Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. V. Mars

Defendant, Thomas Z. Mars, appeals the decree of the trial court that quieted title in plaintiff, National City Bank (the bank), to several buildings presently located on property owned by defendant. Defendant contends that he owns the disputed buildings and that the court erroneously rejected his slander of title claim premised on the filing by the bank of a lis pendens respecting the property. He also argues that the trial court erred by dismissing his claim for damages for past due lease payments and by striking his demand for a jury trial. Finally, he asserts that the trial court erred by ordering the sale of his property. We affirm the court's judgment quieting title and dismissing defendant's counterclaims,  but we reverse its order directing the sale of the property.