Michaels v. First USA Title, LLC

OPINION

WORKE, Judge.

Appellant title insurance company challenges the district court’s finding that a notary public who negligently notarized signatures on fraudulent home mortgages was appellant’s agent. We affirm.

FACTS

Larry Maxwell and Jerome KingRussell stole respondent John Foster’s identity and used it to obtain four fraudulent mortgages. At each closing, Maxwell acted as the real-estate agent, and KingRussell impersonated Foster. Janie Coates, a notary public who had no knowledge of the fraud, acted as the closing agent. The incidents were part of a larger mortgage-fraud ring led by…