Case Name: BAC HOME LOAN SERVICING, L.P., f/k/a Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P., Plaintiff/Appellee, v. Jack R. SWANSON, Defendant/Appellant
Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Oklahoma
Decision Date: 2012-04-03
Citations: 275 P.3d 144
Docket Number: No. 108,079
Parties: BAC HOME LOAN SERVICING, L.P., f/k/a Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P., Plaintiff/Appellee, v. Jack R. SWANSON, Defendant/Appellant.
Judges: 15 CONCUR: TAYLOR, C.J., KAUGER, WATT, EDMONDSON, REIF, COMBS, JJ.
Reporter: Pacific Reporter 3d
Volume: 275
Pages: 144–147

Head Matter:
2012 OK 25
BAC HOME LOAN SERVICING, L.P., f/k/a Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P., Plaintiff/Appellee, v. Jack R. SWANSON, Defendant/Appellant.
No. 108,079.
Supreme Court of Oklahoma.
April 3, 2012.
Jack R. Swanson, Pro Se, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, for Defendant/Appellant.
Sally E. Garrison, Baer, Timberlake, Coul-son & Cates, P.C., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for Plaintiff/Appellee.

Opinion:
COMBS, J.
FACTS
1 1 BAC Home Servicing, LP. (BAC), filed a foreclosure petition against Jack R. Swanson on August 10, 2009. Attached to this petition was a copy of the note with an allonge dated February 5, 2007, transferring the note to Countrywide Bank, N.A., signed by a warehouse manager of Magnus Financial Corporation. There was no evidence presented showing this note was indorsed to BAC. No indication that BAC held any title was presented until the motion for summary judgment filed on December 28, 2009, which showed a blank endorsement on the allonge. The trial court granted BAC's Motion for Summary Judgment, and the Court of Civil Appeals affirmed this grant of Summary Judgment finding that there existed no question of fact and BAC was the holder of the note at the time of filing the Motion for Summary Judgment. Since this is in conflict with our recent holdings in Deutsche Bank National Trust v. Brumbaugh, 2012 OK 3, 270 P.3d 151, we have granted Certiorari. Standing is the dispositive issue in the instant case and, therefore, we are not addressing any other issues presented in the instant matter.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
12 An appeal on summary judgment comes to this court as a de novo review. Carmichael v. Beller, 1996 OK 48, ¶ 2, 914 P.2d 1051, 1053. All inferences and conclusions are to be drawn from the underlying facts contained in the record and are to be considered in the light most favorable to the party opposing the summary judgment. Rose v. Sapulpa Rural Water Co., 1981 OK 85, 631 P.2d 752. Summary judgment is improper if, under the evidentiary materials, reasonable individuals could reach different factual conclusions. Gaines v. Comanche County Medical Hospital, 2006 OK 39, ¶ 4, 143 P.3d 203, 205.
ANALYSIS
13 Following the teachings of Deutsche Bank National Trust v. Brumbaugh, 2012 OK 3, 270 P.3d 151, ¶ 11, where we held:
To commence a foreclosure action in Oklahoma, a plaintiff must demonstrate it has a right to enforce the note and, absent a showing of ownership, the plaintiff lacks standing. Gill v. First Nat. Bank & Trust Co. of Oklahoma City, 1945 OK 181, 159 P.2d 717. Being a person entitled to enforce the note is an essential requirement to initiate a foreclosure lawsuit. In the present case, there is a question of fact as to when Appellee became a holder, and thus, a person entitled to enforce the note. Therefore, summary judgment is not appropriate. If Deutsche Bank became a person entitled to enforce the note as either a holder or nonholder in possession who has the rights of a holder after the foreclosure action was filed, then the case may be dismissed without prejudice and the action may be re-filed in the name of the proper party. We reverse the granting of summary judgment by the trial court and remand back for further determinations as to when Appellee acquired its interest in the note.
We therefore find there is a question of fact as to when BAC acquired the note in the instant matter, and we remand this matter back to the trial court for further determination as to if and when BAC became a person entitled to enforce the note.
CONCLUSION
T4 It is a fundamental precept of the law to expect a foreclosing party to actually be in possession of its claimed interest in the note, and to have the proper supporting documentation in hand when filing suit, showing the history of the note, so that the defendant is duly apprised of the rights of the plaintiff. This is accomplished by showing the party is a holder of the instrument or a nonholder in possession of the instrument who has the rights of a holder, or a person not in possession of the instrument who is entitled to enforce the instrument pursuant to 12A 0.8. 2001, § 3-309 or 12A 0.98.2001, § 3-418. Likewise, for the homeowners, absent adjudication on the underlying indebtedness, the dismissal cannot cancel their obligation arising from an authenticated note, or insulate them from foreclosure proceedings based on proven delinquency and, therefore, this Court's decision in no way releases or exonerates the debt owed by the defendants on this home. See, U.S. Bank National Association v. Kimball, 27 A.3d 1087, 75 UCC Rep.Serv.2d 100, 2011 VT 81 (VT 2011); and Indymac Bank, F.S.B. v. Yano-Horoski, 78 A.D.3d 895, 912 N.Y.S.2d 239 (2010).
CERTIORARI PREVIOUSLY GRANTED; COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OPINION VACATED; RULING OF THE TRIAL COURT IS REVERSED AND CAUSE IS REMANDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS
15 CONCUR: TAYLOR, C.J., KAUGER, WATT, EDMONDSON, REIF, COMBS, JJ.
16 DISSENT: WINCHESTER (JOINS GURICH, J.), GURICH (BY SEPARATE WRITING), JJ.
T7 RECUSED: COLBERT, V.C.J.