Svoboda v. Bank of America, N.A.

964 F. Supp. 2d 659, 2013 WL 4017904, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109995
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Texas
DecidedAugust 6, 2013
DocketCv. No. SA-12-CV-00484-DAE
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 964 F. Supp. 2d 659 (Svoboda v. Bank of America, N.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Svoboda v. Bank of America, N.A., 964 F. Supp. 2d 659, 2013 WL 4017904, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109995 (W.D. Tex. 2013).

Opinion

[663]*663 ORDER: (1) GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT; (2) DENYING PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

DAVID ALAN EZRA, Senior District Judge.

Before the Court is a Motion for Summary Judgment brought by Defendants Bank of America, N.A., Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., and ReconTrust Company, N.A. (collectively, “Defendants”) and a Motion for Summary Judgment brought by Plaintiffs John F. Svoboda and Rita A. Svoboda (collectively, “Plaintiffs”). After careful consideration of the memoranda in support of and in opposition to the motions, the Court, for the reasons that follow, GRANTS Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment (doc. # 8) and DENIES Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment (doc. # 23).

BACKGROUND

I. Factual Background

On May 4, 2006, Plaintiffs obtained a loan in the amount of $560,000.00 secured by real property located at 10 Mira Loma, New Braunfels, Texas 78130 (the “Subject Property”). (“MSJ,” Doc. # 3, Ex. A-l.) Plaintiffs executed both a promissory note (the “Note”) and a security instrument (the “Deed of Trust”), which each list Security National Mortgage Company as the Lender. (Id, Exs. A-l, A-2.) The Deed of Trust was recorded in the Official Public Records of Comal County, Texas and lists Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”) as “beneficiary” acting “solely as a nominee for Lender and Lender’s successors and assigns.” (Id. Ex. A-2.) The Deed of Trust also provides that “MERS holds only legal title to the interests granted by the Borrower in this Security instrument” and that “MERS (as nominee for Lender and Lender’s successors and assigns) has the right: to exercise any or all those interests, including ... the right to foreclose and sell the Property.” (Id.)

There is no dispute that, by 2010, Plaintiffs had fallen behind on their mortgage payments. (See id. Exs. A-3, A-4, A-8.) BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP (“BAC Home Loans”), acting as mortgage servicer, modified Plaintiffs’ loan effective May 1, 2010. (Id. A-6.) Following the loan modification, Plaintiffs again defaulted on their mortgage. (Id. Exs. A-3, A-4.) On December 23, 2010, BAC Home Loans sent a letter notifying Plaintiffs of the default. (Id. Ex. A-8.)

On May 2, 2011, MERS assigned the Deed of Trust to “BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP FKA Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP.” (Id. Ex. A-5.) More specifically, MERS assigned “all beneficial interest under that certain Deed of Trust ... together with the note(s) and obligations therein described .... and all rights accrued or to accrue under said Deed of Trust.” (Id.) The assignment of the Deed of Trust was recorded in the Official Public Records of Comal County, Texas on May 12, 2011. (Id.) Later that year, Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) became successor by merger to BAC Home Loans. (Id. Exs. A, A-5.)

On December 1, 2011, the Deed of Trust was assigned by BAC Home Loans to Bank of America “for the benefit of JP Morgan Alternative Loan Trust 2006-S3.” (Id. Ex. A-7.) The assignment was recorded in the Official Public Records of Comal County, Texas on March 15, 2012. (Id.)

As a result of Plaintiffs’ default, Bank of America accelerated the loan and initiated foreclosure proceedings on the Subject Property. (Id. A-9.) In a letter notifying Plaintiffs of the acceleration, Bank of [664]*664America explained that it was successor by merger to BAC Home Loans and lists itself as the “Mortgagee” and “Mortgage Servicer.” (Id.) The January 17, 2012 Notice of Substitute Trustee’s Sale for the Subject Property lists Bank of America as the mortgagee of the Note and Deed of Trust as well as the mortgage servicer. (Id.)

On February 7, 2012, the Subject Property was purchased at auction by Bank of America, “successor by merger to BAC Home Loan Servicing, LP FKA Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, LP, for the benefit of JP Morgan Alternative Loan Trust 2006-S3.” (Id. Ex. A-12.)

II. Procedural History

On May 1, 2012, Plaintiffs filed suit in the 22nd Judicial District Court of Comal County, Texas against Bank of America, Recontrust Company, N.A., MERS, and Security National Mortgage Company. (Doc. # 1, Ex. A.) The state-court petition brings causes of action for wrongful foreclosure and quiet title along with claims for violations of the Texas Property Code, the Texas Business and Commerce Code, and the Texas Debt Collection Act. (Id.) Additionally, the petition seeks a temporary injunction, declaratory relief, and attorneys’ fees. (Id.)

Defendants removed the case to this Court on May 16, 2012. (Doc. # 1.) On November 12, 2012, Defendants filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. # 3.) Plaintiffs did not timely file any response to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment.

Six months later, on May 14, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. # 23.) Soon thereafter, Defendants filed an Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment (doe. # 24) and a Reply in support of their own Motion for Summary Judgment (doc. # 25). On May 28, 2013, the Court heard the motions for summary judgment. (See Doc. # 27.)

On June 9, 2013, Plaintiffs filed an Advisory to the Court, and the Court permitted Defendants to file a Sur-Reply. (Docs. ## 29-31.) Defendants also filed a Supplement to the Record on July 2, 2013, and Plaintiffs filed a Response to Defendants’ Sur-Reply. (Docs. ## 32-34.)

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Summary judgment is granted under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 when “the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a); see also Cannata v. Catholic Diocese of Austin, 700 F.3d 169, 172 (5th Cir.2012). The main purpose of summary judgment is to dispose of factually unsupported claims and defenses. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

• The moving party bears the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of any genuine issue of material fact. Id. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the moving party meets this burden, the non-moving party must come forward with specific facts that establish the existence of a genuine issue for trial. ACE Am. Ins. Co. v. Freeport Welding & Fabricating, Inc., 699 F.3d 832, 839 (5th Cir.2012). In deciding whether a fact issue has been created, “the court must draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party, and it may not make credibility determinations or weigh the evidence.” Reeves v. Sander-son Plumbing Prods., Inc., 530 U.S. 133, 150, 120 S.Ct. 2097, 147 L.Ed.2d 105 (2000).

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Bluebook (online)
964 F. Supp. 2d 659, 2013 WL 4017904, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109995, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/svoboda-v-bank-of-america-na-txwd-2013.