Peter C. Brown

Ingham County Bar Association (Board Member, Young Lawyers Section); State Bar of Michigan (Member, Sections on: Real Property Law; Litigation).

Successfully represented MERS in an appeal wherein appellant attempted in invalidate settlement that was placed on the record when he had a "change of heart" following the settlement. In an unpublished opinion, the COA held that the settlement as placed on the record in the trial court was valid and enforceable; Prevailed, in part, on a Motion for Summary Disposition in Kent County Circuit Court before Judge Redford on a claim against the Company for its refusal to provide coverage for an easement related claim. The Court held that although the easement was a covered matter under the policy, the Company's obligations under the policy had not been triggered and therefore the Company had no liability because the insured plaintiff did not suffer an actual loss as nobody had ever attempted to use the easement; Prevailed on a Motion for Summary Disposition in Kalkaska County Circuit Court before Judge Allen on a claim seeking to invalidate a mortgage and sheriff's deed on the basis that the vesting deed was invalid on its face due to a fiduciary's self dealing. In lieu of filing a responsive pleading, Mr. Brown filed a Motion for Summary Disposition that resulted in the Court agreeing that the Plaintiff's claims were barred as a result of laches due to the change in circumstances since the conveyance that the Plaintiff was challenging; Represented Plaintiff in equitable subrogation claim wherein Defendant voluntarily agreed to provide Subordination Agreement; Represented title insurance companies and their insureds in various real estate title disputes, including mortgage priority disputes, adverse possession claims, boundary disputes, easement issues, construction lien claims, and fraud claims; Represented title insurance underwriters in insurance coverage disputes and recoupment and subrogation actions; Represented lenders, owners, and lien claimants in construction lien claims and foreclosures; Represented creditors in bankruptcy matters, including perfection or preference claims by bankruptcy trustees; Represented financial institutions and mortgage servicers directly with various residential and commercial real estate matters; Successfully defended a mortgage company in a seven-million dollar tort action by borrower; Successfully handled subsequent appeal wherein the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's dismissal of the mortgage company; Successfully negotiated favorable settlements on behalf of clients in various real estate, contract, and business litigation matters; Reviewed, analyzed, and resolved hundreds of real estate title matters.