U.S. District Court [LIVE AREA]Georgia Middle District
(Columbus)CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 4:11-cv-00184-MSHCOLUMBUS BANK
AND TRUST COMPANY v. LAWOFFICE OF MICHAEL A EDDINGS PC et
alAssigned to: US Mag Judge Stephen HylesCause: 28:1441 Petition
for Removal- Torts to LandDate Filed: 11/23/2011Jury Demand:
NoneNature of Suit: 290 Real Property: OtherJurisdiction: U.S.
Government DefendantDate Filed # Docket Text11/23/2011 1NOTICE OF
REMOVAL by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA from Superior Court ofMuscogee
County, case number SU11CV3875, consisting of Petition for
Interpleader,Answers, Motions, and Orders (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit
A - State Court File, # 2 CivilCover Sheet)(tlf). (Entered:
11/23/2011)11/23/2011 2MOTION for Disbursement of Funds by TRC
GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC filed byWilliam Alan Buchanan, Benjamin Arthur
Land(tlf). (Entered: 11/23/2011)11/23/2011 3Consent Form (28 USC
636(c)(1)) sent (tlf). (Entered: 11/23/2011)11/28/2011Case
reassigned to Judge W. Louis Sands. Judge Clay D. Land no longer
assigned to thecase (tlf). (Entered: 11/28/2011)11/28/2011 4NOTICE
OF FILING by WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., TRUSTEE, JPMORGANCHASE BANK,
N.A. re 1 Notice of Removal, (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit
A)(Jared,Julie) (Entered: 11/28/2011)12/02/2011 5AMENDED ANSWER by
TRC GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC. (Land, Benjamin)(Entered:
12/02/2011)12/02/2011 6ANSWER to Complaint by UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA. (Attachments: # 1Verification, # 2 Certificate of
Service)(Wall, Sheetul) (Entered: 12/02/2011)12/09/2011 7ANSWER to
Complaint by Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc.. (Attachments: #
1Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Franzen,
Therese) (Entered:12/09/2011)12/09/2011 8MOTION for Disbursement of
Funds by Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. filed byTherese G.
Franzen. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C,
# 4Exhibit D)(Franzen, Therese) (Entered: 12/09/2011)12/19/2011
9ANSWER to Complaint by Gregory Watkins.(Spence, O) (Entered:
12/19/2011)12/19/2011 10ANSWER to Complaint by Federal National
Mortgage Association. (Attachments: # 1Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit A-1,
# 3 Exhibit B)(Olson, Frank) (Entered: 12/19/2011)12/20/2011
11RESPONSE filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA re 8 MOTION
forDisbursement of Funds, 2 MOTION for Disbursement of Funds (Byrd,
Charles)CM/ECF LIVE - U.S. District Court:gamd
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of 4 2/5/2012 3:53 PM(Entered: 12/20/2011)12/22/2011 12RESPONSE
filed by JEROME ROGERS re 8 MOTION for Disbursement of
Funds(Allison, Ray) (Entered: 12/22/2011)12/22/2011 13RESPONSE
filed by JEROME ROGERS re 2 MOTION for Disbursement of
Funds(Allison, Ray) (Entered: 12/22/2011)12/22/2011 14CONSENT TO
PROCEED BEFORE THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE (Byrd,Charles) Modified on
12/22/2011 (tlf). (Entered: 12/22/2011)12/22/2011 15NOTICE OF
ASSIGNMENT. Case reassigned to Magistrate Judge US Mag JudgeStephen
Hyles for all further proceedings (tlf). (Entered:
12/22/2011)12/22/2011 16RESPONSE filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
re 8 MOTION forDisbursement of Funds (Byrd, Charles) (Entered:
12/22/2011)12/29/2011 17RESPONSE filed by TRC GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC
re 8 MOTION forDisbursement of Funds (Land, Benjamin) (Entered:
12/29/2011)01/03/2012 18MOTION to Deposit Funds by UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA filed by Charles W.Byrd. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed
Order)(Byrd, Charles) (Entered: 01/03/2012)01/04/2012 19RESPONSE
filed by TRC GLOBAL SOLUTIONS INC re 18 MOTION to DepositFunds
(Land, Benjamin) (Entered: 01/04/2012)01/04/2012 20RESPONSE filed
by PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE INC re 18 MOTION toDeposit Funds
(Franzen, Therese) (Entered: 01/04/2012)01/05/2012 21RESPONSE filed
by JEROME ROGERS re 18 MOTION to Deposit Funds (Allison,Ray)
(Entered: 01/05/2012)01/05/2012 22RESPONSE filed by COLUMBUS BANK
AND TRUST COMPANY re 18 MOTIONto Deposit Funds (Tucker, William)
(Entered: 01/05/2012)01/05/2012 23RESPONSE filed by FBMC MORTGAGE
CORPORATION re 18 MOTION toDeposit Funds (Attachments: # 1
Certificate of Service)(Spence, O) (Entered:01/05/2012)01/05/2012
24RESPONSE filed by WILLIAM REMBERT re 18 MOTION to Deposit
Funds(Attachments: # 1 Certificate of Service)(Spence, O) (Entered:
01/05/2012)01/05/2012 25RESPONSE filed by GREGORY WATKINS re 18
MOTION to Deposit Funds(Attachments: # 1 Certificate of
Service)(Spence, O) (Entered: 01/05/2012)01/06/2012NOTICE of
SETTING Hearing. Status Conference set for 1/19/2012 01:30 PM
inColumbus before US Mag Judge Stephen Hyles. (tls) (Entered:
01/06/2012)01/18/2012 26ANSWER to Complaint, COUNTERCLAIM against
All Parties by LAW OFFICE OFMICHAEL A EDDINGS PC.(POYDASHEFF,
ROBERT) (Entered: 01/18/2012)01/18/2012 27NOTICE of filing
Verification by Federal National Mortgage Association re 10
Answerto Complaint (OLSON, FRANK) (Entered: 01/18/2012)CM/ECF LIVE
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of 4 2/5/2012 3:53 PM01/19/2012 28Minute Entry for proceedings held
before US Mag Judge Stephen Hyles: StatusConference held on
1/19/2012, and continued to January 30, 2012. ( Status
Conferenceset for 1/30/2012 01:30 PM in Columbus before US Mag
Judge Stephen Hyles) (FTRGold, 1:30 PM) (tls) (Entered:
01/19/2012)01/19/2012 29ORDER granting 18 Motion to Deposit Funds.
Ordered by US Mag Judge StephenHyles on 1/19/12. (tls) (Entered:
01/19/2012)01/26/2012 30AMENDED DOCUMENT by PRIMARY RESIDENTIAL
MORTGAGEINC,amending 7 Answer to Complaint (Attachments: # 1
Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D)(Franzen,
Therese) (Entered: 01/26/2012)01/27/2012 31NOTICE of Attorney
Appearance by Therese G. Franzen on behalf of CrescentMortgage
Company (Franzen, Therese) (Entered: 01/27/2012)01/27/2012 32NOTICE
of Attorney Appearance by Dewan Sharmin Arefin on behalf of
CrescentMortgage Company (Arefin, Dewan) (Entered:
01/27/2012)01/27/2012 33MOTION for Summary Judgment by JEROME
ROGERS filed by Ray L. Allison.(Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in
Support)(Allison, Ray) (Entered: 01/27/2012)01/30/2012 34ANSWER to
Complaint by CRESCENT MORTGAGE COMPANY. (Attachments: # 1Exhibit A,
# 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit
E)(Franzen, Therese)(Entered: 01/30/2012)01/30/2012 35Minute Entry
for proceedings held before US Mag Judge Stephen Hyles:
StatusConference held on 1/30/2012. Proposed Scheduling/Discovery
Order should besubmitted no later than close of business
02/22/2012. (esl) [Mr. Flowers called as localcounsel by Mr.
Olson.] (Entered: 01/30/2012)01/30/2012This is a text only entry;
no document issued.ORDER re 26 Answer to Complaint,Counterclaim
filed by LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL A EDDINGS PC. Upon inquiry atthe
status conference in this hearing on 1/30/12 regarding its
Counterclaim, RespondentLaw Office of Michael A. Eddings P.C.
dismissed his Counterclaim in open court. Saidcounterclaim is no
longer pending and has been dismissed. Ordered by US Mag
JudgeStephen Hyles on 1/30/12. (lws) (Entered:
01/30/2012)01/31/2012 36Arbitration Referral Letter sent 1/31/2012
(hrm) (Entered: 01/31/2012)02/01/2012 37NOTICE of Attorney
Appearance by Therese G. Franzen on behalf of USAA FederalSavings
Bank (Franzen, Therese) (Entered: 02/01/2012)02/01/2012 38NOTICE of
Attorney Appearance by Dewan Sharmin Arefin on behalf of
USAAFederal Savings Bank (Arefin, Dewan) (Entered: 02/01/2012)PACER
Service CenterTransaction Receipt02/05/2012 15:45:34PACER Login:
im0564 Client Code:Description: Docket Report Search Criteria:
4:11-cv-00184-MSHCM/ECF LIVE - U.S. District Court:gamd
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of 4 2/5/2012 3:53 PMBillable Pages: 3 Cost: 0.24CM/ECF LIVE - U.S.
District Court:gamd
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of 4 2/5/2012 3:53 PMIN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA COLUMBUS DIVISION COLUMBUS BANK AND
TRUST: COMPANY, A DIVISION OF SYNOVUS : BANK,: : Petitioner,: :
v.:Case No. _________________ : LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL A. EDDINGS,:
P.C., FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE: COMPANY, FIRST AMERICAN
TITLE: COMPANY, JEROME ROGERS, LACHONE: TRICE, IKE A. NWAOBI,
UNITED STATES: OF AMERICA, FOR US CORPS OF: ENGINEERS, FEDERAL
NATIONAL: MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION, TRC GLOBAL: SOULTIONS, INC.,
ELIZABETH WALLER,: ET AL.,: : Respondents.:
_________________________________________ NOTICE OF REMOVAL TO:The
Honorable Judges of the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Georgia, Columbus Division
COMESNOW,respondentUnitedStatesArmyCorpsofEngineers,anagencyofthe
United States of America, by and through the United States Attorney
for the Middle District of Georgia and respectfully represents: 1.
That an agency of the United States is a respondent in the
above-captioned civil action now pending in the Superior Court of
Muscogee County as case number SU11-CV-3875.No trial has yet been
had in this action. Case 4:11-cv-00184-MSH Document 1Filed 11/23/11
Page 1 of 54-11-cv-184 2.
PetitionersinterpleaderandfirstamendmenttheretoshowsthatTheLawOfficeof
Michael A. Eddings, P.C. has been and currently is a customer of
Petitioner.Said Respondent has
maintainedadepositoryIOLTATrustAccountwithPetitionerandtheaccountisbelievedto
contain funds belonging to one or more of the Respondents. 4. The
United States is also a respondent in the above-referenced
interpleader action.The
IOLTATrustAccountatissueinthiscasecontainsfundsbelongingtotheUnitedStates,and
payment of these funds are at risk. 5. An Order on Interpleader
entered on October 28, 2011, directs Petitioner to interplead the
funds held in the account therein into the registry of the
Court.Said funds are currently held by the Clerk of Muscogee
Superior Court, and may be transferred to this Court if deemed
appropriate. 6. That to the extent an agency of the United States
has been sued for any act under color of such office or on account
of any right, title or authority claimed under any Act of Congress
for collection of the revenue, the matter is removable from state
to federal court under 28 U.S.C. ' 1442. 7. As required by 28
U.S.C. ' 1446(a), the documents comprising Exhibit A are copies of
all the documents received by the United States in this
action.There may be additional documents filed with the Clerk of
Superior Court of Muscogee County, and upon direction of this
Court, the complete record in this case may be transferred in
accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. Case 4:11-cv-00184-MSH
Document 1Filed 11/23/11 Page 2 of 51447(b). 8.
Pursuantto28U.S.C.'1446(d),writtennoticeofthisremovalwillbeprovidedtoall
adverse parties, and a copy of this notice of removal will be filed
with the Clerk of Superior Court of Muscogee County. 9. The filing
of this Notice of Removal is timely, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. '
1446(b). WHEREFORE,respondentUnitedStatesofAmericaremovesCaseNumber
SU11-CV-3875currentlypendingintheSuperiorCourtofMuscogeeCountytothisCourtfor
such further proceedings as may be appropriate. Respectfully
submitted, this 23nd day of November, 2011. MICHAEL J. MOORE UNITED
STATES ATTORNEY BY:s/Charles W. Byrd Charles W. Byrd Assistant
United States Attorney Georgia Bar No. 100850 BY:s/Sheetul S. Wall
Sheetul S. Wall Assistant United States Attorney Georgia Bar No.
734724 U. S. Attorneys Office Middle District of Georgia P.O. Box
2568 Columbus, GA31902 Ph: (706) 649-7700 Fax: (706) 649-7667 Case
4:11-cv-00184-MSH Document 1Filed 11/23/11 Page 3 of 5 CERTIFICATE
OF SERVICE This is to certify that I have this date filed the
Notice of Removal with the Clerk of United States District Court
using the CM/ECF system which will send notification of such filing
to the following: N/A I also certify that I have this date mailed
by United States Postal Service the document and a copy of the
Notice of Electronic Filing to the following non-CM/ECF
participant: Law Office of Michael A. Eddings, P.C. c/o Michael A.
Eddings, As Registered Agent 860 Brookestone Center Parkway, Suite
B Columbus, GA31904 Jeffrey Schneider, Esq. Weissman, Nowack, Curry
& Wilco, P.C. One Alliance Center, 4th Floor 3500 Lenox Road
Atlanta, GA30326 Attorney for First American Title Insurance
Company William S. McFadden, Esq. McFadden, Lyon & Rouse, LLC
718 Downtowner Blvd. Mobile, AL36609 Attorney for Federal National
Mortgage Association Ray L. Allison, Esq. Denney, Pease &
Allison P.O. Box 2648 Columbus, GA31902 Attorney for Jerome Rogers
Christopher Meacham, Esq. Meacham, Early, Fowler, P.C. P.O. Box
9031 Columbus, GA31908 Attorney for Lachone Trice and Ike A. Nwaobi
Case 4:11-cv-00184-MSH Document 1Filed 11/23/11 Page 4 of 5Benjamin
A. Land Buchanan & Land, LLP P.O. Box 2848 1425 Wynnton Road
Columbus, GA31902 Attorney for TRC Global Solutions, Inc. William
L. Tucker Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford, P.C. 1111 Bay
Avenue Third Floor, Symovus Centre P.O. Box 1199 Columbus,
GA31902-1199 Attorneys for Columbus Bank & Trust Company, A
Division of Synovus Bank O. Wayne Spence, Esq. O. Wayne Spence,
P.C. 2945 Gardenia Street Columbus, GA31906 Attorney for FBMC
Mortgage Corporation d/b/a First Bankers Mortgage Corporation, and
William Rembert This 23nd day of November, 2011. s/Charles W. Byrd
CHARLES W. BYRD ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY Case 4:11-cv-00184-MSH
Document 1Filed 11/23/11 Page 5 of 5Exhibit "A" Case
4:11-cv-00184-MSH Document 1-1Filed 11/23/11 Page 1 of 101IN THE
SUPERIOR COURT OF MUSCOGEE COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA COLUMBUS BANK
AND TRUST '" COMPANY, A DIVISION OF SYNOVUS '" BANK, '" CIVIL
ACTION FILE'" Petitioner,NO. ___ '" v. * '" SUI! {!y do/':5 '" LAW
OFFICE OF MICHAEL A. EDDINGS,'" P.C., FIRSTAMERICAN TITLE
INSURANCE'" ::tr.:;COMPANY, FIRST AMERICAN TITLE'"UJ c: c::: "?'
----1 -(.1'''};--- ,COMPANY, JOHN DOE 1,JOHN DOE'" -0,-,,__C)r-'
rt1 a2, JOHN DOE 3, ET AL.,'" ("')rl1 -t0 ol..:.:"..:>'" ;;0
M;;co:J2: Respondents. '"("') ("')-u0 aC:?r",::a:-Yl ;::;:1-'11
PETITION FOR INTERPLEADER 0 '"* * v. * * LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL A.
EDDINGS,* P.C., FIRSTAMEIUCAN TITLE INSURANCE* COMPANY, FIRST
AMEIUCAN TITLE* COMPANY, JOHN DOE 1,JOHN DOE* 2, JOHN DOE 3,ET
AL.,* * Respondents. * ORDER ON INTERPLEADER The Court having
considered Columbus Bank and Trust Company, a Division of Synovus
Bank (CB&T) Petition, Petitioner is hereby directed to
interplead the funds held in the account identified therein into
the registry of this Court.Said funds tobe held by the Clerk of
Superior Court until such time as the Court may adjudicate the
rights and appropriate disposition of said funds. This ffiay
ofatM1u" 2011.e5"!Jp.II} . ~ -Judge,Superior Court of Muscogee
County, Georgia Case 4:11-cv-00184-MSH Document 1-1Filed 11/23/11
Page 7 of 101OFFICIALCHECK csc;:r 431020435 adivisionofSYNOVUS'
BANK. p.o.BOX120 COLUME\US,GA31902Jl4::Q. 611 ',. Cl
erkDfSUper1ot'COlirt 1'........'
tJI9'.9d.I'l'I'E'l(,ColumbusBan.k&Trust
AUTHORIZEDSIGNATURE,.PIYll PAYABLE
THROUGHSYNOVUSBANKCOLUMBUS,GEORGIA t,,".' ..,j Case
4:11-cv-00184-MSH Document 1-1Filed 11/23/11 Page 8 of 101IN THE
SUPERIOR COURT OF MUSCOGEE COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA COLUMBUS BANK
AND TRUSTCML ACTION FILE NO. COMPANY, ADIVISION OF
SYNOVUSSU-U-CV-3875 BAl'll(, Petitioner vs. 1"-.3:I c::::.
....,tnc:J: c:: (j'l. ,:r:\:In,.LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL
A.e::>f'T1"'0-- t'1B r "Beneficiary Acccunt Number, Mexican
CLABEfor tho Intemat!oMI Bank Account NUmbelIBAN) where applicable;
i 30(1.", ord,r numbtitution df!'lgnated to receive the funds does
not pay the beneHclary specified in a Payment Order payable in
foreign Currency and the fund. are retumed to Bank. Bank will not
be liable fo, of interest shel( be rlmitedto twenty (201calendar
dey"Interon. This section sets forththecomplete U.bifttyfor the
order issued undetthis agnoemenL Anality of orders.The o,der will
be fin.land will not besubjec:t to stop payment or mall,except that
the Bank may. ot Ihe origln.tor', request make .n effort to offect:
such is sent In for.ign cUrTer'lCY and Wells Fargodoes not charge a
converting fee;we also offer competitive i!XChange ril'tes.)For
Intl!'miltional wires incurrency tlll!.re equal to or over SlS,QO()
US.oquiv>lent,pl."'" coli )'Our locil foreign >chango
Specialist at 800-7865593, to obtain. CQntnlct number. h" Case
4:11-cv-00184-MSH Document 1-1Filed 11/23/11 Page 15 of
101VERIFICATION STATE OF GEORGIA COUNTY OF MUSCOGEE Personally
appeared before me, the undersigned,IKE A.NWAOBI,after first being
duly sworn,deposesandsaysthat he isthePlaintiff in the
foregoingcaptionedcause,andthatthe factscontained herein are true
and correct.
Sworn toand subscribed before me this ::)day of,2011. .1\rv
Notary Public My Commission Expires: \(11.0, Case 4:11-cv-00184-MSH
Document 1-1Filed 11/23/11 Page 16 of 101IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
MUSCOGEE COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA COLUMBUS BANK AND TRUSTCIVIL
ACTION FILE NO. COMPANY, A DIVISION OF SYNOVUSSU-U-CV-3875 BANK,
Petitioner vs. LAWOFFICE OF MICHAEL A. EDDINGS, P.C., FIRST
AMERlCAN TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY, FIRST AMERlCAN TillE COMPANY,
JOHN DOE1, JOHN DOE 2, JOHN DOE 3, et aI., Respondent CERTIFICATE
OF SERVICE IdocertifYthat Ihaveon thisdayserved acopyof theaboveand
foregoingdocument upon the person named below by mailing a copy of
the same through the United States Mail with adequate postage
attached thereto toinsure proper delivery, addressed as follows:
William L.Tucker,Esquire Page,Scrantom,Sprouse,Tucker &
Ford,P.e. 1111Bay Avenue,Third Floor,Synovus Centre POBox 1199
Columbus,GA31902-1199 Phone:706-324-0251 Attorneys Jar Columbus
Bank &Trust Company,a Division ofSynovus Bank
RESPECTFULLYSUBMITTED this 1111day ofNovember, 2011. MEACHAM,
EARLEY & FOWLER, P.e. PO Box 9031 Columbus, GA31908-9031
Phone:706-576-4064 Fax:706-596-0621 ME&J/GAJLitigationiGen'l
CivillNwaobi, Ike Answer to Plaintiff's Petition for Inte!pleader
By: __..--->'"