Vacarro v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. CA4/1 (2015) · DecisionDepot
Vacarro v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. CA4/1
California Court of Appeal Oct 20, 2015 No. D066451Unpublished
Filed 10/20/15 Vacarro v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
NICHOLAS VACARRO, D066451
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2012-00096755-CU-OR-CTL) WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. et al.,
Defendants and Respondents.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Richard
E.L. Strauss, Judge. Affirmed.
Dennis Howard Moore for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Reed Smith and Michael Ellis Gerst, Matthew James Brady for Defendants and
Respondents.
Plaintiff and appellant Nicholas Vacarro appeals from a judgment entered after the
trial court sustained without leave to amend the demurrer of defendants and respondents
Wells Fargo Bank N.A. (Wells Fargo), as trustee for the Holders of Bear Sterns Arm
Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-3 (the trust) and ReconTrust
Company, N.A. (ReconTrust) to Vacarro's second amended complaint. In his operative
pleading, Vacarro sought to allege causes of action to void and set aside a notice of
default, notice of trustee's sale, and assignment of his deed of trust; declaratory and
injunctive relief; violation of the unfair competition law (UCL; Bus. & Prof. Code,
§ 17200 et seq.) and quiet title. Vacarro contends his complaint states valid causes of
action, and that he should have been granted leave to amend to state a cause of action for
wrongful foreclosure on grounds his promissory note and deed of trust were never
conveyed to the trust, and the conveyance of his note and deed of trust by assignment was
void. We affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In setting out the facts on review of a demurrer, we accept as true the well-pleaded
facts in the operative second amended complaint. (Beacon Residential Community Assn.
v. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (2014) 59 Cal.4th 568, 571.) We may also consider
matters that have been judicially noticed. (Committee for Green Foothills v. Santa Clara
County Bd. of Supervisors (2010) 48 Cal.4th 32, 42.)
In January 2007, Vacarro obtained a $665,000 loan on property in San Diego,
California (the property). He executed a promissory note secured by a deed of trust
identifying the lender as America's Wholesale Lender (lender), ReconTrust as the trustee,
and Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) as the nominee for the
lender and the lender's successors and assigns.
In August 2011, Luis Roldan, who purported to be a MERS representative,
executed an assignment of the deed of trust from MERS to the trust. The trust is an
2
express trust established by a pooling and servicing agreement (PSA), which is governed
by New York law. The trust's assets are mortgage loans and other related items, which
are to be treated as a real estate mortgage investment conduit (REMIC) trust.
In November 2011, ReconTrust recorded a notice of default on the property
indicating Vacarro owed $89,141 in past due payments. It issued a notice of trustee's sale
indicating the property would be sold in March 2012 at public auction.
In May 2012, Vacarro sued Wells Fargo and ReconTrust asserting causes of action
to void and set aside the notice of default, notice of trustee's sale, and assignment of his
deed of trust; declaratory and injunctive relief; and violation of the UCL. In part, he
alleged the trust never acquired possession of the note or the rights of MERS and lender;
the trust was not a successor to MERS or the lender; the note was not delivered or
assigned to the trust; and the trust could not enforce the note, which rendered its interest
and any foreclosure sale void. He alleged the trust's interest was void due to
noncompliance with the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), and for the same reason its
acts were unlawful for purposes of the UCL.
Defendants demurred, and Vacarro filed a first amended complaint adding a cause
of action for quiet title, as well as allegations concerning the PSA. In part, he alleged the
PSA had a clause prohibiting the trust from acquiring any loan after April 30, 2007,
without a "REMIC opinion." Vacarro alleged that because Roldan was not an agent or
employee of MERS or lender, the trust never acquired the rights of MERS or lender, nor
had the note been delivered to the trust, and thus the assignment was "void ab initio along
with everything that follows from it." He alleged that even if the loan was conveyed by
3
assignment to the trust, that assignment violated the PSA because it occurred years after
April 30, 2007. Defendants again demurred, and Vacarro moved for leave to file a
second amended complaint, stating that his additional allegations would address Civil
Code section 2924.17 of the Homeowner Bill of Rights.
The trial court sustained defendants' demurrer but granted Vacarro leave to amend
and he filed the operative second amended complaint.1 Vacarro added allegations that
his claims about Luis Roldan were "on information and belief based upon reading many
internet reports about Luis Roldan being a robo-signor [sic] and not being employed by
MERS or [lender] or being an agent for MERS or [lender]." Vacarro alleged he was
prejudiced by the trust foreclosing on his home without any interest in the note or trust
deed because he was denied the opportunity for the "true beneficiary" to assess and
explore options with him to avoid foreclosure, and that while the trust or its agent
assessed him for a loan modification, he was unable to have the true beneficiary assess
him. He alleged he would not have an opportunity to see if he qualified for a loan
modification program belonging to his true beneficiary. Vacarro alleged that because the
assignment was void and the debt not assigned to the trust, the trust's mortgage servicer
1 In part, the trial court ruled as to the first cancellation cause of action that Vacarro failed to plead sufficient facts demonstrating the invalidity of the assignment; Roldan lacked authority to assign the deed of trust; there was impropriety in the foreclosure process; he had standing to challenge or enforce the PSA's terms; or he suffered prejudice from the purported invalid assignment. It ruled that nonjudicial foreclosure sales were governed by Civil Code sections 2924 through 2924i, not the UCC. Because the remaining causes of action were based on the same allegations, the trial court found those claims failed as well. It additionally ruled Vacarro did not state a quiet title claim because his complaint was not verified. 4
would not be able to rely on "competent reliable evidence" of its right to foreclose on his
property. In his UCL cause of action, Vacarro newly alleged there was "unlawful
conduct" because his loan was assigned to the trust in contravention of New York law.
Defendants demurred on grounds the complaint failed to state facts sufficient to
constitute a cause of action. They argued Vacarro could not state a claim to cancel
instruments because he could not show the invalidity of the recorded documents, and
failed to allege facts to support his allegation that the assignment was void. In particular,
they argued Vacarro only alleged general conclusions on information and belief about
Roldan's status, and could not plead specific facts showing that Roldan lacked authority
to assign his deed of trust. They argued Vacarro was not a party to the PSA to permit his
enforcement of its terms, and thus lacked standing to challenge compliance with that
agreement or the foreclosure process because a preemptive lawsuit was not permitted.
They argued he could not allege prejudice because his deed of trust provided the note or
partial interest in the note could be sold one or more times without prior notice to the
borrower. For the same reasons, defendants argued Vacarro lacked standing to assert a
claim for declaratory relief, which was in any event duplicative of the cancellation cause
of action, and that because he had no valid underlying claim, he could not state a claim
for injunctive relief. They argued Vacarro's UCL cause of action failed; that he could not
allege facts establishing damages or causal nexus between lost money or property and
defendants' actions, and thus lacked standing to allege such a claim, and also could not
establish underlying violations with particularity. Finally, defendants argued Vacarro
5
could not maintain a quiet title cause of action because he failed to allege he tendered
payment of the outstanding debt.
Vacarro opposed the motion, but did not address defendants' arguments
concerning his UCL and quiet title causes of action. Granting the parties' requests for
judicial notice,2 the trial court sustained defendants' demurrer without leave to amend. It
ruled Vacarro failed to plead sufficient facts to support the invalidity of the assignment or
Roldan's authority to assign, impropriety in the foreclosure process, standing to challenge
or enforce the PSA, or prejudice from the purported invalid assignment. It ruled the deed
of trust expressly gave MERS the authority to sell the beneficial interest in the property
as nominee of lender's or its successors and assigns, and under Herrera v. Federal
National Mortgage Assn. (2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 1495, MERS had the power to assign
its interest under the trust deed. The court ruled Vacarro did not allege specific facts
supporting the allegations against Roldan or showing the necessary injury as he conceded
he was in default. It ruled there were no facts to support the proposition that the true
beneficiary would not have initiated foreclosure proceedings. Finally, it ruled that to the
extent Vacarro sought to allege a claim under the Homeowner Bill of Rights Act, that law
was not retroactive and would not be applicable to defendants' 2012 conduct.
Vacarro appeals from the ensuing judgment.
2 The trial court's order states it granted the parties' requests for judicial notice "consistent with Fontenot v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 256, 266; and Skov v. U.S. Bank Nat. Assn. (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 690, 696." Fontenot explained that it was within the court's power to "take judicial notice of the dates, parties, and legally operative language of a series of recorded documents . . . ." (Fontenot, at p. 265.) 6
DISCUSSION
I. Standard of Review
Our review standard on this demurrer is settled. We review the allegations of the
operative complaint de novo to determine if they allege facts sufficient to state a claim
for relief under any legal theory. (Committee for Green Foothills v. Santa Clara County
Bd. of Supervisors, supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 42; Apple Inc. v. Superior Court (2013) 56
Cal.4th 128, 156.) " 'In doing so, we treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts
properly pleaded. " 'Further, we give the complaint a reasonable interpretation, reading it
as a whole and its parts in their context.' " ' " (Apple Inc. v. Superior Court, at p. 156.)
We may also consider matters that the court has judicially noticed. (Committee for Green
Foothills, at p. 42.)
"A demurrer may be sustained where judicially noticeable facts render the
pleading defective [citation], and allegations in the pleading may be disregarded if they
are contrary to facts judicially noticed." (Intengan v. BAC Home Loans Servicing LP
(2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1047, 1052; see also Fontenot v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., supra,
198 Cal.App.4th at pp. 264-265 [in sustaining demurrer, court properly took judicial
notice of recorded documents that clarified and to some extent contradicted plaintiff's
allegations].) "In order to prevail on appeal from an order sustaining a demurrer, the
appellant must affirmatively demonstrate error. Specifically, the appellant must show
that the facts pleaded are sufficient to establish every element of a cause of action and
overcome all legal grounds on which the trial court sustained the demurrer. [Citation.]
7
We will affirm the ruling if there is any ground on which the demurrer could have been
properly sustained." (Intengan, at p. 1052.)
"If we conclude the complaint fails on any grounds stated in the demurrer, we
must then consider whether there is a ' "reasonable possibility" ' the complaint's defect(s)
can be cured by an amendment. [Citation.] If it is apparent the complaint's defects can
be cured, the trial court has abused its discretion and we will reverse the judgment.
[Citation.] Alternatively, if it is apparent the complaint's defects cannot be cured, no
abuse of discretion has occurred and we will affirm the judgment. [Citation.] The
burden of proving the reasonable possibility of such a curative amendment falls
' " 'squarely on the plaintiff[s].' " ' " (Jenkins v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (2013) 216
Cal.App.4th 497, 506-507; see Schifando v. City of Los Angeles (2003) 31 Cal.4th 1074,
1081.) " 'To satisfy that burden on appeal, a plaintiff "must show in what manner he can
amend his complaint and how that amendment will change the legal effect of his
pleading." [Citation.] . . . The plaintiff must clearly and specifically set forth the
"applicable substantive law" [citation] and the legal basis for amendment, i.e., the
elements of the cause of action and authority for it. Further, the plaintiff must set forth
factual allegations that sufficiently state all required elements of that cause of action.' "
(Rossberg v. Bank of America, N.A. (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 1481, 1491.)
II. Contentions
Vacarro does not address the elements of his various pleaded causes of action and
how his second amended complaint states facts sufficient to support them. Rather, he
begins his appellate arguments by discussing case law relevant to a new claim of
8
wrongful foreclosure based on a theory that a foreclosing entity lacks the authority to
foreclose. He points to conflicting federal authorities including Ohlendorf v. American
Home Mortgage Servicing (E.D.Cal. 2010) 279 F.R.D. 575 and Barrionuevo v. Chase
Bank, N.A. (N.D.Cal. 2012) 885 F.Supp.2d 964, holding that mortgagors stated claims for
wrongful foreclosure premised on the defendant not being a proper beneficiary or without
a legal right to foreclose. (See Ohlendorf, at p. 583 [where assignment of plaintiff's
mortgage had backdated effective dates, court reasoned that process "may be improper"
and defendants did not demonstrate the assignments or notice of default was valid];
Barrionuevo v. Chase Bank, N.A., at p. 972 ["[O]nly the 'true owner' or 'beneficial holder'
of a Deed of Trust can bring to completion a nonjudicial foreclosure under California
law"].) We are not bound by these and other federal court decisions. (Gomes v.
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 1149, 1155 (Gomes).)
Vacarro also points to Glaski v. Bank of America (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 1079
(Glaski), in which the Fifth District Court of Appeal held a plaintiff stated a cause of
action for wrongful foreclosure under the theory that the foreclosing entity did not hold
the deed of trust. (Id. at p. 1094.) In Glaski, the plaintiff alleged, as does Vacarro, that
his promissory note and loan were not transferred to a securitized trust formed under New
York law before its closing date as required by a PSA. (Id. at pp. 1093, 1095-1096.)3
3 Glaski explained: "In simplified terms, 'securitization' is the process where (1) many loans are bundled together and transferred to a passive entity, such as a trust, and (2) the trust holds the loans and issues investment securities that are repaid from the mortgage payments made on the loans. [Citation.] Hence, the securities issued by the trust are 'mortgage-backed.' " (Glaski, supra, 218 Cal.App.4th at p. 1082, fn. 1.) 9
Following Fifth Circuit District Court authority that an obligor may resist foreclosure on
any ground rendering an assignment in the chain of title void (id. at p. 1095, citing
Reinagel v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. (5th Cir. 2013) 722 F.3d 700), Glaski held
the plaintiff's factual allegations regarding postclosing date attempts to transfer his deed
of trust were sufficient to state a basis for concluding the attempted transfers were void.
(Glaski, 218 Cal.App.4th at p. 1097.) According to Glaski, "a borrower may challenge
the securitized trust's chain of ownership by alleging the attempts to transfer the deed of
trust to the securitized trust (which was formed under N.Y. law) occurred after the trust's
closing date. Transfers that violate the terms of the trust instrument are void under New
York trust law, and borrowers have standing to challenge void assignments of their loans
even though they are not a party to, or a third party beneficiary of, the assignment
agreement." (Id. at p. 1083.) Thus, the status of the assignment as void rather than
voidable gave the plaintiff standing to challenge it. (Id. at p. 1098.) Glaski observed that
"some federal district courts sitting in California have rejected the postclosing date theory
of invalidity on the grounds that the borrower does not have standing to challenge an
assignment between two other parties" but it distinguished those cases because they did
not apply New York trust law to the operation of the securitized trusts (Ibid.) The
appellate court reversed the trial court's order sustaining a demurrer to the wrongful
foreclosure claim. (Id. at p. 1100.) We note, as has the Second District, Division Two
10
Court of Appeal, the vast majority of courts have found Glaski unpersuasive. (Kan v.
Guild Mortgage Company (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 736, 744.)4
Vacarro acknowledges authorities contrary to Glaski that hold borrowers cannot
initiate preemptive lawsuits to challenge the right or authority of a beneficiary or its agent
to initiate a nonjudicial foreclosure. (Jenkins v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (2013) 216
Cal.App.4th 497 (Jenkins); Gomes, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1152, 1154-1156
[upholding order sustaining demurrer to claims for "wrongful initiation" of foreclosure
and declaratory relief on grounds plaintiff did not identify a legal basis for such an action
in California's nonjudicial foreclosure scheme].) He points out that in Gomes, this court
4 The Second District, Division Two court cites Miller v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (N.D.Cal., Aug. 8, 2014, No. 5:13–CV–03192–EJD) 2014 WL 3921361, [4], ["Courts in this District have expressly rejected Glaski "]; Tavares v. Nationstar Mortgage LLC (S.D.Cal., July 14, 2014, No. 14CV216–WQH) 2014 WL 3502851, [3] [finding Glaski's reasoning unpersuasive]; Zapata v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (N.D.Cal., Dec. 10, 2013, No. C 13–04288 WHA) 2013 WL 6491377, [2] ["Every court in this district that has evaluated Glaski has found it is unpersuasive and not binding authority"]; Davies v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. (In re Davies) (9th Cir. 2014) 565 Fed.Appx. 630, 632–633 [following Jenkins instead of Glaski ]; and Rajamin v. Deutsche Bank Nat'l Trust Co. (2d Cir.N.Y. 2014) 757 F.3d 79 [disagreeing with Glaski's interpretation of New York law; finding improper transfer into investment trust is voidable, not void].) We note in particular that the Second Circuit in Rajamin explained: "[W]e conclude that as unauthorized acts of a trustee may be ratified by the trust's beneficiaries, such acts are not void but voidable; and that under New York law such acts are voidable only at the instance of a trust beneficiary or a person acting in his behalf. Plaintiffs here are not beneficiaries of the securitization trusts; the beneficiaries are the certificateholders. Plaintiffs are not even incidental beneficiaries of the securitization trusts, for their interests are adverse to those of the certificateholders. Plaintiffs do not contend that they did not receive the proceeds of their loan transactions; and their role thereafter was simply to make payments of the principal and interest due. The law of trusts provides no basis for plaintiffs' claims." (Rajamin, 757 F.3d at p. 90.) Unpublished federal district court cases are citable as persuasive authority. (Kan v. Guild Mortgage Company, supra, 230 Cal.App.4th at p. 744, fn. 3.) 11
distinguished cases in which the plaintiff alleged a specific factual basis for alleging the
foreclosure was not initiated by the correct party. He asserts that Jenkins and Glaski
recognized and interpreted Gomes to suggest a borrower may bring a cause of action to
enjoin a trustee's sale as long as that party alleges a specific factual basis.
Based on these authorities, Vacarro contends he can amend his operative
complaint to state a cause of action for wrongful foreclosure on two grounds: first, that
his note and deed of trust were never conveyed or delivered to the trust, which did not
succeed to MERS or lender's rights, and second, that the conveyance of the note and deed
of trust by the assignment is void. He asserts his allegations suffice by themselves, but if
not, the second amended complaint alleges more specifically that the assignment was
void because Roldan did not have the authority to assign the note and deed of trust, and
the note and deed of trust's conveyance violates the terms of the PSA. He also argues he
alleged prejudice by allegations he was denied the opportunity for the true beneficiary to
assess and explore options to avoid foreclosure, and he is entitled to that right under Civil
Code section 2923.5 et seq. Finally, he maintains that the tender rule—the requirement
that a borrower allege he had tendered his debt to the mortgagee (see Aguilar v. Bocci
(1974) 39 Cal.App.3d 475, 477)—is not applicable to a void foreclosure.
According to Vacarro, because he can allege a cause of action for wrongful
foreclosure, that claim provides the basis for his causes of action for declaratory relief,
quiet title, and cancellation of instruments.
12
III. Vacarro Cannot Allege a Specific Factual Basis for and Lacks Standing to Bring a
Wrongful Foreclosure Claim
Vacarro's appeal is resolved by Gomes, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th 1149 and Jenkins,
supra, 216 Cal.App.4th 497, which we follow. Importantly, Vacarro does not allege that
a trustee's sale has taken place; he attaches a copy of the notice of trustee's sale and states
the property will be sold. Vacarro also sought injunctive relief to "stop Defendants from
selling the Property." Thus, Vacarro's lawsuit sets forth preforeclosure claims, and as our
colleagues in the Second District pointed out, "Glaski did not take issue with Gomes's
holding that a preforeclosure, preemptive action is not authorized by the nonjudicial
foreclosure statutes because it creates an additional requirement that a foreclosing entity
first demonstrate in court that it is entitled to foreclose. [Citation.] As explained in
Jenkins (a case not discussed in the Glaski opinion), allowing a plaintiff to assert a
preemptive action like the one [Vacarro] proposes 'would result in the impermissible
interjection of the courts into a nonjudicial scheme enacted by the California Legislature.'
[Citation.] Further, it ' "would be inconsistent with the policy behind nonjudicial
foreclosure of providing a quick, inexpensive and efficient remedy." ' [Citation.] Jenkins
involved allegations essentially identical to [Vacarro's] proposed amended allegations—
that the subject deed of trust was not assigned to the investment trust prior to its closing
date. We agree with Jenkins that such allegations do not give rise to a viable preemptive
action that overrides California's nonjudicial foreclosure rules." (Kan v. Guild Mortgage
Company, supra, 230 Cal.App.4th at pp. 743-744, citing Jenkins, supra, 216 Cal.App.4th
13
at pp. 512-513 and Gomes, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at p. 1154, fn. 5; see also Robinson v.
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (2011) 199 Cal.App.4th 42, 46.)
Even if Gomes suggests a borrower may allege a wrongful foreclosure claim by
identifying a specific factual basis for alleging the foreclosure was not initiated by the
correct party, we disagree with Vacarro's assertion that he has alleged a specific factual
basis to support such a claim. It is insufficient to merely allege the legal conclusion that
the assignment was void. His allegations on information and belief based on unspecified
internet reports that Roldan was a "robo-signer" without authority are insufficient and
conclusory. (See Gomes, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1158-1159 [" ' "[p]laintiff may
allege on information and belief any matters that are not within his personal knowledge,
if he has information leading him to believe that the allegations are true " ' [citation], and
thus a pleading made on information and belief is insufficient if it 'merely assert[s] the
facts so alleged without alleging such information that "lead[s] [the plaintiff] to believe
that the allegations are true" ' "]; Cerecedes v. U.S. Bankcorp (C.D.Cal., July 11, 2011,
No. CV 11–219 CAS (FMOx)) [2011 WL 2711071] [robo-signing allegations were
insufficient because they were "pled in a conclusory fashion without any factual
support"].) They are also contradicted by the notarized assignment attached to the
complaint, which identifies Roldan as an assistant secretary to MERS. The notary's
acknowledgment is prima facie evidence that Roldan signed the assignment (Evid. Code,
§ 1451), contradicting Vacarro's allegations. And in reviewing an order sustaining a
demurrer, " '[f]acts appearing in exhibits attached to the . . . complaint also are accepted
as true and are given precedence, to the extent they contradict the allegations.' " (Nolte v.
14
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2015) 236 Cal.App.4th 1401, 1406.) As defendants point
out, Vacarro makes no claim that MERS lacks authority as the lender's nominee to
exercise the powers of the lender, and Vacarro's deed of trust expressly provides that
MERS has such power. (Accord, Gomes, at p. 1158 [plaintiff's agreement that MERS
had authority to foreclose precluded him from pursuing a cause of action premised on the
allegation that MERS did not have authority to do so].)
To the extent Vacarro's claim is based on allegations that the assignment is void
for noncompliance with the PSA, he has no standing to bring it. (Jenkins, supra, 216
Cal.App.4th at pp. 514-515.) He is not the true victim of any invalid transfer because his
obligation to pay his loan is unchanged. (Id. at p. 515.) In Jenkins, the plaintiff borrower
alleged her loan was pooled with other loans in a securitized investment trust without
proper compliance with the pooling and servicing agreement. In upholding the trial
court's order sustaining a demurrer to a declaratory relief cause of action based on those
allegations, the court in Jenkins held she lacked standing to challenge the alleged
violations of the assignment and pooling and servicing agreements because she was not a
party to those agreements: "[E]ven if the asserted improper securitization (or any other
invalid assignments or transfers of the promissory note subsequent to [the plaintiff's]
execution of the note . . .) occurred, the relevant parties to such a transaction were the
holders (transferors) of the promissory note and the third party acquirers (transferees) of
the note. 'Because a promissory note is a negotiable instrument, a borrower must
anticipate it can and might be transferred to another creditor. As to plaintiff, an
assignment merely substituted one creditor for another, without changing her obligations
15
under the note.' [Citation.] As an unrelated third party to the alleged securitization, and
any other subsequent transfers of the beneficial interest under the promissory note,
[plaintiff ] lacks standing to enforce any agreements, including the investment trust's
pooling and servicing agreement, relating to such transactions. [Citation.] [¶]
Furthermore, even if any subsequent transfers of the promissory note were invalid,
[plaintiff] is not the victim of such invalid transfers because her obligations under the
note remained unchanged. Instead, the true victim may be an individual or entity that
believes it has a present beneficial interest in the promissory note and may suffer the
unauthorized loss of its interest in the note. It is also possible to imagine one or many
invalid transfers of the promissory note may cause a string of civil lawsuits between
transferors and transferees. [Plaintiff], however, may not assume the theoretical claims
of hypothetical transferors and transferees . . . .' " (Jenkins, supra, 216 Cal.App.4th at pp.
514-515, italics added; see also Herrera v. Federal National Mortgage Assn., supra, 205
Cal.App.4th at p. 1507; Arabia v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. (2012) 208
Cal.App.4th 462, 473 [addressing on summary judgment review a beneficiary's challenge
to BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P.'s (BAC) judicial foreclosure as in violation of a
PSA where the plaintiff was in default on the loan; "if BAC had breached the PSA, then
perhaps [Bank of New York] would have a claim against BAC. But it is an unsupported
leap of logic that would allow [plaintiff] to use these breaches to challenge BAC's right to
initiate a judicial foreclosure"].)5 Until our Supreme Court holds otherwise, we follow
5 The California Supreme Court has granted review of cases to address the standing 16
authorities holding that a borrower lacks standing to object to irregularity in a loan's
securitization.
IV. Vacarro Has Not Alleged Prejudice
We further conclude Vacarro has not alleged prejudice by his allegations that he
was denied an opportunity for the "true beneficiary" to explore options with him to avoid
foreclosure by some form of loan modification. He maintains he has a right to this
process under Civil Code section 2923.5,6 but only the trust and its servicer/agent, not
issue raised in Glaski and Jenkins. (Yvanova v. New Century Mortgage Co. (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 495, review granted Aug. 27, 2014, S218973 ["In an action for wrongful foreclosure, does the borrower have standing to challenge an assignment of the note and deed of trust on the basis of defects allegedly rendering the assignment void"]; Keshtgar v. U.S. Bank, N.A. (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 1201, review granted Oct. 1, 2014, S220012; Mendoza v. JPMorgan Chase, N.A. (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 1020, review granted Nov. 12, 2014, S220675.)
6 At the time Vacarro's notice of default was recorded, Civil Code section 2923.5 stated in part: "(a)(1) A mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary, or authorized agent may not file a notice of default pursuant to Section 2924 until 30 days after initial contact is made as required by paragraph (2) or 30 days after satisfying the due diligence requirements as described in subdivision (g). [¶] (2) A mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall contact the borrower in person or by telephone in order to assess the borrower's financial situation and explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure. During the initial contact, the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall advise the borrower that he or she has the right to request a subsequent meeting and, if requested, the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall schedule the meeting to occur within 14 days. The assessment of the borrower's financial situation and discussion of options may occur during the first contact, or at the subsequent meeting scheduled for that purpose. In either case, the borrower shall be provided the toll-free telephone number made available by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to find a HUD– certified housing counseling agency. Any meeting may occur telephonically. [¶] (b) A notice of default filed pursuant to Section 2924 shall include a declaration that the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent has contacted the borrower, has tried with due diligence to contact the borrower as required by this section, or that no contact was required pursuant to subdivision (h). [¶] . . . [¶] (g) A notice of default may be filed 17
the true beneficiary, has contacted him. According to Vacarro, these entities do not have
an interest in the note or deed of trust and thus no "financial risk," motivation or authority
to work out a resolution, and because different servicers have different programs, he is
not able to see if he qualifies for a program offered by the true beneficiary.
A plaintiff in a suit for wrongful foreclosure has generally been required to
demonstrate the alleged imperfection in the foreclosure process was prejudicial to his
interests. (Fontenot v. Wells Fargo Bank, supra, 198 Cal.App.4th at p. 272 [citing cases,
including Knapp v. Doherty (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 76 in which no "substantial statutory
right" was abridged by a premature mailing of a sale notice and Lo v. Jensen (2001) 88
Cal.App.4th 1093, in which collusion resulted in an inadequate sale price].) "Prejudice is
not presumed from 'mere irregularities' in the process." (Fontenot v. Wells Fargo Bank,
at p. 272.) "[Civil Code s]ection 2923.5 provides that a mortgagee, trustee, beneficiary,
or authorized agent must contact the borrower 'in person or by telephone in order to
assess the borrower's financial situation and explore options for the borrower to avoid
foreclosure' or satisfy due diligence requirements before a notice of default is filed. [The
statute] does not require the lender to modify the loan. [Citation.] The only remedy for
noncompliance with the statute is the postponement of the foreclosure sale." (Skov v.
U.S. Bank Nat. Assn., supra, 207 Cal.App.4th at pp. 695-696, citing Mabry v. Superior
pursuant to Section 2924 when a mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent has not contacted a borrower as required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) provided that the failure to contact the borrower occurred despite the due diligence of the mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent." Subdivision (g) of section 2923.5 defines due diligence.
claims that because he has pleaded allegations showing any foreclosure sale would be
void, he is relieved of any obligation to allege that he tendered his debt. But his
allegations do not indicate a foreclosure sale has occurred, and for that reason, an
allegation of tender is not required. (See Pfeifer v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (2012)
211 Cal.App.4th 1250, 1280-1281; but see Sipe v. McKenna (1948) 88 Cal.App.2d 1001,
1006 ["A party may not without payment of the debt, enjoin a sale by a trustee under a
power conferred by a deed of trust, or have his title quieted against the purchaser at such
a sale, even though the statute of limitations has run against the indebtedness"].)
To the extent Vacarro seeks to allege a claim for quiet title, however, Vacarro
must allege tender. (Lueras v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th
49, 86 ["A borrower may not . . . quiet title against a secured lender without first paying
the outstanding debt on which the mortgage or deed of trust is based"]; Shimpones v.
Stickney (1934) 219 Cal. 637, 649.) Because he has not done so, he cannot allege any
such cause of action.
We have rejected all of Vacarro's arguments intended to show why he should have
been granted leave to amend to support a new cause of action for wrongful foreclosure.
Because he has failed to show that his second amended complaint can be amended to
allege a viable cause of action, and he has not discussed the elements or sufficiency of the
21
causes of action for cancellation, declaratory and injunctive relief, violation of the UCL
and quiet title already included in the operative pleading, we conclude the trial court did
not abuse its discretion when it declined to give him another opportunity to amend his
complaint.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
O'ROURKE, J.
WE CONCUR:
McINTYRE, Acting P. J.
PRAGER, J.*
* Judge of the San Diego Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution. 22
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Holding. The court held that a borrower cannot maintain a preemptive, pre-foreclosure lawsuit to challenge a foreclosing entity's authority, and that the plaintiff failed to allege specific facts to support claims of invalid assignment or lack of standing.
Issues
Whether a borrower may bring a preemptive, pre-foreclosure action to challenge a foreclosing entity's authority under California's nonjudicial foreclosure scheme.
Whether the plaintiff alleged sufficient specific facts to support claims that the assignment of his deed of trust was void.
Whether the plaintiff has standing to challenge the securitization of his loan or compliance with a pooling and servicing agreement to which he is not a party.
Disposition. Affirmed
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“allowing a plaintiff to assert a preemptive action like the one [Vacarro] proposes 'would result in the impermissible interjection of the courts into a nonjudicial scheme enacted by the California Legislature.'”
“It is insufficient to merely allege the legal conclusion that the assignment was void.”
“As an unrelated third party to the alleged securitization, and any other subsequent transfers of the beneficial interest under the promissory note, [plaintiff ] lacks standing to enforce any agreements”