Hovannisian v. First Am. Title Ins. Co.

221 Cal. Rptr. 3d 883, 14 Cal. App. 5th 420, 2017 WL 3477122, 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 701
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal, 5th District
DecidedJuly 25, 2017
DocketF072789
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 221 Cal. Rptr. 3d 883 (Hovannisian v. First Am. Title Ins. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal, 5th District primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hovannisian v. First Am. Title Ins. Co., 221 Cal. Rptr. 3d 883, 14 Cal. App. 5th 420, 2017 WL 3477122, 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 701 (Cal. Ct. App. 2017).

Opinion

GOMES, Acting P. J.

*423David and Linda Hovannisian purchased property from Wells Fargo Bank (Wells Fargo) at a foreclosure sale. Several months later they discovered there was a first priority deed of trust on the property *424that had not been extinguished by the foreclosure. The Hovannisians sued Wells Fargo for intentional and negligent misrepresentation based on a statement in Wells Fargo's deed of trust that it was a first deed of trust. Wells Fargo tendered defense of the action to its title insurer, First American Title Insurance Company (First American), which refused to indemnify or defend Wells Fargo. After Wells Fargo assigned any claim it had against First American to the Hovannisians, the *887Hovannisians sued First American for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. First American subsequently brought a summary judgment motion, arguing that coverage had terminated, there were no benefits due under the policy, and there was a genuine dispute as to coverage. The trial court granted the motion.

On appeal, the Hovannisians contend First American failed to establish that coverage did not continue under the title policy or there were no benefits due under the policy. They also contend triable issues of fact exist regarding their bad faith claim. Finding no merit to these contentions, we affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In August 2006, Wells Fargo's predecessor, World Savings Bank (WSB), made a $120,000 loan to North West Holdings, LP, which was secured by a deed of trust against property located at 639 N. 4th Street, in Fresno (the Wells Fargo DOT). The Wells Fargo DOT stated that it was a "FIRST DEED OF TRUST." In connection with the Wells Fargo DOT, First American underwrote a lender's title insurance policy, which was issued to WSB with an effective date of August 28, 2006. As WSB's successor, Wells Fargo became the insured under the policy.

On January 13, 2012, the Hovannisians purchased the property for $28,792 at a non-judicial foreclosure sale by Wells Fargo.1 The notice of trustee's sale, which was recorded on December 23, 2011, stated that the property would be sold at public auction to the highest bidder "without warranty express or implied as to title, use, possession or encumbrances...." The trustee's deed issued to the Hovannisians stated that the trustee "hereby grants and conveys, but without warranty, express or implied, ... all of its right, title, and interest" in the property.

In late April 2012, the Hovannisians received a letter from Duane Long, who claimed to own a first lien on the property and requested payment on the note secured by the property. Subsequent investigation revealed that Duane *425and Margaret A. Long, trustees of the Duane Long and Margaret A. Long Family Trust dated April 5, 1993, held a $38,000 note issued to Golden Trade LLC (the Long note), which was secured by the property through a deed of trust recorded in January 2003 (the Long DOT).

The Underlying Action

On May 31, 2012, the Hovannisians, through their attorney, submitted a letter to First American, which stated the Hovannisians were demanding that Wells Fargo pay the Longs the balance of the Long note "so that any cloud on the title can be removed." The Hovannisians claimed that Wells Fargo presented an unencumbered "First Deed of Trust" for foreclosure, which the Hovannisians reasonably relied on to purchase the property at foreclosure, and they reasonably believed they had purchased a title free of any encumbrances. The Hovannisians asked First American to consider the letter either a demand for Wells Fargo to present clear title or a claim on the title policy.

First American informed the Hovannisians on July 9, 2012 that it was unable to assist them, as they were not insureds under the policy and to the extent they *888were asserting a claim against Wells Fargo, they needed to contact Wells Fargo directly. First American added that even if it had an obligation to the Hovannisians, there were no deed warranties provided to them as a result of the foreclosure, as the property was conveyed "without warranty, express or implied[,]" and therefore they took the property subject to any encumbrances on title.

On October 30, 2012, First American received a written claim from Wells Fargo on the title policy, which was based on a July 19, 2012 demand letter Wells Fargo received from the Hovannisians' attorney. The Hovannisians demanded that Wells Fargo pay off the balance of the Long note and present them with a clear title, as they had been misled by both First American and Wells Fargo due to the statement in the Wells Fargo DOT that it was a "First Deed of Trust" for foreclosure, which they reasonably relied on to purchase the property. The Hovannisians claimed they reasonably believed the interest being foreclosed was a first deed of trust and that they were purchasing a title free of encumbrances.

First American denied Wells Fargo's claim. In a November 21, 2012 letter, First American explained there did not appear to be any legal merit to the Hovannisians' claims, as both the notice of the trustee's sale and the trustee's deed stated the conveyance was without express or implied warranty. Moreover, Wells Fargo did not have continuing coverage under the policy because it no longer retained an interest in the property. First American advised Wells Fargo to resubmit the claim should the Hovannisians file a lawsuit against it and it wanted First American to consider coverage under the policy.

*426The Hovannisians filed the underlying action against Wells Fargo on April 30, 2013.2 They alleged two causes of action-intentional and negligent misrepresentation. These causes of action were based on the following allegations: (1) before January 13, 2012, Wells Fargo initiated foreclosure proceedings on the Wells Fargo DOT pursuant to a trustee sale; (2) the Wells Fargo DOT clearly stated the Wells Fargo lien was the first lien against the property; (3) Wells Fargo recorded a copy of the Wells Fargo DOT with the specific intent and purpose of inducing potential buyers to bid on and purchase the property at the trustee sale; (4) before sending out the notice of trustee sale, Wells Fargo knew the Wells Fargo DOT was not the first deed of trust on the property; (5) at the January 13, 2012 trustee sale, the Hovannisians made the highest bid and, relying on the affirmative representation on the Wells Fargo DOT, purchased the property with the understanding they bought an interest which had the recorded first position on the property; (6) in late April 2012, they received a letter from Duane Long, who claimed he owned a first lien on the property and requested payment on the note secured by a first deed of trust; and (7) notwithstanding their demands that Wells Fargo reimburse them for the cost and expense to satisfy the Long note and provide clear title, Wells Fargo refused to do so.

On May 24, 2013, Wells Fargo tendered the complaint to First American for defense and indemnity.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
221 Cal. Rptr. 3d 883, 14 Cal. App. 5th 420, 2017 WL 3477122, 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 701, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hovannisian-v-first-am-title-ins-co-calctapp5d-2017.