Bank of Am. v. Smith

[Cite as Bank of Am. v. Smith, 2014-Ohio-2845.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., : APPEAL NO. C-130306
SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO BAC TRIAL NO. A-1200156
HOME LOANS SERVICING LP, f.k.a. :
COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS O P I N I O N.
SERVICING, LP, :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
vs. :
SANDRA K. SMITH, :
Defendant-Appellant, :
and :
JOHN DOE, SPOUSE OF SANDRA K. :
SMITH, IF MARRIED (NAME
UNKNOWN), :
MIDLAND FUNDING LLC, :
CREDIT ACCEPTANCE :
CORPORATION,
:
CITY OF CINCINNATI,
:
THE STATE OF OHIO DEPARTMENT
OF TAXATION, :
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, :
and :
HAMILTON COUNTY TREASURER, :
Defendants. :
Civil Appeal From: Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas
Judgment Appealed From Is: Reversed and Cause Remanded
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Date of Judgment Entry on Appeal: June 30, 2014
Lerner, Sampson, & Rothfuss and Bill L. Purtell, for Plaintiff-Appellee,
Dann, Doberdruk & Harshman, Marc E. Dann, Grace M. Doberdruk and Daniel M.
Solar, for Defendant-Appellant.
Please note: this case has been removed from the accelerated calendar.
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D INKELACKER , Presiding Judge.
{¶1} In two assignments of error, defendant-appellant Sandra K. Smith
argues that the trial court improperly granted the motion for summary judgment of
plaintiff-appellee Bank of America, NA, in this foreclosure case. We agree.
Filing of Foreclosure Action
Leads To Summary Judgment
{¶2} Bank of America filed a complaint alleging that it was the holder of a
note and mortgage on property owned by Smith, and that Smith had failed to make
her mortgage payments. In the first paragraph of the complaint, Bank of America
identified the note as “attached exhibit A.” In paragraph two of the second count,
Bank of America identified the mortgage as “attached exhibit B.” The documents
were not authenticated by affidavit. In paragraph one of her pro se answer, Smith
stated that she “lacks sufficient information and/or knowledge to either admit or
deny that Plaintiff is the holder of a certain promissory note.” In paragraph four, she
stated that she “lacks sufficient information and/or knowledge to either admit or
deny that Plaintiff is the holder of a Mortgage Deed as alleged in paragraph 2 of
Plaintiff’s Complaint, count 2.”
{¶3} One month after filing her answer, Smith, now represented by
counsel, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on the basis that the copy of the note
attached to the complaint was defective. She claimed that the copy attached to the
complaint was different from the copy filed in a previously-dismissed foreclosure
action. “The differences in the endorsements indicate that Plaintiff Bank of America
does not own Defendant Sandra Smith’s note.” In its response to Smith’s argument,
Bank of America only argued that “the failure to provide the requisite documents
with the filing of Plaintiff’s complaint is not grounds for dismissal,” and that the
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proper recourse was to serve a motion for a more definite statement pursuant to
Civ.R. 12(E). Smith did not file a motion for a more definite statement. The trial
court never ruled on Smith’s motion to dismiss the complaint before granting
summary judgment in favor of Bank of America.
{¶4} When Bank of America filed its motion for summary judgment, it
concurrently filed an affidavit from an assistant vice president. In the affidavit, the
affiant stated that she had “reviewed the attached records,” and that Bank of America
was in possession of the note. But the only record attached to the affidavit was some
account information showing the amount due to Bank of America. This information
did not list the complete account history—beginning with a zero balance, listing all
the payments and charges, and ending with the amount owed. At no point, did the
affiant identify either the note or mortgage attached to the complaint. Based on the
motion and affidavit, the magistrate recommended that the trial court grant Bank of
America’s motion for summary judgment.
{¶5} In her objections to the magistrate’s decision granting summary
judgment, Smith raised the issue of the failure of Bank of America to properly
authenticate the documents pursuant to Civ.R. 56(E). She argued that “[a]t no point
in the Motion or Reply does Plaintiff establish through proper evidence under Civ.R.
56(E) that the alleged Note, attached to the Complaint as Exhibit A, is a true and
accurate copy of the original blue-ink signed Note in this matter.” In response to this
argument, Bank of America simply asserted that the documents were attached to the
complaint and referenced therein, thus “the note and mortgage were identified into
the record.” The trial court overruled Smith’s objections, and granted Bank of
America’s motion for summary judgment.
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Bank Failed To Support Summary Judgment
Motion With Properly Authenticated Documents
{¶6} In her first assignment of error, Smith argues that Bank of America
failed to meet its burden under Civ.R. 56 by failing to properly submit evidence
establishing that there was no genuine issue of material fact for trial. We agree.
{¶7} In order to establish that it was entitled to summary judgment, Bank
of America had to establish (1) that there was no genuine issue as to any material
fact; (2) that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) that reasonable
minds could come to but one conclusion, and that that conclusion is adverse to
Smith, who was entitled to have the evidence construed most strongly in her favor.
See Bostic v. Connor, 37 Ohio St.3d 144, 524 N.E.2d 881 (1988). Once a motion for
summary judgment has been made and supported as provided in Civ.R. 56(C), the
nonmoving party has a reciprocal burden to set forth specific evidentiary facts
showing the existence of a genuine issue for trial, and cannot rest on the allegations
or denials in the pleadings. Wing v. Anchor Media, Ltd. Of Texas, 59 Ohio St.3d
108, 111, 570 N.E.2d 1095 (1991). But, if the moving party does not meet its initial
burden, then no duty arises on the part of the responding party to produce evidence
in opposition to the motion, and the motion must be denied. Stinespring v. Natorp
Garden Stores, 127 Ohio App.3d 213, 216, 711 N.E.2d 1104 (1st Dist.1998), citing
Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio St.3d 421, 430, 674 N.E.2d 1164 (1997).
{¶8} In a residential foreclosure action, the court is faced with two distinct,
but related issues. Metro. Life Ins. v. Triskett Illinois, Inc., 97 Ohio App.3d 228, 234,
646 N.E.2d 528 (1st Dist.1994). The first issue presents the legal question of whether
the mortgagor has defaulted on the note. Id. The second issue entails an inquiry
into whether the mortgagor's equity of redemption should be foreclosed. Id. We will
address each issue in turn.
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The Note
{¶9} In the first count of its complaint, Bank of America claimed that it was
the “holder of a certain promissory note,” that Smith had breached the terms of the
promissory note by failing to make payments, that Bank of America was entitled by
the terms of the note to accelerate the indebtedness due, and that it was entitled to
payment of the full amount owed, which it stated was $608,585.98, along with
assorted other charges and fees. Bank of America also alleged that it had “satisfied
all conditions precedent pursuant to the promissory note.”
{¶10} A promissory note is simply an instrument that evidences an
agreement to pay a monetary obligation. R.C. 1309.102(A)(65). When a party fails
to make payments on the note, that party has breached the terms of that agreement.
In this way, an action to enforce a promissory note is akin to an action for breach of
contract. See Chattree v. Chattree, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 95051, 2011-Ohio-1925.
“It is axiomatic that a promissory note, even though its execution may be a condition
of another contract, constitutes a separate enforceable contract.” Fisk Alloy Wire,
Inc. v. Hemsath, 6th Dist. Lucas No. L-05-1097, 2005-Ohio-7007, ¶ 40, citing Metro.
Life Ins., 97 Ohio App.3d 228, 646 N.E.2d 528.
{¶11} To succeed on a breach of contract claim, a plaintiff must
demonstrate the existence of a contract, performance by the plaintiff, a breach by the
defendant, and resulting damages. Huttenbauer Land Co., LLC v. Harley Riley,
Ltd., 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-110842, 2012-Ohio-4585, ¶ 8, citing Brunsman v. W.
Hills Country Club, 151 Ohio App.3d 718, 2003-Ohio-891, 785 N.E.2d 794, ¶ 11 (1st
Dist.). Where, as here, a party seeks to enforce its rights under the terms of a written
agreement, the party must produce the writing itself—or some acceptable
explanation as to why that document cannot be produced. This court has held that
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[w]here proof is to be made of some fact which is recorded in a writing,
the best evidence of the contents of the writing consists in the actual
production of the document itself. And the general rule is that
secondary evidence of the contents of a written instrument cannot be
admitted until the nonproduction of the original has been satisfactorily
accounted for.
Smith v. Andres, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-77297, 1978 Ohio App. LEXIS 8118 (June
28, 1978).
{¶12} Throughout the proceedings below, Bank of America had claimed that
the promissory note was properly incorporated into the record. For the first time on
appeal, it argues that the note was properly authenticated because it was self-
authenticating as a negotiable instrument pursuant to Evid.R. 902(9). But Bank of
America has cited no case law in support of its proposition that a photocopy of a
promissory note is self-authenticating when no evidence has been presented that it is
a true and accurate copy.
{¶13} Evid.R. 902(9) expressly adopts the tenets of general commercial law
in applying the doctrine of self-authentication to commercial paper, signatures
thereon, and documents relating thereto. There are four provisions that relate to
self-authentication in the commercial code, R.C. 1301.307, 1303.36, 1308.04, and
1303.65. See Weissenberger, Ohio Evidence, Section 902.97 (2013). But only R.C.
1301.307 addresses the authentication of entire documents, and that statute is
limited to certain document types, of which a photocopied promissory note is not
one. Two of the remaining statutes address only the authentication of signatures on
certain documents. See R.C. 1303.36 and 1308.04. And the fourth statute addresses
only the issue of evidence of dishonor and notice of dishonor. R.C. 1303.65. None of
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these statutes, and therefore Evid.R. 902(9), stands for the proposition that a
photocopy of a promissory note is self-authenticating.
{¶14} A review of the case law in Ohio indicates that, in order for a trial
court to consider the content of a promissory note in a foreclosure action, that note
must be properly authenticated and admitted into the record. The Sixth Appellate
District held that an affidavit that failed to properly authenticate a promissory note
in a foreclosure case precluded its consideration and prevented summary judgment
in favor of the bank. HSBC Mortg. Servs., Inc. v. Edmon, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-11-
046, 2012-Ohio-4990, ¶ 23; see also BAC Home Loans Servicing v. Moore, 5th Dist.
Licking No. 12 CA 50, 2012-Ohio-6284, ¶ 27; Wachovia Bank of Delaware v.
Jackson, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2010-CA-00291, 2011-Ohio-3203, ¶ 39, 53-57.
{¶15} In its complaint, Bank of America’s only claim that Smith owed it
money arises from its allegation that Smith breached the terms of the promissory
note. And Bank of America failed to properly introduce the note into the record to
support its motion for summary judgment. Therefore, summary judgment was
improper as to that claim.
The Mortgage
{¶16} Similarly, Bank of America failed to produce an authenticated copy of
the mortgage in support of its motion for summary judgment. As with the note,
Bank of America argues for the first time on appeal that the mortgage was self-
authenticating. In this instance, the bank claims that the mortgage was self-
authenticating as a public record. We disagree.
{¶17} Evid.R. 1005 provides that “the contents of an official record * * * may
be proved by copy, certified as correct in accordance with Rule 902, Civ.R. 44,
Crim.R. 27 or testified to be correct by a witness who has compared it with the
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original.” For domestic public records, the certification will be sufficient if it bears
an official seal and a signature purporting to be an attestation or execution. State v.
Dominguez, 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-980148, 1999 Ohio App. LEXIS 184 (Jan. 29,
1999). The certification “may be made by any public officer having a seal of office
and having official duties in the political subdivision in which the record is kept,
authenticated by the seal of his office.” Id.{¶18} In this case, there is nothing from the Hamilton County Recorder’s
office certifying that the photocopy was an accurate reproduction of the original.
Therefore, it does not qualify for self-authentication pursuant to Evid.R. 902.
Without an affidavit attesting to its authenticity, it was not properly before the trial
court. Therefore the trial court erred when it considered the mortgage as evidence
when it granted Bank of America’s motion for summary judgment.
{¶19} Smith’s first assignment of error is sustained.
Reformation of the Mortgage Not Established
{¶20} In its second assignment of error, Smith argues that the trial court
erred by granting a judgment of foreclosure because Bank of America was not
entitled to reformation of the mortgage when its predecessor was inexcusably
negligent in its preparation. Bank of America argues that there was no negligence,
but rather a simple scrivener’s error in the description of the property in the
mortgage. But, because the mortgage was not properly in the record, Bank of
America failed to meet its initial burden to demonstrate that it was entitled to
summary judgment. Solely for this reason, we sustain Smith’s second assignment of
error.
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Conclusion
{¶21} Without presenting sufficient admissible evidence to support the
claims set forth in its foreclosure complaint, Bank of America failed to meet its initial
burden to demonstrate that it was entitled to summary judgment. Had Bank of
America simply produced properly authenticated copies of the promissory note and
mortgage, the outcome of this case may have been different. But we must reverse the
decision of the trial court granting summary judgment in favor of Bank of America,
and remand this cause for further proceedings consistent with law and this opinion.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.
FISCHER, J., concurs in judgment only.
DEWINE, J., concurs.
DEWINE, J., concurring in judgment.
{¶22} It is fundamental that “[d]ocuments that have not been sworn, certified,
or authenticated by way of affidavit ‘have no evidentiary value.’ ” Michell v. Internatl.
Flavors & Fragrances, Inc., 179 Ohio App.3d 365, 2008-Ohio-3697, 902 N.E.2d 37,
¶ 17 (1st Dist.), citing Lance Acceptance Corp. v. Claudio, 9th Dist. Lorain No.
02CA008201, 2003-Ohio-3503, ¶ 15. Simply attaching the note and mortgage to the
complaint does not make them proper for consideration on summary judgment. As a
result, I concur with the conclusion reached in the lead opinion.
Please note:
The court has recorded its own entry on the date of the release of this opinion.
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