Dip Lending I, LLC v. Cleveland Avenue Properties, LLC
Dip Lending I, LLC v. Cleveland Avenue Properties, LLC
Opinion
*534 These appeals arise from the trial court's partial grant and denial of cross motions for summary judgment in a wrongful foreclosure action between Cleveland Avenue Properties, LLC (hereinafter "Cleveland") and Dip Lending I, LLC (hereinafter "Dip Lending"). In Case No. A17A1410, Dip Lending contends the trial court erred by finding that Dip Lending (1) failed to comply with the statutory notice provisions of OCGA § 44-14-162.2, and (2) breached its duty to provide Cleveland notice of the foreclosure sale. Dip Lending further contends the trial court erred when applying the standard for the defense of equitable estoppel. In Case No. A17A1411, Cleveland argues the trial court erred by finding Cleveland was not entitled to the equitable remedy of setting aside the foreclosure sale of its two properties because it had not tendered the amounts due on the note. For the reasons explained, we affirm.
Summary judgments enjoy no presumption of correctness on appeal, and an appellate court must satisfy itself de novo that the requirements of OCGA § 9-11-56 (c) have been met. In our de novo review of the grant or denial of a motion for summary judgment, we must view the evidence, and all reasonable inferences drawn therefrom, in the light most favorable to the nonmovant.
Essien v. CitiMortgage, Inc.
,
So viewed, the evidence shows that in 2010, ATA Properties, Inc. (hereinafter "ATA"), deeded two properties ("Properties") located in East Point, Georgia to Cleveland. At the time of the transfer, the Properties were subject to a lien held by Rockbridge Commercial Bank which was under the control of its receiver, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). In 2015, the FDIC assigned its interest in the Properties to Dip Lending. Dip Lending sold the Properties through a non-judicial foreclosure sale. 1
Cleveland filed an action for wrongful foreclosure alleging that Dip Lending failed to send it notice of the foreclosure and that Cleveland was entitled to have the foreclosure sale of the Properties set aside. Dip Lending answered and denied Cleveland's claim that it was never notified that the Properties were being foreclosed. Both parties moved for summary judgment. The trial court partially granted Cleveland's motion for summary judgment on the elements of legal duty and breach of legal duty on its claim for wrongful foreclosure based on its conclusion that Dip Lending failed to provide Cleveland notice pursuant to OCGA § 44-14-162.2. The trial court partially granted Dip Lending's motion for summary judgment on Cleveland's request for the equitable remedy of setting aside the foreclosure sale because Cleveland failed to tender the amounts due. These appeals followed.
Case No. A17A1410
1a. Dip Lending argues the trial court erred in finding that it failed to comply with the notice provisions of OCGA § 44-14-162.2 because the foreclosure sale notices were sent to the appropriate address and otherwise substantially complied with the statute's requirements. In support of its argument, Dip Lending contends that Cleveland had actual notice of the foreclosure sale and filed a subsequent petition to enjoin the sale because notice was provided. We disagree.
OCGA § 44-14-162.2 (a) provides in part that
Notice of the initiation of [foreclosure] proceedings ... shall be given to the debtor ... shall be in writing, shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the individual or entity who shall have full authority to negotiate, amend, and modify all terms of the
mortgage with the debtor, and shall be sent by registered or certified mail or statutory overnight delivery, return receipt requested, to the property address or to such other address as the *535 debtor may designate by written notice to the secured creditor.
OCGA § 44-14-162.1 defines the term "debtor" to mean the "grantor of the ... lien contract." In the event the encumbered property has been transferred by the original debtor, the same statute provides that the "debtor" is "the current owner of the property encumbered by the debt."
The record reflects that as of April 1, 2015, the registered address for Cleveland was 963 Cleveland Avenue, and the registered address for ATA was 1827 Warren Way. It is undisputed that Dip Lending sent notices of the initiation of foreclosure proceedings for the Properties to ATA, Cleveland's predecessor in interest, and ATA's registered agent, Tony White, at the 963 Cleveland Avenue address. When the notices were sent, Dip Lending knew Cleveland was the owner of record for the Properties, but it did not list Cleveland as a recipient on the notices as required by the statute. However, Dip Lending argues that the notice statute only required that the notices be sent to the proper address. Dip Lending's argument is without merit.
OCGA § 44-14-162.2 not only requires that foreclosure notices be sent to the proper address, but also requires that notices be sent to the "current owner of the property encumbered by the debt." Nowhere does the plain language of the statute specify or even suggest that the foreclosure notice can be sent to anyone other than the debtor.
See
Farris v. First Fin. Bank
,
We are also unpersuaded by Dip Lending's argument that because Cleveland had actual knowledge of the initiation of foreclosure proceedings, as evidenced by their petition to enjoin the foreclosure sale, the trial court erred in finding Cleveland lacked the required statutory notice. OCGA § 44 14 162.2 requires a showing that the initiator of the foreclosure proceedings complied with statutory and contractual notice requirements. 2 The record reflects that
Dip Lending did not send the foreclosure sale notices to Cleveland as required by statute. It is of no consequence that Cleveland was made aware of the foreclosure via ATA or Tony White. As we have ruled in regard to other notice requirements in the context of a foreclosure, actual knowledge does not relieve a party of its statutory duty to provide notice.
See
Colbert v. Branch Banking & Tr. Co.
,
Moreover, Dip Lending's argument that strict compliance is not required to satisfy OCGA § 44-14-162.2 (a) is misguided, and its reliance on this Court's holding in
TKW Partners, LLC v. Archer Capital Fund, L.P.
is misplaced.
Neither the plain language of the statute nor our prior holdings permit us to do what Dip Lending suggests.
See
You v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.
,
1b. Dip Lending contends that because it reasonably relied on the representations made by Tony White, who held himself out as Cleveland's representative and received the notices in that capacity, the trial court erred by concluding that Cleveland was not equitably estopped from asserting that Tony White was not its representative and therefore not entitled to receive statutory notice. We disagree.
As the foreclosing party, Dip Lending owed Cleveland a legal duty to exercise its power of sale fairly and in accordance with statutory and contractual notice requirements.
See
Thompson-El
, 327 Ga. App. at 310 (2),
Even if the doctrine of equitable estoppel were available, Dip Lending cannot establish that the doctrine should apply here. "In order for an equitable estoppel to arise, there shall generally be some intended deception in the conduct or declarations of the party to be estopped, or such gross negligence as to amount to constructive fraud, by which another has been misled to his or her injury." OCGA § 24-14-29. Additionally, "the party who claims the benefit of estoppel must have acted in good faith and reasonable diligence; otherwise, no equity will arise in his favor[.]"
Yancey v. Harris
,
Regardless of any representations made by Tony White or his attorney, Dip Lending offers no reasonable explanation as to why, despite knowing that Cleveland was the record owner of the Properties, it only sent the notices to ATA, the predecessor in interest, and its agent Tony White, neither of whom had any legal interest in the Properties.
See
Roylston v. Bank of Am., N.A.
,
Case No. A17A1411
2. Lastly, we see no merit in Cleveland's argument that it was entitled to the equitable remedy of setting aside the foreclosure. It has long been established that "[h]e who would have equity must do equity, and ... [u]nder [the] application of this maxim, before the complainant would be entitled to equitable relief, [he or] she must do equity and tender the amount due under the security deed and note."
*537
Stewart v. Suntrust Mortg., Inc
.,
The record reflects that the Properties were encumbered by a lien which was later assigned to Dip Lending. Despite Cleveland's assertions that there is a dispute as to the amounts still owed, the record shows that no payments have been made on the debt since December 2009 and Cleveland has not tendered any amounts owed since that time. Because setting aside a foreclosure sale requires that Cleveland first tender to Dip Lending the amount of principal and interest due, we find no error in the trial court's denial of its motion for summary judgment to set aside the foreclosure.
See
Hill v. Filsoof
,
Judgment affirmed.
McFadden, P.J., and Branch, J., concur.
Cleveland filed a verified complaint seeking to enjoin the foreclosure of the Properties. The injunction was denied because Cleveland had not tendered the balance due on the debt.
See
Thompson-El v. Bank of Am., N.A.
,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.