Court Opinion

ID: 4100640
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-11-21 20:19:50.991157+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:34:49.012168
License: Public Domain

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      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON

PAULINE LOUISE CONNER,
                                              No. 74050-4-1
                    Appellant,
                                              DIVISION ONE
      v.

EVERHOME MORTGAGE COMPANY,                    UNPUBLISHED OPINION
a division of EVERBANK, and
EVERBANK, REGIONAL TRUSTEE
SERVICES, MORTGAGE
ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION
SYSTEMS, INC., a/k/a MERSCORP,
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE
ASSOCIATION, LENDER
PROCESSING SERVICES,
DOES l-XXX, INCLUSIVE,

                    Respondents.              FILED: November 21, 2016

      Leach, J. — Pauline Conner challenges the summary judgment dismissal

of her lawsuit against Everhome Mortgage Company (now EverBank),1 Mortgage

Electronic Registration Systems Inc. (MERS), and Federal National Mortgage

Association (Fannie Mae). After Conner defaulted on a loan, EverBank started

nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings against her home.      Conner then filed a

lawsuit asserting various causes of action based on alleged violations of the

      1 In July 2011, Everhome Mortgage Company merged with EverBank with
the surviving successor being EverBank. Both names are used throughout the
briefing and record, but the entities are the same for purposes of this dispute.
For consistency with the trial court order, we use "EverBank."
No. 74050-4-1 / 2

deeds of trust act (DTA)2 and Consumer Protection Act (CPA)3.          She claims

genuine issues of material fact prevent dismissal of these claims.       She also

challenges certain trial court evidence rulings and the denial of her request for a

continuance of the summary judgment hearing.

       Because Conner does not dispute that she defaulted on her loan and did

not restrain the foreclosure sale, she fails to raise an issue of fact about her

waiver of most of her DTA claims. Because the respondents did not owe Conner

a duty of good faith, the trial court properly dismissed Conner's good faith claim

against them.       And because Conner does not provide facts to support the

causation element of her CPA claim, the trial court properly dismissed the claim.

For these reasons, we affirm.

                                      FACTS

       In May 2006, Irwin Mortgage Corporation (IMC) loaned Pauline Conner

$279,000 evidenced by a promissory note. A deed of trust (DOT) encumbering

Conner's home secured the note.      The DOT named MERS as its beneficiary.

MERS never owned or possessed the promissory note.

       IMC endorsed the note in blank and sold it to Fannie Mae.       Fannie Mae

delivered the note to EverBank to allow EverBank to service it for Fannie Mae.

EverBank maintained continuous physical possession of the original note.

       2Ch. 61.24RCW.
       3Ch. 19.86 RCW.
No. 74050-4-1 / 3

      Conner defaulted on the loan in May 2009. EverBank notified Conner of

her default and an imminent referral to foreclosure.     Conner did not cure her

default. On August 31, 2009, EverBank referred the loan for foreclosure.

      In September 2009, MERS executed an assignment of the DOT,

purporting to assign to EverBank all beneficial interest under the DOT.

      On September 18, 2009, Regional Trustee Services sent Conner a notice

of default, signed as "Trustee and/or Agent for the Beneficiary."         EverBank

appointed Regional Trustee as successor trustee, providing it with a notarized

affidavit of possession indicating that EverBank possessed the note. On October

20, 2009, Regional Trustee recorded EverBank's appointment of successor

trustee appointing Regional Trustee as successor trustee.         The same day

Regional Trustee also recorded a notice of trustee sale and sent it and a notice

of foreclosure to Conner.

      The notice of foreclosure scheduled a public action of Conner's home for

January 22, 2010.     Regional Trustee continued the sale to April 16, 2010.

Conner did not attempt to enjoin the sale. Fannie Mae purchased the property at

the April 16 trustee's sale. When Conner did not move out, Fannie Mae started

an eviction action, which the court stayed pending the outcome of this lawsuit.

      Conner filed this lawsuit on February 13, 2012, naming EverBank,

Regional Trustee, MERS, and Fannie Mae as defendants.           On July 9, 2015,
No. 74050-4-1 / 4

respondents EverBank, MERS, and Fannie Mae moved for summary judgment

seeking dismissal of all claims against them.    Regional Trustee had entered

receivership and was not a party to the summary judgment proceeding.         On

August 4, 2015, Conner moved for a continuance to allow her to conduct

discovery on specific questions related to ownership and possession of her

promissory note. The trial court denied Conner's CR 56(f) motion and granted

respondents' motion for summary judgment, dismissing all of Conner's claims.

Conner appealed.

                           STANDARD OF REVIEW

       We review an order granting summary judgment de novo.4 Summary

judgment is appropriate when, viewing all facts and reasonable inferences in the

light most favorable to the nonmoving party, no genuine issue of material fact

exists and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.5 We

consider the same evidence that the trial court considered on summary

judgment.6 But we may affirm the trial court ruling on any ground supported by

the record.7

       4 Havden v. Mut. of Enumclaw Ins. Co.. 141 Wn.2d 55, 63-64, 1 P.3d 1167
(2000).
       5 Lvbbert v. Grant County, 141 Wn.2d 29, 34, 1 P.3d 1124 (2000).
       6 Lvbbert. 141 Wn.2d at 34.
      7 King County v. Seawest Inv. Assocs., 141 Wn. App. 304, 310, 170 P.3d
53 (2007).
                                      -4-
No. 74050-4-1 / 5

                                    ANALYSIS

                        Declarations of Lee and Kaufman

      Conner asserts that the trial court should not have considered declarations

and related business records about Regional Trustee and EverBank's actions in

connection with the foreclosure.   We review a trial court's decision to admit or

exclude evidence in a summary judgment proceeding de novo.8

      First, Conner contends that the declarations of Bradley Lee and Deborah

Kaufman did not show that they had sufficient personal knowledge of the facts

stated in the declarations.   CR 56(e) requires that "[supporting and opposing

affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as

would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is

competent to testify to the matters stated therein." Declarations based on review

of business records satisfy this personal knowledge requirement if the business

records are admissible under RCW 5.45.020.9 RCW 5.45.020 provides that a

business record is admissible when

      the custodian or other qualified witness testifies to its identity and
      the mode of its preparation, and if it was made in the regular course
      of business, at or near the time of the act, condition or event, and if,
      in the opinion of the court, the sources of information, method and
      time of preparation were such as to justify its admission.

      8 Folsom v. Burger King. 135 Wn.2d 658, 663, 958 P.2d 301 (1998).
      9 Discover Bank v. Bridges, 154 Wn. App. 722, 726, 226 P.3d 191 (2010).
                                        -5-
No. 74050-4-1 / 6

Courts interpret "custodian" and "other qualified witness" broadly.10 The record

need not be identified by the one who created it.11 It must only be made "in the

regular course of business, under circumstances which the court finds rendered it

trustworthy."12

       The declarations of Lee and Kaufman satisfy the personal knowledge

requirement       because   they   meet   the   requirements    of     CR 56(e)   and

RCW 5.45.020.       We dealt with a similar challenge in Barklev v. GreenPoint

Mortgage Funding, Inc.13 Like the affiants in Barklev, Lee and Kaufman satisfied

CR 56(e) and RCW 5.45.020 when they declared under penalty of perjury that

(1)they were officers of EverBank and Regional Trustee, respectively, (2) they

had personal knowledge of their companies' practices of maintaining business

records, (3) their personal knowledge was based on examination of the records,

and (4) the attached records were true and correct copies of records made in the

regular course of business at or near the time of the transaction.14

       Conner contends that the trial court improperly accepted these conclusory

declarations of personal knowledge about the records' creation and contents. In

       10   State v. Ben-Neth, 34 Wn. App. 600, 603, 663 P.2d 156 (1983).
       11   Cantrill v. Am. Mail Line. Ltd., 42 Wn.2d 590, 608, 257 P.2d 179 (1953).
       12   State v. Rutherford. 66 Wn.2d 851, 853, 405 P.2d 719 (1965).
       13   190 Wn. App. 58, 66-68, 358 P.3d 1204 (2015), review denied, 184
Wn.2d 1036(2016).
       14 See Barklev, 190 Wn. App. at 67; see also Discover Bank, 154 Wn.
App. at 726.
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No. 74050-4-1 / 7

Barklev, we concluded that the trial court could properly consider "conclusory"

declarations because the moving party had failed to identify any genuine issue of

material fact about the affiants' qualifications.15 Here, the trial court admitted that

the declarations "tended to assert, without much more, that the affiant had

personal knowledge, was familiar with the records, and that the records were

prepared in the ordinary course of business." The trial court still considered the

declarations, observing, like the court in Barklev. that Conner offered nothing to

contradict the declarations.    Given no reason to doubt their accuracy, the trial

court, in its discretion, could properly find the declarations reliable enough to be

considered.

       Conner objects to Kaufman's reliance on the referral to foreclosure, sent

by Lender Processing Services on behalf of EverBank.              She contends that

Kaufman improperly considered a document that contains hearsay and is from a

third party.   However, Kaufman used the document to show that Regional

Trustee believed that it had received a referral to foreclosure from EverBank,

which is precisely what the document conveys.            Kaufman's reliance on the

referral to foreclosure was proper.

       Conner also claims that Kaufman's declaration is defective because it

referred to an affidavit of possession that was not attached to it.         "Sworn or

       15 Barklev, 190 Wn. App. at 67-68.
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No. 74050-4-1 / 8

certified copies of all papers or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit shall be

attached thereto or served therewith."16 "However, evidence may be presented

in affidavits by reference to other sworn statements in the record such as

depositions and other affidavits."17 Although the affidavit of possession was not

attached to the Kaufman declaration, the respondents submitted two identical

separate copies with the summary judgment motion. Conner contends that the

trial court could not know whether Kaufman relied on that same document, but

Conner bases this argument on pure speculation. Conner provides no reason to

believe that Kaufman relied on a different document than the one provided to the

court. Further, Conner did not ask the trial court to strike Kaufman's declaration

for this reason and first raises it in this appeal.   Had Conner objected to this

alleged   deficiency before    resolution   of the summary judgment motion,

respondents could have easily cured it.18       Conner's failure to object earlier

waives her right to make this complaint on appeal.19 The trial court properly

considered the declarations of Lee and Kaufman.

       16 CR 56(e).
       17 Mostrom v. Pettibon. 25 Wn. App. 158, 162, 607 P.2d 864 (1980).
       18 See Meadows v. Grant's Auto Brokers. Inc.. 71 Wn.2d 874, 881, 431
P.2d 216 (1967).
       19 See Meadows. 71 Wn.2d at 881.
                                        -8-
No. 74050-4-1 / 9

                                      DTA Claims

       The trial court declined to consider Conner's DTA claims against the

respondents, deciding that she had not pleaded them in her complaint.20 The

trial court was wrong. The allegations involving the DTA appear in Conner's first

cause of action for "wrongful foreclosure." She based her wrongful foreclosure

cause of action on claims of violations of chapter 61.24 RCW, Washington's

deeds of trust act.   The language of the complaint shows that alleged DTA

violations provided the sole basis for Conner's wrongful foreclosure claim. For

example, "Plaintiff alleges that Defendants are misrepresenting their right to

enforce a debt and foreclose in violation of the statutory requirements of

Washington RCW 61.24 et seq." Conner also describes particular ways that

DTA violations led to wrongful foreclosure. Because violations of the DTA were

essential to Conner's wrongful foreclosure cause of action, the trial court erred in

dismissing those claims on this basis. But we affirm dismissal of these claims

because they were either waived or lack merit.

       Conner waived her DTA claims against the respondents. A borrower's

failure to enjoin a foreclosure before the trustee's sale may result in waiver of her

claims under the statute.21 This waiver may occur if the party "(1) received notice

      20 "While the plaintiff appears to have argued various alleged violations of
the Deed of Trust Act, she never actually pleaded the violations as a cause of
action."
       21 RCW 61.24.040(1 )(f)(IX).
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No. 74050-4-1/10

of the right to enjoin the sale, (2) had actual or constructive knowledge of a

defense to foreclosure prior to the sale, and (3) failed to bring an action to obtain

a court order enjoining the sale."22      This court applies waiver "where it is

equitable under the circumstances and where it serves the goals of the act."23

Thus, to decide if waiver is proper, courts examine whether interested parties

had an adequate opportunity to prevent wrongful foreclosure.24 Also, failure to

bring an action to enjoin foreclosure does not waive claims asserting "(a)

[cjommon law fraud or misrepresentation; (b) [a] violation of Title 19 RCW; (c)

[fjailure of the trustee to materially comply with the provisions of this chapter; or

(d) [a] violation of RCW 61.24.026."25

       Here, Conner makes no claim that she did not receive notice of her right to

enjoin the sale or that she did not know of the foreclosure sale. Nor does she

claim that she attempted to enjoin the sale. Conner had ample opportunity to

challenge the sale. All allegedly wrongful actions occurred on or before October

20, 2009. She knew or should have known about them, and the sale did not take

place until April 2010. Thus, waiver is equitable here. We therefore find that

      22 Plein v. Lackey, 149 Wn.2d 214, 227, 67 P.3d 1061 (2003).
      23 Albice v. Premier Mortg. Servs. of Wash.. Inc.. 174 Wn.2d 560, 570, 276
P.3d 1277(2012).
      24 Albice, 174Wn.2dat571.
       25 RCW 61.24.127(1).
                                         -10-
No. 74050-4-1 /11

under RCW 61.24.127(1), Conner waived all but her CPA claims and her good

faith claim against the trustee.26

                                     Good Faith Claim

       The trial court correctly dismissed Conner's good faith claim.        Conner

claims that Regional Trustee violated its duty of good faith by failing to properly

investigate information it relied upon to initiate foreclosure. A trustee owes a duty

to act in good faith with impartiality to both lenders and borrowers.27 But the trial

court properly dismissed this claim because the trustee, Regional Trustee, was

not a party to the summary judgment motion asking for dismissal of this claim

and none of the respondents owed Conner a duty of good faith.

       Conner claims that EverBank is vicariously liable for Regional Trustee's

actions under the doctrine of respondeat superior.        The respondeat superior

doctrine makes a principal liable for its agent's wrongful acts committed within

the scope of the agency.28 Generally, "'a trustee is not merely an agent for the

lender or the lender's successors. Trustees have obligations to all of the parties

     26 Conner argues that EverBank fraudulently advised her that making two
months of payments would avoid foreclosure and Regional Trustee falsely
indicated the number of Conner's delinquent payments. Although common law
fraud is one of the exceptions to waiver under RCW 61.24.127(1), Conner offers
no authority to support her fraud claims. Further, she did not raise this issue until
appeal. We therefore decline to address her arguments about the fraud claim.
       27 RCW 61.24.010(4); Lyons v. U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n, 181 Wn.2d 775,
787, 336P.3d 1142(2014).
       28 Black's Law Dictionary 1505 (10th ed. 2014).
                                           -11-
No. 74050-4-1/12

to the deed, including the homeowner.'"29 However, "[wjhere the beneficiary so

controls the trustee so as to make the trustee a mere agent of the beneficiary,

then as principal], the beneficiary may be liable for the actions of its agent."30

Here, Conner asserts that Regional Trustee was a mere agent of EverBank

because EverBank controlled the transaction by its authority to start and stop the

foreclosure.   Assuming this is true, Conner still did not present any evidence

showing that EverBank exercised an improper degree of control over Regional

Trustee.   Because Conner does not show that EverBank improperly controlled

Regional Trustee, her proposition that Regional Trustee acted as EverBank's

agent fails.

       Similarly, Conner's argument that Regional Trustee and EverBank should

be held jointly and severally liable under theories of civil conspiracy and joint

venture liability also fails.    Conner cites no authority applying these theories in

deed of trust cases.            Further, Conner offers no evidence to justify their

application in this case. To prove civil conspiracy, a plaintiff must show that each

participant combined to accomplish an unlawful purpose or a lawful purpose by

unlawful means.31 To establish joint venture liability, a plaintiff must show a

       29 Klem v. Wash. Mut. Bank. 176 Wn.2d 771, 789, 295 P.3d 1179 (2013)
(quoting Bain v. Metro. Mortg. Grp.. Inc.. 175 Wn.2d 83, 93, 285 P.3d 34 (2012)).
       30 Klem, 176 Wn.2d at 791 n.12.
       31 Newton Ins. Agency & Brokerage, Inc. v. Caledonian Ins. Grp., Inc., 114
Wn. App. 151, 160, 52 P.3d 30 (2002).
                                           -12-
No. 74050-4-1/13

contract, a common purpose, a community of interest, and equal right to a voice

and control.32 Conner offers no evidence that EverBank had a common objective

with Regional Trustee, lawful or otherwise.      Because the respondents have no

liability for Regional Trustee's actions, we decline to consider Conner's claims

based on Regional Trustee's violation of its duty as trustee.            Because the

respondents have no primary or vicarious liability, we affirm dismissal of

Conner's good faith claim.

                                     CPA Claims

       Next, we address Conner's CPA claims.            The CPA prohibits "[ujnfair

methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of

any trade or commerce."33 To prevail on a CPA claim, the plaintiff must show (1)

an unfair or deceptive act or practice, (2) occurring in trade or commerce, (3) a

public interest impact, (4) injury to the plaintiff in his or her business or property,

and (5) a causal link between the unfair or deceptive act and the injury.34

       Conner claims deceptive practices by Regional Trustee, EverBank, and

MERS caused her injury. Specifically, Conner bases her CPA claim on MERS's

improper assignment of the DOT and on violations of the DTA, including

       32 Kniselv v. Burke Concrete Accessories, Inc., 2 Wn. App. 533, 537, 468
P.2d 717 (1970) (quoting Carboneau v. Peterson, 1 Wn.2d 347, 374, 95 P.2d
1043(1939)).
       33 RCW 19.86.020.
       34 Klem. 176 Wn.2d at 782 (quoting Hangman Ridge Training Stables, Inc.
v. Safeco Title Ins. Co., 105 Wn.2d 778, 780, 719 P.2d 531 (1986)).
                                         -13-
No. 74050-4-1 /14

EverBank's allegedly improper appointment of Regional Trustee, and various

violations of the DTA by Regional Trustee. Because Regional Trustee was not

involved in the summary judgment motion and is not a party to this appeal, we do

not consider CPA claims based on Regional Trustee's alleged DTA violations.

      As an initial matter, the respondents incorrectly assert that the statute of

limitations bars Conner's MERS-based CPA claim. A litigant must commence a

CPA action within four years from the date that cause of action accrues.35 A

CPA claim begins to accrue when, with the exercise of due diligence, the

claimant should have discovered the basis for the cause of action.36 The events

on which Conner bases her CPA claim occurred in late 2009 in connection with

foreclosure on her property. Conner sued in February 2012, well within the four-

year period for bringing a CPA claim.

       Because the causation element of the CPA claim is dispositive, we focus

exclusively on it. Conner identified her injuries as the loss of her home and the

expenses she incurred seeking legal help to determine ownership of her note.37

       35 RCW 19.86.120.
      36 See Shepard v. Holmes, 185 Wn. App. 730, 739, 345 P.3d 786 (2014);
Maver v. Sto Indus., Inc., 123 Wn. App. 443, 462-63, 98 P.3d 116 (2004), rev'd in
part on other grounds. 156 Wn.2d 677, 132 P.3d 115 (2006).
       3? See Panag v. Farmers Ins. Co. of Wash., 166 Wn.2d 27, 62, 204 P.3d
885 (2009) ("Consulting an attorney to dispel uncertainty regarding the nature of
an alleged debt is distinct from consulting an attorney to institute a CPA claim.
Although the latter is insufficient to show injury to business or property, the
former is not." (citation omitted)).
                                        -14-
No. 74050-4-1/15

But Conner fails to show that either MERS's DOT assignment or EverBank's

appointment of successor trustee caused these injuries. First, Connor does not

show that EverBank relied on MERS's assignment of the DOT for its authority to

foreclose or appoint a successor trustee. Also, she does not dispute that she

failed to meet her debt obligations and cure her default despite receiving notice

of foreclosure. The record contains no evidence that the alleged deceptive acts

of the respondents caused Conner's default or failure to cure.    Thus, Conner

cannot show that but for alleged deceptive acts, EverBank would not have

foreclosed on her home.

      Nor does Conner show how the alleged deceptive acts caused Conner to

incur legal expenses.     Neither the MERS assignment nor the appointment of

successor trustee had any effect on who was the owner or holder of the note.

Thus, these acts did not cause Conner to investigate ownership. Conner failed

to demonstrate a genuine issue of material fact that the MERS assignment of the

DOT, EverBank's appointment of trustee, or any other allegedly improper action

by the respondents caused her injury. Because Conner does not raise facts to

show a causal link between the alleged deceptive acts and her injury, we do not

address whether she has established the other elements of her CPA claim.

      Conner has failed to produce any evidence supporting an essential

element of her CPA claim. We affirm dismissal of this claim.

                                      -15-
No. 74050-4-1 /16

                              CR 56(f) Continuance

        The trial court properly denied Conner's request for a continuance under

CR 56(f). Before oral argument on the respondents' summary judgment motion,

Conner requested a continuance to conduct discovery on certain questions.

Finding those questions were immaterial to the issues before it, the trial court

denied the request. A trial court may deny a CR 56(f) continuance for a number

of reasons: "(1) the requesting party does not offer a good reason for the delay

in obtaining the desired evidence; (2) the requesting party does not state what

evidence would be established through the additional discovery; or (3) the

desired evidence will not raise a genuine issue of material fact."38 An appellate

court will affirm a trial court's decision to deny a CR 56(f) motion absent a

showing of manifest abuse of discretion.39

        Here, the evidence Conner sought would not have created an issue of

fact.   Conner asserts material issues of fact exist about EverBank's status as

"actual holder" of the note with authority to foreclose. Conner moved for a CR

56(f) continuance for the purpose of conducting discovery on this question.

Specifically, Conner planned to request information on the date parties acquired

ownership of the note and DOT; the amount, form, and source of consideration

       38 Baechler v. Beaunaux. 167 Wn. App. 128, 132, 272 P.3d 277 (2012)
(quoting Turner v. Kohler, 54 Wn. App. 688, 693, 775 P.2d 474 (1989)).
        39 Lake Chelan Shores Homeowners Ass'n v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins.
Co., 176 Wn. App. 168, 183, 313 P.3d 408 (2013).
                                       -16-
No. 74050-4-1/17

paid for the note and DOT; the date consideration was paid; and the identity of

the agents involved. The trial court denied the CR 56(f) motion, concluding that

none of Conner's requested discovery was material to the summary judgment

issues.

       Conner claims that whether EverBank or Fannie Mae was the owner and

holder of the note is disputed. But any evidence Conner hoped to obtain about

ownership or possession would not have changed the outcome here.                  First,

ownership is not relevant to ability to enforce and is, thus, not material.40

Second, possession is the only salient fact for determining the "actual holder."41

Undisputed evidence shows that EverBank was the holder of the note. Conner

does not provide any reason to believe that more discovery would uncover

evidence showing otherwise.       And if such evidence existed, Conner does not

explain why she did not have sufficient time to discover it earlier in the litigation.

       Conner asserts that she needed additional time to conduct discovery

because the respondents did not answer her amended complaint until a month

before the hearing on summary judgment.            But Conner had three years for

discovery.    The respondents' delay in filing their answer does not excuse

Conner's failure to conduct discovery on this issue.

       40 See Truiillo v. Nw. Tr. Servs., Inc.. 181 Wn. App. 484, 500, 326 P.3d
768 (2014). rev'd on other grounds. 183 Wn.2d 820, 355 P.3d 1100(2015).
       41 Truiillo. 181 Wn. App. at 498.
                                           -17-
No. 74050-4-1/18

       Conner did not identify any evidence that she might obtain through

discovery that would raise a material issue of fact. The trial court did not abuse

its discretion by denying Conner's CR 56(f) motion.

                                  Attorney Fees

       Conner requests attorney fees under both RAP 18.1 and the terms of the

DOT. Because she does not prevail on any issue, we deny her request.

                                  CONCLUSION

       Because the undisputed facts show that Conner waived her DTA claims,

except the good faith claim against the trustee, the trial court properly dismissed

those claims. Because the respondents did not owe Conner a duty of good faith,

the trial court properly dismissed Conner's good faith claim against them. And

because Conner does not provide facts to support the causation element of her

CPA claim, the trial court properly dismissed that claim as well. We affirm.

WE CONCUR:

       ^'^                                            l^cfe^ I .
                                       -18-