Vidal v. Liquidation Props., Inc.

• Decision Date: 09 January 2013
• Docket Number: No. 4D10–3358.,4D10–3358.
• Citation: 104 So.3d 1274
• Parties: Cesar A. VIDAL and Ruth Vidal, Appellants, v. LIQUIDATION PROPERTIES, INC., Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

104 So.3d 1274

Cesar A. VIDAL and Ruth Vidal, Appellants,

v.LIQUIDATION PROPERTIES, INC., Appellee.

No. 4D10–3358.

District Court of Appeal of Florida,

Fourth District.

Jan. 9, 2013.

Karen J. Barnet–Backer and John H. Ruiz of John H. Ruiz, P.A., Miami, for appellants.

Andrea Shelowitz and Jesse Davidson of Gladstone Law Group, P.A., Boca Raton, for appellee.

On Motion for Rehearing and Clarification

PER CURIAM.

We deny the Appellee's motion for rehearing, but grant the motion for clarification, withdraw our slip opinion issued October 31, 2012, and substitute the following in its place.

Cesar and Ruth Vidal (“the Vidals”) appeal the trial court's order granting summary judgment and entering a final judgment of foreclosure in favor of Liquidation Properties, Inc. (“Liquidation”). The Vidals claim the trial court erred in finding: (1) Liquidation had standing to seek foreclosure of their note and mortgage, and (2) their affirmative defenses for fraud, misrepresentation, and violation of the federal Truth in Lending Act were legally insufficient. We reverse on the issue of standing and the rejection of the Vidals' affirmative defense of Truth in Lending violations. We affirm on the remaining issues.

The Vidals executed two notes and mortgages in favor of Option One Mortgage Corporation for the purchase of their home. On February 5, 2009, Liquidation filed a complaint for foreclosure on one of the mortgages, to enforce a lost note, and to reestablish a lost mortgage. The Vidals answered and raised fifteen affirmative defenses. Subsequently, the affirmative defenses were amended down to seven. In the amended affirmative defenses, the Vidals alleged Liquidation lacked standing to foreclose. They asserted equitable estoppel and fraud barred the complaint due to the lender's placing false income and other financial information on the mortgage application. They also alleged, for the first time, violations of the federal Truth in Lending Act and related regulations, seeking rescission of the mortgage and recoupment of damages based on the lender's failure to comply with federal disclosure requirements, for misrepresenting that the loan terms were fixed, and for failing to disclose the actual payment terms.

At the final hearing on summary judgment, the trial court held that Liquidation met its initial burden to establish standing to foreclose on the note and mortgage. To demonstrate standing, Liquidation produced the original note and mortgage, an undated allonge endorsed in blank, and a mortgage assignment executed on February 6, 2009, with an effective date of January 15, 2009. The trial court then held there was no material issue of fact as to standing because the Vidals could not introduce evidence to dispute the assignment took place. The Vidals argue the trial court erred in this finding because (1) the original note and mortgage were not produced at least twenty days prior to the summary judgment hearing, which they maintain violates 1.510(c), and (2) the back-dated assignment does not demonstrate, as a matter of law, that a legal or equitable transfer of the note and mortgage occurred prior to the filing of the complaint.

We need not decide whether rule 1.510(c) was violated, as the transcript reflects that counsel for the Vidals did not make this objection at the hearing, instead deciding to oppose the motion for summary judgment on the merits. As the issue was waived, it cannot be grounds for reversal on appeal. Azanza v. Private Funding Group, 24 So.3d 586, 587 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009).

We have held that the one who owns or holds the note is entitled to foreclose on the mortgage. See, e.g., Riggs v. Aurora Loan Servs., LLC, 36 So.3d 932 (Fla. 4th DCA 2010). In filing a mortgage foreclosure suit, as well as seeking a summary judgment, it is incumbent on the plaintiff to be in a position to prove he, she, or it owns or holds the note as of the date suit is filed.

“[T]he plaintiff must prove that it had standing to foreclose when the complaint was filed.” McLean v. JP Morgan Chase Bank Nat'l Ass'n, 79 So.3d 170, 173 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012). “Standing may be established by either an assignment or an equitable transfer of the mortgage prior to the filing of the complaint.” Id. In McLean, the bank filed a complaint for foreclosure on May 11, 2009. Id. at 171. The mortgage reflected the mortgagee as a third party. When ordered to provide proof of assignment, the bank filed an assignment of mortgage reflecting an effective date of May 14, 2009. The bank moved for summary judgment and filed an affidavit in support of summary judgment. The affidavit did not state when the note or mortgage was transferred to the bank. Id. The trial court granted summary judgment, but this Court reversed, holding the record evidence was insufficient to demonstrate the bank had standing to foreclose at the time the complaint was filed. Id. at 173.

The McLean court's reasoning is pertinent to this case and bears repeating:

Even where an assignment of mortgage does not occur until after the complaint is filed, there are several ways a plaintiff may establish its standing to foreclose at the inception of the suit. Where the plaintiff contends that its standing to foreclose derives from an endorsement of the note, the plaintiff must show that the endorsement occurred prior to the inception of the lawsuit. If the note or allonge reflects on its face that the endorsement occurred before the filing of the complaint, this is sufficient to establish standing. [citation omitted] Similarly, if the plaintiff relies upon an affidavit of ownership to prove its status as a holder of the note on the date the lawsuit was filed, it is sufficient if the body of the affidavit indicates that the plaintiff was the owner of the note and mortgage before suit was filed. Alternatively, if the affidavit itself is executed before the lawsuit is filed, the allegation that the plaintiff is the “owner and holder of the note” is sufficient to establish the plaintiff's standing at the inception of the lawsuit....

While the original note contained an undated special endorsement in Chase's favor, the affidavit filed in support of summary judgment did not state when the endorsement was made to Chase. Furthermore, the affidavit, which was dated after the lawsuit was filed, did not specifically state when Chase became the owner of the note, nor did the affidavit indicate that Chase was the owner of the note before suit was filed. Therefore, Chase failed...