Pierre v. Chase Home Finance, LLC

31 Mass. L. Rptr. 696
CourtMassachusetts Superior Court
DecidedDecember 23, 2013
DocketNo. SUCV201002705C
StatusPublished

This text of 31 Mass. L. Rptr. 696 (Pierre v. Chase Home Finance, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts Superior Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Pierre v. Chase Home Finance, LLC, 31 Mass. L. Rptr. 696 (Mass. Ct. App. 2013).

Opinion

Lauriat, Peter M., J.

Mirlene Villarcon Pierre (“Pierre”) brought this action against Chase Home Finance, now known as J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A, as successor by merger (“Chase”); WMC Mortgage, LLC (“WMC”); U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee to MASTR Asset-Backed Securities Trust 2006-WMC4 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2006-WMC4 (“U.S. Bank”); Anson Street, LLC; Resurgent Capital Services; Brian J. Simone (“Simone”); Lucner Charles (“Charles”); and Carlos Melo (“Melo”), for claims arising out of the loan origination for and foreclosure of Pierre’s residence (“the property”). This action is before the Court on four motions for summary judgment and several additional motions. WMC individually, Melo individually, and U.S. Bank and Chase jointly have moved for summary judgment against Pierre. She has, in turn, filed motions for summary judgment against these four defendants. In addition, U.S. Bank and Chase have jointly filed a motion to strike Pierre’s expert affidavit and report. Melo has filed a motion to vacate the preliminary injunction order and has also filed a complaint for contempt. For the following reasons, Pierre’s motions for summary [697]*697judgment are denied, and the defendants’ motions for summary judgment are allowed. In light of the court’s Order, Melo’s motion to vacate the preliminary injunction is allowed. The remaining motions and Melo’s Complaint for Contempt are denied as moot.

BACKGROUND

Except where otherwise noted, the following facts appear to be undisputed.1 In 2006, Pierre, who is an immigrant and speaks English as a second language, sought to apply for a mortgage loan with her husband. She met with a real estate broker, Lucner Charles, and signed an agreement with defendant WMC for two mortgage loans. The Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”), which is not a party to this action, originated both loans “as nominee” for defendant WMC. The exact amounts of the mortgage loans, as well as the purchase price, appear to be in dispute. It is not disputed that the loan to value ratio was at least one hundred percent. The first mortgage had an adjustable rate, while the second mortgage had a fixed interest rate with a substantial balloon payment.

On the loan application documents, Pierre’s monthly income was considerably inflated, and her father-in-law, who lived in Florida at the time and had no intention of occupying the property, was listed as a co-applicant. At the closing, Pierre’s husband, who intended to reside at the property with her, signed his father’s name on the loan documents in lieu of his own name. Pierre claims that defendant Charles, WMC’s closing agent, was responsible for the misrepresentations on the loan application, of which she alleges that she knew nothing, and that he had also urged her and her husband to substitute her father-in-law as co-applicant. Pierre claims that WMC knew or should have known of Charles’ actions.2

The closing on the loans took place on June 5,2006. At that time, the closing attorney, Brian J. Simone, informed Pierre that her monthly payment would not be the $1,500 to $2,000 per month that Pierre had discussed with Charles, but would instead be $3,100 per month. Attorney Simone promised, however, that she would be able to refinance in six months in order to lower the monthly payments.3 He also said that if she failed to proceed with the closing, she would lose her entire $6,100 deposit, much of which had been withdrawn from her husband’s retirement account. Pierre and her husband decided to proceed with the closing. Pierre’s husband signed his father’s name on the loan documents instead of his own name.

From the closing date through March 2008, Pierre and her husband made all mortgage payments. They attempted to refinance after her husband lost his job, but were unable to do so. On May 7, 2008, Chase, as servicer for U.S. Bank, sent Pierre an “Acceleration Warning (Notice of Intent to Foreclose).” On September 2, 2008, U.S. Bank filed a complaint to foreclose mortgage in Land Court pursuant to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.

On October 8, 2008, MERS assigned the mortgages to U.S. Bank, as Trustee of the MASTR Backed Securities Trust 2006-WMC4. The assignment was given a purportedly retroactive date of August 25, 2008. U.S. Bank claims that it purchased the mortgages from WMC prior to the assignment and asserts that U.S. Bank was the “lender” at the time that the “Acceleration Warning” was mailed.

On January 6, 2009, Pierre filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. On January 2, 2009, she filed an Intention to Surrender the home to U.S. Bank. She received a discharge in bankruptcy on April 7, 2009. On April 10, 2009, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order discharging the trustee and ordered the case closed. Pierre did not list any of her current claims against the defendants on her bankruptcy schedules.4

On November 10, 2009, U.S. Bank, through Chase and Harmon Law Offices, conducted a foreclosure auction of Pierre’s property. Melo, a real estate investor, was the highest bidder at the auction. On November 11, 2009, he sent Pierre a notice to quit. In June 2010, Pierre began paying Melo $1,357.10 per month in order to continue occupying the property.

Pierre filed her initial complaint in this action on July 6, 2010. This court allowed her motion to enjoin Melo from attempting to evict her, provided that she continue paying him $1,357.10 per month. In her Second Amended Complaint, she asserts eight claims against all defendants: G.L.c. 93A violations (Count I); G.L.c. 183C violations (Count II); civil conspiracy (Count III); fraud (Count IV); negligent misrepresentation (CountV); unconscionability (Count VI); breaches of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing (Count VII); breach of contract (against U.S. Bank, Chase and Melo only) (Count VIII), G.L.c. 140D violations (Count IX); trespass (against U.S. Bank, Chase and Melo only) (Count X); and clear title (against U.S. Bank, Chase and Melo only) (Count XI).

DISCUSSION

Only Melo has raised the question of Pierre’s standing to assert her claims given her Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge. Nonetheless, the question must be examined. “Because standing is a question of subject-matter jurisdiction, it must be established irrespective of whether it is challenged by an opposing party.” HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v. Matt, 464 Mass. 193, 199 (2013) (citation omitted). See also Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(h)(3) (“Whenever it appears by suggestion of a party or otherwise that the court lacks jurisdiction of the subject matter, the court shall dismiss the action”); icL, Reporter’s Notes (‘The lack of subject-matter jurisdiction may be raised at any time up to final judgment on appeal, in any way, by any party, or by the court sua sponte’j; Bevilacqua v. Rodriguez, 460 Mass. 762, 763 (2011) (“[I]t fell to the Land Court judge to raise the issue of Bevilacqua’s standing under G.L.c. 240, §1”).

[698]*698“Upon filing for bankruptcy protection, ‘all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case’ become property of the bankruptcy estate.” Augustin v. Danvers Bank, 486 F.Sup.2d 99, 103 (D.Mass. 2007), quoting 11 U.S.C. §541(a)(l).

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Bluebook (online)
31 Mass. L. Rptr. 696, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/pierre-v-chase-home-finance-llc-masssuperct-2013.