Bank of America, N.A. v. Diamond Point Homeowners Association ( 2019 )

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 6 * * * 7 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., Case No. 2:16-cv-00405-KJD-BNW 8 Plaintiff, ORDER 9 v. 10 DIAMOND POINT HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATION, et al, 11 Defendants. 12 13 Presently before the Court is Defendant SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC’s Motion for 14 Summary Judgment (#97). Plaintiff Bank of America, N.A. (“BANA”), filed a response in 15 opposition (#103) to which SFR replied (#110). 16 Also, before the Court is Plaintiff Bank of America, N.A.’s Motion for Summary 17 Judgment (#98). Defendant Diamond Point Homeowners’ Association (“Diamond Point” or “the 18 Association”) filed a response in opposition (#102) as did Defendant SFR Investments Pool 1, 19 LLC (“SFR”) (#105) to which BANA replied (#108). 20 Finally, before the Court is Defendant Diamond Point Homeowners’ Association’s 21 Motion for Summary Judgment (#99). BANA filed a response in opposition (#104) to which 22 Diamond Point replied (#109). 23 I. Facts 24 Deborah Callaway and Michael Ortiz (“Borrowers”) financed their property located at 25 1204 E. Hammer Lane, North Las Vegas, Nevada with a $264,499 loan from Universal 26 American Mortgage Company. They secured the loan with a deed of trust. In 2011, the deed of 27 trust was assigned to BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP, f/k/a Countrywide Home Loans 28 Servicing, LP. On July 1, 2011, BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP merged with an into BANA. 1 The property is subject to and governed by the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and 2 Restrictions and Grant of Easements (“CC&Rs”) for Diamond Point Homeowners’ Association. 3 Eventually, Borrowers defaulted on their obligation to pay assessments of approximately $31 per 4 month under the CC&Rs to Diamond Point. On June 2, 2011, Diamond Point through its 5 foreclosure agent, Defendant Nevada Association Services (“NAS”), recorded notice of 6 delinquent assessment lien. NAS recorded notice of default and election to sell on July 22, 2011. 7 The notice stated that Borrowers owed $1,999.28 plus costs and fees without specifying which 8 part was the superpriority lien. 9 On August 24, 2011, BANA’s counsel, Miles Bauer Bergstrom & Winters LLP (“Miles 10 Bauer”) offered to pay the superpriority lien and asked for a total. In response, NAS provided an 11 account statement which reflected that Borrowers owed $31 per quarter in assessments. The 12 statement did not indicate that they owed any maintenance or nuisance abatement charges. Based 13 on the ledger, BANA calculated the superpriority amount as $279.00 (nine months of 14 assessments) and tendered that amount by check to NAS on September 22, 2011. NAS received, 15 but rejected, BANA’s tender.1 16 Notice of sale was recorded on March 20, 2012. Foreclosure sale was conducted on or 17 about July 27, 2012. SFR purchased the property for $8,000.00. The parties now disagree as to 18 whether Diamond Point’s foreclosure extinguished BANA’s lien or whether SFR purchased the 19 property subject to the lien. 20 II. Standard for Summary Judgment 21 The purpose of summary judgment is to avoid unnecessary trials by disposing of 22 factually unsupported claims or defenses. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323–24 (1986); 23 Nw. Motorcycle Ass’n v. U.S. Dept. of Agric., 18 F.3d 1468, 1471 (9th Cir. 1994). It is available 24 only where the absence of material fact allows the Court to rule as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. 25 P. 56(a); Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. Rule 56 outlines a burden shifting approach to summary 26 27 1 Though SFR has disputed the adequacy of this evidence, it never disputed the factual accuracy of these allegations. SFR entirely fails to address what the amount of the superpriority portion of the lien would be at any point. 28 SFR also never address, nor does Diamond Point, how the Borrowers’ payments, made before the foreclosure sale totaling $895.00, were accounted for. 1 judgment. First, the moving party must demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material 2 fact. The burden then shifts to the nonmoving party to produce specific evidence of a genuine 3 factual dispute for trial. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587 4 (1986). A genuine issue of fact exists where the evidence could allow “a reasonable jury [to] 5 return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 6 (1986). The Court views the evidence and draws all available inferences in the light most 7 favorable to the nonmoving party. Kaiser Cement Corp. v. Fischbach & Moore, Inc., 793 F.2d 8 1100, 1103 (9th Cir. 1986). Yet, to survive summary judgment, the nonmoving party must show 9 more than “some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586. 10 III. Analysis 11 Bank of America argues that its deed of trust survived Diamond Point’s nonjudicial 12 foreclosure for four discrete reasons: (1) the bank tendered—or was excused from tendering— 13 the superpriority portion of the HOA lien; (2) the association foreclosed under an 14 unconstitutional version of NRS § 116 and violated due process as-applied; (3) the Supremacy 15 Clause preempts NRS § 116; and (4) the sale was unfair and should be equitably set aside under 16 Shadow Canyon. Because the Court finds Bank of America’s tender argument dispositive, it 17 need not reach the bank’s other arguments. Diamond Point and SFR, on the other hand, moves 18 for summary judgment on their quiet title claims. They seeks a declaration that Diamond Point’s 19 foreclosure extinguished both BANA’s and Borrower’s interest in the property. Further, they 20 assert this action is barred by the statute of limitations. 21 A. Statute of Limitations 22 Before reaching the merits of BANA’s motion, SFR and Diamond Point urge the Court to 23 deny this action as untimely. Defendants argue that BANA’s quiet title and declaratory relief 24 claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations, which began accrual at the time Diamond 25 Point foreclosed— July 27, 2012. If a three-year statute of limitations applies, the bank had until 26 July 27, 2015 to bring its claims. BANA filed its complaint on February 26, 2016. Accordingly, 27 Defendants argue that BANA’s claims are time-barred. The crux of Defendants’ argument is that 28 BANA’s claims are not true quiet title claims because the bank never actually held title in the 1 property. The bank is actually bringing a “quintessential wrongful foreclosure” action which is a 2 right created by statute. According to NRS § 11.190, the applicable statute of limitations for 3 liability created under statute is three years. NRS § 11.090(3)(a). Defendants, therefore, claim 4 that BANA’s claims are time-barred. 5 Defendants are incorrect. Admittedly, courts in this district disagree on the appropriate 6 statute of limitations for this type of claim. BANA does not allege that it ever held title. Rather, 7 the bank uses the quiet title claim as a vehicle to assert the validity of its preexisting interest in 8 the Property. Despite the district’s split, no Court has found that a three-year statute of 9 limitations is appropriate for these claims. They disagree whether a four-year or a five-year 10 limitations period applies. 2 The disagreement boils down to whether a claim in the context of a 11 nonjudicial foreclosure constitutes a claim to recover property under NRS § 11.080.3 If so, a 12 five-year limitations period applies. Both the Ninth Circuit and the Nevada Supreme Court have 13 applied a five-year statute of limitations to these actions. See Weeping Hollow Ave. Tr. v. 14 Spencer, 831 F.3d 1110, 1114 (9th Cir. 2016 ) (party may bring claim challenging the HOA 15 foreclosure within five years of the sale); Las Vegas Dev. Grp., LLC v. Blaha, 416 P.3d 233, 237 16 (Nev. 2018) (a claim “seeking to quiet title . . . is governed by NRS § 11.080, which provides for 17 a five-year statute of limitations”). 18 Nevertheless, a minority of courts have determined that § 11.080 does not apply to this 19 type of quiet title claim because the bank or lender never actually held title—nor do these banks 20 claim to have ever held title. See U.S. Bank, N.A. v. SFR Invs. Pool 1, LLC, 376 F.Supp.3d 21 22 2 Compare Bank of New York Mellon v. Khosh, No. 2:17-cv-0957-MMD-PAL, 2019 WL 2305146 (D. Nev. May 30, 2019) (applying five-year statute of limitations to quiet title claim under NRS § 11.070); Newlands 23 Asset Holding Tr. v. SFR Invs. Pool 1, LLC, No 3:17-cv-0370-LRH-WGC, 2017 WL 5559956 (D. Nev. Nov. 17, 2017) (same); Nationstar Mortg., LLC v. Falls at Hidden Canyon Homeowners Ass’n, No. 2:15-cv-1287-RCJ-NJK 24 (D. Nev. June 14, 2017) (same); HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v. Green Valley Pecos Homeowners Ass’n, Inc., No. 2:16- cv-0242-JCM-GWF, 2017 WL 937723 (D. Nev. Mar. 9, 2017) (same) with U.S. Bank v. SFR Invs. Pool 1, LLC, --- 25 F.Supp.3d ---, 2019 WL 1383265 (D. Nev. Mar. 27, 2019) (applying four-year catchall provision under NRS § 11.220); Nationstar Mortg., LLC v. Safari Homeowners Ass’n, No. 2:16-cv-0542-RFB-CWH, 2019 WL 121960 26 (D. Nev. Jan. 6, 2019) (same); Bank of America, N.A. v. Country Garden Owners Ass’n, No. 2:17-cv-1850-APG- CWH, 2018 WL 1336721 (D. Nev. Mar. 14, 2018). 27 3 “No action for the recovery of real property, or for the recovery of the possession thereof other than 28 mining claims, shall be maintained, unless it appears that the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s ancestor, predecessor or grantor was seized or possessed of the premises in question, within five years before the commencement thereof.” 1 1085, 1089–91 (D. Nev. 2019). Those courts have found that NRS § 11.220’s so-called “catch- 2 all” provision imposes a four-year statute of limitations because the bank cannot recover 3 property to which it never held title. See NRS § 11.220 (where the Nevada Revised Statutes are 4 silent regarding a statute of limitations, a four-year period applies). 5 In any event, the Court need not resolve this dispute here. BANA’s claims are timely 6 under either § 11.220’s four-year catch-all provision or § 11.080’s five-year period for recovery 7 of real property. At the latest, BANA’s claims began accrual on July 27, 2012, when NAS 8 recorded the trustee’s deed upon sale. See G & H Assocs. v. Ernest W. Hahn, Inc., 934 P.2d 229, 9 233 (Nev. 1997) (accrual begins when the plaintiff first knew or should have known of the 10 injury). BANA brought this suit in February of 2016—less than four years from the date of 11 accrual. Therefore, the Court need not definitively decide whether BANA’s quiet title claim is 12 subject to a four-year or five-year statute of limitations because its claim is timely under either. 13 Therefore, Defendants’ motions for summary judgment based on application of the statute of 14 limitations are denied. 15 B. Tender 16 BANA argues that its tender of the superpriority portion of Diamond Point’s lien before 17 the association’s foreclosure preserved its deed of trust from extinguishment. The bank’s 18 argument hinges on the check that Miles Bauer sent NAS after receiving the association’s notice 19 of foreclosure. In response to that notice, Miles Bauer contacted NAS and requested the 20 superpriority balance and offered to pay whatever that balance was. NAS responded with an 21 account statement that itemized all the outstanding fees on the property’s account. From that 22 statement, Miles Bauer calculated nine months of association assessments and remitted NAS a 23 check for that amount, $279.00. NAS rejected the check and foreclosed anyway. 24 The Nevada Supreme Court has addressed whether valid tender preserves a lender’s deed 25 of trust in a series of recent cases. In Bank of America, N.A. v. SFR Invs. Pool 1, LLC, the Court 26 definitively held that a lender’s valid tender prior to the association’s foreclosure preserves the 27 lender’s first deed of trust. 427 P.3d 113, 118 (Nev. 2018) (“Diamond Spur”). Tender is valid if 28 (1) it pays the entire superpriority lien (id. at 117) and (2) it is unconditional or insists only on 1 conditions the tendering party has a right to insist upon (id. at 118). The tendering party is under 2 no obligation to “keep [the tender] good” or deposit the tender into an escrow or court- 3 established account. Id. at 120–21. At bottom, valid tender voids the association’s foreclosure of 4 the superpriority portion of the association’s lien, which results in the buyer taking the property 5 subject to the lender’s first deed of trust. Id. at 121. 6 Then, in Bank of America, N.A. v. Thomas Jessup, LLC Series VII, the Nevada Supreme 7 Court reaffirmed the tender rule and carved out an exception where an association makes clear 8 that it will reject tender. 435 P.3d 1217 (Nev. 2019). Thus, a lender can preserve its deed of trust 9 against an association’s foreclosure by calculating the superpriority balance and tendering 10 payment for that amount. Diamond Spur, 427 P.3d at 117. Or, even if money never changes 11 hands, the lender’s deed of trust survives foreclosure if it attempted to tender payment, but the 12 association rejects that payment. Thomas Jessup, 435 P.3d at 1220. This Court has adopted the 13 Nevada Supreme Court’s reasoning. See RH Kids, LLC v. MTC Fin., 367 F.Supp.3d 1179, 14 1185–86 (D. Nev. 2019); Deutsche Bank Nat’l Tr. Co. v. SFR Invs. Pool 1, LLC, No. 2:17-cv- 15 0457-KJD-GWF, 2018 WL 5019376 (D. Nev. Oct. 16, 2018). 16 The facts here are similar to Diamond Spur and Jessup, and the result is the same; 17 BANA’s deed of trust survived the association’s foreclosure. Defendants bring a litany of 18 arguments challenging Miles Bauer’s tender. Those arguments break down into three main 19 groups. First, SFR argues that NRS 116.1104 and 116.1108 make BANA’s tender invalid. 20 Second, SFR argues the Court is sitting in equity when considering the bank’s tender, therefore, 21 waiver, estoppel, and unclean hands counsel against finding for BANA. Finally, Defendants 22 challenge the validity of the tender itself and the admissibility of BANA’s evidence of that 23 tender. Defendants’ claim that the business records have not been adequately authenticated. 24 None of SFR’s arguments dissuade the Court from applying Diamond Spur and finding 25 for BANA. SFR’s arguments that NRS § 116.1104 and 1108 prohibit tender contradict the 26 Nevada Supreme Court’s holdings in Diamond Spur and Jessup. The Nevada Supreme Court 27 found for banks that had tendered with correspondence nearly identical to the correspondence in 28 this action. The language of the correspondence did not constitute a contract or agreement within 1 the meaning of §§ 116.1104 or 1108. An attempt by the bank to clarify that its payment was 2 intended to satisfy the superpriority lien and avoid extinguishing its security interest did not vary 3 NRS Chapter 116 by agreement. Under SFR’s logic, no tender or cure of the default could ever 4 be possible except at the mercy of the HOA. Accordingly, SFR’s motion for summary judgment 5 on this issue is denied. 6 Defendants argue that equity favors them when considering BANA’s tender.4 However, 7 equity is not in consideration when deciding whether the sale is void, because the lien was 8 satisfied by BANA’s tender. See, e.g., Diamond Spur, 427 P.3d at 120-21 (Nevada Supreme 9 Court did not balance equities). Further, even if the Court were required to balance the equities, 10 which it is not required to do, none of the evidence outweighs Diamond Point’s and NAS’s 11 rejection of Bank of America’s tender. Simple acceptance would have ended seven (7) years of 12 litigation. 13 Finally, Plaintiff’s citation to the affidavit of Kendis is more than adequate on a motion 14 for summary judgment. SFR argues that BANA failed to authenticate the account ledger that it 15 used to calculate nine-months of Diamond Point’s past-due assessments. The argument is two- 16 fold: the account statement is inadmissible hearsay and the affidavit authenticating the statement 17 is defective because Miles Bauer was not custodian of records for Diamond Point. Neither 18 argument renders these documents inadmissible. First, the business records exception does not 19 require that the custodian of record for the business that created the document authenticate that 20 document. See MRT Const. Inc. v. Hardrives, Inc., 158 F.3d 478, 483 (9th Cir. 1998). Like here, 21 an official from another entity who relied upon the accuracy of the business record may properly 22 authenticate it. Id.; see also Fed. R. Evid. 803(6). Accordingly, the account statement provided 23 by NAS to Miles Bauer is not inadmissible hearsay. 24 BANA has met its burden with the affidavit. Kendis, the affiant, had adequate knowledge 25 and information to authenticate these business records. Kendis stated he was familiar with the 26 type of records maintained by Miles Bauer in connection with [this] loan. He attested that the 27 4 Clearly the uncontroverted evidence shows that if equity favors anyone in this action, it would be the 28 Borrowers who made four large payments that appear to have more than satisfied overdue assessments but were still foreclosed upon. No explanation has even been attempted by Defendants. 1 ledger was “a Statement of Account from [NAS]” … “received by Miles Bauer” in response to 2 correspondence sent to NAS on August 24, 2011. See Plaintiff’s Mtn. for Partial S. Judgment 3 (#98), Exhibit G. The Court, therefore, overrules SFR and Diamond Point’s objection to 4 BANA’s evidence. 5 In sum, BANA’s deed of trust survived Diamond Point’s trustee’s sale because the 6 bank’s tender cured the superpriority lien balance before foreclosure. That tender voided 7 Diamond Point’s foreclosure as to BANA’s interest in the property. Therefore, SFR acquired the 8 property subject to BANA’s existing deed of trust. The Court, therefore, grants Plaintiff Bank of 9 America’s motion and declares that its deed of trust still encumbers the property.5 10 C. BANA’s Remaining Wrongful Foreclosure and Breach of NRS § 116 Claims 11 After granting BANA’s motion and finding that its deed of trust survived Diamond 12 Point’s foreclosure, only BANA’s claims for wrongful foreclosure and breach of NRS § 116 13 against NAS and Diamond Point and the bank’s injunction claim against SFR remain. As for 14 BANA’s wrongful foreclosure and breach of NRS § 116 claims, the bank pleaded those claims in 15 the alternative to its quiet title and declaratory relief claims. Because the Court has granted 16 judgment on the bank’s quiet title claim, it need not consider alternative claims. Accordingly, 17 BANA’s wrongful foreclosure and breach of NRS § 116 claims against Diamond Point and HAS 18 are dismissed. 19 Likewise, the Court dismisses BANA’s injunctive relief claim against SFR. Although 20 styled as a stand-alone cause of action here, an injunction is a remedy. See Jensen v. Quality 21 Loan Svc. Corp., 702 F.Supp.2d 1183, 1201 (E.D. Cal. 2010); In re Wal-Mart Wage and Hour 22 Emp’t Practices Litig., 490 F.Supp.2d 1091, 1130 (D. Nev. 2007). Additionally, an injunction at 23 this point is unnecessary. The Court has already quieted title and provided the declaratory relief 24 the bank sought. Therefore, the Court dismisses BANA’s injunctive relief claim against SFR. 25 26 Finally, the Court dismisses Counterclaimant SFR’s claims against Counterdefendant 27 5 Because the Court grants Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment on its claim that it validly tendered an 28 amount to satisfy the superpriority lien and grants the motion, it is unnecessary to reach the other grounds cited in its motion for summary judgment. 1 BANA. 2 IV. Conclusion 3 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant SFR Investments Pool 1, 4 LLC’s Motion for Summary Judgment (#97) is DENIED; 5 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Diamond Point Homeowners’ Association’s 6 Motion for Summary Judgment (#99) is DENIED; 7 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff Bank of America, N.A.’s Motion for 8 Summary Judgment (#98) is GRANTED. The Court declares that BANA’s deed of trust in the 9 property located at 1204 E. Hammer Lane, North Las Vegas, Nevada survived Diamond Point 10 Homeowners’ Association’s nonjudicial foreclosure. The Court also declares that whatever 11 interest Defendant SFR acquired in the property it takes subject to Plaintiff’s first deed of trust. 12 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court enter JUDGMENT for 13 Plaintiff\Counterdefendant Bank of America, N.A. and against Defendants and Counterclaimant. 14 Dated this 26th day of September, 2019. 15 16 _____________________________ Kent J. Dawson 17 United States District Judge 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28