Court Opinion

ID: 4161588
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-04-19 19:17:04.642192+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:38:22.140851
License: Public Domain

J-S12044-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST             :      IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAMP            :            PENNSYLVANIA
TRUST 2004-NC2, BY ITS ATTORNEY-         :
IN-FACT, OCWEN LOAN SERVICING,           :
LLC                                      :
                                         :
           v.                            :
                                         :
TUYEN T. TRAN & SHELIA A. TRAN,          :
                                         :
                  Appellants             :          No. 1348 MDA 2016

                  Appeal from the Order entered July 19, 2016
              in the Court of Common Pleas of Lancaster County,
                       Civil Division, No(s): CI-03-04399

BEFORE: PANELLA, OTT and MUSMANNO, JJ.

MEMORANDUM BY MUSMANNO, J.:                        FILED APRIL 19, 2017

     Tuyen T. Tran and Shelia A. Tran (“the Trans”) appeal from the Order

granting summary judgment in favor of Deutsche Bank National Trust

Company, as Trustee for GSAMP Trust 2004-NC2 (“Deutsche Bank”), by its

attorney-in-fact, Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC (“Ocwen”), in a mortgage

foreclosure action with respect to real property located at 1705 Drummers

Lane, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (“the Property”). We affirm.

     On June 29, 2004, the Trans entered into a home mortgage loan

transaction with New Century Mortgage Corporation (“New Century”),

wherein the Trans executed an Adjustable Rate Note (“the Note”) for

$207,000, plus interest. The Note provides for initial monthly payments of

$1,370.24, to commence on September 1, 2004, and an initial interest rate
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of 6.95% per annum. The Note also specifies a “maturity date” of August 1,

2034, at which time any outstanding balance shall be paid in full. On the

same date, the Trans executed a mortgage on the Property to secure the

Note, which was recorded in the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Office

on August 5, 2004 (the Note and mortgage will hereinafter be collectively

referred to as “the Mortgage”).

        On November 9, 2007, the Trans executed a Modification Agreement

for the remaining $202,716.52 balance on the Mortgage with Deutsche Bank

National Trust Company, as Trustee for GSAMP Trust 2004-NC2, Pooling and

Servicing Agreement dated as of October 1, 2004 (“Deutsche Pooling and

Servicing”). The Modification Agreement provides for monthly payments of

$1,465.28, and an interest rate of 7.5% per annum.

        New Century assigned the Mortgage to Deutsche Pooling and Servicing

on May 8, 2012, and the assignment was recorded on June 15, 2012.1

        On October 1, 2012, the Trans defaulted on the Mortgage by failing to

make their monthly payment.       The Trans failed to make any subsequent

monthly payments. On February 1, 2013, the Trans were provided an Act 6

and Act 91 Combined Notice,2 which included a notice of default, and notice

of intention to foreclose.

1
  The assignment was executed by New Century, through Ocwen as its
attorney-in-fact, and indicates that Ocwen’s power of attorney was recorded
on September 6, 2005.
2
    See 41 P.S. §§ 101-605; 35 P.S. §§ 1680.401(c)-1680.410(c).

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        Deutsche Pooling and Servicing assigned the Mortgage to Deutsche

Bank on March 19, 2013, and the assignment was recorded on April 12,

2013.

        Deutsche Bank filed a Complaint in mortgage foreclosure on May 9,

2013, appending thereto the Mortgage and accompanying riders, and the Act

6 and Act 91 Combined Notice. The Trans, pro se, filed an Answer on May

18, 2013, which consisted primarily of general denials (they admitted only

their identities).

        On February 18, 2015, the Trans, through counsel, filed a Petition for

Leave to Amend Answer, and a brief in support thereof. On February 19,

2015, the trial court issued a Rule to Show Cause, instructing Deutsche Bank

to file an answer to the Trans’ Petition for Leave to Amend within 20 days,

and stating that “[d]iscovery shall be completed within forty-five (45) days

of service of the [a]nswer.” Deutsche Bank did not respond, and on May 11,

2015, the trial court entered an Order instructing the Trans to file their

Amended Answer and New Matter within 20 days.

        On May 13, 2015, the Trans filed an Amended Answer and New

Matter, alleging that Ocwen does not possess a valid power of attorney; the

assignment of the Mortgage to Deutsche Bank is invalid; and an unrelated

federal lawsuit against Ocwen, and the resulting Consent Judgment, gives

rise to the inference that the individual who verified the Complaint in this

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case did not have personal knowledge of the allegations.          Deutsche Bank

filed a Reply on July 16, 2015.

      On July 21, 2015, Deutsche Bank filed a Motion for Summary

Judgment, alleging that there were no genuine issues of material fact

regarding the Trans’ default on mortgage payments, the assignments of the

Mortgage, or Deutsche Bank’s entitlement to enforce the Mortgage.             The

Trans filed a brief in response, and requested oral argument. On February

3, 2016, following oral argument, the trial court entered an Order granting

the   parties   90   days   to   complete   additional   discovery,   and   submit

supplemental briefs and exhibits. Neither party filed any additional briefs or

exhibits.   On July 19, 2016, the trial court granted summary judgment in

favor of Deutsche Bank, and awarded Deutsche Bank an in rem judgment

against the Trans in the amount of $273,818.51, together with interest,

costs and charges collectible.

      The Trans filed a timely Notice of Appeal and a court-ordered Pa.R.A.P.

1925(b) Concise Statement of matters complained of on appeal.

      On appeal, the Trans raise the following questions for review:

      1. Does [Deutsche Bank’s] failure to respond to factual
      allegations in [the Trans’] New Matter create genuine issues of
      material fact precluding the grant[] of summary judgment?

      2. Are there genuine issues of material fact as to whether
      [Deutsche Bank] is the real party in interest as assignee of the
      original [M]ortgage?

Brief for Appellants at 5 (issues renumbered).

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     Our standard of review of an order granting a motion for summary

judgment is well-settled:

     We view the record in the light most favorable to the non-
     moving party, and all doubts as to the existence of a genuine
     issue of material fact must be resolved against the moving party.
     Only where there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and
     it is clear that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a
     matter of law will summary judgment be entered. Our scope of
     review of a trial court’s order granting or denying summary
     judgment is plenary, and our standard of review is clear: the
     trial court’s order will be reversed only where it is established
     that the court committed an error of law or abused its discretion.

Daley v. A.W. Chesterton, Inc., 37 A.3d 1175, 1179 (Pa. 2012) (citation

omitted). Further, in mortgage foreclosure proceedings, “[t]he holder of a

mortgage is entitled to summary judgment if the mortgagor admits that the

mortgage is in default, the mortgagor has failed to pay on the obligation,

and the recorded mortgage is in the specified amount.” Bank of America,

N.A. v. Gibson, 102 A.3d 462, 465 (Pa. Super. 2014).

     In their first claim, the Trans argue that they raised an affirmative

defense in the New Matter regarding ownership of the Mortgage. Brief for

Appellants at 14. The Trans state that they attached a Notice to Plead to

their Amended Answer and New Matter.      Id. at 13.   The Trans claim that

Deutsche Bank’s Reply was untimely, and therefore, the factual allegations

contained in the New Matter are admitted as a matter of law. Id. at 13-14.

The Trans contend that “[b]y virtue of these admissions, [Deutsche Bank]

cannot prove that it possesses an ownership interest in the [M]ortgage to

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maintain its Complaint[,] and its request for summary judgment must be

denied.” Id.

      Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure 1026 provides that “every

pleading subsequent to the complaint shall be filed within twenty days after

service of the preceding pleading, but no pleading need be filed unless the

preceding pleading contains a notice to defend or is endorsed with a notice

to plead.” Pa.R.C.P. 1026; see also Louis v. Clark, 323 A.2d 298, 299 (Pa.

Super. 1974) (stating that “[s]ince the reply is a pleading, it should be filed

(assuming there is an endorsement giving notice to plead) within twenty

days after service of the answer raising the new matter.”). However, “it is

within the sound discretion of the court to permit a late pleading to be filed

where the opposing party will not be prejudiced and justice so requires.”

Clark, 323 A.2d at 299-300; see also Pa.R.C.P. 126 (providing that “[t]he

court at every stage of any such action or proceeding may disregard any

error or defect of procedure which does not affect the substantial rights of

the parties.”).

      Here, the Trans filed their Amended Answer and New Matter on May

13, 2015.    Deutsche Bank filed its Reply on July 16, 2015, beyond the

twenty-day deadline established by Rule 1026.

      Because the Trans did not file a motion with the trial court to obtain

judgment against Deutsche Bank, the trial court deemed this issue waived.

See Trial Court Opinion, 10/7/16, at 4.      Notwithstanding, the trial court

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considered the Trans’ first claim, and concluded that “nothing suggests that

the substantial rights of either party were affected by allowing [Deutsche

Bank’s] late [R]eply….   [The Trans] were not prejudiced by this untimely

filing and have made no claim that they were.” Id. at 3; see also id. n.1

(stating that the Trans “appear willing to overlook the fact that their

[A]mended [A]nswer and [N]ew [M]atter was filed after the passage of a

much longer period of time.”). Additionally, the trial court concluded that no

response was necessary because the Trans failed to set forth facts to

support an affirmative defense, and instead, stated conclusions of law

relating to a lawsuit filed against Ocwen in federal court.    See id. at 3-4;

see also Gotwalt v. Dellinger, 577 A.2d 623, 626 (Pa. Super. 1990)

(stating that “[i]f a party’s new matter does not contain facts supporting an

affirmative defense, but rather contains merely conclusions of law, no denial

is required because such averments are deemed to be denied.”); Pa.R.C.P.

1029(d) (providing that “[a]verments in a pleading to which no responsive

pleading is required shall be deemed to be denied.”).         Upon review, we

discern no abuse of discretion in the trial court’s determination that

Deutsche Bank’s untimely Reply did not result in admissions of fact such that

would create genuine issues of material fact, thereby precluding the entry of

summary judgment. Accordingly, the Trans’ first claim is without merit.

      In their second claim, the Trans assert that Deutsche Bank has not

proven it is the valid assignee of the original Mortgage. Brief for Appellants

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at 11. The Trans claim that New Century’s assignment to Deutsche Pooling

and Servicing was recorded by Ocwen in 2012 as New Century’s agent. Id.

The Trans also state that New Century filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in

2007, and accordingly, New Century’s assets were under the jurisdiction of

the bankruptcy court at the time of the purported assignment. Id. at 11-12.

The Trans argue that “[t]here are no documents in New Century’s

bankruptcy case which permitted New Century … to alienate any of its

property. As such, there was simply no authority for Ocwen as agent under

power of attorney for New Century to [] assign the [M]ortgage during the

pendency of the bankruptcy.”       Id. at 12.    The Trans contend, in the

alternative, that they entered into a Modification Agreement with another

entity in 2007. Id. at 12-13. While the Trans concede they are unable to

prove that the Modification Agreement resulted in a valid assignment, “as no

documentation has ever been provided that would show such[,]” they assert

that the Modification Agreement could create an inference that the Mortgage

had been assigned prior to 2012. Id. at 13.3

      The Trans’ second claim challenges Deutsche Bank’s standing to bring

the foreclosure action.    In a foreclosure action, the plaintiff can prove

standing either by showing that it (1) originated or was assigned the

mortgage, or (2) is the holder of the note specially indorsed to it or indorsed

3
  We note that the Trans’ discussion of this claim includes only one citation
to authority.   See Pa.R.A.P. 2119(a) (requiring that each point in an
argument contain “such discussion and citation of authorities as are deemed
pertinent.”). Nevertheless, we will consider the Trans’ claim.

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in blank. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Murray, 63 A.3d 1258, 1267-

68, 1268 n.6 (Pa. Super. 2013); see also CitiMortgage, Inc. v. Barbezat,

131 A.3d 65, 69 (Pa. Super. 2016) (stating that “[w]here an assignment is

effective, the assignee stands in the shoes of the assignor and assumes all

of his rights.”).

      Here, the Trans admit their identity and their execution of the

Mortgage in 2004 to secure the $207,000 loan. See Amended Answer and

New Matter, 5/13/15, at ¶¶ 2, 3. Paragraph 7 of the Complaint alleges that

the Mortgage is in default “as a result of the failure to pay the monthly

installments … due on October 1, 2012 and on the same day of each month

thereafter[,]” and Paragraph 8 details, by line item, the total due on the

Mortgage. Complaint, 5/9/13, ¶¶ 7, 8. The Trans denied both allegations as

conclusions of law. See Amended Answer and New Matter, 5/13/15, ¶¶ 7,

8. But see Brief for Appellants at 10 (wherein the Trans admit that “they

have not made a mortgage payment for a long time.”). As to Paragraph 8,

the Trans also indicated that “there is insufficient detail to determine the

various line items of alleged sums due.” Amended Answer and New Matter,

5/13/165 ¶ 8; see also Pa.R.C.P. 1029(c) Note (stating that “[r]eliance on

subdivision (c) does not excuse a failure to admit or deny a factual allegation

when it is clear that the pleader must know whether a particular allegation is

true or false.”); Gibson, 102 A.3d at 467 (stating that “general denials by

mortgagors that they are without information sufficient to form a belief as to

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the truth of averments as to the principal and interest owing on the

mortgage must be considered an admission of those facts.”) (citation,

quotation marks, and brackets omitted). Further, the Trans admit that the

assignment from New Century to Deutsche Pooling and Servicing, and the

subsequent assignment from Deutsche Pooling and Servicing to Deutsche

Bank, exist in the Lancaster County Recorder of Deeds Office. See Amended

Answer and New Matter, 5/13/15, ¶ 4.

      Deutsche Bank attached to its Motion for Summary Judgment a copy

of both assignments identified in the Complaint. See Motion for Summary

Judgment, Exhibit 2A. Deutsche Bank also attached to its Brief in Support of

Summary Judgment copies of the relevant limited powers of attorney

appointing Ocwen as Deutsche Bank’s attorney-in-fact (the first became

effective as of June 7, 2012, and the second became effective as of

November 18, 2013).       See Brief in Support of Motion for Summary

Judgment, Exhibit 10.   Each limited power of attorney identifies Deutsche

Bank as Trustee for various trusts, including GSAMP Trust 2004-NC2, and

grants Ocwen authority to pursue mortgage foreclosures on its behalf. See

id.

      In its Opinion, the trial court concluded that the Trans’ admission

regarding the assignments from New Century to Deutsche Pooling and

Servicing, and from Deutsche Pooling and Servicing to Deutsche Bank,

conferred prima facie standing on Deutsche Bank as a party in interest. See

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Trial Court Opinion, 8/7/16, at 5. Regarding the Trans’ alternative argument

that the Modification Agreement alienated New Century’s interest in the

Mortgage, the trial court concluded that even if New Century had alienated

its interest in the Mortgage, it had done so in favor of Deutsche Bank. See

id. at 6; see also id. (stating that the Trans acknowledged Deutsche Bank’s

interest in the Mortgage by signing the Modification Agreement). The trial

court also concluded that “the mere existence of the bankruptcy filing does

not create a genuine issue of material fact.”). Id. at 7.

      Upon review, we agree with the trial court’s conclusion. Although the

Trans challenge Deutsche Bank’s standing to assert foreclosure rights under

the Mortgage, the evidence of record establishes that Deutsche Bank

properly holds the Mortgage by way of assignment, and is the party in

interest in the foreclosure action. See Murray, supra. The Trans failed to

offer evidence, in opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment, that

establishes a genuine issue of material fact regarding the validity of the

assignments.   See Gerber v. Piergrossi, 142 A.3d 854, 860 (Pa. Super.

2016) (concluding that, where the evidence of record established that

appellees held the mortgage by valid assignment, and appellants offered no

evidence to establish a genuine issue of material fact, the trial court did not

err by granting summary judgment in favor of appellees). Moreover, despite

receiving 90 days to conduct additional discovery, the Trans failed to file any

additional supplemental briefs or exhibits in support of their allegations.

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Accordingly, the trial court did not err or abuse its discretion in granting

Deutsche Bank’s Motion for Summary Judgment.

     Order affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 4/19/2017

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