Court Opinion

ID: 2952800
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-09-16 22:09:56.994071+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:52.077388
License: Public Domain

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-08-00372-CV

Justin A. Washmon, Appellant

v.

Juanita A. Strickland, Substitute Trustee and Washington Mutual Bank, Appellees

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 98TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. D-1-GN-05-004588, HONORABLE MARGARET A. COOPER, JUDGE PRESIDING

C O N C U R R I N G   O P I N I O N

		Appellant Justin A. Washmon filed suit seeking a declaratory judgment and a
request to quiet title against appellees Washington Mutual Bank ("Washington Mutual") and
Juanita Strickland, substitute trustee, concerning real property sold at a non-judicial foreclosure sale. 
Washmon owned the real property prior to the foreclosure sale.  The district court granted summary
judgments in favor of appellees and dismissed Washmon's claims with prejudice.  The majority
affirms the district court's judgment.  I concur in the majority's judgment, but I write separately
because I would affirm the summary judgment ruling in favor of Washington Mutual pursuant to rule
166a(i) of the rules of civil procedure.  See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(i).  

BACKGROUND

		The summary judgment evidence was not controverted concerning the material facts
surrounding the foreclosure sale.  In October 2002, Washmon executed a note in the original
principal amount of $113,200 and deed of trust to Long Beach Mortgage Company.  The deed of
trust secured the note and granted Long Beach Mortgage Company a first lien on certain real
property located at 8410 Dixon Drive, Austin, Texas 78745 (the "property").  Both the note and the
deed of trust provided that they were assignable without Washmon's consent.  Long Beach Mortgage
Company thereafter assigned the note and deed of trust to Deutsche Bank National Trust Company,
as trustee for Long Beach Mortgage Loan Trust 2003-1 ("Deutsche Bank").  Washington Mutual
serviced the note for Deutsche Bank. 
		In July 2005, Washmon defaulted under the terms of the note by failing to make
required payments.  Washington Mutual provided Washmon with written notice of the default and
an opportunity to cure.  Notices were provided to Washmon in August 2005, November 2005, and
December 2005.  The December 2005 notice advised Washmon of the acceleration of the debt and
a scheduled foreclosure sale of the property.
		Strickland was appointed substitute trustee.  She posted notice at the Travis County
Courthouse that the property would be sold at a non-judicial foreclosure sale on January 3, 2006, and
she filed a copy of the notice with the Travis County clerk.  A few days before the scheduled
foreclosure sale, Washmon filed this suit seeking declaratory relief and quiet title to the property,
but the foreclosure sale proceeded as scheduled.  The highest bidder was Washington Mutual.  The
purchase price was $119,012.84.  At that time, the outstanding principal balance on the note was
$110,476.05.  Strickland executed a substitute trustee's deed at the time of the sale.  
		A few days after the foreclosure sale, Washmon amended his petition to reference 
the foreclosure sale.  Washmon continued to seek declaratory relief and quiet title to the property in
the amended petition:  "[i]t is the claim of Justin A. Washmon that no one holds a greater interest
in the contested property than he does."  
		In December 2006, Washington Mutual filed a motion for summary judgment. 
See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c), (i).  Washington Mutual sought summary judgment pursuant to rule
166a(c) contending that the evidence conclusively showed that it was the current owner of the
property.  See id. 166a(c).  Washington Mutual also sought summary judgment pursuant to rule
166a(i) contending that there was no evidence that Washmon had a right of possession or title to the
property, Washmon had paid the note or fully performed under the note, or Washmon had any right
to the property.  Washington Mutual's evidence included affidavits from Strickland; Marlene Petros,
an employee of Washington Mutual; and Robert Horn, an attorney whose law firm handled
the foreclosure. (1) 
		Washmon responded to Washington Mutual's summary judgment motion with
affidavits by Washmon and Brian Paul Hunt who was present at the foreclosure sale of the property. (2) 
Washington Mutual objected to portions of both affidavits, and the district court substantially
sustained its objections.  After the district court struck paragraphs 2, 5 in part, 6, 7, 9, 10 in part, 11
through 14, 18, and 19, Washmon's affidavit reads in its entirety:
 
	1.	I am Justin Alywin Washmon.  I am over 21 years of age, I am of sound
mind, capable of making this affidavit, and personally acquainted with the
facts herein stated.

	3.	I have reviewed defendant Washington Mutual Bank's motion for summary
judgment and attached affidavits and exhibits.

	4.	I deny all claims alleged in Washington Mutual Bank's motion for summary
judgment.

	5.	More specifically I have reviewed exhibit "1" alleged "true and correct copy"
of the original Note.

	8.	I have reviewed the affidavit of Marlene Petros and I am in agreement with
her statement that the original Note is not in Washington Mutual Bank's files.

	10.	Long Beach Mortgage Company never noticed me of any bonds, or liens
executed by State, County, Municipalities, and or agencies thereof against the
property located at 8410 Dixon Dr, Austin, Texas.

	15.	On January 3, A.D., 2006, I was present at the rear "sallyport" of the Travis
County Courthouse 1000 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78701, or the place
designated by the County Commissioner Court to witness a purported
Substitute Trustee Sale (Non-Judicial Foreclosure) of real property with a
mailing address of 8410 Dixon Austin, Texas hereafter, The Property.

	16.	I verbally gave notice to the Substitute Trustee, Juanita Strickland, and served
notice upon said Substitute Trustee by Constructive Notice. 

	17.	Juanita Strickland, purported substitute trustee, is the agent that conducted
the pretend sale to the highest bidder.  Washington Mutual was the apparent
high bidder.  Affiant did not witness an Agent of Washington Mutual or
Deutsche Bank tender cash with Juanita Strickland for The Property.

Hunt's averments remaining after the district court struck his paragraphs 2, 6, 7, and 8 mirrored
Washmon's paragraphs 15 and 17, concerning the foreclosure sale:
 
	1.	On January 3, A.D., 2006, I was present at the rear "sallyport" of the Travis
County Courthouse 1000 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78701, or the place
designated by the County Commissioner Court to witness a purported
Substitute Trustee Sale (Non-Judicial Foreclosure) of real property with a
mailing address of 8410 Dixon Austin, Texas 78748, The Property.

	3.	Juanita Strickland, purported substitute trustee, is the agent that conducted the
pretend sale to the highest bidder.

	4.	Washington Mutual was the apparent high bidder.

	5.	Affiant did not witness an Agent of Washington Mutual or Deutsche Bank tender
cash with Juanita Strickland for The Property. 

 
		After a hearing, the district court granted Washington Mutual's motion for summary
judgment without specifying the basis for its ruling.  The court ordered that Washmon take nothing
on his claims against Washington Mutual and that the lis pendens filed in this matter was cancelled
and of no effect.  Strickland then filed a motion for summary judgment pursuant to rule 166a(c) of
the rules of civil procedure based upon the district court's prior summary judgment ruling in favor
of Washington Mutual.  See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c).  Strickland contended that the effect of the
district court's order was to validate the foreclosure sale and Strickland's actions as the substitute
trustee.  The district court granted Strickland's motion and dismissed all of Washmon's claims with
prejudice.  Washmon filed a motion for new trial, which motion the district court denied.  This
appeal followed. (3) 
ANALYSIS

		In five issues, Washmon contends:  (i) the district court erred when it granted
summary judgment in favor of Washington Mutual, (ii) the district court erred "in presuming that
Washmon had a legal duty to Washington Mutual," (iii) Washington Mutual did not have "a legal
right to begin and execute a foreclosure procedure against Washmon," (iv) "the actions of
Washington Mutual deprive Washmon of his equitable interest and continue to obligate Washmon
as to the actual holder of the contract," and (v) Washington Mutual did not have any interest in
the property. (4) 
		Because the district court did not specify the basis for its ruling, we must affirm the
summary judgment if any of the theories presented to the trial court and preserved for appellate
review are meritorious.  See Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Knott, 128 S.W.3d 211, 216 (Tex.
2003).  Because it is dispositive, I limit my analysis then to Washington Mutual's no-evidence
ground pursuant to rule 166a(i).  See Tex. R. App. P. 47.1; Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(i).
		In a summary judgment motion under rule 166a(i), the movant contends that there
is no evidence of one or more essential elements of the claims for which the non-movant would bear
the burden of proof at trial, and the trial court must grant the motion unless the respondent produces
summary judgment evidence raising a genuine issue of material fact.  See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(i). 
In deciding whether there is a disputed material fact issue precluding summary judgment, we must
take evidence favorable to the non-movant as true, indulge every reasonable inference in favor of
the non-movant, and resolve any doubts in the non-movant's favor.  Valence Operating Co.
v. Dorsett, 164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005); Knott, 128 S.W.3d at 215. 
		Washmon brought suit for declaratory relief and to quiet title to the property, claiming 
"no one holds a greater interest in the contested property than he does."  A suit to quiet title,
sometimes referred to as a suit to remove a cloud from title, is an equitable action that may be used
to establish that an adverse party's claim to property is invalid or unenforceable.  See Angell
v. Bailey, 225 S.W.3d 834, 838 n.6 (Tex. App.--El Paso 2007, no pet.) ("A cloud on title exists
when an outstanding claim or encumbrance is shown, which on its face, if valid, would affect or
impair the title of the owner of the property."); see also In re Stroud Oil Props., Inc., 110 S.W.3d 18,
25-26 (Tex. App.--Waco 2002, orig. proceeding); Wright v. Matthews, 26 S.W.3d 575, 578 (Tex.
App.--Beaumont 2000, pet. denied); Bell v. Ott, 606 S.W.2d 942, 952-53 (Tex. Civ. App.--Waco
1980, writ ref'd n.r.e.).  "A suit to quiet title or to remove a cloud can be maintained only by a person
owning an interest in the property involved."  Bell, 606 S.W.2d at 953.  The plaintiff in a suit to quiet
title then "must allege right, title, or ownership in himself or herself with sufficient certainty to
enable the court to see he or she has a right of ownership that will warrant judicial interference."
Wright, 26 S.W.3d at 578. 
		In its motion for summary judgment pursuant to rule 166a(i), Washington Mutual
contended that there was no evidence that Washmon had a right of possession, title, or any right to
the property.  It was Washmon's burden then to produce evidence to raise a genuine issue of material
fact that he had an interest in the property.  See id.; Bell, 606 S.W.2d at 953.  The evidence that
Washmon produced--the affidavits of Washmon and Hunt--does not address Washmon's alleged 
interest in the property.  Because Washmon failed to produce evidence raising a genuine issue of
material fact concerning his interest in the property, I would affirm the district court's summary
judgment ruling in favor of Washington Mutual pursuant to rule 166a(i).  See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(i). 
		I therefore concur in the majority's judgment.
 
						__________________________________________
 		Jan P. Patterson, Justice
Before Justices Patterson, Waldrop and Henson
Filed:   February 26, 2010
1.   Strickland averred concerning her appointment as the substitute trustee, the posting of the
notice of the foreclosure sale, and the foreclosure sale.  Attached to her affidavit were copies of her
appointment as the substitute trustee, the notice of the foreclosure sale, and the substitute trustee's
deed.  Petros averred that she was involved in monitoring and collecting the note, the original of the
note was lost or destroyed, Washmon defaulted under the terms of the note in July 2005 and
remained in default, and Washington Mutual sent "multiple notices" to Washmon concerning his
default by failing to pay amounts due under the note.  Attached to her affidavit were copies of the
note, deed of trust, assignment of deed of trust, notices to Washmon, and the note's loan payment
transaction history.  Horn averred that his law firm handled the foreclosure of the property, including
sending notices of default, acceleration, and foreclosure to Washmon.  Attached to his affidavit were
copies of the notices to Washmon and the notice affidavit for the foreclosure sale. 
2.    Washmon also attached discovery responses from Washington Mutual to his response to
Washington Mutual's motion for summary judgment, contending that Washington Mutual's
discovery responses were "non-responsive" and that he was "entitled to complete discovery" and to
proceed to trial.   
3.  Washmon does not challenge the district court's summary judgment ruling in favor
of Strickland.  
4.   Washmon has appeared pro se throughout this case.  His pleadings and briefing are to be
liberally construed, but he is held to the same standards as licensed attorneys.  See Giddens
v. Brooks, 92 S.W.3d 878, 880-81 (Tex. App.--Beaumont 2002, pet. denied); Shull v. United Parcel
Serv., 4 S.W.3d 46, 52-53 (Tex. App.--San Antonio 1999, pet. denied).