[Cite as BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. v. Mapp,

.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS

TWELFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT OF OHIO

BUTLER COUNTY

BAC HOME LOANS SERVICING, L.P. : f.k.a. COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS CASE NO. CA2013-10-193 SERVICING, L.P., : OPINION Plaintiff-Appellee, : 5/12/2014

: - vs - :

CURTIS MAPP, et al., :

Defendants-Appellants. :

CIVIL APPEAL FROM BUTLER COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS Case No. CV2010 09 4025

Reimer, Arnovitz, Chernek & Jeffrey Co., L.P.A., Mike L. Wiery and Rachel M. Kuhn, 30455 Solon Road, Solon, Ohio 44139, for plaintiff-appellee

Law Office of Joseph C. Lucas, LLC, John R. Glankler and Tyler W. Kahler, 10921 Reed Hartman Highway, Suite 213, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242, for defendant-appellant

S. POWELL, J.

{¶ 1} Defendant-appellant, Curtis Mapp, appeals from the decision of the Butler

County Court of Common Pleas denying his motion to vacate a void judgment upon remand,

as well as its decision denying his Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment granted in

favor of plaintiff-appellee, Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America), successor by merger to Butler CA2013-10-193

BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. (BAC), f.k.a. Countrywide Home Loans Servicing, L.P., in

this foreclosure action. For the reasons outlined below, we affirm.

{¶ 2} On July 2, 2008, Mapp executed an adjustable rate promissory note in favor of

Countrywide Bank, FSB (Countrywide Bank), in the amount of $284,200 for the purchase of

real property located in Butler County, Ohio. The note was secured by an open-end

mortgage that designated Mapp as the mortgagor, Countrywide Bank as the lender, and

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS) as the mortgagee. According to the

mortgage documents, MERS was acting as a nominee for Countrywide Bank, as well as any

of its successors and assigns. The mortgage documents also specifically noted that

"Borrower does hereby mortgage * * * the following described property located in Butler

County, Ohio: SEE EXHIBIT 'A' ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF."

Exhibit A, attached as the final page of the mortgage documents, referenced two parcels of

real property commonly known as 7 Brushback Court, Fairfield, Butler County, Ohio. The

mortgage documents were subsequently recorded on July 10, 2008.

{¶ 3} On April 27, 2009, Countrywide Bank converted to Countrywide Bank N.A., and

merged with Bank of America. Following the merger, on February 1, 2010, Mapp defaulted

on the loan and payment on the loan was accelerated. Several months later, on May 28,

2010, MERS assigned the mortgage to BAC, together with the note secured thereby. On

September 28, 2010, BAC filed a complaint for foreclosure on the property. Attached to the

complaint was the originally executed note signed by Mapp that was indorsed in blank by

Laurie Mecer, a senior vice president with Countrywide Bank, now Bank of America. The

assignment of the mortgage to BAC, as well as a copy of the mortgage itself, was also

attached to the complaint.

{¶ 4} After the complaint in foreclosure was filed by BAC, Mapp, appearing pro se,

filed a short letter with the trial court. As part of this letter, Mapp referenced the downturn in -2- Butler CA2013-10-193

his business and his plans to restructure the business to stay competitive. The trial court

construed Mapp's letter as an answer to BAC's complaint. Several months later, on July 1,

2011, BAC also merged into Bank of America. Bank of America was then substituted as

plaintiff on September 28, 2011.

{¶ 5} After being substituted as plaintiff, Bank of America, now successor by merger

to both Countrywide Bank, the original lender, and BAC, the assignee of the mortgage, filed a

motion for summary judgment. Included with its motion for summary judgment was an

affidavit from Brendan Yeckley, an officer with Bank of America, who testified about his

personal knowledge of Mapp's mortgage loan and subsequent default. Mapp did not

respond to Bank of America's motion. After not receiving any response, the trial court

granted Bank of America's motion for summary judgment in its entirety. As part of that

decision, the trial court granted judgment to Bank of America in the amount of $276,924.21

plus interest, and ordered the sale of the mortgaged property.

{¶ 6} On June 13, 2012, over seven months after the trial court had granted judgment

to Bank of America, successor by merger to BAC, Mapp filed a pro se motion to dismiss. As

part of the motion, Mapp argued that BAC had no standing to proceed with the foreclosure

action at the time it filed its complaint. The trial court denied Mapp's motion after finding it

lacked jurisdiction to rule on the matter once final judgment was entered. In so holding, the

trial court stated:

Except for the relief offered by Civ.R. 60(B), which does not go to the merits of a claim and is not invoked here, a trial court is deprived of jurisdiction to take any further action in a matter after its final judgment disposing of all claims in the action is journalized.

{¶ 7} On October 25, 2012, Mapp, who was now represented by counsel, filed a

motion seeking relief from judgment pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (3) and (5). As part of this

motion, Mapp argued Bank of America, as successor by merger with BAC, lacked standing to -3- Butler CA2013-10-193

bring the foreclosure action and/or that BAC was not a real party in interest at the time the

complaint was filed. The trial court denied Mapp's motion without a hearing. In so holding,

the trial court found that even though the motion was filed within a reasonable time, Mapp

had failed to establish that he had a meritorious defense, thereby entitling him to relief. Mapp

then appealed.

{¶ 8} On appeal, this court found the portion of Mapp's Civ.R. 60(B) motion

challenging Bank of America's standing, although captioned as a motion for relief from

judgment, was "in substance a motion to vacate a void judgment because it challenged the

trial court's jurisdiction." BAC Home Loans, LP v. Mapp, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2013-01-

001,

. This court then stated, in pertinent part, the following:

An Ohio court has inherent power to vacate its own void judgment irrespective of Civ.R. 60(B). Therefore, it was not incumbent upon Mapp to establish a basis for relief under Civ.R. 60(B) by showing a meritorious defense. Rather, what is at issue is whether the trial court had jurisdiction over the foreclosure proceeding or whether it lacked such jurisdiction because [Bank of America, successor by merger to BAC,] lacked standing to file the foreclosure complaint.

In light of this holding, we reversed the trial court's finding that Bank of America's alleged lack

of standing did not constitute a meritorious defense under Civ.R. 60(B), as opposed to a

jurisdictional challenge. This court then remanded the matter to the trial court "for a hearing

to determine [Bank of America's] standing to sue, and correspondingly whether the trial court

had jurisdiction over the foreclosure proceedings." Id. at ¶ 14.

{¶ 9} On August 12, 2013, the trial court held a hearing on Mapp's motion to vacate

judgment. Following this hearing, Bank of America submitted a memorandum in support of

standing, as well as an affidavit from Jessica L. Eisenhuth, another officer with Bank of

America. As part of that affidavit, Eisenhuth explicitly stated that Bank of America, successor

by merger to BAC, "held the note and mortgage at the time of filing the foreclosure

-4- Butler CA2013-10-193

complaint." Attached to the affidavit were copies of the original note, mortgage, as well as a

number of documents referencing the merger of BAC and Countrywide Bank with Bank of

America. Mapp did not submit any additional documentation or evidence to the trial court to

refute BAC's standing to pursue foreclosure at the time the complaint was filed.

{¶ 10} On September 30, 2013, the trial court issued its decision denying Mapp's

motion to vacate. In so holding, the trial court found "BAC clearly had standing at the time it

filed this foreclosure action," by virtue of its possession of the note indorsed in blank by

Laurie Mecer, a senior vice president with Countrywide Bank, now Bank of America. Mapp

appeals from the trial court's decision denying both his motion to vacate, as well as his Civ.R.

60(B) motion for relief from judgment, raising four assignments of error for review. For ease

of discussion, Mapp's second, third and fourth assignments of error will be addressed

together.

{¶ 11} Assignment of Error No. 1:

{¶ 12} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHEN IT DETERMINED

THAT PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE HAD STANDING TO BRING A FORECLOSURE ACTION

WHEN EVIDENCE DEMONSTRATED THAT THE PARTY ASSIGNING THE MORTGAGE

AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE DID NOT HAVE AUTHORITY TO ASSIGN THE MORTGAGE,

AND THAT PLAINTIFF/APPELLEE WAS NOT THE PROPER HOLDER OF THE

PROMISSORY NOTE AT ISSUE IN THIS CASE.

{¶ 13} In his first assignment of error, Mapp argues the trial court erred by denying his

motion to vacate because BAC lacked standing to pursue foreclosure at the time the

complaint was filed. In support of this claim, Mapp argues Bank of America, successor by

merger to BAC, provided insufficient evidence it was the holder of the note, thereby entitling it

to pursue foreclosure by virtue of its possession of the note. We disagree.

{¶ 14} "Standing is a preliminary inquiry that must be made before a trial court may -5- Butler CA2013-10-193

consider the merits of a legal claim." Bank of New York Mellon v. Blouse, 12th Dist. Fayette

No. CA2013-02-002,

, quoting Kincaid v. Erie Ins. Co.,

,

. Whether standing exists is a question of law that an appellate

court reviews de novo. Fifth Third Mtge. Co. v. Bell, 12th Dist. Madison No. CA2013-02-003,

.

{¶ 15} The Ohio Supreme Court addressed the issue of standing in a foreclosure

action in Federal Home Loan Mtge. Corp. v. Schwartzwald,

, 2012-Ohio-

5017. In that case, the Ohio Supreme Court determined that a plaintiff lacked standing to

invoke the jurisdiction of the common pleas court because "it failed to establish an interest in

the note or mortgage at the time it filed suit." Id. at ¶ 28. In so holding, the Ohio Supreme

Court noted that "[i]t is an elementary concept of law that a party lacks standing to invoke the

jurisdiction of the court unless he has, in an individual or representative capacity, some real

interest in the subject matter of the action." (Emphasis sic.) Id. at ¶ 22. Accordingly, the

Ohio Supreme Court found that a plaintiff must have standing at the time the complaint is

filed and the lack of standing cannot be cured by "receipt of an assignment of the claim or by

substitution of the real party in interest" pursuant to Civ.R. 17(A). Id. at ¶ 26 and ¶ 41.

{¶ 16} Based on the Ohio Supreme Court's decision in Schwartzwald, this court has

determined that "a party may establish that it is the real party in interest with standing to

invoke the jurisdiction of the common pleas court when, 'at the time it files its complaint of

foreclosure, it either (1) has had a mortgage assigned or (2) is the holder of the note.'"

(Emphasis sic.) Bank of New York Mellon v. Burke, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-12-245,

, appeal not accepted,

,

. In

reaching this decision, we noted the Ohio Supreme Court's "'deliberate decision to use the

disjunctive word 'or' as opposed to the conjunctive word 'and' when discussing the interest

[plaintiff] was required to establish at the time it filed the complaint' is significant"

quoting -6- Butler CA2013-10-193

CitiMortgage, Inc. v. Patterson, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98360,

.

{¶ 17} After a thorough review of the record, we find Bank of America, successor by

merger to BAC, established that it had standing at the time the complaint was filed by way of

its interest in both the note and the mortgage, either of which were sufficient to establish the

fact that it had standing to prosecute this foreclosure action. Bank of America is the current

holder of the note, by virtue of its possession of the note indorsed in blank by Laurie Mecer, a

senior vice president with Countrywide Bank. Prior to its merger with Bank of America, BAC

attached a copy of the note to its complaint. BAC also submitted affidavits from Brendan

Yeckley and Jessica L. Eisenhuth, officers with Bank of America, successor by merger to

both Countrywide Bank and BAC, who specifically stated BAC was in possession of the note

at the time the complaint was filed. Mapp provided no evidence to refute these claims.

{¶ 18} Moreover, although we need not reach this issue in light of Bank of America's

status as the holder of the note, we find BAC also had an interest in the mortgage at the time

the complaint was filed. As noted above, on May 28, 2010, MERS assigned the mortgage to

BAC, together with the note secured thereby. While the assignment indicates MERS, the

mortgagee, was acting solely as nominee for Countrywide Bank, the mortgage documents

clearly state that MERS was acting as a nominee for Countrywide Bank, as well as any of its

successors and assigns.

{¶ 19} Ohio courts, including this court, "have consistently held that MERS has

authority to assign a mortgage when it is designated as both a nominee and mortgagee."

Bank of New York Mellon v. Putman, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-12-267,

, quoting BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. v. Haas, 3d Dist. Marion No. 9-13-40, 2014-

Ohio-438, ¶ 28; see, e.g., SRMOF 2009-1 Trust v. Lewis, 12th Dist. Butler Nos. CA2012-11-

239 and CA2013-05-068,

(finding standing was established to foreclose

on property where MERS properly assigned its interest in the mortgage). Such is the case -7- Butler CA2013-10-193

here. In turn, we find the failure to include specific language within the mortgage assignment

that MERS was acting on behalf of Countrywide Bank's successors and assigns has no

impact on the validity of this assignment and is, at worst, a clerical error on the part of MERS.

{¶ 20} Such a finding is further supported by the fact that Countrywide Bank, the

original lender, and BAC, the assignee of the mortgage, both merged with Bank of America,

the substitute plaintiff in this case, after the complaint was filed. See generally Bank of Am.

v. Eten, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2013-05-087,

(finding Bank of America had

standing to pursue foreclosure where it provided sufficient evidence it had an interest in the

note and mortgage at the time the complaint in foreclosure was filed after it merged with

BAC). Therefore, having found BAC established it had standing at the time the complaint

was filed by way of its interest in both the note and the mortgage, we find no error in the trial

court's decision denying Mapp's motion to vacate judgment. Accordingly, Mapp's first

assignment of error is overruled.

{¶ 21} Assignment of Error No. 2:

{¶ 22} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHERE IT DENIED THE

MOTION MADE PURSUANT TO CIV.R. 60(B)(1), WHICH ASSERTED THAT CURTIS

MAPP HAD EXCUSABLY NEGLECTED THE CASE AND HAD MERITORIOUS DEFENSES

TO PRESENT IF RELIEF WAS GRANTED, INCLUDING (1) THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE

JUDGMENT WAS IN EXCESS OF ANY AMOUNT OWED, (2) THAT PLAINTIFF LACKED

STANDING OR WAS NOT THE REAL PARTY IN INTEREST, AND (3) THAT THE

MORTGAGE AND NOTE DOCUMENTS WERE FORGED OR TAMPERED WITH TO THE

EXTENT THAT THE DOCUMENTS PURPORT TO PERTAIN TO MORE THAN ONE

PARCEL OF LAND.

{¶ 23} Assignment of Error No. 3:

{¶ 24} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHERE IT DENIED THE -8- Butler CA2013-10-193

MOTION MADE PURSUANT TO CIV.R. 60(B)(3) WHERE FRAUD, MISREPRESENTATION

AND/OR MISCONDUCT OF AN ADVERSE PARTY IS PRESENT BASED UPON THE

PURPORTED MORTGAGE OF TWO PARCELS, WHERE THE MORTGAGE WAS TO BE

FOR ONLY ONE PARCEL, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE SECOND PAGE OF THE OPEN-

END MORTGAGE.

{¶ 25} Assignment of Error No. 4:

{¶ 26} THE TRIAL COURT ABUSED ITS DISCRETION WHERE IT DENIED THE

MOTION MADE PURSUANT TO CIV.R. 60(B)(5), WHICH CHALLENGED THE AMOUNT

OF THE JUDGMENT.

{¶ 27} In his second, third and fourth assignments of error, Mapp argues the trial court

erred by denying his motion for relief from judgment brought pursuant to Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (3)

and (5). We disagree.

{¶ 28} To prevail on a Civ.R. 60(B) motion for relief from judgment, the movant must

demonstrate that (1) it has a meritorious defense or claim to present if relief is granted, (2) it

is entitled to relief under one of the five grounds set forth in Civ.R. 60(B)(1) through (5), and

(3) the motion is made within a reasonable time. Aurora Loan Servs. v. Brown, 12th Dist.

Warren Nos. CA2010-01-010 and CA2010-05-041,

, ¶ 35, citing GTE

Automatic Elec. v. ARC Industries,

(1976). "The three

requirements necessary to sustain a Civ.R. 60(B) claim are independent and conjunctive."

Carrelli v. Goodwin, 12th Dist. Clinton No. CA93-12-038,

, *1 (Aug. 8, 1994).

Therefore, the movant must establish all three requirements in ordered to be entitled to relief.

Cox v. Zimmerman, 12th Dist. Clermont No. CA2011-03-022,

, ¶ 13.

{¶ 29} "An appellate court reviews a trial court's decision on a Civ.R. 60(B) motion

using the abuse-of-discretion standard." U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Kapitula, 12th Dist. Clermont No.

CA2012-08-058,

, citing LNV Corp. v. Edgar, 12th Dist. Butler No. -9- Butler CA2013-10-193

CA2011-10-190,

, ¶ 16. An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court's

decision is unreasonable, arbitrary, or unconscionable. Bank of New York v. Blanton, 12th

Dist. Clermont No. CA2011-03-019,

, ¶ 12, citing Blakemore v. Blakemore,

(1983). When applying an abuse of discretion standard, we are not free

to merely substitute our judgment for that of the trial court. Morrison v. Robinson, 12th Dist.

Fayette No. CA2012-06-019,

, citing Davis v. Flickinger,

(1997).

{¶ 30} After a thorough review of the record, we find the trial court did not abuse its

discretion by denying Mapp's motion for relief from judgment as he has failed to present the

necessary operative facts in order to establish a meritorious defense. "In order to establish a

meritorious defense, a moving party 'must present operative facts that demonstrate the

existence of a meritorious defense or claim.'" Fifth Third Bank v. Schoessler's Supply Room,

L.L.C.,

,

, ¶ 13 (12th Dist.), quoting Natl. City Bank v. Rini,

,

(11th Dist.). "If a party who seeks relief from

judgment does not present operative facts or presents facts of limited or meager quality, then

a trial court is justified in denying relief because that party has failed to meet its burden of

asserting facts entitling the party to relief." Whittle v. Davis, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2013-08-

153,

, quoting Bank of New York Mellon v. Stefanidis, 10th Dist. Franklin

No. 11AP-157,

, ¶ 12.

{¶ 31} Here, in addition to his claim regarding BAC's standing addressed above, Mapp

merely argued he has a meritorious defense pertaining to the alleged "fraudulent nature of

the mortgage documents." According to Mapp, the mortgage documents have been forged,

altered or otherwise tampered with since he only intended to mortgage one parcel of

property, whereas Exhibit A attached to the mortgage documents references two parcels of

property. However, as noted previously, the mortgage documents at issue here clearly state - 10 - Butler CA2013-10-193

that "Borrower does hereby mortgage * * * the following described property located in Butler

County, Ohio: SEE EXHIBIT 'A' ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF."

Exhibit A references two parcels of property commonly known as 7 Brushback Court,

Fairfield, Butler County, Ohio. Mapp's initials appear on the mortgage document referencing

Exhibit A, a document that was also recorded as part of the mortgage.

{¶ 32} Beyond his own general allegations to the contrary, Mapp has provided no

evidence to support his claim that the mortgage documents were somehow forged, altered or

otherwise tampered with. "Mere general allegations and mere conclusions of law are not

sufficient to justify relief from judgment." Tri-County Pavings, Inc. v. Everman, 12th Dist.

Fayette No. CA91-11-024,

, *1 (June 8, 1992). In turn, just as the trial court

found, "without more specific allegations establishing a forgery or alteration, Mapp's assertion

is insufficient to meet his burd[e]n of establishing operative facts showing that he has a

meritorious defense." We find no error in the trial court's decision. Mapp's first argument is

therefore without merit and overruled.

{¶ 33} Moreover, we find Mapp has also failed to demonstrate that he was entitled to

relief under Civ.R. 60(B)(1), (3) or (5). Mapp argues the trial court erred by denying his

motion for relief from judgment under Civ.R. 60(B)(1) because his failure to respond to Bank

of America's motion for summary judgment constitutes excusable neglect. Mapp, however,

never once claimed he was unaware of the fact that Bank of America had filed the motion for

summary judgment against him. Instead, Mapp merely claimed he was distracted due to

significant changes in his business and by his impending divorce. Mapp's failure to submit a

timely response to Bank of America's motion for summary judgment was an intentional

decision on his part to ignore the action. As a result, Mapp's failure to respond simply cannot

be said to constitute excusable neglect. The fact that Mapp appeared pro se does not

change this finding as he was subject to the same rules and procedures as those - 11 - Butler CA2013-10-193

represented by counsel. Therefore, Mapp's second argument is likewise overruled.

{¶ 34} In addition, as it relates to his claims under Civ.R. 60(B)(3) and (5), Mapp

argues BAC perpetrated a fraud upon the court through the fraudulent assignment of the

mortgage from MERS to BAC. Mapp, however, lacks standing to challenge the validity of the

assignment from MERS to BAC. See U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Lawson, 5th Dist. Delaware No.

13CAE030021,

(finding mortgagor lacked standing to challenge an

assignment of a mortgage between MERS and U.S. Bank); Bank of New York Mellon Trust.,

Co. v. Unger, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 97315,

(finding mortgagor

lacked standing to challenge an assignment of a mortgage between MERS and Bank of New

York Mellon); see also Duran v. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., N.D.Ohio

No. 3:12 CV 1801,

, *6 (Feb. 5, 2013) (finding mortgagor lacked standing to

challenge an assignment of a mortgage between MERS and Bank of America).

{¶ 35} Furthermore, and as noted above, even if Mapp could challenge this

assignment, which he cannot, Ohio courts "have consistently held that MERS has authority to

assign a mortgage when it is designated as both a nominee and mortgagee." Haas, 2014-

Ohio-438 at ¶ 28; see, e.g., SRMOF 2009-1 Trust,

(finding standing

was established to foreclose on property where MERS properly assigned its interest in the

mortgage). By signing the mortgage, Mapp contractually agreed that MERS possesses the

power to transfer rights in the subject property. Mapp's third argument is also without merit

and overruled.

{¶ 36} Finally, Mapp argues his motion for relief from judgment should be granted

because the evidence presented was insufficient to support the damages awarded. Bank of

America, however, attached the relevant documentation to its motion for summary judgment

evidencing the payment history of the loan through the affidavit from Brendan Yeckley, an

officer of Bank of America, successor by merger to BAC. Mapp provided absolutely no - 12 - Butler CA2013-10-193

evidence to the contrary. The affidavit and attached documents are more than sufficient to

establish the damages awarded to Bank of America. Therefore, Mapp's final argument is

without merit and overruled.

{¶ 37} Having found no merit to any of the arguments advanced by Mapp as part of his

second, third and fourth assignments of error, Mapp's second, third and fourth assignments

of error are overruled.

{¶ 38} Judgment affirmed.

HENDRICKSON, J., concurs.

RINGLAND, P.J., concurs separately.

RINGLAND, P.J., concurring separately.

{¶ 39} Based on my previous concurring opinion in Bank of New York Mellon v.

Putnam, 12th Dist. Butler No. CA2012-12-267,

, I concur in the majority's

opinion since plaintiff owned the mortgage and note.

- 13 -