In re Marques

547 B.R. 841, 2016 WL 1394493
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, C.D. California
DecidedApril 6, 2016
DocketCase No.: 8:12-bk-22571-MW
StatusPublished

This text of 547 B.R. 841 (In re Marques) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy 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 Marques, 547 B.R. 841, 2016 WL 1394493 (Cal. 2016).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM DECISION

WALLACE, J.

Creditor JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as acquirer of certain assets and liabilities of Washington Mutual Bank from the FDIC, as receiver of Washington Mutual Bank (“Movant”) moves for relief from the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 362(d)(1), (2) and (4) (the “Motion”) with respect to real property located at 33962 Malaga Drive, Dana Point, California (the “Property”), The Court has jurisdiction over this proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and General Order 13-05, filed July 1, 2013, of the United States District Court for the Central District of California. This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)(G). This Memorandum Decision constitutes the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law in this matter as required by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7052 (incorporating Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52 with certain modifications).

The Court held an evidentiary hearing in this matter on March 28, 2016 at which Movant’s representative and debtor Reynaldo F. Marques (“Debtor”) testified.

FINDINGS OF FACT

On or about August 14, 2006 Debtor and Debtor’s spouse executed an Adjustable Rate Note in the original principal amount of $727,000 in favor of Washington Mutual Bank, FA (the “Note”). The Note is secured by a Deed of Trust, executed by Debtor and Debtor’s spouse on or about August 15, 2006 (the “Deed of Trust”). The Deed of Trust was recorded in the Official Records of Orange County on August 22, 2006. The Note was endorsed in blank without recourse, converting it into a bearer instrument, by Cynthia Riley, Vice [843]*843President of Washington Mutual Bank, FA. At a previous hearing in this case, the Court had an opportunity to view and inspect the inked original of the Note, supplied to the Court by Movant, who is in possession of the Note. Debtor also had an opportunity to inspect the inked original of the Note at such hearing and did not dispute that the signatures on the Note are his signature and his spouse’s signature.

Movant acquired the Note from the FDIC as receiver for Washington Mutual Bank, FA in September 2008. Debtor and Debtor’s spouse stopped making payments oh the Note in November 2008. A Notice of Default and Election to Sell Under Deed of Trust was issued and recorded in March 2009.

There then ensued multiple bankruptcy filings affecting the Property as well as the filing by Debtor of false and fraudulent documents in which Debtor purported to act as attorney-in-fact for Movant.

Specifically, Debtor’s spouse Anne Marques filed a chapter 7 petition on January 20, 2012, commencing case number 8:12— bk-10781-ES. This case was dismissed on April 13, 2012 as a result of her failure to appear at the section 341(a) meeting. Anne Marques filed a second chapter 7 petition on May 2, 2012, commencing case number 8:12-bk-15531-ES. This case was closed on January 30, 2013 following her receipt of a discharge on September 13, 2012. Debtor filed a chapter 7 petition on October 30, 2012, commencing the present case (case number 8:12-bk-22571). The present case was closed on August 27, 2013 after Debtor had received a discharge. Debtor filed a chapter 13 petition on November 15, 2013, commencing case number 8:13-bk-19348-MW. This case was dismissed on November 25, 2013 on Debtor’s motion for voluntary dismissal. The present case was reopened on December 4, 2013. Finally, while the present ease was pending, Debtor filed yet another chapter 13 petition on April 24, 2015, commencing case number 8:15-bk-12122-MW. This case was dismissed on June 18, 2015 on Debtor’s request for dismissal.

On November 8, 2011, Debtor, purporting to act as attorney-in-fact for Movant, executed a Substitution of Trustee (the “Substitution”), substituting Equitable Trustee Services Management Trust as trustee (“Equitable”) under the Deed of Trust. The evidence shows that Movant never appointed Debtor as its attorney-in-fact for this purpose or for any purpose. The Substitution was recorded in the Official Records of Orange County on November 23, 2011. On February 23, 2012, a certain Todd Wetzelberger, purporting to be a trustee of Equitable, executed a Deed of Full Reconveyance (the “Reconveyance”) whereby Equitable purported to re-convey to Debtor and Debtor’s spouse all right, title, and interest held by Equitable under the Deed of Trust. This document falsely recited that all sums secured by the Deed of Trust had been fully paid. The Reconveyance was recorded in the Official Records of Orange County on March 6, 2012.

On September 28, 2015, Movant recorded in the Official Records of Orange County a Rescission of Unauthorized Substitution of Trustee and Deed of Full Reconveyance (Notice of Unauthorized Instruments) (the “Rescission”). The Rescission recites that Movant never appointed Debtor as its attorney-in-fact or authorized him to sign any documents or employed him. The Rescission rescinds the Substitution and the Reconveyance and indicates that the Deed of Trust remains a prior lien encumbering the Property.

The Declaration of Theodore Kelly, Vice President of Movant, in support of the [844]*844Motion shows (and the Court hereby finds) that Movant’s claim arising under the Note is $1,146,499.85 and that the fair market value of the Property is $892,500, as established by a Residential Broker Price Opinion. As of the time of the filing of the Motion in December 2015, 86 monthly payments under the Note have come due and have not been paid. The monthly payment due for November 2015 was $4,472.44.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(g)(1), Mov-ant has the burden of proof with respect to the issue of the Debtor’s equity in the Property. Under 11 U.S.C. § 362(g)(2), Debtor has the burden of proof on all other issues relating to this Motion.

Movant has established not only by a preponderance of the evidence but also by clear and convincing evidence (which is not required under section 362 but is shown here) that Debtor lacks any equity in the Property by a wide margin. Movant’s claim exceeds the Property’s fair market value by over $250,000: The Property is not necessary for a reorganization because this is a chapter 7 case where no reorganization is implicated. Accordingly, Movant is entitled to relief from stay under section 362(d)(2).

Movant has made out a prima facie case that Movant lacks adequate protection of its interest in the Property within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. §§ 361-362 based upon the monthly payments continuing to accrue and the gap between the Property’s fair market value and the amount of Movant’s claim. In view of this showing, the Debtor has the burden of proof on the issue of the Movant’s adequate protection. Ellis v. Par (In re Ellis), 60 B.R. 432, 435 (9th Cir. BAP 1985). Debtor has failed to meet this burden.

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Related

In Re Poissant
405 B.R. 267 (N.D. Ohio, 2009)
Ellis v. Parr (In Re Ellis )
60 B.R. 432 (Ninth Circuit, 1985)
In Re Lee
467 B.R. 906 (Sixth Circuit, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
547 B.R. 841, 2016 WL 1394493, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-marques-cacb-2016.