Bank of New York Mellon v. Huth , 2014 Ohio 4860 ( 2014 )

[Cite as Bank of New York Mellon v. Huth, 2014-Ohio-4860.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
LUCAS COUNTY
The Bank of New York Mellon, etc. Court of Appeals Nos. L-12-1241
L-12-1283
Appellee
Trial Court No. CI0201103428
v.
Rowland Huth, et al. DECISION AND JUDGMENT
Appellants Decided: October 31, 2014
*****
Brooke Turner Bautista, James S. Wertheim and Monica Levine
Lacks, for appellee.
George R. Smith, Jr., for appellants.
*****
PIETRYKOWSKI, J.
{¶ 1} Rowland and Donna Huth, appellants, appeal judgments of the Lucas
County Court of Common Pleas in foreclosure proceedings brought by appellee, The
Bank of New York Mellon fka The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the
Certificateholders CWALT, Inc. Alternative Loan Trust 2006-OC1 Mortgage Pass-
Through Certificates. Series 2006-OC1 (“BONY”). The foreclosure action was brought
on a promissory note and mortgage executed by appellants on October 26, 2005, in a loan
transaction to refinance their home loan.
{¶ 2} BONY filed the foreclosure complaint on May 24, 2011, alleging that (1) it
is the holder of the October 26, 2005 promissory note and mortgage executed by
appellants, (2) appellants breached the terms and conditions of the note, and (3) that
BONY accelerated the indebtedness under the note as a result of the breach. BONY
sought judgment against appellants on the debt and foreclosure on the property that is
subject to mortgage executed in the loan transaction. Appellants filed an answer and
counterclaim on August 29, 2011, and a first amended and supplemental answer and
counterclaim, on February 1, 2012.
{¶ 3} BONY filed a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss the first amended
counterclaim on March 7, 2012. In the motion, BONY contended that the amended
counterclaim must be dismissed due to the settlement and dismissal of prior claims
brought by appellants against Intervale, the originating lender, in a prior case. On May 3,
2012, the trial court issued an order converting the motion to dismiss appellants’
counterclaim into a Civ.R. 56 motion for summary judgment on the counterclaim. The
trial court allowed the parties additional time to submit additional evidence as to (1) the
2.
nature and content of the complaint and ultimate settlement of the prior litigation, and
(2) whether Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (“Countrywide”) was a holder of the loan
note at any given time.
{¶ 4} On May 16, 2012, appellants filed a cross-motion for summary judgment
against BONY on the foreclosure action.
{¶ 5} In a judgment journalized on August 10, 2012, the trial court entered an
opinion and judgment on the motions. The trial court granted BONY’s motion for
summary judgment on appellants’ counterclaim, denied appellants’ motion for summary
judgment on the foreclosure and instead ordered summary judgment for BONY on the
foreclosure. The court ruled that BONY was entitled to have the mortgage foreclosed
and the property covered by the mortgage sold in a manner prescribed by law. The court
instructed counsel for BONY to prepare an appropriate judgment entry of foreclosure and
sale in accordance with the trial court’s opinion and judgment.
{¶ 6} Appellants filed a motion for reconsideration. The trial court denied the
motion in a judgment filed on September 21, 2012. The trial court also filed a judgment
decree of foreclosure and order of sale on September 21, 2012.
{¶ 7} Appellants have filed notices of appeal with respect to the August 10, 2012
judgment and the September 21, 2012 judgment decree of foreclosure and sale. We have
consolidated the appeals for proceedings in this court.
3.
{¶ 8} Appellants assert three assignments of error on appeal:
Assignments of Error
Assignment of Error No. 1: The trial court erred in granting
summary judgment sua sponte to plaintiff on its complaint in that it
impermissibly weighed evidence and made credibility determinations in
violation of Civ.R. 56, failed to construe the evidence most strongly in
favor of the defendants and granted summary judgments without first
providing defendants the opportunity to conduct discovery and bring all
relevant evidence and arguments before the court. (Opinion and Judgment
Entry E-Journalized August 10, 2012.)
A. The trial court erred in holding the Huths’ release of claims
against Intervale in prior litigation barred them from raising the same
claims in defense of BONY’s subsequent Foreclosure Action. The Huths’
claims against Intervale were solely for money damages arising from torts
committed by it in connection with the underlying loan transaction,
Intervale did not hold the note and the trial court’s finding that BONY was
an assignee of Intervale (and not Countrywide (CHL)) was not supported
by admissible Rule 56 evidence, was in direct conflict with the evidence
before the court, was improperly based upon a narrow and unfavorable
4.
construction of the Huths’ pleadings and the judicial admissions made by
CHL in the prior litigation. (Opinion and Judgment Entry E-Journalized
August 10, 2012.)
B. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment to plaintiff
without addressing the affirmative defenses raised by defendants. (Opinion
and Judgment Entry E-Journalized August 10, 2012.)
C. The trial court erred in granting summary judgment to plaintiff
without first providing defendants an opportunity to conduct discovery.
(Opinion and Judgment Entry E-Journalized August 10, 2012.)
D. The trial court erred in finding the Huths lacked standing to
challenge the assignment of their loan to BONY. (Opinion and Judgment
Entry E-Journalized August 10, 2012.)
Assignment of Error No. 2: The trial court erred in granting
summary judgment to BONY on the Huths’ counterclaims. Intervale had
no right to enforce the note and BONY, as an assignee of countrywide, was
not in privity with Intervale and the Huths’ counterclaims against BONY
were therefore not barred by res judicata. (Opinion and Judgment Entry E-
Journalized August 10, 2012.)
Assignment of Error No. 3: The trial court erred in denying
defendants’ motion for summary judgment on plaintiff’s complaint. BONY
was in privity with Countrywide, a party to prior litigation, and is bound by
5.
admissions made therein and its failure to intervene and file or cause to be
filed a compulsory counterclaim for foreclosure in that prior action, or
otherwise protect its interest bars it from bringing the instant action.
(Opinion and Judgment Entry E-Journalized August 10, 2012.)
A. Collateral estoppel and res judicata bar BONY’s claim.
B. BONY’s claim is barred by the doctrine of waiver by estoppel.
C. BONY’s claims are barred by the clean hands doctrine.
D. Judicial admissions made by CHL in the prior litigation are
binding on BONY.
Summary Judgment
{¶ 9} Appellate review of trial court judgments granting motions for summary
judgment is de novo; that is, an appellate court applies the same standard in determining
whether summary judgment should be granted as the trial court. Grafton v. Ohio Edison
Co., 77 Ohio St. 3d 102, 105, 671 N.E.2d 241 (1996). To prevail on a motion for
summary judgment the moving party must demonstrate:
(1) that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact; (2) that the
moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) that
reasonable minds can come to but one conclusion, and that conclusion is
adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary judgment is
6.
made, who is entitled to have the evidence construed most strongly in his
favor. Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co., 54 Ohio St. 2d 64, 66, 375
N.E.2d 46 (1978).
{¶ 10} The grant of summary judgment is limited to circumstances where there is
no dispute of material fact. Civ.R. 56(C) provides:
Summary judgment shall be rendered forthwith if the pleadings,
depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits,
transcripts of evidence, and written stipulations of fact, if any, timely filed
in the action, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and
that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
{¶ 11} The trial court granted BONY’s converted motion for summary judgment
on appellants’ counterclaim, denied appellants’ cross-motion for summary judgment on
the complaint, and without motion entered summary judgment in favor of BONY and
against appellants on the complaint. Ordinarily, Civ.R. 56 does not authorize a court to
grant summary judgment in favor of a non-moving party:
“While Civ.R. 56 does not ordinarily authorize courts to enter
summary judgment in favor of a non-moving party, * * * an entry of
summary judgment against the moving party does not prejudice his due
process rights where all relevant evidence is before the court, no genuine
issue as to any material fact exists, and the non-moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law.” State ex rel. Cuyahoga Cty. Hosp. v. Ohio
7.
Bur. of Workers’ Comp. (1986), 27 Ohio St. 3d 25, 28, 27 OBR 442, 500
N.E.2d 1370; State ex rel. Lowery v. Cleveland (1993), 67 Ohio St. 3d 126,
128, 616 N.E.2d 233 (“the court’s summary judgment for relator neither
prejudiced the city’s procedural rights nor denied the city an opportunity to
submit evidence”). State ex rel J.J. Detweiler Ents., Inc. v. Warner, 103
Ohio St. 3d 99, 2004-Ohio-4659, 814 N.E.2d 482, ¶ 13.
{¶ 12} Appellants acknowledge in their appellate brief that a trial court can grant
summary judgment in favor of a non-moving party in limited circumstances where all
relevant evidence is before the court, there is no genuine dispute of material fact, and the
non-moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Appellants have raised no
general objection to the trial court’s grant of summary judgment against them on the
ground the court did so sua sponte.
Prior Litigation
{¶ 13} On April 30, 2009, appellants filed a complaint against Intervale Mortgage
Corp. (“Intervale”)(the originating lender), E-Lending Corp. (“E-Lending”)(the mortgage
broker who solicited appellants to refinance their home), Dean Lampert (a loan officer at
E-Lending), GMAC Mortgage, LLC (“GMAC”), and Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.
(“Countrywide”) in the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas. The case was entitled
Huth v. E-Lending Corp., Lucas County C.P. case No. CI0200903983.
{¶ 14} The trial court provided a detailed description of the allegations of fact and
claims asserted in the prior litigation in its August 9, 2012 judgment:
8.
The complaint alleged that in October 2005, the Huths contacted
E-Lending in response to a solicitation they received regarding their pre-
qualification for a refinancing loan. After discussing the offer with
Lampert, the Huths decided to proceed with the loan that promised
consolidation of their credit card debt and the ability to refinance 120% of
the value of their home. The Huths claimed, however, that Lampert had
knowingly misrepresented the availability of these options to the Huths,
who had relied upon the representations when entering into the contract.
The Huths found out, prior to the closing of that loan, that they
would not be able to consolidate their debt, yet they proceeded to closing
anyway because Lambert assured them he would be able to get the Huths a
lower interest rate and that the Huths would still receive a net benefit.
Accordingly, Lampert placed the Huths in an interest only, adjustable rate
first mortgage loan even though he knew the refinancing would not lower
the Huths’ interest rate and that the Intervale loan was inferior to the Huths’
then-existing loans with ABN AMRO and Key Bank. Consequently, the
Huths alleged that the small cash payout they received from the refinancing
did not justify the cost of the refinance or the unfavorable change in terms.
As further alleged in the Huths’ previous case, the Huths closed on
the first loan by mail on October 24, 2005. After the closing, the Huths
discovered that the loan contained an unfavorable prepayment penalty
9.
clause to which they had originally objected. Because of this, the Huths
cancelled the Intervale loan on the next day. When the Huths subsequently
complained to Lampert about the pre-payment penalty clause and his
broker fees, Lampert apologized and promised the Huths that if they agreed
to the loan, he would refinance them into a better loan, free of charge, after
one year. Again, the Huths relied on Lampert’s representations and closed
on a second loan with Intervale on October 26, 2005. It was not until they
attempted to refinance one year later that they discovered the prepayment
penalty on the Intervale note which prevented them from refinancing as
Lampert had promised. As a result, Huths’ loan payments and interest rate
increased under the first loan with Intervale, and they defaulted on their
loan payments.
Based on these allegations, the Huths brought the following causes
of action in their prior suit: breach of fiduciary duty and inducing breach of
fiduciary duty; violation of the Ohio Mortgage Brokers Act as to E-Lending
and Lampert; fraud as to E-Lending, Lampert, and Intervale; civil
conspiracy as to E-Lending, Lampert and Intervale; unconscionability; and
predatory lending.
{¶ 15} Appellants filed a complaint and then a first amended complaint in the
prior case. In the first amended complaint, appellants identified GMAC and
Countrywide, upon information and belief, as assignees of the first and second mortgage
10.
loans originated by Intervale, respectively. Appellants did not allege any wrongdoing by
GMAC or Countrywide. Appellants alleged the GMAC and Countrywide were necessary
parties.
{¶ 16} The prayer for relief against GMAC or Countrywide sought was a demand
that the first and second mortgage notes to Intervale and the mortgages given to secure
payment of those obligations be declared void and unenforceable and that the court order
rescission of the loans and order Countrywide and GMAC to release the mortgages of
record.
{¶ 17} Both GMAC and Countrywide admitted in their answers to the original
complaint in the case that they were assignees of the respective Intervale loans. In its
answer to the first amended complaint, however, Countrywide denied the allegation as to
it and identified BONY, appellee, as the “current assignee.”
{¶ 18} The Huths ultimately reported the case settled and dismissed the case.
Appellants filed a notice of dismissal on May 3, 2011. The notice stated that “all matters
in controversy between plaintiffs and defendant Intervale Mortgage Corporation have
been settled and resolved.” The notice also stated that the Huths dismissed their claims
against Intervale with prejudice, pursuant to Civ.R. 41(A)(1)(a). In the notice of
dismissal, appellants also dismissed their claims against Countrywide, pursuant to Civ.R.
41(A)(1)(a), “without prejudice, specifically reserving the right to re-file.”
11.
Counterclaim in this Case
{¶ 19} In the counterclaim in this case, appellants allege that Intervale and E-
Lending knowingly and intentionally engaged in conduct constituting fraud, inducing
breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy, unconscionability, and predatory lending.
Appellants alleged that “Intervale sold the loan to Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. * * *
which subsequently sold, transferred or assigned the note and mortgage or caused them to
be assigned to plaintiff.”
{¶ 20} Appellants do not allege any wrongdoing by BONY in the counterclaim.
Appellants allege in the counterclaim that BONY is not a holder in due course and “took
assignment of the mortgage and note with actual notice of the claims and defenses
asserted by defendants herein and is subject to all claims and defenses which defendants
could assert against the original payee (Intervale) by way or recoupment or set-off up to
the amount of the indebtedness on which it sues.”
{¶ 21} We consider appellants’ assignments of error out of turn. We begin with a
clarification as to a matter of procedure. On March 7, 2012, appellee filed a Civ.R.
12(B)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief be granted, based
upon the claim that appellants’ claims are barred because of the settlement with Intervale
and dismissal of the prior case against Intervale with prejudice. Appellee submitted as
exhibits to the motion two exhibits—a copy of the first amended complaint in the prior
case and a copy of the notice of dismissal, dismissing claims against Intervale with
prejudice and claims against Countrywide without prejudice.
12.
{¶ 22} In a May 3, 2012 judgment, the trial court converted the motion into a
motion for summary judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 12(B)(6). The civil rule provides that
“[w]hen a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted
presents matters outside the pleading and such matters are not excluded by the court, the
motion shall be treated as a motion for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in
Rule 56.”
{¶ 23} We address the central issues in the appeal and then return to the
assignments of error in turn.
Standing to Challenge Validity of Assignment of Loan
{¶ 24} Appellants argue that the trial court erred in finding that appellants lacked
standing to challenge the assignment of their loan to BONY. Appellants argued in the
trial court that their loan was not properly included in the CWALT, Inc. Alternative Loan
Trust because the assignment of mortgage was not executed or recorded until after the
closing date for the trust, in violation the Pooling Servicing Agreement (“PSA”).
{¶ 25} The trial court concluded that appellants were not parties to the PSA and
lacked standing to challenge the assignment of their mortgage for claimed breach of the
PSA. Appellants have not claimed the status as a third-party beneficiary to the PSA. In
such circumstances this court has previously held that a mortgage borrower, not a party to
an assignment of the mortgage, lacks standing to challenge the assignment. Bank of Am.,
N.A. v. Hizer, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-13-1035, 2013-Ohio-4621, ¶ 22. Other courts are in
accord:
13.
Ohio courts have routinely found that when a debtor or mortgagor is
neither a party to, nor a third-party beneficiary of, the assignment of a
mortgage, the debtor or mortgagor lacks standing to challenge the validity
of the mortgage assignment between an assignor and an assignee. LSF6
Mercury REO Invests. Trust Series 2008-1 c/o Vericrest Fin., Inc. v. Locke,
10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-757, 2012-Ohio-4499, ¶ 28; Bank of New
York Mellon v. Froimson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99443, 2013-Ohio-5574,
¶ 17-18. Buckner v. Bank of New York, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2013-
07-053, 2014-Ohio-568, ¶ 15.
{¶ 26} We conclude that the trial court did not err in holding that appellants lacked
standing to challenge the assignment of their mortgage based upon a claimed breach of
the pooling and servicing agreement.
Argument Foreclosure Action Barred as
Compulsory Counterclaim in Prior Proceedings
{¶ 27} Appellants argue that the trial court erred in failing to rule that appellee’s
action in foreclosure is barred because Countrywide failed to assert the claim for
foreclosure as a compulsory counterclaim in the prior litigation. The prior proceedings
against Countrywide, however, did not proceed to final judgment on the merits. The
claims against Countrywide in the case were voluntarily dismissed without prejudice
pursuant to Civ.R. 41(A)(1)(a).
14.
{¶ 28} Appellee argues that the trial court judgment is correct on two grounds.
First it argues that the trial court was correct that appellee’s action on the mortgage debt
was not a compulsory counterclaim to claims asserted by appellants in their prior case.
Appellee argues first, that the foreclosure action was not a compulsory counterclaim
under Civ.R. 13(A) and second, that the voluntary dismissal of claims against
Countrywide precludes any bar under Civ.R. 13 for failure to file a compulsory
counterclaim.
{¶ 29} It is unnecessary to address whether the foreclosure action was a
compulsory counterclaim in the prior litigation. The voluntary dismissal of the claims
against Countrywide in the prior action eliminated any potential bar under Civ.R. 13(A).
{¶ 30} Where a case is voluntarily dismissed pursuant to Civ.R. 41(A)(1), the case
is treated as if it had never been filed. Zimmie v. Zimmie, 11 Ohio St. 3d 94, 95, 464
N.E.2d 142 (1984); Port Authority of Vermillion v. Coyle, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-96-066,
1997 WL 195458, *5 (Apr. 18, 1997). Where the defendant failed to file a compulsory
counterclaim in the dismissed case, Ohio courts recognize that Civ.R. 13(A) does not bar
the claim, since there was no pending case in which to file a compulsory counterclaim.
Port Authority at *5; Climaco, Seminatore, Delligatti & Hollenbaugh v. Careter, 100
Ohio App. 3d 313, 322-323, 653 N.E.2d 1245 (10th Dist.1995); Jackson v. Simmons, 8th
Dist. Cuyahoga No. 61906, 1993 WL 58620, *1 (Mar. 4, 1993).
15.
{¶ 31} Accordingly, we conclude that appellants’ argument that the foreclosure
action was barred under Civ.R. 13(A) for failure to file it as a compulsory counterclaim
in the prior action is without merit.
Effect of Settlement and Dismissal With Prejudice
of Claims Against Intervale in Prior Litigation
{¶ 32} As discussed earlier, appellants have not claimed any wrongdoing by
BONY with respect to the mortgage loan. In the prior litigation, appellants asserted
Countrywide was an assignee of the mortgage loan and a necessary party, but did not
allege any wrongdoing by Countrywide. Appellants claim that BONY is not a holder in
due course and is subject to the same defenses to proceedings on the note and mortgage
as they have against Intervale.
{¶ 33} Appellee argued in the trial court that the claims against Intervale were
settled and dismissed with prejudice in the prior litigation and that the Intervale
settlement acted to bar appellants from asserting the same claims and defenses in this
case. BONY made this argument on two alternative grounds, first on the grounds that the
claims and defenses are barred by res judicata and second, on the grounds that the claims
were extinguished under the common law doctrine that release of a party primarily liable
operates to release a party only secondarily liable.
{¶ 34} The trial court held that the claims were barred under res judicata, but did
not address the issue of whether the claims were also bared under the primary/secondary
argument in its judgment. Appellants argue that res judicata does not apply.
16.
Res Judicata
{¶ 35} The Supreme Court of Ohio has broadly defined res judicata in these terms:
A final judgment or decree rendered upon the merits, without fraud
or collusion, by a court of competent jurisdiction is conclusive of rights,
questions and facts in issue as to the parties and their privies, and is a
complete bar to any subsequent action on the same claim or cause of action
between the parties or those in privity with them. Norwood v. McDonald,
142 Ohio St. 299, 52 N.E.2d 67 (1943), paragraph one of the syllabus;
Newcomer v. Newcomer, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-13-1029, 2013-Ohio-5626,
¶ 13.
{¶ 36} “An assignee of an interest in a promissory note and mortgage is in privity
with its assignor for purposes of res judicata.” EMC Mtge. Corp. v. Jenkins, 164 Ohio
App.3d 240, 2005-Ohio-5799, 841 N.E.2d 855, ¶ 20 (10th Dist.); Diversified Fin. Servs.,
Inc. v. Wood, 4th Dist. Lawrence No. 96 CA 9, 1996 WL 560487, *2 (Sept. 26, 1996).
Generally, “an assignee * * * stands in the shoes of the assignor * * * and succeeds to all
the rights and remedies of the latter.” Inter Ins. Exchange of Chicago Motor Club v.
Wagstaff, 144 Ohio St. 457, 460, 59 N.E.2d 373 (1945)
{¶ 37} As the movant on the motion for summary judgment, BONY held the
burden of establishing that there was no dispute of material fact on the issue.
17.
{¶ 38} Appellants argue that BONY failed to establish that it is in privity with
Intervale for purposes of res judicata. BONY contends that the evidence demonstrates it
was the assignee of Intervale on the promissory note and therefore in privity with
Intervale.
{¶ 39} BONY did not allege that it was the assignee of Intervale in its complaint
and has not submitted an affidavit or evidentiary material directly addressing the issue.
BONY submitted the affidavit of Cindy Morris in support of its motion for summary
judgment. The affidavit stated BONY held possession of the promissory note. The
affidavit did not address whether BONY was also the assignee of Intervale on the note.
{¶ 40} The affidavit of Andrija Kostanjevec, also submitted by BONY in support
of its motion, states that Countrywide “was not the owner of the Huth’s Loan at any time
after January 30, 2006.” The affidavit does not directly address whether Intervale
assigned the note to Countrywide and, if so, in what capacity. The affidavit also does not
state whether Intervale assigned the loan note to BONY.
{¶ 41} We conclude that BONY failed to meet its burden of demonstrating that
there was no dispute of material fact on the issue of whether BONY was in privity with
Intervale with respect to appellants’ October 26, 2005 loan. Accordingly, we conclude
that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to BONY and against appellants
on appellants’ counterclaim on res judicata grounds. We conclude, however, that the
grant of summary judgment is fully supported on alternative grounds.
18.
Release of Party Primarily Liable
{¶ 42} We next consider whether under common law the settlement of all claims
against Intervale operated to extinguish the defenses and claims in recoupment asserted
by appellants in their counterclaim against BONY. The trial court did not address this
issue in its decision and judgment granting summary judgment to BONY.
{¶ 43} As stated earlier in this decision, appellants’ claims and defenses asserted
against BONY in this case are not based on any claimed wrongdoing by BONY.
Appellants contend that BONY should be held liable for the alleged wrongdoing of
Intervale, because BONY is not a holder in due course and is therefore subject to all
claims and defenses that could have been raised against Intervale.
{¶ 44} BONY disputes the contention that it is not a holder in due course. For
purposes of its motion for summary judgment, however, it argues that even if it were not
a holder in due course the settlement and dismissal of claims against Intervale operated to
extinguish liability based upon claims and defenses that could have been raised against
Intervale.
{¶ 45} The common law principle relating to the effect of a settlement with a
person primarily liable on the liability of persons only secondarily liable states:
Under the common law of Ohio, the release of a party who is
primarily liable operates also as a release of any party who was only
secondarily liable. Bello v. Cleveland (1922), 106 Ohio St. 94, 138 N.E.
19.
526; cf. Losito v. Kruse (1940), 136 Ohio St. 183, 16 Ohio Op. 185, 24 N.E.2d
705. Niemann v. Post Industries, Inc., 68 Ohio App. 3d 392, 396, 588
N.E.2d 301 (10th Dist.1991).
{¶ 46} Appellants argue that it reserved rights against Countrywide because it
dismissed Countrywide without prejudice and that BONY is subject to claims as an
assignee of Countrywide.
{¶ 47} We disagree. The fact remains that appellants dismissed all claims against
Intervale with prejudice. The claims and defenses in this case are predicated on the
vicarious liability of BONY for Intervale, who was primarily liable.
{¶ 48} Operation of this common law principle requires no inquiry into the chain
of ownership of appellants’ note and mortgage. It does not matter whether the chain of
ownership includes Countrywide or others. The dismissal of all claims against Intervale
with prejudice operated to discharge all others only secondarily liable—based on liability
arising from a claim they were not holders in due course. See Hillyer v. E. Cleveland,
155 Ohio St. 552, 560-561, 99 N.E.2d 772 (1951).
{¶ 49} We conclude that the trial court erred in granting appellee summary
judgment on appellants’ counterclaim on the basis of res judicata, but affirm the
judgment on the basis that the counterclaim is barred on the basis that a release of a
person primarily liable operates also as a release of any party who was only secondarily
liable.
20.
{¶ 50} We address the remaining issues under appellants’ assignment of error in
turn.
Assignment of Error No. 1
{¶ 51} Under assignment of error No. 1(A), appellants argue that the trial court
erred in holding that appellants’ claims and defenses against BONY were barred by res
judicata because of the settlement and dismissal of claims against Intervale in prior
proceedings. The court has reversed the grant of summary judgment on res judicata
grounds but determined that the grant of summary judgment was appropriate under
alternative grounds.
{¶ 52} We find assignment of error No. 1(A) well-taken in part.
{¶ 53} Under assignment of error No. 1(B), appellants claim in part that the trial
court erred in failing to hold that the foreclosure action was barred because it was not
asserted as a compulsory counterclaim in prior proceedings. We have determined that
argument is without merit.
{¶ 54} Under assignment of error No. 1(B), appellants argue the trial court erred
with respect to discovery issues concerning chain of ownership, whether Countrywide
was an assignee of Intervale, and whether BONY was estopped by virtue of inconsistent
answers by Countrywide to the complaint and amended complaint in the prior litigation.
These issues are addressed under assignment of error No. 1(C).
{¶ 55} Appellants also contend under assignment of error No. 1(B) that the trial
court erred in failing to consider affirmative defenses asserted in their answer to BONY’s
21.
complaint—claimed failure to mitigate damages and claims that damages suffered by
BONY were a result of BONY’s own acts and omissions or those of its agents, or the
result of its own course of dealings.
{¶ 56} Appellants were without notice that the trial court would sua sponte
proceed to grant summary judgment against them on the foreclosure complaint.
Accordingly, they have not been afforded an opportunity to present evidence in
mitigation of damages. The record does not include relevant evidence claimed by
appellants in defense of damages. On the issue of damages, the trial court’s sua sponte
grant of summary judgment against the moving party was prejudicial and erroneous.
{¶ 57} We find assignment of error No. 1(B) well-taken in part, and reverse the
trial court’s judgment on damages and remand the case for further proceedings to
determine damages in the foreclosure proceedings.
{¶ 58} In all other respects we find assignment of error No. 1(B) not well-taken.
{¶ 59} Under assignment of error No. 1(C), appellants contend that the trial court
erred in proceeding to grant summary judgment without first providing appellants an
opportunity to conduct discovery. The discovery disputes in this case related to
essentially two areas: (1) evidence concerning the chain of ownership of the note and
specifically whether Countrywide ever held the note, and (2) discovery dedicated to
challenging assignments of the note and mortgage.
{¶ 60} The discovery dispute over the chain of ownership of the note under the
cross-motions for summary judgment was focused on the issue of whether the dismissal
22.
of the claims against Intervale in prior proceedings barred appellants’ claims and
defenses against BONY on res judicata grounds. As this court reversed the grant of
summary judgment on res judicata grounds in this decision, we deem the claimed error
based upon denial of discovery of the chain of ownership to be moot. It has never been
disputed that BONY is the holder of the note and mortgage.
{¶ 61} As to discovery to challenge assignments of the note and mortgage, we
have determined appellants lack standing to challenge the assignments and additional
discovery on that ground would not be relevant.
{¶ 62} Appellants claim that BONY is estopped from denying Countrywide was a
holder of the mortgage loan due to inconsistent answers by Countrywide to the complaint
and amended complaint on the issue in the prior case. We find no error by the trial court
in concluding that the inconsistent pleadings do not act to prevent BONY from asserting
its claim in foreclosure. Furthermore, the voluntary dismissal of Countrywide from the
prior proceeding placed the parties in the position as if the action against Countrywide
was never filed. Accordingly, no estoppel exists against BONY arising from
Countrywide’s pleadings in the prior proceedings.
{¶ 63} We find assignment of error No. 1(C) not well-taken.
{¶ 64} Under assignment of error No. 1(D), appellants contend that the trial court
erred in ruling that appellants lacked standing to challenge assignments of the loan. We
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have determined, however, that appellants in fact lacked standing to challenge
assignments of the loan.
{¶ 65} Accordingly, we find assignment of error No. 1(D) not well-taken.
Assignment of Error No. 2
{¶ 66} Under assignment of error No. 2, appellants argue that the trial court erred
in granting summary judgment to BONY on Huths’ counterclaim based upon the
contention BONY was not in privity with Intervale and res judicata did not apply to bar
the claims. We have reversed the grant of summary judgment on appellants’
counterclaim on res judicata grounds and ruled that summary judgment was appropriate
on alternative grounds.
{¶ 67} We find assignment of error No. 2 well-taken in part.
Assignment of Error No. 3
{¶ 68} Under assignment of error No. 3, appellants argue that the trial court erred
in denying appellants’ cross-motion for summary judgment on BONY’s complaint for
foreclosure. Appellants assert two grounds for the assignment of error: (1) BONY was
in privity with Countrywide and bound by admissions by Countrywide in the case that it
held the mortgage loan by assignment and (2) the complaint in foreclosure is barred
under Civ.R. 13(A) because of the failure to file the action as a compulsory counterclaim
in the prior proceedings.
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{¶ 69} We have already determined that Civ.R. 13(A) did not apply and BONY’s
action in foreclosure was not barred as a compulsory counterclaim in prior proceedings.
We find assignment of error No. 3 not well-taken.
{¶ 70} We reverse the judgments of the Lucas County Court of Common Pleas in
part and affirm in part.
{¶ 71} We reverse the court’s judgments to the extent the court granted summary
judgment in favor of appellee and against appellants on appellants’ counterclaim on the
grounds of res judicata.
{¶ 72} We affirm the grant of summary judgment in favor of appellee and against
appellants on appellants’ counterclaim on alternative grounds—on the ground that the
counterclaim is barred under the common law doctrine that release of a party who is
primarily liable operates also as a release of any party who was only secondarily liable.
{¶ 73} We reverse the trial court’s sua sponte grant of summary judgment against
appellants on the issue of damages and remand the case to the trial court for further
proceedings to determine damages in the foreclosure action.
{¶ 74} In all other respects the judgments of the Lucas County Court of Common
Pleas are affirmed. We order appellee and appellants to each pay equal one-half shares of
the costs of this appeal pursuant to App.R. 24.
Judgments reversed, in part,
and affirmed, in part.
25.
Bank of New York
Mellon v. Huth
C.A. Nos. L-12-1241
L-12-1283
A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to App.R. 27.
See also 6th Dist.Loc.App.R. 4.
Mark L. Pietrykowski, J. _______________________________
JUDGE
Arlene Singer, J.
_______________________________
Stephen A. Yarbrough, P.J. JUDGE
CONCUR.
_______________________________
JUDGE
This decision is subject to further editing by the Supreme Court of
Ohio’s Reporter of Decisions. Parties interested in viewing the final reported
version are advised to visit the Ohio Supreme Court’s web site at:
http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/rod/newpdf/?source=6.
26.