Sensenich v. Bank of America, N.A.

SUMMARY ORDER Plaintiff-appellant Jan M. Sensenich (“Sensenich”) is the trustee of the Chapter *513 13 bankruptcy estate of Nicholas W. Stan-zione and Regina C. Stanzione (the “Stan-ziones”). Sensenich, in his capacity as trustee, brought this adversary proceeding in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Distinct of Vermont claiming that the mortgage of defendant-appellee Bank of America, N.A., against the Stanziones’ home was invalid because the mortgage deed was “improperly ... acknowledged” under Vermont law. Lakeview Farm, Inc. v. Enman, 166 Vt. 158, 689 A.2d 1089, 1093 (1997); see 27 V.S.A. § 341(a). The Bankruptcy Court granted Bank of America’s motion for summary judgment, and Sense-nich appealed to the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. The District Court affirmed. Sensenich now appeals to this Court. We affirm. Sensenich claims that the acknowledgment form attached to the mortgage deed is invalid because the Stanziones’ names were not written in the appropriate blank space on the acknowledgment form. It is “perfectly apparent upon the face” of the acknowledgment form that the omission of the Stanziones’ names was a “clerical error.” Wood v. Cochrane, 39 Vt. 544, 548 (1866). If the acknowledgment form makes reference to another instrument, such as the mortgage deed, the other instrument may be examined to “correct such error by construction.” Id. at 548-49. The notarized acknowledgment form describes the individuals acknowledging their signatures as the “signer(s) and sealer(s) of the foregoing written instrument.” Because the Stanziones are plainly the signers of the “foregoing written instrument” — that is, the mortgage deed — the acknowledgment “show[s] ... with ... certainty” that the Stanziones are the individuals described by the acknowledgment form. See Richmond v. Woodard, 32 Vt. 833, 838 (1860). Therefore, the acknowledgment form “should be construed the same as though the name[s] of’ the Stan-ziones “had been originally inserted” in the correct part of the form. Id. at 838. As a result, the mortgage deed was validly acknowledged, and summary judgment for Bank of America was proper. CONCLUSION For the foregoing reasons, the May 1, 2009 order of the District Court is AFFIRMED.