Wilmington Savings Fund Society v. Ryan ( 2022 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Electronically Filed
Intermediate Court of Appeals
CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
11-APR-2022
07:45 AM
Dkt. 78 SO
NO. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
(Consolidated with Nos. CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX and CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX)
IN THE INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
OF THE STATE OF HAWAI#I
CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST,
NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION
TRUST, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
TERRANCE RYAN; LUCILLE RYAN, Defendants-Appellants,
and
FIRST LIGHT ENTERPRISES LLC; BLUE WATER ALLIANCE, LLC;
and
JOHN DOES 1-50; JANE DOES 1-50; DOE PARTNERSHIPS 1-50; DOE
CORPORATIONS 1-50; DOE ENTITIES 1-50; and DOE GOVERNMENTAL
UNITS 1-50, Defendants
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
(CIVIL NO. 5CC121000306)
and
CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST,
NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION
TRUST, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
TERRANCE RYAN; LUCILLE RYAN, Defendants-Appellants,
and
FIRST LIGHT ENTERPRISES LLC; BLUE WATER ALLIANCE, LLC;
and
JOHN DOES 1-50; JANE DOES 1-50; DOE PARTNERSHIPS 1-50; DOE
CORPORATIONS 1-50; DOE ENTITIES 1-50; and DOE GOVERNMENTAL
UNITS 1-50, Defendants
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
(CIVIL NO. 5CC121000306)
and
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
CAAP-XX-XXXXXXX
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST,
NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION
TRUST, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
TERRANCE RYAN; LUCILLE RYAN, Defendants-Appellants,
and
FIRST LIGHT ENTERPRISES LLC; BLUE WATER ALLIANCE, LLC;
and
JOHN DOES 1-50; JANE DOES 1-50; DOE PARTNERSHIPS 1-50; DOE
CORPORATIONS 1-50; DOE ENTITIES 1-50; and DOE GOVERNMENTAL
UNITS 1-50, Defendants
APPEAL FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
(CIVIL NO. 5CC121000306)
SUMMARY DISPOSITION ORDER
(By: Ginoza, Chief Judge, Hiraoka and McCullen, JJ.)
These consolidated appeals arise from a mortgage
foreclosure action. Defendants-Appellants Terrence Ryan and
Lucille Ryan (collectively, the Ryans)1 appealed from a judgment
entered by the Circuit Court of the Fifth Circuit on
September 20, 2017.2 In a memorandum opinion filed April 9,
2020, we held we lacked jurisdiction to review three of the
Ryans' points of error. The Ryans petitioned for certiorari.
The supreme court held there was appellate jurisdiction and
remanded for consideration on the merits. Wilmington Sav. Fund
Soc'y, FSB v. Ryan, 148 Hawai#i 515, 518 n.3, 479 P.3d 133, 136
n.3 (2021).
The Ryans appeal from:
(1) the September 20, 2017 order granting summary
judgment in favor of Plaintiff-Appellee
Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB
(Foreclosure Decree);
(2) the September 20, 2017 Judgment in favor of
Wilmington; and
1
Because the Ryans share a surname, we refer to them by their given
names when necessary to avoid confusion.
2
The Honorable Kathleen N.A. Watanabe presided.
2
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
(3) the December 8, 2017 order denying the Ryans'
motion to reconsider the Foreclosure Decree
and the Judgment and to set aside their
defaults (Order Denying Reconsideration).
For the reasons explained below, we affirm the Foreclosure
Decree, the Judgment, and the Order Denying Reconsideration.
Bank of America, N.A. filed the lawsuit below against
the Ryans on October 30, 2012. The complaint alleged that the
Ryans had defaulted on a Note secured by a Mortgage on real
property located on the island of Kaua#i.
The Ryans were served with the complaint in March 2015.
Terrence's answer was due on April 2, 2015. Lucille's answer was
due on April 8, 2015.
On March 23, 2015, a self-represented Terrence filed a
motion requesting a 120-day extension of time to respond to the
complaint.3 Terrence's motion stated:
Defendants currently reside in the State of Washington are
[sic] seeking assistance concerning this matter, but due to
time, distance and resource limitations, Defendants have not
been given the opportunity to adequately locate and retain
local State of Hawaii counsel and consult with such counsel,
and for this reason requests [sic] an additional 120 days to
respond.
Terrence's motion did not include a notice of hearing, as
required by Rule 7 of the Rules of the Circuit Courts of the
State of Hawai#i (RCCH).4 He did not comply with RCCH Rule 7.2,
which prescribes procedures for obtaining a hearing date and
submitting copies of the motion to the assigned judge. The
circuit court did not rule on the motion before the Ryans'
answers became due. The Ryans did not answer the complaint.
3
The motion also sought an extension of time for Lucille, but
Lucille did not sign the motion. Terrence, who is not licensed to practice
law in Hawai#i, could not have signed the motion on Lucille's behalf. See
Oahu Plumbing & Sheet Metal, Ltd. v. Kona Constr., Inc., 60 Haw. 372, 377, 590
P.2d 570, 573 (1979). The record does not indicate that Lucille requested an
extension of time to answer the complaint.
4
RCCH Rule 7(a) provides, in relevant part:
Every motion, except one entitled to be heard ex parte, shall be
accompanied by a notice of hearing or of setting for hearing
thereof.
3
NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
Wilmington was substituted as the plaintiff on
December 22, 2016.5 On April 27, 2017, Wilmington requested, and
the circuit court clerk entered, the Ryans' defaults.6 The entry
of default was served by mail upon the Ryans at the addresses
where they were served with the complaint.7
Wilmington moved for summary judgment and a decree of
foreclosure (MSJ) on June 21, 2017. On August 31, 2017, the
Ryans — through counsel — filed a memorandum in opposition. The
Ryans did not submit affidavits or declarations in opposition to
Wilmington's motion. They did not controvert that they signed
the Note and the Mortgage. They did not controvert their default
on the Note. They argued only that Wilmington failed to
establish that Bank of America held the Note when it filed the
complaint, citing Bank of Am., N.A. v. Reyes-Toledo, 139 Hawai#i
361, 390 P.3d 1248 (2017). The Ryans did not move to set aside
their defaults.
During the hearing on Wilmington's MSJ the circuit
court noted that the Ryans had not moved to set aside their
defaults. The circuit court granted Wilmington's MSJ. The
Foreclosure Decree and the Judgment were entered on September 20,
2017.
The Ryans moved for reconsideration of the Foreclosure
Decree and the Judgment (which was a judgment by default under
5
The Note was endorsed in blank by Bank of America. Green Tree
Servicing, LLC had been substituted as the plaintiff on September 18, 2014.
Ditech Financial LLC had been substituted as the plaintiff on July 20, 2016.
6
Rule 55 of the Hawai#i Rules of Civil Procedure (HRCP) provides,
in relevant part:
(a) Entry. When a party against whom a judgment for affirm-
ative relief is sought has failed to plead or otherwise
defend as provided by these rules and that fact is made to
appear by affidavit or otherwise, the clerk shall enter the
party's default.
7
On July 21, 2017, the circuit court entered an order granting the
motion for an extension of time "for an additional 120 days (July 21, 2015)
from the date of filing of this motion." The Ryans did not answer the
complaint even after entry of the July 21, 2017 order. They contend on appeal
that the language of the order was ambiguous, and that they could reasonably
have believed they had until November 14, 2017, to answer the complaint. This
argument is contrary to the plain language of the order, and is without merit.
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN WEST'S HAWAI#I REPORTS AND PACIFIC REPORTER
HRCP Rule 55(b)(2)). Their motion for reconsideration also
requested (for the first time) that their defaults be set aside.
The circuit court entered the Order Denying Reconsideration on
December 8, 2017. This appeal followed.
The Ryans raise three points on appeal:
1. "The Circuit Court erred by granting the
Motion for Summary Judgment where
[Wilmington] had failed to meet its prima
facie burden of establishing standing";
2. "The Circuit Court erred by granting
[Wilmington]'s Motion for Summary Judgment
based on inadmissible hearsay"; and
3. "The Circuit Court erred by denying the
[Ryans] the opportunity to file an answer to
the Plaintiff's complaint, or alternatively
for rehearing of [Wilmington]'s Motion for
Summary Judgment and/or Default Judgment
Against all Defendants and for Interlocutory
Decree of Foreclosure where the Court's
improper two year delay in filing its order
granting the Defendant's [sic] Motion for an
Extension of Time (to file a response to
Plaintiff's complaint) confused the [Ryans]
about when they were required to file an
answer to [the] complaint."
(Original underscoring omitted.) We address these points in
reverse order.
1. The circuit court did not abuse its
discretion by denying the Ryans' request
to set aside their defaults.
The Ryans contend that the circuit court erred by
failing to set aside their defaults. Their request was part of
their motion for reconsideration of the Foreclosure Decree and
the Judgment. Denial of a motion to set aside an entry of
default is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Chen v. Mah, 146
Hawai#i 157, 172, 457 P.3d 796, 811 (2020).
When the Ryans' motion for reconsideration was filed
and decided, a defendant seeking to set aside an entry of default
had to establish: (1) that the non-defaulting party will not be
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prejudiced by the reopening, (2) that the defaulting party has a
meritorious defense, and (3) that the default was not the result
of inexcusable neglect or a wilful act. Chen, 146 Hawai#i at
173, 457 P.3d at 812 (citing and prospectively abrogating BDM,
Inc. v. Sageco, Inc., 57 Haw. 73, 76, 549 P.2d 1147, 1150
(1976)).
The Ryans did not argue that Wilmington would not be
prejudiced if their defaults were set aside. They did not claim
to have a meritorious defense; they did not deny signing the Note
or the Mortgage; they did not deny failing to make payments due
on the Note; they did not contest the amount of their debt.
Their motion was not supported by an affidavit or declaration
explaining why their defaults were not the result of inexcusable
neglect or a wilful act. We conclude that the circuit court did
not abuse its discretion by denying the Ryans' request to set
aside their defaults. See Deutsche Bank Nat'l Tr. Co. v. Tejada,
No. 30654, 2011 WL 4840995, at *1 (Haw. App. Oct. 12, 2011) (SDO)
("Deutsche Bank correctly points out that in their Motion to Set
Aside Default, the Tejadas did not address the first or third
prongs of the BDM test.").
2. The Ryans, being in default, lacked
standing to object to hearsay.
In support of its motion for default judgment
Wilmington proffered copies of the Note and other documents.
The documents were authenticated by the declaration of Crystal
Hollins, an employee of Wilmington's loan servicer who stated she
was familiar with the Ryans' loan documents. The Ryans contended
that Hollins's declaration was hearsay.
The Ryans were in default. A defendant in default
"cannot contest the factual allegations of a plaintiff's claim
for relief[.]" Chen, 146 Hawai#i at 167 n.9, 457 P.3d at 806 n.9
(citing 10A Charles Alan Wright & Arthur R. Miller, Federal
Practice and Procedure Civ. § 2688.1 (4th ed. 2019); see also
Bank of Hawaii v. Horwoth, 71 Haw. 204, 214–16, 787 P.2d 674,
680–81 (1990) (holding that once mortgagor's default is
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established, mortgagor has no further standing to contest factual
allegations of mortgagee's claim for relief); Kam Fui Tr. v.
Brandhorst, 77 Hawai#i 320, 324-25, 884 P.2d 383, 387-88 (App.
1994) (noting that entry of default "preclude[s] the defendant
from making any further defense in the case so far as liability
is concerned"). Being in default, the Ryans lacked standing to
object to Wilmington's liability evidence.
3. The Ryans waived their objection to
standing.
The Ryans contend Wilmington failed to establish that
Bank of America had standing to enforce the Note when it filed
the complaint, as required by Reyes-Toledo, 139 Hawai#i at 368,
390 P.3d at 1255 (noting that "standing must be present at the
commencement of the case"). The contention lacks merit.
The Ryans were in default. Bank of America's complaint
alleged, among other things:
6. On or about February 20, 2009, Defendants
TERRENCE RYAN and LUCILLE RYAN (collectively "Borrower"),
for value received, duly made, executed and delivered to
Bank of America, N.A., a National Banking Association, a
promissory note ("Note") in the amount of $625,000.00.
7. For the purpose of securing payment on the Note,
Borrower duly made, executed and delivered to Bank of
America, N.A., a National Banking Association, a mortgage
("Mortgage") encumbering the Property. The Mortgage was
recorded on February 26, 2009 in the Bureau of Conveyances
of the State of Hawaii as Document No. 2009-028469.
. . . .
11. [Bank of America] is the holder of the Note and
record assignee of the Mortgage.
These factual allegations — which the defaulted Ryans could not
contest — established that Bank of America (the original lender)
had standing to enforce the Note when it filed the complaint.
The Ryans argue that "legal standing is a requirement
that cannot be waived," citing McDermott v. Ige, 135 Hawai#i 275,
283, 349 P.3d 382, 390 (2015), abrogated by Tax Found. of Haw. v.
State, 144 Hawai#i 175, 439 P.3d 127 (2019). McDermott was
abrogated by Tax Foundation (which was decided after briefing in
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this appeal had been completed). In Tax Foundation the supreme
court clarified that "standing is not an issue of subject matter
jurisdiction, but arises solely out of justiciability concerns
based on prudential concerns of judicial self-governance[.]" Id.
at 192, 439 P.3d at 144 (footnote omitted). The supreme court
also noted that "a claim of lack of standing can be waived." Id.
at 191 n.21, 439 P.3d at 143 n.21 (first citing Ito v. Inv'rs
Equity Life Holding Co., 135 Hawai#i 49, 59 n.24, 346 P.3d 118,
128 n.24 (2015); and then citing In re Tax Appeal of Univ. of
Haw. v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 102 Hawai#i 440, 445 n.13, 77
P.3d 478, 483 n.13 (2003)). We conclude that the Ryans, by
defaulting, waived the right to contest Bank of America's
assertion in its complaint that it was "the holder of the Note
and record assignee of the Mortgage." See also Chen, 146 Hawai#i
at 167 n.9, 457 P.3d at 806 n.9; Horwoth, 71 Haw. at 214–16, 787
P.2d at 680–81.
For the foregoing reasons, the Foreclosure Decree and
Judgment entered by the circuit court on September 20, 2017, and
the Order Denying Reconsideration entered by the circuit court on
December 8, 2017, are affirmed.
DATED: Honolulu, Hawai#i, April 11, 2022.
On the briefs:
/s/ Lisa M. Ginoza
Leroy E. Colombe, Chief Judge
Effie A. Steiger,
for Plaintiff-Appellee. /s/ Keith K. Hiraoka
Associate Judge
Gary V. Dubin,
Frederick J. Arensmeyer, /s/ Sonja M.P. McCullen
for Defendant-Appellant. Associate Judge
8