Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Campbell

[*1] Deutsche Bank Natl. Trust Co. v Campbell 2008 NY Slip Op 52506(U) [21 Misc 3d 1145(A)] Decided on December 16, 2008 Supreme Court, Kings County Schack, J. Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431. This opinion is uncorrected and will not be published in the printed Official Reports.

Decided on December 16, 2008
Supreme Court, Kings County

Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF 11, 3476 Stateview Boulevard Fort Mill, SC 29715, Plaintiff,

against

Rolando Campbell, et al., Defendants.



31764/07



Plaintiff:

Tracy M Fourtner, Esq.

Steven Baum PC

Buffalo NY

Arthur M. Schack, J.

Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment and an order of reference for the

premises located at 780 New Jersey Avenue, Brooklyn, New York (Block 4299, Lot 43, County of Kings) is denied without prejudice, with leave to renew upon providing the Court with: a copy of a valid assignment of the instant mortgage to plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11 (DEUTSCHE BANK); a satisfactory explanation of the conflict of interest by plaintiff's counsel, Steven J. Baum, P.C., with respect to the August 20, 2007 assignment of the instant mortgage and note from MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, [*2]INC. (MERS), as nominee for FIRST FRANKLIN, A DIVISION OF NATIONAL CITY BANK OF IN (FIRST FRANKLIN), by Darleen Karaszewski, Esq., the assignor, an attorney employed by Steven J. Baum, P.C., plaintiff's counsel, and the simultaneous representation by Steven J. Baum, P.C., of assignee plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK; and, an affidavit by an officer of the FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11, explaining why plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK purchased the instant nonperforming loan.

Background

Defendant ROLANDO CAMPBELL borrowed $420,000.00 from FIRST

FRANKLIN on May 1, 2006. The note and mortgage were recorded in the Office of the City Register, New York City Department of Finance on June 2, 2006, at City Register File Number (CRFN) 2006000308921. MERS, the nominee of FIRST FRANKLIN for the purpose of recording the mortgage, purportedly assigned the mortgage and note to plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK on August 20, 2007, effective August 10, 2007, with the assignment recorded on September 11, 2007, at CRFN 2007000467191. The assignment was executed by "Darleen Karaszewski, Esq. On [sic] behalf of MERS, by Corporate Resolution dated 7/19/07." Neither a corporate resolution nor a power of attorney to Ms. Karaszewski were recorded with the assignment. Thus, the assignment is invalid and plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK lacks standing to bring the instant foreclosure action.

Further, the assignor, Ms. Karaszewski, according to the Office of Court Administration's Attorney Registration, has as her business address, "Steven Baum, P.C.,

220 Northpointe Parkway, Suite G, Amherst, NY 14228-1894." Two days after Ms. Karaszweski executed the invalid MERS assignment, August 22, 2007, plaintiff's counsel, Steven J. Baum, P.C., commenced the instant action on behalf of purported assignee DEUTSCHE BANK, with the filing of a notice of pendency, and the summons and complaint in the Kings County Clerk's Office. The Court is concerned that the simultaneous representation by Steven J. Baum, P.C. of both MERS and DEUTSCHE BANK is a conflict of interest in violation of 22 NYCRR § 1200.24, the Disciplinary Rule of the Code of Professional Responsibility, entitled "Conflict of Interest; Simultaneous Representation."

The instant foreclosure application states that defendant CAMPBELL defaulted on his mortgage payments by failing to make his April 1, 2007 and subsequent monthly loan payments. Yet, on August 20, 2007, 142 days subsequent to defendant CAMPBELL's alleged May 1, 2007 payment default, plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK was willing to take an assignment of the instant nonperforming loan from MERS, as nominee for FIRST FRANKLIN. Thus, the Court requires, upon renewal of this motion for summary judgment and an order of reference, a satisfactory explanation from an officer of the FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11 as to why DEUTSCHE BANK purchased a nonperforming mortgage loan from MERS, as nominee for FIRST FRANKLIN.

Discussion

The proponent of a summary judgment motion must make a prima facie showing

of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, tendering sufficient evidence to eliminate any material issues of fact from the case. (Alvarez v Prospect Hospital, 68 NY2d 320, 324 [1986]; Zuckerman v City of New York, 49 NY2d 557, 562 [1980]; Sillman v Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., 3 NY2d 395, 404 [1957]). Failure to make such a showing requires denial of the [*3]motion, regardless of the sufficiency of the opposing papers. (Matter of Redemption Church of Christ v Williams, 84 AD2d 648, 649 [3d Dept 1981]; Greenberg v Manlon Realty, 43 AD2d 968, 969 [2d Dept 1974]; Winegrad v New York University Medical Center, 64 NY2d 851 [1985]).

CPLR 3212 (b) requires that for a court to grant summary judgment the court must

determine if the movant's papers justify holding as a matter of law "that there is no defense to the cause of action or that the cause of action or defense has no merit." The evidence submitted in support of the movant must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-movant. (Marine Midland Bank, N.A. v Dino & Artie's Automatic Transmission Co., 168 AD2d 610 [2d Dept 1990]). Once the movant has established his or her prima facie case, the party opposing a motion for summary judgment bears the burden of "produc[ing] evidentiary proof in admissible form sufficient to require a trial of material questions of fact . . . mere conclusions, expressions of hope or unsubstantiated allegations or assertions are insufficient" (Zuckerman v City of New York, supra at 562; see also Romano v St. Vincent's Medical Center of Richmond, 178 AD2d 467, 470 [2d Dept 1991]; Tessier v New York City Health & Hospitals Corp., 177 AD2d 626 [2d Dept 1991]). Summary judgment shall be granted only when there are no issues of material fact and the evidence requires the court to direct judgment in favor of the movant as a matter of law. (Friends of Animals, Inc., v Associated Fur Mfrs., 46 NY2d 1065 [1979]).

Plaintiff, in the instant action, moved for summary judgment and an order of reference on July 9, 2008. Defendant CAMPBELL appeared pro se, with opposition papers, in the Foreclosure Motion Part on August 7, 2008. The motion was adjourned to October 3, 2008 for oral argument before me. On October 3, 2008 the matter was adjourned to December 12, 2008.

Plaintiff appeared on December 12, 2008 for oral argument, but defendant CAMPBELL defaulted. However, the Court is required to review, as noted above, the motion papers to determine if plaintiff made a prima facie showing of entitlement to judgment as a matter of law, tendering sufficient evidence to eliminate any material issues of fact from the case. (Alvarez v Prospect Hospital, supra; Zuckerman v City of New York, supra; Sillman v Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., supra). The Court's review of plaintiff's moving papers demonstrates that plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK fails to make such a showing. Therefore, the Court denies the instant motion.

Plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK must have "standing" to bring this action. The Court of Appeals (Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. v Pataki, 100 NY2d, 901, 812 [2003]), cert denied 540 US 1017 [2003]) held that "[s]tanding to sue is critical to the proper functioning of the judicial system. It is a threshold issue. If standing is denied, the pathway to the courthouse is blocked. The plaintiff who has standing, however, may cross the threshold and seek judicial redress." In Carper v Nussbaum, 36 AD3d 176, 181 (2d Dept 2006), the Court held that "[s]tanding to sue requires an interest in the claim at issue in the lawsuit that the law will recognize as a sufficient predicate for determining the issue at the litigant's request." If a plaintiff lacks standing to sue, the plaintiff may not proceed in the action. (Stark v Goldberg, 297 AD2d 203 [1d Dept 2002]). "Since standing is jurisdictional and goes to a court's authority to resolve litigation [the court] can raise this matter sua sponte." (Axelrod v New York State Teachers' Retirement System, 154 AD2D 827, 828 [3d Dept 1989]).

In the instant action, the August 20, 2007 assignment from MERS to DEUTSCHE BANK [*4]is defective. Therefore, DEUTSCHE BANK has no standing to bring this action. The recorded assignment by "Darleen Karaszewski, Esq. On [sic] behalf of MERS, by Corporate Resolution dated 7/19/07," has neither the corporate resolution nor a power of attorney attached and recorded. Real Property Law (RPL) § 254 (9) states:

Power of attorney to assignee. The word "assign" or other words of

assignment, when contained in an assignment of a mortgage and bond

or mortgage and note, must be construed as having included in their

meaning that the assignor does thereby make, constitute and appoint

the assignee the true and lawful attorney, irrevocable, of the assignor,

in the name of the assignor, or otherwise, but at the proper costs and

charges of the assignee, to have, use and take all lawful ways and means

for the recovery of the money and interest secured by the said mortgage

and bond or mortgage and note, and in case of payment to discharge

the same as fully as the assignor might or could do if the assignment

were not made. [Emphasis added]

To have a proper assignment of a mortgage by an authorized agent, a power of attorney is necessary to demonstrate how the agent is vested with the authority to assign the mortgage. "No special form or language is necessary to effect an assignment as long as the language shows the intention of the owner of a right to transfer it [Emphasis added]." (Tawil v Finkelstein Bruckman Wohl Most & Rothman, 223 AD2d 52, 55 [1d Dept 1996]; see Suraleb, Inc. v International Trade Club, Inc., 13 AD3d 612 [2d Dept 2004]).

To foreclose on a mortgage, a party must have title to the mortgage. The instant assignment is a nullity. The Appellate Division, Second Department (Kluge v Fugazy, 145 AD2d 537, 538 [2d Dept 1988]), held that a "foreclosure of a mortgage may not be brought by one who has no title to it and absent transfer of the debt, the assignment of the mortgage is a nullity." The Appellate Division, First Department, citing Kluge v Fugazy, (Katz v East-Ville Realty Co., 249 AD2d 243 [1st Dept 1998]), instructed that "[p]laintiff's attempt to foreclose upon a mortgage in which he had no legal or equitable interest was without foundation in law or fact."

It is clear that plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK, with the invalid assignment of the instant mortgage and note from MERS, lacks standing to foreclose on the instant mortgage. The Court, in Campaign v Barba (23 AD3d 327 [2d Dept 2005]), held that "[t]o establish a prima facie case in an action to foreclose a mortgage, the plaintiff must establish the existence of the mortgage and the mortgage note, ownership of the mortgage, and the defendant's default in payment [Emphasis added]." (See Household Finance Realty Corp. of New York v Wynn, 19 AD3d 545 [2d Dept 2005]; Sears Mortgage Corp. v Yahhobi, 19 AD3d 402 [2d Dept 2005]; Ocwen Federal Bank FSB v Miller, 18 AD3d 527 [2d Dept 2005]; U.S. Bank Trust Nat. Ass'n v Butti, 16 AD3d 408 [2d Dept 2005]; First Union Mortgage Corp. v Fern, 298 AD2d 490 [2d Dept 2002]; Village Bank v Wild Oaks Holding, Inc., 196 AD2d 812 [2d Dept 1993]).

Even if plaintiff can cure the assignment defect, plaintiff's counsel then has to address the conflict of interest in the representation of both the assignor of the instant mortgage, MERS, and the assignee of the instant mortgage, DEUTSCHE BANK. 22 NYCRR § 1200.24, of the Disciplinary Rules of the Code of Professional Responsibility, entitled "Conflict of Interest; Simultaneous Representation," states in relevant part: [*5]

(a) A lawyer shall decline proffered employment if the exercise of independent professional judgment in behalf of a client will be or is

likely to be adversely affected by the acceptance of the proffered

employment, or if it would be likely to involve the lawyer in representing

differing interests, except to the extent permitted under subdivision (c)

of this section. (b) A lawyer shall not continue multiple employment if the

exercise of independent professional judgment in behalf of a client

will be or is likely to be adversely affected by the lawyer's representation

of another client, or if it would be likely to involve the lawyer in

representing differing interests, except to the extent permitted under

subdivision (c) of this section.(c) in the situations covered by subdivisions (a) and (b) of this

section, a lawyer may represent multiple clients if a disinterested lawyer

would believe that the lawyer can competently represent the interest

of each and if each consents to the representation after full disclosure

of the implications of the simultaneous representation and the

advantages and risks involved. [Emphasis added] The Court needs to know if both MERS and DEUTSCHE BANK were aware of

the simultaneous representation by plaintiff's counsel, Steven J. Baum, P.C., and whether both consented. If plaintiff moves to renew its motion for summary judgment and an order of reference, the Court needs an affirmation by Steven J. Baum, Esq., the principal of Steven J. Baum, P.C., explaining if both MERS and DEUTSCHE BANK consented to simultaneous representation in the instant action with "full disclosure of the implications of the simultaneous representation and the advantages and risks involved." The Appellate Division, Fourth Department, the Department in which both Ms. Karaszewski and Mr. Baum are registered, (In re Rogoff, 31 AD3d 111 [2006]) censured an attorney, for inter alia, violating 22 NYCRR § 1200.24, by representing both a buyer and sellers in the sale of a motel. The Court, at 112, found that the attorney, "failed to make appropriate disclosures to either the sellers or the buyer concerning dual representation." Further, the Court, at 113, censured the attorney, after it considered the matters submitted by respondent in mitigation, including:

that respondent undertook the dual representation at the insistence of

the buyer, had no financial interest in the transaction and charged the

sellers and the buyer one half of his usual fee. Additionally, we note

that respondent cooperated with the Grievance Committee and has

expressed remorse for his misconduct. [*6] Next, if a power of attorney is used for an agent to act as MERS' assignor of the

instant mortgage and loan to DEUTSCHE BANK, the power of attorney presented to the Court must be an original or a copy certified by an attorney, pursuant to CPLR § 2105. CPLR § 2105 states that "an attorney admitted to practice in the court of the state may certify that it has been compared by him with the original and found to be a true and complete copy." (See Security Pacific Nat. Trust Co. v Cuevas, 176 Misc 2d 846 [Civ Ct, Kings County 1998]).

Last, the Court requires a satisfactory explanation from an officer of the FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF 11 as to why in the middle of our national subprime mortgage financial crisis, plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK purchased from MERS, as nominee of FIRST FRANKLIN, the instant nonperforming loan. The Court wonders if DEUTSCHE BANK violated a corporate fiduciary duty to the noteholders of the FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11with the purchase of a loan that defaulted 142 days prior to its assignment from MERS to FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11, rather than keep the mortgage loan on FIRST FRANKLIN's books. The Court is not sure that the noteholders of the FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11 are aware that DEUTSCHE BANK purchased the instant "toxic" nonperforming mortgage loan for the Trust. It could well be that MERS, as nominee for FIRST FRANKLIN, with the acquiescence of DEUTSCHE BANK, transferred the instant nonperforming loan, as well as others, to the FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11, as part of what former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan referred to in his October 23, 2008 testimony, before the House Oversight Committee, as "a once in a century credit tsunami."

Conclusion

Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that the motion of plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11, for summary judgment and an order of reference for the premises located at 780 New Jersey Avenue, Brooklyn, New York (Block 4299, Lot 43, County of Kings) is denied without prejudice, and it is further

ORDERED that leave is granted to plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11, to renew its motion for summary judgment and an order of reference for the premises located at 780 New Jersey Avenue, Brooklyn, New York (Block 4299, Lot 43, County of Kings), upon presentation to the Court, within sixty (60) days of this decision and order of: (1) a valid assignment of the instant mortgage and note to plaintiff,

DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11; (2) an affirmation from Steven J. Baum, Esq., the principal of Steven J. Baum, P.C., explaining if both MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., the assignor of the instant mortgage and note, and DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11, the assignee of the instant mortgage and note, pursuant to 22 NYCRR § 1200.24, consented to simultaneous representation in the instant action, with "full disclosure of the implications of the simultaneous representation and the [*7]advantages and risks involved" explained to them; and, (3) an affidavit from an officer of the FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11, explaining why plaintiff DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF11 purchased a nonperforming loan from MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., as nominee for FIRST FRANKLIN, A DIVISION OF NATIONAL CITY BANK OF IN.

This constitutes the Decision and Order of the Court.

ENTER

___________________________

HON. ARTHUR M. SCHACK

J. S. C.