State ex rel. Flaiz v. Merscorp, Inc.

[Cite as State ex rel. Flaiz v. Merscorp, Inc., 2017-Ohio-7126.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

ELEVENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO

STATE OF OHIO ex rel. JAMES R. FLAIZ, : OPINION
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OF
GEAUGA COUNTY, OHIO, et al., :
CASE NO. 2016-G-0079
Plaintiffs-Appellants, :

- vs - :

MERSCORP, INC., et al., :

Defendants-Appellees. :

Civil Appeal from the Geauga County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 11 M
001087.

Judgment: Affirmed.

James R. Flaiz, Geauga County Prosecutor; Bridey Matheney and Katherine A. Jacob,
Assistant Prosecutors, Courthouse Annex, 231 Main Street, Suite 3A, Chardon, OH
44024 (For Plaintiff-Appellant, James R. Flaiz, Prosecuting Attorney of Geauga
County, Ohio).

Jeffrey S. Goldenberg, Goldenberg Schneider, LPA, 1 West Fourth Street, 18th Floor,
Cincinnati, OH 45202; Christian A. Jenkins, Minnillo & Jenkins Co., LPA, 2712
Observatory Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45208; and Patrick J. Perotti, Dworken &
Bernstein Co., L.P.A., 60 South Park Place, Painesville, OH 44077 (For Plaintiff-
Appellant, Jessica Little, Prosecuting Attorney of Brown County, Ohio).

Jeremy Gilman and Kari B. Consiglio, Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, LLP,
200 Public Square, #2300, Cleveland, OH 44114; and Robert M. Brochin, Morgan,
Lewis & Bockius, LLP, 200 South Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 5300, Miami, FL 33131
(For Defendants-Appellees, Merscorp, Inc., and Mortgage Electronic Registration
System, Inc.).

Nelson M. Reid and Daniel C. Gibson, Bricker & Eckler, L.L.P., 100 South Third Street,
Columbus, OH 43215; and Mary Beth Hogan, Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP, 919 Third
Avenue, New York, NY 10022 (For Defendant-Appellee, JP Morgan Chase Bank,
N.A.).

Dale H. Markowitz and Todd C. Hicks, Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, 100 Seventh
Avenue, #150, Chardon, OH 44024 (For Defendant-Appellee, Home Savings & Loan
of Youngstown).

Thomas M. Hefferon and Joseph F. Yenouskas, Goodwin Procter, 901 New York
Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20001; and Bryan T. Kostura and Barbara F. Yaksic,
McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC, 25550 Chagrin Boulevard, Suite 406, Cleveland, OH
44122 (For Defendants-Appellees, Bank of America Corporation; Bank of America,
N.A., Individually and as Successor-By-Merger to Lasalle Bank National Association;
CCO Mortgage Corporation; RBS Citizens, N.A.; RBS Securities, Inc.; and Everbank).

Amanda Martinsek and Marquettes D. Robinson, Thacker Robinson Zinz, LPA, 2330
One Cleveland Center, 1375 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44114; and Thomas
Panoff and Lucia Nale, Mayer Brown, LLP, 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606
(For Defendants-Appellees, Citigroup, Inc.; Citibank, N.A.; and Citimortgage, Inc.,
Individually and as Successor-By-Merger to Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc.).

Hugh E. McKay, Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur LLP, 950 Main Ave., Suite 500,
Cleveland, OH 44113 (For Defendant-Appellee, Deutsche Bank National Trust
Company).

Daniel R. Warren and Brett A. Wall, Baker & Hostetler, L.L.P., 3200 PNC Center, 1900
East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44114; and Patrick T. Lewis, Baker & Hostetler,
L.L.P., 3200 National City Center, 1900 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44114 (For
Defendants-Appellees, Fifth Third Bank; The Huntington National Bank, N.A.; and
Keybank National Association).

Thomas J. Lee, Stephen M. O’Bryan and William S. Dornette, Taft, Stettinius &
Hollister, L.L.P., 3500 BP Tower, 200 Public Square, Cleveland, OH 44114; and R.
Bruce Allensworth, Brian M. Forbes and Ryan Tosi, K&L Gates, LLP, State Street
Financial Center, One Lincoln Street, Boston, MA 02111 (For Defendants-Appellees,
Goldman Sachs Mortgage Company and GS Mortgage Securities Corp.).

David A. Wallace, Carpenter Lipps & Leland, LLP, 280 Plaza, Suite 1300, 280 North
High Street, Columbus, OH 43215; and Phillip R. Perdew, Locke Lord LLP, 111 South
Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606 (For Defendants-Appellees, GMAC Mortgage LLC
and U.S. Bank National Association).

William D. Kloss, Jr., and Marcel C. Duhamel, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease,
L.L.P., 200 Public Square, Ste. 1400, Cleveland, OH 44114 (For Defendant-Appellee,
Corinthian Mortgage Corporation).

Joseph A. Castrodale, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Arnoff, LLP, 200 Public Square,
Suite 2300, Cleveland, OH 44114(For Defendant-Appellee, HSBC Bank, U.S.A., N.A.).

2
Anthony J. Coyne and Michael P. Quinlan, Mansour, Gavin, Gerlack & Manos Co.,
L.P.A., 1001 Lakeside Ave., Suite 1400, Cleveland, OH 44114; and Michael H.
Carpenter, Katheryn M. Lloyd and Tyler K. Ibom, Carpenter Lipps & Leland, LLP, 280
Plaza, Suite 1300, 280 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43215 (For Defendant-
Appellee, Nationwide Advantage Mortgage Company).

Bryan T. Kostura and Barbara F. Yaksic, McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC, 25550 Chagrin
Boulevard, Suite 406, Cleveland, OH 44122 (For Defendants-Appellees, Suntrust
Mortgage, Inc., and Everhome Mortgage Company).

Stephen D. Jones, Roetzel & Andress, 155 East Broad Street, 12th Floor, Columbus,
OH 43215 (For Defendant-Appellee, United Guaranty Corporation).

Scott A. King and Terry W. Posey, Jr., Thompson Hine, LLP, Austin Landing 1, 10050
Innovation Drive, Suite 400, Dayton, OH 45342 (For Defendant-Appellee, Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A., Individually and as Successor-By-Merger to Norwest Bank, N.A. and Wells
Fargo Bank of Minnesota, N.A.).

CYNTHIA WESTCOTT RICE, P.J.

{¶1} Appellants, James R. Flaiz, et al., appeal from the judgment of the

Geauga County Court of Common Pleas dismissing their complaint, filed against

appellees, MERSCORP, Inc., et al., for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be

granted. At issue is whether appellants’ complaint was sufficient to state a claim for

damages in unpaid filing fees due to appellees’ failure to record numerous mortgages

and mortgage assignments in the county recorder’s official records where, appellants

maintain, Ohio imposes a statutory obligation on mortgagees and assignees to do so.

For the reasons discussed in this opinion, we affirm the judgment of the trial court, but

for reasons other than those advanced by the trial court.

{¶2} On October 13, 2011, Geauga County, Ohio and Brown County, Ohio filed

suit against appellees, MERSCORP, Inc., Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Inc.

(collectively “MERS,” a national electronic registry system for mortgage loans), and

3
numerous banks and mortgage companies. The actions were brought under Civ.R. 23

as a class action on behalf of Ohio’s 88 counties, alleging appellees violated Ohio law

by failing to record assignments in Ohio county recorders’ offices when they assigned

mortgages as part of their securitization process, thereby avoiding Ohio’s alleged

mandatory recording statutes. Appellants asserted that appellees’ actions deprived

Ohioans of the benefit of a complete and accurate record of title on the subject

properties and, by implication, allowed them to avoid the costs associated with the

purportedly mandatory filing statutes.

{¶3} The Brown County case was ultimately dismissed and Geauga County

amended its compliant to add Brown County as a plaintiff in the underlying matter.

Appellants later filed their second amended class action complaint, alleging appellees

violated Ohio statutes mandating that mortgages and mortgage assignments be

recorded pursuant to R.C. 5301.25 and R.C. 5301.32. The second amended complaint

additionally stated claims for unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy, and public nuisance.

{¶4} In the second amended complaint, appellants alleged that appellees

established MERS, a private registry, in order to save money and generate rapid

mortgage-backed securities by avoiding public recordation. Appellants asserted MERS

members are approximately 5,600 banks and mortgage companies who originate

mortgages and participate in the securitization process. They claimed MERS does not

originate, assign, service, or invest in mortgage loans. Instead, they allege MERS is a

private recording system through which its members originate mortgages and keep

track of the assignments between various entities involved in the securitization process.

Appellants contended MERS members designate MERS as the mortgagee, nominee,

4
beneficiary on the mortgages they originate, or by having members record an

assignment of their mortgage to MERS, even though MERS is not the actual owner of

the mortgage. MERS members then assign their mortgages to other MERS members

during the securitization process by preparing and executing actual assignments;

according to appellants, MERS affords appellees the ability to continue this process

without utilizing Ohio’s recording laws. Appellants alleged that appellees’ use of MERS

has directly caused public land records to be incomplete and inaccurate and has

permitted appellees to avoid paying the requisite filing fees.

{¶5} On November 2, 2012, appellees jointly moved the trial court to dismiss

appellants’ second amended complaint. In their motion, appellees asserted the trial

court should dismiss appellants’ complaint because the Ohio General Assembly did not

create an express private cause of action to enforce statutory provisions concerning

mortgage assignments. Appellees further argued the complaint should be dismissed,

as a matter of law, because the relevant statutes do not create an obligation to file the

instruments in question; finally, appellees argued each of appellants’ individual causes

of action failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.

{¶6} Appellants opposed the motion, arguing they had standing and a right to

pursue their claims, pursuant to R.C. 309.12, which authorizes a prosecuting attorney to

file suit when “money is due the county.” They further claimed they were entitled to

relief because the recording statutes at issue, R.C. 5301.25 and R.C. 5301.32,

mandate, by use of the term “shall,” that all mortgages and assignments be recorded in

the county recorder’s office. Finally, they maintained they had alleged sufficient facts to

state claims upon which relief could be premised.

5
 {¶7} Appellees filed a reply to appellants’ memorandum in opposition, asserting

R.C. 309.12 was insufficient to create a private cause of action under the relevant

recording statutes because it applies only when there is a fixed and settled monetary

obligation owed the county. Appellees argued that because they had no statutory

obligation to file the instruments with the recorder’s office, any money allegedly owed

was potential and not a settled obligation or liability.

{¶8} On May 17, 2016, the trial court issued its judgment granting appellees’

motion to dismiss. In rendering its decision, the court analyzed the language of both

R.C. 5301.25 and R.C. 5301.32. The former provides, in relevant part:

{¶9} (A) All deeds, land contracts referred to in division (A)(21) of
section 317.08 of the Revised Code, and instruments of writing
properly executed for the conveyance or encumbrance of lands,
tenements, or hereditaments, other than as provided in division (C)
of this section and section 5301.23 of the Revised Code, shall be
recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which
the premises are situated. Until so recorded or filed for record, they
are fraudulent insofar as they relate to a subsequent bona fide
purchaser having, at the time of purchase, no knowledge of the
existence of that former deed, land contract, or instrument.
(Emphasis added.)

{¶10} R.C. 5301.32 provides, in relevant part:

{¶11} A mortgage may be assigned or partially released by a separate
instrument of assignment or partial release, acknowledged as
provided by section 5301.01 of the Revised Code. The separate
instrument of assignment or partial release shall be recorded in the
county recorder’s official records. The county recorder shall be
entitled to charge the fee for that recording as provided by section
317.32 of the Revised Code for recording deeds. (Emphasis
added.)

{¶12} The trial court acknowledged that the foregoing statutes utilized the term

“shall,” typically denoting a mandatory obligation. In this situation, however, the court

observed the recording statutes are permissive because they merely provide a

6
mechanism by which property owners, mortgagors and mortgagees, as well as

assignors and assignees may record deeds, mortgages, and assignments to establish

priority of lien interests. The court maintained that had the General Assembly intended

to impose a mandatory duty to record mortgages and assignments, it was required to

state (1) who must record the mortgage or assignment; and (2) when the instruments

must be recorded. Because neither statute prescribed these conditions and because

neither statute imposes a penalty upon an individual who fails to comply, the court

concluded they cannot impose a duty to record on a mortgagor/mortgagee or

assignor/assignee.

{¶13} The trial court also emphasized:

{¶14} Mortgagees and assignees have very strong reasons to record
mortgages and mortgage assignments; the recording of those
instruments provides notice and establishes at least the
presumption of priority. It would seem that only a foolhardy
mortgage assignee would choose not to record a mortgage
assignment with the County Recorder and run the risk of another
entity filing a subsequent mortgage assignment and claiming
priority. And yet, that is exactly what the Defendants have chosen
to do with the MERS system. Without giving too much credit to
financial institutions that have been substantially responsible for the
recent recession, those financial institutions have chosen the
benefits of the MERS system over the protections of the public
recording statutes. The laws of the State of Ohio as presently
constituted permit those financial institutions to make that choice.

{¶15} The court therefore dismissed appellants’ complaint and this appeal

follows. Appellants assign the following as error:

{¶16} “The trial court erred in granting defendants’ joint motion to dismiss the

plaintiffs’ second amended complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may

be granted.”

7
 {¶17} An appellate court reviews a judgment granting a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion

to dismiss de novo. Perrysburg Twp. v. Rossford, 103 Ohio St.3d 79, 2004-Ohio-4362,

¶5. A Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can

be granted is procedural and tests the sufficiency of the complaint. State ex rel. Hanson

v. Guernsey Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 65 Ohio St.3d 545, 548 (1992). A trial court

presumes all factual allegations in the complaint are true and must make all reasonable

inferences in favor of the non-moving party. Perez v. Cleveland, 66 Ohio St.3d 397,

399 (1993). “[A]s long as there is a set of facts, consistent with the plaintiff’s complaint,

which would allow the plaintiff to recover, the court may not grant a defendant’s motion

to dismiss.” York v. Ohio State Hwy. Patrol, 60 Ohio St.3d 143, 145 (1991).

{¶18} Appellants first argue the trial court erred in granting appellees’ motion

because, in doing so, it ignored the plain language of R.C. 5301.25 and R.C. 5301.32

providing that recordation of mortgage assignments is mandatory.

{¶19} “When interpreting a statute, a court’s paramount concern is legislative

intent.” Risner v. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Ohio Div. of Wildlife, 144 Ohio St.3d

278, 2015-Ohio-3731, ¶12. “‘To discern legislative intent, we first consider the statutory

language, reading all words and phrases in context and in accordance with rules of

grammar and common usage.’” See Holland v. Gas Ents. Co., 4th Dist. Washington No.

14CA35, 2015-Ohio-2527, ¶14, quoting Ohio Neighborhood Finance, Inc. v. Scott, 139

Ohio St.3d 536, 2014-Ohio-2440, ¶22, citing R.C. 1.42. “We apply the statute as written

* * *, and we refrain from adding or deleting words when the statute’s meaning is clear

and unambiguous.” Risner at ¶12.

8
 {¶20} R.C. 5301.25 provides, in pertinent part: “All deeds, land contracts * * *

and instruments of writing executed for the conveyance or encumbrance of lands,

tenements, or hereditaments * * * shall be recorded in the office of the county recorder

of the county in which the premises are situated. Until so recorded or filed for record,

they are fraudulent insofar as they relate to a subsequent bona fide purchaser having,

at the time of purchase, no knowledge of the existence of that former deed, land

contract, or instrument.” (Emphasis added.)

{¶21} R.C. 5301.32 provides, in pertinent part: “A mortgage may be assigned

or partially released by a separate instrument of assignment or partial release * * *. The

separate instrument of assignment or partial release shall be recorded in the county

recorder’s official records.”

{¶22} Appellants assert the General Assembly selected the words “shall be

recorded” in both statutes as a mandate; namely, to require the recordation of all

mortgages or assignments in the county recorder’s office. Appellants maintain the plain

language is unambiguous and indicative of a clear and unequivocal intent that the term

“shall” be construed as a mandatory declaration that such instruments be recorded as

provided by the statutes. While we do not disagree that the term shall is indicative of a

mandate, the term must be understood in proper context.

{¶23} “The purpose of the recording statutes is to put other lien holders on

notice and to prioritize the liens.” GMAC Mtge. Corp. v. McElroy, 5th Dist. Stark No.

2004-CA-00380, 2005-Ohio-2837, ¶16; see also HSBC Mort. Svc., Inc. v. McGuire, 7th

Dist. Columbiana No. 07 CO 44, 2008-Ohio-6586, ¶18; Holstein v. Crescent

Communities, Inc., 10th Dist. Franklin No. 02AP-1241, 2003-Ohio-4760, ¶23 (“The main

9
purpose of the recording is to establish priority among creditors and bona fide

purchasers.”) The statutes in question are consequently intended to protect existing

lien holders seeking to give notice of their secured status as well as potential

purchasers and creditors interested in the existence of prior liens. If, therefore,

mortgagees and assignees do not wish to protect themselves and are “satisfied with the

security afforded by the mortgages [or assignments] unrecorded, there [is] no necessity

for recording them.” Stewart v. Hopkins, 30 Ohio St. 502, 526-527 (1876).

{¶24} In light of the statutory purpose, we maintain R.C. 5301.25 and R.C.

5301.32 do not set forth a universal command that all mortgages and assignments be

recorded. Instead, they merely direct that liens “shall be recorded” in a specific place,

or else the holder risks losing his, her, or its interests in the property to a bona fide

purchaser or other party who may not be on notice of the mortgagee’s or assignee’s

secured status. Thus, the “shall be recorded” language, when read in proper context,

indicates not that every mortgage or assignment must be recorded, but only that such

instruments must be recorded in the county where the property is located in order to

preserve the lien holder’s rights against others who would otherwise lack notice of the

lien.

{¶25} Although the instant issue has not been broached in Ohio, various federal

courts have adopted the foregoing interpretation of recording statutes with substantially

similar language in similar cases brought against MERS and its members. In Union

County, Illinois v. MERSCORP, Inc., 735 F.3d 730 (7th Cir.2013), the Seventh Circuit

Court of Appeals interpreted an Illinois statute, which contained a materially similar

10
directive as the statutes at issue in this matter.1 The court held that the phrase “shall be

recorded” did not create a mandatory duty to record. The court observed:

{¶26} [A] moment’s reflection will reveal the shallowness of [the
counties’] recourse to “plain meaning,” a tired, overused legal
phrase. For suppose a department store posts the following notice:
“All defective products must be returned to the fifth floor counter for
refund.” Obviously this is not a command that defective products
be returned; the purchaser is free to keep a defective product,
throw it out, or give it as a present to his worst friend. There’s an
implicit “if” in the command: If you want to return a product and get
a refund, here’s where you have to return it. Similarly, section 28 of
the Conveyances Act may just mean that if you want to record
your property interest you must do so in the county in which the
property is located. (Emphasis sic.) Union County, at 733.

{¶27} The court went on to observe that “the purpose of recordation has never

been understood to supplement property taxes by making every landowner, mortgagee,

etc.[,] pay a fee for a service he doesn’t want * * *. Recording is a valuable service,

provided usually for a modest fee - but provided only to those who think the service

worth the fee.” Id. at 733–34.

{¶28} Likewise, in Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania v. MERSCORP, Inc., 795

F.3d 372 (3d Cir.2015), the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, following the reasoning set

forth in Union County, concluded Pennsylania’s recording statute, 21 Pa. Stat. Sec 351,

which is also materially identical to Ohio’s statutes, imposed no duty to record all land

conveyances. Moreover, the Eighth Circuit held, in County of Ramsey v. MERSCORP

Holdings, Inc., 776 F.3d 947 (8th Cir.2014), that Minnesota’s recording statute, also

nearly identical to Pennsylvania’s and Ohio’s law, imposed no duty to record mortgage

assignments. Finally, in Harris Co., Tex. v. MERSCORP, Inc., 791 F.3d 545, 553–57

1. 765 ILCS 5/28, Illinois statutes governing “Recording Instruments, Prohibitions,” provides, in relevant
part: “Deeds, mortgages, powers of attorney, and other instruments relating to or affecting the title to real
estate in this state, shall be recorded in the county in which such real estate is situated * * *.”

11
(5th Cir.2015), the Fifth Circuit held the Texas law, providing that in order to “release,

transfer, assign, or take another action relating to an instrument that is filed”, a person

“must” file another instrument relating to the action in the same manner, imposes no

duty to record.

{¶29} In light of the foregoing, we hold neither R.C. 5301.25 nor R.C. 5301.32

impose a duty to record mortgages or assignments. We recognize, however, the trial

court found that recordation was not mandatory because the subject statutes failed to

state who must record the document and when it shall be recorded. Implicit in the

recording statutes at issue is the recognition that the mortgagee or the assignee would

be the party to record the instrument because recordation functions to protect these

parties. To wit, if the purpose of the recording statute is to give notice to the public of

liens and, as a result, protect and prioritize the lien holder, it follows the lien holder

would be the individual who has the burden of filing, if it chooses to enjoy the security of

public filing. Moreover, it also follows that a mortgagee or assignee who desires the

protection and security of recordation would file the respective lien as efficiently as

possible to obtain the statutory protections that result from placing the public on notice

of its interest. As a result, we find the trial court’s rationale in dismissing appellants’

complaint to be wanting; because, however, we conclude the language, purpose, and

context of the statutes under consideration demonstrate appellees were not obligated to

record the instruments, we agree with the trial court’s conclusion that appellants have

failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.

{¶30} One final point deserves attention. Appellants claim the trial court erred in

concluding they did not have standing to bring the underlying lawsuit. They premise

12
their argument upon R.C. 309.12, which provides the county prosecutor “upon being

satisfied that funds of the county * * * have been illegally drawn or withheld from the

county treasury * * * or that money is due the county * * * may, by civil action in the

name of the state, apply to a court of competent jurisdiction, * * * recover such money

as is due the county.” If, however, appellees are not obligated to record the instruments

under the statutes at issue, the county is not entitled to filing fees. Accordingly, the

county is not due money. Hence, regardless of the prosecutor’s subjective “satisfaction”

that money was “due the county,” the county is not entitled to fees as a matter of law.

Owing to our substantive analysis above, we additionally hold R.C. 309.12 does not

confer standing on appellants to bring suit in this instance. Appellants’ remaining

issues, relating to the trial court’s dismissal of their unjust enrichment, civil conspiracy,

and public nuisance claims are all based on the entitlement to fees and are therefore

moot and without merit.

{¶31} Appellants’ assignment of error is not well taken.

{¶32} For the reasons discussed in this opinion, the judgment of the Geauga

County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed.

TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J., concurs with a Concurring Opinion,

_____________________

TIMOTHY P. CANNON, J., concurring.

{¶33} I concur with the judgment and analysis of the lead opinion. I write

separately because I also agree with the analysis employed by the trial court in this

13
matter; I therefore concur with the decision to affirm the trial court’s judgment for

additional, not different, reasons. If the statute was meant to obligate recording, it

should have directed who was obligated to record and the consequences for failing to

do so.

{¶34} I also find it necessary to note that the dissent’s criticism of the lead

opinion regarding the word “shall” appears misplaced. Nowhere in the lead opinion is

there a statement or inference indicating an intention to embrace anything other than

“mandatory” as the appropriate definition of “shall.” The disagreement here, aptly

stated, is regarding what actions the word “shall” was intended to apply—not regarding

the definition of “shall.”

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J., dissents with a Dissenting Opinion.

_____________________

DIANE V. GRENDELL, J., dissents with a Dissenting Opinion.

{¶35} I respectfully dissent from the majority’s analysis and affirmance of the

lower court’s dismissal of the appellants’ complaint, which seeks to recoup the losses

they have experienced, and remedy the confusion that has been caused from MERS’

failure to properly record assignments of mortgages. Since a thorough examination of

the pertinent statutory language reveals that recordation is mandatory, the trial court’s

decision should be reversed.

{¶36} To determine the proper outcome, it is critical to correctly apply and

understand the legislature’s use of the term “shall.” In both R.C. 5301.25 and 5301.32,

14
the legislature stated that pertinent documentation, including mortgages and

assignments “shall be recorded” in the office of the county recorder. (Emphasis

added.) The meaning of the word “shall” is well-settled law. The Ohio Supreme Court

has repeatedly held that “shall” is to be “interpreted to make mandatory the provision in

which it is contained, absent a clear and unequivocal intent that it receive a construction

other than its ordinary meaning.” (Emphasis added.) State v. Palmer, 112 Ohio St.3d

457, 2007-Ohio-374, 860 N.E.2d 1011, ¶ 19, quoting Lakewood v. Papadelis, 32 Ohio

St.3d 1, 3-4, 511 N.E.2d 1138 (1987); Risner v. Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Ohio

Div. of Wildlife, 144 Ohio St.3d 278, 2015-Ohio-3731, 42 N.E.3d 718, ¶ 16. Further,

“shall” is commonly defined as “has a duty to” or “is required to.” Black’s Law Dictionary

1407 (8th Ed.2004). The definition’s notes explain that “[t]his is the mandatory sense

that drafters typically intend.”

{¶37} This is not one of those few cases where “shall” addresses conduct that is

anything other than mandatory, since the legislature has not indicated that to be the

case. No language was included to mitigate the mandatory effect of the word “shall.”

We need look no further than the statutes’ plain language, since, “[i]f the statute

conveys a clear, unequivocal, and definite meaning, interpretation comes to an end.”

Cincinnati Community Kollel v. Testa, 135 Ohio St.3d 219, 2013-Ohio-396, 985 N.E.2d

1236, ¶ 25.

{¶38} Looking at the statutes in their proper context, the legislature used the

word “shall” immediately prior to the term “be recorded.” This leads to the conclusion

that the language means exactly what it states: pertinent documents must be recorded

in all situations. Such a reading is supported by further reference to the statutes.

15
 {¶39} First, the general wording of the statutes shows the legislative intent for all

mortgages to be recorded. While the majority argues that these words merely allow

recording but mandate where such recording should take place, this result could and

would have been achieved through the use of entirely different language. For example,

the statute could have simply read “may be recorded.” Or, the statute could have stated

“if a party wishes to record a mortgage, such recording shall take place at the county

recorder’s office” or that recording “shall only be perfected by filing in the county

recorder’s office in the county where the property is located.” This would convey an

entirely different meaning than that a mortgage or assignment “shall be recorded.”

{¶40} Additional wording within R.C. 5301.25 provides further context.

Immediately after the provision requiring that the pertinent document “shall be

recorded,” the statute states the following: “Until so recorded or filed for record, they are

fraudulent insofar as they relate to a subsequent bona fide purchaser having, at the time

of purchase, no knowledge of the existence of that former deed, land contract, or

instrument.” (Emphasis added.) Use of the word “until” in this context indicates that the

action of recording should take place at some time. See Webster’s II New College

Dictionary 1239 (3d Ed.2005) (“until” is defined as “[u]p to the time of”). If the word

“shall” did not mandate recordation, the second sentence would more likely read “if the

deed is not recorded,” the applicable penalties will apply. Again, there were many ways

the legislature could have worded the statute if it intended to make recording optional or

discretionary, yet the legislature did not do so.

{¶41} Finally, subsection (C) of R.C. 2301.25, states that “tax certificates * * *

may be recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county in which the premises

16
are situated.” Under the majority’s interpretation of the law, both “may” and “shall”

would have the exact same meaning within the same section of the Revised Code.

Presumably, since the legislature used two separate terms (shall and may), the

legislature recognized that they must have different meanings. Compare Day v. James

Marine, Inc., 518 F.3d 411, 416 (6th Cir.2008) (“If words are known by the surrounding

‘company they keep,’ Logan v. United States, 552 U.S. 23, 128 S.Ct. 475, 482, 169

L.Ed.2d 432 (2007), they are surely known by how they are used in the surrounding

sections of the same statute * * *.”).

{¶42} The majority’s interpretation essentially holds that “shall” does not really

mean “shall,” but rather means “may.” This “Alice through the Looking Glass”

interpretation of the English language will cause confusion when considering the many

statutes that use the term “shall.” The interpretation advanced herein respects the

English language, avoids confusion, and is consistent with the practical application of

the recording statutes. As the appellants, who are in the best position to see the

consequences from a lack of recording, have emphasized, the interpretation advanced

by the majority and the appellees creates disorder for governmental entities attempting

to make sense of property records—from the treasurers, to the sheriffs, to the records

offices. This extends to the public, which has a right to be aware of property records.

{¶43} Pinney v. Merchants’ Natl. Bank of Defiance, 71 Ohio St. 173, 72 N.E. 884

(1904), reinforces these concerns. Pinney explained that the recording acts “rest upon

a recognition of the policy that there shall somewhere be found a record which will

disclose the state of the title of all lands within the county” and that “[t]he business

public, therefore, has a high interest in the maintenance of such a system as will enable

17
every person, by the ordinary inquiry—that is, an examination of the records—to

ascertain the condition of titles.” (Citation omitted.) Id. at 182. This is consistent with

the mandate that mortgages “shall be recorded.”

{¶44} Further, while this specific issue has not been ruled upon in Ohio, a

“requirement” to record has been referenced in several courts. Mid Am. Natl. Bank &

Trust Co. v. Comte/Rogers Dev. Corp., 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-95-329, 1996 WL 549249,

2 (Sept. 30, 1996) (R.C. 5301.32 “requires that the instrument be recorded”); Greene v.

Katz, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 37639, et al., 1978 WL 218135, 3 (Oct. 12, 1978) (R.C.

5301.25 “requires the recording of leases”); see also Cleveland v. Ibrahim, N.D.Ohio

No. 1:01 CV 1582, 2003 WL 24010953, 1, fn. 3 (May 29, 2003) (noting that the pertinent

statutes require “recordation”). While the majority cites cases from other states that

have ruled to the contrary, those are not binding precedent that must or should be

followed by this court.

{¶45} As is demonstrated above, the pertinent statutes must be applied to

require recording, since they do not “contain a clear and unequivocal intent that ‘shall’ *

* * means anything other than ‘must.’” Risner, 144 Ohio St.3d 278, 2015-Ohio-3731, 42

N.E.3d 718, at ¶ 16. An examination of the complete statutory language only serves to

bolster this conclusion. The impact that the failure to record has on the counties and

public as a whole further affirms the propriety of the legislative use of the word “shall”

and why the legislature’s mandate must be enforced.

{¶46} The concurring judge mischaracterizes the foregoing as criticizing the

majority’s understanding of the word “shall.” As is plainly indicated throughout this

opinion, the problem with the majority’s decision is the majority’s failure to give the plain

18
meaning to the word “shall” ascribed to it by the English language and instead

redefining the word. This results in the reinterpretation of the plain language used by

the Legislature and the incorrect application of the law in this case.

{¶47} For these reasons, the trial court’s judgment should be reversed.

19