Buckner v. Washington Mut. Bank

2014 Ohio 5189
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 24, 2014
DocketCA2014-01-012
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 2014 Ohio 5189 (Buckner v. Washington Mut. Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Buckner v. Washington Mut. Bank, 2014 Ohio 5189 (Ohio Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

[Cite as Buckner v. Washington Mut. Bank, 2014-Ohio-5189.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

BUTLER COUNTY

LORIN K. BUCKNER, et al., :

Plaintiffs-Appellants, : CASE NO. CA2014-01-012

: OPINION - vs - 11/24/2014 :

WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, et al., :

Defendants-Appellees. :

CIVIL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Case No. CV2012-10-3740

Kahler Law Office, LLC, Tyler W. Kahler, 3775 Wales Avenue, N.W., Massillon, Ohio 44646, for plaintiffs-appellants

Thompson Hine LLP, Jessica E. Salisbury-Cooper, 10050 Innovation Drive, Suite 400, Miamisburg, Ohio 45342, and Stephen D. Williger, 3900 Key Center, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, for defendant-appellee, JPMorgan Chase

HENDRICKSON, P.J.

{¶ 1} Plaintiffs-appellants, Lorin and Renee Buckner ("the Buckners"), appeal from a

decision of the Butler County Court of Common Pleas granting summary judgment to

defendant-appellee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("Chase"), on a complaint that challenged

the validity of a 2004 loan and a 2010 decree of foreclosure.

{¶ 2} In February 2004, the Buckners executed a promissory note ("2004 note") in Butler CA2014-01-012

favor of Washington Mutual Bank, F.A. ("WAMU"), in the amount of $260,000 for the

purchase of real property located at 6119 Creekside Way in Hamilton, Ohio. The note was

secured by a mortgage on the Creekside Way property that designated the Buckners as the

borrowers and mortgagors, and WAMU as the lender and mortgagee.

{¶ 3} In September 2008, WAMU ceased operations, and the Federal Deposit

Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") was named receiver of all WAMU's assets. At the same

time, pursuant to the terms and conditions of a purchase and assumption agreement

between Chase and the FDIC, Chase acquired all of WAMU's loan assets. As a result, in

September 2008, Chase became the owner of the 2004 note.

{¶ 4} The Buckners eventually defaulted on the note, and Chase filed a complaint for

foreclosure in January 2010. In April 2010, the trial court granted Chase's motion for

summary judgment, and issued a decree of foreclosure and order for a sheriff's sale. The

Buckners filed a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from the decree of foreclosure, but it is not

clear from the record when they filed it, upon what grounds they sought relief, or whether the

trial court ruled on the matter. It does not appear as though the Buckners appealed any

decision.

{¶ 5} In October 2012, more than two years after the decree of foreclosure and less

than one week before the sheriff's sale was to be held, the Buckners filed the complaint that

serves as the basis for the present appeal. In their complaint, the Buckners requested a

judgment quieting title in their favor; a declaratory judgment that the 2010 decree of

foreclosure in favor of Chase was void as Chase lacked standing; and a rescission of the

2004 note. In addition, the Buckners asserted claims for fraudulent concealment, fraud in the

inducement, intentional infliction of emotional distress, slander of title, and violations of the

Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.

{¶ 6} The complaint named as defendants WAMU, the Federal National Mortgage -2- Butler CA2014-01-012

Association ("Fannie Mae"), the Mortgage Electronic Registration System ("MERS"), and

"[John] Does 1 through 100," but did not name Chase. In November 2012, Chase filed a

notice of appearance explaining that WAMU was improperly named, and that Chase, as the

acquirer of WAMU's loan assets through the FDIC, was the proper defendant. In February

2013, Chase filed a joint answer on behalf of all defendants. Several months later, in June

2013, Chase filed a motion for summary judgment.

{¶ 7} On December 20, 2013, the trial court granted summary judgment in favor of all

defendants. In reaching its decision, the trial court stated:

The Defendant[s]'s Motion for Summary Judgment was filed on June 28, 2013, but no one served the Court as required by local rule. As of today, no response has been filed by Defendant[s] nor has there been a request for an extension of time to respond.

***

Regardless of [the Buckners'] lack of response [to the motion for summary judgment], Defendants' [sic] would prevail on the present motion based upon the doctrine of res judicata [sic] and the applicable statute of limitations * * *.

{¶ 8} The Buckners timely appealed, raising four assignments of error. For ease of

discussion, we address the assignments out of order.

{¶ 9} Assignment of Error No. 4:

{¶ 10} THE TRIAL COURT ERRED BY DENYING APPELLANT-PLAINTIFFS' TWO

MOTIONS FOR A CONTINUANCE PURSUANT TO CIV.R. 56(F) AND THE MOTION FOR

EXTENSION PURSUANT TO CIV.R. 6.

{¶ 11} Despite the trial court's statement to the contrary, the record shows that both

parties made multiple motions prior to the court's ruling on the motion for summary judgment.

Three of these motions, the Buckners' two Civ.R. 56(F) motions for a continuance and their

Civ.R. 6(B) motion for an extension, are pertinent to the Buckners' fourth assignment of error.

{¶ 12} In July 2013, one week after the discovery deadline expired, the Buckners filed -3- Butler CA2014-01-012

a motion for a continuance pursuant to Civ.R. 56(F). The trial court did not rule on the

motion. The trial court expressly denied the Buckners' second Civ.R. 56(F) motion, filed in

August 2013. In early November 2013, Chase filed a supplemental motion for summary

judgment, and the Buckners filed a motion for an extension pursuant to Civ.R. 6, requesting

additional time to respond. The trial court granted the Buckners' motion for an extension.

{¶ 13} The Buckners contend the trial court erred in denying their various motions to

continue. They argue the Civ.R. 56(F) motions should have been granted because the

motions identified the specific documents the Buckners were looking for, and explained their

relevance. As to their Civ.R. 6 motion, the Buckners assert the trial court should have

granted them an extension because they were unable to file on time due to the trial court's

failure to rule on earlier motions.

{¶ 14} We find no merit to the Buckners' assertion that the trial court denied their

Civ.R. 6 motion for an extension. The record is clear that the trial court granted that motion

in an entry dated November 27, 2013, giving them additional time to file a response to

Chase's supplemental motion for summary judgment. Accordingly, we find no error in the

trial court's response to the Buckners' Civ.R. 6 motion.

{¶ 15} Nor do we find error in the trial court's response to the Buckners' Civ.R. 56(F)

motions. Pursuant to Civ.R. 56(F), if it appears the party opposing a motion for summary

judgment "cannot for sufficient reasons stated present by affidavit facts essential to justify the

party’s opposition, the court may * * * order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained

or discovery to be had * * *." A Civ.R. 56(F) motion must be supported by a proper affidavit.

Silver v. Jewish Home of Cincinnati, 190 Ohio App.3d 549, 2010-Ohio-5314, ¶ 20 (12th

Dist.). Additionally, general averments by the movant are insufficient; the movant "must state

a factual basis and reasons why the party cannot present sufficient documentary evidence

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2014 Ohio 5189, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buckner-v-washington-mut-bank-ohioctapp-2014.