In re Greenstein

589 B.R. 854
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedAugust 14, 2018
DocketLead Case No. 2:17-cv-08371-ODW; C/w : 2:17-cv-08373-ODW; 2:17-cv-08899-ODW; 2:17-cv-08919-ODW; 2:17-cv-08923-ODW; Bankruptcy Case Nos. 1:12-bk-15099-MB; Adversary Case Nos. 1:15-ap-01220-MB
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 589 B.R. 854 (In re Greenstein) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Greenstein, 589 B.R. 854 (C.D. Cal. 2018).

Opinion

OTIS D. WRIGHT, II, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

*857I. INTRODUCTION

Appellant Laurel Greenstein appeals from several orders issued by the bankruptcy court, relating to her Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and related adversary proceedings. She contends that her home (the "Property") was wrongfully foreclosed on by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and several corporate representatives,1 (collectively, "Wells Fargo") in violation of the automatic stay in her case.

In a 63-page Amended Consolidated Memorandum of Decision, the bankruptcy court denied Greenstein's Motion to Set Aside Foreclosure Sale in violation of Automatic Stay ("Set Aside Motion"), and granted Motions to Dismiss Adversary Proceedings with Prejudice as to All Defendants. (Appellant's Appendix of Evidence ("AA") vol. I, 135-99, ECF No. 27.2 ) While Greenstein sets forth seven issues on appeal, the substance of her appeal focuses on the validity of an in rem order (the "In Rem Order") issued by another bankruptcy court in an action involving debtor Roger Lipkis (the "Lipkis Action"). Among other things, Greenstein claims the In Rem Order was invalid because a fraudulent deed was presented in the Lipkis Action, which purported to transfer ownership rights in the Property from Greenstein to Lipkis.

Marty A. Duran, Patricia M. Duran, and The Duran Family Trust (collectively, the "Duran Defendants") purchased the Property from Wells Fargo two years after the foreclosure sale. (Duran Defendants' Appendix of Evidence ("DER") 8, ECF No. 30-1, 30-2.) Greenstein filed adversary proceedings against the Duran Defendants as part of her Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Greenstein's Opening Brief and excerpts of record are riddled with procedural defects. She fails to adequately cite to the record, which makes it difficult for the Court, much less her opponents, to sort through her arguments. In any event, for the reasons explained below, the Court AFFIRMS the bankruptcy court with respect to all of Greenstein's consolidated appeals.3

II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

This case arises from several bankruptcies, adversary proceedings, and related civil actions. This convoluted procedural history arises from Wells Fargo foreclosing *858on Greenstein's home after she defaulted on her payments.

A. The First Civil Action

On October 13, 2011, Greenstein filed an action in California state court, wherein she challenged, among other things, Wells Fargo's standing to foreclose on her home (the "First Civil Action"). (See AA vol. I, 141; Wells Fargo Appellee's Supp. Appendix ("SA") vol. III, 660-71, ECF No. 31-5, 31-6.) At a hearing on February 10, 2012, Wells Fargo's counsel informed the court and Greenstein that it obtained a grant deed, which purported to transfer title of the Property from Greenstein to Roger Lipkis (the "Lipkis Deed"). (Appellant's Opening Brief ("AOB") 16-17, ECF No. 26; SA vol. III, 678.) The Lipkis Deed, on its face, appears to have been signed by Greenstein, notarized by a notary public, and recorded with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office on November 10, 2011. (AA vol. II, 367.) The court ultimately sustained Wells Fargo's demurrer, and dismissed the First Civil Action with prejudice. (AA vol. I, 49; SA vol. III, 674-76.4 ).

B. The Lipkis Bankruptcy, In Rem Order, and Foreclosure

On November 18, 2011, Roger Lipkis filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. (DER 220). As it turns out, the reasons that he filed for bankruptcy are not germane to the Court's analysis, but the Lipkis Deed is.

The origin of the Lipkis Deed is murky. At one time, Greenstein claimed that she "strongly believe[d] [she knew] who set this fake Grant Deed up and why, but [she couldn't] prove it." (AA vol. II, 373.) Now, she simply maintains that it was a fraud.

After Wells Fargo learned of the Lipkis Deed in the First Civil Action, it sought a stipulation to exclude the Property from the Lipkis bankruptcy estate. It needed to do this so that it could foreclose on the Property, which was purportedly part of the Lipkis estate by virtue of the Lipkis Deed. (AA vol. II, 412-16.) On March 19, 2012, the court accepted Wells Fargo and Lipkis's stipulation for relief from the automatic stay in the Lipkis Action, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(d)(4),5 and entered an order reflecting the same (as defined above, the "In Rem Order"). (Id. ; AA vol. II, 390-91.)

Mimicking verbatim Section 362(d)(4), the In Rem Order explained:

If recorded in compliance with applicable State laws governing notices of interests or liens in real property, an order entered under paragraph (4) shall be binding in any other case under this title purporting to affect such real property filed not later than 2 years after the date of the entry of such order by the court, except that a debtor in a subsequent case under this title may move for relief from such order based upon changed circumstances or for good cause shown, after notice and a hearing . Any Federal, State, or local governmental unit that accepts notices of interests or liens in real property shall accept any certified copy of an order described in this subsection for indexing and recording.

*859(AA vol. II, 391 (emphasis added).) The In Rem Order also found that "an interest in the Property was impermissibly transferred to [Lipkis] without the knowledge of [Lipkis]. Without [Lipkis's] consent, his Chapter 13 bankruptcy case proceeding is being used for an improper purpose as part of a scheme to delay, hinder and defraud creditors...." (AA vol. II, 392.) Greenstein did not appeal the In Rem Order.

On March 12, 2012, Wells Fargo recorded the In Rem Order at the County Recorder's Office. (AA vol. II, 388; DER 114-21.) Greenstein was not initially served with the In Rem Order, but admittedly learned of it on May 31, 2012, and received a copy of it on June 1, 2012. (AA vol. I, 143 (citing Greenstein's own admissions that she received a copy of the In Rem Order), 169-70.) Greenstein did not seek modification of the In Rem Order after receiving a copy of it.

On May 14, 2012, the trustee recorded a new Notice of Sale. (SA vol. III, 707.) On May 31, 2012, Greenstein filed her Chapter 7 bankruptcy. (AA vol. I, 144; SA vol. I, 1.) On July 11, 2012, the Property was sold by foreclosure to Wells Fargo. (AA vol. I, 34-35.) The Duran Defendants purchased the property a few years later. (DER 8.)

C. Greenstein's Chapter 7 Bankruptcy & Related Actions

Greenstein attempted on several occasions to invalidate the In Rem Order through the filing of adversary proceedings in her Chapter 7 case, and the filing of a second state court action. The bankruptcy court discharged Greenstein's debt on September 29, 2015. (SA vol. I, 201.)

1. Adversary Proceedings & Second State Court Action

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
589 B.R. 854, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-greenstein-cacd-2018.