Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01381/USCOURTS-azd-2_11-cv-01381-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Petition to Quiet Title

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Michael Dean Haller, 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Wells Fargo Bank NA; World Savings

Bank FSB; MTC Financial Incorporated, 

Defendants. 

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CV 11-01381-PHX-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it plaintiff's motion requesting a stay pending appeal or

alternatively a bond hearing (doc. 22) and Wells Fargo's response (doc. 25). Plaintiff did not

file a reply in support of his motion requesting a stay, and the time for submitting a reply has

expired.

Plaintiff filed this action in response to a trustee sale noticed on plaintiff's property

in March 2011. The complaint asserted three counts for relief: (1) breach of contract, (2)

accounting, and (3) quiet title. On September 29, 2011 we granted defendant MTC

Financial's unopposed motion to dismiss and Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss (doc. 15).

Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal. 

Plaintiff moves for a stay of any trustee sale pending his appeal, or in the alternative

to set a bond hearing to stay the sale. A stay, rather than directing conduct of third parties,

acts to halt a portion of a judicial proceeding. Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, __, 129 S. Ct.

Case 2:11-cv-01381-FJM Document 27 Filed 12/02/11 Page 1 of 3
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1749, 1758 (2009). Although there is "functional overlap" between a stay pending appeal

and an injunction, a stay merely freezes the judicial status quo, while an injunction alters

people's conduct. Id. The trustee sale that prompted plaintiff's original action was cancelled.

See Response, ex. A. And our September 29, 2011 order dismissed the action in its entirety.

Thus, at this time there is nothing left for us to halt or postpone. Rather than a stay, what

plaintiff is truly seeking is an order from this court preventing Wells Fargo or any other third

party from commencing a trustee sale on plaintiff's property while his appeal is pending.

Accordingly, we construe plaintiff's motion as a request for an injunction. 

Rule 62(c), Fed. R. Civ. P. permits a court to grant an injunction pending appeal from

a final judgment on terms for bond that secures the other party's rights. Wells Fargo opposes

the motion, arguing that plaintiff has not met his burden of proof to justify an injunction.

When considering an injunction under Rule 62(c), we apply the same standard used to assess

motions for preliminary injunctions. Tribal Vill. of Akutan v. Hodel, 859 F.2d 662, 663 (9th

Cir. 1988). To obtain a preliminary injunction, plaintiff must show that (1) he will likely

succeed on the merits, (2) he will likely suffer irreparable harm if an injunction is not

granted, (3) the "balance of equities tips in his favor", and (4) there is a public interest in

granting the injunction. Winter v. Natural Res. Def. Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20, 129 S. Ct.

365, 374 (2008). Here, plaintiff has not made any showing that he satisfies the requirements

for a preliminary injunction. The substantive portion of plaintiff's motion states, in its

entirety, that "[p]laintiff requests the Court stay any trustee’s sale of [p]laintiff’s property

pending the appeal, or in the alternative, [p]laintiff moves the Court to set a bond hearing to

stay the sale." Mot. for Stay at 1. Plaintiff's request falls far short of the "clear showing" that

the Supreme Court demands before the "extraordinary remedy" of injunctive relief is granted.

Winter, 555 U.S. at 22, 129 S. Ct. at 376. Because plaintiff has not shown that an injunction

pending appeal is warranted, a bond hearing is unnecessary. Plaintiff's motion is denied. 

Wells Fargo filed a motion seeking an award of attorney's fees on October 13, 2011

(doc. 17), prior to plaintiff filing the instant motion. Wells Fargo asks to supplement its

motion for attorney's fees to include the fees it incurred in responding to this motion. We

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grant Wells Fargo's request.

IT IS ORDERED DENYING plaintiff's request for stay pending appeal (doc. 22).

IT IS ALSO ORDERED GRANTING Wells Fargo's request to supplement its

motion for attorney's fees. Wells Fargo shall have up to and including seven days from the

date of this order to supplement its motion for attorney's fees (doc. 17) by adding the fees that

it incurred in responding to this motion.

DATED this 1st day of December, 2011.

Case 2:11-cv-01381-FJM Document 27 Filed 12/02/11 Page 3 of 3