Bank of Am., N.A. v. Robledo

[Cite as Bank of Am., N.A. v. Robledo, 2014-Ohio-1185.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
TENTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
Bank of America, N.A., :
Plaintiff-Appellee, :
No. 13AP-278
v. : (C.P.C. No. 11CV-012152)
Hector Robledo et al., : (REGULAR CALENDAR)
Defendants-Appellants. :
D E C I S I O N
Rendered on March 25, 2014
McGlinchey Stafford, Kimberly Y. Smith Rivera, and
James S. Wertheim, for appellee.
Doucet & Associates, Inc., and Troy J. Doucet, for appellants.
APPEAL from the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
SADLER, P.J.
{¶ 1} Defendants-appellants, Hector Robledo and Patricia Robledo, appeal from a
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas denying their motion for
summary judgment and granting summary judgment in favor of plaintiff-appellee, Bank
of America, N.A. For the reasons that follow, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed in
part and reversed in part.
I. BACKGROUND
{¶ 2} On August 31, 2005, appellants executed a promissory note in favor of
America's Wholesale Lender ("AWL") in the amount of $225,600 to finance the purchase
of real property located at 4245 Heather Louise Court, Grove City, Ohio. Appellants also
No. 13AP-278 2
executed a mortgage against the property in favor of AWL. The mortgage and note were
assigned to BAC Home Loans Servicing L.P. ("BAC") on December 31, 2009.
{¶ 3} On September 29, 2011, appellee filed a complaint for foreclosure alleging
that both the note and mortgage were in default. Appellants filed an answer and asserted
four counterclaims, specifically, fraud, violations of the federal Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692, et seq. ("FDCPA"), violation of Ohio's Consumer Sales
Practices Act, and breach of contract. After mediation attempts failed, appellee filed a
motion for summary judgment seeking judgment in its favor on its asserted claims and
the counterclaims asserted by appellants. Appellants filed their own motion for summary
judgment seeking judgment on their counterclaims.
{¶ 4} On March 4, 2013, the trial court filed a judgment entry granting appellee's
motion for summary judgment. The following day, the trial court filed a decision granting
appellee's motion for summary judgment and denying appellants' motion for summary
judgment.
II. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR
{¶ 5} Appellants appealed the judgment of the trial court and bring three
assignments of error for our review:
I. The trial court erred when it entered summary judgment in
BANA's favor on the Robledos' counterclaim for breach of
contract.
II. The trial court erred when it entered summary judgment in
BANA's favor on the Robledos' counterclaim for violation of
the FDCPA.
III. The trial court erred when it entered summary judgment
in BANA's favor on its claims.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Standard of Review
{¶ 6} We review a summary judgment motion de novo. Koos v. Cent. Ohio
Cellular, Inc., 94 Ohio App. 3d 579, 588 (8th Dist.1994), citing Brown v. Scioto Cty. Bd. of
Commrs., 87 Ohio App. 3d 704, 711 (4th Dist.1993). When an appellate court reviews a
trial court's disposition of a summary judgment motion, it applies the same standard as
No. 13AP-278 3
the trial court and conducts an independent review, without deference to the trial court's
determination. Maust v. Bank One Columbus, N.A., 83 Ohio App. 3d 103, 107 (10th
Dist.1992); Brown at 711. We must affirm the trial court's judgment if any grounds the
movant raised in the trial court support it. Coventry Twp. v. Ecker, 101 Ohio App. 3d 38,
41-42 (9th Dist.1995).
{¶ 7} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(C), 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." Accordingly, summary judgment is appropriate
only under the following circumstances: (1) no genuine issue of material fact remains to
be litigated, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3)
viewing the evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party, reasonable minds
can come to but one conclusion, that conclusion being adverse to the nonmoving party.
Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co., 54 Ohio St. 2d 64, 66 (1978).
{¶ 8} "[T]he moving party bears the initial responsibility of informing the trial
court of the basis for the motion, and identifying those portions of the record before the
trial court which demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of fact on a material element
of the nonmoving party's claim." Dresher v. Burt, 75 Ohio St. 3d 280, 292 (1996). " 'The
requirement that a party seeking summary judgment disclose the basis for the motion and
support the motion with evidence is well founded in Ohio law.' " Vahila v. Hall, 77 Ohio
St.3d 421, 429 (1997), quoting Mitseff v. Wheeler, 38 Ohio St. 3d 112, 115 (1988). Thus,
the moving party may not fulfill its initial burden simply by making a conclusory assertion
that the nonmoving party has no evidence to prove its case. Dresher at 293. Rather, the
moving party must support its motion by pointing to some evidence of the type set forth
in Civ.R. 56(C), which affirmatively demonstrates that the nonmoving party has no
evidence to support the nonmoving party's claims. Id. If the moving party has satisfied
its initial burden under Civ.R. 56(C), then "the nonmoving party * * * has a reciprocal
burden outlined in Civ.R. 56(E) to set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine
issue for trial and, if the nonmovant does not so respond, summary judgment, if
appropriate, shall be entered against the nonmoving party." Id.
No. 13AP-278 4
B. Final Appealable Order
{¶ 9} In its appellate brief, appellee contends that, because appellants filed a
faulty notice of appeal, this appeal must be dismissed for lack of a final, appealable order.
Appellants' notice of appeal states:
Notice is hereby given that Defendants Hector Robledo and
Patricia Robledo appeal to the Court of Appeals of Franklin
County, Ohio, Tenth Appellate District from the "Decision
Granting Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment Filed
September 12, 2012; Denying Defendants' Motion for
Summary Judgment Filed September 26, 2012; and Granting
Plaintiff's Motion for Leave Filed October 3, 2012," entered in
this action on the 5th day of March, 2013.
{¶ 10} According to appellee, appellants' notice of appeal fails to reference the trial
court's March 4, 2013 judgment entry and, instead, references only the March 5, 2013
decision, which is not a final, appealable order. Therefore, appellee asserts that this court
lacks jurisdiction to review this matter and that we must sua sponte dismiss this appeal.
{¶ 11} The Ohio Rules of Appellate Procedure specify the means for perfecting an
appeal from an adverse judgment. "An appeal as of right shall be taken by filing a notice
of appeal with the clerk of the trial court within the time allowed by Rule 4." App.R. 3(A).
The timeliness of an appeal is determined by reference to App.R. 4(A), which requires a
party to file a notice of appeal "within thirty days of the later of entry of the judgment or
order appealed or, in a civil case, service of the notice of judgment and its entry if service
is not made on the party within the three day period in Rule 58(B) of the Ohio Rules of
Civil Procedure."
{¶ 12} The timely filing of a notice of appeal is the only jurisdictional requirement
for perfecting a valid appeal. Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Nolan, 72 Ohio St. 3d 320 (1995),
syllabus. "Failure of an appellant to take any step other than the timely filing of a notice
of appeal does not affect the validity of the appeal, but is ground only for such action as
the court of appeals deems appropriate, which may include dismissal of the appeal."
App.R. 3(A). Thus, the Supreme Court of Ohio has held that "[w]hen presented with
other defects in the notice of appeal, a court of appeals is vested with discretion to
determine whether sanctions, including dismissal, are warranted, and its decision will not
be overturned absent an abuse of discretion." Id. at 322.
No. 13AP-278 5
{¶ 13} Appellee argues dismissal is required because the notice of appeal does not
designate the March 4, 2013 judgment as required by App.R. 3(D). To the contrary,
appellants contend that, because their notice of appeal was timely filed after the trial court
entered final judgment in the case, their appeal should not be dismissed. App.R. 3(D) sets
forth the required content of a notice of appeal and states, in pertinent part, that "[t]he
notice of appeal shall specify the party or parties taking the appeal; shall designate the
judgment, order or part thereof appealed from; and shall name the court to which the
appeal is taken."
{¶ 14} This court has rejected the contention that a defect in a notice of appeal that
has been timely filed from a final judgment defeats jurisdiction. Cook v. Smith, 10th Dist.
No. 12AP-489, 2012-Ohio-4951; Interstate Gas Supply, Inc. v. Calex Corp., 10th Dist. No.
04AP-980, 2006-Ohio-638. When presented with non-jurisdictional defects in a notice
of appeal, this court has discretion to determine whether sanctions, including dismissal,
are warranted. "When presented with a notice of appeal that fails to comply with [the
requirement that the notice designate the judgment or order being appealed], an appellate
court must determine whether the notice served its intended purpose despite its defect."
Paasewe v. Wendy Thomas 5 Ltd., 10th Dist. No. 09AP-510, 2009-Ohio-6852, ¶ 10, citing
Maritime Mfrs., Inc. v. Hi-Skipper Marina, 70 Ohio St. 2d 257, 259-60 (1982). The
purpose of a notice of appeal is to apprise the opposing party of the taking of an appeal.
Maritime Mfrs. at 259. In determining whether dismissal is warranted, we may also
consider other factors, such as whether an appellant's mistake was made in good faith,
whether prejudice arose as a result of the mistake, whether dismissal would constitute a
disproportionate sanction, whether the client would be punished for counsel's action, and
whether dismissal frustrated the overriding objective of deciding cases on their merits.
Cook at ¶ 22.
{¶ 15} Here, we have a single case and a single, final, appealable order. The notice
of appeal was timely filed within 30 days of the trial court's final order; therefore, we
possess jurisdiction over this appeal and decline appellee's request to sua sponte dismiss
this appeal. Further, we conclude that the notice of appeal included sufficient information
to reasonably alert appellee of the existence of appellants' appeal. Moreover, appellee has
No. 13AP-278 6
not alleged, nor do we find, that appellee has suffered any prejudice or surprise or was
materially mislead by the notice of appeal.
{¶ 16} Accordingly, we deny appellee's request to sua sponte dismiss this matter
for lack of jurisdiction.
C. First Assignment of Error
{¶ 17} In their first assignment of error, appellants contend the trial court erred in
granting judgment in favor of appellee on appellants' counterclaim for breach of contract.
Appellants' breach of contract claim arises from BAC's failure to offer them a permanent
Home Affordable Modification Program ("HAMP"). According to appellants, in April
2010, they and BAC entered into a Trial Period Plan ("TPP") under HAMP. Appellants
assert that, pursuant to their agreement, if they made three timely payments of $1,143.33
by June 1, July 1, and August 1, 2010, their loan payments would be redetermined and
they would be mailed a permanent modification agreement. Though asserting the
requisite payments were made, appellants allege BAC breached the TPP agreement by
"fail[ing] to send [appellants] a permanent loan modification agreement." (Feb. 6, 2012
Amended Answer and Counterclaims, 16.) Appellants contend the TPP was an
enforceable contract, they performed their obligations under it, and appellee is liable for
BAC's breach of the TPP and resulting damages to appellants.
{¶ 18} The language of the TPP agreement, however, belies appellants' position.
The document upon which appellants rely on as a contract states, in pertinent part:
I understand that after I sign and return two copies of this
Plan to the Servicer, the Servicer will send me a signed copy of
this Plan if I qualify for the Offer or will send me written
notice that I do not qualify for the Offer. This Plan will not
take effect unless and until both I and the Servicer sign it and
Servicer provides me with a copy of this Plan with the
Servicer's signature.
***
(G) I understand that the Plan is not a modification of the
Loan Documents and that the Loan Documents will not be
modified unless and until (i) I meet all of the conditions
required for modification, (ii) I receive a fully executed copy of
a Modification Agreement, and (iii) the Modification Effective
Date has passed. I further understand and agree that the
No. 13AP-278 7
Servicer will not be obligated or bound to make any
modification of the Loan Documents if I fail to meet any one
of the requirements under this Plan.
{¶ 19} To establish a breach of contract claim under Ohio law, one must establish:
(1) the existence of a valid contract, (2) performance by the plaintiff, (3) non-performance
by the defendant, and (4) damages resulting from the defendant's breach. Yoder v. Hurst,
10th Dist. No. 07AP-121, 2007-Ohio-4861, ¶ 27. By its very language, the TPP indicates it
is not a binding contract unless signed by both appellants and BAC. There is no
allegation, nor supporting evidence, that BAC found appellants qualified under HAMP
and provided appellant a TPP agreement signed by BAC. Goss v. ABN AMRO Mtge.
Group, 6th Cir. No. 12-2627 (Dec. 20, 2013) (TPP not a binding contract because not
signed by both the borrower and the lender).
{¶ 20} Further, the language of the TPP indicates it is not an offer of permanent
loan modification, and courts have consistently concluded such documents are not
promises to modify a borrower's loan. Ortega v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., N.D.Ohio No.
3:11CV01734 (Jan. 31, 2012) (a defendant's failure to provide a permanent loan
modification solely on the basis of the existence of a TPP does not sufficiently state a
breach of contract claim); Goss (an initial TPP document is not necessarily a promise to
modify a loan), citing Fed. Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v. Hassell, E.D.Mich. No. 11-14564
(Mar. 6, 2013); Brady v. Chase Home Fin., LLC, W.D.Mich. No. 11-838 (May 24, 2012);
Helmus v. Chase Home Fin., LLC, 890 F. Supp. 2d 806, 815 (W.D.Mich.2012) ("By its
plain terms, the TPP makes it clear that it was not an offer, and would not become binding
on Chase until the contract was signed and returned to Plaintiffs, which it was not. As a
result, there was no offer for Plaintiffs to accept.").
{¶ 21} Because the TPP is neither a promise nor a binding contract, appellants'
breach of contract claim must fail. Accordingly, we find the trial court did not err in
granting summary judgment in favor of appellee on appellants' claim for breach of
contract and overrule appellants' first assignment of error.
No. 13AP-278 8
D. Second Assignment of Error
{¶ 22} In their second assignment of error, appellants contend the trial court erred
in granting summary judgment in favor of appellee on appellants' counterclaim for
violations of the FDCPA.
{¶ 23} To establish a claim under the FDCPA, "a plaintiff must establish that:
(1) he or she is a 'consumer' as defined by 15 U.S.C. 1692a(3); (2) the 'debt' arises out of
transactions that are 'primarily for personal, family, or household purposes,' 15 U.S.C.
1692a(5); (3) the defendant is a 'debt collector' as defined by 15 U.S.C. 1692a(6); and
(4) the defendant violated any of the prohibitions of 15 U.S.C. 1692e." United States Bank
Natl. Assn. v. Gray, 10th Dist. No. 12AP-953, 2013-Ohio-3340, ¶ 39, citing Whittaker v.
Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co., 605 F. Supp. 2d 914, 926 (N.D.Ohio 2009). Failure to
prove any one of these elements is fatal to a plaintiff's FDCPA claim. Id.
{¶ 24} As stated in Gray, for purposes of the FDCPA, "debt collector" means " 'any
person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business
the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts, or who regularly collects or
attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due
another.' " Id. at ¶ 40, quoting 15 U.S.C. 1692a(6). Thus, the FDCPA establishes two
alternative predicates for "debt collector" status: either engaging in debt collection as the
"principal purpose" of the entity's business or "regularly" engaging in debt collection. Id.,
citing Hester v. Graham, Bright & Smith, P.C. & R., 289 Fed.Appx. 35, 41 (5th Cir.2008);
Oppong v. First Union Mtge. Corp., 215 Fed.Appx. 114, 118 (3d Cir.2007); Goldstein v.
Hutton, Ingram, Yuzek, Gainen, Carroll & Bertolotti, 374 F.3d 56, 61 (2d Cir.2004); see
also Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Gerst, 5th Dist. No. 13 CAE 05 0042, 2014-Ohio-80, ¶ 29
(it is well-established creditors and mortgage service companies are not debt collectors
and are not subject to liability under the FDCPA), citing RBS Citizens, N.A. v. Zigdon, 8th
Dist. No. 93945, 2010-Ohio-3511, citing Scott v. Wells Fargo Home Mtge. Inc., 326
F. Supp. 2d 709 (E.D.Va.2003). See also Montgomery v. Huntington Bank, 346 F.3d 693,
699 (6th Cir.2003).
{¶ 25} Here, appellants presented no evidence that appellee satisfies the predicates
for debt collector status under the FDCPA. Accordingly, we find the trial court did not err
No. 13AP-278 9
in granting summary judgment in favor of appellee on appellants' claim for violations of
the FDCPA and overrule appellants' second assignment of error.
E. Third Assignment of Error
{¶ 26} In their third assignment of error, appellants contend the trial court erred in
granting summary judgment in favor of appellee on the claims asserted in its complaint.
{¶ 27} Under this assigned error, appellants first argue the record contains no
evidence that appellee satisfied the conditions of the mortgage and note prior to filing the
foreclosure action. Appellants asserted this same argument in their answer as well as
their memorandum contra to appellee's motion for summary judgment. Paragraph 22 of
the mortgage provides:
Acceleration; Remedies. Lender shall give notice to Borrower
prior to acceleration following Borrower's breach of any
covenant or agreement in this Security Instrument (but not
prior to acceleration under Section 18 unless Applicable Law
provides otherwise). The notice shall specify: (a) the default;
(b) the action required to cure the default; (c) a date, not less
than 30 days from the date the notice is given to Borrower, by
which the default must be cured; and (d) that failure to cure
the default on or before the date specified in the notice may
result in acceleration of the sums secured by this Security
Instrument, foreclosure by judicial proceeding and sale of the
Property. The notice shall further inform Borrower of the
right to reinstate after acceleration and the right to assert in
the foreclosure proceeding the non-existence of a default or
any other defense of Borrower to acceleration and foreclosure.
If the default is not cured on or before the date specified in the
notice, Lender at its option may require immediate payment
in full of all sums secured by this Security Instrument without
further demand and may foreclose this Security Instrument
by judicial proceeding. Lender shall be entitled to collect all
expenses incurred in pursuing the remedies provided in this
Section 22, including, but not limited to, costs of title
evidence.
{¶ 28} Paragraph 9(C) of the note provides:
If I am in default, the Note Holder may send me a written
notice telling me that if I do not pay the overdue amount by a
certain date, the Note Holder may require me to pay
immediately the full amount of Principal that has not been
paid and all the interest that I owe on that amount. That date
No. 13AP-278 10
must be at least 30 days after the date on which the notice is
mailed to me or delivered by other means.
{¶ 29} In support of its motion for summary judgment, appellee submitted the
affidavit of one its officers, James Sherman Graham. In his affidavit, Graham averred
that appellants defaulted on the note and that the indebtedness had been accelerated.
Graham further averred that the balance due on the loan is the principal sum of
$220,286.97 plus interest at 3.750 percent per annum from November 1, 2009 through
August 31, 2010, plus interest at the rate of 3.375 percent per annum from September 1,
2010 through August 31, 2011, plus interest at the rate of 3.00 percent per annum from
September 1, 2011.
{¶ 30} Several appellate courts have found that, in foreclosure actions, the affidavit
of a loan servicing agent employee with personal knowledge provides sufficient
evidentiary support for summary judgment in favor of the mortgagee. Regions Bank v.
Seimer, 10th Dist. No. 13AP-542, 2014-Ohio-95, ¶ 19; Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v.
Germano, 11th Dist. No. 2012-P-0024, 2012-Ohio-5833 (affidavit executed by employee
of loan servicing agent for bank established that written notice of default was sent to
borrower in accordance with the terms of the note and mortgage); JP Morgan Chase
Bank, N.A. v. Ackerman, 5th Dist. No. 13CA17, 2013-Ohio-5010 (summary judgment
affirmed where affidavit from the vice president of loan documentation for the bank's
servicing agent contained all the averments necessary to support the bank's motion).
While this affidavit established appellants' default, debt acceleration, and the balance due,
Graham's affidavit contains no mention or indication of compliance with the notice
provisions contained in the mortgage and note.
{¶ 31} In arguing compliance with the mortgage and note provisions, appellee
attached excerpts of Michael Watkins' deposition to its appellate brief. Specifically,
appellee attached deposition pages 66 through 69, which, according to appellee, establish
compliance with paragraph 22 of the mortgage and paragraph 9(C) of the note. In its
appellate brief, appellee contends Watkins' complete deposition was filed in the trial court
on September 26, 2012. Our review of the record, however, reveals that this is not so.
{¶ 32} On September 26, 2012, appellants filed a memorandum contra to
appellee's motion for summary judgment and attached deposition pages 89 and 91
No. 13AP-278 11
through 93. Also, on September 26, 2012, appellants filed their own motion for summary
judgment and included excerpts of Watkins' deposition in support. The excerpts
submitted by appellants included deposition pages 62 through 65 and page 107. With
their reply in support of their motion for summary judgment, appellants included
deposition pages 19 and 20. Watkins' complete deposition, however, was not made a part
of the record in this case as the deposition was not filed until April 2, 2013, which is the
date appellants filed their notice of appeal. Additionally, while the trial court's decision
and judgment entry specifically reference Graham's affidavit, neither references Watkins'
deposition testimony.
{¶ 33} Because Watkins' deposition was not filed in the trial court, it is not part of
the record on appeal and we may not consider it. It is well-settled that "[a]ppellate review
is limited to the record as it existed at the time the trial court rendered its judgment."
Franks v. Rankin, 10th Dist. No. 11AP-962, 2012-Ohio-1920, ¶ 73, citing Wiltz v. Clark
Schaefer Hackett & Co., 10th Dist. No. 11AP-64, 2011-Ohio-5616, ¶ 13. Nor can " '[a]
reviewing court * * * add matter to the record before it, which was not a part of the trial
court's proceedings, and then decide the appeal on the basis of the new matter.' " Id.,
quoting State v. Ishmail, 54 Ohio St. 2d 402 (1978), paragraph one of the syllabus; Baker
v. Beshears, 10th Dist. No. 07AP-488, 2008-Ohio-1374, ¶ 12, citing Bush v. Beggrow,
10th Dist. No. 03AP-1238, 2005-Ohio-2426, fn. 7; Cottrill v. Knaul, 3d Dist. No. 9-07-12,
2007-Ohio-5196, ¶ 8, fn. 1.
{¶ 34} Accordingly, we must conclude appellee failed to present evidence in
accordance with Civ.R. 56 establishing that it provided appellants with written notice of
default and acceleration of payment as required by the mortgage such that its motion for
summary judgment was not properly supported.
{¶ 35} Because appellee's motion for summary judgment was not properly
supported, we must conclude the trial court erred in granting appellee's motion for
summary judgment. Accordingly, appellants' third assignment of error is sustained.
IV. CONCLUSION
{¶ 36} For the foregoing reasons, appellants' first and second assignments of error
are overruled, and appellants' third assignment of error is sustained. Consequently, the
No. 13AP-278 12
judgment of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas is affirmed in part and reversed
in part, and this matter is remanded to that court for further proceedings.
Judgment affirmed in part
and reversed in part;
cause remanded.
DORRIAN and O'GRADY, JJ., concur.
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