Court Opinion

ID: 9949324
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-03-11 14:07:50.732682+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:30:06.318542
License: Public Domain

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
                                APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
        This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the
     internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited . R. 1:36-3.

                                                         SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
                                                         APPELLATE DIVISION
                                                         DOCKET NO. A-1138-22

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

          Plaintiff-Respondent,

v.

MARIYA Y. SHARNOVA
and ALEKSEY M. SHARNOVA,

     Defendants-Appellants.
______________________________

                   Submitted January 9, 2024 – Decided March 11, 2024

                   Before Judges Whipple and Paganelli.

                   On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
                   Law Division, Monmouth County, Docket No.
                   L-0123-22.

                   Huizenga Law Offices, attorneys for appellants
                   (Richard George Huizenga and William Julius
                   Popovich, on the briefs).

                   Michael E. Blaine (Winston and Strawn LLP),
                   attorney for respondent.

PER CURIAM
      Defendants appeal from the December 2, 2022 orders granting plaintiff

summary judgment and denying their cross-motion for summary judgment.

We affirm.

      We glean the facts from the motion record.       In 2007, plaintiff and

defendants executed a Maximizer Agreement and Disclosure Statement

(Agreement) that governed defendants' Home Equity Line of Credit Account

(HELOC) with plaintiff.      The Agreement was secured by a mortgage.

Defendants drew down on the HELOC and made regular payments. However,

defendants failed to make any payment after February 2017. In August 2017,

plaintiff filed a complaint in foreclosure.     The foreclosure matter was

voluntarily dismissed. Plaintiff charged off the remaining loan balance and the

balance remains outstanding. Plaintiff initiated this breach of contract action

to collect the balance.

      In an oral opinion, the judge noted defendants' "candor" in

acknowledging they executed the 2007 Agreement.            He compared the

Agreement attached to plaintiff's complaint and another copy used to support

plaintiff's motion. He found the documents were the same, with the summary

judgment document being "more legible."       The judge rejected defendants'

contention the document offered to support the motion was "fraudulent."

                                                                        A-1138-22
                                      2
Moreover, he found the document supporting the motion set forth the terms

and the parties' obligation. The judge determined defendants' affidavit was

"self-serving."   He rejected defendants' argument that a prior foreclosure

action "forever preclude[d] any attempt [to sue] for a breach of contract."

Determining the court's "role" was to enforce the contract, he granted plaintiff

summary judgment and denied defendants' cross-motion for summary

judgment.

                                       I.

      Defendants contend the judge erred:

            THE TRIAL COURT . . . FAILED TO APPLY
            PRINCIPLES OF JUDICIAL ESTOPPEL AND BAR
            RESPONDENT FROM ARGUING THAT ANY
            DOCUMENT OTHER THAN THE ILLEGIBLE
            COPY ATTACHED TO THE COMPLAINT IS IN
            FACT THE ACTUAL NOTE BETWEEN THE
            PARTIES.

            CUMULATIVELY, THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN
            CONSIDERING THE SUBSTANCE OF THE
            SEPTEMBER   7,   2022   AFFIDAVIT  OF
            UNDISCLOSED WITNESS DESTANE WILLIAMS.

            THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN GRANTING
            [PLAINTIFF'S] MOTION     FOR  SUMMARY
            JUDGMENT AND IN DENYING [DEFENDANTS']
            CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
            BECAUSE [PLAINTIFF] CAN NOT EVEN PROVE
            THE   THRESHOLD     EXISTENCE  OF   AN
            ENFORCEABLE CONTRACT.

                                                                         A-1138-22
                                      3
       In asserting judicial estoppel, defendants argue plaintiff "attached a very

specific document [to] their [c]omplaint alleging that the document was the

[Agreement] and . . . they are now judicially estopped from claiming [the] new

different fraudulent document is instead the [Agreement] because [plaintiff]

asserted in prior litigation that the unreadable version . . . was the only copy of

the [Agreement]."

       Further, defendants contend it was inappropriate to allow plaintiff to

support the motion for summary judgment with the affidavit of Destane

Williams (Williams).      Defendants aver Williams "was never named or

previously identified as a witness or person with relevant information, nor has

[plaintiff] amended their answers to interrogatories by adding this p erson's

name." Defendants note "nothing is known about this witness or their veracity

of the truth. Indeed, it is not even known whether this witness is a man, a

woman." Defendants argue the judge committed reversible error in denying

their request for "time to depose th[e] witness" so Williams could "explain

under oath exactly where th[e] document lost years earlier . . . was 'suddenly

found'. . . ."

       Lastly, defendants contend "[p]laintiff cannot sue to collect the contract

[which] as a practical matter simply does not exist." Defendants aver plaintiff

                                                                            A-1138-22
                                        4
does "not have an original of the" Agreement; "the only copy is illegible"; and

plaintiff failed to present a "proponent" to "satisfy the requirement of

authenticating or identifying" the new Agreement, citing N.J.R.E. 901.

Defendants note, "[a]s a precondition to admission, a witness who has no real

firsthand knowledge of the original lost or destroyed document must be

produced and must be subject to cross-examination on the issue."

                                      II.

      We review a ruling on a motion for summary judgment de novo,

applying the same standard governing the trial court. Templo Fuente De Vida

Corp. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co., 224 N.J. 189, 199 (2016).        Thus, we

consider, as the motion judge did, "whether the competent evidential materials

presented, when viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party,

are sufficient to permit a rational factfinder to resolve the alleged disputed

issue in favor of the non-moving party." Brill v. Guardian Life Ins. Co., 142

N.J. 520, 540 (1995). If there is no genuine issue of material fact, we must

then "decide whether the trial court correctly interpreted the law." DepoLink

Court Reporting & Litig. Support Servs. v. Rochman, 430 N.J. Super. 325, 333

(App. Div. 2013) (citation omitted). We review issues of law de novo and

accord no deference to the trial judge's legal conclusions.        Nicholas v.

                                                                        A-1138-22
                                      5
Mynster, 213 N.J. 463, 478 (2013). "The factual findings of a trial court are

reviewed with substantial deference on appeal, and are not overturned if they

are supported by 'adequate, substantial and credible evidence.'" Manahawkin

Convalescent v. O'Neill, 217 N.J. 99, 115 (2014) (quoting Pheasant Bridge

Corp. v. Twp. of Warren, 169 N.J. 282, 293 (2001)).

      This standard compels the grant of summary judgment:

            if    the   pleadings,    depositions,      answers to
            interrogatories and admissions on file, together with
            the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine
            issue as to any material fact challenged and that the
            moving party is entitled to a judgment or order as a
            matter of law. An issue of fact is genuine only if,
            considering the burden of persuasion at trial, the
            evidence submitted by the parties on the motion,
            together with all legitimate inferences therefrom
            favoring the non-moving party, would require
            submission of the issue to the trier of fact.

            [R. 4:46-2(c).]

"Under that standard, once the moving party presents sufficient evidence in

support of the motion, the opposing party must 'demonstrate by competent

evidential material that a genuine issue of fact exists[.]'" Globe Motor Co. v.

Igdalev, 225 N.J. 469, 479-80 (2016) (alteration in the original) (quoting

Robbins v. Jersey City, 23 N.J. 229, 241 (1957)). "[C]onclusory and self-

serving assertions by one of the parties are insufficient to overcome the

                                                                        A-1138-22
                                     6
motion." Puder v. Buechel, 183 N.J. 428, 440-41 (2005) (citations omitted).

More is required than a "mere denial."       Mangual v. Berezinsky, 428 N.J.

Super. 299, 313 (App. Div. 2012).

                                       A.

      Defendants' reliance on judicial estoppel is misplaced. "The doctrine of

judicial estoppel is well entrenched in New Jersey's jurisprudence." Newell v.

Hudson, 376 N.J. Super. 29, 38 (App. Div. 2005). "It is 'an equitable doctrine

precluding a party from asserting a position in a case that contradicts or is

inconsistent with a position previously asserted by the party in the case or a

related legal proceeding.'" Ibid. (quoting Tamburelli Props. v. Cresskill, 308

N.J. Super. 326, 335 (App. Div. 1998)). "[T]he doctrine is not invoked unless

a court has accepted the previously advanced inconsistent position and the

party advancing the inconsistent position prevails in the earlier litigation."

Bhagat v. Bhagat, 217 N.J. 22, 37 (2014). "Stated differently, the doctrine

does not apply when the matter settles prior to judgment because no court has

accepted the position advanced in the earlier litigation." Ibid.

      "Th[e] doctrine is intended to protect the integrity of the judicial system

and is designed to prevent litigants from 'playing fast and loose with the

                                                                          A-1138-22
                                       7
courts.'" Newell, 376 N.J. Super. at 38 (citing Tamburelli Props., 308 N.J.

Super. at 335 (quoting Scarano v. Central R.R., 203 F.2d 510, 513 (1953))).

      "Judicial estoppel is an extraordinary remedy." Bhagat, 217 N.J. at 37.

"It should be invoked only to prevent a miscarriage of justice."               Ibid.

"Whether an issue is precluded based upon prior litigation is a question of law

. . . ." Gannon v. Am. Home Prods., Inc., 414 N.J. Super. 507, 523 (App. Div.

2010).

      Here, we conclude the doctrine is misplaced because the prior matter

never proceeded to final judgment.          Moreover, plaintiff's position has not

changed, it has consistently sought the enforcement of the note. The only

change is plaintiff offered a more legible copy of the note in support of its

motion for summary judgment.

                                        B.

      Defendants contend the affidavit of Williams should not have been

relied upon by the judge because Williams was unknown, and never named in

discovery. Moreover, the judge committed reversible error in denying their

request for "time to depose" Williams so Williams "c[ould] explain under oath

exactly where this document lost years earlier . . . was 'suddenly found' . . . ."

                                                                             A-1138-22
                                        8
      In response, plaintiff notes that defendants offered "no authority for the

proposition that a corporate representative who executes a business records

affidavit must be disclosed as a person with knowledge of relevant facts in

discovery." Plaintiff argues Williams was "duly authorized" to execute the

affidavit as its "officer" who was "familiar with [its] business records and the

manner and method in which they are maintained."           Since Williams "was

testifying in the capacity as an officer . . . and not in her individual capacity,

[plaintiff] was not required to disclose her in discovery as a person who had

information relevant to this action."

      We need not reach the issue of whether Williams, an officer of plaintiff,

should have been disclosed or could have been compelled to a deposition.

Instead, we determine summary judgment was ripe because defendants' stated

concerns, where or how the more legible document was found, are not relevant

to the elements of this cause of action. "A motion for summary judgment is

not premature merely because discovery has not been completed, unless

plaintiff is able to 'demonstrate with some degree of particularity the

likelihood that further discovery will supply the missing elements of the cause

of action.'" Badiali v. N.J. Mfrs. Ins. Grp., 220 N.J. 544, 555 (2015) (quoting

                                                                           A-1138-22
                                        9
Auster v. Kinoian, 153 N.J. Super. 52, 56 (App. Div. 1997)). The essential

elements of a cause of action for a breach of contract:

            first, that "the parties entered into a contract
            containing certain terms"; second, that "plaintiff[s] did
            what the contract required [them] to do"; third, that
            "defendant[s] did not do what the contract required
            [them] to do[,]" defined as a "breach of the contract";
            and fourth, that "defendant[s'] breach, or failure to do
            what the contract required, caused a loss to the
            plaintiff[s]."

            [Igdalev, 225 N.J. at 482. (alterations in the original)
            (quoting Model Jury Charge (Civil), § 4.10A "The
            Contract Claim—Generally" (approved May 1998)).]

      Defendants' request for additional discovery, the deposition of Williams

to explain where or how the more legible document was found, does not

involve the missing element of a breach of contract claim. See Badiali, 220

N.J. at 555. Therefore, defendants' opposition to summary judgment to permit

further discovery is of no avail.

                                       C.

      Lastly, defendants contend "[p]laintiff cannot sue to collect the contract

[which] as a practical matter simply does not exist." Defendants aver plaintiff

does "not have an original of the document"; "the only copy is illegible"; and

plaintiff failed to present a "proponent" to "satisfy the requirement of

                                                                         A-1138-22
                                     10
authenticating or identifying" the new document as the Agreement, citing

N.J.R.E. 901.

      "We review the [judge's] evidentiary ruling for abuse of discretion."

Investors Bank v. Torres, 243 N.J. 25, 48 (2020) (citing Hisenaj v. Kuehner,

194 N.J. 6, 12 (2008)). N.J.R.E. 901 provides, "[t]o satisfy the requirement of

authenticating or identifying an item of evidence, the proponent must present

evidence sufficient to support a finding that the item is what its proponent

claims."

      "Our courts have long held 'it is not necessary that the proof should be

conclusive but a prima facie showing that the instrument is genuine and

authentic is sufficient to warrant its reception.'" Konop v. Rosen, 425 N.J.

Super. 391, 411 (App. Div. 2012) (quoting In re Blau's Estate, 4 N.J. Super.

343, 351 (App. Div. 1949)).

      Here, Williams executed an affidavit after being "sworn" by a notary

public. In the affidavit, Williams stated they were an officer of plaintiff and

duly authorized to make the affidavit.          Moreover, their "scope of job

responsibilities" made them "familiar with the manner and method by which

[p]laintiff maintains its normal business books and records, including original

loan documents . . . ." Further, the affidavit stated:

                                                                        A-1138-22
                                       11
            [plaintiff] extended a Home Equity Line of Credit to
            defendant(s) . . . on or about January 18, 2007. This
            information is corroborated by the [Agreement] which
            [was] kept in the ordinary course of [plaintiff]'s
            regular business activity and . . . attached to this
            Declaration. I certify that the [Agreement] attached
            . . . [was a] true and accurate cop[y] . . . maintained by
            [plaintiff] in the ordinary course of its business
            activity.

      Williams' affidavit establishes, prima facie, the authenticity of the copy

of the Agreement. Defendants have not rebutted the prima facie showing. We

are satisfied the judge did not abuse their discretion in considering the

Williams affidavit.

      To the extent we have not addressed any of defendants' remaining

arguments, we conclude they lack sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a

written opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).

      Affirmed.

                                                                         A-1138-22
                                       12