Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Reaves

[Cite as Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Reaves, 2014-Ohio-3556.]
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO
CLERMONT COUNTY
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE :
FOR WAMU MORTGAGE PASS
THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES : CASE NO. CA2014-01-015
2005-PR2 TRUST,
: OPINION
Plaintiff-Appellee, 8/18/2014
:
- vs -
:
REBECCA K. REAVES, et al.,
:
Defendants-Appellants.
:
CIVIL APPEAL FROM CLERMONT COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
Case No. 2012CVE 1067
Manley Dea Kochalski LLC, Michael E. Carlton, P.O. Box 165028, Columbus, Ohio 43216-
5028, for plaintiff-appellee
Thompson Hine LLP, Jessica E. Salisbury-Copper, Austin Landing 1, 10050 Innovation
Drive, Suite 400, Miamisburg, Ohio 45342, for plaintiff-appellee
Thompson Hine LLP, Stephen D. Williger, 3900 Key Center, 127 Public Square, Cleveland,
Ohio 44114-1291, for plaintiff-appellee
James R. Douglass Co., LPA, Marc E. Dann, Grace M. Doberdruk, James R. Douglass, P.O.
Box 6031040, 4600 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44103, for defendants-appellants
M. POWELL, J.
{¶ 1} Defendants-appellants, Rebecca K. Reaves and Ronald Reaves, appeal from a
Clermont CA2014-01-015
decision of the Clermont County Court of Common Pleas granting summary judgment and a
decree of foreclosure in favor of plaintiff-appellee, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Trustee for
Wamu Mortgage Pass through Certificates Series 2005-PR2 Trust (Wells Fargo). For the
reasons discussed below, we affirm the decision of the trial court.
{¶ 2} It is uncontroverted that on or about January 14, 2005, Rebecca K. Reaves
executed a promissory note in the amount of $175,000 payable to Washington Mutual Bank,
F.A. The note was secured by a mortgage deed executed by Rebecca K. Reaves and her
husband, Ronald Reaves, in favor of Washington Mutual Bank, F.A. The mortgage was
recorded in the county recorder's office.
{¶ 3} On May 30, 2012, Wells Fargo filed a complaint in foreclosure. Within the
complaint, Wells Fargo stated that Rebecca K. Reaves executed a note that was attached to
the complaint. A copy of the mortgage executed in connection with the note was also
attached along with an assignment of mortgage from Washington Mutual Bank, F.A. to Wells
Fargo. Wells Fargo alleged that the note and mortgage were in default and that it had
satisfied all conditions precedent. Furthermore, Wells Fargo averred that it was entitled to
enforce the note pursuant to R.C. 1303.31 and that the principal amount due was
$177,777.49, plus interest at a variable rate from July 1, 2011.
{¶ 4} On October 4, 2013, Wells Fargo moved for summary judgment and default
judgment. In support of its motion, Wells Fargo attached an affidavit of Samuel B. Muller, a
vice president of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (Chase). Muller averred that
Chase was a servicer and agent for Wells Fargo regarding a note executed by Rebecca K.
Reaves and secured by a mortgage. Muller alleged that the note and mortgage were in
default. Muller referenced the documents attached to the affidavit, including a note,
mortgage, assignment of mortgage, payment history, and notice of default. Within the
affidavit, Muller averred that he made the affidavit based on his review of Chase's business
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records and that Wells Fargo, directly or through its agent, was in possession of the original
note prior to the filing of the complaint.
{¶ 5} On October 18, 2013, the Reaves filed a memorandum in opposition to Wells
Fargo's summary judgment motion. On November 4, 2013, a significant time after the filing
of the complaint, the Reaves filed a motion for leave to file an answer instanter, which was
denied by the trial court. As the motion made by Wells Fargo was couched in Civ.R. 56
language, the trial court granted summary judgment and a decree of foreclosure in favor of
Wells Fargo as opposed to granting a default judgment. It is from the grant of summary
judgment and decree of foreclosure the Reaves now appeal, and assert one assignment of
error for review:
{¶ 6} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED WHEN IT GRANTED SUMMARY JUDGMENT TO
[WELLS FARGO] WHEN [WELLS FARGO] FAILED TO SUPPORT THE MOTION FOR
SUMMARY JUDGMENT WITH EVIDENTIARY QUALITY MATERIALS PURSUANT TO
CIVIL RULE 56.
{¶ 7} The Reaves argue that Muller's affidavit was not based on personal knowledge
because he was an employee of Chase and therefore could not personally know what
documents Wells Fargo had in its possession. As such, the Reaves assert that Wells Fargo
failed to present "evidentiary-quality" materials because Muller's affidavit was the only
evidence that Wells Fargo physically possessed the note. Consequently, the Reaves assert
that the note could not be considered for summary judgment purposes. Furthermore, the
Reaves assert that if Wells Fargo properly established that it is the holder of the note and
there had been a default in payment, Wells Fargo failed to establish damages because there
was no account meeting certain requirements, such as showing a beginning balance of zero.
However, the Reaves fail to address the consequence of their failure to file an answer to the
complaint.
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{¶ 8} This court's review of a trial court's ruling on a summary judgment motion is de
novo. Lindsay P. v. Towne Properties Asset Mgt. Co., Ltd., 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-11-
215, 2013-Ohio-4124, ¶ 16. Civ.R. 56 sets forth the summary judgment standard and
requires for summary judgment that (1) there be no genuine issues of material fact to be
litigated, (2) the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and (3) reasonable
minds can come to only one conclusion being adverse to the nonmoving party. Slowey v.
Midland Acres, Inc., 12th Dist. Fayette No. CA2007-08-030, 2008-Ohio-3077, ¶ 8. The
moving party has the burden of demonstrating that there is no genuine issue of material fact.
Harless v. Willis Day Warehousing Co., 54 Ohio St.2d 64, 66 (1978).
{¶ 9} The nonmoving party "may not rest on the mere allegations of his pleading, but
his response, by affidavit or as otherwise provided in Civ.R. 56, must set forth specific facts
showing the existence of a genuine triable issue." Mootispaw v. Eckstein, 76 Ohio St.3d 383,
385 (1996). A dispute of fact can be considered "material" if it affects the outcome of the
litigation. Myers v. Jamar Ents., 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2001-06-056, 2001 WL
1567352,*2 (Dec. 10, 2001). A dispute of fact can be considered "genuine" if it is supported
by substantial evidence that exceeds the allegations in the complaint. Id.{¶ 10} Specifically, as to foreclosure claims, "[a] party seeking to foreclose on a
mortgage must establish execution and delivery of the note and mortgage; valid recording of
the mortgage; it is the current holder of the note and mortgage; default; and the amount
owed." Fifth Third Mtge. Co. v. Bell, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2013-02-003, 2013-Ohio-
3678, ¶ 25, citing BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. v. Kolenich, 194 Ohio App.3d 777, 2011-
Ohio-3345, ¶ 26 (12th Dist.).
{¶ 11} Civ.R. 56(C) provides an exclusive list of materials that a trial court may
consider when deciding a motion for summary judgment. Wells Fargo Bank v. Smith, 12th
Dist. Brown No. CA2012-04-006, 2013-Ohio-855, ¶ 15. Those materials are "pleadings,
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depositions, answers to interrogatories, written admissions, affidavits, transcripts of evidence,
and written stipulations of fact." Civ.R. 56(C). "[A] party may properly introduce evidence not
specifically authorized by Civ.R. 56(C) by incorporating it by reference through a properly
framed affidavit pursuant to Civ.R. 56(E)." Wilson v. AIG, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2007-11-
278, 2008-Ohio-5211, ¶ 29.
{¶ 12} According to Civ.R. 56(E), affidavits supporting motions for summary judgment
must be made on personal knowledge. Personal knowledge is defined as "knowledge of the
truth in regard to a particular fact or allegation, which is original and does not depend on
information or hearsay." Bank of America, N.A. v. Jackson, 12th Dist. Warren No. CA2014-
01-018, 2014-Ohio-2480, ¶ 10.
{¶ 13} Nevertheless, we do not need to address the Reaves' argument regarding
whether Muller illustrated the requisite personal knowledge in his affidavit in order to
authenticate the note because the Reaves did not file an answer. Civ.R. 8(D) provides:
Averments in a pleading to which a responsive pleading is
required, other than those as to the amount of damage, are
admitted when not denied in the responsive pleading.
Averments in a pleading to which no responsive pleading is
required or permitted shall be taken as denied or avoided.
When a party fails to file an answer a court is correct to rely on Civ.R. 8(D) to treat the
allegations contained in the plaintiff's complaint as admitted, obviating the need to prove such
facts. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Murphy, 7th Dist. Mahoning No. 13 MA 35, 2014-Ohio-
2937, ¶ 14; Burdge v. On Guard Security Servs., Inc., 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-050522,
2006-Ohio-2092, ¶ 7. Furthermore, according to Civ.R. 10(C), "[a] copy of any written
instrument attached to a pleading is a part of the pleading for all purposes."
{¶ 14} In this instance, the Reaves did not file an answer to Wells Fargo's complaint,
and therefore, the averments contained within are admitted. In the complaint, Wells Fargo
averred that Rebecca K. Reaves executed the promissory note that was attached to the
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complaint along with the mortgage that was executed in connection with the note. The
complaint further averred that the note and mortgage were in default and that Wells Fargo
was entitled to enforce the note pursuant to R.C. 1303.31. Because the Reaves did not deny
the allegations that Rebecca executed the promissory note and that a copy of the note was
attached to the complaint, those allegations are admitted as fact. Consequently, any
deficiency in Muller's affidavit regarding authentication of the note is irrelevant as the above
averments are admitted as fact and the pleadings are proper for a court to consider under
Civ.R. 56(C). See Am. Savs. Bank v. Wrage, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 13CA3566, 2014-Ohio-
2168, ¶ 19.
{¶ 15} Additionally, the amount due on the note is also proved through Wells Fargo's
complaint. Even though Civ.R. 8(D) excludes damages as admitted, damages for the
purpose of Civ.R. 8(D) do not include an amount alleged in a complaint to be due and unpaid
on a promissory note. CitiMortgage, Inc. v. Booth, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 11AP-584, 2012-
Ohio-1419, ¶ 13. In such an instance, because where the promissory note is the claimed
basis for the action and is attached to the complaint, the underlying contract has been proved
and submitted. Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. v. Heidebrink, 6th Dist. Ottawa No. OT-08-
049, 2009-Ohio-2931, ¶ 44; see Fed. Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v. Koch, 11th Dist. Geauga
No. 2012-G-3084, 2013-Ohio-4423, ¶ 45 (proof of damages is not necessary in default
proceedings when the underlying claim is predicated upon an alleged breach of a promissory
note). Wells Fargo averred in its complaint that the principal amount due was $177,777.49,
plus interest at a variable rate from July 1, 2011. Accordingly, the amount due on the note
included in the complaint was also admitted as true when the Reaves failed to file an answer.
{¶ 16} In light of the foregoing, because the Reaves admitted the allegations of the
complaint as true when they failed to file an answer and pleadings may be considered for the
purposes of summary judgment, it was proper for the trial court to grant summary judgment
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and a decree of foreclosure in favor of Wells Fargo. The Reaves' sole assignment of error is
overruled.
{¶ 17} Judgment affirmed.
S. POWELL, P.J., and PIPER, J., concur.
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