Harriman v. United States
Harriman v. United States
Opinion of the Court
ORDER ON MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
This case comes before the Court on Defendant United States of America, Rural Development, Department of Agriculture’s (“USDA”) Motion for Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs Gregory and Kathryn Harriman’s complaint for redemption of their real property. None of the relevant facts are in dispute and the law is well-settled in this area, requiring judgment in favor of the USDA.
In 1991, the Harrimans obtained a loan from the USDA in the amount of $62,200, which was secured by a mortgage on their real property in Waldo County, Maine (the “Property”). The Harrimans defaulted on their loan, and, on February 3, 2010, the USDA obtained a valid judgment of foreclosure against them pursuant to Maine’s statutory provisions for foreclosure by civil proceedings, 14 M.R.S.A. § 6321-6325.
Following some difficulties regarding proper publication of the notices of sale, on
The Court’s Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale in United States of America v. Harriman, No. 09-348J3-W, expressly stated that the Harrimans had 90 days from the date of the order to redeem the Property. See United States of America v. Harriman, No. 09-348-B-W, Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale at ¶ 5 (D. Me. Feb. 3, 2010). A mortgagor’s right of redemption following a judgment of foreclosure is governed by 14 M.R.S.A. § 6322, which states, “On mortgages executed on or after October 1, 1975, the period of redemption shall be 90 days from the date of the judgment.” The Harrimans’ right of redemption thus expired' on May 4, 2010-90 days after the District Court entered its' Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. The Harrimans should have understood that their $1.00 offer of redemption made on April 18, 2011 was outside the period of redemption, because they have already litigated this issue, and lost. The Harrimans have been told by the Law Court, that “14 M.R.S.A. 2251 (1980) does not extend their right of redemption to judicially-foreclosed real estate to one year beyond the ninety-day period of redemption provided in 14 M.R.S.A. § 6322 (Supp. 2000).” Harriman, et al. v. Fleet Bank of Maine, No. 01-51 (Me. June 14, 2001)(un-published memorandum of decision at www. cleaves, org.)
The Harrimans’ claim that they may redeem the Property for $1.00 cannot be taken seriously.
For these reasons, the USDA’s Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED. SO ORDERED.
. It is perhaps more accurate to say that the Harrimans can no longer dispute the validity of this judgment, as they did at one time dispute its validity. However, the Court upheld the judgment and the Harrimans took no appeal therefrom. See United States of America v. Harriman, No. 09-348-B-W, slip op. at 8-10, 2010 WL 4436508 (D.Me. Nov. 2, 2010).
. The Harrimans’ litigation over this parcel goes back over a decade and has been in both state and federal, lower and appellate courts. In 2001, United States Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk set forth the history of the case. At that time, the Defendants were already involved in their "fourth piece of litigation in the foreclosure saga commenced on July 24, 2001.” Harriman v. United States Agriculture Secretary, 2001 WL 1382032 (D.Me. 2001)(Recommended Decision)(describing earlier litigation including: Fleet Bank Me. v. Harriman, 1998 ME 275, 721 A.2d 658; Harriman v. United States Dept. Agric., 99 F.Supp.2d 105, 106 (D.Me. 2000); Harriman v. United States Dep’t Agric., 1999 WL 33208103 (D.Me.l999)(unpublished decision); Harriman v. Fleet Bank Me., No. 01-51 (Me. June 14, 2001)(unpublished memorandum of decision at www.cleaves.org)). A fifth bite at the apple was taken in 2005, when the Harrimans sued the USDA to, in effect, quiet title to the farm in Troy, Maine. That action was also dismissed, and the dismissal was affirmed on appeal. Harriman v. U.S. Dep’t Agric, Docket No. 05-CV-00079-JAW (D.Me. 2005). The present action can be seen as one more bid to delay the inevitable.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gregory A. HARRIMAN and Kathryn Harriman v. UNITED STATES of America, Rural Development, Department Of Agriculture
- Status
- Published