Court Opinion

ID: 2650407
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-01-22 01:03:02.751954+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:56:10.648977
License: Public Domain

January 21 2014

                                        DA 13-0251

               IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
                                        2014 MT 16

RUBY VALLEY NATIONAL BANK,

              Plaintiff and Appellee,

         v.

WELLS FARGO DELAWARE TRUST
COMPANY, N.A.; VERICREST FINANCIAL, INC.,

              Defendants and Appellants.

APPEAL FROM:          District Court of the Fifth Judicial District,
                      In and For the County of Madison, Cause No. DV 29-11-96
                      Honorable Loren Tucker, Presiding Judge

COUNSEL OF RECORD:

               For Appellants:

                      Cassie R. Dellwo, Jason J. Henderson; Mackoff Kellogg Law Firm;
                      Dickinson, North Dakota

               For Appellee:

                      Andrew P. Suenram, Adam M. Shaw; Erb & Suenram, PLLC;
                      Dillon, Montana

                                                 Submitted on Briefs: December 18, 2013
                                                            Decided: January 21, 2014

Filed:

                      __________________________________________
                                        Clerk
Justice Jim Rice delivered the Opinion of the Court.

¶1     Wells Fargo Delaware Trust Co. (Wells Fargo) appeals from the order of the Fifth

Judicial District Court, Madison County, denying its motion for summary judgment and

granting summary judgment to Ruby Valley National Bank (RVNB). Wells Fargo and

RVNB both claim beneficiary interests under separate trust indentures on the same real

property.   RVNB obtained and recorded a Deed of Trust (DOT) on the property

subsequent to a previously recorded DOT. RVNB filed for judicial foreclosure of its

interest in the property and sought identification of the beneficiary under the first DOT,

because it had been assigned multiple times. Wells Fargo was the only named defendant

to answer and claim to be the beneficiary of the first DOT. The District Court held that

RVNB’s DOT was entitled to priority over the earlier DOT held by Wells Fargo. We

reverse.

¶2     We restate and address the following issue:

¶3     Did the District Court err by determining that RVNB’s lien held priority over
Wells Fargo’s lien, and granting summary judgment to RVNB?

                 FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

¶4     This case involves real property located in Madison County. The subject property

was owned by Cherie Lewis (Cherie), but on February 2, 2005, Cherie conveyed the

property to her daughter, Beckie Lewis (Beckie), by recorded deed. Beckie mortgaged

the property by executing a DOT that secured a promissory note in the amount of

$279,000 in favor of Elliot Ames Nevada, Inc. (Indenture 1). Indenture 1 was entered
                                        2
pursuant to the Small Tract Financing Act (STFA), named Mortgage Electronic

Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) as beneficiary, and was recorded on February 3,

2005.1 Subsequently, Beckie executed a second DOT to secure a promissory note for

$102,057 to RVNB. This DOT (RVNB Indenture) was recorded on December 29, 2005.

¶5     In 2009, Cherie filed an action against Beckie, alleging breach of an oral contract.

The facts of that matter are irrelevant to this proceeding, but the judgment entered therein

quieted title to the subject property in Cherie and terminated all of Beckie’s claimed

interest in the property. Elliot Ames Nevada, Inc., MERS, and RVNB were not made

parties to the action, and the court’s order specifically restored title in Cherie as

previously encumbered. Shortly thereafter, Beckie died in a car accident.

¶6     On June 4, 2010, MERS assigned its interest in Indenture 1 and the underlying

promissory note to Flagstar Bank, FSB. This assignment was recorded on June 15, 2010.

Flagstar Bank subsequently assigned its rights in the DOT and note to U.S. Bank Trust

1
  No challenge was made in this proceeding to MERS’ status as beneficiary, and we will not
consider that issue. See Pilgeram v. GreenPoint Mortg. Funding, Inc., 2013 MT 354, 373 Mont.
1, 313 P.3d 839. The Dissent argues that Wells Fargo lacks standing in light of our holding in
Pilgeram, Dissent, ¶ 29, but we disagree. To conclude that Wells Fargo lacks standing is to read
Pilgeram as saying that MERS could never assign any interest in a DOT. However, Pilgeram
was limited to the issue of whether or not MERS met the statutory definition of “beneficiary”
under the STFA. The Court declined to decide whether MERS could execute an assignment as
the agent of the true beneficiary because the issue had not been properly preserved by the parties.
Pilgeram, ¶ 20. Thus, because Pilgeram did not definitively determine MERS’ ability to assign a
DOT, and the parties here have not litigated the issue, it would be premature and improper to
summarily conclude that Wells Fargo is forever barred from asserting any interest in Indenture 1.
Further, Wells Fargo is not seeking to foreclose in this action. If and when Wells Fargo pursues
foreclosure, the interest flowing to it down the chain of transactions from MERS may well be
raised and challenged by the property owner. In the present case, the original “true” beneficiary,
Elliot Ames Nevada, Inc., was not served with process and made a party, rendering impossible a
ruling that would purport to invalidate Indenture 1 or eliminate its priority based solely on
MERS’ assignment.
                                             3
National Association as trustee for LSF7 NPL V Trust, executed by Vericrest Financial,

Inc., as attorney in fact for Flagstar Bank. This assignment was recorded on August 10,

2011. U.S. Bank assigned the DOT and note to Wells Fargo as trustee for Vericrest

Opportunity Loan Trust 2011-NPL1. This assignment was recorded on September 21,

2011. Vericrest Financial, Inc. is the current servicer of Indenture 1.

¶7     RVNB filed for judicial foreclosure of its interest in December of 2011, naming

Cherie, Beckie’s Estate, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, Vericrest Financial, Flagstar Bank, and

MERS as party defendants. RVNB’s complaint set forth the history of transactions and

the recordings on the subject property, attaching copies of both trust indentures and all

recorded assignments of Indenture 1.          The complaint asked the District Court to

determine the correct identity of the beneficiary of Indenture 1, claiming that “three

allegedly separate entities hold themselves out to be the beneficiary.”         RVNB also

requested an order declaring it had priority “over all other lienholders.” RVNB did not

state any facts that facially raised a question about the priority of Indenture 1, but rather

affirmatively pled that Indenture 1 was recorded almost a year before the RVNB

Indenture.

¶8     Though served with process, U.S. Bank, Flagstar Bank, and MERS failed to

answer the complaint, and default judgment was entered against each of them. Wells

Fargo was the only asserted beneficiary to answer the complaint, and thus is the only

entity in the litigation claiming to be the beneficiary of Indenture 1. Cherie and Beckie’s

Estate moved for summary judgment on various grounds, but their claims were denied

                                          4
and judgment was entered against them in favor of RVNB. Neither Cherie nor Beckie’s

Estate appeal.

¶9    Wells Fargo filed its trial witness and exhibit list ten days after the deadline set by

the court’s scheduling order. The District Court granted RVNB’s motion to strike Wells

Fargo’s trial witness and exhibit list as untimely and vague. Wells Fargo moved for

summary judgment on the basis that, as the holder of the first-in-time interest, it had

priority over RVNB’s interest. RVNB filed a cross-motion for summary judgment,

asserting its lien was entitled to priority because Wells Fargo had failed to make a

compulsory counterclaim to foreclose its interest. The District Court granted summary

judgment in favor of RVNB, holding that Wells Fargo had not proven the elements

necessary for judicial foreclosure, and was unable to do so because its trial witness and

exhibit list had been stricken. Wells Fargo appeals.

                              STANDARD OF REVIEW

¶10   We review a district court’s ruling on a motion for summary judgment de novo,

applying the same M. R. Civ. P. 56 criteria as the district court. Deschamps v. Treasure

State Trailer Court, Ltd., 2011 MT 115, ¶ 12, 360 Mont. 437, 254 P.3d 566. Summary

judgment is appropriate when there is no genuine issue as to any material fact, and the

moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. M. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3). We

review the district court’s conclusion that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a

matter of law for correctness. Deschamps, ¶ 12.

                                         5
                                       DISCUSSION

¶11    As a general rule, “[o]ther things being equal, different liens upon the same

property have priority according to the time of their creation.” Section 71-3-113, MCA.

However, this general rule can be altered under narrow circumstances by recording

requirements. Montana has a “‘race-notice’ recording system.” Earl v. Pavex, Corp.,

2013 MT 343, ¶ 18, 372 Mont. 476, 313 P.3d 154.          A subsequent lienholder’s interest

holds priority over an earlier lienholder’s interest only if the subsequent holder lacked

notice of the earlier interest and duly recorded its interest first. Earl, ¶ 18. Proper filing

of an interest in real property as prescribed by law is constructive notice of the interest to

subsequent purchasers and mortgagees. Section 70-21-302(1), MCA.

¶12    RVNB has not alleged that it did not have notice of Indenture 1 or that any other

special exception with regard to priority applies. Rather, RVNB argues that Wells Fargo

was obligated to assert a compulsory counterclaim for judicial foreclosure in response to

RVNB’s complaint and that Wells Fargo’s failure to do so resulted in the loss of its

indenture’s priority. The authority cited by RVNB for this position is Zimmerman v.

Kevin Connor Construction, 1998 MT 131, ¶ 9, 289 Mont. 148, 958 P.2d 1195. In

Zimmerman, Kevin Connor Construction (Connor) had foreclosed on a construction lien

against Zimmerman in a prior action. Zimmerman subsequently brought a separate suit

against Connor alleging negligence within the same construction work that resulted in the

foreclosed lien. Zimmerman, ¶¶ 2-3. We affirmed summary judgment for Connor on the

ground that Zimmerman’s negligence claims were compulsory counterclaims in the prior

                                          6
action. Zimmerman, ¶ 19. Clearly, the separate trust indentures recorded here do not

arise out of the same transaction or occurrence as did the claims at issue in the

Zimmerman litigation and Zimmerman is not controlling.

¶13   We addressed the necessity of filing a compulsory counterclaim for foreclosure of

a trust indenture in Deschamps. There, we held that a nonjudicial foreclosure of property

is “not the type of claim contemplated by M. R. Civ. P. 13(a)” because a counterclaim

generally requires redress by the court, while nonjudicial foreclosure is a process that

does not require court involvement. Deschamps, ¶ 14. The plain language of the STFA

permits a trust indenture beneficiary to determine whether to proceed with or without

court involvement. Deschamps, ¶ 15. Thus, nonjudicial foreclosure of an indenture is

not waived by failure to counterclaim for judicial foreclosure in a legal action.

Deschamps, ¶ 16.

¶14   Although the District Court concluded it was unnecessary to determine whether

Wells Fargo was compelled to counterclaim for judicial foreclosure, the court nonetheless

reasoned that Wells Fargo was unable to “prove the required elements necessary” to

make out a prima facie case for judicial foreclosure.      It therefore determined that

RVNB’s indenture was entitled to priority over Wells Fargo’s indenture. The court’s

order did not address the reason Wells Fargo was required to demonstrate the elements of

judicial foreclosure when its interest was secured by a trust indenture that could be

foreclosed nonjudicially under the STFA.

                                        7
¶15    The District Court’s order failed to recognize certain principles of judicial

foreclosure. A foreclosure extinguishes or “closes” the mortgagor’s (or “grantor’s”)

interest and terminates junior interests in the property that are either named in the

foreclosure action or unnamed but against whom the proceeding is deemed conclusive by

operation of statute. See §§ 71-1-315(1)(a)(i),(v), -222(3), MCA. “A valid foreclosure of

a mortgage terminates all interests in the foreclosed real estate that are junior to the

mortgage being foreclosed and whose holders are properly joined or notified under

applicable law.” Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages § 7.1 (1997). As the Court

of Appeals of Washington recently explained:

       “[T]he lien of the junior encumbrancers cannot follow the land because
       they are parties to the record and the [foreclosure] decree cuts them off
       from the land, but for that very reason their rights may be asserted against
       the surplus fund in court.” 1 Garrard Glenn, Mortgages, Deeds of Trust,
       and Other Security Devices as to Land § 86.3, 520 ([Michie Co.] 1943);
       accord United States v. Sage, 566 F.2d 1114, 1114-15 (9th Cir. 1977)
       (“Foreclosure affects the rights of all mortgagees junior to the foreclosing
       mortgagee and requires them to look to the proceeds for satisfaction, but it
       has no effect whatsoever upon the interest of senior mortgagees.”).

Worden v. Smith, 2013 Wash. App. LEXIS 2815, ¶ 23 (Wash App. Div. 3 December 12,

2013). See also Williams v. Nationstar Mortg., LLC, 349 S.W.3d 90, 95 (Tex. App.–

Texarkana 2011) (citing 59 C.J.S. Mortgages § 549 (1998); 59A C.J.S. Mortgages § 601;

other citations omitted) (“Foreclosure does not terminate interests in the foreclosed real

estate that are senior to the mortgage being foreclosed. In fact, the general rule is that the

successful bidder at a junior lien foreclosure takes title subject to the prior liens.”).

                                            8
¶16    Thus, a senior lien is unaffected by foreclosure of a junior lien, and a purchaser at

the foreclosure sale of a junior lienholder will take the property subject to the senior lien.

“Foreclosure does not terminate interests in the foreclosed real estate that are senior to the

mortgage being foreclosed.” Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages § 7.1. The

Comment to this Restatement section adds “[i]t is . . . axiomatic that the title deriving

from a foreclosure sale, whether judicial or by power of sale, will be subject to all

mortgages and other interests that are senior to the mortgage being foreclosed.”

Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages § 7.1 cmt. a.2

¶17    These principles correspondingly impact the issue of what parties are “necessary”

in a judicial foreclosure proceeding. It has long been a general rule that “persons holding

mortgages or liens prior to the mortgage under foreclosure are neither necessary nor

proper parties to the action. A prior mortgagee may elect for himself the time and

manner of enforcing his security. He cannot be compelled to be a party to a suit by a

junior encumbrancer foreclosing his lien.” Cone Bros. Const. Co. v. Moore, 141 Fla.
420, 426 (1940) (citing Emigrant Industrial Sav. Bank v. Goldman, 75 N.Y. 127 (1878)).

As has been explained:

2
  The Restatement provides an example, which parallels the facts of the case at bar: “Mortgagor
borrows money from Mortgagee-1 and gives Mortgagee-1 a promissory note secured by a
mortgage on Blackacre. The mortgage is immediately recorded. Mortgagor then borrows
money from Mortgagee-2 and gives Mortgagee-2 a promissory note secured by a mortgage on
Blackacre. The latter mortgage is immediately recorded. Mortgagor later defaults in payment on
the obligation secured by the mortgage to Mortgagee-2. Mortgagee-2 validly accelerates that
obligation and forecloses its mortgage, properly joining or notifying all subordinate parties. The
foreclosure sale purchaser owns Blackacre free and clear of Mortgagor’s interest, but subject to
Mortgagee-1’s mortgage.” Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages § 7.1 illus. 5 (emphasis
added).
                                            9
       A senior lienor is not a necessary party because it is not subject to or
       subordinate to the mortgage being foreclosed. To omit it from a
       foreclosure suit brought by a junior lienor will not defeat the purposes of
       foreclosure because the senior lien existed on the land as of the time the
       mortgage being foreclosed was executed.

Grant S. Nelson & Dale A. Whitman, Real Estate Finance Law vol. 1, § 7.12, 582-83 (3d

ed., West Pub. 1993).

       Since a senior mortgagee’s interest cannot be affected by an action to
       foreclose a junior lien, it follows that an attempt to join the senior as a
       party to such action can be defeated through a timely objection. Such is
       the logic of the rule. To it is added the practical reason that the prior
       mortgagee should be able to choose its own time for selling and not be
       forced to realize in a market that in its judgment is unfavorable.

Nelson & Whitman, Real Estate Finance Law at § 7.14, 590 (emphasis added).

¶18    However, an exception to this general rule is made to permit joinder of a senior

lienholder as a party in a foreclosure action for the limited purpose of establishing the

“nature and extent of the prior lien.” Nelson & Whitman, Real Estate Finance Law at

§ 7.12, 583. This would include determination of priority and calculation of the value of

the prior interest when these issues are disputed. See Richard R. Powell, Powell on Real

Property vol. 4, § 37.37[7] (Michael Allan Wolf ed., LexisNexis 2000) (“If there is doubt

as to the precise nature or extent of the claimed superior interest, joinder of its claimant

permits the clarification needed for prospective purchasers of the mortgaged interest at

the time of sale. Thus, courts have been willing to permit joinder of such parties where

such a dispute in priorities exists.”); Restatement (Third) of Property: Mortgages § 7.1

cmt. a (“a foreclosing junior lienor may make the holders of senior liens parties to a

                                         10
judicial foreclosure action for the limited purpose of determining the amounts of those

liens.”).

¶19    Consequently, because a senior lienholder’s interest is unaffected by the

foreclosure of the junior lien, Wells Fargo, assuming its lien was prior to RVNB’s, was

not required to counterclaim for foreclosure of its security interest in order to retain its

priority. Its interest would remain as an encumbrance on the property after RVNB’s

foreclosure sale. The foreclosure buyer would take subject to Wells Fargo’s indenture,

which Wells Fargo could foreclose at a time of its choosing.

¶20    While RVNB argued, and the District Court essentially agreed, that the “one

action rule” contained in the foreclosure statute, see § 71-1-222(1), MCA, would prohibit

Wells Fargo from later initiating a nonjudicial foreclosure against the subject property,

the statute clearly provides otherwise: “The one-action limitation in this section does not

prohibit an act or proceeding . . . for the exercise of a power of sale conferred pursuant to

the provisions of 71-1-223 or a foreclosure by advertisement and sale pursuant to Title

71, chapter 1, part 3 [STFA].” Section 71-1-222(4)(e), MCA; see also Deschamps, ¶ 16.

¶21    Having determined that Wells Fargo was not required to file a counterclaim for

foreclosure in order to protect its interest in the property, we now turn to the issue of

priority between the parties. The District Court held that, because Wells Fargo’s trial

witness and exhibit list had been stricken, it was unable to offer any evidence establishing

an interest in the property. It further held, without explanation, that the documents

offered in support of Wells Fargo’s motion for summary judgment were inadequate.

                                         11
¶22    The District Court’s conclusion that there was no evidence by which Wells Fargo

could establish its interest in the property because Wells Fargo’s trial witness and exhibit

list had been stricken does not reflect the nature of the record in this case. RVNB itself

filed copies of all the relevant recorded documents, including Indenture 1 and subsequent

assignments, with its complaint. Documents attached to pleadings are considered part of

the pleading.   M. R. Civ. P. 10(c); see also Firelight Meadows, LLC v. 3 Rivers

Telephone Coop., Inc., 2008 MT 202, ¶ 15, 344 Mont. 117, 186 P.3d 869. RVNB filed a

copy of the promissory note underlying Indenture 1 with its response to Wells Fargo’s

motion for summary judgment and Wells Fargo likewise filed certified copies of all the

recorded documents with its second motion for summary judgment. To resolve a motion

for summary judgment, a district court is required to examine the “pleadings, the

discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits” to determine whether there

were any genuine issues of material fact and whether a party was entitled to judgment as

a matter of law. M. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3). As the record for this purpose contained

Indenture 1, its accompanying promissory note, and the chain of assignments, there was

evidence upon which Wells Fargo could rely to support its position on summary

judgment.

¶23    Contrary to RVNB’s position, we conclude it is possible to identify the present

beneficiary of Indenture 1. The documents filed by both RVNB and Wells Fargo clearly

indicate a chain of assignment of Indenture 1 from MERS to Flagstar Bank; then Flagstar

Bank to U.S. Bank (as trustee for LSF7 NPL V Trust); and finally from U.S. Bank (as

                                         12
trustee for LSF7 NPL V Trust) to Wells Fargo (as trustee for Vericrest Opportunity Loan

Trust 2011-NPL1). MERS, Flagstar Bank, and U.S. Bank did not appear in this action to

contest any of these assignments. Further, RVNB has presented no evidence that would

dispute the signed, notarized, and recorded documents. The undisputed facts establish

that Wells Fargo, as trustee for Vericrest Opportunity Loan Trust 2011-NPL1, is the

current beneficiary of Indenture 1.

¶24    RVNB further argues that there is no evidence the promissory note was assigned

along with the DOT. It also asserts that the validity of the promissory note itself is now

disputed because Beckie is deceased and, because Wells Fargo’s trial witness and exhibit

list was stricken, no one from Wells Fargo or any other bank can testify to the note’s

validity. However, the recorded assignments all state that the assigning party “has

ENDORSED said Trust Indenture and Note and does hereby ASSIGN, SELL CONVEY

AND DELIVER” to the assignee “all right, title and interest in said Note and all rights

accrued or to accrue under said Trust Indenture.” (Emphasis in original.) Thus, the

documents facially demonstrate that both the promissory note and the DOT were

assigned down the same chain previously detailed, and there is no evidence to the

contrary.

¶25    After a signed copy of the promissory note was submitted into the record, the

burden shifted to RVNB, as the party opposing summary judgment, to present

“substantial evidence, as opposed to mere denial, speculation, or conclusory statements”

to establish the existence of a genuine issue of material fact as to the note’s validity.

                                        13
Peterson v. Eichhorn, 2008 MT 250, ¶ 13, 344 Mont. 540, 189 P.3d 615. Wells Fargo

did not have the burden of establishing the validity of the promissory note in this

proceeding because it is not seeking to foreclose. Rather, its burden was to establish an

earlier recorded indenture in its favor, a fact that has been demonstrated. While Wells

Fargo did not prove the precise amount outstanding under the note and indenture, RVNB

did not request that the District Court determine this amount.

¶26    Finally, RVNB offers that this Court should not allow “non-judicial foreclosures

of security interests that are of questionable authenticity” because such foreclosures will

“put[ ] the Small Tract Financing Act at risk.” However, Wells Fargo has not here sought

nonjudicial foreclosure. Further, no claim has been made that Wells Fargo’s indenture,

recorded nearly a year before RVNB’s indenture, is invalid or has been discharged. The

recorded documents clearly demonstrate that Wells Fargo, as trustee for Vericrest

Opportunity Loan Trust 2011-NPL1, is the current beneficiary of Indenture 1. Thus, the

undisputed facts establish that Wells Fargo is entitled to judgment as a matter of law that

its indenture holds priority over RVNB’s indenture.        RVNB may foreclose on the

property, following proper procedure, but the property, when sold, will remain subject to

Wells Fargo’s senior indenture.

¶27    Reversed and remanded for entry of judgment consistent herewith.

                                                 /S/ JIM RICE

                                         14
We concur:

/S/ PATRICIA COTTER
/S/ LAURIE McKINNON
/S/ BETH BAKER
/S/ MICHAEL E WHEAT

Chief Justice Mike McGrath dissents.

¶28   I dissent. The Court declines to address the status of MERS as the purported

beneficiary of the Deed of Trust later assigned to Wells Fargo. Opinion, ¶ 4 n. 1. The

parties have not challenged the validity of the beneficiary designation. Questions of

standing, however, must be addressed even if not raised by a litigant. Dick Anderson

Constr., Inc. v. Monroe Constr. Co., 2009 MT 416, ¶ 46, 353 Mont. 534, 221 P.3d 675.

Standing is a jurisdictional requirement. Heffernan v. Missoula City Council, 2011 MT
91, ¶ 29, 360 Mont. 207, 255 P.3d 80. A court does not have the power to resolve a case

brought by a party with no personal stake in the outcome. Heffernan, ¶ 29.

¶29   Wells Fargo’s stake in the outcome of this case is directly traceable to the original

designation of MERS as the beneficiary of the Deed of Trust. MERS assigned its

beneficial interest to Flagstar Bank. Flagstar Bank assigned that interest to U.S. Bank,

which in turn assigned that interest to Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo “stepped into [MERS’]

shoes,” assuming those rights, and only those rights, previously held by MERS. See

Watts v. HSBC Bank U.S. Trustee, 2013 MT 233, ¶ 18, 371 Mont. 295, 308 P.3d 57. We

have recently held that MERS “does not meet the STFA’s definition of ‘beneficiary.’ ”

Pilgeram v. GreenPoint Mortg. Funding, Inc., 2013 MT 354, ¶ 18, 373 Mont. 1, 313 P.3d
15
839.   The beneficiary of a deed of trust must be “the entity to whom the secured

obligation flows.” Pilgeram, ¶ 17. That entity is the lender, not an electronic registry

such as MERS. Pilgeram, ¶ 18. MERS was not a valid beneficiary and had no interest in

the Deed of Trust. The chain of assignments leading from MERS to Wells Fargo was

empty. Wells Fargo has no stake in the outcome of this case, and therefore lacks

standing. Further, because Wells Fargo has no interest, its interest certainly cannot have

priority over that of RVNB.

¶30    I respectfully dissent from those portions of the Opinion declining to address the

status of MERS and determining Wells Fargo’s purported indenture to have priority over

the indenture held by RVNB.

                                                /S/ MIKE McGRATH

                                        16