Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC v. Michelle Kelly; Aqua Finance, Inc.; Midland Quail Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc.; and The United States of America, on behalf of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

District Court, W.D. Texas·Decided July 7, 2026·No. 7:25-cv-00499·Unknown

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS MIDLAND/ODESSA DIVISION

LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, § Plaintiff, § § v. § MO:25-CV-00499-DC-RCG § MICHELLE KELLY; AQUA FINANCE, § INC.; MIDLAND QUAIL RIDGE § HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.; § and THE UNITED STATES OF § AMERICA, ON BEHALF OF THE § SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN § DEVELOPMENT; § Defendants. § §

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION OF THE U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE BEFORE THE COURT is Plaintiff Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC’s (“Plaintiff”) Motion for Default Judgment. (Doc. 32).1 This matter is before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge through a standing order of referral pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Appendix C of the Local Court Rules for the Assignment of Duties to United States Magistrate Judges. After due consideration, the Court RECOMMENDS Plaintiff’s Motion for Default Judgment be GRANTED. (Doc. 32). I. BACKGROUND This action was commenced in this Court on October 28, 2025, against Michelle Kelly; Aqua Finance, Inc.; Midland Quail Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc.2; and the United States of America, on behalf of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.3 (Doc. 1).

1. All page number citations are to CM/ECF generated pagination unless otherwise noted.

2. On April 29, 2026, the Court entered a Consent Order as to Midland Quail Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc. (Doc. 30).

3. On March 19, 2026, the Court entered a Consent Order as to the United States of America. (Doc. 17). The relevant factual allegations are as follows. On November 8, 2019, Defendant Michelle Kelly (“Defendant Kelly”) executed to Nations Reliable Lending LLC a Note in which she promised to pay the sum of $281,310.00, with interest. (Doc. 1 at 3). Plaintiff is the current owner and holder of the Note. Id. Subsequently, the Note was secured by a Deed of Trust executed by Defendant Kelly encumbering a piece of real property. Id. The property in question

is commonly known as 903 Chaparral Street, Midland, Texas 79706 (the “Property”), more particularly described as: LOT 12, BLOCK 5, QUAIL RIDGE ADDITION SECTION 2, AN ADDITION TO THE CITY OF MIDLAND, MIDLAND COUNTY, TEXAS ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT THEREOF OF RECORD IN CABINET G, PAGE 192, PLAT RECORDS OF MIDLAND COUNTY, TEXAS.

Id. at 3. Plaintiff is the beneficiary of the Deed of Trust. Id. Defendant Kelly breached and has failed to cure her respective loan agreement obligations by failing to make payments since July 1, 2024. Id. at 5. As of May 29, 2026, to pay off the loan in full, Defendant Kelly owes $363,660.63. (Doc. 32 at 4). Defendant Aqua Finance, Inc. is named as a defendant because it claims an interest in the Property under the terms of that certain UCC Financing Statement filed and recorded on August 23, 2021, as instrument number 2021-26198 in the Official Public Records of Midland County. (Doc. 1 at 6). Plaintiff alleges this interest is subordinate and inferior to Plaintiff’s interest in the Property. Id. Plaintiff does not seek monetary relief from Defendant Aqua Finance, Inc. Id. Summons in this case were issued as to Defendant Kelly on October 29, 2025, and to Defendant Aqua Finance, Inc. on December 29, 2025. (Docs. 4, 6). On January 24, 2026, Plaintiff filed executed summons as to Defendant Aqua Finance, Inc., showing it was personally served via its registered agent at 211 E. 7th Street, Suite 620, Austin, Texas 78701, on January 8, 2026. (Doc. 8). On February 13, 2026, Plaintiff filed executed summons as to Defendant Kelly. (Doc. 13). Plaintiff’s proof of service shows Defendant Kelly was personally served by process server at 730 Duke Pl, Tyler, Texas 75704, on February 2, 2026. Id. To date, Defendants Kelly and Aqua Finance, Inc. have failed to answer Plaintiff’s Complaint or otherwise make an appearance in this lawsuit. On March 1, 2026, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Clerk’s Entry of

Default. (Doc. 15). On March 19, 2026, the Court entered an Order to Show Cause as to why Defendants Kelly and Aqua Finance, Inc. had not filed an Answer. (Docs. 19, 20). After no appearance was made, on April 30, 2026, the Clerk of Court entered default against Defendants Kelly and Aqua Finance, Inc. (Doc. 31). On May 14, 2026, Plaintiff filed the instant Motion for Default Judgment. (Doc. 32). Plaintiff brings a breach of contract claim against Defendant Kelly and seeks a judgment declaring that it may carry out a judicial foreclose on the Property. (Docs. 1 at 3, 7; 32 at 5). A hearing was held on the instant Motion for Default Judgment on June 23, 2026. (Doc. 36). Accordingly, this matter is now ripe for disposition.

II. LEGAL STANDARD After entry of default and upon a motion by the plaintiff, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55 authorizes the Court to enter a default judgment against a defendant who fails to plead or otherwise defend the suit. FED. R. CIV. P. 55(b). However, “[d]efault judgments are a drastic remedy, not favored by the Federal Rules and resorted to by courts only in extreme situations.” Sun Bank of Ocala v. Pelican Homestead & Savs. Ass’n, 874 F.2d 274, 276 (5th Cir. 1989). Accordingly, “[a] party is not entitled to a default judgment as a matter of right, even where the defendant is technically in default.” Ganther v. Ingle, 75 F.3d 207, 212 (5th Cir. 1996). Instead, the district court “has the discretion to decline to enter a default judgment.” Lindsey v. Prive Corp., 161 F.3d 886, 893 (5th Cir. 1998). In determining whether to enter a default judgment, courts utilize a three-part test. See United States v. 1998 Freightliner Vin #: 1FUYCZYB3WP886986, 548 F. Supp. 2d 381, 384 (W.D. Tex. 2008). First, courts consider whether the entry of default judgment is procedurally

warranted. Id. The factors relevant to this inquiry include: (1) whether material issues of fact exist; (2) whether there has been substantial prejudice; (3) whether the grounds for default are clearly established; (4) whether the default was caused by a good faith mistake or excusable neglect; (5) the harshness of a default judgment; and (6) whether the court would think itself obliged to set aside the default on the defendant’s motion.

Lindsey, 161 F.3d at 893. Second, courts assess the substantive merits of the plaintiff’s claims, determining whether the plaintiff set forth sufficient facts to establish his entitlement to relief. See 1998 Freightliner, 548 F. Supp. 2d at 384. In doing so, courts assume that, due to its default, the defendant admits all well-pleaded facts in the plaintiff’s complaint. See Nishimatsu Constr. Co., Ltd. v. Hous. Nat’l Bank, 515 F.2d 1200, 1206 (5th Cir. 1975). Third, courts determine what form of relief, if any, the plaintiff should receive in the case. Id.; 1998 Freightliner, 548 F. Supp. 2d at 384. Generally, damages are not to be awarded without a hearing or a demonstration by detailed affidavits establishing the necessary facts. See United Artists Corp. v. Freeman, 605 F.2d 854, 857 (5th Cir. 1979).

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Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC v. Michelle Kelly; Aqua Finance, Inc.; Midland Quail Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc.; and The United States of America, on behalf of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, (W.D. Tex. 2026).

Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC v. Michelle Kelly; Aqua Finance, Inc.; Midland Quail Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc.; and The United States of America, on behalf of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC v. Michelle Kelly; Aqua Finance, Inc.; Midland Quail Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc.; and The United States of America, on behalf of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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