Secy. of Veterans Affairs v. Shaffer

2017 Ohio 801

• Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
• Decided: March 6, 2017
• Docket: 16CA23
• Status: Published

Opinion

[Cite as Secy. of Veterans Affairs v. Shaffer, 2017-Ohio-801.]

COURT OF APPEALS RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

JUDGES: SECRETARY OF VETERANS : Hon. W. Scott Gwin, P.J. AFFAIRS : Hon. William B. Hoffman, J. : Hon. Craig R. Baldwin, J. Plaintiff-Appellee : : -vs- : Case No. 16CA23 : TRISH SHAFFER, AKA PATRICIA : SHAFFER, NKA TRISH L. GOGGIN, : OPINION ET AL

Defendant-Appellant

CHARACTER OF PROCEEDING: Civil appeal from the Richland County Court of Common Pleas, Case No. 2012CV1029

JUDGMENT: Affirmed

DATE OF JUDGMENT ENTRY: March 6, 2017

APPEARANCES:

For Plaintiff-Appellee For Defendant-Appellant

MATTHEW RICHARDSON TRISH SHAFFER PRO SE P.O. Box 165028 Box 3832 Columbus, OH 43216-5028 Mansfield, OH 44907-3832 Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 2

Gwin, P.J.

{¶1} Appellant appeals the March 24, 2016 judgment entry and decree of

foreclosure of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas.

Facts & Procedural History

{¶2} In 1979, Ronald and Sharon Pence (the “Pences”) gave a mortgage to

Hartzler Mortgage in the amount of $35,000 on the property at issue. The mortgage

expressly states that its covenants “shall bind * * * the respective heirs, executors,

administrators, successors and assigns the parties hereto.” One of the covenants of the

mortgage is that the “Grantor” of the mortgage “will promptly pay the principal and interest

on the indebtedness evidenced by the said note, at the times and in the manner therein

provided.” Further, under the mortgage, the term “Grantee,” “shall include any payee of

the indebtedness hereby secured or any transferee thereof whether by operation of law

or otherwise.”

{¶3} In 1982, the Pences sold the property to Mark Campbell (“Campbell”). The

deed from the Pences to Campbell indicated that Campbell had assumed the

indebtedness on the property as his own.

{¶4} In 1986, Campbell sold the property to appellant Trish Shaffer (“Shaffer”)

and her then-husband Richard Shaffer. As with the deed from the Pences to Campbell,

the deed from Campbell to the Shaffers indicated the Shaffers had assumed the

indebtedness on the property as their own, and that the Secretary would be indemnified

upon a default on the mortgage loan indebtedness. Subsequently, when they divorced,

Richard Shaffer quitclaimed his interest in the property to appellant. Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 3

{¶5} In 1979, Hartzler assigned its mortgage to the States Teachers Retirement

Board of Ohio. In 1998, the State Teachers Retirement Board assigned the mortgage to

Lasalle Bank. In 1999, Lasalle Bank assigned the mortgage to Chase Mortgage

Company (“Chase”). In 2001, Chase assigned the mortgage to appellee, the Secretary

of Veterans Affairs (“Secretary”), who continues to hold the mortgage.

{¶6} On August 29, 2012, the Secretary filed a foreclosure complaint against

Shaffer, seeking judgment against her in the amount of $32,110.00 at the rate of 9.5%

from December 1, 2000. Attached to the complaint were copies of the mortgage and all

assignments of the mortgage. The Secretary did not attach a copy of the note, but stated,

“a copy of the note cannot be located at this time.”

{¶7} On October 3, 2012, Shaffer filed an answer to the complaint and

counterclaim. Shaffer denied all allegations in the complaint and alleged, in support of

her counterclaim, that the Secretary failed to respond to a qualified written request Shaffer

allegedly sent to the Secretary under the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act

(“RESPA”). In support of her RESPA claim, Shaffer alleged the Secretary had been the

servicer of the mortgage loan since the inception of the mortgage. However, Shaffer did

not attach copies of her alleged qualified written request to her pleading. Shaffer also

alleged the Secretary had falsely reported that Shaffer was in default on her mortgage

loan and asserted a claim under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”). Shaffer

did not attach any documentation to her counterclaim to indicate the Secretary had taken

any such action.

{¶8} Shaffer filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings against the Secretary,

arguing the Secretary lacked standing to file suit. Shaffer also argued that Chase, which Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 4

had filed a prior foreclosure action against Shaffer that was subsequently dismissed

without prejudice in October of 2000, had “waived” its right to foreclose and further alleged

that the alleged waiver bound the Secretary in this case. Finally, Shaffer argued the

complaint was barred by the statute of limitations on grounds that the default occurred in

1986, not 2000 as alleged by the Secretary. The trial court denied Shaffer’s motion. The

parties then engaged in discovery.

{¶9} Both Shaffer and the Secretary filed motions for summary judgment. While

the trial court granted summary judgment to the Secretary on Shaffer’s counterclaim, the

trial court denied both parties their respective summary judgment motions on the

foreclosure complaint. In its opinion denying the motions for summary judgment, the trial

court found Shaffer had indeed assumed the indebtedness as consideration for

purchasing the property, but went on to find the Secretary had not produced a payment

history in order to establish the amount due and owing on the mortgage loan.

{¶10} The trial court held a bench trial on August 30, 2013. Shaffer did not appear

for the trial, nor did she produce any witnesses or evidence at the trial. Residential Credit

Solutions, Inc. (“Residential”), the current servicer for the loan, appeared on behalf of the

Secretary. Residential produced an employee to testify as to the status and details of the

loan. Additionally, the Secretary produced certified copies of recorded documents, such

as the relevant deed transfers, mortgage, and assignments of mortgage, all of which were

admitted into evidence. Additionally, because she did not appear at trial, the Secretary

read into the trial court record Shaffer’s testimony from her deposition.

{¶11} At trial, the Secretary called Justin Laubscher (“Laubscher”) of Residential,

to testify as to the status of the loan and the transfer of the servicing rights of the loan. Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 5

Laubscher also authenticated business records to indicate the amount of the principal

balance on the loan and the amount due and owing. Laubscher stated he reviewed the

loan file showing that when Residential booked the loan, the balance of the loan was

$32,110. Laubscher testified the total due and owing is a total of $72,974.08, consisting

of: $32,110 in principal, $38,880.76 in interest, $1,768.82 in taxes and insurance, and

$214.50 for property inspections. The Secretary introduced Exhibit 5, which Laubscher

stated was the judgment figure on the loan. Laubscher testified the purpose of the

document was to account for the total amount due on the loan and that Residential’s

foreclosure department prepared the document. Further, that it is Residential’s business

practice to prepare judgment figures. Laubscher stated the payoff amount is higher than

the judgment amount they are seeking because, in the judgment amount, the Secretary

is not seeking late charges.

{¶12} On cross-examination, Laubscher testified the figures take into account

payments made, but that there were no payments made. Over the objection of Shaffer’s

counsel, the trial court admitted the business records of Residential indicating the total

amount due and owing. All records reflecting the deed transfers, the mortgage and

assignments thereof, and Residential’s loan records were admitted into evidence.

{¶13} The trial court ordered a post-trial hearing on the issue of the unpaid

balance. Shaffer filed a brief arguing the exact amount due and owing had not been

established and the lack of a payment history denied the Secretary the right to foreclose.

The Secretary argued it had satisfied its burden as to the amount of damages. At the

post-judgment hearing, Shaffer appeared and moved to introduce new evidence that she Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 6

had “just found . . . in the last three weeks” regarding the amount due and owing on her

mortgage loan. The trial court refused to admit these documents into evidence.

{¶14} The magistrate issued a judgment entry granting judgment to Shaffer. The

magistrate found Shaffer had not made a payment on the loan since December 1, 2000,

but also found the Secretary could not enforce the indebtedness Shaffer had assumed

on grounds that the Secretary could not produce the original promissory note. The

magistrate further found the Secretary had not met its burden to establish its damages on

grounds that the Secretary had not produced a payment history for the mortgage loan.

Finally, the magistrate found it would be inequitable to permit the Secretary to foreclose

on the grounds that Shaffer would not be able to determine the amount necessary to

redeem the property.

{¶15} The Secretary objected to the magistrate’s decision. The trial court affirmed

the magistrate’s decision, finding the Secretary had not established its damages with a

payment history. The Secretary appealed the trial court’s decision to this Court, arguing

the trial court erred in denying them a money judgment on its foreclosure complaint. In

Secretary of Veterans Affairs v. Shaffer, 5th Dist. Richland No. 14 CA 61, 2015-Ohio-

2237, this Court found the trial court erred: in holding the Secretary was required to

produce evidence concerning the promissory note; in finding the Secretary was required

to produce a payment history in order to be entitled to a money judgment; and in

concluding it would be inequitable to grant the Secretary a decree of foreclosure. We

found that, at trial, the Secretary produced evidence as to the total principal balance due

and owing, as well as a breakdown of the principal, interest, and fees for escrow and

property inspections. Further, that there is no requirement that a plaintiff provide a Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 7

complete “payment history” in order to establish its entitlement to summary judgment in

a foreclosure action. Id.

{¶16} Thus, this Court sustained the Secretary’s assignments of error, reversed

the judgment of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas, and remanded the case

for further proceedings consistent with our opinion. Shaffer did not appeal this Court’s

decision to the Ohio Supreme Court.

{¶17} On July 2, 2015, the trial court issued an order on remand, recognizing this

Court held it was not necessary for the Secretary to produce a payment history on the

loan, but that it was only required to produce the balance due to recover. The trial court

found the Secretary did produce evidence at the bench trial that the balance owed was

$72,974.08. Shaffer filed an appeal of the trial court’s order on remand. This Court

dismissed Shaffer’s appeal, finding “until a final decree of foreclosure is issued by the trial

court, this court is without jurisdiction to consider the merits in this matter.” Secretary of

Veterans Affairs v. Shaffer, 5th Dist. Richland No. 15-CA-65, 2016-Ohio-902.

{¶18} The trial court issued a judgment entry and decree in foreclosure on March

24, 2016, in accordance with this Court’s opinion and judgment entry. The trial court

stated that, consistent with this Court’s opinion and judgment entry, the Secretary is

entitled to judgment on its complaint against Shaffer. The trial court found that, as of the

August 30, 2013 trial date, the total balance owed was $72,974.08, including $32,110 in

principal, $38,880.76 in interest, $1,768.82 in escrow items, and $214.50 for property

inspections.

{¶19} Shaffer appeals the March 24, 2016 judgment entry of the Richland County

Court of Common Pleas and assigns the following as error: Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 8

{¶20} “I. THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION IN ENTERING A

JUDGMENT AGAINST APPELLANT FOR PURPOSE OF BALANCED OWED.

{¶21} “II. INEFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.

{¶22} “III. THE COURT ERR[ED] IN [ITS] OPINION TO GRANT FORECLOSURE

AND JUDGMENT FOR DAMAGES LACKING EVIDENCE OF PAYMENT HISTORY.

{¶23} “IV. THE COURT [ERRED] TO AWARD JUDGMENT LACKING

EVIDENCE OF [THE] PROMISSORY NOTE.”

I.

{¶24} In her first assignment of error, Shaffer contends the trial court erred in

entering a decree of foreclosure. Shaffer makes two arguments in this assignment of

error. Though appellant categorizes her first assignment of error as having an abuse of

discretion standard, we find the substance of appellant’s first argument is that the trial

court erred by entering the decree of foreclosure because the Secretary did not provide

sufficient evidence of its damages. Thus, our standard of review is manifest weight of the

evidence. Accordingly, a judgment supported by some competent, credible evidence

going to all the essential elements of the case will not be reversed on appeal. C.E. Morris

v. Foley Constr., 54 Ohio St.2d 279, 376 N.E.2d 578 (1978).

{¶25} At trial, Laubscher authenticated business records to indicate the amount

of the principal balance on the loan and the amount due and owing. Specifically,

Laubscher testified Exhibit 5 was the judgment figure on the loan. Laubscher stated he

reviewed the loan filing showing that when Residential booked the loan, the balance of

the loan was $32,110. Further, that the total due and owing is $72,974.08, consisting of:

$32,110 in principal, $38,880.76 in interest, $1,768.82 in taxes and insurance, and Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 9

$214.50 for property inspections. On cross-examination, Laubscher confirmed the figures

take into account the payments made, but that there was no payments made. Shaffer’s

counsel had the opportunity to cross-examine Laubscher regarding his testimony about

the total due and owing. Schaffer did not produce any evidence or testimony to contradict

Laubscher’s testimony or the exhibits introduced by the Secretary as to the amount due

and owing. Accordingly, we find the trial court’s determination as to the total amount of

damages is supported by competent and credible evidence. Further, in Secretary I, we

found that, at trial, the Secretary produced evidence as to the total principal balance due

and owing, as well as a breakdown of the principal, interest, and fees for escrow and

property inspections. Thus, we find Shaffer’s first argument to be without merit.

{¶26} Second, Shaffer argues the trial court erred in granting the decree of

foreclosure when the Secretary did not produce evidence of a payment history at trial.

We find this argument is barred by res judicata and the law of the case doctrine.

{¶27} The law of the case “doctrine provides that the decision of a reviewing court

in a case remains the law of that case on the legal questions involved for all subsequent

proceedings in the case at both trial and reviewing levels.” Nolan v. Nolan, 11 Ohio St.3d

1, 462 N.E.2d 410 (1984). “This is necessary to ensure consistency of results in a case,

to avoid endless litigation by settling the issues, and to preserve the structure of superior

and inferior courts as designed by the Ohio Constitution.” Id. The doctrine prevents lower

courts from “disregard[ing] the mandate of a superior court in a prior appeal in the same

case.” Id. Likewise, it prohibits litigants from “mak[ing] new arguments to the trial court

on remand that were raised or could have been raised on the first appeal.” Neiswinter v. Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 10

Nationwide Mut. Fire Ins.Co., 9th Dist. Summit No. 23648, 2008-Ohio-37; Johnson v.

Johnson, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2016CA00060, 2016-Ohio-7861.

{¶28} Under the doctrine of res judicata, a “valid, final judgment rendered upon

the merits bars all subsequent actions based upon any claim arising out of the transaction

or occurrence that was the subject matter of the previous action.” State ex rel. Denton v.

Bedinghaus, 98 Ohio St.3d 298, 2003-Ohio-861, 784 N.E.2d 99. Thus, a final judgment

on the merits of an action precludes the parties from re-litigating issues that were or could

have been raised in that action. Id.

{¶29} Shaffer’s argument as to the requirement of a payment history has already

been addressed by this Court in Secretary I, in which we found the trial court erred in

holding the Secretary was required to produce a payment history in order to be entitled

to a money judgment. Thus, we reversed the trial court’s decision and remanded the

case to the trial court for proceedings consistent with our decision. Shaffer did not appeal

this determination to the Ohio Supreme Court. As such, our decision in Secretary I is law

of the case, and Shaffer’s argument as to payment history is barred by res judicata.

{¶30} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.

II.

{¶31} In her second assignment of error, appellant argues ineffective assistance

of trial counsel in failing to subpoena Richard Shaffer about the payment history and in

failing to offer documents until after the closing argument.

{¶32} This Court has recognized that a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel

is not a proper ground on which to reverse the judgment of a lower court in a civil case

that does not result in incarceration in its application when the attorney was employed by Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 11

a civil litigant. Rafeld v. Sours, 5th Dist. Ashland No. 14 COA 006, 2014-Ohio-4242;

Phillis v. Phillis, 164 Ohio App.3d 364, 842 N.E.2d 555 (5th Dist. 2005). In this case, the

judgment does not result in incarceration. Thus, a claim of ineffective assistance of

counsel is not a proper ground on which to reverse the judgment. While this Court has

allowed an exception for ineffective assistance claims in civil permanent custody appeals,

this is not the case in this instance. Id. Appellant’s second assignment of error is

overruled.

III.

{¶33} In her third assignment of error, Shaffer again argues the trial court abused

its discretion in issuing a decree of foreclosure when the Secretary did not introduce

evidence of a payment history at trial. This argument is identical to the argument Shaffer

made in her first assignment of error. As explained in the first assignment of error,

Shaffer’s third assignment of error is overruled based upon res judicata and the law of the

case doctrine.

IV.

{¶34} In her fourth assignment of error, Shaffer contends the trial court erred in

entering a judgment entry and decree of foreclosure when the Secretary failed to

introduce the original promissory note at trial. In Secretary I, we found the trial court erred

in holding the Secretary was required to produce evidence concerning the promissory

note in this case because the agreement to pay the debt was contained in the deed.

Thus, the note was not relevant to the instant litigation and the Secretary was not required

to produce it or provide an explanation as to why it could not produce the note. Shaffer

did not appeal this determination to the Ohio Supreme Court. Accordingly, our decision Richland County, Case No. 16CA23 12

in Secretary I is law of the case, and Shaffer’s argument as to the promissory note is

barred by res judicata. Shaffer’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.

{¶35} Based on the foregoing, Shaffer’s assignments of error are overruled. The

March 24, 2016 judgment entry of the Richland County Court of Common Pleas is

affirmed.

By Gwin, P.J.,

Hoffman, J., and

Baldwin, J., concur