Edwards v. Kemp

795 F. Supp. 856, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11745, 1992 WL 189227
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Ohio
DecidedMarch 10, 1992
DocketNo. C-1-91-532
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 795 F. Supp. 856 (Edwards v. Kemp) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Edwards v. Kemp, 795 F. Supp. 856, 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11745, 1992 WL 189227 (S.D. Ohio 1992).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF

SPIEGEL, District Judge.

This matter is before the Court for consideration of cross-motions for summary judgment (doc. 7 and doc. 8). The defendant also filed a reply in support of its motion for summary judgment (doc. 9). For the reasons set forth below, the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment is hereby granted. The defendant’s motion for summary judgment is denied.

BACKGROUND

In August, 1988, Richard Edwards executed a mortgage with Villa Mortgage, Inc. for $34,202 in order to buy a single family home located at 1246 Rosemont Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio. Villa Mortgage, Inc. immediately assigned the loan to Merchants Mortgage Corporation. Mr. Edwards’ loan was secured by federal mortgage insurance HUD provided pursuant to its “Section 203” home mortgage insurance program.

Mr. Edwards was employed by Community Limited Case Dialysis from September, [858]*8581988 through October, 1990. During that time, he made regular payments on his mortgage.

On October 4, 1990, Mr. Edwards’ employment with Community Limited terminated. Mr. Edwards’ uncontradicted description of that days events provides:

I was told that I was going to be let go for “unreconcilable expectations differences”. [sic] I was not meeting their performanence [sic] expectations, but I was doing all that could be done. I thought that a firing would be bad for my record, so they let me resign.

Ex. 10 to doc. 7. Mr. Edwards did not apply for unemployment compensation, but worked part-time for Jarar Window Systems, Inc. and Gannett Tel-Sel, Inc. Three months later, Mr. Edwards obtained full-time employment with Transitions, Inc., a Newport, Kentucky health care facility. Although he was paid $10 per hour by Community Limited, Mr. Edwards receives only $5 per hour at Transitions. He continues to seek a full-time position offering higher wages.

In the meantime, the mortgagee declared Mr. Edwards’ mortgage in default as of December 1, 1990. The mortgagee advised Mr. Edwards that it intended to foreclose his mortgage, and that he had the right to request that the Secretary, as mortgage insurer, accept assignment of the defaulted mortgage, rather than require conveyance of the deed in satisfaction of the mortgage.

Mr. Edwards requested a mortgage assignment in lieu of foreclosure, and completed the appropriate forms to determine his eligibility. On April 26, 1991, HUD issued a preliminary decision rejecting Mr. Edwards’ request for an assignment. Ex. 7 to doc. 7. HUD based its decision on the conclusion that the default was not caused by a circumstance beyond Mr. Edwards’ control. Id.

Mr. Edwards requested a conference with HUD and provided documentation to support his eligibility for an assignment. After the March 21, 1991 conference, HUD issued a final decision rejecting Mr. Edwards’ mortgage assignment application. Ex. 12 to Doc. 7. The HUD decision provided in part:

You do not meet the criterion that the default has been caused by circumstances beyond your control which rendered you financially unable to cure the delinquency within a reasonable time.... The cause for your default cannot be attributed to circumstances beyond your control. Information which you provided indicates that you voluntarily terminated your employment. Therefore, it can only be concluded that the cause for your default was due to a matter which was self-induced.

Id.

Mr. Edwards then obtained legal counsel from the Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati. His attorney requested reconsideration of HUD’s final agency decision, but reconsideration was denied. Mr. Edwards then initiated this appeal. A foreclosure action is currently pending against Mr. Edwards in Hamilton County, Ohio. Merchants Mortgage Corp. v. Richard G. Edwards, No. A9105422 (Ham. Co. Ohio).

STANDARD OF REVIEW

HUD’s determination of eligibility for the assignment program is subject to judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act. Western & Southern Life Insurance Co. v. Smith, 859 F.2d 407 (6th Cir.1988). Pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, a court shall set aside agency actions or findings found to be “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” 5 U.S.C.A. § 706(2)(A) (1977).

Under the narrow arbitrary and capricious standard, a reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency. Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Ass’n. v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., 463 U.S. 29, 42-43, 103 S.Ct. 2856, 2866-67, 77 L.Ed.2d 443 (1983). However:

[A]n agency rule would be arbitrary and capricious if the agency has relied on factors which Congress has not intended it to consider, entirely failed to consider an important aspect of the problem, of[859]*859fered an explanation for its decision that runs counter to the evidence before the agency, or is so implausible that it could not be ascribed to a difference in view or the product of agency expertise.

Id. at 43, 103 S.Ct. at 2866. Further, an agency’s findings must be supported by substantial evidence in the record. Id. at 44, 103 S.Ct. at 2867.

The record must be reviewed as a whole, and the reviewing court must review the record as presented to the agency representative at the time of the decision. Camp v. Pitts, 411 U.S. 138, 93 S.Ct. 1241, 36 L.Ed.2d 106 (1973). In addition, the mortgagor bears the burden to establish a proper record to support his claim of eligibility for participation in the mortgage assignment program. Western & Southern Life Insurance Co. v. Smith, 859 F.2d 407 (6th Cir.1988).

DISCUSSION

The HUD mortgage insurance program facilitates homeownership by those who may otherwise be unable to obtain financing for a home in an effort to provide a “decent home and suitable living environment for every American person.” 12 U.S.C.A. § 1710 (1989). Pursuant to the mortgage insurance program, lenders make loans to certain persons who otherwise would be unable to obtain financing, and HUD insures the mortgage and guarantees payment of it should the mortgagor default. Upon default, the United States may exchange insurance proceeds for title to the mortgaged property, or it may explore various forbearance alternatives in an effort to avoid foreclosure. Pursuant to one such alternative, HUD may accept an assignment of the mortgage as authorized by 12 U.S.C. § 1715u.

Section 1715u was amended in 1980, providing in part, “When the Secretary receives notice of a default ... the Secretary (for the purpose of avoiding foreclosure ... ) shall, if determined necessary by the Secretary, acquire the mortgage.....” 12 U.S.C.A. § 1715u(b)(l) (1989). Pursuant to 24 C.F.R. § 203.650:

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