MultiBank 2009-1CML-ADC Venture LLC v. S. Bass Island Resort, Ltd.
MultiBank 2009-1CML-ADC Venture LLC v. S. Bass Island Resort, Ltd.
Opinion of the Court
{¶ 1} This is an appeal from the judgment of the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas, granting appellee's, Multibank 2009-1CML-ADC Venture LLC (fka Columbian Bank & Trust Co.), motion for summary judgment on its complaint in foreclosure against appellants, South Bass Island Resort, Ltd. ("SBIR"), Cecil Weatherspoon, Terry L. Ross, John C. Tomberlin, and 250 Centre, Ltd. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.
I. Facts and Procedural Background
{¶ 2} This litigation stems from a 2006 loan agreement between appellee and appellants whereby appellee was to loan SBIR up to $8,600,000 for the development of real property. As a condition of the loan, and in addition to the mortgage on the property, Weatherspoon, Tomberlin, and 250 Centre, Ltd. executed separate cognovit unconditional guarantees of the loan. Weatherspoon also executed, as collateral, an assignment of an insurance policy. It is undisputed that appellants have not made any payments on the loan.
{¶ 3} On August 15, 2008, appellee filed its complaint in foreclosure against appellants in the present action. At the same time, appellee also filed a complaint for judgment on the note in a companion case in Erie County (the "Erie County case").
*1283{¶ 4} On January 13, 2012, appellee moved for summary judgment in this foreclosure action.
{¶ 5} In response, appellants argued that the Erie County judgment was not yet final because there remained an issue for trial regarding the validity of Tomberlin's guaranty, and because appellants intended to appeal the Erie County judgment. Thus, appellants claimed that appellee could not rely on the Erie County judgment to establish its right to foreclosure.
{¶ 6} On January 22, 2013, the trial court granted appellee's motion for summary judgment. That decision was appealed to this court, and in Multibank 2009-1 CML-ADC Venture, LLC v. South Bass Island Resort, Ltd. , 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-13-004,
{¶ 7} On November 20, 2015, appellee renewed its motion for summary judgment. In its renewed motion, appellee stated that the Erie County judgment had now become final, in that the remaining issue concerning Tomberlin's guaranty had been resolved by an April 21, 2014 judgment entry finding Tomberlin liable on the loan as a guarantor. Further, appellee submitted affidavits indicating that appellants were in default of the loan and mortgage, and that all conditions precedent to foreclosure had been satisfied. Therefore, appellee again requested summary judgment in its favor on its complaint in foreclosure.
{¶ 8} Appellants, in response, opposed appellee's renewed motion for summary judgment, and moved for summary judgment in their favor on appellee's claims. In particular, appellants argued that appellee failed to seek leave of court before filing its third motion for summary judgment, and thus the motion must be denied. Alternatively, appellants argued for the first time that appellee was prohibited by the doctrines of res judicata and merger and bar from prosecuting its foreclosure action because appellee had already chosen to litigate liability under the note in Erie County. Appellants asserted that because the breach of the loan agreement and foreclosure of the mortgage involved the same parties and the same transaction, the principles of res judicata required that appellee litigate its claims for liability under the note and for foreclosure at the same time.
*1284{¶ 9} On January 12, 2017, the trial court entered its judgment granting appellee's motion for summary judgment, and denying appellants' cross-motion for summary judgment.
II. Assignments of Error
{¶ 10} Appellants have timely appealed the trial court's January 12, 2017 judgment, and now assert two assignments of error for our review:
I. The trial court erred when it granted appellee's third motion for summary judgment in violation of the doctrines of res judicata and merger and bar.
II. The trial court erred when it considered appellee's third motion for summary judgment filed without leave.
III. Analysis
{¶ 11} We review the grant of a motion for summary judgment de novo, applying the same standard as the trial court. Lorain Natl. Bank v. Saratoga Apts. ,
{¶ 12} In their first assignment of error, appellants argue that appellee is barred by res judicata from proceeding in the foreclosure action. Appellants assert that appellee's claims for breach of the loan agreement and breach of the mortgage agreement arose out of the same transaction, and they note that, in the foreclosure action, appellee was not seeking foreclosure based upon a judgment lien from another county, but rather upon breach of the loan agreement. Thus, appellants contend that because appellee elected to litigate its claims separately, in two different courts, appellee was bound by the decision of the first court to enter a final judgment, and is prevented from seeking additional relief or recovery in a second action based upon the same transaction involving the same parties.
{¶ 13} Appellee, in response, argues that a note and mortgage are legally distinct transactions, and thus claims related to each may be brought in separate actions. In support, appellee relies on First Fed. S. & L. Assn. of Newark v. Community Hous. Dev., Inc. , 5th Dist. Fairfield No. 10-CA-10,
{¶ 14} We find the reasoning of the Fifth District in First Fed. to be persuasive. Therefore, we hold that the doctrine of res judicata does not apply to bar appellee's complaint in foreclosure.
{¶ 15} Accordingly, appellants' first assignment of error is not well-taken.
{¶ 16} In their second assignment of error, appellants argue that appellee's motion for summary judgment should have been denied because it did not comply with Civ.R. 56(A), which provides, in pertinent part,
A party may move for summary judgment at any time after the expiration of the time permitted under these rules for a responsive motion or pleading by the adverse party, or after service of a motion for summary judgment by the adverse party. If the action has been set for pretrial or trial, a motion for summary judgment may be made only with leave of court.
{¶ 17} Here, although disputed by appellee, we will presume for purposes of our analysis that appellee was required to, but did not, seek leave of court before filing its renewed motion for summary judgment.
{¶ 18} Notably, appellants raised this same argument in their first appeal in this matter, and our holding is the same now as it was then. In our view, the trial court impliedly granted appellee leave to file its renewed motion for summary judgment when it considered and ruled on the motion. See St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Corwin , 6th Dist. Wood No. WD-00-058,
{¶ 19} Accordingly, appellants' second assignment of error is not well-taken.
IV. Conclusion
{¶ 20} For the foregoing reasons, we find that substantial justice has been done the parties complaining, and the judgment of the Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed. Appellants are ordered to pay the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.
Judgment affirmed.
Thomas J. Osowik, J.
Christine E. Mayle, P.J.
CONCUR.
Appellee had previously moved for summary judgment on December 16, 2011, which the trial court summarily denied because the motion failed to comply with a local rule.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.