Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02251/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-02251-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 15:1601 Truth in Lending

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1 11cv2251 BTM(RBB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LUZ E GOMEZ,

Plaintiff,

Case No. 11cv2251 BTM(RBB)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR A

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING

ORDER AND LIS PENDENS AND

SETTING HEARING ON MOTION

FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

v.

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., et al.,

Defendants.

Plaintiff Luz E. Gomez has filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to enjoin

Defendants from selling her home at a trustee’s sale scheduled for November 3, 2011.

Plaintiff also seeks an order for a lis pendens. For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiff’s

motion is DENIED.

I. BACKGROUND FACTS

On August 27, 2004, Plaintiff and her husband borrowed $339,375.00 from World

Savings Bank, FSB. (Request for Judicial Notice in support of Motion to Dismiss (RJN), Ex.

A.) The loan was secured by a Deed of Trust on property located at 132 E. Street, Chula

Vista, CA 91910 (the “Property”). (RJN, Ex. B.) The Deed of Trust identifies the “Lender”

as “World Savings Bank, FSB, its successors and/or assignees.” (Id.) The Deed of Trust

identifies the Trustee as “Golden West Savings Association Service Co.” (Id.)

On December 31, 2007, World Savings Bank, FSB changed its name to “Wachovia

Mortgage, FSB.” (RJN, Ex. G.). Effective November 1, 2009, Wachovia Mortgage, FSB

Case 3:11-cv-02251-BTM-RBB Document 14 Filed 10/31/11 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2 11cv2251 BTM(RBB)

changed its name to “Wells Fargo Bank Southwest, N.A.,” and merged into Wells Fargo

Bank, N.A. (RJN, Ex. I.)

On December 7, 2009, a Notice of Default was recorded. (RJN, Ex. C.) The Notice

of Default was issued by Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation, as “either the original

trustee, the duly appointed substituted trustee, or acting as agent for the trustee or

beneficiary under a deed of trust.” The notice informed Plaintiff and her husband that they

were in default in the amount of $8,556.22, and explained that payments should be made

to “Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., also known as Wachovia Mortgage, a division of Wells Fargo

Bank, N.A., and formerly known as Wachovia Mortgage, FSB, formerly known as World

Savings Bank, FSB.”

In a Substitution of Trustee, recorded on April 1, 2011, Wells Fargo (by Cal-Western

as Attorney in Fact) substituted Cal-Western as the Trustee. (RJN, Ex. D.) The form was

notarized on August 18, 2010, but indicates that the “effective date” is December 3, 2009.

On April 14, 2011, a Notice of Trustee’s Sale was recorded. (RJN Ex. E.) The notice,

which was signed by Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation, set the sale for May 5, 2011.

On August 17, 2011, Plaintiff commenced this action in state court. Defendants Wells

Fargo Bank, N.A., and Golden West Savings Association Service Co., removed the case to

federal court. Defendants have filed a motion to dismiss and motion to strike, which are set

for hearing on December 2, 2011.

II. STANDARD

A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order must

establish that (1) he is likely to succeed on the merits; (2) he is likely to suffer irreparable

harm in the absence of preliminary relief; (3) the balance of equities tips in his favor; and (4)

an injunction is in the public interest. Winter v. Natural Resources Defense Council, 555

U.S. 7, 129 S. Ct. 365, 374 (2008).

The Ninth Circuit has held that the “sliding scale” approach to preliminary injunctions

survives Winter when applied as part of the four-element Winter test. Alliance for the Wild

Case 3:11-cv-02251-BTM-RBB Document 14 Filed 10/31/11 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3 11cv2251 BTM(RBB)

Rockies v. Cottrell, 632 F.3d 1127, 1131 (9th Cir. 2011). In other words, “‘serious questions

going to the merits’ and a balance of hardships that tips sharply towards the plaintiff can

support issuance of a preliminary injunction, so long as the plaintiff also shows that there is

a likelihood of irreparable injury and that the injunction is in the public interest.” Id. at 1135.

III. DISCUSSION 

Plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order is premised on Plaintiff’s claim that

neither Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”), nor Cal-Western Reconveyance Corporation

(“Cal-Western”), had standing to initiate nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings against the

Property. As discussed below, Plaintiff has not shown that this claim has any likelihood of

success.

Plaintiff argues that because Wells Fargo is not listed in the Note or Deed of Trust,

Wells Fargo does not have an interest in the Property and lacks standing to invoke nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings. However, it appears that Wells Fargo is a successor to

World Savings Bank, FSB. (RJN, Exs. G-I.) Both the Note and Deed of Trust identify the

“Lender” as “World Savings Bank, FSB, a Federal Savings Bank, its successors and/or

assignees, or anyone to whom this Note is transferred.” (RJN, Exs. A, B.) The Deed of

Trust states that the “Lender” is the “Beneficiary.” Thus, it seems that Wells Fargo, as the

successor to World Savings Bank, FSB, is the “Lender” and “Beneficiary.” There is no

evidence that Wells Fargo is, as Plaintiff claims, “a stranger to the transaction and an

intermeddler who has caused false documents to be recorded.”

Plaintiff contends that Cal-Western is not actually the Trustee because Cal-Western

was not appointed by the Beneficiary – i.e., World Savings Bank, FSB. As already

discussed, however, it appears that Wells Fargo was the “Beneficiary” and therefore had the

authority to substitute Cal-Western as the Trustee.

Plaintiff also argues that the Substitution of Trustee was invalid because it was

recorded after the Notice of Default was filed. Plaintiff is correct that the Substitution of

Trustee was recorded (and executed) after the filing of the Notice of Default. But even if CalCase 3:11-cv-02251-BTM-RBB Document 14 Filed 10/31/11 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4 11cv2251 BTM(RBB)

Western was not the Trustee at the time of the filing of the Notice of Default, Cal-Western

could still file the notice as an authorized agent of Wells Fargo. Under California law,

nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings can be instituted by “the trustee, mortgagee, or

beneficiary, or any of their authorized agents” by filing a notice of default with the office of

the recorder. Cal. Civ. Code § 2924(a)(1). 

Based on the record before the Court, it appears that Wells Fargo and Cal-Western

had standing to initiate non-judicial foreclosure proceedings against the Property. Plaintiff

has not demonstrated that she is likely to succeed on her standing claim. Therefore, a

temporary restraining order is not warranted.

The Court also denies Plaintiff’s motion for a lis pendens. Under California law, a

party to an action who asserts a real property claim may record a notice of pendency of

action in the office of the recorder of each county in which all or part of the real property is

situated. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 405.20. No court order is necessary for Plaintiff to record

a notice of lis pendens.

IV. CONCLUSION 

For the reasons discussed above, Plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order

and a lis pendens is DENIED. Plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction is set for hearing

on December 2, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Unless otherwise directed by the Court, there shall be

no oral argument, and no personal appearances are necessary. Defendants shall file an

opposition to the motion for preliminary injunction on or before November 18, 2011. Plaintiff

shall file her reply on or before November 28, 2011.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: October 31, 2011

Honorable Barry Ted Moskowitz

United States District Judge

Case 3:11-cv-02251-BTM-RBB Document 14 Filed 10/31/11 Page 4 of 4