White v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 4:2021cv00435 - Document 16 (E.D. Tex. 2022)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER denying 12 MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Signed by District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on 5/26/2022. (mem)

Download PDF

White v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Doc. 16 United States District Court EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS SHERMAN DIVISION RACHEL A. WHITE Plaintiff, v. WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Defendant. § § § § § § § § § § Civil Action No. 4:21-CV-00435 Judge Mazzant MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Pending before the Court is Defendant Wells Fargo’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. #12). Having considered the motion and the relevant pleadings, the Court finds that the motion should be DENIED. BACKGROUND On December 29, 2021, Defendant Wells Fargo N.A. filed its motion for summary judgment (Dkt. #12). On January 19, 2022, Plaintiff Rachel A. White filed her response (Dkt. #13). On January 26, 2022, Defendant filed its reply (Dkt. #14). LEGAL STANDARD The purpose of summary judgment is to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims or defenses. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323–24 (1986). Summary judgment is proper under Rule 56(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure “if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 56(a). A dispute about a material fact is genuine when “the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). Substantive law identifies which facts are material. Id. The trial court Dockets.Justia.com “must resolve all reasonable doubts in favor of the party opposing the motion for summary judgment.” Casey Enters., Inc. v. Am. Hardware Mut. Ins. Co., 655 F.2d 598, 602 (5th Cir. 1981). The party seeking summary judgment bears the initial burden of informing the court of its motion and identifying “depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials” that demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact. FED. R. CIV. P. 56(c)(1)(A); Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. If the movant bears the burden of proof on a claim or defense for which it is moving for summary judgment, it must come forward with evidence that establishes “beyond peradventure all of the essential elements of the claim or defense.” Fontenot v. Upjohn Co., 780 F.2d 1190, 1194 (5th Cir. 1986). Where the nonmovant bears the burden of proof, the movant may discharge the burden by showing that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmovant’s case. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325; Byers v. Dall. Morning News, Inc., 209 F.3d 419, 424 (5th Cir. 2000). Once the movant has carried its burden, the nonmovant must “respond to the motion for summary judgment by setting forth particular facts indicating there is a genuine issue for trial.” Byers, 209 F.3d at 424 (citing Anderson, 477 U.S. at 248–49). A nonmovant must present affirmative evidence to defeat a properly supported motion for summary judgment. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 257. Mere denials of material facts, unsworn allegations, or arguments and assertions in briefs or legal memoranda will not suffice to carry this burden. Rather, the Court requires “significant probative evidence” from the nonmovant to dismiss a request for summary judgment. In re Mun. Bond Reporting Antitrust Litig., 672 F.2d 436, 440 (5th Cir. 1982) (quoting Ferguson v. Nat’l Broad. Co., 584 F.2d 111, 114 (5th Cir. 1978)). The Court must consider all of the evidence but “refrain from making any credibility determinations or 2 weighing the evidence.” Turner v. Baylor Richardson Med. Ctr., 476 F.3d 337, 343 (5th Cir. 2007). ANALYSIS After a careful review of the record and the arguments presented, the Court is not convinced that Defendant has met its burden demonstrating that there are no material issues of fact entitling it to judgment as a matter of law. The case should proceed to trial. CONCLUSION It is therefore ORDERED that Defendant Wells Fargo’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Dkt. #12) is hereby DENIED. IT IS SO ORDERED. SIGNED this 26th day of May, 2022. ___________________________________ AMOS L. MAZZANT UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 3

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.