J-S06033-18
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
KENNETH TAGGART, : IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
: PENNSYLVANIA
Appellant :
:
:
v. :
:
:
MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC :
REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC; :
OCWEN LOAN SERVCING, LLC; :
EVERBANK; MERSCORP, INC.; :
GINNIE MAE; GMAC MORTGAGE, :
INC.; ANGELA MCFADDEN; LISA :
ROACH; ALLY BANK/GMAC :
MORTGAGE : No. 1018 EDA 2017
Appeal from the Order February 6, 2017
in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County,
Civil Division at No(s): No. 2015-29789
BEFORE: BOWES, J., McLAUGHLIN, J., and MUSMANNO, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.: FILED APRIL 13, 2018
Kenneth Taggart (“Taggart”) appeals from the Order (hereinafter, “the
Dismissal Order”) granting the Motion to Dismiss filed by Mortgage Electronic
Registration Systems, Inc.; Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC; EverBank;
MERSCORP, Inc.; Ginnie Mae; GMAC Mortgage, Inc.; Angela McFadden; Lisa
Roach; and Ally Bank/GMAC Mortgage (collectively, the “Defendants”), and
dismissing Taggart’s Complaint, with prejudice. We affirm.
Taggart initially instituted this quiet title action in November 2015.
Taggart contested the validity of a 2008 mortgage to an investment property
located in Telford, Pennsylvania (hereinafter, “the Property”) that he had
J-S06033-18
secured from certain of the Defendants.1 Following a tortured procedural
history that is not relevant to the instant appeal, Taggart, pro se, filed a Third
Amended Complaint against Defendants on April 20, 2016.2, 3
On May 20, 2016, Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss Taggart’s Third
____________________________________________
1 In his initial Complaint and all subsequent Amended Complaints, Taggart
sought a declaration that he is entitled to ownership of the Property, which he
had purchased for over $500,000, free and clear of any mortgage, despite,
inter alia, his failure to make any mortgage payments since 2009.
2 Throughout the duration of the proceedings up to this point, Taggart had
acted pro se. Moreover, Taggart has a long history of instituting, in both state
and federal courts, myriad pro se actions against his various mortgage
lenders, including some of the Defendants herein.
3 After his initial Complaint, Taggart amended his Complaint three times in a
span of five months, each of which mooted separate Preliminary Objections
filed by Defendants. All of these Amended Complaints were largely identical.
-2-
J-S06033-18
Amended Complaint pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 233.1.4
Therein, Defendants argued that the trial court should dismiss Taggart’s
frivolous, pro se action because, inter alia, it raises essentially the same claims
against the same or related Defendants as Taggart did in several prior actions.
A few days thereafter, Taggart filed a pro se Motion for Enlargement of Time,
urging the trial court to (1) give him more time in which to respond to all
outstanding Motions and pleadings because he had just recently retained
counsel, who needed time to review the record; and (2) permit Taggart to file
a counseled amended complaint. Before the trial court ruled on the Motion
for Enlargement of Time, Taggart’s counsel filed a Fourth Amended Complaint
____________________________________________
4 Rule 233.1 provides, in relevant part, as follows:
(a) Upon the commencement of any action filed by a pro se plaintiff
in the court of common pleas, a defendant may file a motion to
dismiss the action on the basis that
(1) the pro se plaintiff is alleging the same or related claims
which the pro se plaintiff raised in a prior action against the same
or related defendants, and
(2) these claims have already been resolved pursuant to a
written settlement agreement or a court proceeding.
***
(c) Upon granting the motion and dismissing the action, the court
may bar the pro se plaintiff from pursuing additional pro se litigation
against the same or related defendants raising the same or related
claims without leave of court.
Pa.R.C.P. 233.1(a), (c).
-3-
J-S06033-18
on June 28, 2016. The trial court thereafter denied the Motion for
Enlargement of Time.
Following a procedural history that is not relevant to this appeal, on
February 6, 2017, the trial court entered the Dismissal Order, granting
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss Taggart’s Third Amended Complaint, with
prejudice. Additionally, the Dismissal Order precluded Taggart from pursuing
further litigation against Defendants related to the Property without leave of
the trial court. Importantly to this appeal, merely one day prior to the date
of the Dismissal Order, Taggart filed a Praecipe to voluntarily discontinue all
claims against all Defendants, without prejudice. Taggart filed a Motion for
Reconsideration of the Dismissal Order, which the trial court later denied.
Taggart filed a timely Notice of Appeal from the Dismissal Order, in
response to which the trial court ordered him to file a Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)
concise statement of errors complained of on appeal. Taggart timely filed a
Concise Statement, presenting 17 separate allegations of error. The trial court
thereafter issued a Rule 1925(a) Opinion, consolidating Taggart’s numerous
claims into three main issues.
Taggart now presents the following questions for our review:
1. Whether the trial court erred in finding that it had subject
matter jurisdiction to enter an Order after the case had been
voluntarily terminated by [Taggart?]
2. Whether the trial court erred in finding that the Motion
pursuant to [] Rule 233.1 was properly before the court[?]
-4-
J-S06033-18
3. Whether the trial court erred in entering an Order[,] which
granted a Motion to Dismiss [Taggart’s] third Amended
Complaint[,] after the case had been voluntarily discontinued
as to all Defendants by [Taggart], and a fourth Amended
Complaint had been filed by counsel[?]
4. Whether the trial court erred in finding that [] Rule 233.1 was
applicable to the case when it entered the [Dismissal] Order
on February [6], 2017[?]
5. Whether the trial court erred in finding that it had legal
authority to [d]ismiss [Taggart’s c]laims with [p]rejudice and
without a hearing[?]
6. Whether the trial court erred in finding that [] Rule 233.1 was
applicable when [Taggart] was represented by counsel[?]
7. Whether the trial court erred in finding that it had legal
authority to [d]ismiss [the] third Amended Complaint[,] filed
by [Taggart] pro se[,] when it was rendered moot by a fourth
Amended Complaint filed by counsel[?]
8. Whether the trial court erred in terminating the [d]ue
[p]rocess [r]ights of [Taggart] without a hearing prior to
entering an [O]rder barring claims with prejudice on February
[6], 2017[?]
9. Whether the trial court erred in [v]acating the Order denying
[the] Motion to Dismiss the third Amended Complaint[,] …
which properly denied the Motion to Dismiss the third
Amended Complaint[?]
10. Whether the trial court erred in [d]enying [Taggart’s] Motion
for Reconsideration [of] the [O]rder dated July 21, 2016 …
[?]
11. Whether the trial court erred in finding that failing to allow
safe[]guards for [Taggart] to [a]ttend a [m]eeting[?]
12. Whether the trial court erred in failing to find that the Motion
pursuant to[] [Rule] 233.1 was not timely filed by
[Defendants?]
-5-
J-S06033-18
13. Whether the trial court erred in failing to allow claim to be
adjudicated on the merits and which have not been
resolved[?]
14. Whether the trial court erred in failing to allow claims to be
adjudicated which are against [Taggart’s] property denying
[Taggart] to adjudicate claims against his property[?]
15. Whether the trial court erred in failing to allow claims to be
adjudicated pursuant to the Pennsylvania and United States
Constitution[s] pertaining to Due Process and Property
[r]ights[?]
16. [Whether the trial] court erred when it failed to adjudicate
claims of [Taggart] pursuant to [the] minimum requirements
set forth by the United States Constitution [and] Goldberg
v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970)[?]
17. [Whether the trial] court erred when it failed to adjudicate
claims of [Taggart] of Fraud and Fraud on the Court whereas,
among a plethora of other defects, [Defendants] have
produced two notes, one of which is fraudulent[?]
Brief for Appellant at 4-6.
Preliminarily, we note that Taggart’s brief does not comply with our
Rules of Appellate Procedure. Namely, Taggart has failed to comply with Rule
2119, which requires that
[t]he argument shall be divided into as many parts as there are
questions to be argued; and shall have at the head of each part -
in distinctive type or in type distinctively displayed - the particular
point treated therein, followed by such discussion and citation to
authorities as are deemed pertinent.
Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a). Here, Taggart’s Argument section headings in no way
correspond to the issues he sets forth in his Statement of Questions Presented.
Nevertheless, we will overlook this defect and briefly address the merits of
-6-
J-S06033-18
Taggart’s claims to the best of our ability, under the circumstances created by
his noncompliant brief.
Like the trial court’s Opinion, we will consolidate Taggart’s numerous,
repetitive issues into three main claims of trial court error, namely, that the
court erred in dismissing the Third Amended Complaint where
1) Taggart had already filed a Fourth Amended Complaint, which
thus mooted Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Third Amended
Complaint;
2) Taggart was represented by counsel at the time the court
entered the Dismissal Order, and, thus, his claims could not be
dismissed under Rule 233.1 because he was no longer pro se;
3) the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to dismiss the Third
Amended Complaint, since Taggart had voluntarily
discontinued all claims against all Defendants, one day prior to
the issuance of the Dismissal Order.
See generally Brief for Appellant at 4-6.
We review a trial court’s grant of a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule
233.1 under an abuse of discretion standard. See Coulter v. Ramsden, 94
A.3d 1080, 1086 (Pa. Super. 2014); see also Bolick v. Commonwealth, 69
A.3d 1267, 1270 (Pa. Super. 2013) (stating that “Rule 233.1 makes clear that
the power to bar frivolous litigation at the trial court level rests with the trial
court.”). “[T]he court abuses its discretion if, in resolving the issue for
decision, it misapplies the law or exercises its discretion in a manner lacking
reason [or] if it does not follow legal procedure.” Coulter, 94 A.3d at 1086
(citation omitted). Moreover, to the extent that Taggart’s claims require us
to interpret Rule 233.1, “the interpretation and application of a Pennsylvania
-7-
J-S06033-18
Rule of Civil Procedure presents a question of law. Accordingly, our standard
of review is de novo, and our scope of review is plenary.” Boatin v. Miller,
955 A.2d 424, 427 (Pa. Super. 2008) (internal citation and question marks
omitted).
In his first issue, Taggart argues that the trial court improperly entered
the Dismissal Order, dismissing his Third Amended Complaint, where he had
filed a Fourth Amended Complaint, which thus mooted Defendants’ Motion to
Dismiss the Third Amended Complaint. See Brief for Appellant at 15, 21.
The trial court concisely addressed this claim in its Opinion, set forth the
applicable law, and determined that the court did not lack authority to enter
the Dismissal Order, since the filing of an amended pleading does not render
a motion to dismiss moot under Rule 233.1. See Trial Court Opinion, 7/7/17,
at 3-4. We agree with the trial court’s sound rationale and determination, and
therefore affirm on this basis as to Taggart’s first issue. See id.
Next, Taggart contends that the trial court erred in entering the
Dismissal Order, where he was represented by counsel at the time, and, thus,
his claims could not properly be dismissed under Rule 233.1 because he was
not acting pro se at that time. See Brief for Appellant at 15, 17, 22; see also
Pa.R.C.P. 233.1(c) (providing that “[u]pon granting the motion and dismissing
the action, the court may bar the pro se plaintiff from pursuing additional pro
se litigation against the same or related defendants raising the same or related
claims without leave of court.” (emphasis added)).
-8-
J-S06033-18
The trial court addressed and rejected this claim in its Opinion, and
determined that the court properly applied Rule 233.1 to Taggart under the
circumstances. See Trial Court Opinion, 7/7/17, at 4. As we agree with the
trial court’s legal determination, and discern no abuse of discretion, we affirm
on this basis concerning Taggart’s second issue. See id.
In his third and final issue, Taggart argues that the trial court lacked
subject matter jurisdiction to dismiss the Third Amended Complaint, where he
had voluntarily discontinued all claims against all Defendants, pursuant to
Pa.R.C.P. 229,5 prior to the issuance of the Dismissal Order. See Brief for
Appellant at 10-14, 20-21 (citing, inter alia, Williams Studio Div. of
Photography by Tallas, Inc. v. Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 550 A.2d
1333, 1335 (Pa. 1988) (stating that “when a plaintiff takes a voluntary
nonsuit, it is as if the original suit was never initiated.”)). Taggart argues that
the trial court lacked legal authority to act upon Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss
the Third Amended Complaint after Taggart had entered the discontinuance.
See Brief for Appellant at 11; see also id. at 12 (arguing that after Taggart
discontinued his claims, “there was no actual case, or case controversy.”).
The trial court addressed Taggart’s claim in its Opinion, summarized the
applicable law, and determined that the court did not lack authority to rule on
____________________________________________
5 Rule 229 provides, in relevant part, as follows: “A discontinuance shall be
the exclusive method of voluntary termination of an action, in whole or in part,
by the plaintiff before commencement of the trial.” Pa.R.C.P. 229(a); but see
also Pa.R.C.P. 229(c) (stating that “[t]he court, upon petition and after notice,
may strike off a discontinuance in order to protect the rights of any party from
unreasonable inconvenience, vexation, harassment, expense, or prejudice.”).
-9-
J-S06033-18
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss, where Taggart filed the Praecipe to Discontinue
with unclean hands, for a procedural advantage. See Trial Court Opinion,
7/7/17, at 4-7. We agree with the trial court’s cogent reasoning and
determination, and therefore affirm on this basis in rejecting Taggart’s final
issue. See id.
Accordingly, as we discern no error of law or abuse of the trial court’s
discretion in granting Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the Third Amended
Complaint, see Coulter, supra, and none of Taggart’s claims entitle him to
relief, we affirm the Dismissal Order.
Order affirmed.
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 4/13/18
- 10 -
Circulated 03/12/2018 02:13 PM
• IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CIVIL DIVISION
KENNETH J. TAGGART
vs.
EVERBANK, OCWEN LOAN SERVICING,
llllt:fM1l2�•1111
l01�·29'719-0l 11 7 7 2017 J:l� P:\I s: 11.1,,n26
Opini""
LLC, GMAC MORTGAGE, LLC., et al RcpF7J\7443� f«:S0.011
l...""'·.
'.\liuk MOfJICo �
CARLUCCIO, J. JULY 1 , 2017
OPINION
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY:
On February 2, 2017, after review of briefs, the trial court granted the
•
above captioned Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Third Amended
Complaint. The Third Amended Complaint was captioned "Action to Quiet Title -
Dedaratory Relief and Related Relief.11 In its' ruling, the trial court further ordered
that Plaintiff, Kenneth J. Taggart was barred from pursuing additional litigation
against the Defendants related to the underlying property without leave of Court.
(Please See Trial Court Order dated February 2, 2017, docketed February 6, 2017}
On March 7, 2017, the Plaintiff timely appealed the February 2, 2017,
dismissal order, docketed on February 6, 2017.
1
The trial court supports its' ruling below.
1
On March U, 2017, the trial court denied Plaintiffs Motion for Reconsideration of the February 2, 2016, ruling,
as It was moot.
•• DISCUSSION:
In 2015, the Plaintiff/Appellant, Kenneth J. Taggart, filed the present Action
to Quiet Title and for Declaratory Relief against the above captioned
Oefendant/Appellees contesting the validity of the 2008 mortgage and 2008 note,
affecting his property in Montgomery County.
In 2017, after a tortured procedural history, Pia i ntiff filed a Third Amended
Complaint which the trial court ultimately dismissed pursuant to Pennsylvania
Rule of Civil Procedure 233.1 {Please See Trial Court Order dated February 2, 2017
2
and filed February 61 2017).
Rule 233.1 entitled, Frivolous Litigation. Pro Se Plaintiff, Motion to Dismiss
provides1
•
(a} Upon the commencement of any action filed by a pro se plaintiff in the
court of common pleas, a defendant may file a motion to dismiss the action
on the basis that,
(1) the prose plaintiff is alleging the same or related claims which the
pro se plaintiff raised in a prior action against the same or related
defendants, and
(2) these claims have already been resolved pursuant to a written
settlement agreement or court proceeding.
'
{b) The court may stay the action while the motion is pending.
(c) Upon granting the motion and dismissing the action, the court may bar a
pro se plaintiff from pursuing additional prose litigation against the same
or related defendants raising the same or related claims without leave of
court.
2
Please note, the factual/merit basis/rationale for the court's dismissal under Rule 233.1 is cited in Defendant
Everbantc's Motion to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint flied on May 20, 1016, paragraphs 52-62. However, the
Plalgtlff on appeal does not appear to contest the February 2, 2017, ru6ng on the merits.. Rather, he alleges
procedural error.
2
• (d) The court may sua sponte dismiss an action that is filed in violation of a
court order entered in subdivision (c). [ •.• ]
(Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 233.1)
On appeal, Plaintiff argues that it was error for the trial court to dismiss his
Third Amended Complaint where he had already filed a Fourth Amended
Complaint, thereby making the Third Amended Complaint moot. This allegation
of error is baseless.
In _Buonopa ne v. Gray, 53 A.3d 829, 838-39 (Pa.Super. 2012), our Superior
Court stated that the filing of an amended pleading does not render a motion to
dismiss moot under Rule 233.1. Thus, the trial court maintained the authority to
dispose of the outstanding Motion to Dismiss Third Amended Complaint despite
the subsequent filing. Further, in his order dated July 25, 2016, the Honorable
• Thomas M. Del Ricci denied Plaintiff's request for an extension of time to file an
amended complaint as requested by Plaintiff in his Motion for Enlargement of
Time, Paragraph #7. (Please See, Docket Entry, #37 Motion for Enlargement of
Time, Para 7 and Judge De/Ricers Order of July 251 2016) Thus, the fifing of the
Fourth Amended Complaint was in contravention of Judge OelRicci's order.
Lastly1 arguendo, it is questionable that the Plaintiff perfected service of the
Fourth Amended Complaint upon the Defendants. Plaintiff filed the Fourth
Amended Complaint on June 28, 2016, but did not file a Certificate of Service until
November 16, 2016, suggesting service to all Defendants on June 28, 2016.
However the November 16, 2016 Certificate did not provide proof of service on all
Defendants on June 28, 2016. Instead, in the following docket entries, Plaintiff
provided individual Certificates of Servlce for the Defendants indicating service of
• a Complaint in 2015, however, it was not the Fourth Amended Complaint. (Please
3
• See, Montgomery County Docket Entry 65, Affidavit/Certificate of Service for
Fourth Amended Complaint and following Certificates of Service ) Thus, the docket
does not support proper service of the Fourth Amended Complaint.
Plaintiff also claims that the court erred when it dismissed his Third
Amended Complaint under Rule 233.1, supra, because the rule applies to
frivolous litigatioQ by pro se litigants, and he was counseled when the court
issued the order. While It is true that Plaintiffs counsel entered his appearance
before the February 2, 2017, ruling, it is also true that Plaintiff acted prose in all
of the frivolous litigation 'at issue in the Motion.3 Plaintiff acted pro se when he
filed all of the Amended pleadings (1-3) up until July 25, 2016, when present
counsel, Joshua Thomas, entered his appearance. Plaintiff hired counsel at the
eleventh hour in response to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Rule
• 233.1. Thus, based on the history of the case/docket, the court correctly applied
Rule 233.1 to the Plaintiff. Were it otherwise, Rule 233.1 would have no teeth. A
pro se Plaintiff could proceed endlessly with frivolous litigation to the prejudice of
the opposing parties, but avoid the consequences of Rule 233.1 by simply hiring
counsel at the last minute in order to void a Rule 233.1 claim.
Finally, Plaintiff argues that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction to
dismiss his Third Amended Complaint because he had already voluntarily
dismissed the action against all Defendants on February 1, 2017-the day
before the court's February 2, 2017, ruling. As the appellate court might have
guessed, the voluntary dismissal was without preiudice.
'The court notes that in Plaintiffs Motion for Enlargement of Time flied June 6, 2016, Plaintiffs eounset indicated
that he had Just been retained and that he had "just entered their appearang contemporaneously with thiS
"motion for Extension ofTime." In addition, counsel flied the Fourth Amended Complaint June ,28, 2016, on his
•
letterhead. However, the docket shows that counsel did not actually enter his appearance until July 25, 2016,
approximately a month later, and right before Judge DelRlcci held argument on the Motion for Enlargement of
Time. (Please See, Docket Ent,y, 1137 Motion for Entorgement of nme, Para 7 and Docket Entry #58 for Joshua
Thomas' Entry of Appearance.)
4
• Plaintiffs filed the Praecipe to Discontinue with unclean hands. That is,
Plaintiff used Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 229 as a sword. Pennsylvania
Rule 229 - Discontinuance states,
(a) A discontinuance shall be the exclusive method of voluntary termination
of an action in whole or in part, by the plaintiff before commencement of
the trial.
(b)(l) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b)(2), a discontinuance
may not be entered as to less than all defendants except upon the written
consent of all parties or leave of court upon motion of any plaintiff or any
defendant for whom plaintiff has stipulated in writing to the
discontinuance.
•
(Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 229)
Based upon the above rule, a Plaintiff may discontinue an action any time
prior to tria I via praec ipe. Further, Pia intiff does not need court permission to do
so when the discontinuance is to all defendants. However, Rule 229(c) also
provides, that "[t]he court, upon petition and after notice, may strike off a
discontinuance in order to protect the rights of any party from unreasonable
inconvenience, vexation, harassment, expense or prejudice." Thus, the rule
provides a remedy where a plaintiff flies a discontinuance to a defendant's
prejudice.
As evidenced by the docket, Plaintiff's Praecipe to Discontinue was filed to
further vexate, harass and inconvenience the Defendants. Plaintiff's Praecipe to
Discontinue specifically reads, "[p]lease discontinue all claims without prejudice
against all Defendants.a (emphasis added) Thus, Plaintiff clearly intends to re-flle
•
the present action against the present Defendants. Further, Plaintiff filed the
s
• Praecipe to Discontinue knowing that there was an outstanding Motion to
Dismiss, pursuant to Pennsylvania Rufe of Civil Procedure 233.1, upon which the
court was in the process of ruling. Yet, Plaintiff did not inform the court of the
impending dismissal. Rather, the Plaintiff raced to file his Praeclpe to Discontinue
in order to preclude a Rule 233.1 ruling.
The Plaintiff at bar has become an expert at manipulating court rules and
misusing the court system to his advantage. Throughout the litigation, whenever
preliminary objections were filed to his Complaint, Plaintiff simply filed an
Amended Complaint, almost identical to the previous one, in an attempt to moot
the Preliminary Objections. Plaintiff adopted the same tactic with his Praecipe to
Discontinue. Defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Third Amended
Complaint pursuant to Rule 233.1 and Plaintiff responded with a Praecipe to
• Discontinue the action in order to moot a Rule 233.1 ruling. The docket supports
this strategic judicial manipulation.
Further, the overlapping rulings at bar precluded the Defendants from filing
a Petition to Strike Off Plaintiffs Discontinuance under Rule 229(c), supra.,-··- a
remedy which would have likely been granted. As our courts have held,
"[w)henever it therefore appears a party discontinues one suit, for the purpose
merely of instituting another for the same cause of action elsewhere, the court,
on motion, will set aside the discontinuance, and reinstate the former suit, and
subject the party to the consequences of his own actions." Brown v. Phillips Gas &
Oil, 74 A.2d 105, 159 (Po. 1950), quoting, Mechanics Bank v. Fisher, 1 Rawle 341,
347; Please See, Brown, where the discontinuance granted by the court was
reversed because the discontinuance was purely for a procedural advantage. The
•
Brown case is factually similar to the case at bar involving multiple amended
6
• pleadings and an outstanding motion} Thus, even if the appellate court were
inclined to vacate the tria I court's February 2, 2017, d ismissa I, the equities
mandate that the matter be remanded to allow the Defendants to file a Petition
to Strike Off Plaintiff's Discontinuance under Rule.229(c).
Finally, based on the equities and Brown. any remand would likely result in
reinstatement of the action at bar and the eventual dismissal of Pfaintiff s Third
Amended Complaint. This of course would place the parties in exactly the same
posture as of the court's February 2, 2017, appealed ruling --except for the
.,
passage of a significant amount of time-·which presumably has been Plaintiffs
strategy all along.
Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, the trial court respectfully requests
•
that the February 2, 2017. order be AFFIRMED •
By the Court:
Copies of the above Opinion ·
mailed on 7.7 .. 17 to:
Joshua L. Thomas, Esquire
Laura E. Vendzules, Esquire
Matthew M. Maher., Esquire
Ally Bank, 6985 Union Park Or., Midvale, UT 84047
GMAC Bank, 6985 Union Park Ctr., Midvale, UT 84047
Thomas P. Stevens, Esquire
MERS, 1818 Library St., Reston, VA 20190
Dawn Didnato�Burke, Esquire
• <5!;, Lcc <$:! /.-;J
cretary
7