Green Tree Servicing LLC v. SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC

237 F. Supp. 3d 1068, 2017 WL 736295, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26108
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedFebruary 23, 2017
DocketCase No. 2:15-cv-00476-JCM-VCF
StatusPublished

This text of 237 F. Supp. 3d 1068 (Green Tree Servicing LLC v. SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Green Tree Servicing LLC v. SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC, 237 F. Supp. 3d 1068, 2017 WL 736295, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26108 (D. Nev. 2017).

Opinion

ORDER

JAMES C. MAHAN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Presently before the court is defendant SFR Investments Pool 1, LLC (“SFR”) motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 68), in which defendant Elkhorn Community Association (the “HOA”) joined (ECF No. 72). Plaintiff Ditech Financial, LLC fka Green Tree Servicing LLC (“Ditech”) filed^a response (ECF No.76), to which SFR replied (ECF No. 80).

Also before the court is Ditech’s motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 69). The HOA (ECF No. 76) and SFR (ECF No. 78) filed responses.

I. Facts

This case involves a dispute over real property located at 7701 Flourish Springs St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 (the “property”).

On November 26, 2007, Sharon Cochran purchased the property and borrowed $184,000.00 from Countrywide Bank, FSB, which was secured by a deed of trust recorded December 13, 2007. (ECF No. 44). The deed of trust was assigned to Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP fka Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP (“BANA”) via an assignment of deed of trust recorded on October 5, 2011. (ECF No. 44). BANA assigned the deed of trust to plaintiff Ditech via an assignment of deed of trust recorded October 14, 2013. (ECF No. 44). On January 12, 2012, third-party defendant Absolute Collection Services, LLC (“ACS”), acting on behalf of the HOA, recorded a notice of delinquent assessment lien, stating an amount due of $1,796.31. (ECF No. 44). On April 06, 2012, ACS recorded a notice of default and election to sell to satisfy the delinquent assessment lien. (ECF No. 44). On August 02, 2012, ACS recorded a notice of trustee’s sale, stating an amount due of $3,634.75. (ECF No. 44). ACS mailed by certified mail the notice of foreclosure sale to ■BANA-(ECF No.-68, exh. A-l).

On December 11, 2012, SFR purchased the property at the foreclosure sale for $8,100.00. (ECF No. 44). A trustee’s deed upon sale was recorded December 13, 2012. (ECF No. 44).

On March 16,2015, Ditech filed the original complaint (ECF No. 1), which it amended on June 24, 2015 (ECF No. 30), and then again on December 18, 2015 (ECF No. 44). In its second amended complaint, Ditech alleges five causes of action: (1) declaratory judgment against SFR and the HOA; (2) quiet title against SFR; (3) breach of NRS 116.1113 against the HOA; (4) wrongful foreclosure against the HOA; and (5) injunctive relief against SFR. (ECF No. 44).

On April 17, '2015, SFR filed a counter/crossclaim for quiet title and injunctive relief. (ECF No. 13).

[1071]*1071On May 20, 2015, the HOA filed a third-party complaint against ACS, alleging (1) breach of contract, (2) indemnity, and (3) contribution. (ECF No. 21).

In the instant motions, SFR and Ditech both move for summary judgment in their favor. The court will address each as it sees fit.1

II. Legal Standard

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allow summary judgment when the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that “there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). A principal purpose of summary judgment is “to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

For purposes of summary judgment, disputed factual issues should be construed in favor of the non-moving party. Lujan v. Nat’l Wildlife Fed., 497 U.S. 871, 888, 110 S.Ct. 3177, 111 L.Ed.2d 695 (1990). However, to be entitled to a denial of summary judgment, the nonmoving party must “set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Id.

In determining summary judgment, a court applies a burden-shifting analysis. The moving party must first satisfy its initial burden. “When the party moving for summary judgment would bear the burden of proof at trial, it must come forward with evidence which would entitle it to a directed verdict if the evidence went uncontro-verted at trial. In such a case, the moving party has the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of fact on each issue material to its case.” C.A.R. Tramp. Brokerage Co. v. Darden Rests., Inc., 213 F.3d 474, 480 (9th Cir. 2000) (citations omitted).

By contrast, when the nonmoving party bears the burden of proving the claim or defense, the moving party can meet its burden in two ways: (1) by presenting evidence to negate an essential' element of the non-moving party’s case; or (2) by demonstrating that the nonmoving party failed to make a showing sufficient to establish an element essential to that party’s case on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the moving party fails to meet its initial burden, summary judgment must be denied and the court need not consider the non-moving party’s evidence. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159-60, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970).

If the moving party satisfies its initial burden, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue of material fact exists. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). To establish the existence of a factual dispute, 'the opposing party need not establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that “the claimed factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties’ differing versions of the truth at [1072]*1072trial.” T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass’n, 809 F.2d 626, 631 (9th Cir. 1987).

In other words, the nonmoving party cannot avoid summary judgment by relying solely on conclusory allegations that are unsupported by factual data. See Taylor v. List, 880 F.2d 1040, 1045 (9th Cir. 1989). Iijstead, the opposition must go beyond the assertions and allegations of the pleadings and set forth specific facts by producing competent evidence that shows a genuine issue for trial. See Celotex, 477 U.S. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

At summary judgment, a court’s function is not to weigh the evidence and determine the truth, but to determine whether there is a genuine issue for trial. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The evidence of the nonmovant, is “to be believed, and all justifiable inferences are to- be. drawn in his favor.” Id. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

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Bluebook (online)
237 F. Supp. 3d 1068, 2017 WL 736295, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26108, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/green-tree-servicing-llc-v-sfr-investments-pool-1-llc-nvd-2017.