Antonio Caballero v. Rushmore Loan Management Services LLC and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, D/B/A Christiana Trust, as Trustee for Normandy Mortgage Loan Trust, Series 2015-1 ( 2020 )


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  • AFFIRMED; Opinion Filed April 7, 2020
    In The
    Court of Appeals
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    No. 05-19-00298-CV
    ANTONIO CABALLERO, Appellant
    V.
    RUSHMORE LOAN MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC AND
    WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA
    TRUST, AS TRUSTEE FOR NORMANDY MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST
    SERIES 2015-1, Appellees
    On Appeal from the 14th Judicial District Court
    Dallas County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. DC-17-07665
    MEMORANDUM OPINION
    Before Justices Myers, Whitehill, and Pedersen, III
    Opinion by Justice Myers
    Antonio Caballero appeals the trial court’s judgment granting the motion for
    summary judgment of Rushmore Loan Management Services LLC and Wilmington
    Savings Fund, FSB, d/b/a Christiana Trust, as trustee for Normandy Mortgage Loan
    Trust Series 2015-1 on Caballero’s claims for wrongful foreclosure, breach of the
    deed of trust, and violation of the Texas Debt Collection Practices Act.1 Caballero
    brings two issues on appeal contending the trial court erred by granting appellees’
    motion for summary judgment because (1) appellees lacked standing; and (2) there
    are outstanding fact issues on at least one element of each of Caballero’s causes of
    action. We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    BACKGROUND
    In 2006, Caballero borrowed $514,450 from World Savings Bank to purchase
    a home. Caballero signed a thirty-year note and a deed of trust. The note provided
    for interest at a variable rate of 6.76 to 11.95 percent, but no more than the maximum
    amount allowed by law. The mortgage servicer was Carrington Mortgage Services.
    In 2007, World Savings Bank changed its name to Wachovia Mortgage, FSB.
    In 2009, Caballero fell behind on his payments. Caballero and Wachovia
    Mortgage modified the loan agreement, reducing the balance to $430,942.15 and
    reducing the interest rate to 6.5 percent. The modification extended the maturity
    from 2036 to 2049. Caballero alleged that when he executed the modification, he
    gave Wachovia Mortgage a check for $100,000 for principal only. After the
    modification, the mortgage servicer became appellee Rushmore Loan Management
    Services. Later in 2009, Wachovia Mortgage changed its name to Wells Fargo Bank
    1
    Caballero also brought claims for usury and to quiet title, but he does not assert on appeal that the
    trial court erred by granting appellees’ motion for summary judgment as to those claims. Caballero has
    waived any error from the trial court’s granting appellees’ motion for summary judgment on these claims,
    and we do not address them. See Ontiveros v. Flores, 
    218 S.W.3d 70
    , 71 (Tex. 2007) (per curiam).
    –2–
    Southwest, N.A. and then merged into and operated as part of “Wells Fargo Bank,
    National Association, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.”
    In 2012, “Wells Fargo, N.A.” assigned the deed of trust to U.S. Bank, N.A.
    In 2014, Caballero again fell behind on the payments. In 2015, he and
    Rushmore modified the loan agreement. By this time, the balance was $648,834.15.
    The modification reduced the interest rate to 4.375 percent and required Caballero
    to make monthly payments of $3,032.93. Caballero made six payments of $4,300
    after the 2015 modification.
    In 2016, U.S. Bank assigned the note and deed of trust to appellee Wilmington
    Savings Fund as trustee for Normandy Mortgage Loan Trust.
    In 2016, Caballero became concerned that his $100,000 payment in 2009 had
    not been properly applied to the loan. He asked Rushmore for the loan’s payment
    history. Rushmore responded that it had not received a detailed payment history
    from Carrington when Rushmore became the loan servicer. Caballero submitted
    another request for the payment history, and Rushmore responded that it would
    provide the history by June 30, 2017, which was less than a week before the
    threatened foreclosure.2
    In 2017, Caballero filed this suit to stop foreclosure. Caballero alleged causes
    of action for wrongful foreclosure, breach of the deed of trust, violations of the Texas
    2
    The record does not show whether Rushmore provided the payment history or whether Carrington
    applied the $100,000 payment to principal.
    –3–
    Debt Collection Practices Act, usury, and suit to quiet title. Caballero sought
    damages and injunctive relief. The trial court entered a temporary restraining order
    barring the foreclosure.
    Appellees moved for summary judgment, asserting Caballero had no evidence
    to support one or more elements of his causes of action. The trial court granted
    appellees’ motion for summary judgment.
    STANDING
    In his first issue, Caballero contends the trial court erred by granting
    appellees’ motion for summary judgment because appellees’ lacked standing.
    Caballero asserts that Normandy assigned its interest in the deed of trust to Aero
    Mortgage Loan Trust 2017-1 a week before appellees moved for summary judgment.
    Caballero argues that because Normandy did not have any interest in the deed of
    trust when appellees moved for summary judgment, the case was moot.
    “A case is moot when either no ‘live’ controversy exists between the parties,
    or the parties have no legally cognizable interest in the outcome. ‘Put simply, a case
    is moot when the court’s action on the merits cannot affect the parties’ rights or
    interests.’” Hays St. Bridge Restoration Group v. City of San Antonio, 
    570 S.W.3d 697
    , 702–03 (Tex. 2019) (quoting City of Krum v. Rice, 
    543 S.W.3d 747
    , 749 (Tex.
    2017) (per curiam)). “If a case becomes moot, the court must vacate all previously
    issued orders and judgments and dismiss the case for want of jurisdiction.”
    Glassdoor, Inc. v. Andra Group, LP, 
    575 S.W.3d 523
    , 527 (Tex. 2019). Caballero
    –4–
    has not moved for dismissal of the case. Instead, he prays for reversal of the
    summary judgment and remand of his claims for trial.
    This case is not moot. Caballero’s cause of action for wrongful foreclosure
    alleges that appellees do not have an interest in the note or deed of trust because (1)
    World Savings Bank did not transfer the loan to Wells Fargo, (2) any transfer by
    World Savings Bank was not for full value, and (3) the subsequent transfers of the
    note and deed of trust did not grant appellees the right to foreclose the loan. The
    cause of action for breach of the deed of trust alleges that Rushmore could not enter
    into the 2015 modification as the lender. Caballero’s request for injunctive relief
    was based on the pending foreclosure of the property. Caballero does not explain
    why these claims are no longer “live” following Normandy’s assignment of the deed
    of trust to Aero.
    Moreover, it is the plaintiff that must establish standing to bring a lawsuit.
    Pratho v. Zapata, 
    157 S.W.3d 832
    , 845 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2005, no pet.).
    Appellees are the defendants. Caballero cites no authority that a defendant who does
    not seek any relief other than an end to the lawsuit and recovery of its costs has any
    burden to establish standing. We overrule Caballero’s first issue.
    SUMMARY JUDGMENT
    In his second issue, Caballero contends the trial court erred by granting
    appellees’ motion for summary judgment.
    –5–
    Standard of Review
    Rule 166a(i) provides that a party “may move for summary judgment on the
    ground that there is no evidence of one or more essential elements of a claim or
    defense on which an adverse party would have the burden of proof at trial.” We
    review a no-evidence summary judgment under the same legal sufficiency standard
    used to review a directed verdict. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i); Flood v. Katz, 
    294 S.W.3d 756
    , 762 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, pet. denied). Thus, we must determine
    whether the nonmovant produced more than a scintilla of probative evidence to raise
    a fact issue on the material questions presented. See 
    Flood, 294 S.W.3d at 762
    .
    When analyzing a no-evidence summary judgment, “we examine the entire record
    in the light most favorable to the nonmovant, indulging every reasonable inference
    and resolving any doubts against the motion.” Sudan v. Sudan, 
    199 S.W.3d 291
    ,
    292 (Tex. 2006) (quoting City of Keller v. Wilson, 
    168 S.W.3d 802
    , 823 (Tex.
    2005)). A no-evidence summary judgment is improperly granted if the nonmovant
    presented more than a scintilla of probative evidence to raise a genuine issue of
    material fact. King Ranch, Inc. v. Chapman, 
    118 S.W.3d 742
    , 751 (Tex. 2003).
    “More than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence rises to a level that would
    enable reasonable, fair-minded persons to differ in their conclusions.”
    Id. (quoting Merrell
    Dow Pharms., Inc. v. Havner, 
    953 S.W.2d 706
    , 711 (Tex. 1997)). “Less
    than a scintilla of evidence exists when the evidence is ‘so weak as to do no more
    –6–
    than create a mere surmise or suspicion’ of a fact.”
    Id. (quoting Kindred
    v.
    Con/Chem, Inc., 
    650 S.W.2d 61
    , 63 (Tex. 1983)).
    In deciding whether a disputed material fact issue exists precluding summary
    judgment, evidence favorable to the nonmovant will be taken as true. In re Estate
    of Berry, 
    280 S.W.3d 478
    , 480 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2009, no pet.). Every reasonable
    inference must be indulged in favor of the nonmovant and any doubts resolved in its
    favor. City of Keller v. Wilson, 
    168 S.W.3d 802
    , 824 (Tex. 2005). We review a
    summary judgment de novo to determine whether a party’s right to prevail is
    established as a matter of law. Dickey v. Club Corp. of Am., 
    12 S.W.3d 172
    , 175
    (Tex. App.—Dallas 2000, pet. denied).
    Wrongful Foreclosure
    The elements of wrongful foreclosure are: (1) a defect in the foreclosure sale
    proceedings; (2) a grossly inadequate selling price; and (3) a causal connection
    between the defect and the grossly inadequate selling price. Villanova v. Fed.
    Deposit Ins. Corp., 
    511 S.W.3d 88
    , 101 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2014, no pet.).
    Appellees moved for summary judgment on the ground that Caballero had no
    evidence of any of these elements because there has not been a foreclosure. We
    agree with appellees. “Texas law is clear that there is no cause of action in Texas
    for attempted wrongful foreclosure.” Ebrahimi v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 05-18-
    00456-CV, 
    2019 WL 1615356
    , at *4 (Tex. App.—Dallas Apr. 15, 2019, pet.
    denied); see EverBank, N.A. v. Seedergy Ventures, Inc., 
    499 S.W.3d 534
    , 544 (Tex.
    –7–
    App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2016, no pet.). A claim for wrongful foreclosure before
    a foreclosure sale occurs fails as a matter of law. Ebrahimi, 
    2019 WL 1615356
    , at
    *4.
    Caballero argues that Texas does recognize a cause of action for attempted
    wrongful foreclosure, citing McCaig v. Wells Fargo Bank (Texas), N.A., 
    788 F.3d 463
    , 471 (5th Cir. 2015). In that case, Wells Fargo repeatedly, and wrongly,
    threatened to foreclose on the McCaigs’ house for violating a forbearance
    agreement. The McCaigs sued Wells Fargo for breach of the forbearance agreement
    and violations of the Texas Debt Collection Act.3
    Id. at 471.
    The McCaigs prevailed
    in the trial court, and a majority of the Fifth Circuit mostly affirmed.
    Id. at 471–72,
    486. The dissenting judge characterized the majority’s decision as creating a cause
    of action for attempted wrongful disclosure.
    Id. at 486
    (Jones, J., dissenting)
    (“Another way to look at this result is that in Texas, there has been no cause of action
    for ‘attempted wrongful foreclosure.’ Until today.” (citations omitted)). Wells
    Fargo also characterized its conduct as “attempted wrongful foreclosure.”
    Id. at 478
    n.6. The McCaigs did not bring a claim for attempted wrongful foreclosure, and
    neither the Fifth Circuit nor any court in Texas has created one. As this Court
    recently observed, “there is no cause of action in Texas for attempted wrongful
    3
    The “Texas Debt Collection Act” and the “Texas Debt Collection Practices Act” are different names
    for the same legislation: Chapter 392 of the Texas Finance Code.
    –8–
    foreclosure.” Ebrahimi, 
    2019 WL 1615356
    , at *4. Because there was no foreclosure
    sale, Caballero’s claim for wrongful foreclosure fails as a matter of law.
    Id. We conclude
    the trial court did not err by granting appellees’ motion for
    summary judgment on Caballero’s claim for wrongful foreclosure.
    Breach of Deed of Trust
    Caballero pleaded that the 2015 modification constituted a breach of the deed
    of trust because the evidence did not show Rushmore had authority to agree to a
    modification of the note or deed of trust. Caballero alleged Rushmore lacked
    authority because it was the mortgage servicer and not the lender and because
    Caballero alleges these facts breached paragraph 23 of the deed of trust, which
    provided that the deed of trust “may be modified or amended only by an agreement
    in writing signed by Borrower and Lender.”
    Caballero’s claim for breach of the deed of trust is one for breach of contract.
    The elements for breach of contract are (1) the existence of a valid contract, (2) the
    plaintiff’s performance or tendered performance, (3) the defendant’s breach of the
    contract, and (4) damages as a result of the breach. Paragon Gen. Contractors, Inc.
    v. Larco Constr., Inc., 
    227 S.W.3d 876
    , 882 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.).
    Appellees moved for summary judgment on the ground that Caballero had no
    evidence he performed or tendered performance, that appellees breached the deed of
    trust, or that Caballero suffered damages as a result of the breach.
    –9–
    The deed of trust defined “Lender” as meaning “World Savings Bank, FSB,
    its successors and/or assignees.” (Capitalization omitted.) Therefore, Caballero had
    the burden of presenting some evidence that Rushmore was not a successor or
    assignee of World Savings Bank. The only evidence Caballero presented was his
    declaration. In it, he does not provide evidence that Rushmore was not the successor
    or assignee of World Savings Bank. The record shows that Rushmore became the
    loan servicer after Carrington, but nothing shows it did not have authority to enter
    into the 2015 modification. Accordingly, Caballero has not presented any evidence
    that appellees breached the deed of trust.
    Caballero also failed to present any evidence of how the modification of the
    loan agreement damaged him. The 2015 modification reduced the interest rate from
    6.5 percent to 4.375 percent on a balance of $648,834.15.
    Caballero argued in his response to the motion for summary judgment and he
    argues on appeal that appellees breached the deed of trust by violating sections
    51.002 and 51.0025 of the Property Code by wrongfully accelerating the note,
    issuing notices of trustee’s sale, and failing to give Caballero statutorily required
    notices. Caballero did not plead any of these violations. See TEX. PROP. CODE ANN.
    §§ 51.002, .0025. A party is not required to move for summary judgment on claims
    that were not pleaded. Clark v. Dillard’s, Inc., 
    460 S.W.3d 714
    , 729 (Tex. App.—
    Dallas 2015, no pet.). Therefore, appellees did not have to move for summary
    judgment on these asserted violations of the Property Code.
    –10–
    We conclude the trial court did not err by granting appellees’ motion for
    summary judgment on Caballero’s claim for breach of the deed of trust.
    Texas Debt Collection Practices Act
    Caballero alleged appellees violated the Texas Debt Collection Practices Act.
    See TEX. FIN. CODE ANN. §§ 392.001–.404. Specifically, Caballero alleges appellees
    violated sections 392.301(a)(8), 392.303(a)(2), and 392.304(a)(8) and (19).
    Caballero alleged that “[t]he acts, omissions, and conduct of Defendant [sic], as
    alleged above” violated these provisions.      Those alleged acts, omissions, and
    conduct consist of World Bank’s alleged failure to transfer the loan to Wells Fargo,
    the allegedly invalid subsequent assignments of the note and deed of trust, the
    modification agreements, the charging of usurious interest, and the pending
    foreclosure.
    Section 392.301(a)(8) provides that “a debt collector may not use threats,
    coercion, or attempts to coerce that employ any of the following practices: . . . (8)
    threatening to take an action prohibited by law.” Appellees moved for summary
    judgment on the ground that Caballero had no evidence to support any of these
    elements, including that they threatened to take an action prohibited by law. Neither
    Caballero’s declaration nor the other summary judgment evidence shows that
    appellees threatened to take an action prohibited by law. To the extent Caballero
    may argue that the threatened foreclosure was a threat to take an action prohibited
    –11–
    by law, none of the documents related to the allegedly pending foreclosure are in the
    record, so the record contains no evidence of threats prohibited by law.
    Section 392.303(a)(2) provides, “a debt collector may not use unfair or
    unconscionable means that employ the following practices: . . . (2) collecting or
    attempting to collect interest or a charge, fee, or expense incidental to the obligation
    unless the interest or incidental charge, fee, or expense is expressly authorized by
    the agreement creating the obligation or legally chargeable to the consumer.”
    Appellees moved for summary judgment on the ground that Caballero had no
    evidence of these elements. Neither Caballero’s declaration nor any of the other
    summary judgment evidence shows that appellees violated this provision.
    Section 392.304(a)(8) prohibits a debt collector from using “a fraudulent,
    deceptive, or misleading representation that employs the following practices: . . .
    (8) misrepresenting the character, extent, or amount of a consumer debt, or
    misrepresenting the consumer debt’s status in a judicial or governmental
    proceeding.” Appellees moved for summary judgment on the ground that Caballero
    had no evidence of any of these elements. Neither Caballero’s declaration nor any
    of the other summary judgment evidence shows that appellees violated this
    provision. No evidence shows that any representation of Caballero’s debt was false.
    Section 392.304(a)(19) prohibits a debt collector from using “a fraudulent,
    deceptive, or misleading representation that employs the following practices: . . .
    (19) using any other false representation or deceptive means to collect a debt or
    –12–
    obtain information concerning a consumer.”          Appellees moved for summary
    judgment on the ground that Caballero had no evidence of any of these elements.
    Neither Caballero’s declaration nor any of the other summary judgment evidence
    shows that appellees violated this provision. No evidence shows appellees made a
    false representation or used a deceptive means to collect on the loan or obtain
    information.
    Caballero argues that appellees violated these provisions because appellees
    lacked authority to take any of the actions they took in this case. However, he
    presented no evidence that appellees lacked authority. Caballero also complains that
    the notice of acceleration and sale, the notices of default and opportunity to cure,
    and the notices of trustee’s sale were given improperly, did not comply with statutory
    requirements, and constituted inherently false and deceptive means of collecting the
    loan. Those documents are not in the record, and the record contains no evidence of
    any of those documents, whether they failed to meet the requirements for those
    documents, or whether they were false or deceptive.
    Caballero also argues that appellees violated these provisions by attempting
    to accelerate the note and foreclose the lien when they had not properly posted
    Caballero’s payments on the loan. Caballero stated in his declaration that he was
    “concerned” that his $100,000 payment had not been properly applied to the loan,
    but he did not testify or present evidence that it, in fact, was not properly applied to
    –13–
    the loan. No evidence shows that appellees had not properly posted Caballero’s
    payments on the loan.
    He also complains that appellees violated these provisions by not properly
    responding to him in the servicing of the loan. He testified that Rushmore failed to
    provide him a payment history of the loan from the period when Carrington was
    servicing the loan. He testified that Rushmore said Carrington had not provided it
    with a detailed payment history. No evidence shows that Rushmore’s statements
    were not true. These facts, standing alone, are not evidence of threatening, coercive,
    unfair, unconscionable, fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading conduct by appellees.
    Therefore, they are not evidence appellees violated these provisions of the Texas
    Debt Collection Practices Act.
    Caballero argued in his response to the motion for summary judgment and he
    argues on appeal that U.S. Bank and Wilmington violated section 392.101(a) of the
    Finance Code by being third-party debt collectors without being bonded. See FIN. §
    392.101(a). Even if U.S. Bank and Wilmington were required to be bonded,
    Caballero presented no evidence that they were not bonded. Moreover, Caballero
    did not allege this claim in his petition, and appellees were not required to move for
    summary judgment on a claim that he did not plead. 
    Clark, 460 S.W.3d at 729
    .
    We conclude the trial court did not err by granting appellees’ motion for
    summary judgment on Caballero’s claim for violations of the Texas Debt Collection
    Practices Act.
    –14–
    Estates Code
    Caballero also argued in his response to the motion for summary judgment
    and on appeal that provisions of the Estates Code barred the summary judgment in
    this case. Caballero asserts that U.S. Bank and Wilmington are foreign business
    entities and that the Estates Code requires foreign entities acting in a fiduciary
    capacity in this state to register with the Texas Secretary of State. See TEX. ESTATES
    CODE § 505.004. Even if U.S. Bank and Wilmington were required to register with
    the Secretary of State, no evidence shows they have not done so.
    Caballero asks this Court “to take judicial notice of the absence of the
    referenced proper registration of [U.S. Bank] and Wilmington with the Texas
    Secretary of State.” Caballero made the same request of the trial court, but he did
    not provide the trial court with any information showing U.S. Bank and Wilmington
    had not registered. See TEX. R. EVID. 201(c)(2) (trial court “must take judicial notice
    if a party requests it and the court is supplied with the necessary information”).
    We decline to take judicial notice of the absence of filings in the Secretary of
    State’s office.4 “The Court of Appeals is not a trier of fact. ‘For us to consider
    evidence for the first time, never presented to the trial court, would effectively
    4
    Appellate courts may take judicial notice of documents outside the appellate record to determine their
    jurisdiction or to resolve matters ancillary to decisions that are mandated by law, such as calculation of
    prejudgment interest when the appellate court renders judgment. See Freedom Commc’ns, Inc. v.
    Coronado, 
    372 S.W.3d 621
    , 623–24 (Tex. 2012); SEI Bus. Sys., Inc. v. Bank One Tex., N.A., 
    803 S.W.2d 838
    , 841 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1991, no pet.). Whether Wilmington or U.S. Bank registered with the
    Secretary of State is not one of those situations.
    –15–
    convert this Court into a court of original, not appellate jurisdiction.’” SEI Bus. Sys.,
    Inc. v. Bank One Tex., N.A., 
    803 S.W.2d 838
    , 841 (Tex. App.—Dallas 1991, no pet.)
    (quoting Deerfield Land Joint Venture v. S. Union Realty Co., 
    758 S.W.2d 608
    , 610
    (Tex. App.—Dallas 1988, no writ)).
    Address All Claims
    Caballero also argues the trial court erred by granting appellees’ motion for
    summary judgment because it “did not address Caballero’s factual statements and
    argument in Caballero’s Original Petition paragraphs 4 or 8 through 18.” Paragraph
    4 alleges that Wilmington “is a foreign fiduciary that does not maintain a registered
    agent, as required under the Texas Estates Code.” Paragraphs 8 through 14 allege
    the reasons why Caballero believes World Savings Bank never transferred the loan,
    which he asserts involved a 1031-exchange with a mortgage collateralization
    scheme. Paragraphs 15, 16, and 17 describe the modifications of the loan agreement.
    Paragraph 18 describes Caballero’s concern about whether his $100,000 payment
    was properly applied to the loan and his attempts in 2016 to obtain the payment
    history. Caballero asserts that he did not have the burden of proof on these matters.
    Under rule 166a(i), appellees’ only burden was to specify the elements of
    Caballero’s causes of action on which Caballero had the burden of proof that lacked
    evidentiary support. See TEX. R. CIV. P. 166a(i). Appellees did this for each of
    Caballero’s causes of action. Caballero then had the burden to produce some
    evidence supporting those elements.
    Id. Caballero asserts
    in his brief that he did
    –16–
    not have the burden of proof under Rule 166a, but he does not explain why he did
    not have the burden of producing some evidence as required by Rule 166a(i).
    Caballero has not shown that appellees had to address the facts alleged in paragraphs
    4 or 8 through 18 of his petition to be entitled to summary judgment.
    Lack of Authentication of Appellees’ Exhibits
    Caballero also argues the trial court erred by granting appellees’ motion for
    summary judgment because appellees’ exhibits containing the note and the 2009
    modification were not authenticated. Although Caballero objected in the trial court
    that these exhibits lacked authentication, the trial court made no ruling on his
    objections. A complete absence of authenticating evidence is a defect in substance
    that may be raised for the first time on appeal. Blanche v. First Nationwide Mortg.
    Corp., 
    74 S.W.3d 444
    , 451 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2002, no pet.).             However, a
    complaint that evidence was not properly authenticated is a defect of form that must
    be objected to and ruled on in the trial court. Seim v. Allstate Tex. Lloyds, 
    551 S.W.3d 161
    , 164 (Tex. 2018).
    Even if any error were preserved and existed, we could not reverse unless the
    error probably caused the rendition of an improper judgment. TEX. R. APP. P.
    44.1(a)(1). If the record were reviewed without considering these exhibits, there
    would still be no evidence in support of Caballero’s claims. See 
    Seim, 551 S.W.3d at 166
    . Therefore, the trial court’s consideration of appellees’ exhibits did not
    –17–
    probably cause the rendition of an improper judgment, and any error is not
    reversible.
    Caballero’s Marital Status
    Caballero argued in his response to the motion for summary judgment and he
    argues on appeal that the trial court erred by granting appellees’ motion for summary
    judgment because he was married and his spouse was not a party to the
    modifications.    Caballero asserts that without the joinder of his spouse, the
    modifications violated article 16, section 50(c) of the Texas Constitution “and [were]
    thus constitutionally deficient to perfect a lien on the Property.” See TEX. CONST.
    art. XVI, § 50(c).
    Caballero did not allege the violation of article 16, section 50(c) in his petition,
    nor did he allege that he was married. Appellees were not required to move for
    summary judgment on claims that Caballero did not plead. 
    Clark, 460 S.W.3d at 729
    .
    We conclude the trial court did not err by granting appellees’ motion for
    summary judgment. We overrule Caballero’s second issue.
    –18–
    CONCLUSION
    We affirm the trial court’s judgment.
    /Lana Myers/
    LANA MYERS
    JUSTICE
    190298F.P05
    –19–
    Court of Appeals
    Fifth District of Texas at Dallas
    JUDGMENT
    ANTONIO CABALLERO,                             On Appeal from the 14th Judicial
    Appellant                                      District Court, Dallas County, Texas
    Trial Court Cause No. DC-17-07665.
    No. 05-19-00298-CV           V.                Opinion delivered by Justice Myers.
    Justices Whitehill and Pedersen, III
    RUSHMORE LOAN                                  participating.
    MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC
    AND WILMINGTON SAVINGS
    FUND, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA
    TRUST, AS TRUSTEE FOR
    NORMANDY MORTGAGE LOAN
    TRUST SERIES 2015-1, Appellees
    In accordance with this Court’s opinion of this date, the judgment of the trial
    court is AFFIRMED.
    It is ORDERED that appellees Rushmore Loan Management Services LLC
    and Wilmington Savings Fund, FSB, d/b/a Christiana Trust, as trustee for
    Normandy Mortgage Loan Trust Series 2015-1 recover their costs of this appeal
    from appellant Antonio Caballero.
    Judgment entered this 7th day of April, 2020.
    –20–