In The Court of Appeals Seventh District of Texas at Amarillo
No. 07-13-00221-CV
MIKE E. DEUBLER, APPELLANT
V.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE UNDER NOVASTAR MORTGAGE FUNDING TRUST 2005-1, AND SAXON MORTGAGE SERVICES, INC., APPELLEES
On Appeal from the 342nd District Court Tarrant County, Texas Trial Court No. 342-254925-11, Honorable J. Wade Birdwell, Presiding
June 15, 2015
MEMORANDUM OPINION Before QUINN, C.J., and CAMPBELL and HANCOCK, JJ.
Appellant Mike Deubler appeals a take-nothing summary judgment in his suit
against appellees the Bank of New York Mellon as Successor Trustee under Novastar
Mortgage Funding Trust 2005-1 (the Bank) and Saxon Mortgage Services, Inc. Finding
the trial court did not err, we will affirm its judgment. Background
Because this is the review of a summary judgment rendered in favor of
appellees, we will recite the facts presented by the summary judgment record in the
light most favorable to Deubler, indulging every reasonable inference in his favor.1
In November 2004, Deubler signed an adjustable-rate note in the amount of
$166,500 payable to First Horizon Home Loan Corporation for the purchase of a home,
and a deed of trust to the property.
In July 2005, First Horizon assigned the note and deed of trust to Novastar
Mortgage, Inc. Saxon serviced the loan for Novastar.
In November 2007, Novastar executed a document entitled “Limited Power of
Attorney.” In relevant part the instrument includes the following:
NovaStar Mortgage, Inc. (hereinafter called “Owner”) hereby appoints Saxon Mortgage Services, Inc. (hereinafter called “Servicer”), as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact to act in the name, place and stead of Owner for the purposes set forth below. This limited power of attorney is given pursuant to a certain Servicing Agreement and solely with respect to the assets serviced pursuant to such agreement by and between Owner and Servicer dated November 1, 2007, to which reference is made for the definition of all capitalized terms herein.
The said attorneys-in-fact, and said person designated by the Servicer, as the attorney-in-fact, is hereby authorized, and empowered, as follows:
To execute, acknowledge, seal and deliver deed of trust/mortgage note endorsements, . . . assignments of deed of trust/mortgage and other recorded documents, satisfactions/releases/reconveyances of deed of trust/mortgage, subordinations and modifications, . . . and declarations, deeds, bills of sale, and other instruments of sale, conveyance and transfer, appropriately completed, with all ordinary or necessary
1 Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. v. Mayes, 236 S.W.3d 754, 756 (Tex. 2007) (per curiam) (stating rule).
2 endorsements, acknowledgements, affidavits, and supporting documents as may be necessary or appropriate to effect its execution, delivery, conveyance, recordation or filing.
To execute and deliver . . . foreclosure deeds.
The summary judgment record contains a February 2009 document stating
“Novstar (sic) Mortgage, Inc.,” as the owner and holder of the note, assigns it to the
Bank by its “servicer-in-fact” Saxon. The document is signed by an individual acting for
“Novstar (sic) Mortgage, Inc., Saxon Mortgage Services, Inc (sic) as the Attorney in
Fact.”
During 2007, Deubler fell behind on payments on the note, committing an event
of default under the instrument’s terms. In April 2008, Saxon notified Deubler in writing
that he might qualify for specified options to avoid foreclosure. The notice requested
Deubler to continue making monthly payments because Saxon was unable to promise
any of the options applied to his circumstances.
According to Deubler’s summary judgment affidavit, from “2007 until early 2009,
[he] attempted to work with [Saxon] to modify the Loan to a manageable level.”
Unidentified Saxon personnel directed him, as part of the modification process, to quit
making payments on the loan and to concentrate on its modification. As part of the
modification process, Deubler paid Saxon about $7,000 which he later learned Saxon
placed in a “suspense account.” A sum consisting of the $7,000 along with the loan
payments Deubler was willing and able to make during the period Saxon personnel told
him not to make payments, would have “brought the loan current.” At some point during
Deubler’s dealings with Saxon, unnamed Saxon personnel told him Saxon never
intended to complete a modification of the loan.
3 Deubler concludes his affidavit with a recount of those at Saxon he “specifically
spoke with”:
(a) A man named Bustamante, who was the first person at Saxon who I spoke with, who told me that whatever I paid Saxon might go into a suspense account, so please not to pay at that time because of modification efforts, since Saxon ‘was being bought’ (Bustamante’s words). This course of communication continued in that vein over two months, substantially conveying to me the same information and instructions.
(b) Later, I spoke with a Saxon representative who was a retired military man, and I sent Saxon approximately $5,000, but received no answers from Saxon or further inquiries regarding information relevant to the modification of the Loan for over a month.
(c) Sharon Cotton of Saxon promised me that Saxon wouldn’t foreclose as long as payments weren’t fully settled (no funds left in a suspense account state). Ms. Cotton repeatedly advised me not to send money to Saxon until accounting on the Loan was resolved. Ms. Cotton told me that she would be out of the office through December 2008, but to call her afterward. Ms. Cotton explicitly assured me that (sic) would see to it that Saxon modified the Loan.
(d) After I received a notice of foreclosure, I attempted on several occasions to speak to Sharon Cotton, but was unable to reach her or to get her to return my calls, until finally I reached her by phone and she handed me off to another representative, which other representative asked me to submit modification documents again to Saxon (which was the fourth or fifth time, such documents having previously been fully submitted to Saxon by me three or four times).
(e) In February of 2009, Saxon personnel assured me by phone that they would hold off on any foreclosure until the accounting issues on the Loan were fully settled (no funds left in a suspense account state).
In two letters dated in August and September 2008, Saxon’s counsel notified
Deubler of default under the note, intent to accelerate, and an opportunity to cure. The
August letter set September 14, 2008, as the deadline for cure. The September letter
moved the deadline to October 17.
4 Three letters sent by Saxon to Deubler during May and June 2009 stated it had
not received all “documents and information” necessary to complete a review of
Deubler’s request for assistance. The necessary documents and information were not
specified. The letters contained notice that Saxon would continue efforts to collect the
debt which might include foreclosure.
By correspondence dated October 2, 2009, Saxon’s attorneys notified Deubler
that the maturity of his loan was accelerated. The correspondence enclosed notice that
his home would be sold at a substitute trustee’s sale on November 3, 2009. Substitute
trustees under the deed of trust were appointed by a document signed October 9, 2009.
The instrument was recorded on November 9, 2009.
A substitute trustee sold Deubler’s home on November 3, 2009, to the Bank as
highest bidder for $146,200. Deubler filed suit on August 29, 2011, and on that day
obtained a temporary restraining order enjoining the Bank, inter alia, from evicting
Deubler. Appellees moved for summary judgment on traditional and no-evidence
grounds. The trial court granted the no-evidence and traditional motions, and ordered
that Deubler take nothing by his claims.
Analysis
Deubler presents two issues on appeal. His first issue contains several sub-
issues challenging the sufficiency of the evidence supporting summary judgment. 2
Primarily, he contends the Bank and Saxon lacked authority to proceed with the non- 2 See Malooly Bros, Inc. v. Napier, 461 S.W.2d 119, 121 (Tex. 1970) (point of error on appeal stating simply that trial court erred by granting summary judgment “allow[s] argument as to all the possible grounds upon which summary judgment should have been denied”).
5 judicial foreclosure of his home, and that Saxon agreed to modify the loan but breached
the agreement by failing to do so and in the process, through its agents, made
actionable misrepresentations of fact. By his second issue, Deubler contends the trial
court abused its discretion by granting summary judgment at a time when additional
discovery was required.
Issue I: Did the trial court err in granting summary judgment?
Standard and Scope of Review
An appellate court reviews a trial court's summary judgment de novo. Valence
Operating Co. v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005); Provident Life & Accident
Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 215 (Tex. 2003). Summary judgment is proper if the
record presents no disputed issues of material fact and the movant is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215-16.
When reviewing a summary judgment, a court takes as true all evidence favorable to
the nonmovant, and indulges every reasonable inference and resolves any doubt in
favor of the nonmovant. Valence Operating Co., 164 S.W.3d at 661; Knott, 128 S.W.3d
at 215. If the trial court did not specify a basis for granting summary judgment, the
judgment will be affirmed if any ground asserted in the motion has merit. Star-
Telegram, Inc. v. Doe, 915 S.W.2d 471, 473 (Tex. 1995).
On a traditional motion for summary judgment, the movant bears the initial
burden of conclusively negating at least one essential element of a claim or defense on
which the non-movant has the burden of proof. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(c); Science
Spectrum, Inc. v. Martinez, 941 S.W.2d 910, 911 (Tex. 1997). Only if the movant
6 satisfies this burden does the burden shift to the nonmovant to produce evidence
demonstrating a genuine issue of material fact as to the challenged element or
elements in order to defeat the summary judgment. See Walker v. Harris, 924 S.W.2d
375, 377 (Tex. 1996).
A party moving for summary judgment on an affirmative defense bears the
burden of conclusively proving all elements of the defense. Integrated of Amarillo, Inc.
v. Pinkston-Hollar Constr. Servs., No. 07-11-0422-CV, 2013 Tex. App. LEXIS 4216, at
*5 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Apr. 2, 2013, pet. denied) (mem. op.) (citing Rhone-Poulenc,
Inc. v. Steel, 997 S.W.2d 217, 223 (Tex. 1999)).
Through a no-evidence motion for summary judgment, a movant may challenge
the existence of legally sufficient evidence of one or more essential elements of a claim
or defense on which the nonmovant bears the burden of proof at trial. TEX. R. CIV. P.
166a(i); Fort Worth Osteopathic Hosp., Inc. v. Reese, 148 S.W.3d 94, 99 (Tex. 2004).
The nonmovant in response must present summary judgment evidence demonstrating a
genuine issue of material fact concerning the element or elements challenged. TEX. R.
CIV. P. 166a(i); Ford Motor Co. v. Ridgway, 135 S.W.3d 598, 600 (Tex. 2004). When
the movant seeks summary judgment on both traditional and no-evidence grounds, the
appellate court first addresses the no-evidence grounds. Merriman v. XTO Energy, Inc.,
407 S.W.3d 244, 248 (Tex. 2013). We do so because there is no need to analyze
whether the movant met its burden under the traditional motion if the non-movant has
failed to produce legally sufficient evidence in response to the no-evidence motion. Id.
7 The Note and Deed of Trust
As indicated, Deubler’s arguments rest chiefly on his claim the Bank and Saxon
lacked authority to pursue non-judicial foreclosure on his home. We cannot agree the
evidence raises a genuine issue of material fact on such a claim. Deubler correctly
points out that the copy of the note in the summary judgment record does not contain
the indorsement of First Horizon. For that matter, it contains no indorsement. See TEX.
BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. § 3.204(a) (West 2002) (defining “indorsement”). However, the
record includes the documents of assignment transferring ownership of the note and
deed of trust from First Horizon to Novastar and then from Saxon as attorney-in-fact for
Novastar to the Bank.
Based only on the copy of the note included in the summary judgment record,
Novastar and then the Bank do not appear as holders of the note. But this fact, if
correct, did not preclude the Bank from foreclosing on Deubler’s collateral. The owner
of a note may enforce the note by foreclosure and deficiency judgment. Beard v.
Norwest Mortg., Inc., No. 10-06-00014-CV, 2007 Tex. App. LEXIS 5659, at *5 (Tex.
App.—Waco July 18, 2007 pet. denied) (mem. op.); TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. §
3.301 cmt. (West 2002). Ownership of a note may be transferred by possession, even if
it is not indorsed. Id. While the transferee in such instances does not become the
holder, it nevertheless acquires the rights of the transferor. Id. See also Martin v. New
Century Mortg. Co., 377 S.W.3d 79, 84 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2012, no pet.)
(explaining how a person not the holder of a note may still be entitled to enforce it as
owner under the common law of assignment); Skelton v. Urban Trust Bank, (In re
Skelton), 516 B.R. 396, 402 (Bkrtcy. N.D. Tex. 2014) (noting a “properly effectuated
8 transfer under [Texas Business and Commerce Code] § 3.203(a) ‘vests in the
transferee any right of the transferor to enforce the instrument’” thus “if a person
acquires an instrument from a holder who has not properly indorsed the instrument, that
person will not attain holder status; but so long as the person receives the instrument
via a § 3.203(a) transfer, that person will qualify as a nonholder in possession who has
the rights of the holder (i.e., the transferor) to enforce the instrument”); TEX. BUS. & COM.
CODE § 3.203(a) (West 2002) (“An instrument is transferred when it is delivered by a
person other than its issuer for the purpose of giving to the person receiving delivery the
right to enforce the instrument”) and § 3.203(b) (“Transfer of an instrument, whether or
not the transfer is a negotiation, vests in the transferee any right of the transferor to
enforce the instrument, including any right as a holder in due course”). An issue of
material fact on the issue of ownership of a note is presented by an unexplained gap in
the chain of title. Leavings v. Mills, 175 S.W.3d 301, 309 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st
Dist.] 2004, no pet.). Here Deubler does not point to, nor do we see, such a gap in the
note’s chain of title.
Without citation of authority or elaboration, Deubler further complains the copy of
the note contained in the summary judgment record is not a copy of the original note.
The “show me the note” theory supposes that “only the holder of the original wet-ink
signature note has the lawful power to initiate a non judicial foreclosure.” Washington v.
JP Morgan Chase, No. SA-11-CV-763-XR, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22735, at *15 (W.D.
Tex. Feb. 20, 2013) (quoting Puig v. Citibank, N.A., No. 3:11-CV-0270-L, 2012 U.S.
9 Dist. LEXIS 70398, at *12 (N.D. Tex. May 21, 2012)).3 This theory has been “roundly
rejected” because it does not comport with foreclosure law. Puig, 2012 U.S. Dist.
LEXIS 70398, at *12 (noting distinction in Texas law between non-judicial foreclosure
under a deed of trust and judicial enforcement of the promissory note seeking a
judgment). Judicial enforcement of a promissory note may require production of the
original note, but the Texas Property Code does not require a mortgagee pursuing non-
judicial foreclosure to produce the original note. Id. (quoting Millet v. JP Morgan Chase,
N.A., No. SA-11-CV-1031-XR, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 40890, at *10 (W.D. Tex. Mar. 26,
2012)); see TEX. PROP. CODE ANN. § 51.002 (West 2014) (sale of real property under a
contract lien).
Deubler also claims the Bank and Saxon lacked capacity to threaten foreclosure
and give pre-foreclosure notice. Although not altogether clear, the argument seems
rooted in the idea that transfers of the note were ineffective without indorsement, a
theory we have resolved against Deubler. Moreover, Deubler does not argue that any
assignment of the note or deed of trust was void. “[W]hile an obligor may defend
against foreclosure on any ground which renders the assignment void, an obligor has
no standing to challenge an assignee’s efforts to enforce an obligation on any ground
which renders the assignment voidable only.” Blair v. Deutsche Bank Nat’l Trust Co.,
No. 14-50041 Summary Calendar, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 5358, at *3 (5th Cir. Apr. 2,
2015) (per curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Reinagel v. Deutsche
3 While not binding, the federal cases cited are persuasive because a notable volume of home mortgage litigation in Texas is tried by federal courts applying Texas law. Robeson v. MERS, No. 02-10-00227-CV, 2012 Tex. App. LEXIS 137, at *12 n.4 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth Jan. 5, 2012, pet. denied) (mem. op.).
10 Bank Nat’l Trust Co., 735 F.3d 220, 225 (5th Cir. 2013)). Deubler thus has no standing
to complain of the sufficiency of the assignments.
Sufficiency of the Limited Power of Attorney
Deubler contends that the limited power of attorney Novastar granted Saxon in
November 2007 is insufficient because it references a “servicing agreement” but does
not identify the loans covered by the agreement, state whether the agreement
authorizes assignment of the note, or describe what, if any, authority Saxon had to deal
with the note and deed of trust. According to Deubler, “Such specificity is essential to
the validity of the power of attorney and hence to the Assignment and to the subsequent
instruments which followed, including the notices of default and opportunity to cure
(which preceded the Assignment) and the notices of trustee’s sale and appointment of
substitute trustees which preceded the November, 2009 sale.” This argument is but
another attempt to challenge the assignment of the note and deed of trust to the Bank
by contesting the authority of the transferor. Were such a claim true it would render the
assignment voidable but not void. Howard v. JP Morgan Chase, N.A., SA-12-CV-
00440-DAE, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54433, at *23-24 (W.D. Tex. Apr. 17, 2013). As we
have already concluded, Deubler lacks standing to make such a challenge.
Unreasonable Collection
Deubler’s pleadings alleged appellees committed the tort of unreasonable
collection, and urges an issue of material fact exists precluding summary judgment.
Under Texas law, “[u]nreasonable collection is an intentional tort.” EMC Mortg. Corp. v.
Jones, 252 S.W.3d 857, 868 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.). The tort “is intended to
11 deter outrageous collection techniques, particularly those involving harassment or
physical intimidation.” Thomas v. EMC Mortg. Corp., 499 F. App’x 337, 343, 2012 U.S.
App. LEXIS 24693 (5th Cir. 2012) (quotation marks omitted). “[T]he elements are not
clearly defined and the conduct deemed to constitute an unreasonable collection effort
varies from case to case.” Jones, 252 S.W.3d at 868. Actionable conduct under this
tort has been described as “a course of harassment that was willful, wanton, malicious,
and intended to inflict mental anguish and bodily harm.” Jones, 252 S.W.3d at 868-69;
Montgomery Ward & Co. v. Brewer, 416 S.W.2d 837, 844-45 (Tex. Civ. App.—Waco
1967, writ ref’d n.r.e.). Accepting as we must the truth of Deubler’s summary judgment
affidavit, some statements Saxon personnel made to him were contrary to the
company’s written communications with him. But we are not presented any evidence
that the Saxon employees, each acting within the course and scope of their positions,
“engage[d] in a course of harassment that was willful, wanton, malicious, and intended
to inflict” Deubler with “mental anguish and bodily harm.”
Violation of the Texas Debt Collection Practices Act (TDCPA)
The TDCPA is codified at Chapter 9 of the Texas Finance Code. TEX. FIN. CODE
ANN. §§ 392.001-.404 (West 2006 & Supp. 2014). On two grounds, Deubler contends a
fact issue exists precluding summary judgment on his allegation Saxon and the Bank
violated Finance Code section 392.304(a)(8). Section 392.304(a)(8) prohibits a debt
collector from “misrepresenting the character, extent, or amount of a consumer debt, or
misrepresenting the consumer debt’s status in a judicial or governmental proceeding[.]”
TEX. FIN. CODE ANN. § 392.304(a)(8) (West 2006).
12 First, Deubler asserts the Bank attempted to “enforce the lien of the Deed of
Trust to collect on the mortgage debt, and to prosecute the Forcible Detainer Suit
without clear capacity to do so.” Deubler does not support this argument with case or
statutory citations. Instead, he directs us to read specified pages of his summary
judgment response and motion to vacate, each contained in the clerk’s record. While
this is an appeal of a summary judgment, this approach to presenting the issue on
appeal is not proper. See TEX. R. APP. P. 38.1(i) (“The brief must contain a clear and
concise argument for the contentions made, with appropriate citations to authorities and
to the record”). Moreover, the trial court did not err in its grant of summary judgment on
this portion of his claim. Even if Deubler’s lack-of-authority claim properly comes under
section 392.304(a)(8), which we doubt, his attempt to challenge the authority of the
Bank and Saxon to proceed with the non-judicial foreclosure fails for the reasons we
already have discussed.
Second, Deubler asserts his affidavit establishes a fact issue concerning “specific
instances of misconduct” by Saxon’s agents in negligently or deceptively furnishing
information he relied on. But assuming the parties to which Deubler attributes the
representations in his affidavit were in fact Saxon employees authorized to make the
representations, the summary judgment record does not show any misrepresentation of
the character of Deubler’s debt—a mortgage debt; the amount he owed; or that the debt
was in default. Cf. Miller v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P., 726 F.3d 717, 723 (5th
Cir. 2013) (finding for purposes of dismissal under federal rule 12(b)(6), home-loan
debtors asserting section 392.304(a) claim did not allege they were misled by loan
assignee-as loan servicer-as to character, extent, amount, or status of debt).
13 Violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices— Consumer Protection Act (DTPA)
A ground for appellees’ no-evidence motion challenges Deubler’s claims under
the DTPA. TEX. BUS. & COMM. CODE ANN. § 17.41-.63 (West 2011 & Supp. 2014).
Among other things, they assert Deubler is not a consumer under the Act. Deubler
responds that his “claims are DTPA claims not by the language of the DTPA itself, nor
by virtue of qualification of a plaintiff thereunder, but wholly via the plain avenue of Tex.
Fin. Code § 392.404.”
A DTPA consumer is one who: (1) seeks or acquires goods or services by
purchase or lease; and (2) the goods or services sought or acquired form the basis of
his complaint. Flores v. Star Cab Coop. Ass’n, No. 07-06-000306-CV, 2008 Tex. App.
LEXIS 6582, at *14-15 (Tex. App.—Amarillo Aug. 28, 2008) (mem. op.) (citing Melody
Home Mfg. Co. v. Barnes, 741 S.W.2d 349, 351-52 (Tex. 1987) and Sherman Simon
Enters., Inc. v. Lorac Serv. Corp., 724 S.W.2d 13, 15 (Tex. 1987)). Ordinarily,
consumer status is a question of law for the court. Id. (citing Lukasik v. San Antonio
Blue Haven Pools, Inc., 21 S.W.3d 394, 401 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2000, no pet.)).
A violation of the TDCPA is also a violation of the DTPA. TEX. FIN. CODE ANN.
§ 392.404 (West 2006); Hare v. Hosto & Buchan, PLLC, 774 F. Supp. 2d 849, 853 (S.D.
Tex. 2011) (“Violations under the TDCA are automatically violations of the Texas
Deceptive Trade Practices Act”). However, as a threshold matter, a plaintiff proceeding
in this way under the TDCPA must still qualify as a “consumer” under the DTPA.
Cushman v. GC Services, L.P., 397 F. App’x 24, 28, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93434 (5th
Cir. 2010) (rejecting argument that TDCPA claimant proceeding under that act’s “tie-in”
14 provision to the DTPA need not establish consumer status under the DTPA and
explaining “[a]lthough the text of [DTPA] section 17.50(h) distinguishes the type of
damages that DTPA plaintiffs bringing claims through ‘tie-in’ statutes may recover, it
does not exempt those claimants from proving consumer status”); Miller, 726 F.3d at
725; Marketic v. U. S. Bank Nat’l Ass’n, 436 F. Supp. 2d 842, 855 (N.D. Tex. 2006)
(rejecting borrower’s argument that DTPA consumer status was not required to assert
TDCPA tie-in claim to DTPA, court explained borrower “fail[ed] to recognize that TEX.
BUS. & COM. CODE § 17.50(h) does not exempt claimants from showing that they qualify
as a ‘consumer’ under TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE § 17.45(4)”); see Flenniken v. Longview
Bank and Trust Co., 661 S.W.2d 705, 706 (Tex. 1983) (standing to sue under the DTPA
requires that the plaintiff qualify as a consumer).
Here Deubler obtained the loan as purchase money for a home. Flenniken, 661
S.W.2d at 708. But his complaint is with an intended modification of the loan. The loan
servicing and modification of the terms of indebtedness are not part of the arrangement
for financing the purchase of Deubler’s home. Rather, his complaint is of an entirely
different transaction based on representations made after he purchased his home. See
Miller, 726 F.3d at 725; Fix v. Flagstar Bank, FSB, 242 S.W.3d 147, 160 (Tex. App.—
Fort Worth 2007, pet. denied) (homeowner seeking refinancing services not consumer).
Deubler did not qualify as a consumer under the DTPA.
Loan Modification Agreement and the Statute of Frauds
Deubler asserts Saxon, individually and as the Bank’s agent, committed a
“material breach” by “representing to [Deubler] that there would be a modification and
15 no foreclosure unless and until all sums held in suspense had been properly posted.”
The record contains no written agreement for modification of the loan or forbearance of
foreclosure. Nor is there evidence of a promise to sign a prepared agreement validating
any representations. Deubler relies only on oral statements. Appellees argue this claim
is barred by the statute of frauds and we agree.4 Under the statute of frauds, “[a] loan
agreement in which the amount involved in the loan agreement exceeds $50,000 in
value is not enforceable unless the agreement is in writing and signed by the party to be
bound or by that party's authorized representative.” TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. §
26.02(b) (West 2015). An agreement regarding the transfer of property or the
modification of a loan must be in writing to be valid. Martins v. BAC Home Loans
Servicing, L.P., 722 F.3d 249, 256 (5th Cir. 2013); Guajardo v. JP Morgan Chase Bank,
N.A., No. 13-51025, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 3731, at *7 n.3 (5th Cir. Mar. 10, 2015) (per
curiam) (op. on reh’g) (alleged promise to delay foreclosure never reduced to writing).
The statute of frauds also requires any agreement in “which a financial institution loans
or delays repayment of” a loan must be in writing. TEX. BUS. & COM. CODE ANN. §
26.02(a)(2) (West 2015); see Williams v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 560 F. App’x 233,
239, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 5137 (5th Cir. 2014) (per curiam) (“The statute of frauds
also applies to preclude enforcement of oral modifications to loan agreements”); Bank of
Tex., N.A. v. Gaubert, 286 S.W.3d 546, 555-56 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, pet. dism’d
w.o.j.).
4 The statute of frauds is an affirmative defense. Dynegy, Inc. v. Yates, 422 S.W.3d 638, 640 (Tex. 2013).
16 Wrongful Foreclosure
Appellees sought a no-evidence summary judgment on Deubler’s wrongful
foreclosure claim, asserting he had no evidence supporting each element. On appeal,
Deubler argues his affidavit raises a fact issue precluding summary judgment on this
claim. A wrongful foreclosure claim requires proof of: (1) a defect in the foreclosure sale
proceedings; (2) a grossly inadequate selling price; and (3) a causal connection
between the defect and the grossly inadequate selling price. Buchanan v. Compass
Bank, No. 02-14-00034-CV, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 372, at *14-15 (Tex. App.—Fort
Worth Jan. 15, 2015, pet. denied) (citing Sauceda v. GMAC Mortg. Corp., 268 S.W.3d
135, 139 (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi 2008, no pet.)). While not particularly clear from
his brief, Deubler seems to contend a defect occurred in the foreclosure sale procedure
because the Bank and Saxon lacked authority to give required notices, appoint
substitute trustees, and conduct the sale. We have already rejected Deubler’s lack-of-
authority argument, and find it without merit here also. Deubler presented no evidence
supporting a claim of wrongful foreclosure.
Wrongful Eviction
In their no-evidence motion for summary judgment, appellees asserted Deubler
had no evidence of a wrongful eviction claim against the Bank.5 The elements of a
wrongful eviction claim are: (1) the existence of an unexpired contract of renting; (2) the
tenant’s occupancy of the premises; (3) the landlord’s eviction or disposition of the
5 The basis of this claim is not clearly demonstrated in the record. In the statement of facts section of his brief, Deubler states the “property affected was and remains [Deubler’s] residential homestead.” According to appellees’ brief, “Deubler continues to reside in the Property.”
17 tenant; and (4) damages attributable to the eviction. McKenzie v. Carte, 385 S.W.2d
520, 528 (Tex. Civ. App.—Corpus Christi 1964, writ ref’d n.r.e.). While Deubler also
argues his affidavit raises an issue of fact on this claim, the gravamen of his complaint
seems to be the authority of the Bank. That is, because it lacked authority to conduct
the sale it could not qualify as a bona fide purchaser of his home at the sale and hence
could not properly seek a writ of possession in justice court. Thus the complaint centers
on the asserted lack of authority of the Bank, an issue we have resolved against
Deubler. Further, under the terms of the deed of trust, if the property is sold under the
power of sale by the trustee, the borrower “shall immediately surrender possession of
the Property to the purchaser at that sale. If possession is not surrendered, Borrower or
such person shall be a tenant at sufferance and may be removed by writ of possession
or other court proceeding.” A tenant “who remains in possession of the premises after
termination of the lease occupies ‘wrongfully’ and is said to have a tenancy at
sufferance.” Coinmach Corp. v. Aspenwood Apt. Corp., 417 S.W.3d 909, 912 (Tex.
2013). “[A] tenant at sufferance is a trespasser and can be liable in tort (although the
extent of liability depends on the nature of the trespass) . . . .” Id. at 912-13. A
trespasser does not hold a right of possession of the property. Id. at 919.
Deemed Admissions
Finally, Deubler argues the judgment cannot rest on the strength of his deemed
admissions. The record contains numerous requests for admissions served on Deubler
by the Bank and Saxon. Some seem to seek admission of matters of law, others mixed
questions of law and fact, and others questions of fact. Deubler apparently did not
serve timely responses to the admissions. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 198.2(c) (“If a response
18 is not timely served, the request is considered admitted without the necessity of a court
order”). We dismiss Deubler’s complaint on this sub-issue as moot. We have
conducted our de novo review of his appellate complaints without consideration of his
admissions. As for whether the deemed admissions could properly support a judgment,
we do not say.
We overrule Deubler’s first issue.
Second Issue: Was Summary Judgment Premature?
By his second issue, Deubler argues the trial court abused its discretion by
proceeding to summary judgment because an adequate time for discovery had not
passed.
Suit was filed on August 21, 2011, and appellees filed their motions for summary
judgment on October 19, 2012. Deubler filed a detailed response and supplemental
response to the motions. The trial court signed the order granting appellees’ summary
judgment motions on February 26, 2013. We are not shown in the record, nor do we
find, Deubler’s sworn representation to the trial court of unavailable evidence. See TEX.
R. CIV. P. 166a(g). Nor are we shown that he otherwise, by sworn motion or affidavit,
sought a continuance or urged that an adequate time for discovery had not passed.
TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i). The trial court did not abuse its discretion by proceeding to final
disposition of the case on appellees’ motions for summary judgment.
Deubler’s second issue is overruled.
19 Conclusion
We find no error in the trial court’s grant of summary judgment for the Bank and
Saxon. Accordingly, we affirm the court’s judgment.
James T. Campbell Justice