Bryant v. Madison Management Services, LLC

Opinion

1 George Haines, Esq. Nevada Bar No. 9411 8985 S. Eastern Avenue, Ste. 100 3 Beltway Corporate Center 4 Las Vegas, NV 89123 Telephone: (702) 880-5554 5 ghaines@freedomlegalteam.com Counsel for Plaintiff Lisa A. Bryant 6 7 Marc E. Dann, Esq. Ohio Bar No. 44115 (admitted pro hac) 1500 Madison Avenue 9 Lakewood, OH 44107 10 Telephone: (216) 373-0539 mdann@dannlaw.com 11 Counsel for Plaintiff Lisa A. Bryant 12 13 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 15 : 16 LISA A. BRYANT, : : 17 Plaintiff, : Case No.: 2:20-cv-00594-CDS-EJY : 18 v. : 19 : MADISON MANAGEMENT SERVICES, : 20 LLC, and WALDMAN & PORRAS, PLLC, : JOINT PRETRIAL ORDER : 21 Defendants. : 22 : : 23 24 After pretrial proceedings in this case, 25 IT IS ORDERED: 26 I. NATURE OF ACTION 27 28 1 Plaintiff Lisa A. Bryant (“Plaintiff”) is the owner of real property and improvements 2 thereupon located at and commonly known as 719 North Racetrack Road, Henderson, NV 89015, 3 Parcel No. 179-04-506-001 (the “Home”). Plaintiff alleges that unbeknownst to her, a second note 4 was procured through Accredited Home Lenders, Inc. in the amount of $90,250.00 which was then 5 allegedly secured by a recorded deed of trust on the Home (collectively, the “Second Mortgage 6 7 Loan”). 8 This is an action for violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 9 et seq. (“FDCPA”) and slander of title. Regarding the FDCPA claims, Plaintiff alleges that 10 Defendants attempted to collect from Plaintiff on a fraudulent Second Mortgage by claiming that 11 the Second Mortgage Loan was validly due and owing from Plaintiff. Plaintiff also alleges that 12 13 Defendants slandered her title by issuing and filing a notice of default and election to sell (“notice 14 of default”) on the Home despite a reconveyance of Second Mortgage Loan being filed on August 15 20, 2018. 16 II. STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION 17 Jurisdiction is conferred on this Court pursuant to Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, 15 18 19 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq. (“FDCPA”); Mims v. Arrow Fin. Servs., LLC, 132 S. Ct. 740 (2012). 21 The following facts are admitted by the parties and require no proof: 22 23 1. On or about March 26, 2004, Plaintiff purchased the real property and improvements 24 thereupon located at and commonly known as 719 North Racetrack Road, Henderson, 25 NV 89015, Parcel No. 179-04-506-001 (the “Home”). 26 27 28 1 2. On or about March 26, 2004, Plaintiff obtained a loan as evidenced by a note and deed 2 of trust on the Home allegedly securing said note (collectively, the “First Mortgage 3 Loan”). 4 3. Defendant Madison Management Services, LLC (“Madison”) is doing business in the 5 State of Nevada as a business entity operating as a mortgage servicer. 6 7 4. Defendant Waldman & Porras, PLLC (“W&P”) is a Nevada professional limited 8 liability company which has members and employees engaged in the practice of law in 9 the State of Nevada and operates as a Trustee in the area of residential home 10 foreclosure. 11 5. Defendant Madison currently services the Second Mortgage Loan on behalf of PVK 12 13 Properties, LLC (“PVK”), the assignee of the Second Mortgage Loan per an 14 Assignment of Mortgage record in the Clark County Recorder’s office on 9/21/2017 as 15 Instrument # 201709210002298. The Deed of Trust was recorded on December 5, 2006 16 as Instrument # 200612050002545. 17 6. Madison obtained servicing rights to the Second Mortgage Loan in or around 18 19 September 2017 from Bayview Loan Management Services, LLC. 20 7. Madison, through their counsel W&P, sent correspondence to Bryant dated May 25, 21 2018 and captioned “NOTICE OF DEFAULT AND INTENT TO ACCELERATE 22 AND ENFORCE THE POWER OF SALE” claiming that the Second Mortgage Loan 23 was in default for failure to make the payment due for August 1, 2014 and that the 24 25 amount required to reinstate the Second Mortgage Loan and cure the alleged default 26 was $41,438.41. 27 28 1 8. On or about August 20, 2018, First American Title Insurance Company recorded a 2 Deed of Reconveyance as Instrument Number 201808200002705 while it did not have 3 ownership or possession of a valid lien in the chain of title to the property in question; 4 and 5 9. On or about October 10, 2019, Defendants issued and filed a notice of default and 6 7 election to sell the Home based upon the alleged default on the Second Mortgage Loan 8 (the “Notice”). 9 IV. FACTS NOT CONTESTED 10

11 The following facts, though not admitted, will not be contested at trial by evidence to the 12 contrary: 13 14 a. Plaintiff: None. 15 b. Defendant: None. 16

18 a. Plaintiff:

19 1. Whether Waldman & Porras, PLLC is a “debt collector” in this case; 20 2. Whether Defendants’ filing of a notice of default and election to sell the Home 21 on or about October 10, 2019 prevented Plaintiff from refinancing her Home; 22 3. Whether Defendants failed to substantially comply with NRS 107.080(2)(c) as 23 24 the Notice allegedly misrepresented the character, amount, or legal status of the 25 debt represented by the Second Mortgage Loan; 26 27 28 1 4. Whether Defendants allegedly misrepresented to Plaintiff that she was in default 2 on obligations under the Second Mortgage Loan by claiming she owed sums 3 which, were not in fact due, and that they would foreclose upon the Home; 4 5. Whether Defendants’ alleged willful and wrongful actions have caused Plaintiff 5 to suffer emotional distress driven by fear, anxiety, and concern that Defendants 6 7 will allegedly wrongfully seek to foreclose upon the Second Mortgage Loan and 8 sell her Home unless she agrees to pay sums for which she allegedly is not 9 obligated to despite the fact that she allegedly did not enter into the Second 10 Mortgage Loan and allegedly received no funds from the same; 11 6. The amount of Plaintiff’s statutory damages; 12 13 7. The extent and nature of Plaintiff’s injunctive relief against Defendants; 14 8. The amount of Plaintiff’s punitive damages; and 15 9. The amount of actual damages. 16

17 b. Defendant: 18 1. Whether Waldman & Porras, PLLC is a “debt collector” in this case; 19 20 2. Whether Madison Management Services, LLC is a “debt collector” in this case; 21 3. Whether PVK Properties, LLC and/or Madison Management Services, LLC 22 properly held the 2nd Deed of Trust in the chain of title to attempt to foreclose on 23 the property; 24 4. Whether First American Title acted outside the scope of its authority in recording 25 26 a Deed of Reconveyance; 27 28 1 5. Whether Plaintiff acknowledged the debt and attempted to settle claimed amounts 2 due and owing to satisfy the lien, which would be considered an admission by 3 party opponent; 4 6. Whether Plaintiff attempted to secure outside funding or financial support to 5 satisfy the lien; 6 7 7. Whether the loan documents were signed by Plaintiff; and 8 8. Whether there was fraud perpetrated by Plaintiff. 9 9. Whether or not there was notary fraud. 10 a. Whether or not Plaintiff entered into the recorded deed of trust that was witnessed 11 and notarized; 12 13 b. The amount of damages including fees and costs awarded to Defendants if 14 Defendants are the prevailing party; 15

17 a. Plaintiff: 18

19 1. Whether Defendants allegedly violated 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(3) filing of a notice of 20 default and election to sell the Home on or about October 10, 2019; 21 2. Whether Defendants allegedly violated 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(3) by misrepresenting 22 to Plaintiff that the she was in default on obligations under the Second Mortgage 23 Loan, which she had not obtained, owed sums which were not in fact due, and 24 25 stating that they would foreclose upon her Home; 26 27 28 1 3. Whether Defendants allegedly committed slander of title by filing of a notice of 2 default and election to sell the Home on or about October 10, 2019 and 3 Defendants; actions prevented Plaintiff from refinancing her Home; 4 4. Whether Defendant are liable to Plaintiff for statutory damages of $1,000.00 for 5 allegedly violating the FDCPA; 6 7 5. Whether Defendants are liable to Plaintiff for all attorneys fee and costs incurred 8 in good faith for Defendant allegedly violating the FDCPA; 9 6. Whether Defendants are liable Plaintiff for all attorneys’ fee and costs incurred in 10 good faith for Defendants allegedly committing slander of title; and 11 7. Whether Plaintiff is entitled to punitive damages for Defendants allegedly 12 13 committing slander of title. 14 b. Defendant: 15 1. Whether or not Defendants Notice of Default and Intent to Accelerate and 16 Enforce the Power of Sale, which included all disclosures required by the 17 Federal Truth in Lending Act ("TILA") and Real Estate Settlement Procedures 18 19 Act ("RESPA") was sent lawfully in accordance with the deed of trust, FDCPA 20 and Nevada State law. 21 2. Whether or not the statute of limitations ran on Plaintiff’s claims. 22 3. Whether any acts or omissions constituted bone fide error as a complete defense 23 from liability under FDCPA if the alleged violation was a product of a bone 24 25 fide error under 15 U.S.C. §1692(k); 26 4. Whether or not Plaintiff’s claims are barred by laches; 27 5. Whether or not Plaintiff is attempting to perpetuate fraud against Defendants; 28 1 6. Whether or not Waldman & Porras, PLLC are considered a debt collector; 2 7. Whether or not the actions of the non-judicial foreclosure constituted a debt 3 collection; 4 8. Whether Defendants are entitled to recover their reasonable attorney’s fees and 5 costs if deemed the prevailing party. 6 7

9 Exhibits 10 a. The following exhibits are stipulated into evidence in this case and may be so marked 11 by the clerk: 12 13 1. Deed of Trust recorded on December 5, 2006, as Instrument Number 14 200612050002545. 15 2. The Note with full allonge chain to PVK Properties, LLC. 16 17 3. Assignment executed on May 29, 2013 and that was recorded on September 21, 18 2017, as Instrument Number 201709210002298 to PVK Properties, LLC; 19 4. The payment history records; 20 5. The payoff and reinstatement records; 21 6. The business records of the servicer relating to the subject loan; 22 23 7. The Notice of Default and Intent to Accelerate and Enforce the Power of Sale, 24 which included all disclosures required by the Federal Truth in Lending Act 25 ("TILA") and Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA"); 26 8. The Deed of Reconveyance recorded as Instrument Number 201808200002705 27 years after PVK Properties, LCL’s recorded assignment; 28 1 9. The call logs produced by Defendants to Plaintiff; 2 10. Defendant’s Responses to Plaintiff Lisa A. Bryant’s First Set of Requests for 3 4 Admission, Written Interrogatories, and Requests for Production of Documents 5 dated November 4, 2020; 6 11. Plaintiff’s Responses to Defendant Madison Management Services, LLLC’s First 7 Set of Requests for Admission, Written Interrogatories, and Requests for 8 Production of Documents dated October 8, 2021; 9 10 12. Deposition of Lisa Bryant on February 8, 2022; 11 13. Videotaped, Videoconferenced Deposition of Nancy Garnett dated July 30, 2021; 12 14. First Amended Complaint (ECF No. 30); 13 15. Answer with Affirmative Defenses (ECF No. 35); 14 16. Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 62); 15 16 17. Defendants’ Response in Opposition to Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment 17 (ECF No. 63); and 18 18. Plaintiff’s Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (ECF No. 68) 19 19. All documents obtained during discovery, more specifically described as 20 documents obtained from request for production requests and interrogatories. 21 22 20. Any documents turned over or subpoenaed by any witness. 23 21. Any and all pleadings, filings and motions in the court file and produced in 24 discovery. 25 b. As to the following additional exhibits, the parties have reached stipulations stated: 26 a. None 27 28 1 c. As to the following exhibits, the party against whom the same will be offered objects 2 to their admissions on the grounds stated: 3

4 1. Set forth the Plaintiff’s Exhibits and objections to them.

5 i. No objections at this time.

6 2. Set forth the Defendant’s Exhibits and objections to them. 7 1. No objections at this time. 8 d. Electronic Evidence: [State whether the parties intend to present electronic evidence 9 10 for purposes of jury deliberations.] 11 1. Plaintiff: Yes.

12 2. Defendant: Yes. 13 e. Depositions: 14 1. Plaintiff will offer the following depositions: 15

16 Videotaped, Video Conferenced Deposition of Nancy Garnett 17 dated July 30, 2021. This deposition, in part and in whole, will 18 offer evidence to support Plaintiff’s claim. Specifically, pages 4 19 through 25. 20

21 2. Defendant will offer the following depositions: 22 Deposition of Lisa Bryant on February 8, 2022. This deposition, in 23 part and in whole, will offer evidence to support Defendant’s 24 25 claim. Specifically, pages 14 through 109. 26 27 28 1 Videotaped, Video Conferenced Deposition of Nancy Garnett 2 dated July 30, 2021. This deposition, in part and in whole, will 3 offer evidence to refute Plaintiff’s claim. 4

5 f. Objections to Depositions:

6 1. Defendant objects to Plaintiff’s depositions as follows: None. 7 2. Plaintiff objects to Defendant’s depositions as follows: None. 8 VII. WITNESSES 9

10 The following witnesses may be called by the parties at trial:

11 a. Provide names and addresses of Plaintiff’s witnesses:

12 LISA BRYANT 13 c/o George Haines, Esq. FREEDOM LAW FIRM 14 8985 S. Eastern Avenue #350 Las Vegas, NV 89123 15 Phone: (702) 880-5554 16 ghaines@freedomlegalteam.com

c/o George Haines, Esq. 18 FREEDOM LAW FIRM 19 8985 S. Eastern Avenue #350 Las Vegas, NV 89123 20 Phone: (702) 880-5554 ghaines@freedomlegalteam.com 21 22 Damian Hernandez c/o Madison Management Service, LLC 23 4600 Kietzke Lane Suite B119 Reno, NV 89502 24 25 Sadhna Bharwaj c/o Madison Management Services, LLC 26 4600 Kietzke Lane Suite B119 Reno, NV 89502 27 Howard Katz 28 1 c/o PVK Properties, LLC P.O. Box 4856 2 Glendale, CA 91222 3 Nicholas Porras 4 c/o Waldman & Porras, PLLC 201 West Liberty St. Ste. 207 5 Reno, NV 89501 6 b. Provide names and addresses of Defendant’s witnesses: 7 c/o George Haines, Esq. 10 8985 S. Eastern Avenue #350 Las Vegas, NV 89123 11 Phone: (702) 880-5554 ghaines@freedomlegalteam.com 12 13 First American Title c/o George Haines, Esq. 8985 S. Eastern Avenue #350 15 Las Vegas, NV 89123 Phone: (702) 880-5554 16 ghaines@freedomlegalteam.com 17 Damian Hernandez 18 c/o Madison Management Service, LLC 4600 Kietzke Lane Suite B119 19 Reno, NV 89502 20 Sadhna Bharwaj 21 c/o Madison Management Services, LLC 4600 Kietzke Lane Suite B119 22 Reno, NV 89502 23 Kevin Cordell 24 c/o Madison Management Services, LLC 4600 Kietzke Lane Suite B119 25 Reno, NV 89502 26 Nancy Garnett 27 Howard Katz 28 c/o PVK Properties, LLC 1 P.O. Box 4856 Glendale, CA 91222 2 Nicholas Porras 3 c/o Waldman & Porras, PLLC 4 201 West Liberty St. Ste. 207 Reno, NV 89501 5 6 VIII.PROPOSED TRIAL DATES 7 The attorneys or parties have met and jointly offered these three trial dates: 11/4/2024, 8 11/18/2024 and 1/27/2025. 9 10 It is expressly understood by the undersigned that the court will set the trial of this matter 11 on one of the agreed-upon dates if possible, if not, the trial will be set at the convenience of the 12 court’s calendar. 13 //// 14 //// //// 15 //// 16 //// //// 17 //// //// 18 //// 19 //// //// 20 //// //// 21 //// 22 //// //// 23 //// //// 24 //// 25 //// //// 26 //// //// 27 ///// //// 28 2 It is estimated that the trial will take a total of two (2) days. Plaintiff requests a jury tria 3 on all issues so triable. DATED: February 20, 2024 DATED: February 20, 2024 6 FREEDOM LAW FIRM WALDMAN & PORRAS, PLLC By. /s/ George Haines By: /s/ Nicholas M. Porras 8 GEORGE HAINES, ESQ. NICHOLAS M. PORRAS, ESQ. 9 Nevada Bar No.: 9411 Nevada Bar No.: 12849 8985 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 350 201 West Liberty Street, Suite 207 10 Las Vegas, NV 89123 Reno, NV 89501 Attorney for Plaintiff Attorney for Defendants 11 LISA BRYANT MADISON MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LLC, AND WALDMAN & PORRAS, PLL DANN LAW FIRM 13 By:/s/ Mare E. Dann 14 Marc E. Dann, Esq. 15 Ohio Bar No. 44115 (admitted pro hac) 15000 Madison Avenue 16 Lakewood, OH 44107 Counsel for Plaintiff Lisa A. Bryant 17 19 This case is set for eourt/jury trial on the fixed/stacked calendar on November 4, 2024 at the 20 hour of 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 6B. Calendar call will be held on October 24, 2024 at the hour 21 of 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 6B. 23 || DATED: _ 3/5/2024 . ‘ 24 /y / 25 27 28

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