Bank of Am., N.A. v. Kuchta (Slip Opinion)

2014 Ohio 4275, 21 N.E.3d 1040, 141 Ohio St. 3d 75

Opinions

O’Connor, C.J.

{¶ 1} In this appeal, we are asked to resolve a conflict regarding a party’s ability to collaterally attack a judgment in a foreclosure action by asserting the issue of standing in a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment. For the reasons that follow, we conclude that a Civ.R. 60(B) motion cannot be used as a substitute for a timely appeal from the judgment in foreclosure on the issue of standing. We therefore reverse the decision of the Ninth District Court of Appeals.

Relevant Background

{¶ 2} On December 19, 2002, defendants-appellees, George and Bridget Kuchta (“the Kuchtas”), executed a promissory note in favor of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., and entered into a residential mortgage agreement with Wells Fargo to secure repayment of the note. On June 1, 2010, plaintiff-appellant, Bank of America, N.A., filed a complaint in foreclosure against the Kuchtas, attaching a copy of the original note and mortgage. Bank of America claimed to be the holder of the note and assignee of the mortgage. The Kuchtas filed a pro se answer, in which they challenged the standing of Bank of America to proceed with the complaint, arguing that there was no proof that their mortgage had been assigned to Bank of America.

{¶ 3} On August 10, 2010, Bank of America moved for summary judgment, attaching affidavits in support and a “Notice of Filing Assignment of Mortgage.” The attached assignment document memorialized Wells Fargo’s transfer of ownership of the Kuchtas’ note and mortgage to Bank of America. It was signed on June 10, 2010, and recorded on June 23, 2010. The Kuchtas did not respond to the summary-judgment motion.

{¶ 4} After unsuccessful attempts to facilitate a settlement between the parties, during which time the Kuchtas retained counsel, the trial court granted summary judgment to Bank of America and entered a decree of foreclosure in its favor in June 2011. The Kuchtas did not appeal the judgment. On September 7, 2011, the trial court scheduled a sheriffs sale of the foreclosed property for September 29, 2011.

{¶ 5} On September 23, 2011, the Kuchtas moved to vacate the summary judgment and decree of foreclosure pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B)(3), which allows a judgment to be set aside if it has been obtained by “fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party.” In their motion, the Kuchtas argued, in effect, that Bank of America lacked standing to commence the action because the bank did not prove ownership of the note and because the mortgage assignment was fatally flawed. They argued that they had a meritorious defense against the action due to this failure of proof. The Kuchtas further argued that the bank had committed fraud by falsely claiming to be the owner of the note and mortgage when it filed the foreclosure action. The trial court denied the motion, and the Kuchtas appealed.

{¶ 6} The Ninth District reversed the trial court’s decision based on its interpretation of this court’s decision in Fed. Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v. Schwartzwald, 134 Ohio St.3d 13, 2012-Ohio-5017, 979 N.E.2d 1214, which was announced while the Kuchtas’ appeal was pending. The Ninth District held that standing is a jurisdictional matter and that Bank of America’s alleged lack of standing, if proven, would warrant relief from judgment. Accordingly, the Ninth District remanded the cause to the trial court for application of Schwartzwald.

{¶ 7} The Ninth District granted Bank of America’s motion to certify a conflict, holding that its judgment conflicted with the judgment of the Tenth District in PNC Bank, N.A. v. Botts, 10th Dist. Franklin No. 12AP-256, 2012-Ohio-5383, 2012 WL 5868891. In Botts, the Tenth District held that a mortgagee’s lack of standing does not destroy the subject-matter jurisdiction of a court, id. at ¶ 22, and fraud in establishing standing is not the type of fraud contemplated by Civ.R. 60(B)(3). The Botts court noted that the standing issue should have been raised in prior pleadings or in a timely appeal from the judgment, not in a Civ.R. 60(B) motion. Id. at ¶ 18-19. We recognized that a conflict exists on the following certified question: “When a defendant fails to appeal from a trial court’s judgment in a foreclosure action, can a lack of standing be raised as part of a motion for a relief from judgment?” 135 Ohio St.3d 1430, 2013-Ohio-1857, 986 N.E.2d 1020.

{¶ 8} We answer the certified question in the negative and hold that the doctrine of res judicata applies to bar a party from asserting lack of standing in a motion for relief from judgment. We therefore reverse the judgment of the Ninth District Court of Appeals.

Analysis

{¶ 9} The defendants-appellees in both Botts and the present case argued that their judgments in foreclosure should be vacated due to lack of standing under two different areas of the law: the Rules of Civil Procedure and common-law jurisprudence related to jurisdiction. We will address these two arguments in turn.

Motion for Relief from Judgment under the Rules of Civil Procedure

{¶ 10} Civ.R. 60(B) provides:

On motion and upon such terms as are just, the court may relieve a party or his legal representative from a final judgment, order or proceeding for the following reasons: * * * (3) fraud (whether heretofore denominated intrinsic or extrinsic), misrepresentation or other misconduct of an adverse party * * *.

{¶ 11} To succeed on a motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B), a movant must establish (1) a meritorious defense or claim to present, in the event that relief from judgment is granted, (2) entitlement to relief under one of the provisions in Civ.R. 60(B)(1) through (5), and (3) compliance with the rule’s time requirements. GTE Automatic Elec., Inc. v. ARC Industries, Inc., 47 Ohio St.2d 146, 351 N.E.2d 113 (1976), at paragraph two of the syllabus. The timing of the Kuchtas’ motion is not at issue, and it is undisputed that a mortgagee’s lack of standing to bring an action in foreclosure, if established, would constitute a meritorious defense to the action. Our focus, then, is only on the second prong of the GTE standard, which the Kuchtas attempted to establish solely under Civ.R. 60(B)(3).

{¶ 12} The Kuchtas argued below that the bank’s lack of standing at the time of filing its action in foreclosure both established their entitlement to relief due to fraud or misconduct and established a meritorious defense to the underlying action. We find this position to be without merit.

{¶ 13} We agree with the widely held view, expressed by the Tenth District in Botts, that the fraud, misrepresentation, or other misconduct contemplated by Civ.R. 60(B)(3) refers to deceit or other unconscionable conduct committed by a party to obtain a judgment and does not refer to conduct that would have been a defense to or claim in the case itself. Botts at ¶ 15; GMAC Mtge., L.L.C. v. Herring, 189 Ohio App.3d 200, 2010-Ohio-3650, 937 N.E.2d 1077, ¶ 31 (2d Dist.); First Merit Bank, N.A. v. Crouse, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 06CA008946, 2007-Ohio-2440, 2007 WL 1461173, ¶ 32; Wells Fargo Fin. Leasing, Inc. v. Gilliland, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 03CA2916, 2004-Ohio-1755, 2004 WL 734558, ¶ 19; Tower Mgt. Co. v. Barnes, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 51030, 1986 WL 8623, *3.

{¶ 14} The Kuchtas have not alleged that Bank of America committed intrinsic fraud, such as attaching a materially false affidavit to its motion for summary judgment. See Smith v. Asbell, 4th Dist. Scioto No. 03CA2897, 2005-Ohio-2310, 2005 WL 1111630 (motion to vacate judgment properly granted when plaintiff attached fraudulent affidavit to complaint to prevent statute-of-limitations defense). And there is no allegation of extrinsic fraud, such as persuading the Kuchtas not to defend their case by falsely promising to voluntarily dismiss the action. See United States v. Throckmorton, 98 U.S. 61, 65-66, 25 L.Ed. 93 (1878). The bank’s alleged lack of standing did not prevent the Kuchtas from appearing and presenting a full defense, including lack of standing. Accordingly, Bank of America’s lack of standing, if the bank did in fact lack standing, did not establish the Kuchtas’ entitlement to relief due to fraud under Civ.R. 60(B)(3).

{¶ 15} Further, because the issue of standing could have been and in fact was raised during the foreclosure proceedings, res judicata prevents the Kuchtas from using the issue to establish entitlement to relief. Ohio’s Civ.R. 60(B) is substantially equivalent to Fed.R.Civ.P. 60(b), which codified the centuries-old “rule of equity to the effect that under certain circumstances, one of which is after- discovered fraud, relief will be granted against judgments” regardless of then-finality. Hazel-Atlas Glass Co. v. Hartford-Empire Co., 322 U.S. 238, 244, 64 S.Ct. 997, 88 L.Ed. 1250 (1944). Civ.R. 60(B) exists to resolve injustices that are so great that they demand a departure from the strict constraints of res judicata. Id. However, the rule does not exist to allow a party to obtain relief from his or her own choice to forgo an appeal from an adverse decision. Ackermann v. United States, 340 U.S. 193, 198, 71 S.Ct. 209, 95 L.Ed. 207 (1950).

{¶ 16} It is well established that a Civ.R. 60(B) motion cannot be used as a substitute for an appeal and that the doctrine of res judicata applies to such a motion. Harris v. Anderson, 109 Ohio St.3d 101, 2006-Ohio-1934, 846 N.E.2d 43, ¶ 8-9. In this case, the Kuchtas filed a Civ.R. 60(B) motion in order to relitigate an issue that they had raised at the start of litigation and that they failed to appeal. Thus, the doctrine of res judicata bars their attempted collateral attack against the judgment in foreclosure.

Common-Law Motion to Vacate for Lack of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

{¶ 17} To surmount the barrier of res judicata, the Kuchtas expressly argue to this court that a party’s lack of standing does more than merely establish a ground for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B). Lack of standing, they argue, also renders the judgment void ab initio by depriving the trial court of subject-matter jurisdiction. The Ninth District Court of Appeals implicitly adopted this position in its decision. It is true that the issue of subject-matter jurisdiction can be challenged at any time and that a court’s lack of subject-matter jurisdiction renders that court’s judgment void ab initio. Pratts v. Hurley, 102 Ohio St.3d 81, 2004-Ohio-1980, 806 N.E.2d 992, ¶ 11. But for the reasons that follow, we hold that a court of common pleas that has subject-matter jurisdiction over an action does not lose that jurisdiction merely because a party to the action lacks standing.

{¶ 18} The general term “jurisdiction” can be used to connote several distinct concepts, including jurisdiction over the subject matter, jurisdiction over the person, and jurisdiction over a particular case. Id. at ¶ 11-12. The often unspecified use of this polysemic word can lead to confusion and has repeatedly required clarification as to which type of “jurisdiction” is applicable in various legal analyses. See, e.g., id. at ¶ 33; Barnes v. Univ. Hosps. of Cleveland, 119 Ohio St.3d 173, 2008-Ohio-3344, 893 N.E.2d 142, ¶ 27; In re J.J., 111 Ohio St.3d 205, 2006-Ohio-5484, 855 N.E.2d 851, ¶ 10-16. We again take the opportunity for clarification in the context of this case.

{¶ 19} Subject-matter jurisdiction is the power of a court to entertain and adjudicate a particular class of cases. Morrison v. Steiner, 32 Ohio St.2d 86, 87, 290 N.E.2d 841 (1972). A court’s subject-matter jurisdiction is determined without regard to the rights of the individual parties involved in a particular case. State ex rel. Tubbs Jones v. Suster, 84 Ohio St.3d 70, 75, 701 N.E.2d 1002 (1998); Handy v. Ins. Co., 37 Ohio St. 366, 370 (1881). A court’s jurisdiction over a particular case refers to the court’s authority to proceed or rule on a case that is within the court’s subject-matter jurisdiction. Pratts at ¶ 12. This latter jurisdictional category involves consideration of the rights of the parties. If a court possesses subject-matter jurisdiction, any error in the invocation or exercise of jurisdiction over a particular case causes a judgment to be voidable rather than void. Id. at ¶ 12.

{¶ 20} Although courts created by statute, such as municipal courts, are a different matter, see Cheap Escape Co., Inc. v. Haddox, L.L.C., 120 Ohio St.3d 493, 2008-Ohio-6323, 900 N.E.2d 601, ¶ 7, this case involves a constitutionally created common pleas court. Ohio’s common pleas courts are endowed with “original jurisdiction over all justiciable matters * * * as may be provided by law.” Article IV, Section 4(B), Ohio Constitution. Jurisdiction has been “provided by law” in R.C. 2305.01, which states that courts of common pleas have “original jurisdiction in all civil cases in which the sum or matter in dispute exceeds the exclusive original jurisdiction of county courts.” This court has long held that the court of common pleas is a court of general jurisdiction, with subject-matter jurisdiction that extends to “all matters at law and in equity that are not denied to it.” Saxton v. Seiberling, 48 Ohio St. 554, 558-559, 29 N.E. 179 (1891). We have also long held that actions in foreclosure are within the subject-matter jurisdiction of a court of common pleas. Robinson v. Williams, 62 Ohio St. 401, 408, 57 N.E. 55 (1900); see generally Winemiller v. Laughlin, 51 Ohio St. 421, 38 N.E. 111 (1894). The Medina County Court of Common Pleas therefore has subject-matter jurisdiction over actions in foreclosure.

{¶ 21} The Kuchtas contend that standing is also jurisdictional and that a lack of standing invalidates a court’s subject-matter jurisdiction pursuant to Fed. Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v. Schwartzwald, 134 Ohio St.3d 13, 2012-Ohio-5017, 979 N.E.2d 1214. But because Schwartzwald involved a direct appeal, it is of limited applicability to the attempted collateral attack in the present case. Moreover, the Kuchtas’ position hinges on the inference that our use of the term “jurisdiction” in Schwartzwald necessarily connoted “subject-matter jurisdiction.” This inference is incorrect.

{¶ 22} Standing is certainly a jurisdictional requirement; a party’s lack of standing vitiates the party’s ability to invoke the jurisdiction of a court — even a court of competent subject-matter jurisdiction — over the party’s attempted action. Schwartzwald at ¶ 22; Tubbs Jones, 84 Ohio St.3d at 77, 701 N.E.2d 1002; State ex rel. Dallman v. Franklin Cty. Court of Common Pleas, 35 Ohio St.2d 176, 178, 298 N.E.2d 515 (1973). But an inquiry into a party’s ability to invoke a court’s jurisdiction speaks to jurisdiction over a particular case, not subject-matter jurisdiction.

{¶ 23} A determination of standing necessarily looks to the rights of the individual parties to bring the action, as they must assert a personal stake in the outcome of the action in order to establish standing. Ohio Pyro, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Commerce, 115 Ohio St.3d 375, 2007-Ohio-5024, 875 N.E.2d 550, ¶ 27. Lack of standing is certainly a fundamental flaw that would require a court to dismiss the action, Schwartzwald at ¶ 40, and any judgment on the merits would be subject to reversal on appeal. But a particular party’s standing, or lack thereof, does not affect the subject-matter jurisdiction of the court in which the party is attempting to obtain relief. Tubbs Jones at 77. Accordingly, Bank of America’s alleged lack of standing to initiate a foreclosure action against the Kuchtas would have no effect on the subject-matter jurisdiction of the Medina County Court of Common Pleas over the foreclosure action.

{¶ 24} We hold that the Kuchtas did not establish that the judgment entered by the Medina County Court of Common Pleas was void ab initio, and the court therefore did not err in overruling the Kuchtas’ motion for relief from the judgment in foreclosure.

Conclusion

{¶ 25} An allegation that a plaintiff fraudulently claimed to have standing may not be asserted as a ground for vacating the judgment under Civ.R. 60(B)(3). Further, lack of standing is an issue that is cognizable on appeal, and therefore it cannot be used to collaterally attack a judgment And although standing is required in order to invoke the jurisdiction of the court over a particular action in foreclosure, lack of standing does not affect the subject-matter jurisdiction of a court of common pleas. For‘these reasons, we answer the certified question in the negative and hold that lack of standing cannot support a Civ.R. 60(B)(3) motion for relief from judgment, even if a plaintiffs assertion of standing was patently false. We further hold that lack of standing does not render a judgment void for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction. We therefore reverse the judgment of the Ninth District Court of Appeals and reinstate the judgment of the Medina County Court of Common Pleas, denying the Kuchtas’ Civ.R. 60(B) motion.

Judgment accordingly.

O’Donnell, LanzingeR, Kennedy, and French, JJ., concur. Pfeifer and O’Neill, JJ., dissent.