Opinion ID: 2383772
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Compliance with the Deed of Trust

Text: Appellant also asserts that the sale of the property did not comply with the provisions of the deed of trust. Specifically, she contends that because only one of the two appointed trustees [3] was present at the foreclosure sale and because the auction was not held in a public place, it was invalid and should be declared a nullity. These arguments fail for two reasons. First, nothing in the deed of trust states that both trustees must be present during the foreclosure sale; second, nothing in the deed of trust, or in relevant statutory or case law, requires that a foreclosure sale be held at a public place at or near a courthouse, as appellant maintains. The law is clear that any power a trustee may have must originate in the deed of trust itself or in any applicable statutes. See Perry v. Virginia Mortgage & Investment Co., 412 A.2d 1194, 1197 (D.C.1980). Since the deed in this case is silent as to the presence of trustees during a foreclosure sale, appellant's only support would have to come from the relevant statute. However, D.C.Code § 42-815 (2001), which governs foreclosure sales, contains no requirement concerning the presence of trustees. [4] Similarly, nothing in the deed of trust or in any applicable statute requires that a foreclosure sale take place at or near a courthouse, as appellant contends. The only requirement in the deed is that the sale be conducted at a public auction. Weschler's Auction House, where the sale took place, is a well-known auction house that has been in operation for over 100 years at various locations in the District of Columbia. Its present location, in the 900 block of E Street, N.W., is approximately six blocks from the District of Columbia Courthouse. There is no reason to conclude that simply because the sale occurred at Weschler's place of business, as many such sales do, it was private or non-public, or otherwise contrary to law. Furthermore, nothing in any case or statute that we have found precludes a public auction from being held in a privately owed auction house that is open to the general public, as Weschler's is. [5]