Meppelink v. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA AYNA AMANDA MEPPELINK, CASE NO. C19-5655RJB Plaintiff, ORDER STRIKING MOTIONS 12 v. AND STAYING CASE 13 WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY FSB, d/b/a CHRISTIANA 14 TRUST, a trustee for PRETIUM MORTGAGE CREDIT MANAGEMENT; 15 SELENE FINANCE LP; and 16 Defendants.

THIS MATTER comes before the Court on the Defendant and Counterclaimant Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, d/b/a Christiana Trust, trustee for Pretium Mortgage Trust (“Wilmington”) and Defendant Selene Finance LP’s (“Selene”) (collectively “Defendants”) Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. 97) and Defendants’ Request for Judicial Notice (Dkt. 97-2). The Court has reviewed the pleadings filed regarding the motion and request and the remaining records.

1 Originally filed in Kitsap County, Washington Superior Court, this case arises from a dispute over a mortgage and deed of trust on property commonly known as 11700 Carriage Place SE, Olalla, Washington. Dkt. 1-3. Plaintiff brings this case pro se. For the reasons provided below, the Defendants’ request for judicial notice (Dkt. 97-2) and motion for a judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. 97) stricken without prejudice and the case stayed.

6 Wilmington’s Request for Judicial Notice (Dkt. 49-4) and Motion for Summary Judgment as to Judicial Foreclosure Counterclaim Only (Dkt. 49) was granted on March 10, 2020. Dkt. 54. The facts and procedural history are in that March 10, 2020 Order (Dkt. 54, at 1- 6) and are adopted here. That Order held that this Court has jurisdiction over the case, Wilmington was the holder of the note and entitled to enforce the note and foreclose on the deed of trust under Washington law, the Plaintiff’s loan is in default, Wilmington has accelerated the note, and that Wilmington may proceed to judicial foreclosure. Id. 13 Wilmington’s motion for entry of partial judgment on its counterclaim for judicial foreclosure, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b), was granted on July 1, 2020. Dkt. 86. The Final Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure was entered that same day. Dkt. 87. The Plaintiff filed a Notice of Appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on July 27, 2020. Dkt. 93.

17 After the notice of appeal was filed, the Defendants filed the instant request for judicial notice and move for a judgment on the pleadings.

19 DISCUSSION 20 Jurisdiction while on Appeal. In a civil case, a notice of appeal must be filed with the district court within 30 days after the judgment or order appealed from is entered. Fed. R. App. 22 P. 4(a)(1). Once a notice of appeal is filed from a final judgment, the district court is divested of jurisdiction. Laurino v. Syringa General Hosp., 279 F.3d 750, 755 (9th Cir. 2002); Griggs v. Provident Consumer Disc. Co., 459 U.S. 56, 58- 59 (1982). However, when a Notice of Appeal is defective in that it refers to a non-appealable interlocutory order, it does not transfer jurisdiction to the appellate court, and so the ordinary rule that the district court cannot act until the mandate has issued on the appeal does not apply. Nascimento v. Dummer, 508 F.3d 905, 908 (9th Cir. 2007).

6 Partial final judgment has been entered in this case. The Plaintiff’s Notice of Appeal appeals the partial final judgment – it does not seek to appeal interlocutory orders. This Court no longer has jurisdiction over the case. The Defendants’ request for judicial notice and motion for judgment on the pleadings should be stricken without prejudice, to be renoted, if appropriate, after the appeal is complete.

11 Further, this case should be stayed and all case deadlines should be stricken. Parties should file a joint report informing the Court of the conclusion of the appeal, but in any case, by July 9, 2021.

14 I. ORDER 15 IT IS ORDERED THAT: 16 • Defendant and Counterclaimant Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, d/b/a 17 Christiana Trust, a trustee for Pretium Mortgage Acquisition Trust and Defendant 18 Selene Finance’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Dkt. 97) and 19 Defendants’ Request for Judicial Notice (Dkt. 97-2) ARE STRICKEN 20 WITHOUT PREJUDICE; 21 • This case IS STAYED; 22 • All pending deadlines ARE STRICKEN; 1 • Parties SHALL FILE a joint report informing the Court of the conclusion of the 2 appeal, but in any case, by July 9, 2021.

3 The Clerk is directed to send copies of this Order to all counsel of record and to any party appearing pro se at said party’s last known address.

5 Dated this 25th day of September, 2020.

6 A ROBERT J. BRYAN United States District Judge