U.S. Bank Natl. Assn. v. Higgins

[Cite as U.S. Bank Natl. Assn. v. Higgins, 2012-Ohio-4086.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION :
: Appellate Case No. 24963
Plaintiff-Appellee :
: Trial Court Case No. 2010-CV-5470
v. :
:
CHONDA B. HIGGINS, et al. : (Civil Appeal from
: (Common Pleas Court)
Defendant-Appellant :
:
...........
OPINION
Rendered on the 7th day of September, 2012.
...........
JASON WHITACRE, Atty. Reg. #0077330, LAURA C. INFANTE, Atty. Reg. #0082050 and
JULIE TERRY, Atty. Reg. #0082098, The Law Offices of John D. Clunk, 4500 Courthouse
Boulevard, Suite 400, Stow, Ohio 44224
Attorneys for Plaintiff-Appellee, U.S. Bank National Association
GEORGE PATRICOFF, Atty. Reg. #0024506, 301 West Third Street, 5th Floor, Dayton,
Ohio 45422
Attorney for Defendant-Appellee, Montgomery County Treasurer
ANTHONY R. CICERO, Atty. Reg. #0065408, Cicero Law Office, LLC, 500 East Fifth
Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402
Attorney for Defendant-Appellant, Brian Higgins
CHONDA B. HIGGINS, 7634 Morning Mist Circle, Dayton, Ohio 45426
Defendant-Appellee, pro se
.............
FAIN, J.
{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant Brian Higgins appeals from a summary judgment
rendered against him in an action for foreclosure filed by plaintiff-appellee U.S. Bank
National Association. Higgins contends that the trial court erred by rendering summary
judgment against him, because U.S. Bank failed to demonstrate that it was the holder of the
note and mortgage, by assignment. He further contends that because the assignment of the
mortgage to U.S. Bank was executed after the filing of this action, U.S. Bank failed to
demonstrate that it was the real party in interest with standing to bring the action.
{¶ 2} We conclude that there is evidence, competent under Civ. R. 56, upon which
the trial court could rely in determining that the note and mortgage had been assigned to U.S.
Bank. We further conclude that any defect with regard to U.S. Bank’s standing and
real-party-in-interest status was cured prior to the rendering of summary judgment, which we
have found to be sufficient. Fed. Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v. Schwartzwald, 194 Ohio App.3d
644, 2011-Ohio-2681, 957 N.E.2d 790 (2d Dist.). Accordingly, the judgment of the trial
court is Affirmed.
I. The Evidence in Support of the Summary Judgment
{¶ 3} In 2007, Chonda Higgins gave a promissory note in the sum of $904,400 to
First Franklin Financial Corporation. Simultaneously, Chonda Higgins and her husband,
Brian Higgins, gave First Franklin a mortgage securing the note.
{¶ 4} On July 9, 2010, U.S. Bank filed a complaint asserting that the Higginses had
defaulted on the note and mortgage. Attached to the complaint was a copy of the note
executed by and between Chonda Higgins and First Franklin. Also attached to the complaint
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was a copy of a mortgage deed executed by and between Chonda and Brian Higgins, as
mortgagors, and First Franklin, as mortgagee. U.S. Bank sought judgment on the note in the
amount of $891,335.37, with interest at the rate of 8.65%, as well as costs and advances. The
complaint also sought a finding that the mortgage was a valid first lien upon the real estate,
and an order that the mortgage be foreclosed and the property sold. U.S. Bank filed an
amended complaint on July 13, 2010, which merely added a party-defendant without
otherwise amending the text of the original complaint.
{¶ 5} U.S. Bank moved for summary judgment. Attached to the motion was the
affidavit of Robert N. Peters, in which Peters made the following averments:
1. I am authorized to sign this affidavit on behalf of plaintiff, as an officer of
Bank of America, N.A., which is plaintiff’s servicer for the subject loan (“the Loan”).
2. BANA maintains records for the Loan in its capacity as plaintiff’s servicer.
I am able to testify to the matters stated herein because I have personal knowledge of
BANA’s procedures for creating these records. As part of my job responsibilities for
BANA, I am familiar with the type of records maintained by BANA in connection with
the Loan.
3. The information in this affidavit is taken from BANA’s business records.
These records are: (a) made at or near the time of the occurrence of the matters
recorded by persons with personal knowledge of the information in the business
record, or from information transmitted by persons with personal knowledge; (b) kept
in the course of BANA’s regularly conducted business activities; and (c) it is the
regular practice of BANA to make such records. I have personally reviewed the
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attached records, and I make this affidavit from a review of those business records and
from my personal knowledge of how said records are created and maintained.
4. U.S. Bank, National Association, as successor trustee to Bank of America,
N.A. as successor by merger to LaSalle Bank N.A., as Trustee for Merrill Lynch First
Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series
2007-2 has possession of the note.
5. The business records attached, which I have reviewed are true and correct
copies from the business records described above. They show Chonda B. Higgins
defaulted and the amount stated in the attached business records is owed on the Loan.
6. Borrower defaulted on the note by failing to make payments due for April
1, 2010, or any subsequent installments. The indebtedness has been accelerated. The
balance due on said loan is the principal sum of $891,335.37 plus interest at 8.65% per
annum from March 1, 2010.
{¶ 6} Also attached to the motion for summary judgment are the following
documents: (1) a document titled “Bank of America, N.A. Account Information Statement,”
which shows an unpaid principal balance of $891,335.37; (2) a legal description of the subject
property; and (3) a copy of a July 13, 2010 document entitled “Assignment of Real Estate
Mortgage,” which indicates that:
Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc as nominee for First Franklin
Financial Corp., and Op. Sub. Of MLB&T Co., FSB, * * * for value received
has granted, bargained, sold, assigned, transferred and set over unto U.S. Bank,
National Association, as successor trustee to Bank of America, N.A. as
5
successor by merger to LaSalle Bank N.A., as Trustee for Merrill Lynch First
Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates,
Series 2007-2 * * * a certain indentre [sic] of mortgage dated 22nd day of
February A.D. 2007, made by Chonda Higgins and Brian Higgins (signing for
the purpose of waiving any and all homesated [sic] rights and/or any and all
dower or curtesy rights) wife and husband to it, securing the payment of one
promissory note therein described for the sum of nine hundred four thousand
four hundred and no/100 — dollars ($904,400.00) and all its right, title and
interest in and to the premises situated in county of Montgomery State of Ohio
* * * together with the said note therein described and the money due or to
grow due thereon, with interest.
{¶ 7} Higgins filed a memorandum in opposition to the motion for summary
judgment, in which he argued that U.S. Bank failed to present sufficient evidence to prove that
it is the holder of the note. He also argued that because the assignment of the note was not
executed until after the filing of the subject lawsuit, U.S. Bank lacked standing to file the
action.
{¶ 8} The trial court rendered summary judgment in favor of U.S. Bank. Brian
Higgins appeals. Chonda Higgins has not appealed.
II. Copy of Recorded Assignment of Mortgage Was Sufficient
Evidence to Establish that U.S. Bank Was Entitled
to Enforce the Terms of the Note and Mortgage
{¶ 9} Higgins’s First Assignment of Error states:
6
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY ACCEPTING THE
EVIDENTIARY MATERIAL PRESENTED BY PLAINTIFF AS
SUFFICIENT TO OBTAIN SUMMARY JUDGMENT.
{¶ 10} Higgins contends that U.S. Bank did not present sufficient evidence to prove
that it is the holder of the note and mortgage, because the copy of the assignment of mortgage
to U.S. Bank is not sufficient documentary proof that U.S. Bank is the holder of the
instrument. In support, Higgins cites LaSalle Bank, N.A. v. Fulk, 5th Dist. Stark No.
2010-CA-00294, 2011-Ohio-3319, for the proposition that a “copy of a notarized [assignment]
document [which * * *] does not state the volume and page wherein it is recorded, and is not
certified by the records custodian * * * does not constitute proper evidentiary material upon
which the court can rely in determining appellee has standing to foreclose on the note and
mortgage.” Id. at ¶ 31. Conversely, U.S. Bank contends that this court is not bound by the
holding in LaSalle.
{¶ 11} Summary judgment is proper only when the party moving for summary
judgment demonstrates that: (1) no genuine issue of material fact exists; (2) the moving party
is entitled to judgment as a matter of law; and (3) reasonable minds can come to but one
conclusion, and that conclusion is adverse to the party against whom the motion for summary
judgment is made, that party being entitled to have the evidence most strongly construed in
that party's favor. Civ.R. 56(C). This court reviews summary judgment de novo, meaning
that we do so independently and without deference to the trial court’s findings of fact. Fed.
Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v. Schwartzwald, 194 Ohio App.3d 644, 2011-Ohio-2681, 957
N.E.2d 790, ¶ 26 (2d Dist.).
[Cite as U.S. Bank Natl. Assn. v. Higgins, 2012-Ohio-4086.]
{¶ 12} Civ.R. 56(C) provides that:
[s]ummary 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. No evidence or stipulation may
be considered except as stated in this rule.
{¶ 13} Civ.R. 56(C) provides that the only types of evidence that may be considered
are “pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits,
transcripts of evidence, and any written stipulations of fact.” Furthermore, the Rule states
that “no evidence or stipulation may be considered except as stated in this rule.” “Other types
of documents may be introduced as evidentiary material only through incorporation by
reference in a properly framed affidavit.” Mitchell v. Internatl. Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.,
179 Ohio App.3d 365, 2008–Ohio–3697, 902 N.E.2d 37, ¶ 17 (1st Dist.).
{¶ 14} Civ.R. 56(E), which sets forth the requirements for affidavits in support of
motions for summary judgment, states that affidavits “shall be made on personal knowledge,
shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that
the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated in the affidavit. Sworn or certified
copies of all papers or parts of papers referred to in an affidavit shall be attached to or served
with the affidavit.” “The requirement of Civ.R. 56(E) that sworn or certified copies of all
papers referred to in the affidavit be attached is satisfied by attaching the papers to the
affidavit, coupled with a statement therein that such copies are true copies and reproductions.”
Schwartzwald, supra, at ¶ 30.
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{¶ 15} The issue presented by this assignment of error is whether U.S. Bank met its
burden on summary judgment of producing competent evidence to prove that it is the holder
of the note and the assignee of the mortgage. In other words, did the trial court err by relying
upon, for summary judgment purposes, a copy of the assignment of the mortgage, without
requiring the submission of the original document. We addressed this issue in SFJV v. Ream,
187 Ohio App.3d 715, 2010-Ohio-1615, 933 N.E.2d 819, ¶ 46-48 (2d Dist.), wherein we
stated:
“Proving the contents of a writing presents problems with hearsay,
authentication, and the best evidence rule.” State v. Carter, 4th Dist. Ross No.
99 CA 2479, 2000 WL 1466189. Evid.R. 801(C) defines hearsay as a
“statement, other than one made by the declarant while testifying at the trial or
hearing, offered in evidence to prove the truth of the matter asserted.” A
“statement,” as included in the definition of hearsay, is an oral or written
assertion or nonverbal conduct of a person if that conduct is intended by him as
an assertion. Evid.R. 801(A). “Evid.R. 802 mandates the exclusion of
hearsay unless any exceptions apply.” In re Lane, 4th Dist. Washington No.
02CA61, 2003-Ohio-3755, at ¶ 11. The relevant exceptions to the hearsay rule
include business records, public records, and records of documents affecting an
interest in property. Evid.R. 803(6), (8), (14).
Documents must be authenticated or identified prior to their admission
into evidence. Evid.R. 901. This requirement is satisfied “by evidence
sufficient to support a finding that the matter in question is what its proponent
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claims.” Id. Extrinsic evidence of authenticity is not required for certain
documents to be admitted. Evid.R. 902. For example, certified copies of
public records, commercial paper, and acknowledged documents are
self-authenticating. Evid.R. 902(4), (8), and (9).
* * * “Duplicates” are admissible “to the same extent as an original
unless (1) a genuine question is raised as to the authenticity of the original or
(2) in the circumstances, it would be unfair to admit the duplicate in lieu of the
original.” Evid.R. 1003. Evid.R. 1001(4) defines a “duplicate” as “a
counterpart produced * * * by means of photography, including enlargements
and miniatures, or by mechanical or electronic re-recording, * * * or by other
equivalent techniques which accurately reproduce the original.”
{¶ 16} The assignment of mortgage in this case constitutes a document affecting an
interest in property. It is therefore exempted from the hearsay rule under Evid.R. 803(14):
Records of documents affecting an interest in property. The record of a
document purporting to establish or affect an interest in property, as proof of the
content of the original recorded document and its execution and delivery by each
person by whom it purports to have been executed, if the record is a record of a public
office and an applicable statute authorizes the recording of documents of that kind in
that office.
{¶ 17} The assignment in the case before us has a page with an acknowledgment by a
notary. “Documents acknowledged by [a notary] are self-authenticating.” Ream, supra, at
¶ 50, citing Lorain Cty. Bar Assn. v. Kennedy, 95 Ohio St.3d 116, 766 N.E.2d 151 (2002);
10
Evid.R. 902(8). The assignment also contains a notation regarding the fact that the
assignment was filed of record on July 26, 2010 as 10-043540 in the Recorder’s Office,
Montgomery County. Furthermore, Peters averred that the copy of the assignment was a true
and correct copy of the original.
{¶ 18} LaSalle, supra, which Higgins urges us to follow, is distinguishable. In La
Salle, the copy of the assignment therein did not “state the volume and page wherein it is
recorded, and is not certified by the records custodian.” LaSalle, at ¶ 31. Based upon the
facts in this case and Evid. R. 803(14), we conclude that U.S. Bank was not required to
produce the original assignment of mortgage. Accordingly, we will review the
exhibit/duplicate as if it were the original.
{¶ 19} We next turn to the issue of whether this document demonstrates that U.S.
Bank is the holder of the note and mortgage. This court, in Fed. Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v.
Schwartzwald, 194 Ohio App.3d 644, 2011-Ohio-2681, 957 N.E.2d 790, ¶ 35-40 (2d Dist.),
has stated:
R.C. 1303.31(A) identifies three classes of persons who are “entitled to
enforce” an instrument, such as a note: (1) the holder of the instrument, (2) a
nonholder in possession of the instrument who has the rights of a holder, and
(3) a person not in possession of the instrument who is entitled to enforce the
instrument pursuant to R.C. 1303.38 or R.C. 1303.58(D).
With respect to negotiable instruments, “holder” means either:
“(a) If the instrument is payable to bearer, a person who is in possession
of the instrument;
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“(b) If the instrument is payable to an identified person, the identified
person when in possession of the instrument.” R.C. 1301.01(T)(1).
“An instrument is transferred when it is delivered by a person other than
its issuer for the purpose of giving to the person receiving delivery the right to
enforce the instrument.” R.C. 1303.22(A). The transfer of an instrument vests
in the transferee any right of the transferor to enforce the instrument. R.C.
1303.22(B).
“Negotiation” is a particular type of transfer. Specifically, “negotiation”
means “a voluntary or involuntary transfer of possession of an instrument by a
person other than the issuer to a person who by the transfer becomes the holder
of the instrument.” R.C. 1303.21(A). “Except for negotiation by a remitter, if
an instrument is payable to an identified person, negotiation requires transfer of
possession of the instrument and its indorsement by the holder. If an instrument
is payable to bearer, it may be negotiated by transfer of possession alone.”
R.C. 1303.21(B).
{¶ 20} In this case, the note attached to the complaint is payable to an identified
entity, First Franklin Financial Corporation. Thus, only First Franklin could have negotiated
the subject note by transferring the note and endorsing it to a specific person or to “bearer.”
“A bearer is defined as ‘the person in possession of an instrument * * * payable to bearer or
endorsed in blank.’ ” Fifth Third Mtge. Co. v. Bihn, 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 24691,
2012-Ohio-637, ¶ 19. (Citation omitted.)
{¶ 21} As noted above, the assignment of the mortgage clearly indicates the intent of
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First Franklin to transfer the note along with the mortgage to U.S. Bank. This is sufficient to
demonstrate that U.S. Bank is the holder of the note. Id. at ¶ 28.
{¶ 22} We conclude that there is sufficient, competent evidence to demonstrate that
U.S. Bank is the holder of the note and mortgage with the right to enforce the same.
Accordingly, Higgins’s First Assignment of Error is overruled.
III. Foreclosure Plaintiff Need Not Prove that it Was the Assignee of Mortgage
at the Time of Filing of the Complaint; Proof that it Was the Assignee
at the Time the Judgment Was Rendered Was Sufficient
{¶ 23} Higgins asserts the following for his Second Assignment of Error:
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AS PLAINTIFF DID NOT HAVE
AN INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY WHEN IT SOUGHT JURISDICTION
TO OBTAIN FORECLOSURE.
{¶ 24} Higgins argues that because the assignment of the mortgage was executed
after the date this lawsuit was filed, U.S. Bank is not the real party in interest and cannot seek
enforcement of the note.
{¶ 25} As noted by U.S. Bank, this court has already addressed this issue in Fed. Home Loan
Mtge. Corp. v. Schwartzwald, 194 Ohio App.3d 644, 2011-Ohio-2681, 957 N.E.2d 790 (2d
Dist.), wherein we stated that “the lack of standing or a real-party-in-interest defect can be
cured by the assignment of the mortgage prior to judgment.” Id. at ¶ 75. As in
Schwartzwald, there is no dispute that U.S. Bank had the rights of the mortgagee and the
13
holder of the note when summary judgment was rendered. Therefore, the trial court did not
err in overruling Higgins’s objection to standing and jurisdiction.
{¶ 26} Higgins’s Second Assignment of Error is overruled.
IV. Conclusion
{¶ 27} Both of Higgins’s assignments of error having been overruled, the judgment
of the trial court is Affirmed.
.............
GRADY, P.J., and FROELICH, J., concur.
Copies mailed to:
Jason A. Whitacre
Laura C. Infante
Julia Terry
George Patricoff
Anthony R. Cicero
Chonda Higgins
Hon. Mary K. Huffman