Source: http://sc.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180306_0000566.DSC.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 08:29:28+00:00

Document:
FindACase | Stratford v. Altisource Solutions, Inc.
Stratford v. Altisource Solutions, Inc.
Altisource Solutions, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, et al., Defendants.
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss Plaintiff's trespass cause of action. For the reasons set forth below, the Court denies the motion.
To survive a motion to dismiss, the complaint must state "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). Although the requirement of plausibility does not impose a probability requirement at this stage, the complaint must show more than a "sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009). A complaint has "facial plausibility" where the pleading "allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Id.
Under South Carolina law, "[a] trespass is any interference with one's right to the exclusive, peaceable possession of his property." Babb v. Lee Cty. Landfill SC, LLC, 747 S.E.2d 468, 473 (S.C. 2013). "An action for 'trespass quare clausum fregit' may be based upon possession only and not necessarily upon legal title." Gunter's Island Hunting Club of Horry Cty., SC by Shelley v. Hucks, 317 S.E.2d 470, 472 (S.C. Ct. App. 1984). Wells Fargo argues Plaintiffs had no right to possession of the Property after November 17, 2014 because Wells Fargo became sole owner on that date. Thus, according to Wells Fargo, Plaintiffs cannot state a claim for trespass to the Property for an entry occurring after that date.
"A writ of assistance is undoubtedly an appropriate process to issue from a court of equity to place a purchaser of mortgaged premises under its decree in possession after he has received the commissioner's or master's deed, as against parties who are bound by the decree, and who refuse to surrender possession pursuant to its direction or other order of the court."
Ex parte Jenkins, 48 S.C. 325, 26 S.E. 686, 689 (1897) (emphasis removed) (quoting Terrell v. Allison, 88 U.S. 289, 291, 22 L.Ed. 634 (1874)). In this case, a writ of assistance had issued as part of the Master in Equity's judgment and the Sheriff was in the process of enforcing the writ.

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