HSRE-PEP I, LLC v. HSRE-PEP Crimson Park LLC

2013 OK CIV APP 40, 303 P.3d 918, 2013 WL 1955590, 2013 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 27
CourtCourt of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedFebruary 8, 2013
DocketNos. 109,777, 110,288
StatusPublished

This text of 2013 OK CIV APP 40 (HSRE-PEP I, LLC v. HSRE-PEP Crimson Park LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
HSRE-PEP I, LLC v. HSRE-PEP Crimson Park LLC, 2013 OK CIV APP 40, 303 P.3d 918, 2013 WL 1955590, 2013 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 27 (Okla. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

KENNETH L. BUETTNER, Presiding Judge.

1 Appellant/Defendant Benefit Bank appeals from the trial court's order granting summary judgment in favor of Appel-lee/Plaintiff HSRE-PEP I, LLC (HSRE). In this commercial mortgage foreclosure action, the trial court determined HSRE's mortgage lien was superior to Benefit Bank's mortgage lien. After de novo review, we hold HSRE's mortgage has first priority. Therefore, HSRE is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, and the trial court's order is AFFIRMED.

T2 On February 4, 2008, First United Bank and Trust Company (First United) loaned ODG-OU $25,768,000.00 for an apartment complex in Norman, Oklahoma. The loan was secured by a first mortgage. On June 8, 2008, ODG-OU borrowed $1,850,000.00 from Benefit Bank. Benefit Bank's loan was secured by a second mortgage in the apartment complex. ODG-OU defaulted on the First United loan. First United and ODG-OU entered into a settlement agreement June 3, 2010. The settlement agreement provided that First United or its designee would accept a special warranty deed to the apartment complex as full and complete settlement for payment of the note, thereby releasing ODG-OU from any and all in personam liability, and that First United would not pursue any in personam liability against ODG-OU in the event of a future foreclosure action.

13 Under the terms of the settlement agreement, ODG-OU was to concurrently execute and deliver a "Special Warranty Deed conveying fee simple title to the [apartment complex] to [First United] or its designee (the 'Special Warranty Deed), subject to those matters listed on Exhibit 'A' attached

1 4 First United filed a petition to foreclose against FUPHC-B a few weeks later. Benefit Bank filed a foreclosure action against FUPHC-B the same day. The cases were consolidated by the trial court.1 On August 6, 2010, First United sold the note and mortgage to HSRE. FUPHC-B conveyed the property to HSRE-PEP Crimson Park LLC (Crimson Park) through a special warranty deed the same day. On November 83, 2010, the trial court filed an order substituting parties HSRE for First United and Crimson Park for FUPHC-B. HSRE is currently the holder of the note and mortgage, and Crimson Park owns the apartment complex.

15 HSRE and Benefit Bank both filed motions for partial summary judgment, each asserting its mortgage had first priority. HSRE asserts that it is undisputed its loan is secured by a first mortgage in the apartment complex. HSRE argues First United did not lose first priority when ODG-OU conveyed title to the apartment complex to First United's designee, FUPHC-B. HSRE claims that under the terms of the settlement agreement, ODG-OU was released from in per-[920]*920sonam liability, but First United retained its in rem claim against the property. HSRE argues the language "subject to those matters listed on Exhibit A" recognized other liens against the property but did not subordinate the first mortgage.

T 6 Benefit Bank argues that because First United's designee FUPHC-B received a deed in lieu of foreclosure "subject to" its junior lien, First United waived its right to foreclose. Benefit Bank relies on comment b and illustration 6 of the Restatement (Third) of Property § 8.5 Mortgages (1997) to support its argument that First United waived its right to foreclose by accepting the deed in lieu of foreclosure.2 Comment b provides, in pertinent part, that "[the mortgagee-grantee will also be deemed to have waived the right to foreclose when it accepts title to the mortgaged real estate with actual knowledge of the junior lien." Id. emt. b, illus. 6. Mustration 6 describes the situation where Mortgagor borrows money from Mortgagee-1 and gives Mortgagee-l a promissory note secured by a mortgage on Blackaere. The mortgage is immediately recorded. Mortgagor then borrows money from Mortgagee-2 and gives Mortgagee-2 a promissory note secured by a mortgage on Blackacre. The latter mortgage is immediately recorded. Mortgagor defaults on the obligation secured by Mortgagee-l's mortgage. As part of an agreement between Mortgagor and Mortgagee-1, Mortgagor agrees to deliver to Mort gagee-1 a deed to Blackaere, in return for which Mortgagee-1 releases Mortgagor from liability for the balance on the mortgage obligation. Pursuant to the agreement, a deed to Blackaere is delivered to Mortgagee-1. Prior to Mortgagor's conveyance to Mortgagee-1, the latter has actual knowledge of the existence of Mortgagee-2's mortgage. Mortgagee-l's mortgage is ineffective against Mortgagee-2, and Mortgagee-1 will not be permitted to foreclose it to eliminate Mortgagee-2's lien. Benefit Bank also relies on the Reporter's Note that "[elach time a deed in lieu transaction is negotiated with the understanding that the mortgagee will acquire title subject to junior liens, the senior mortgagee has waived its right to eliminate those liens." Id. (quoting Ann M. Burkhart, Freeing Mortgages of Merger, 40 Vand. L. Rev. 238, 348-349 (1987)). Benefit Bank suggests that because First United had knowledge of Benefit Bank's junior lien, First United should have initiated foreclosure proceedings rather than accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

T7 The trial court determined it was not the intent of the parties to the settlement agreement to subordinate First United's first mortgage to Benefit Bank's second mortgage. The trial court entered summary judgment in favor of HSRE. Benefit Bank appeals.

¢8 Summary judgment proceedings are governed by Rule 183, Rules for District Courts, 42 O.S.2001, Ch. 2, App.1. Summary judgment is appropriate where the record establishes no substantial controversy of material fact and the prevailing party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Brown v. Alliance Real Estate Group, 1999 OK 7, ¶7, 976 P.2d 1043, 1045. Where the facts are not disputed, an appeal presents only a question of law. Jones v. Purcell Investments, LLC, 2010 OK CIV APP 15, ¶2, 231 P.3d 706, 708. The parties agree on the facts material to this dispute; however, the parties do not agree on the meaning of the language "subject to those matters listed on Exhibit A" in the settlement agreement between ODG-OU and First United. The meaning assigned by the trial court to a contract is a question of law. May v. Mid-Century Ins. Co., 2006 OK 100, ¶22, 151 P.3d 132, 140. Questions of law are reviewed de novo. Id.

{9 Benefit Bank argues fee simple title "subject to" Benefit Bank's mortgage means fee simple title "subordinate to" Benefit Bank's mortgage. HSRE argues "subject to" merely recognizes that there are other liens against the property. According to the Oklahoma Statutes and the Supreme Court of Oklahoma:

The intent of the parties at the time of the contract's formation, as expressed within the four corners of the document, controls the meaning of the written contract. In[921]*921tent must be discerned from the entire instrument taken as a whole. Where a contract is complete in itself and, as viewed in its entirety, contains clear and explicit language leaving it free of ambiguity, its language is the only legitimate evidence of what the parties intended.

Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. v. Red Arrow Marina Sales & Service, Inc., 2009 OK. 77, ¶ 35, 224 P.3d 685, 698-699 (footnotes omitted); see 15 O.S. §§ 151-178. We note that Benefit Bank was not a party to the settlement agreement. First United and ODG-OU were the parties to the settlement agreement. The intent of First United and ODG-OU at the time of the contract's formation, as expressed in the four corners of the document, controls the meaning of the settlement agreement.

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Related

Archer v. Wedderien
1968 OK 186 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1968)
Brown v. Alliance Real Estate Group
1999 OK 7 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1999)
Faulkenberry v. Kansas City Southern Railway Co.
1979 OK 142 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1979)
Barringer v. Baptist Healthcare of Oklahoma
2001 OK 29 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 2001)
Jones v. Purcell Investments, LLC
2010 OK CIV APP 15 (Court of Civil Appeals of Oklahoma, 2009)
Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. v. Red Arrow Marina Sales & Service, Inc.
2009 OK 77 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 2009)
May v. Mid-Century Insurance Co.
2006 OK 100 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 2006)
State Ex Rel. Gaines v. Beaver
1945 OK 318 (Supreme Court of Oklahoma, 1945)

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Bluebook (online)
2013 OK CIV APP 40, 303 P.3d 918, 2013 WL 1955590, 2013 Okla. Civ. App. LEXIS 27, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hsre-pep-i-llc-v-hsre-pep-crimson-park-llc-oklacivapp-2013.