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OCT 11, 2022

PHH Mortgage Corporation v. Miller

(3:22-cv-00664)

District Court, N.D. Texas

MAR 22, 2022 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: MAR 24, 2022

II. PROPERTY

5. This proceeding concerns the real property and improvements commonly known as 121 Jenny Kay Lane, Irving, Texas 75060, and more particularly described as follows:
LOT 5, BLOCK A, OF SOUTH SENTER HILLS, AN ADDITION TO THE CITY OF IRVING, DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF IN VOLUME 34, PAGE 119, OF THE MAP RECORDS OF DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS.

(The “Property”).

III. DIVERSITY JURISDICTION AND VENUE

6. This Court has jurisdiction over the controversy because there is complete diversity between Plaintiff and Defendant, and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332.

7. Plaintiff is a corporation with its principal place of business in New Jersey. A corporation is a citizen of the state where it has been incorporated, and any state where the corporation has its principal place of business. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1). Therefore, Plaintiff is a citizen of New Jersey for diversity purposes.

8. The named Defendant is an individual and citizen of the state of Texas.

9. In this suit, Plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment to foreclose on real property.

Because the property is valued at more than $75,000.00, the minimum amount-in-controversy requirement has been met. When the object of the litigation is a mortgage lien that entitles its owner to the full use and enjoyment of the property, the lien may be measured by the appraised value of the property, the purchase price, or the outstanding principal and interest. Cf. Farkas v. GMAC Mortg., LLC, 737 F.3d 338, 341 (5th Cir. 2013).

10. When a party seeks declaratory relief, the amount in controversy is measured by the value of the object of the litigation, and the value of that right is measured by the losses that will follow. Webb v. Investacorp, Inc., 89 F.3d 252, 256 (5th Cir.1996). Stated differently, the amount in controversy is “the value of the right to be protected or the extent of the injury to be prevented.” Hartford Ins. Grp. v. Lou-Con, Inc., 293 F.3d 908, 910 (5th Cir. 2002) (quoting Leininger v. Leininger, 705 F.2d 727, 729 (5th Cir. 1983)); see also Farkas v. GMAC Mortg., LLC, 737 F.3d 338, 341 (5th Cir. 2013).

11. Here, the value of the right to be protected is enforcement of mortgage contract through foreclosure. If Plaintiff were to foreclose on the Property, it would be entitled to either the full use and possession of it, or the proceeds of a foreclosure sale. But if Plaintiff is unable to foreclose, it may be entirely divested of any interest in the Property. Thus, rights to the entirety of the property are in question, and the value of the property controls.

And the value of the Property exceeds $75,000.00. The Dallas County Appraisal District values the Property at $231,290.00 in excess of the jurisdictional minimum. Therefore, Plaintiff meets the amount-in- controversy requirement.

12. Venue is proper in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, because this suit concerns title to real property located in Dallas County, Texas. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 124(a)(1), 1391(b)(2).

IV. FACTS

13. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

14. On or about March 23, 2006, Decedent executed a Promissory Note (“Note”), originally payable to Alethes, LLC (“Alethes”) as lender on a loan secured by the Property. A true and correct copy of the Note is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

15. Concurrently with the execution of the Note, Decedent (“Borrower”) executed a Deed of Trust, (“Security Instrument” and together with the Note, “Loan Agreement”), as grantors, granting Alethes, its successors and assigns, a security interest in the Property. The Security Instrument was recorded in the official public records of Dallas County, Texas, as Document No. 200600173752. A true and correct copy of the Security Instrument is attached hereto as Exhibit B.

16. The Security Instrument names Mortgage Electronic Recording Services (“MERS”) as the beneficiary but solely as nominee for Alethes. Subsequently, MERS transferred and assigned the Loan Agreement to GMAC Mortgage, LLC fka GMAC Mortgage Corporation (“GMAC”). The Assignment of Deed of Trust was recorded in the official public records of Dallas County, Texas, as Document No. 200900279583. A true and correct copy of the Assignment of Deed of Trust is attached hereto as Exhibit C.

17. GMAC then transferred and assigned the Loan Agreement to Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC. The Assignment of Deed of Trust was recorded in the official public records of Dallas County, Texas, as Document No. 201400061019. A true and correct copy of the Assignment of Deed of Trust is attached hereto as Exhibit D.

18. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC then transferred and assigned the Loan Agreement to PHH. The Corporate Assignment of Deed of Trust was recorded in the official public records of Dallas County, Texas, as Document No. 201900133638. A true and correct copy of the Corporate Assignment of Deed of Trust is attached hereto as Exhibit E.

19. Plaintiff is the current legal owner and holder of the blank endorsed Note. Plaintiff is also the mortgagee of the Security Instrument as that term is defined in section 51.0001 (4) of the Texas Property Code.

20. Decedent passed away.

Upon information and belief, no probate was ever opened for Decedent. In accordance with Texas Estates Code §§ 101.001(b) and 101.051, her heirs acquired all of her interest in the Property immediately upon her death, subject to the Loan Agreement debt owed to Plaintiff.

Upon information and belief, Decedent was single at the time of her death.

Defendant Donavan Miller is the only son and descendant of Decedent.

Accordingly, pursuant to the Section 201.001 (b) of the Texas Estates Code, Defendant Donavan Miller is the only heir of Decedent.

21. Under the terms of the Loan Agreement, the Decedent was required to pay when due the principal and interest on the debt evidenced by the Note, as well as any applicable charges and fees due under the Note.

22. The Loan Agreement further provides that should she fail to make payments on the Note as they became due and payable or fail to comply with any or all of the covenants and conditions of the Security Instrument, that the lender may enforce the Security Instrument by selling the Property according to law and in accordance with the provisions set out in the Loan Agreement.

23. The Loan Agreement is currently due for the May 1, 2021, payment, and all subsequent monthly payments. On January 12, 2022, a Notice of Default was sent via certified mail to the Borrower to the Property’s address at 121 Jenny Kay Lane, Irving, Texas 75060- 6044, in accordance with the Loan Agreement and the Texas Property Code.

The Notice of Default advised Borrower that in order to cure the default, a payment for the entire total amount past due, any amount in the interim must be received on or February 16, 2022, and that failure to cure the default on or before the date specified would result in acceleration of the sums secured by the Security Instrument and sale of the Property. A true and correct copy of the Notice of Default is attached hereto as Exhibit F.

24. The default was not cured, and the maturity of the debt is hereby accelerated by the filing of the instant lawsuit.

25. Plaintiff brings this suit for declaratory judgment and foreclosure so it may enforce its security interest in the Property.

V. CAUSES OF ACTION

A. DECLARATORY JUDGMENT

26. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

27. Plaintiff requests a declaration from this Court that it is the owner and holder of the Note and beneficiary of the Security Instrument. Plaintiff requests a further declaration from this Court that, as owner and holder of the Note and beneficiary of the Security Instrument, Plaintiff is a mortgagee as that term is defined under Texas Property Code section 51.0001(4), and is authorized to enforce the power of sale in the Security Instrument through foreclosure of the Property.

28. Plaintiff has been forced to hire the undersigned attorneys to seek a declaratory judgment as a result of Borrower’s failure to comply with the Loan Agreement. Plaintiff is therefore entitled to and seeks judgment for its reasonable attorney’s fees in this action, both through trial and in the event of a subsequent appeal, as provided by the Security Instrument signed by the Decedent and by statute. TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM. CODE § 37.009.

B. ENFORCEMENT OF STATUTORY PROBATE LIEN

29. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

30. Plaintiff seeks a declaration from this Court that Plaintiff has a statutory probate lien against the Property under the terms of the Loan Agreement and the following statutory authority:

a. TEX. ESTATES CODE §§ 101.001(b) and 101.051(b)(1), which state in pertinent part:

“the estate of a person who dies intestate vests immediately in the person’s heirs at law, subject to the payment of, and is still liable for: the debts of the decedent, except as exempted by law”

b. TEXAS TITLE EXAMINATION STANDARDS § 11.10, which states in pertinent part:

“A decedent’s Property passes to his or her heirs at law or devisees immediately upon death, subject in each instance, except for exempt Property, to payment of debts, including estate and inheritance taxes;” and

c. TEXAS TITLE EXAMINATION STANDARDS § 11.60, which states in pertinent part:

“A decedent’s Property passes to his or her heirs at law or devisees immediately upon death, subject in each instance, except for exempt Property, to payment of debts, including estate and inheritance taxes . . . Property of a decedent passes subject to unpaid debts and taxes of the estate.”

31. Through Plaintiff’s statutory probate lien, reserved in Texas Estates Code

§§ 101.001 and 101.151, Plaintiff has an enforceable and superior lien against the Heirs’ interest in the Property. Because of a material breach of the Loan Agreement, Plaintiff seeks to enforce its statutory probate lien in the Property through foreclosure.

C. NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE

32. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

33. Because of a material breach of the Loan Agreement, Plaintiff seeks an order from this Court to enforce its statutory probate lien through non-judicial foreclosure pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement and Texas Property Code § 51.002, with respect to Defendant who acquired the Property subject to Decedent’s debts.

D. PUBLIC AUCTION

34. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

35. Because of the material breach of the Loan Agreement, a public auction of the Property in conjunction with all other regularly scheduled non-judicial foreclosure sales on the first Tuesday of the month would provide the most practical, efficient, and effective means to enforce Plaintiff’s security interest in the Property. Because the rights, responsibilities and duties of Plaintiff and the trustee are well known under Texas Property Code § 51.002 and Texas case law, a public auction conducted in the same manner as a non-judicial foreclosure sale would meet all constitutional standards of due process. Because no personal liability is sought against the Defendant, a public auction of the Property would be the most expedient means to put the Property back into the stream of commerce and the housing stock of the community. Otherwise, the Property will continue to be a wasting asset that is subject to vandalism and deterioration.

E. JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE

36. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

37. In the alternative, for failure to cure the default of the Loan Agreement, Plaintiff seeks to enforce its security interest against the Property in an amount equal to the payoff at the time of judgment.

38. As the current legal owner and holder of the Note and the mortgagee of record who has the right to enforce the Note and Security Instrument, Plaintiff seeks a judgment for judicial foreclosure together with an order of sale issued to the sheriff or constable of Dallas County—the county where the Property is located—directing the sheriff or constable to seize and sell the Property in satisfaction of the Loan Agreement debt.

F. TRESPASS TO TRY TITLE

39. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

40. Concurrent with Plaintiff acquiring all of Defendant’s right, title, and interest in the Property—by enforcement of Plaintiff’s statutory probate lien by non-judicial foreclosure under Security Instrument’s power-of-sale provision and the Texas Property Code or, alternatively, by judicial foreclosure.—Plaintiff seeks a declaration and judgment that the Defendant is divested of all of their right, title and interest in the Property and that all of Defendant’s right, title, and interest in the Property is vested in Plaintiff.

G. WRIT OF POSSESSION

41. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated by reference for all purposes.

42. If any person occupies or claims possession of the Property (an “Occupant”) after transfer of all right, title, and interest in the Property in favor of Plaintiff, then Plaintiff requests a writ of possession against any Occupant.

H. ATTORNEYS FEES

43. Because of the material breach of the Loan Agreement, Plaintiff is entitled to recover reasonable and necessary attorneys’ fees under the loan documents, and Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §§ 37.009 and 38.001. Attorneys’ fees are not sought as a personal judgment against the Defendant but only as an additional debt secured by the Security Instrument.

I. PRAYER

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Plaintiff requests that Defendant be cited to appear and answer, and the Court enter judgment granting:

a. A declaration that Plaintiff is the owner and holder of the Note and beneficiary of the Security Instrument, and that Plaintiff is a mortgagee as that term is defined under Texas Property Code section 51.0001(4), and is authorized to enforce the power of sale in the Security Instrument through foreclosure of the Property;

b. A declaration that Plaintiff’s statutory probate lien against the Property shall be enforced by a non-judicial foreclosure at public auction—or alternatively, a judgment for judicial foreclosure—and that through the foreclosure or auction the Defendant are divested, and the purchaser at foreclosure sale is vested, of all of Decedent’s right, title, and interest to the Property;

c. A writ of possession against any Occupant of the Property if the Occupant fails or refuses to leave the Property after foreclosure or auction;

d. Attorney fees and costs of suit; and

e. All other relief, in law and in equity, to which Plaintiff is entitled.

Respectfully submitted,

By: /s/ Mark D. Cronenwett
MARK D. CRONENWETT
Texas Bar No. 00787303
Attorney in Charge
mcronenwett@mwzmlaw.com

VIVIAN N. LOPEZ
State Bar No. PR20818
Of Counsel
vlopez@mwzmlaw.com

MACKIE WOLF ZIENTZ & MANN, P.C.
14160 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 900
Dallas, TX 75254
Telephone: 214-635-2650
Facsimile: 214-635-2686

ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF