Case Title: Ware v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.

Citation: 

Docket Number: 1100822

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 2011-06-17T00:00:00Z

Document:
REL: 06/17/2011 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l 
r e v i s i o n b e f o r e 
p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of 
Decisions, 
Alabama 
A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r 
Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 
2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f any t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may be made 
b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2010-2011 
1100822 
Monica Ware 
v. 
Deutsche Bank N a t i o n a l T r u s t Company, as t r u s t e e f o r 
HSI 
A s s e t S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 2006-0PT2 Mortgage Pass-
Through C e r t i f i c a t e s , S e r i e s 2006-OPT2 
Appeal from J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t Court 
(CV-08-2841) 
WOODALL, 
J u s t i c e . 
M o n i c a Ware a p p e a l s 
f r o m a summary j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f 
D e u t s c h e Bank N a t i o n a l T r u s t Company, as t r u s t e e f o r 
HSI A s s e t 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
2006-0PT2 
M o r t g a g e 
P a s s - T h r o u g h 
1100822 
C e r t i f i c a t e s , 
S e r i e s 
2006-OPT2 
( " t h e 
t r u s t e e " ) , 
i n 
t h e 
t r u s t e e ' s e j e c t m e n t a c t i o n a g a i n s t h e r . 
We 
a f f i r m . 
I . 
F a c t u a l and P r o c e d u r a l 
B a c k g r o u n d 
The e s s e n t i a l f a c t s a r e u n d i s p u t e d . 
On May 17, 2008, and 
f o r two s u c c e s s i v e weeks t h e r e a f t e r , a n o t i c e was p u b l i s h e d i n 
t h e A l a b a m a 
M e s s e n g e r , a n e w s p a p e r 
p u b l i s h e d 
i n B i r m i n g h a m , 
s t a t i n g , i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
"NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 
" D e f a u l t 
h a v i n g 
b e e n made i n payment 
i n t h e 
payment o f t h e i n d e b t e d n e s s s e c u r e d by t h a t 
c e r t a i n 
m o r t g a g e 
e x e c u t e d 
b y 
M o n i c a 
S. 
Ware 
and 
s p o u s e , 
G e r a l d 
James 
W a r e ,
[ 1 ] 
t o 
O p t i o n 
One 
M o r t g a g e 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
on 
J u l y 29, 2005, 
s a i d m o r t g a g e 
b e i n g 
r e c o r d e d i n t h e 
o f f i c e 
o f t h e J u d g e o f P r o b a t e 
o f 
J e f f e r s o n 
C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a , 
i n 
I n s t r u m e n t 
No. 
2 0 0 5 1 1 / 1 6 2 2 , 
and 
s u b s e q u e n t l y 
t r a n s f e r r e d 
and 
a s s i g n e d 
t o D e u t s c h e Bank N a t i o n a l 
T r u s t Company as 
t r u s t e e 
f o r HSI 
A s s e t 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
2006-OPT2 M o r t g a g e P a s s - T h r o u g h C e r t i f i c a t e s , 
S e r i e s 
2 0 0 6 - O P T 2 ; D e u t s c h e Bank N a t i o n a l 
T r u s t Company as 
t r u s t e e 
f o r HSI 
A s s e t 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
2006-OPT2 M o r t g a g e P a s s - T h r o u g h C e r t i f i c a t e s , 
S e r i e s 
2006-OPT2, u n d e r and by v i r t u e o f t h e power o f s a l e 
c o n t a i n e d 
i n 
s a i d 
m o r t g a g e , 
w i l l 
s e l l 
a t 
p u b l i c 
o u t c r y 
t o t h e h i g h e s t 
b i d d e r 
f o r c a s h i n f r o n t o f 
t h e 
m a i n 
e n t r a n c e 
o f 
t h e 
J e f f e r s o n 
C o u n t y 
C o u r t h o u s e , i n B i r m i n g h a m , A l a b a m a , on J u n e 4, 
2008, 
d u r i n g 
t h e 
l e g a l 
h o u r s 
o f 
s a l e , 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
d e s c r i b e d 
r e a l e s t a t e , s i t u a t e d i n J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a 
1No 
i s s u e s i n t h i s a p p e a l i n v o l v e G e r a l d James Ware. 
2 
1100822 
" [ D e s c r i p t i o n o f p r o p e r t y . ] 
"... 
T h i s s a l e i s 
made f o r t h e 
p u r p o s e o f p a y i n g 
t h e 
i n d e b t e d n e s s 
s e c u r e d by s a i d m o r t g a g e , as w e l l 
as t h e e x p e n s e o f f o r e c l o s u r e . 
" D e u t s c h e 
Bank 
N a t i o n a l 
T r u s t 
Company 
as 
T r u s t e e 
f o r 
HSI 
A s s e t 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
2006-0PT2 
M o r t g a g e 
P a s s - T h r o u g h 
 
C e r t i f i c a t e s , 
S e r i e s 2006-OPT2, 
T r a n s f e r e e . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
On J u n e 4, 2008, an i n s t r u m e n t was e x e c u t e d 
r e a d i n g , i n 
p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
"FORECLOSURE DEED 
"KNOW A L L MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, T h a t w h e r e a s 
h e r e t o f o r e 
on J u l y 29, 2005, 
M o n i c a S. Ware a n d 
s p o u s e , 
G e r a l d 
James 
Ware, 
e x e c u t e d 
a 
c e r t a i n 
m o r t g a g e on t h e p r o p e r t y 
h e r e i n a f t e r d e s c r i b e d t o 
O p t i o n One M o r t g a g e C o r p o r a t i o n , w h i c h s a i d m o r t g a g e 
was 
r e c o r d e d i n t h e O f f i c e o f t h e J u d g e o f 
P r o b a t e 
o f 
J e f f e r s o n 
C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a , 
as 
I n s t r u m e n t 
No. 
2 0 0 5 1 1 / 1 6 2 2 ; a n d 
"WHEREAS, i n 
a n d by s a i d m o r t g a g e t h e m o r t g a g e e 
was 
a u t h o r i z e d a n d empowered i n c a s e o f d e f a u l t i n 
t h e 
payment 
o f t h e i n d e b t e d n e s s 
t h e r e b y 
s e c u r e d 
a c c o r d i n g 
t o t h e t e r m s 
t h e r e o f , 
t o 
s e l l 
s a i d 
p r o p e r t y b e f o r e t h e J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y C o u r t h o u s e d o o r 
i n t h e C i t y o f B i r m i n g h a m , A l a b a m a , 
a f t e r 
g i v i n g 
n o t i c e o f t h e t i m e , p l a c e a n d t e r m s o f s a i d s a l e i n 
some n e w s p a p e r p u b l i s h e d i n s a i d c i t y by p u b l i c a t i o n 
once a week f o r t h r e e 
c o n s e c u t i v e 
weeks 
p r i o r t o 
s a i d 
s a l e a t p u b l i c o u t c r y f o r 
c a s h t o t h e h i g h e s t 
b i d d e r , a n d s a i d m o r t g a g e p r o v i d e d 
t h a t i n c a s e o f 
s a l e 
u n d e r t h e power a n d a u t h o r i t y 
c o n t a i n e d i n 
same, t h e m o r t g a g e e o r any p e r s o n 
c o n d u c t i n g 
s a i d 
s a l e 
f o r t h e m o r t g a g e e was 
a u t h o r i z e d t o 
e x e c u t e 
t i t l e 
t o t h e p u r c h a s e r 
a t s a i d 
s a l e ; a n d i t was 
3 
1100822 
f u r t h e r 
p r o v i d e d i n a n d by s a i d m o r t g a g e 
t h a t t h e 
m o r t g a g e e may b i d a t t h e s a l e a n d p u r c h a s e 
s a i d 
p r o p e r t y i f 
t h e h i g h e s t b i d d e r t h e r e f o r ; 
a n d 
"WHEREAS, d e f a u l t was made i n 
t h e 
payment o f t h e 
i n d e b t e d n e s s 
s e c u r e d b y s a i d m o r t g a g e , a n d t h e s a i d 
O p t i o n One M o r t g a g e C o r p o r a t i o n d i d 
d e c l a r e 
a l l 
o f 
t h e 
i n d e b t e d n e s s 
s e c u r e d by s a i d m o r t g a g e due a n d 
p a y a b l e 
a n d d i d g i v e due a n d p r o p e r 
n o t i c e o f 
t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e o f s a i d m o r t g a g e b y p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e 
A l a b a m a 
M e s s e n g e r , 
a 
n e w s p a p e r 
p u b l i s h e d 
i n 
J e f f e r s o n 
C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a , 
a n d 
o f 
g e n e r a l 
c i r c u l a t i o n 
i n J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y , 
A l a b a m a , i n i t s 
i s s u e s o f May 17, May 24, a n d May 3 1 , 2008; a n d 
"WHEREAS, on J u n e 4, 2008, t h e 
d a y on w h i c h t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e was due t o be h e l d u n d e r t h e t e r m s o f 
s a i d n o t i c e , b e t w e e n t h e l e g a l h o u r s o f s a l e , 
s a i d 
f o r e c l o s u r e was d u l y a n d p r o p e r l y 
c o n d u c t e d , a n d 
O p t i o n One M o r t g a g e C o r p o r a t i o n d i d o f f e r f o r s a l e 
and 
s e l l a t p u b l i c o u t c r y i n f r o n t o f t h e J e f f e r s o n 
C o u n t y 
C o u r t h o u s e 
i n t h e 
C i t y 
o f 
B i r m i n g h a m , 
A l a b a m a , t h e p r o p e r t y h e r e i n a f t e r d e s c r i b e d ; a n d 
"WHEREAS, S c o t t J . Humphrey was t h e a u c t i o n e e r 
who 
c o n d u c t e d 
s a i d 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
s a l e a n d was t h e 
p e r s o n c o n d u c t i n g 
s a i d s a l e f o r 
t h e s a i d O p t i o n One  
M o r t g a g e C o r p o r a t i o n ; a n d 
"WHEREAS, t h e h i g h e s t 
a n d b e s t 
b i d f o r 
t h e 
 
p r o p e r t y 
d e s c r i b e d i n t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d 
m o r t g a g e 
 
was t h e 
b i d o f D e u t s c h e Bank N a t i o n a l T r u s t Company,  
as T r u s t e e f o r 
HSI A s s e t 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
 
2006-OPT2 M o r t g a g e P a s s - T h r o u g h C e r t i f i c a t e s , S e r i e s  
2006-OPT2, i n t h e amount o f $ 4 6 5 , 3 7 5 . 0 0 , w h i c h sum 
o f money O p t i o n One M o r t g a g e C o r p o r a t i o n o f f e r e d t o 
c r e d i t on t h e i n d e b t e d n e s s 
s e c u r e d b y s a i d m o r t g a g e , 
and t h e s a i d O p t i o n One M o r t g a g e C o r p o r a t i o n , b y 
a n d 
t h r o u g h 
S c o t t J . Humphrey, as a u c t i o n e e r 
c o n d u c t i n g 
s a i d 
s a l e a n d as a t t o r n e y - i n - f a c t f o r O p t i o n 
One 
M o r t g a g e 
C o r p o r a t i o n , 
d o e s h e r e b y GRANT, BARGAIN, 
SELL AND CONVEY u n t o t h e s a i d D e u t s c h e Bank N a t i o n a l 
T r u s t 
Company, 
as 
T r u s t e e 
f o r 
HSI 
A s s e t 
4 
1100822 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n C o r p o r a t i o n 2006-OPT2 M o r t g a g e 
P a s s -
T h r o u g h 
C e r t i f i c a t e s , 
S e r i e s 
2006-OPT2, 
t h e 
f o l l o w i n g 
d e s c r i b e d p r o p e r t y 
s i t u a t e d i n J e f f e r s o n 
C o u n t y , A l a b a m a , t o - w i t : 
"SEE ATTACHED E X H I B I T 
'A' 
"TO 
HAVE 
AND 
TO 
HOLD 
t h e 
above 
d e s c r i b e d 
p r o p e r t y t o D e u t s c h e Bank N a t i o n a l T r u s t Company, as 
T r u s t e e 
f o r 
HSI 
A s s e t 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
2006-OPT2 M o r t g a g e P a s s - T h r o u g h C e r t i f i c a t e s , S e r i e s 
2006-OPT2, and 
i t s s u c c e s s o r s 
and 
a s s i g n s ; 
s u b j e c t , 
h o w e v e r , t o t h e s t a t u t o r y r i g h t o f r e d e m p t i o n on 
t h e 
p a r t o f t h o s e 
e n t i t l e d t o redeem as p r o v i d e d by 
t h e 
l a w s o f t h e S t a t e o f A l a b a m a . 
"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, M o n i c a S. Ware and 
G e r a l d 
James Ware, and O p t i o n One M o r t g a g e c o r p o r a t i o n h a v e 
c a u s e d t h i s I n s t r u m e n t 
t o be e x e c u t e d 
by and 
t h r o u g h 
S c o t t 
J . Humphrey, 
as 
a u c t i o n e e r 
c o n d u c t i n g 
s a i d 
s a l e 
and 
as 
t h e i r 
a t t o r n e y - i n - f a c t , and 
S c o t t 
J . 
Humphrey, 
as 
a u c t i o n e e r 
c o n d u c t i n g 
s a i d 
s a l e , 
has 
h e r e t o 
s e t h i s h a n d and 
s e a l on 
t h i s t h e 4 t h day 
o f 
J u n e , 2 0 0 8 . " 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
On A u g u s t 29, 2008, t h e t r u s t e e f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t 
s e e k i n g 
t o 
e j e c t t h e Wares f r o m t h e p r o p e r t y , 
p u r s u a n t 
t o A l a . Code 
1975, 
§ 6-6-280. 
I t 
c l a i m e d 
t o 
be 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
i m m e d i a t e 
p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e p r o p e r t y by v i r t u e o f i t s p u r c h a s e 
p u r s u a n t 
t o a f o r e c l o s u r e s a l e . 
Ware f i l e d h e r a n s w e r t o t h e 
c o m p l a i n t 
on 
J u n e 
1, 
2009, 
c o n t a i n i n g 
a 
g e n e r a l 
d e n i a l 
o f 
a l l 
a l l e g a t i o n s , 
b u t 
s t a t i n g 
no 
a f f i r m a t i v e 
d e f e n s e s 
o r 
c o u n t e r c l a i m s . 
5 
1100822 
On J u l y 9, 2009, t h e t r u s t e e 
f i l e d a m o t i o n f o r a summary 
j u d g m e n t . 
The 
m o t i o n was 
a c c o m p a n i e d by 
a 
c o p y 
o f 
t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e d e e d and t h e a f f i d a v i t o f C o n n i e W h i t e , a s s i s t a n t 
v i c e 
p r e s i d e n t 
o f t h e t r u s t e e , who 
v e r i f i e d 
t h e d e e d . 
She 
s t a t e d t h a t she was " i n 
c h a r g e o f t h e b o o k s and r e c o r d s o f t h e 
[ t r u s t e e ] r e g a r d i n g 
t h e a c c o u n t made t h e b a s i s o f t h i s 
a c t i o n " 
and t h a t she " h a [ d ] p e r s o n a l 
k n o w l e d g e o f t h e f a c t s s e t f o r t h 
i n [ t h e ] a f f i d a v i t . " 
She s t a t e d : " [ T h e t r u s t e e ] a v e r s t h a t by 
v i r t u e 
o f f o r e c l o s u r e 
on 
... J u n e 4, 2008, o f t h a t 
c e r t a i n 
m o r t g a g e o r i g i n a l l y b e t w e e n [ t h e Wares] and [ O p t i o n O n e ] , [ t h e 
t r u s t e e became] t h e owner 
o f t h e ... 
r e a l 
p r o p e r t y . " 
She 
s t a t e d 
t h a t t h e Wares h a d 
" f a i l e d and r e f u s e d 
t o v a c a t e t h e 
... 
p r o p e r t y 
d e s p i t e 
[ t h e t r u s t e e ' s ] 
demands t o do s o . " 
A 
h e a r i n g 
on 
t h e 
summary-judgment 
m o t i o n was 
s c h e d u l e d 
f o r 
S e p t e m b e r 10, 2009. 
On S e p t e m b e r 8, 2009, Ware's c o u n s e l r e q u e s t e d a d d i t i o n a l 
t i m e i n w h i c h t o r e s p o n d t o t h e summary-judgment 
m o t i o n and 
f i l e d an a f f i d a v i t 
s t a t i n g t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e r e q u e s t . 
See 
R u l e 5 6 ( f ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. On S e p t e m b e r 10, 2009, t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t s t a y e d t h e h e a r i n g on t h e m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t . 
M e a n w h i l e , on S e p t e m b e r 
9, 2009, Ware 
f i l e d 
an amended 
a n s w e r a s s e r t i n g c o u n t e r c l a i m s . 
The t r u s t e e moved t o 
s t r i k e 
6 
1100822 
t h e c o u n t e r c l a i m s , 
c o n t e n d i n g t h a t t h e y were u n t i m e l y 
and 
t h a t 
t h e y were b a r r e d 
by 
t h e 
s t a t u t e o f 
l i m i t a t i o n s . 
On November 
17, 
2009, 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
g r a n t e d 
t h e 
t r u s t e e ' s 
m o t i o n , 
s t a t i n g : 
" A f t e r 
h e a r i n g 
t h e 
o r a l 
a r g u m e n t s 
o f 
c o u n s e l 
and 
r e v i e w i n g 
t h e 
p l e a d i n g s , 
t h e 
c o u r t 
f i n d s 
t h a t 
[Ware's] 
c o u n t e r c l a i m s 
a r e 
b a r r e d 
by 
t h e 
s t a t u t e 
o f 
l i m i t a t i o n s . 
A c c o r d i n g l y , 
[Ware's] 
amended 
p l e a d i n g s 
a r e 
due 
t o 
be 
s t r i c k e n . " 
On 
J a n u a r y 
12, 
2010, 
Ware 
f i l e d 
a 
r e s p o n s e 
t o 
t h e 
summary-judgment m o t i o n . 
Her 
r e s p o n s e i n c l u d e d 
a 
" n a r r a t i v e 
s t a t e m e n t o f m a t e r i a l f a c t s , " w h i c h s t a t e d , i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t : 
"4. 
The 
demand f o r p o s s e s s i o n 
... 
was 
made 
by 
P l a i n t i f f , 
[ t r u s t e e ] . 
"5. However, a c c o r d i n g 
t o t h e a c t u a l p u b l i c a t i o n 
i n 
t h e 
A l a b a m a 
M e s s e n g e r 
o f 
t h e 
n o t i c e 
o f 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
s a l e , 
... 
[ t h e 
t r u s t e e ] 
was 
t h e 
e n t i t y 
t h a t 
was 
g o i n g 
t o c o n d u c t 
t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
s a l e 
on 
J u n e 4, 2008. 
... 
"6. 
The 
r e c o r d owner o f t h e m o r t g a g e and 
L e n d e r  
a t t h e t i m e o f t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
s a l e was 
O p t i o n 
One. 
"7. P a r a g r a p h 21 o f t h e m o r t g a g e d a t e d J u l y 
29, 
2 0 0 5 , b e t w e e n O p t i o n 
One 
and 
t h e 
[Wares] 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t 
i n t h e 
e v e n t 
... 
t h e L e n d e r i n v o k e s 
t h e power 
o f s a l e due 
t o d e f a u l t , ' L e n d e r [ e m p h a s i s i n Ware's 
r e s p o n s e ] 
s h a l l p u b l i s h t h e 
n o t i c e 
o f s a l e 
' 
"8. 
C l e a r l y t h e 
n o t i c e 
o f 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
was 
n o t 
 
p u b l i s h e d 
by O p t i o n One, 
t h e r e c o r d owner and 
L e n d e r 
a t t h e t i m e t h e power o f s a l e was 
i n v o k e d and 
n o t i c e 
7 
1100822 
p u b l i s h e d 
I n s t e a d , 
i t was 
p u b l i s h e d 
by 
[ t h e 
t r u s t e e ] . " 
( E m p h a s i s a d d e d e x c e p t as o t h e r w i s e n o t e d . ) 
Ware 
a s s e r t e d 
t h a t 
"a 
s a l e 
u n d e r 
t h e power 
i n a m o r t g a g e 
... 
must 
be 
c o n d u c t e d i n s t r i c t 
c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e t e r m s o f t h e 
p o w e r " 
and 
t h a t 
" ' [ a ] l l 
s a l e s 
o f 
r e a l 
e s t a t e , made u n d e r 
p o w e r s 
c o n t a i n e d 
i n m o r t g a g e s ... c o n t r a r y t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f 
t h i s 
a r t i c l e , 
s h a l l be 
n u l l and v o i d . ' " 
( Q u o t i n g A l a . Code 1975, 
§ 
35-10-9.) 
T h e r e f o r e , 
she 
a r g u e d , 
" b e c a u s e 
t h e 
L e n d e r , 
O p t i o n 
One, 
d i d n o t p u b l i s h 
t h e 
n o t i c e , " 
t h e m o r t g a g e 
was 
b r e a c h e d , w h i c h b r e a c h r e n d e r e d t h e f o r e c l o s u r e s a l e 
i n v a l i d . 
Ware h a d a l s o 
f i l e d a c o p y o f t h e " P o o l i n g and 
S e r v i c i n g 
A g r e e m e n t " 
("the 
P S A " ) , 
w h i c h 
c r e a t e d 
t h e 
HSI 
A s s e t 
S e c u r i t i z a t i o n 
C o r p o r a t i o n 
2006-0PT2 
M o r t g a g e 
P a s s - T h r o u g h 
C e r t i f i c a t e s , S e r i e s 2006-OPT2 ("the t r u s t " ) . 
I n h e r r e s p o n s e 
t o t h e m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t , Ware a r g u e d t h a t 
t h e 
p u r p o r t e d 
a c q u i s i t i o n o f h e r p r o p e r t y 
t h r o u g h t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
d e e d v i o l a t e d c e r t a i n t e r m s o f t h e PSA, and she c o n t e n d e d t h a t 
t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e s a l e was t h e r e f o r e v o i d . 
However, on J a n u a r y 
22, 2010, t h e t r i a l c o u r t 
e n t e r e d 
a summary j u d g m e n t f o r t h e 
t r u s t e e . 
8 
1100822 
Ware t h e n 
f i l e d 
a m o t i o n t o a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e t h e 
j u d g m e n t and r e q u e s t e d 
a h e a r i n g . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
n e i t h e r 
r u l e d on Ware's m o t i o n n o r h e l d a h e a r i n g , and t h e m o t i o n was 
deemed d e n i e d b y o p e r a t i o n o f R u l e 5 9 . 1 , A l a . R. C i v . 
P. 
Ware 
a p p e a l e d .
2 
On 
a p p e a l , 
Ware 
c h a l l e n g e s 
(1) t h e t i m i n g and 
p r o p r i e t y o f t h e summary j u d g m e n t , (2) t h e o r d e r 
s t r i k i n g h e r 
c o u n t e r c l a i m s , 
and (3) t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
r e f u s a l t o h o l d a 
h e a r i n g on h e r m o t i o n t o a l t e r , amend, o r v a c a t e t h e j u d g m e n t . 
I I . 
D i s c u s s i o n 
I n o b j e c t i n g t o t h e d i s m i s s a l o f h e r c o u n t e r c l a i m s , Ware 
c o n c e d e d t h a t t h e i s s u e as t o t h e m e r i t s o f h e r c o u n t e r c l a i m s 
" b o i l s 
down t o one v e r y 
s i m p l e 
q u e s t i o n : ' d i d 
t h e [ t r u s t e e ] 
h a v e t h e r i g h t t o f o r e c l o s e upon t h e [Wares'] p r o p e r t y ? ' 
... 
T h i s c a s e 
w i l l 
r i s e and f a l l upon t h e [ t r u s t e e ' s ] h a v i n g t h e 
[ r i g h t ] t o f o r e c l o s e . " 
Thus, we 
f i r s t 
a d d r e s s t h e a r g u m e n t s 
d i r e c t e d t o t h e summary j u d g m e n t . 
A. Summary Judgment 
Ware 
c h a l l e n g e s 
b o t h 
t h e t i m i n g and t h e m e r i t s o f t h e 
summary 
j u d g m e n t . 
As f o r t h e t i m i n g , Ware 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
" [ t ] h e 
t r i a l e r r e d when i t 
i g n o r e d Ware's [ R u l e ] 
5 6 ( f ) [ , A l a . 
2 T h e 
j u d g m e n t 
was 
s t a y e d 
p e n d i n g 
t h e outcome 
o f t h e 
a p p e a l . 
9 
1100822 
R. 
C i v . P.,] 
f i l i n g 
and 
g r a n t e d 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
b e f o r e 
d i s c o v e r y c o u l d be c o n d u c t e d and c o m p l e t e d . " 
Ware's b r i e f , a t 
64. 
" R u l e 5 6 ( f ) a l l o w s a p a r t y o p p o s i n g a summary-
j u d g m e n t m o t i o n 
t o 
f i l e 
an 
a f f i d a v i t 
a l e r t i n g 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t t h a t i t i s p r e s e n t l y u n a b l e t o p r e s e n t 
' f a c t s e s s e n t i a l t o j u s t i f y t h e p a r t y ' s o p p o s i t i o n . ' 
The C o m m i t t e e Comments t o A u g u s t 1, 1992, Amendment 
t o 
R u l e 5 6 ( c ) and R u l e 5 6 ( f ) s t a t e 
t h a t 
' [ s ] u c h an 
a f f i d a v i t 
s h o u l d 
s t a t e 
w i t h 
s p e c i f i c i t y 
why 
t h e 
o p p o s i n g 
e v i d e n c e 
i s n o t 
p r e s e n t l y 
a v a i l a b l e 
and 
s h o u l d 
s t a t e , 
as 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
as 
p o s s i b l e , 
what 
f u t u r e 
a c t i o n s 
a r e 
c o n t e m p l a t e d 
t o 
d i s c o v e r 
and 
p r e s e n t t h e o p p o s i n g e v i d e n c e . ' 
The d i s p o s i t i o n o f 
a 
r e q u e s t 
made 
p u r s u a n t 
t o 
R u l e 
5 6 ( f ) 
i s 
d i s c r e t i o n a r y w i t h t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t . " 
S c r u s h y v. T u c k e r , 955 So. 2d 988, 1007 
( A l a . 2 0 0 6 ) . 
F o l l o w i n g Ware's 
R u l e 
5 6 ( f ) 
f i l i n g 
i n t h i s 
c a s e , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t s t a y e d i n d e f i n i t e l y t h e h e a r i n g on t h e summary-
j u d g m e n t m o t i o n . 
On December 8, 2009, t h e c o u r t s e t 
J a n u a r y 
15, 2010, as t h e new d a t e f o r a h e a r i n g on t h e m o t i o n . 
Ware 
d i d 
n o t renew h e r r e q u e s t f o r a d d i t i o n a l t i m e . 
I n s t e a d , she 
r e s p o n d e d 
t o t h e 
t r u s t e e ' s 
summary-judgment 
m o t i o n 
on 
t h e 
m e r i t s , 
r e l y i n g on (1) t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e PSA and (2) t h e 
a l l e g e d d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n t h e n o t i c e and t h e d e e d . 
D u r i n g 
t h e 
f o u r - m o n t h i n t e r v a l b e t w e e n h e r R u l e 5 6 ( f ) f i l i n g and h e r 
r e s p o n s e t o t h e m o t i o n on t h e m e r i t s , she d i d n o t s e r v e any 
w r i t t e n 
d i s c o v e r y 
r e q u e s t s . 
Thus, 
t h e r e was 
no 
d i s c o v e r y 
10 
1100822 
p e n d i n g when t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
r u l e d 
on 
t h e 
summary-judgment 
m o t i o n . 
M o r e o v e r , Ware d o e s n o t 
i n f o r m 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
o f what 
f u r t h e r m a t e r i a l s she n e e d e d t o b o l s t e r h e r c a s e . 
P u t 
s i m p l y , 
she does n o t a l l e g e t h a t she has b e e n p r e j u d i c e d by t h e 
t i m i n g 
o f t h e summary j u d g m e n t . 
F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s , she has 
f a i l e d t o 
d e m o n s t r a t e 
t h a t 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e x c e e d e d 
i t s d i s c r e t i o n 
i n 
r u l i n g 
on 
t h e summary-judgment m o t i o n when i t d i d . 
As 
f o r 
t h e 
m e r i t s 
o f 
t h e 
summary j u d g m e n t , Ware 
f i r s t 
c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e t r u s t e e f a i l e d t o c a r r y i t s t h r e s h o l d b u r d e n 
and 
t h a t 
a summary j u d g m e n t was 
t h e r e f o r e 
i n a p p r o p r i a t e . 
" ' " ' [ T ] h e manner i n w h i c h t h e [ s u m m a r y - j u d g m e n t ] 
m o v a n t ' s b u r d e n 
o f 
p r o d u c t i o n 
i s met 
d e p e n d s upon 
w h i c h p a r t y has 
t h e b u r d e n o f p r o o f ... 
a t 
t r i a l . ' " ' 
Denmark v. 
M e r c a n t i l e 
S t o r e s 
Co., 
844 
So. 
2d 
1189, 
1195 
( A l a . 2002) 
( q u o t i n g 
Ex 
p a r t e 
G e n e r a l 
M o t o r s  
C o r p . , 
769 
So. 
2d 
903, 
909 
( A l a . 1 9 9 9 ) , q u o t i n g 
i n 
t u r n B e r n e r v. 
C a l d w e l l , 
543 
So. 
2d 
686, 
691 
( A l a . 
1989) 
( H o u s t o n , J . , c o n c u r r i n g 
s p e c i a l l y ) ) . 
I f 
t h e 
movant i s t h e 
p l a i n t i f f w i t h 
t h e u l t i m a t e b u r d e n 
o f 
p r o o f , 
h i s 
' " p r o o f must 
be 
s u c h 
t h a t 
he 
w o u l d 
be 
e n t i t l e d 
t o a d i r e c t e d v e r d i c t 
[now 
r e f e r r e d t o 
as 
a j u d g m e n t as 
a m a t t e r o f l a w , 
see R u l e 50, 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P.] 
i f t h i s 
e v i d e n c e 
was 
n o t 
c o n t r o v e r t e d 
a t 
t r i a l . " ' 
Ex p a r t e G e n e r a l M o t o r s , 769 
So. 
2d a t 
909 
( q u o t i n g B e r n e r , 543 
So. 
2d 
a t 
68 8 ) . 
"'The 
f i r s t 
p r e r e q u i s i t e 
f o r 
[a 
summary j u d g m e n t ] i n f a v o r o f a movant 
who 
a s s e r t s 
a c l a i m 
... 
i s t h a t 
t h e 
c l a i m 
... 
be 
v a l i d 
i n l e g a l 
t h e o r y , 
i f i t s v a l i d i t y 
be c h a l l e n g e d . 
See 
D r i v e r v. N a t i o n a l 
S e c . 
 
F i r e 
& 
C a s . 
Co 
658 
So. 
2d 
390 
( A l a . 
11 
1100822 
1 9 9 5 ) . 
The 
s e c o n d 
p r e r e q u i s i t e 
f o r 
[a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t ] 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f 
s u c h 
a 
 
m o v a n t , who 
n e c e s s a r i l y b e a r s t h e b u r d e n o f 
p r o o f , 
A m e r i c a n 
F u r n i t u r e 
G a l l e r i e s 
v. 
 
McWane, I n c 4 7 7 
So. 
2d 
369 
( A l a . 1 9 8 5 ) , 
M c K e r l e y v. E t o w a h - D e K a l b - C h e r o k e e 
M e n t a l  
H e a l t h 
B o a r d , I n c 6 8 6 
So. 
2d 
1194 
( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 
1 9 9 6 ) , 
and 
O l i v e r 
v. 
Hayes 
 
I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o r p . , 456 
So. 
2d 
802 
( A l a . 
C i v . 
App. 
1 9 8 4 ) , 
i s 
t h a t 
e a c h 
c o n t e s t e d 
e l e m e n t 
o f 
t h e 
c l a i m 
... 
be 
s u p p o r t e d 
by 
s u b s t a n t i a l 
e v i d e n c e . 
See 
D r i v e r , 
s u p r a , 
and 
M c K e r l e y , 
s u p r a . 
The 
t h i r d 
p r e r e q u i s i t e 
f o r 
[a summary j u d g m e n t ] 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f s u c h a movant i s t h a t 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
be d e v o i d o f s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e 
r e b u t t i n g 
t h e 
m o v a n t ' s 
e v i d e n c e 
on 
any 
e s s e n t i a l 
e l e m e n t 
o f 
t h e 
c l a i m 
.... 
See 
D r i v e r , 
s u p r a , and 
F i r s t 
F i n . I n s . 
Co. 
v. 
T i l l e r y , 
626 
So. 
2d 
1252 
( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) . 
S u b s t a n t i a l 
r e b u t t i n g e v i d e n c e w o u l d c r e a t e an i s s u e 
o f 
f a c t t o be 
t r i e d by 
t h e 
f i n d e r o f f a c t 
and 
t h e r e f o r e 
w o u l d 
p r e c l u d e 
[a 
summary 
j u d g m e n t ] . 
See 
D r i v e r , 
s u p r a , 
and 
F i r s t 
 
F i n a n c i a l , 
s u p r a . 
[Summary 
j u d g m e n t ] 
i n 
f a v o r 
o f 
t h e 
p a r t y 
who 
a s s e r t s 
t h e 
c l a i m 
... 
i s n o t 
a p p r o p r i a t e 
u n l e s s 
a l l t h r e e 
o f 
t h e s e 
p r e r e q u i s i t e s 
c o e x i s t . 
See 
D r i v e r , 
s u p r a , 
and 
F i r s t 
F i n a n c i a l , 
s u p r a , 
M c K e r l e y , s u p r a , and 
O l i v e r , 
s u p r a . ' " 
R o s s v. R o s e n - R a g e r , 
[Ms. 1 0 8 0 7 2 1 , A u g u s t 27, 
2010] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . 2010) 
( q u o t i n g 
Ex p a r t e Helms , 873 
So. 
2d 
1139, 
1143 
( A l a . 2 0 0 3 ) ) . 
Ware r e l i e s 
on 
c e r t a i n p r o v i s i o n s 
o f 
t h e 
PSA, 
as w e l l as on 
t h e 
a l l e g e d d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n t h e 
n o t i c e 
and 
t h e d e e d , a r g u i n g 
t h a t 
t h e s e m a t t e r s p r e c l u d e 
a summary 
j u d g m e n t f o r t h e 
t r u s t e e . 
12 
1100822 
1. PSA 
A c c o r d i n g 
t o Ware, t h e t r u s t i s a "New Y o r k common l a w 
t r u s t , " 
w h i c h 
" p o o l e d numerous m o r t g a g e s 
i n t o a t r u s t a n d 
c o n v e r t e d [them] i n t o m o r t g a g e - b a c k e d s e c u r i t i e s ... t h a t c a n 
be 
b o u g h t 
a n d 
s o l d 
b y 
i n v e s t o r s 
-- a 
p r o c e s s 
known as 
s e c u r i t i z a t i o n , " w h e r e b y t h e " u n d e r l y i n g 
p r o m i s s o r y n o t e s o f 
e a c h a n d e v e r y m o r t g a g e 
h e l d by [ t h e ] t r u s t 
s e r v e as [a] 
p o t e n t i a l i n c o m e s t r e a m f o r i n v e s t o r s . " 
Ware's b r i e f , a t 
5 8 .
3 
A c c o r d i n g 
t o t h e PSA, w h i c h was d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1, 2006, 
t h e p a r t i e s t o t h a t a g r e e m e n t 
a r e : 
"HSI ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION, as 
d e p o s i t o r 
( t h e 
' D e p o s i t o r ' ) , OPTION ONE MORTGAGE CORPORATION, 
a 
C a l i f o r n i a 
C o r p o r a t i o n , 
as o r i g i n a t o r ( i n s u c h 
c a p a c i t y , 
t h e ' O r i g i n a t o r ' ) 
a n d s e r v i c e r ( i n s u c h 
c a p a c i t y , t h e ' S e r v i c e r ' ) , WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. a 
n a t i o n a l b a n k i n g a s s o c i a t i o n , as m a s t e r s e r v i c e r 
( i n 
s u c h c a p a c i t y , t h e ' M a s t e r S e r v i c e r ' ) as s e c u r i t i e s 
a d m i n i s t r a t o r 
( i n s u c h 
c a p a c i t y , 
t h e ' S e c u r i t i e s 
A d m i n i s t r a t o r ' ) 
a n d as c u s t o d i a n 
( i n s u c h 
c a p a c i t y , 
' t h e 
C u s t o d i a n ' ) , 
a n d DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST 
COMPANY, a n a t i o n a l b a n k i n g a s s o c i a t i o n , as t r u s t e e 
( t h e 
' T r u s t e e ' ) . " 
Ware c o n t e n d s t h a t v a r i o u s 
p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e 
PSA p r e c l u d e t h e 
a c q u i s i t i o n o f h e r p r o p e r t y b y t h e t r u s t a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y , 
t h a t t h e p u r p o r t e d 
a c q u i s i t i o n i s i n v a l i d . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , she 
3 F o r 
t h e p u r p o s e s 
o f 
t h i s 
a p p e a l , 
we 
a c c e p t 
t h i s 
d e f i n i t i o n as 
a c c u r a t e . 
13 
1100822 
c o n s t r u e s t h e PSA as r e q u i r i n g t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f a l l t r u s t 
a s s e t s by no l a t e r t h a n 90 d a y s a f t e r t h e " c l o s i n g d a t e " o f 
F e b r u a r y 28, 2006, t h a t i s , on o r b e f o r e May 29, 2006. 
Thus, 
she 
a r g u e s t h a t t h e p u r p o r t e d 
a c q u i s i t i o n o f t h e f o r e c l o s u r e 
d e e d 
d a t e d 
J u n e 
4, 
2008, 
was 
o u t s i d e 
t h e p a r a m e t e r s 
o f 
p e r m i s s i b l e 
a c q u i s i t i o n s . 
A t t h e v e r y 
l e a s t , she 
i n s i s t s , 
t h e r e i s a q u e s t i o n o f f a c t as t o when -- o r i f 
-- t h e t r u s t e e 
a c q u i r e d an a s s i g n m e n t o f t h e m o r t g a g e w i t h i n t h e p r e s c r i b e d 
p e r i o d . 
However, t h e t r u s t e e 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
"Ware does n o t h a v e 
s t a n d i n g " t o i n v o k e t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e PSA, b e c a u s e "she 
i s 
n e i t h e r a p a r t y n o r a t h i r d 
p a r t y 
b e n e f i c i a r y o f t h e PSA." 
T r u s t e e ' s b r i e f , a t 38-39. 
I n d e e d , Ware i s n e i t h e r a 
p a r t y 
t o t h e PSA n o r a " c e r t i f i c a t e h o l d e r . " See PSA, § 2.02 
( a s s e t s 
a r e 
h e l d " i n t r u s t f o r t h e e x c l u s i v e u s e and b e n e f i t o f a l l 
p r e s e n t and f u t u r e C e r t i f i c a t e h o l d e r s " ) . 
Ware does n o t r e s p o n d t o t h i s a r g u m e n t and f a i l s t o c i t e 
any 
a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e p r o p o s i t i o n 
t h a t one who i s n e i t h e r a 
p a r t y 
t o , n o r an 
i n t e n d e d 
b e n e f i c i a r y o f , a 
c o n t r a c t 
h a s 
s t a n d i n g t o e n f o r c e 
i t s p r o v i s i o n s . 
" R u l e 2 8 ( a ) ( 1 0 ) , A l a . 
R. App. P., r e q u i r e s 
t h a t 
a r g u m e n t s 
i n an 
a p p e l l a n t ' s 
... 
b r i e f 
c o n t a i n 
' c i t a t i o n s 
t o 
t h e 
c a s e s , 
s t a t u t e s , 
o t h e r 
14 
1100822 
a u t h o r i t i e s , 
and 
p a r t s 
o f 
t h e 
r e c o r d 
r e l i e d 
on.' 
The 
e f f e c t 
o f 
a 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
c o m p l y 
w i t h 
R u l e 
2 8 ( a ) ( 1 0 ) i s w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d : 
" ' I t 
i s s e t t l e d 
t h a t 
a 
f a i l u r e 
t o 
c o m p l y 
w i t h 
t h e 
r e q u i r e m e n t s 
o f R u l e 
2 8 ( a ) ( [ 1 0 ] ) 
r e q u i r i n g 
c i t a t i o n 
o f 
a u t h o r i t y 
f o r 
a r g u m e n t s p r o v i d e s 
t h e 
C o u r t w i t h 
a 
b a s i s 
f o r d i s r e g a r d i n g t h o s e a r g u m e n t s : 
"'"When 
an 
a p p e l l a n t 
f a i l s 
t o 
c i t e 
any 
a u t h o r i t y 
f o r 
an 
a r g u m e n t 
on 
a 
p a r t i c u l a r 
i s s u e , 
t h i s 
C o u r t 
may 
a f f i r m 
t h e 
j u d g m e n t as t o t h a t i s s u e , f o r i t 
i s 
n e i t h e r 
t h i s C o u r t ' s d u t y 
n o r 
i t s 
f u n c t i o n 
t o 
p e r f o r m 
an 
a p p e l l a n t ' s 
l e g a l 
r e s e a r c h . 
R u l e 
2 8 ( a ) ( [ 1 0 ] ) ; 
S p r a d l i n 
v. 
B i r m i n g h a m A i r p o r t A u t h o r i t y , 
613 
So. 
2d 
347 
( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) . " 
" ' C i t y 
o f 
B i r m i n g h a m 
v. 
B u s i n e s s 
R e a l t y 
 
I n v . C o 7 2 2 
So. 
2d 747, 
752 
( A l a . 1 9 9 8 ) . 
See 
a l s o McLemore v. 
F l e m i n g , 
604 
So. 
2d 
353 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 2 ) ; 
S t o v e r 
v. 
A l a b a m a 
Farm  
B u r e a u 
I n s . 
Co ., 
4 
67 
So. 
2d 
251 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 5 ) ; 
and 
Ex 
p a r t e 
R i l e y , 464 
So. 
2d 
92 
( A l a . 
1 9 8 5 ) . ' " 
U n i v e r s i t y o f S o u t h A l a b a m a v. 
P r o g r e s s i v e 
I n s . Co., 
904 
So. 
2d 
1242, 
1247-48 
( A l a . 2004) 
( q u o t i n g 
Ex 
p a r t e 
S h o w e r s , 
812 
So. 
2d 277, 
281 
( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) ) . 
F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s , we 
p r e t e r m i t 
f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e e f f e c t o f a l l e g e d v i o l a t i o n s o f 
t h e 
PSA. 
2. 
D i s c r e p a n c y 
B e t w e e n N o t i c e 
and 
Deed 
15 
1100822 
Ware 
a l s o 
c o n t e n d s 
t h a t 
t h e 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
was 
i n a p p r o p r i a t e b e c a u s e , she 
i n s i s t s , 
an i s s u e o f m a t e r i a l 
f a c t 
was 
p r e s e n t e d by 
t h e i n c o n g r u e n c e b e t w e e n t h e 
n o t i c e 
and 
t h e 
d e e d . 
S p e c i f i c a l l y , 
she 
s a y s 
t h a t 
i t was 
t h e 
t r u s t e e 
t h a t 
p u r p o r t e d 
t o 
p o s t 
n o t i c e 
o f 
t h e 
u p c o m i n g 
f o r e c l o s u r e 
s a l e 
c l a i m i n g t o be t h e h o l d e r 
o f t h e m o r t g a g e by a s s i g n m e n t , 
w h i l e 
i t was 
O p t i o n One 
t h a t p u r p o r t e d 
t o c o n d u c t t h e 
s a l e w i t h 
t h e 
t r u s t e e b e i n g 
t h e g r a n t e e on 
t h e d e e d . 
She 
i n s i s t s 
t h a t 
t h e 
c o m b i n a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
n o t i c e 
and 
t h e 
d e e d p r e s e n t s 
a 
d i s p u t e d 
f a c t u a l 
i s s u e 
"as 
t o who 
owned t h e n o t e and m o r t g a g e and 
who 
had 
t h e power t o c o n d u c t a f o r e c l o s u r e 
s a l e . " 
Ware's 
b r i e f , 
a t 24. 
" I f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n i s c o r r e c t , " so h e r a r g u m e n t g o e s , 
" t h e n 
O p t i o n 
One 
w o u l d 
no 
l o n g e r 
have 
t h e 
a u t h o r i t y 
t o 
f o r e c l o s e " ; t h e s a l e was 
i n v a l i d ; and t h e t r u s t e e d i d n o t h a v e 
t h e 
r i g h t 
t o b r i n g an 
a c t i o n i n e j e c t m e n t . 
Ware's b r i e f , 
a t 
57 
( f o o t n o t e 
o m i t t e d ) . 
I n 
t h i s 
c o n n e c t i o n , 
she 
a l s o 
a r g u e s 
t h a t 
t h e 
" f o r e c l o s i n g 
e n t i t y 
f a i l e d 
t o 
f o l l o w 
t h e 
n o t i c e 
r e q u i r e m e n t 
i n a c c o r d a n c e 
w i t h 
[ A l a . Code 
1975, 
§ 35-1-8,] 
when i t f a i l e d 
t o 
l i s t 
t h e 
c o r r e c t 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
r e g a r d i n g 
t h e 
name o f t h e 
e n t i t y and 
who 
was 
t h e c u r r e n t 
h o l d e r 
o r owner o f 
t h e 
... m o r t g a g e and who 
was 
c o n d u c t i n g t h e f o r e c l o s u r e s a l e . " 
Ware's b r i e f , 
a t 
54. 
16 
1100822 
However, 
t h e s e a r g u m e n t s a r e made f o r 
t h e f i r s t 
t i m e on  
a p p e a l . 
I n f a c t , 
r a t h e r 
t h a n 
u r g i n g 
t h i s 
p o s i t i o n i n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , Ware c o n c e d e d i n h e r r e s p o n s e t o t h e t r u s t e e ' s 
m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t t h a t " i t 
was u n d i s p u t e d t h a t t h e 
r e c o r d owner o f t h e m o r t g a g e a t t h e t i m e o f f o r e c l o s u r e was 
O p t i o n One." 
( E m p h a s i s added.) 
I n o t h e r w o r d s , she c o n c e d e d 
i n 
t h a t c o u r t t h e a b s e n c e o f an i s s u e o f f a c t as t o t h e owner 
o f t h e m o r t g a g e a t t h e t i m e o f f o r e c l o s u r e . 
" I t i s 
w e l l known t h a t 'we c a n n o t r e v e r s e t h e j u d g m e n t o f 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t b a s e d on an a r g u m e n t n o t made b e l o w a n d u r g e d 
f o r t h e f i r s t 
t i m e on a p p e a l . ' " 
W h i t e Sands G r o u p , L.L.C. v .  
PRS 
I I , 
L L C , 998 So. 2d 1042 , 1057 
( A l a . 2008) 
( q u o t i n g 
S i n g l e t o n v . S t a t e Farm F i r e & C a s . Co., 928 So. 2d 2 8 0 , 285 
( A l a . 
2 0 0 5 ) ) . 
M o r e o v e r , we have s e a r c h e d Ware's b r i e f s i n v a i n f o r t h e 
a r g u m e n t 
t h a t she a c t u a l l y made i n t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
n a m e l y , 
t h a t t h e f o r e c l o s u r e was " n u l l a n d v o i d 
[ s i m p l y ] b e c a u s e t h e 
f o r e c l o s u r e was n o t i c e d b y ... [ t h e 
t r u s t e e ] 
r a t h e r t h a n t h e 
owner o f t h e m o r t g a g e [ , ] O p t i o n One." 
T h a t a r g u m e n t h a s , 
t h e r e f o r e , b e e n w a i v e d . 
See A v i s R e n t A C a r S y s . , 
I n c . 
v . 
 
H e i l m a n , 876 So. 2d 1 1 1 1 , 1124 n.8 ( A l a . 
2003) ("An a r g u m e n t 
n o t 
made 
on 
a p p e a l 
i s a b a n d o n e d 
o r w a i v e d . 
B e t t i s 
v . 
17 
1100822 
T h o r n t o n , 662 
So. 
2d 256, 
257 
( A l a . 1 
9 9 5 ) . 
' I s s u e s 
n o t 
a r g u e d 
i n 
t h e 
a p p e l l a n t ' s 
b r i e f 
a r e w a i v e d . ' 
P a r d u e v. 
P o t t e r , 
632 
So. 
2d 
470, 
473 
( A l a . 
1 9 9 4 ) . " ) . 
Ware a l s o c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e 
t r u s t e e 
f a i l e d t o c a r r y i t s 
t h r e s h o l d summary-judgment b u r d e n b e c a u s e , 
she 
i n s i s t s , 
t h e 
a f f i d a v i t o f C o n n i e W h i t e , w h i c h was 
p r e s e n t e d 
by t h e 
t r u s t e e 
i n s u p p o r t o f i t s m o t i o n , d i d n o t c o m p l y w i t h R u l e 5 6 ( e ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
i n a number o f 
r e s p e c t s . 
However, 
she 
d i d 
n o t 
c h a l l e n g e 
t h i s 
a f f i d a v i t i n t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t . 
" C o n c e r n i n g 
a f f i d a v i t s 
and 
e x h i b i t s 
o f f e r e d 
i n 
s u p p o r t 
o f 
o r 
i n 
o p p o s i t i o n 
t o 
a 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
summary j u d g m e n t , 
t h i s C o u r t has 
s t a t e d : 
" ' R u l e 
5 6 ( e ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
g e n e r a l l y 
r e q u i r e s 
t h a t 
" [ s ] w o r n 
o r 
c e r t i f i e d c o p i e s " o f d o c u m e n t s r e f e r r e d t o 
i n 
an 
a f f i d a v i t 
o f f e r e d 
s u p p o r t i n g 
o r 
o p p o s i n g a m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t 
be 
a t t a c h e d 
t o t h e 
a f f i d a v i t . 
However, i f an 
a f f i d a v i t 
o r t h e d o c u m e n t s a t t a c h e d 
t o 
an 
a f f i d a v i t 
f a i l 
t o c o m p l y w i t h 
t h i s 
r u l e , 
t h e 
o p p o s i n g 
p a r t y 
must 
o b j e c t 
t o 
t h e 
a d m i s s i b i l i t y 
o f 
t h e 
a f f i d a v i t 
o r 
t h e 
document and move t o s t r i k e . 
Ex p a r t e 
E l b a  
Gen. 
Hosp. & N u r s i n g Home, I n c . , 828 
So. 
2d 
308, 
312-13 
( A l a . 
2001) 
( n o t i n g 
t h a t 
a 
p a r t y must o b j e c t t o e v i d e n c e s u b m i t t e d 
i n 
s u p p o r t o f a m o t i o n f o r a summary j u d g m e n t 
t h a t does n o t c o m p l y w i t h R u l e 5 6 ( e ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . P . ) ; Chatham v. CSX 
T r a n s p . , 
I n c . , 
613 
So.2d 
341, 
344 
( A l a . 1993) 
("A 
p a r t y 
 
must move 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
t o 
s t r i k e 
any 
 
n o n a d m i s s i b l e 
e v i d e n c e 
t h a t 
v i o l a t e s 
R u l e  
5 6 ( e ) . 
F a i l u r e 
t o 
do 
so 
w a i v e s 
any 
18 
1100822 
o b j e c t i o n 
on 
a p p e a l and 
a l l o w s 
t h i s 
C o u r t  
t o c o n s i d e r 
t h e 
d e f e c t i v e 
e v i d e n c e . " ) . ' " 
SSC 
Selma O p e r a t i n g Co. 
v. G o r d o n , 56 
So. 
3d 
598, 
602 
( A l a . 
2010) 
( e m p h a s i s added) 
( q u o t i n g 
E l i z a b e t h Homes, L.L.C. 
v. 
C a t o , 
968 
So. 
2d 
1, 
4-5 
( A l a . 2 0 0 7 ) ) . 
B e c a u s e Ware d i d 
n o t 
move 
t o 
s t r i k e 
W h i t e ' s 
a f f i d a v i t 
i n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t , 
she 
c a n n o t o b j e c t 
t o i t on a p p e a l as a g r o u n d f o r c h a l l e n g i n g 
t h e 
f a c t u a l b a s i s 
f o r t h e summary j u d g m e n t . 
" A c t i o n s 
i n e j e c t m e n t 
o r 
a c t i o n s 
i n 
t h e 
n a t u r e 
o f 
an 
a c t i o n 
i n e j e c t m e n t 
a r e 
g o v e r n e d 
by 
§ 6 - 6 - 2 8 0 [ , 
A l a . 
Code 
1975] 
S t e e l e 
v. 
F e d e r a l 
N a t ' l M o r t g a g e A s s ' n , 
[Ms. 
1 0 9 1 4 4 1 , December 3, 
2010] 
So. 
3d 
, 
( A l a . 2 0 1 0 ) . 
An 
e j e c t m e n t 
p l a i n t i f f ' s 
t h r e s h o l d 
b u r d e n 
c o n s i s t s 
o f 
a l l e g a t i o n s 
-- 
s u p p o r t e d by 
s u b s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e 
-- 
" ' t h a t 
t h e 
p l a i n t i f f was 
p o s s e s s e d o f t h e p r e m i s e s o r has 
t h e 
l e g a l 
t i t l e 
t h e r e t o , 
p r o p e r l y 
d e s i g n a t i n g 
o r 
d e s c r i b i n g them, 
and 
t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t e n t e r e d 
t h e r e u p o n and 
u n l a w f u l l y 
w i t h h o l d s 
and 
d e t a i n s 
t h e same.'" 
I d . 
( q u o t i n g 
§ 6 - 6 - 2 8 0 ( b ) , A l a . Code 
1 9 7 5 ) . 
W h i t e ' s 
a f f i d a v i t 
and 
a c c o m p a n y i n g 
d o c u m e n t a t i o n 
p u r p o r t e d 
t o s u p p l y 
t h i s e v i d e n c e , and Ware's c h a l l e n g e 
t o 
t h e 
a f f i d a v i t 
f a i l s 
f o r t h e r e a s o n s s t a t e d a b o v e . 
19 
1100822 
B. 
C o u n t e r c l a i m s 
B e c a u s e 
t h i s 
c a s e 
c o n c e d e d l y 
t u r n s 
on 
t h e 
p r o p r i e t y o f 
t h e 
summary 
j u d g m e n t 
-- 
w h i c h 
we 
a f f i r m 
-- 
Ware 
i s 
n o t 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
a 
r e v e r s a l 
o f 
t h e 
o r d e r 
s t r i k i n g 
h e r 
c o u n t e r c l a i m s . 
C o n s e q u e n t l y , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
o r d e r 
d i s p o s i n g o f Ware's c o u n t e r c l a i m s 
i s a l s o a f f i r m e d . 
C. A b s e n c e o f a 
H e a r i n g 
F i n a l l y , Ware c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e 
t r i a l e r r e d i n f a i l i n g 
t o 
c o n d u c t a h e a r i n g on h e r p o s t j u d g m e n t m o t i o n as she 
r e q u e s t e d . 
R u l e 
5 9 ( g ) , 
A l a . 
R. 
C i v . 
P., 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t 
m o t i o n s 
f i l e d 
p u r s u a n t 
t o 
R u l e 
5 9 ( e ) 
" s h a l l 
n o t 
be 
r u l e d upon 
u n t i l 
t h e 
p a r t i e s h a v e had 
o p p o r t u n i t y t o be h e a r d 
t h e r e o n . " 
I n 
o t h e r 
w o r d s , "when a h e a r i n g 
i s r e q u e s t e d 
p u r s u a n t 
t o R u l e 
5 9 ( g ) , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
e r r s i n n o t 
g r a n t i n g a h e a r i n g . " 
U n i c a r e , 
 
I n c . 
v. Hood, 823 
So. 
2d 1252, 
1253 
( A l a . 2 0 0 1 ) . 
As t h i s C o u r t has o f t e n s t a t e d , h o w e v e r , e r r o r 
o c c a s i o n e d 
by t h e a b s e n c e o f a h e a r i n g 
i s n o t a l w a y s 
r e v e r s i b l e : 
" ' " H a r m l e s s 
e r r o r o c c u r s , 
w i t h i n t h e 
c o n t e x t 
o f 
a 
R u l e 59(g) 
m o t i o n , where t h e r e i s e i t h e r no 
p r o b a b l e 
m e r i t 
i n 
t h e 
g r o u n d s 
a s s e r t e d 
i n 
t h e 
m o t i o n , 
o r 
where 
t h e 
a p p e l l a t e 
c o u r t 
r e s o l v e s 
t h e 
i s s u e s 
p r e s e n t e d 
t h e r e i n , as a m a t t e r 
o f l a w , 
a d v e r s e l y 
t o 
t h e 
m o v a n t , 
by 
a p p l i c a t i o n 
o f 
t h e 
same 
o b j e c t i v e 
s t a n d a r d 
o f 
r e v i e w 
as 
t h a t 
a p p l i e d 
i n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t . " ' " 
20 
1100822 
H o l l a n d e r v. N i c h o l s , 19 So. 3d 184, 197 
( A l a . 2009) 
( q u o t i n g 
K i t c h e n s 
v. 
Maye, 
623 
So. 
2d 
1082, 
1088-89 
( A l a . 1 9 9 3 ) , 
q u o t i n g i n t u r n G r e e n e v. Thompson, 554 So. 2d 376, 381 ( A l a . 
1 9 8 9 ) ) . 
Nor i s R u l e 59 t o be a v e h i c l e by w h i c h t o r a i s e 
new 
 
a r g u m e n t s o r t h e o r i e s 
n o t p r e v i o u s l y 
a s s e r t e d 
i n t h e 
t r i a l 
 
c o u r t . 
A m e r i c a n Home A s s u r . Co. v. G l e n n E s t e s s & A s s o c s . ,  
I n c . , 
763 F.2d 1237, 
1239 
( 1 1 t h C i r . 1 9 8 5 ) . 
As e x p l a i n e d i n t h i s o p i n i o n , Ware has p r e s e n t e d n o t h i n g 
f o r 
r e v i e w on t h e m e r i t s . 
A remand f o r p u r p o s e s o f R u l e 5 9 ( g ) 
w o u l d s e r v e no p u r p o s e o t h e r t h a n t o a f f o r d h e r "a s e c o n d 
b i t e 
a t 
t h e a p p l e . " 
Thus, i n t h e p o s t u r e i n w h i c h we 
f i n d 
t h i s 
c a s e , we deem t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
f a i l u r e t o h o l d a h e a r i n g 
on 
Ware's R u l e 5 9 ( e ) m o t i o n t o be h a r m l e s s 
e r r o r . 
I I I . 
C o n c l u s i o n 
I n 
c o n c l u s i o n , Ware has n o t d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e t r u s t e e 
f a i l e d 
t o c a r r y i t s i n i t i a l 
summary-judgment b u r d e n and 
has 
not 
r e b u t t e d 
t h e 
e v i d e n c e 
p r o d u c e d 
by 
t h e 
t r u s t e e . 
C o n s e q u e n t l y , 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
j u d g m e n t 
i s 
due 
t o 
be 
a f f i r m e d . 
AFFIRMED. 
Cobb, C . J . , and B o l i n and M a i n , J J . , c o n c u r . 
M u r d o c k , J . , c o n c u r s i n t h e 
r e s u l t . 
21