 (d/e 13). All defendants have been served pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4 and have acknowledged receipt of the Complaint. Defendants have not voluntarily appeared in these proceedings. Page 2 of 27 II. EVIDENTIARY FINDINGS 1. On February 11, 2000, Defendants Thomas S. Sass and Jessica K. Vowels n/k/a Jessica K. Weese assumed a mortgage from Randall P. and Dana J. Glover, in the amount of $37,000.00. This mortgage, dated February 4, 1992, is attached to the Complaint as Exhibit A, and the Assumption Agreement is attached to the Complaint as Exhibit D. The mortgage was recorded on February 4, 1992, commencing at Page 973 of Volume 422, as Document No. 92662, in the Office of the Adams County, Illinois, Recorder. On February 11, 2000, Defendants Thomas S. Sass and Jessica K. Vowels n/k/a Jessica K. Weese executed another mortgage, attached to the Complaint as Exhibit B, in the assumed amount of $33,964.80 and an additional amount of $27,910.20. This mortgage was recorded on February 14, 2000, commencing at Page 1164 of Volume Page 3 of 27 445, as Document No. 098324, in the Office of the Adams County, Illinois, Recorder. On February 11, 2000, they executed a note, attached to the Complaint as Exhibit E, in the amount of $27,910.80 secured by said mortgage. The United States of America, acting through Rural Development, United States Department of Agriculture, was the mortgagee on the mortgages executed by Defendants Thomas S. Sass and Jessica Vowels-Weese as mortgagors. 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 notes and mortgages described in the complaint. 4. Plaintiff moved the Court to enter a Default Judgment of Foreclosure in this cause and has filed with the Motion an Affidavit of Costs Colleen Callahan, State Director, Rural Page 4 of 27 Development. That pleading and Affidavit stated that as of September 30, 2013, Plaintiff was owed (via Notes and Mortgages hereinafter described) the sum of $87,901.47, plus a daily per diem accrual of $14.7276 thereafter to date of judgment. Because there have not been any objections to the Motion or Affidavit of the Motion, the Motion is allowed and the Affidavit is admitted into evidence in this cause. 5. 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: Thomas S. Sass, Jessica K. Vowels-Weese, and Gem City Account Service. 6. All of the material allegations contained in the complaint are true and by virtue of the mortgage and indebtedness thereby secured, Plaintiff, UNITED STATES OF Page 5 of 27 AMERICA, has a valid and subsisting lien arising out of a real estate mortgage on the property described as follows: Lot Two (2) in Block Three (3) in Briarwood Subdivision First Addition, an Addition to the Village of Payson, situated in the County of Adams, in the State of Illinois PIN No. 18-0-0699-010 7. That by virtue of the mortgage and the indebtedness thereby secured, as alleged in the complaint, there is due 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 ........................ $1,633.27 Recording Notice of a Suit to Foreclose Mortgage .................................... $35.00 Total .............................................. $2,018.27 Page 6 of 27 b) Unpaid principal and interest: Unpaid principal balance .................... $65,671.93 Accrued interest at $14.7276 per day due and unpaid as of 9/30/13 ............. $13,356.58 Late Fees ..................................................... $57.80 Interest on Fees ........................................ $577.25 Fees Assessed ......................................... $7,217.28 Total amount due plaintiff as of 9/30/13, exclusive of foreclosure costs .............. $86,880.40 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. Page 7 of 27 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 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 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: Thomas S. Sass and Jessica K. Vowels-Weese. Page 8 of 27 9. Adams County, Illinois has a valid lien on the above-described property for taxes for the years 2012 and 2013 and the property will be sold subject to the interest of Adams County, resulting from taxes, general or special, which are a valid lien against the above-described property. 10. Gem City Account Service claims an interest in these proceedings by virtue of a memorandum of judgment filed July 13, 2007. The interest of Defendant is inferior to that of Plaintiff. 11. Plaintiff is entitled to a shortened redemption period for the following reasons: (i) the value of the mortgaged real estate as of this date is less than ninety percent (90%) of the amount specified pursuant to the Code of Civil Procedure, 735 ILCS 5/15-1603(d); and (ii) the mortgagee waives any and all rights to a personal judgment for a deficiency against the mortgagors and Page 9 of 27 against all other persons liable for the indebtedness or other obligations secured by the mortgage. 12. 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 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. 13. 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. 14. 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. 15. All lien or mortgage claimants defaulted are found and Page 10 of 27 declared to have no interest in the real estate foreclosed, as they have offered no evidence of the interest. 16. The real estate is free and clear of all liens and encumbrances except: a) General real estate taxes for the years 2012 and 2013 and thereafter and special assessments, if any; b) The mortgage given to Plaintiff; c) Easements and restrictions of record. 17. 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: Page 11 of 27 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 Plaintiff as declared herein. 2. Defendants are ordered to pay to Plaintiff before expiration of any redemption period 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, the mortgaged real estate shall be sold as directed by the court, to satisfy the amount due to 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 Plaintiff is a purchaser of the mortgaged Page 12 of 27 real estate at such sale, 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 issued to the purchaser according to law and such purchaser shall be let into possession of the mortgaged real estate in Page 13 of 27 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. The property is being sold at this judicial sale AAS IS@ WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF HABITABILITY OR ANY Page 14 of 27 OTHER WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. V. ORDER FOR JUDICIAL SALE 1. The real estate is ordered to be sold in accordance with applicable statutory provisions 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 Adams County Courthouse in the City of Quincy, Illinois, at the time announced by the U.S. Marshal subject to easements and restrictions of record and taxes, general or special, due and owing to Adams County, Illinois. In addition the real estate transfer tax (35 ILCS 200/31-1, et. seq.), shall be paid by buyer(s). The 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 Page 15 of 27 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 600 E. Monroe, Springfield, Illinois 62701 within thirty (30) days of date of the sale. If the balance is not received within the 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: Page 16 of 27 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; 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; ix) No other information is required. b) The notice of sale shall be published at least four consecutive calendar weeks (Sunday through Page 17 of 27 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 and 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. 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 Page 18 of 27 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 Page 19 of 27 sale to the purchaser and cause such certificate of sale to be recorded. The certificate shall be 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. Page 20 of 27 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 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 the 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 Page 21 of 27 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 mortgagors or as otherwise 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. Page 22 of 27 2. In this foreclosure of a mortgage of residential real estate, the court finds that (i) the value of the mortgaged real estate as of this date is less than ninety percent (90%) of the amount specified pursuant to the ILCS 735 5/15-1603(d); and (ii) the mortgagee waives any and all rights to a personal judgment for a deficiency against the mortgagors and against all other persons liable for the indebtedness or other obligations secured by the mortgage. 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 Page 23 of 27 estate is a mortgagee who is a party to this proceeding or its nominee, and if the 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 mortgagors right to possess this foreclosed residential real estate is or has been terminated, the mortgagors (homeowners) have the right to possess the foreclosed premises in accordance with Section 15-1701(c) of the Illinois Mortgage Foreclosure Law. Page 24 of 27 B. Unless sooner ordered to vacate the premises, the mortgagors and all persons claiming a possessory right to the mortgaged premises through the mortgagors 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 property has been approved. C. If any persons referenced in the above subparagraph remain on the 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 Page 25 of 27 immediately and voluntarily at the U.S. Marshal=s direction; in addition any and all personal property left on the mortgaged premises by the defendants mortgagors and/or any and all other persons having left the 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 di 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. 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 the property at the sale judicially approved by this Court. Page 26 of 27 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. 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. ENTERED: January 8, 2014 FOR THE COURT: /s/ Sue E. Myerscough SUE E. MYERSCOUGH UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE Page 27 of 27
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