After a years-long legal battle, a woman may finally have her home back.
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As reported on News Center 7 at 6, two courts have ruled in Mobley’s favor, supporting that her house was stolen from her.
“When I heard about that ruling, I actually literally started crying,” Mobley said. “I honestly thank God because it’s been a journey.”
After winning a trial in Montgomery County, a state appeals court has also ruled saying Mobley was a victim on quit claim deed theft.
A quit claim deed is a document, a quick way to transfer property without a sale, often between people who know each other like family, friends or business partners.
But thieves can also file that paperwork, making it look like you transferred the property to them.
News Center 7’s I-Team has talked with other people who have had their homes stolen this way in the last year.
“The signature does not even look like mine,” Janis Hayes from Dayton said. “I feel violated. I feel abused. I feel unprotected.”
Montgomery County has made changes aiming to cut down on quit claim deed fraud. Mobley says she wants state lawmakers to take action.
“It’s time for the state to step in at this point,” Mobley said.
Two state lawmakers wrote a bill after News Center 7 reported on the crime last year, but the bill stalled in the state House.
Both the lawmakers are trying again, working to reintroduce companion bills for the state House and Senate aiming to cut down on quit claim deed theft.
Mobley is working to get the property transferred into her name and, she hopes it doesn’t come to this, but she’s ready for an appeal.
The lawyer representing the estate on the other side of the case said he does not agree with it and plans to appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.
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