Sgroe v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

941 F. Supp. 2d 731, 2013 WL 1739502, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56843
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Texas
DecidedApril 22, 2013
DocketCase No. 4:12-CV-144
StatusPublished
Cited by21 cases

This text of 941 F. Supp. 2d 731 (Sgroe v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sgroe v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 941 F. Supp. 2d 731, 2013 WL 1739502, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56843 (E.D. Tex. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

AMOS L. MAZZANT, United States Magistrate Judge.

Pending before the Court is Defendants Weds Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Weds Fargo”) and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation’s (“FHLMC”) Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. # 22). The Court, having considered the relevant pleadings, finds that Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment should be granted.

BACKGROUND

On or about April 18, 2003, Plaintiff Robert Sgroe and his wife, Shirley Sgroe, executed a Note (the “Note”) payable to Northwood Mortgage, Inc., in the principal amount of $86,100.00, together with interest at the rate of 6.25% per year until the full amount of principal had been paid.1 [738]*738To secure payment of the Note, a Deed of Trust (“Deed of Trust”) was concurrently executed by the Sgroes. The Deed of Trust encumbered the property known as 125 FM 2560, Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas 75482 (the “Property”). The Note and Deed of Trust are referred to herein as the “Loan Agreement.” On April 18, 2003, Northwood Mortgage, Inc. assigned the Note and Deed of Trust to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. On May 8, 2004, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. merged into its parent, Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Wells Fargo is the current holder of the original “wet ink” Note.

In late 2007, Plaintiff began to fall behind on making payments on the Note. On or about November 16, 2008, Wells Fargo notified the Plaintiff that he was in default pursuant to the Note and terms of the Deed of Trust. To cure the default, Plaintiff was required to pay $2,734.46 by December 16, 2008 (“Reinstatement Deadline”). Plaintiff did not make the required payment.

On December 16, 2008, Wells Fargo sent Plaintiff a letter informing him that he was being considered for a loan modification and that he needed to call. Plaintiff contacted Defendant for the purpose of seeking a loan modification and gave Defendant financial information to initiate the modification process. On January 7, 2009, Wells Fargo sent Plaintiff a letter acknowledging the recent telephone conversation between Plaintiff and Wells Fargo and asked for more financial information from Plaintiff.

On or about January 29, 2009, Plaintiff and Wells Fargo entered into a Stipulated Partial Reinstatement/Repayment Agreement. (“Reinstatement Agreement”). Under the Reinstatement Agreement, Plaintiff was required to make a payment of $100 by February 6, 2009, and a payment of $6,675.87 by April 28, 2009. Plaintiff failed to make the April payment.2 Plaintiffs last payment was in the amount of $751.31 on September 9, 2008. The Note is currently in default and Plaintiff has not cured the default.

On or about January 2, 2009, Wells Fargo appointed S. Walker, S. Spasic, C. Walker or P. Walker, as substitute trustees to proceed with any foreclosure sale related to the Property. On or about July 9, 2009, Wells Fargo’s foreclosure counsel, Barrett Daffin Frappier Turner & Engle, LLP (“Barrett”) sent Plaintiff a letter, via certified mail, notifying him that the Note had been accelerated and the foreclosure sale was scheduled for September 1, 2009.

On August 22, 2009, Plaintiff received a letter from Wells Fargo acknowledging Plaintiffs request for assistance with his mortgage payments. Wells Fargo informed Plaintiff that it was reviewing his request, would contact Plaintiff periodically, and that Plaintiff could expect to receive a final decision on his request within the next forty-five to sixty days. On August 24, 2009, Plaintiff received another [739]*739letter from Wells Fargo, again stating that Plaintiffs request for assistance was received, he would be contacted periodically, and that a final decision would be made on his request within the next forty-five to sixty days. On August 27, 2009, Plaintiff called Wells Fargo and spoke to a customer service representative who informed Plaintiff that he qualified for a loan modification on the condition that Plaintiff send a payment of twenty dollars to Defendant. On August 29, 2009, Plaintiff wired twenty dollars to Defendant through Western Union, which was accepted.3

On or about September 1, 2009, Shannah Walker, acting as the Substitute Trustee, conducted a foreclosure sale of the Property. FHLMC was the successful bidder at that sale, as memorialized in a Substitute Trustee’s Deed of the same date recorded at Clerk Number 4490 in the Official Public Records of Hopkins County, Texas (“Substitute Trustee’s Deed”). On September 27, 2011, FHLMC filed a forcible entry and detainer action against Plaintiff.

In an attempt to prevent eviction, on February 2, 2012, Plaintiff filed his Original Petition and Request for Injunctive Relief in state court. On November 30, 2012, Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment (Dkt. # 22). On December 30, 2012, Plaintiff filed a response (Dkt. #23, #24, #25). On January 7, 2013, Defendants filed a reply (Dkt. # 26).

[740]*740LEGAL STANDARD

The purpose of summary judgment is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims or defenses. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). Summary judgment is proper if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits “[show] that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). A dispute about a material fact is genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The trial court must resolve all reasonable doubts in favor of the party opposing the motion for summary judgment. Casey Enterprises, Inc. v. American Hardware Mut. Ins. Co., 655 F.2d 598, 602 (5th Cir.1981) (citations omitted). The substantive law identifies which facts are material. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505.

The party moving for summary judgment has the burden to show that there is no genuine issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Id. at 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505. If the movant bears the burden of proof on a claim or defense on which it is moving for summary judgment, it must come forward with evidence that establishes “beyond peradventure all of the essential elements of the claim or defense.” Fontenot v. Upjohn Co., 780 F.2d 1190, 1194 (5th Cir.1986). But if the nonmovant bears the burden of proof, the movant may discharge its burden by showing that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmovant’s case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548; Byers v. Dallas Morning News, Inc., 209 F.3d 419, 424 (5th Cir.2000). Once the movant has carried its burden, the nonmovant must “respond to the motion for summary judgment by setting forth particular facts indicating there is a genuine issue for trial.” Byers,

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941 F. Supp. 2d 731, 2013 WL 1739502, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56843, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sgroe-v-wells-fargo-bank-na-txed-2013.