Lofton v. Beneficial Financial I Inc. (In re Lofton)

569 B.R. 747
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Wisconsin
DecidedJune 5, 2017
DocketCase Number: 15-14093-13; Adversary Number: 16-41
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 569 B.R. 747 (Lofton v. Beneficial Financial I Inc. (In re Lofton)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lofton v. Beneficial Financial I Inc. (In re Lofton), 569 B.R. 747 (Wis. 2017).

Opinion

DECISION

Hon. Catherine J. Furay, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

To decide Beneficial Financial I Inc.’s (“Beneficial”) motion for summary judgment, the Court recites the following facts alleged or presented with the motion or its defense without determining whether they could be proved at trial. All inferences drawn from the facts are in favor of the nonmoving parties.

In August 2004, the Debtors, Aaron and Linda Lofton (the “Loftons”), signed and delivered a Loan Repayment and Security Agreement and a Mortgage to Beneficial Financial Wisconsin Inc. (the “Note and Mortgage”). Beneficial Financial Wisconsin Inc. merged with Beneficial in 2009. Beneficial engages in lending money and servic-[749]*749tag accounts which are secured by residential mortgages. It serviced the Lofton Note and Mortgage. The Note and Mortgage were subordinate to the lien of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (“WHEDA”).

In April 2009, Beneficial commenced a foreclosure action in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Beneficial and the Loftons were both represented by counsel in that action. That case was dismissed in 2013. It was then reopened, dismissed, and reopened. After various motions, a judgment of foreclosure was entered in April 2015 and amended in May 2015. Motions to reopen, stay confirmation, and to assert counterclaims were filed. The Loftons filed this bankruptcy thereby staying proceedings in the Jefferson County action.

WHEDA commenced its own foreclosure action in 2015. Judgment of foreclosure was granted. A Sheriff Sale was conducted in that action. Apparently, Beneficial was the highest bidder at that sale.

The Loftons filed a Chapter 13 petition on November 16, 2015. They then filed this adversary proceeding seeking damages from Beneficial and Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC. They allege that if Beneficial transferred servicing of the Note and Mortgage in approximately August 2015, then Beneficial violated Wis. Stat. § 224.77 by failing to comply with its obligations to provide notice of the transfer of loan services under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”). Alternatively, the Loftons allege Beneficial violated Wis. Stat. § 224.77 by denying it held, owned or serviced the loan, thus misleading the Lof-tons. The Loftons assert these violations give rise to a -private remedy entitling them to damages under Wis. Stat. § 224.80. Beneficial has filed a motion for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the adversary proceeding.

DISCUSSION

A. Jurisdiction

Federal “district courts shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction of all cases under title 11” (the “Bankruptcy Code”). 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a). Federal district courts also have “original but not exclusive jurisdiction of all civil proceedings arising under title 11” of the United States Code, “or arising in or related to cases under title 11.” 28 U.S.C. § 1334(b). Consistent with 28 U.S.C. § 157(a), district courts may refer these cases to the bankruptcy judges for their districts. As is the case in the Western District of Wisconsin, the District Court has referred all of its bankruptcy cases to the Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. W.D. Wis. Admin. Order 161 (July 12,1984).

A bankruptcy court to whom a case has been referred may hear and determine all cases under the Bankruptcy Code and any “core” proceeding arising under the Bankruptcy Code or arising in a case under the Bankruptcy Code. 28 U.S.C'. § 157(b)(1).

This case was originally assigned to Judge Martin. He entered an Order on August 29, 2016, designating this case ás a “non-core” proceeding (ECF No. 21). Thus, absent consent, this ease would be adjudicated in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 157(c)(1). Section 157(c)(1) provides that a bankruptcy judge may hear a non-core proceeding that is otherwise related to a case under title 11. 28 U.S.C. § 157(c)(1). In non-core proceedings, section 157(c)(1) directs the bankruptcy judge to “submit proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law to the district court, and any final order or judgment shall be entered by the district judge after considering the bankruptcy judge’s proposed findings and conclusions and after reviewing de novo those [750]*750matters to which any party has timely and specifically objected.” Id.

In a prior motion to dismiss, Beneficial initially argued that this Court lacked constitutional authority under Stern v. Marshall, 564 U.S. 462, 131 S.Ct. 2594, 180 L.Ed.2d 475 (2011), to enter a final judgment. (ECF No. 6). However, in its brief in support of summary judgment, Beneficial unequivocally consents to entry of a judgment by this Court pursuant to the holding in Wellness Int’l Network, Ltd. v. Sharif, — U.S. -, 135 S.Ct. 1932, 1939, 191 L.Ed.2d 911 (2015). (ECF No. 36 at 4 n.1). The Loftons have also consented.

The original pleadings in this matter were filed and Judge Martin’s Order was issued prior to the effective date of amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The amendments, effective December 1, 2016, contain two provisions that are particularly applicable in this matter. In relevant part, those Rules provide:

Rule 7008. General Rules of Pleading
Rule 8 F.R.Civ.P. applies in adversary proceedings.... In an adversary proceeding before a bankruptcy court, the complaint, counterclaim, cross-claim, or third-party complaint shall contain a statement that the pleader does or does not consent to entry of final orders or judgment by the bankruptcy court.
Rule 7016. Pre-Trial Procedures
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(b) Determining procedure
The bankruptcy court shall decide, on its own motion or a party’s timely motion, whether:
(1) to hear and determine the proceeding;
(2) to hear the proceeding and issue proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law; or
(3) to take some other action.

Read together, these rules leave to the discretion of the bankruptcy court the appropriate course of action for proceedings. The discretion is informed by the parties’ statements and consent considering the provisions of Rule 7008(a). See Committee Notes on Rules — -2016 Amendment to Fed. R. Bank. P. 7008 and 7016.

Despite this matter having been determined to be non-core, the parties have consented to the entry of final orders and judgments by this Court.

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Bluebook (online)
569 B.R. 747, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lofton-v-beneficial-financial-i-inc-in-re-lofton-wiwb-2017.