Property owner sues bank and title company claiming they failed to escrow funds for unpaid taxes

A St. Clair County bank and title company are being sued after a Fairview Heights house was allegedly sold out from under a buyer for unpaid property taxes.

Anthony Feole filed a lawsuit Nov. 16 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against PNC Bank and Powerlink Settlement Services LLP.

According to the complaint, Feole agreed to pay PNC Bank $40,000 for a house on Meckfessel Drive in July. Feole says Powerlink was used as the title company and was responsible for the escrow funds at closing. As part of the sale contract, Feole claims, PNC agreed to pay all property taxes owed for previous years. Feole alleges he asked Powerlink in October to make sure the taxes were paid as agreed.

However, Feole claims the taxes were not paid to St. Clair County from the closing funds. He says the house was eventually re-sold for non-payment of the property taxes.

Feole accuses the bank and the title company of breach of contract, deception and fraud. He seeks more than $150,000 in damages and court costs.

Attorney John Pawloski of St. Louis represents Feole. They ask for a jury trial.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 12-L-623