# James v. Long v. Southwest Funding, L.P. OneWest Bank, FSB IndyMac Mortgage Services And Deutsche Bank National Trust, Co.

> Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District (Austin) · April 21, 2015

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/4064189

## Case

- **Court:** Texas Court of Appeals, 3rd District (Austin)
- **Decided:** April 21, 2015
- **Precedential status:** Published
- **Opinion:** Opinion
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

## Citator (automated)

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## Opinion text

ACCEPTED
03-15-00020-CV
4961005
THIRD COURT OF APPEALS
AUSTIN, TEXAS
4/20/2015 5:20:05 PM
JEFFREY D. KYLE
April 21, 2015 CLERK

NO.03-15-00020-CV
_________________________________
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD SUPREME JUDICIAL DISTRICT
AUSTIN, TEXAS
_________________________________

JAMES V. LONG.,

Appellant,

-versus-

SOUTHWEST FUNDING LP, et al.,

Appellees.
_________________________________

Appeal from the 126th Judicial District Court,
of Harris County, Texas
Honorable Tim Sulak, Presiding
_______________________________________

BRIEF OF APPELLANT
JAMES V. LONG
________________________________________

Oral Argument Waived
James D. Pierce
Attorney for Appellant
1 Sugar Creek Center 1080
Sugar Land, TX 77478
713-650-0150
jim@jamespierce.com
Attorney for Appellant
James V. Long

Page -1-
IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL

For the sake of simplicity the parties are sometimes referred by their name
or by their designation below. The following is a complete list of all the parties
and their attorneys.

Plaintiff/Appellee Defendant/Appellant

James V. Long Southwest Funding, LP
Austin, Texas Dallas, Texas

Attorney:
Attorney:
Brian P. Casey
Mr. James D. Pierce 6836 Bee Caves Suite 272
SBN: 06702350 Austin, Texas 78746
Attorney At Law 512-617-6409
1 Sugar Creek Center 1080 SBN 00793476
Sugar Land, Texas 77478
713-650-0150 Deutsche Bank National Trust
713-650-0146 Fax Company,
Indy Mac Mortgage Services and
One West Bank, FSB
Pasadena, CA 91101

Attorney:
Mark P. Hopkins
Hopkins & Williams, P.L.L.C.
12117 Bee Caves Road, Suite 260
Austin, TX 78738
(512)600-4320

Lauren E. Hayes
SettlePou
3333 Lee Parkway Eighth Floor
Dallas, TX 75129
214-520-3300

Page -2-
WAIVER OF ORAL ARGUMENT

Appellant respectfully waives oral argument.

Page -3-
TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE 1

IDENTITY OF PARTIES AND COUNSEL 2

WAIVER ORAL ARGUMENT 3

THIS TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

INDEX OF AUTHORITIES 5

ADDRESS TO THE COURT 6

STATEMENT OF THE CASE 7

ISSUE PRESENTED 9

STATEMENT OF FACTS 10

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT 12

ARGUMENT & AUTHORITIES 13

Summary Judgment Standards 13

Affidavit Requirements 13

Genuine Issues of Material Fact 15

PRAYER 18

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE 19

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE 20
Appendix 1 (Order being Appealed)
Appendix 2 (Second Order being Appealed)

Page -4-
INDEX OF AUTHORITIES

Cases

Espalin v. Children's Med. Ctr. of Dallas, 27 S.W.3d 675 13
(Tex. App.-Dallas 2000, no pet.)

Humphreys v. Caldwell, 888 S.W.2d 469, 470 (Tex. 1994). 14

McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d 337 (Tex. 1993) 13

Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546 (Tex. 1985) 13

Powell v. Vavro, McDonald, & Assoc., L.L.C., 136 S.W.3d 762 12, 15
(Tex.App.-Dallas 2004, no pet.)

Rivera v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 262 SW3d 834 16-17
(Tex. App.-Dallas 2008, no pet.)

Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, Unit II Mens Advisory Council, 12, 14
506 U.S. 194(1992)

Ryland Group v. Hood, 924 S.W.2d 120 (Tex. 1996) 13-14

Valenzuela v. State & Cnty. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 317 S.W.3d 550 12, 14
(Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.)

Texas Constitution

Tex. Const. Art. 16 Sec. 50(6) 7-8, 13, 16-17

Rules and Statutes

Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(f) 12, 16

Tex. Gov't Code § 312.011 14

Page -5-
NO.03-15-00020-CV
_________________________________
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD SUPREME JUDICIAL DISTRICT
AUSTIN, TEXAS
_________________________________
JAMES V. LONG.,

Appellant,

-versus-

SOUTHWEST FUNDING LP, et al.,

Appellees.
_________________________________

BRIEF OF APPELLANT
JAMES V. LONG

TO THE HONORABLE THIRD COURT OF APPEALS:

COMES NOW, Appellant, James V. Long., Respondent, below in Trial Court

Number D-1-GN-10-003483 in the 126st Judicial District Court of Harris County,

Texas, Honorable Tim Sulak, presiding, and respectfully submits this his Brief for the

purpose of appealing the Orders Granting Summary Judgment (Clerk’s Record at p.

350, 363)

As required by the applicable rules, the parties will be referred to as Appellant

and Appellees, their designation below, or by the proper names. The record on appeal

consists of a one volume Clerk’s Record (CR).

Page -6-
STATEMENT OF THE CASE

This is an appeal of the granting of a summary judgment for “declaratory

judgment” foreclosure of on a loan against Appellant’s homestead, and dismissal of

claims related to a putative prior foreclosure later admitted to be wrongful. (CR 350,

CR 313). In 2010, Deutsche Bank, brought home equity foreclosure proceedings.

On July 23, 2010, Deutsche Bank obtained an order of foreclosure. (CR. 305) On

September 2, the foreclosure order was set aside. (CR 305, 312). On September 7,

2010, signed and filed a foreclosure deed on Appellant’s homestead.

On September 28, 2010, Long filed this pro se suit for damages related to the

wrongful foreclosure, and irregularities in connection with the loan.(CR 4, CR. 24).

On June 14, 2011, Deutsche Bank counterclaimed for declaratory judgment to

confirm its prior sale, and in the alternative for foreclosure. On May 14, 2013,

Deutsche Bank filed with the Travis County property records an acknowledgment that

its prior foreclosure in 2010 was void as it failed to comply with “one or more

conditions precedent....” (CR. 313). Deutsche Bank, joined by related Defendants,

filed a Motion for Summary Judgment. (CR 182). Long challenged the sufficiency

of the summary judgment evidence, and challenged Defendants’ compliance with the

constitutional requirements of Tex. Const. Art. 16 Sec. 50(6). He offered evidence

that the market value loan ratio exceeded that permitted by Tex. Const Art. 16, Sec.

Page -7-
50(6)(B). (CR 303, 315). The Court granted Deutsche Bank’s Motion. (CR 350). It

later granted Southwest Funding L.P.’s summary judgment which simply adopted

Deutsche Bank’s motion. (CR 318, 363).

Page -8-
ISSUE PRESENTED

FIRST POINT OF ERROR

EXCEPT AS TO PLAINTIFF’S FRAUD CLAIM,1 THE TRIAL
COURT ERRED IN GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT FOR
DEFENDANTS.

. Appellant concedes the court did not err in granting the no evidence motion for summary
1

judgment directed at Appellant’s common law fraud claim.

Page -9-
STATEMENT OF FACTS

The property located at 608 Cutlass, Lakeway, Texas is appellant’s homestead.

(CR at p. 303). Two suits were brought concerning the putative foreclosure of the

property including the case below. In 2010, Defendant/Appellee, Deutsche Bank

National Trust Co., claiming to be the holder and owner of the home equity loan, sued

Long seeking a home equity foreclosure order. (CR. 305, 312). Although initially

obtaining its foreclosure order (CR, at 305), the order was set aside by order granting

new trial in September of 2010. (CR at. 312). While the record in this Court does not

indicate the current status of the first suit (Cause No. D-1-GN-10-000461), it was

dismissed.2

On September 28, 2010, Long brought the instant suit, pro se, alleging

irregularities in the original loan by Southwest Funding, LP seeking rescission and

later damages for wrongful foreclosure against Deutsche Bank. (CR. at pp. 4, 32). On

June 14, 2011, Deutsche Bank filed a counterclaim (CR at 22) seeking a declaratory

judgment, and Request for Foreclosure pursuant to Rule 735(2). (CR at 26-27) On

May 14, 2013, Duetsche Bank National Trust Co., filed a “Statement of Facts to

Purge Real Property Records” with the Travis County property records in which it

admitted it improperly foreclosed on Plaintiff’s property in 2010, and that conditions

2
. The current status of the suit is not material to the appeal but is provided for background.

Page -10-
precedent to foreclosure had not been met. (Id. at 313).

On November 12, 2013, Defendant’s Onewest Bank, FSB, IndyMac Mortgage

Services and Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., filed a motion for Summary

Judgment. (CR at 182). The Motion stated that these defendants sought both a

traditional and “no evidence” motion for summary judgment. The no evidence

motion was only directed to Long’s common law fraud claim. (CR at 194). The order

granting the no evidence summary judgment on Plaintiff’s fraud claim is not being

appealed. The remainder of OneWest Bank, FSB, IndyMac Mortgage Services and

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., motion sought a traditional summary judgment

for A) Deutsche Bank’s Declaratory Judgment for Foreclosure Claims (CR. 187), B)

Long’s Claims under TILA (CR at 189) C) Long’s Claims for Wrongful Foreclosure

(CR 190), and D) Long’s claims for fraud (CR 192). On January 21, 2014, the court

granted OneWest Bank, FSB, IndyMac Mortgage Services and Deutsche Bank

National Trust Co., motion for summary judgment. Southwest Funding filed an

adoption of OneWest Bank, FSB, IndyMac Mortgage Services and Deutsche Bank

National Trust Co., motion for summary judgment, which was granted October 9,

2014.

Page -11-
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT

The traditional motion for summary judgment was not supported by affidavit

that complied with Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(f). The affidavit supporting the motion for

summary judgment was signed as if a corporation was testifying:

Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, Unit II Mens Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194,

204-06 (1992) (corporation does not have the capacity to give an affidavit because

it cannot be charged and jailed imprisoned for perjury). Additionally, the affidavit

failed "set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and . . . show

affirmatively that the affiant was competent to testify to the matters stated therein."

Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(f); Valenzuela v. State & Cnty. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 317 S.W.3d

550, 552-54 (Tex. App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.). The deposition excerpts

from the Long are unconnected questions and provide no evidence on the merits of

the issues in this case. Deutsche Bank filed a sworn statement in the property records

of Travis County admitting that its prior foreclosure was “void, and without force and

effect, and that it failed to meet “conditions precedent required by Tex. R. Civ. P. 54

and Tex. Prop. Code 51.002.” (CR 313). For all these reasons summary judgment

was improper.

Page -12-
ARGUMENT & AUTHORITIES

Summary Judgment Standards

The standards granting a traditional summary judgment are well established.

The party moving for summary judgment has the burden of showing no genuine issue

of material fact exists and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Tex.

R. Civ. P. 166a(c); Nixon v. Mr. Prop. Mgmt. Co., 690 S.W.2d 546, 548 (Tex. 1985).

In deciding whether a disputed material fact issue exists, precluding summary

judgment, evidence favorable to the non-movant will be taken as true. Nixon, 690

S.W.2d at 548-49. Further, every reasonable inference must be indulged in favor of

the non-movant and any doubts resolved in his favor. Id. A motion for summary

judgment must expressly present the grounds upon which it is made and must stand

or fall on those grounds alone. McConnell v. Southside Indep. Sch. Dist., 858 S.W.2d

337, 341 (Tex. 1993); Espalin v. Children's Med. Ctr. of Dallas, 27 S.W.3d 675, 688

(Tex. App.-Dallas 2000, no pet.).

Affidavit Requirements

A summary-judgment affidavit must state that it is based on the affiant's

personal knowledge and that the facts in it are true. TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(f)

("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."); Ryland Group v.

Page -13-
Hood, 924 S.W.2d 120, 122 (Tex. 1996); Humphreys v. Caldwell, 888 S.W.2d 469,

470 (Tex. 1994). If an affidavit does not positively show a basis for the affiant's

knowledge, the mere recitation that it is based on personal knowledge is inadequate

.Valenzuela v. State & Cnty. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 317 S.W.3d 550, 552-54 (Tex.

App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 2010, no pet.). The “affidavit” of Representative of One

West Bank, FSB (CR 19), is wholly inadequate. Initially, the document is not even

an affidavit, because a corporation cannot testify. See, Tex. Gov't Code §

312.011(affidavit must be signed by a party). The subject affidavit is signed as

follows:

A signature in a corporate capacity is not an affidavit. Rowland v. California Men’s

Colony, Unit II Mens Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194, 204-06 (1992) (corporation

does not have the capacity to give an affidavit because it cannot be charged and jailed

imprisoned for perjury). This signature block would not support a perjury charge.

Further the documents, referenced are not OneWest Bank documents. The corporate

“affidavit” does not show how the witness would have knowledge of documents 1-A

though 1-F (CR 200 to 231). Documents received from another entity are not

Page -14-
admissible under rule 803(6), if the witness is not qualified to testify about the other

entity's record keeping. Powell v. Vavro, McDonald, & Assoc., L.L.C., 136 S.W.3d

762, 765 (Tex.App.-Dallas 2004, no pet.) (custodian of records for travel agency was

not qualified to testify as to records received from third-party company, showing

credits to customers' credit card account). Exhibits 1A to 1 F, are not properly

authenticated by a witness with knowledge. There is no showing as to why these

documents are business records of OneWest Bank.

Genuine Issues of Material Fact

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee of the Indymaac Indx

Mortgage Trust 2007-AR13, etc. filed with the Travis County property records a

document title "Statement of Facts to Purge Real Property Records." (CR at 313. In

that document it admits to having participated and conducted an invalid foreclosure

in 2010 as it pertains to James V. Long and his property at 608 Cutlass Way,

Lakeway, TX. The document recites that a foreclosure sale was held on September

7, 2010. It acknowledges that the sale was improper and that the deed in connection

therewith filed two and one half years earlier was "void and without force and

effect." Its declaratory judgment claim (count 1) is moot. The document

specifically states that one or more conditions precedent were not performed. The

summary judgment evidence does not attempt to provide evidence that Deutsche

Bank did anything to correct its prior problems even assuming such were correctable.

Page -15-
As pointed out above, none of the supposed summary judgment evidence it did

present did not comply with Tex R. Civ. P. 166a(f). The excerpts from the

deposition of James V. Long are disjointed, and did not address any issue in this case,

and do not support summary judgment.

Long presented evidence that Deutsche Bank was not the holder of the note.

(CR. at 303). He states he made numerous demands to review the note. He stated

that Dutche Bank representatives advised him that the note could not be located. (CR.

At 303). A fact question is raised as to whether Deutsche Bank was the note holder.

Southwest Funding LP was not on the list of supervised and registered licensed

entities. (CR at 303). It was therfore not authorized to make a home equity loan.

Home Equity Loans. Tex. Const. Art. 16 Sec. 50(6)(P). The purported extension of

credit exceeded the fair market value ratio provided for in Tex. Const. Art. 16 Sec.

50(6)(B). (CR at 303 paragraph 5, CR at 315, CR 200). The purported loan amount

was $710,400.00. (CR 200). Under the Texas constitution, the fair market value of

the property would have to be at least $888,000.00 to support this loan. (888,000 x

0.80 = 710,400). The appraisal district market value was $608,770.00. (CR 315).

Long testified that the value was under $704,000. The consequence of making this

type of loan is forfeiture of principal and interest. Rivera v. Countrywide Home

Loans, Inc., 262 SW3d 834, 840 (Tex. App.-Dallas 2008, no pet.):

The constitution provides that the cap on the amount of the
home equity loan must not exceed eighty percent of the fair

Page -16-
market value of the homestead "on the date the extension
of credit is made." TEX. CONST. art. XVI, § 50(a)(6)(B)
(emphasis added). See also TEX. CONST. art. XVI, §
50(a)(6)(J) (may not accelerate home equity loan because
of decrease in homestead market value). Under the
constitutional amendment, when a lender makes a loan in
violation of the eighty-percent cap, the borrower has a right
to bring suit for forfeiture of all principal and interest
resulting from the extension of credit at any time after the
loan closes. TEX. CONST. art XVI, § 50(Q)(x).

Id.. Deutche Bank offered no summary evidence that it complied with all the

requirements of Tex. Const. Art. 16 Sec. 50(6). The court erred in granting summary

judgment.

Page -17-
PRAYER

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Appellant prays that the Court

reverse the Orders Granting Summary Judgment except as to the no evidence motion

for summary judgment concerning Appellant’s common law fraud claim, remand for

new trial, and for such other and further relief as is just.

Respectfully submitted,

___/S/James D. Pierce________
James D. Pierce(15994500)

1 Sugar Creek Center Suite 1080
Sugar Land, TX 77478
(713) 650-0150
jim@jamespierce.com

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT,
James V. Long

Page -18-
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLAINCE

This is to certify that the foregoing brief has 2775 words.

Page -19-
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

This is to certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing brief has been
served on the below listed counsel of record this 20TH day of April, 2015 through the
Court’s Electronic Filing System.

Brian P. Casey
6836 Bee Caves Suite 272
Austin, Texas 78746

Mark P. Hopkins
Hopkins & Williams, P.L.L.C.
12117 Bee Caves Road, Suite 260
Austin, TX 78738

___/S/James D. Pierce________
James D. Pierce

Page -20-
DC BK14030 PG862
l'llouc., :.e::m; l'"llldl lmtmocutory None
Disp Parties:._ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Filed In The District Court
of Travts County, Texas
D1sp code: CVD 1 CLS _....,....__ __

Redact pgs:..f...A_ fl JAN 21 2014
Juage f l '0 Clerk._ _:f_i+-- N. _ 5?.0.I2.e_M.
CAUSE NO. D-1-GN-10-003483 Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza, Clerk

JAMES V. LONG, § IN THE DISTRICT COURT
Plaintiff, §
§
v. § 126th JUDICIAL DISTRICT
§
SOUTHWEST FUNDING, L.P., INDY §
MAC MORTGAGE SERVICES, ONE §
WEST BANK AND DEUTSCHE §
BANK NATIONAL TRUST CO., §
Defendants. § TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS ONEWEST BANK, FSB, INDYMAC
MORTGAGE SERVICES AND DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST CO.'S
MOTION FOR TRADITIONAL AND NO EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT

On the 6th day of December 2013 came on to be heard ~efendants OneWest

Bank, FSB, Indymac Mortgage Services and Deutsche Bank National Trust Co's Motion

For Traditional And No Evidence Summary Judgment (the "Motions")_ After due

consideration of the pleadings, the Motions, any responses, arguments of counsel and

evidence and the law, this Court is of the opinion that the Motions should be GRANTED..

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendants' Motion for Summary

Judgment and No Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment is in all things GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff take nothing by way of this suit

against Indy Mac Mortgage Services, One West Bank, FSB and Deutsche Bank National

Trust Co.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants, or their successors or assigns,

are granted declaratory relief that they may lawfully proceed with the foreclosure sale of

the property at issue in this litigation pursuant to the tenus of the Deed of Trust and

§5 L002 of the Texas Property Code, such property being commonly known as

PAGE 1

350
DC BK14030 PG863

608 Cutlass, Lakeway, Texas 78738 and legally described as follows~

LOT 349 AND 350, OF LAKEWAY, SECTION THREE, A
SUBDIVISION IN TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS,
ACCORDING TO THE MAP OR PLAT, OF RECORD IN
VOLUME 22, PAGE 20, OF THE PLAT RECORDS OF
TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS

Upon conveyance of the property by Substitute Trustee's Deed after public sale,

Defendants will file a Report of Sale with the Court, and will thereafter petition the Court

for an Order confirming that the public sale was held in accordance with the loan

documents.

'?( Sl
SIGNED on this the ~ day ~f ~Ati '-' ~ 2014

Order Submitted By:

HOPKINS & WILLIAMS, P.L.L.C.

Mark D. Hopkins
State Bar No : 00793975
Glenn A. Brown
State Bar No.: 00796255
12117 Bee Caves Road, Suite 260
Austin, Texas 78738
Phone~ (512) 600-4320
Fax: (512) 600-4326

ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANTS
ONEWEST BANK, FSB, INDYMAC
MORTGAGE SERVICES AND DEUTSCHE
BANK NATIONAL TRUST Co.

PAGE2

351
DC BK14287 PG936

JAMES LONG, § IN THE DISTRICT COURT
§
Plaintiff, §
§
v. § 126TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
§
SOUTHWEST FUNDING L.P., INDY §
MAC MORTGAGE SERVICES, ONE §
WEST BANK AND DEUTSCHE §
BANK NATIONAL TRUST CO., §
Defendants § OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT SOUTHWEST FUNDING L.P.'S
MOTION FOR TRADITIONAL AND NO EVIDENCE SUMMARY JUDGMENT

On the 9th day of October 2014, came on to be heard Defendant Southwest Funding L.P. 's

Motion for Traditional and No Evidence Summary Judgment (the "Motions"). After due

consideration of the pleadings, the Motions, any responses, arguments of counsel and evidence and

the law, this Court is of the opinion that the Motions should be GRANTED.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment and No

Evidence Motion for Summary Judgment is in all things GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff take nothing by way of this suit against

Southwest Funding L.P.

SIGNED on this __ day

1

363

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/4064189. Public record. Not legal advice.