Marion Rucker, App. v. Novastar Mortgage Inc., Et Ano, Res. ( 2013 )

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
MARION RUCKER and APRIL DIVISION ONE
MILLER and CARL MILLER, as
husband and wife and the marital No. 67770-5-1
community thereof,
Appellant, ORDER GRANTING
MOTIONS TO PUBLISH
v.
NOVASTAR MORTGAGE, INC., and
QUALITY LOAN SERVICING OF
WASHINGTON,
Respondent.
The appellants having filed a motion to publish opinion, and Columbia
Legal Services, Northwest Justice Project, and Northwest Consumer Law Center,
non-parties in this action, having filed a motion to publish opinion, and the
hearing panel having reconsidered its prior determination and finding that the
opinion will be of precedential value; now, therefore, it is hereby:
ORDERED that the unpublished opinion filed August 5, 2013, shall be
published and printed in the Washington Appellate Reports. ctr> wo
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Done this^Z day of October, 2013. —1
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COURT OF APPEALS C!V i
STATE OF V.'ASK!f:GT0:!
2013 AUG-5 m S'-U
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
MARION RUCKER and APRIL DIVISION ONE
MILLER and CARL MILLER, as
husband and wife and the marital No. 67770-5-1
community thereof,
Appellant, PUBLISHED OPINION
NOVASTAR MORTGAGE, INC., and
QUALITY LOAN SERVICING OF
WASHINGTON,
Respondent. FILED: August 5, 2013
Dwyer, J. — Marion Rucker and April Miller appeal from a summary
judgment order dismissing their claims under the Washington deeds oftrust act,
chapter 61.24 RCW (DTA). They contend that genuine issues of material fact
exist regarding whether Rucker's property was actually sold at a trustee's sale
and that, accordingly, summary judgment in favor of NovaStar Mortgage, Inc.—
the winning bidder at the disputed trustee's sale—was improperly granted. They
further contend that, even ifthe sale did occur, itwas invalid because the trustee,
Quality Loan Service Corporation of Washington (QLS), was not properly
appointed by an eligible beneficiary prior to the sale taking place. Because there
are genuine issues of material fact regarding QLS's authority to conduct a valid
trustee's sale, we reverse the trial court's summary judgment order and remand
for further proceedings.
No. 67770-5-1/2
In early 2006, April Miller and her husband, Carl Miller, were seeking to
purchase a home. In February, Carl1 signed a purchase and sale agreement to
acquire a residence in Woodinville for $468,000. The couple asked April's father,
Marion Rucker, to assist them with the purchase. Rucker agreed.
Rucker, who resided in California, was unable to travel to Washington to
sign the loan documents. Accordingly, April asked her sister, Micaela, if she
would sign the necessary documents on their father's behalf. Micaela agreed.
April thereafter arranged for Rucker to sign a durable power of attorney granting
to Micaela specific powers to buy, acquire, and do all acts necessary to complete
the purchase and sale of the property.2
On March 23, 2006, Micaela met with an escrow agent to complete the
transaction. An addendum to the purchase and sale agreement assigned the
contract from Carl to Rucker. The purchase price ofthe property was satisfied by
two loans issued by NovaStar Mortgage, Inc. The promissory note for the first
position loan, in the amount of $374,400, listed Rucker as the borrower and
NovaStar as the lender. The promissory note for the second position loan, in the
amount of $93,600, also named Rucker as the borrower and NovaStar as the
lender.
Each note was secured by a deed oftrust. Both deeds oftrust listed
1In order to avoid confusion, April Miller and Carl Miller are referred to by their first
names throughout this opinion. April's sister, Micaela Rucker, is also referred to by her first
nsmB
2Rucker signed the power of attorney on March 24, 2006, one day after the loan
documents were signed by Micaela.
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No. 67770-5-1/3
Rucker as the grantor and both NovaStar and Mortgage Electronic Registration
Systems, Inc. (MERS) as "grantees." Quality Loan Services, located in San
Diego, California, was named as the trustee. NovaStar was additionally listed as
the lender, and MERS was additionally listed as the beneficiary, acting as the
"nominee" of NovaStar and NovaStar's "successors and assigns." These
documents were recorded on March 24, 2006.3
April and Carl thereafter moved into the house on the Woodinville
property. Micaela also moved into the residence and resided there for several
months. Rucker began to make monthly payments on the loans.
On June 15, 2006, both of Rucker's loans were conveyed by NovaStar to
JPMorgan Chase Bank and J.P. Morgan Trust Company. The loans were
securitized into the NovaStar Mortgage Funding Trust, Series 2006-2, NFI 2006-
2, Group II (Funding Trust). JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan Trust served as
"co-trustees" of the Funding Trust.
Pursuant to a "pooling and servicing agreement," NovaStar retained
responsibility for servicing Rucker's loans. The agreement stipulated that
NovaStar's authority as servicer included the power to
effectuate foreclosure or other conversion of the ownership of the
Mortgaged Property securing a related Mortgage Loan, including
the employment of attorneys, the institution of legal proceedings,
the collection of deficiency judgments, the acceptance of
compromise proposals and any other matter pertaining to a
delinquent Mortgage Loan.
3Micaela also signed, on behalf of Rucker, occupancy and financial affidavits, borrower's
certifications, and a Housing and Urban Development settlement statement. In addition, Rucker's
wife, Annette Rucker, later executed a quitclaim deed, relinquishing her interest in the Woodinville
property.
No. 67770-5-1/4
In addition, the agreement specified that NovaStar was authorized to "exercise
this power in its own name." The relationship of NovaStar to JPMorgan Chase
and J.P. Morgan Trust was "intended by the parties to be that of an independent
contractor and not that of a joint venturer, partner or agent."
In September 2006, Rucker ceased to make payments on the loans, and a
nonjudicial foreclosure action was initiated on his second position loan. On
December 6, 2006, NovaStar, acting as "beneficiary," executed an "Appointment
of SuccessorTrustee" appointing QLS as trustee.4 This document was recorded
on December 20, 2006.
On December 8, 2006, a notice of default was sent by QLS to the
Woodinville residence. The notice was also posted on the property. The notice
stated that $5,053.04 must be paid to NovaStar in order to cure the default. QLS
stated that itwas acting as "Agent for NOVASTAR MORTGAGE INC., the
Beneficiary."
On March 16, 2007, MERS executed an "Assignment of Deed of Trust"
purporting to transfer the beneficial interest in the deed of trust to NovaStar. This
document was recorded on March 28, 2007.
On March 23, 2007, a notice of trustee's sale was issued by QLS. This
document was mailed to the Woodinville residence, posted on the property, and
published on May 29, 2007 and June 19, 2007. The notice stated that a trustee's
sale would be held by QLS at the main entrance of the King County
4QLS, a corporation formed under Washington law, isa different entity than the original
trustee, Quality Loan Services.
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No. 67770-5-1/5
Administration building on June 29, 2007. The document stated that in order to
cure the default, $8,526.44 must be paid to "NOVASTAR MORTGAGE, INC., the
Beneficiary of your Deed ofTrust and owner of the obligation secured thereby."
The notice further explained that a lawsuit could be brought in order to restrain
the sale and that "[fjailure to bring such a lawsuit may result in a waiver of any
proper grounds for invalidating the Trustee's sale."5
April thereafter contacted both QLS and NovaStar regarding the upcoming
trustee's sale. She would later testify that she spoke to Lysette Vargas at QLS.
April stated that Vargas told her that due to uncertainty relating to the origination
of the loans, the sale would be postponed.
Nevertheless, on June 29, 2007, the trustee's sale was held as scheduled.
Jake Patterson conducted the sale. The property was sold to NovaStarfor the
"amount of the opening bid, $106,852.95."6 QLS thereafter issued a trustee's
deed to NovaStar, conveying its interest in the Woodinville property.
On May 20, 2008, NovaStar filed an unlawful detainer action seeking to
evict April and Carl from the Woodinville property. Awrit of restitution was
granted to NovaStar on October 8, 2008.
Rucker and the Millers thereafter filed a lawsuit against NovaStar and QLS
seeking to quiet title, invalidate the trustee's deed, and restrain execution of the
5 The notice of trustee's sale was recorded on March 28, 2007.
6April and Carl also went to King County Administration building on the day of the
scheduled sale. Each would later testify that although they heard many properties being called,
they did not hear an announcement of the sale of the Woodinville property.
No. 67770-5-1/6
writ of restitution.7 On November 18, 2008, the trial court granted a preliminary
injunction prohibiting NovaStar from executing on the writ of restitution.
Numerous procedural delays followed. April and Rucker retained and
then terminated the services of several different attorneys and law firms during
the course ofthe litigation.8 Rucker filed for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy on two
occasions during the proceedings, leading to stays of the state court
proceedings. The writ of restitution expired and was reissued several times.
Then, on July 16, 2010, the trustee's deed—granted by QLS to NovaStar
at the trustee's sale three years before—was amended and rerecorded "upon
sale to correct the vesting." The Bank of New York Mellon—as "Successor
Trustee under the NovaStar Mortgage Funding Trust, Series 2006-2"—was
substituted for NovaStar as the grantee of the trustee's deed.9
Both parties thereafter moved for summary judgment. On September 22,
2011, the trial court entered an order granting NovaStar's motion for summary
judgment and denying the summary judgment motion of Rucker and April. The
court ordered that NovaStar was entitled to immediate possession of the
Woodinville property and to reissuance of a writ of restitution.
7 On March 21, 2011, the trial court entered "a stipulation and order" permitting QLS to
cease participation in the litigation. The order stipulated that Rucker and April would seek no
damages against QLS, but that QLS would be bound by any order orjudgment issued by the trial
court with regard to the Woodinville property.
8The attorneys and law firms that have represented Rucker and the Millers include: (1)
Clausen Law Firm; (2) Joseph Rockne; (3) W. Dan Nelson; (4) Diane B. Templin; (5) Betts
Patterson Mines; (6) Marja Starczewski; and (7) Jason Anderson.
9 The record does not reflect on what date the Bank of New York Mellon succeeded
JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan Trust as the trustee of the Funding Trust.
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No. 67770-5-1/7
Rucker and April appeal.10
Rucker and April first contend that the trial court erred by granting
summary judgment to NovaStar because, they contend, there are genuine issues
of material fact regarding whether a trustee's sale actually occurred. We
disagree.
In reviewing an order of summary judgment, we engage in the same
inquiry as the trial court. Lvbbert v. Grant County, 141 Wash. 2d 29, 34, 1 P.3d
1124 (2000). The facts and all reasonable inferences therefrom must be viewed
in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Lvbbert. 141 Wash. 2d at 34.
Summary judgment is proper where there are no genuine issues of material fact
and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Lvbbert, 141
Wash. 2d at 34. Mere allegations or conclusory statements of facts unsupported by
evidence are not sufficient to establish a genuine issue. Baldwin v. Sisters of
Providence in Wash.. Inc., 112 Wash. 2d 127, 132, 769 P.2d 298 (1989). Nor may
the nonmoving party rely on "speculation, argumentative assertions that
unresolved factual issues remain, or in having its affidavits considered at face
value." Seven Gables Corp. v. MGM/UA Entm't Co.,106 Wn.2d 1, 13, 721 P.2d 1
(1986). Although normally left for the trial process, questions of fact may be
treated as matters of law when reasonable minds could reach only one
10 In its motion for summary judgment, NovaStar stated thatApril had filed for dissolution
of her marriage to Carl and that Carl no longer resided at the Woodinville property. Accordingly,
NovaStar requested that Carl be dismissed from the lawsuit. Although the trial court's disposition
ofthat issue is not disclosed by the parties, only Rucker and April are represented in this appeal.
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No. 67770-5-1/8
conclusion. Colo. Structures. Inc., v. Blue Mountain Plaza, LLC. 159 Wash. App.
654, 661, 246 P.3d 835 (2011).
The DTA governs the procedures for nonjudicial foreclosure in
Washington. See 18 William B. Stoebuck & John W. Weaver, Washington
Practice: Real Estate: Transactions § 20.1, at 403 (2d ed. 2004). A deed of
trust differs from a standard mortgage because it involves not only a lender and a
borrower, but also a third party called a trustee. See Bain v. Metro. Mortg. Grp.,
Inc.. 175 Wash. 2d 83, 92-93, 285 P.3d 34 (2012). If a borrower defaults on the
loan, the trustee may conduct a nonjudicial foreclosure sale. Such sales must
occur in a "designated public place within the county where the property is
located." RCW 61.24.040(5). Either the trustee or its authorized agent must "sell
the property at public auction to the highest bidder." RCW61.24.040(4). The
purchaser at the trustee's sale is "entitled to possession of the property on the
twentieth day following the sale." RCW 61.24.060(1).
Here, as Rucker and April correctly point out, NovaStar's entitlement to
Rucker's property depends upon the existence of the trustee's sale. NovaStar
was the winning bidder at the sale, acquiring title to Rucker's property through
conveyance of a trustee's deed. If no trustee's sale in fact took place, then
NovaStar never took title to the property, was not entitled to possession following
the sale, and, accordingly, has no right to enforce the writ of restitution.
However, there is no genuine issue of material fact with regard the
existence of the sale. The foreclosure sale was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on
June 29, 2007. The notice of trustee's sale stated that the sale would be
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No. 67770-5-1/9
conducted at the main entrance of the King County Administration building.
Patterson, the authorized agent of QLS charged with conducting the sale,
testified that the sale went forward as scheduled:
I conducted the Sale on June 29, 2007, at 10 a.m. at the main
entrance to the Administration Building, 500 4th Avenue, Seattle,
WA.... I did not call a postponement of the Sale; and the property
was sold back to the beneficiary for the amount of the opening bid,
$106,852.95.
Patterson submitted several examples of a "certificate of sale" in which a
property had been sold back to the beneficiary at a trustee's sale. The document
pertaining to the sale ofthe Woodinville property was identical to these
certificates of sale.11
In contrast to this affirmative evidence of the sale, the testimony of April
and Carl constitutes mere speculation. April stated in her declaration that an
employee of QLS told her that the sale would be postponed. Nevertheless, she
and her husband decided to attend the sale because she was "still concerned
that a sale might take place." April explained that upon arriving at the King
County Administration building at the appointed time, she spoke to several
persons about the sale. She stated: "No one we spoke with had any information
about the property orthe sale. We stayed in the sale area for some time after
10:00 a.m. We heard many properties being called. No one called my father's
property." Similarly, Carl stated in his declaration that "[w]e heard many
properties being called. No one called my father in law's property."
11 Patterson also submitted examples ofdocuments generated when a foreclosure sale is
either postponed orcancelled. The certificate of sale for the Woodinville property did not
resemble these documents.
No. 67770-5-1/10
Neither Carl nor April, however, offered any evidence identifying with
whom they spoke at the trustee's sale.12 Patterson specifically testified that he
did not "tell anyone that the sale had been cancelled or postponed." As
Patterson explained, "[fjoreclosure sales are literally organized mayhem; there
are numerous criers, crying any number of properties at once. Unless an
individual knew which caller would be calling a particular property, it would be
practically impossible to ascertain which properties were called or postponed."
Accordingly, the fact that April and Carl did not hear Rucker's property being
called does not indicate that no sale took place.
Similarly, April's testimony that an employee of QLS told her that the
property would not be sold is not evidence that no sale occurred. It is true that
ordinarily such a statement by a QLS employee could give rise to an inference
that the sale had nottaken place. Here, however, it is undisputed that the sale
was conducted, not by QLS, but by North West Legal Support, Inc., the
authorized agent of QLS charged with selling the property at foreclosure.
Accordingly, the employee at QLS would not have had personal knowledge of
the sale. Moreover, in this case, the person who actually conducted the sale
testified that the sale took place as scheduled. Patterson, "acting as an
independent contractor for North West Legal Support," stated in his affidavit that
12 April's memory regarding the day of the sale was hazy. At the hearing on Rucker's
motion for a preliminary injunction, April was unable to describe the location of the King County
Administration building or to indicate where in the building the sale had taken place. By way of
explanation, shetold the court: "I'm sick, Your Honor, and I'm on medication so—I have a virus
and I have cancer, so I'm a little sick today. I barely made it here."
10
No. 67770-5-1/11
the Woodinville property was sold to NovaStar at the trustee's sale. This
testimony was supported by additional documentation evidencing the sale.
Given the evidence presented, reasonable minds could conclude only that
Rucker's property was sold at the trustee's sale. See Colorado Structures, 159
Wash. App. at 661. The evidence presented by Rucker and April was not
inconsistent with a sale taking place. The trial court did not err by granting
summary judgment with regard to this issue.
Ill
Rucker and April next contend that the trustee's sale is invalid because
NovaStar had no authority to appoint QLS as successor trustee. This is so, they
assert, because NovaStar was not the holder of Rucker's promissory note at the
time that NovaStar executed the appointment. Accordingly, they reason,
because QLS was not statutorily authorized to conduct a trustee's sale, the sale
of the Woodinville property must be vacated. We agree that the trial court erred
by dismissing this claim on summaryjudgment.
Anonjudicial foreclosure sale must be conducted by a "trustee or its
authorized agent." Former RCW 61.24.040(4) (1998). The trustee may be
named in the deed of trust or be replaced by the "beneficiary." Former RCW
61.24.010(2) (1998). The "beneficiary" is defined as "the holder of the instrument
or document evidencing the obligations secured by the deed oftrust." Former
RCW 61.24.005(2) (1998). After the appointment is properly recorded, the
successor trustee is "vested with all powers of an original trustee." Former RCW
61.24.010(2) (1998).
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No. 67770-5-1/12
Because the DTA dispenses with many protections commonly enjoyed by
borrowers, "lenders must strictly comply with the statutes, and courts must strictly
construe the statutes in the borrower's favor." Amresco Independence Funding.
Inc. v. SPS Props.. LLC. 129 Wash. App. 532, 537, 119 P.3d 884 (2005).
Applying these principles, our Supreme Court has explained that "only the actual
holder of the promissory note or other instrument evidencing the obligation may
be a beneficiary with the power to appoint a trustee to proceed with a nonjudicial
foreclosure on real property." Bain, 175 Wash. 2d at 89. "[W]hen an unlawful
beneficiary appoints a successor trustee, the putative trustee lacks the legal
authority to record and serve a notice oftrustee's sale." Walker v. Quality Loan
Serv. Corp.. No. 65975-8-I, slip op. at 7 (Wash. App. Aug. _, 2013). Such
actions by the improperly appointed trustee, we have explained, constitute
"material violations of the DTA." Walker, No. 65975-8-I, slip op. at 10.
This, of course, is precisely the defect in the foreclosure proceedings that
Rucker and April assert occurred in this case. At the time that NovaStar
appointed QLS as successor trustee, it did not hold the promissory note, having
already conveyed the note to JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan Trust as co
trustees ofthe Funding Trust. Accordingly, Rucker and April assert, NovaStar
was not a proper beneficiary under the DTA. Because NovaStar had no "power
to appoint a trustee to proceed with a nonjudicial foreclosure," Bain. 175 Wash. 2d
at 89, the company could not lawfully appoint QLS to foreclose on Rucker's
property. And, because QLS was not a proper successor trustee vested with the
power to conduct a nonjudicial foreclosure sale, the subsequent sale of the
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No. 67770-5-1/13
property was improper.
NovaStar concedes that it did not hold the promissory note at the time that
it appointed QLS as successor trustee. Instead, NovaStar contends that the
pooling and servicing agreement—setting forth the company's duties as the
servicer of Rucker's loans—expressly authorized NovaStar to commence all acts
necessary for foreclosure in its own name. In essence, the company argues that
it was entitled to act as an agent for the true beneficiary.
As NovaStar correctly points out, in Bain, our Supreme Court explained
that a note holder may utilize agents under the DTA. 175 Wash. 2d at 106
("[Njothing in this opinion should be construed to suggest an agent cannot
represent the holder ofa note. Washington law, and the deed oftrust act itself,
approves ofthe use ofagents."). However, the court continued, "'a prerequisite
ofan agency is control ofthe agent by the principal.'" Bain, 175 Wash. 2d at 107
(quoting Moss v. Vadman. 77 Wash. 2d 396, 402, 463 P.2d 159 (1969)). "[Ajgency
requires a specific principal that is accountable for the acts of its agent." Bain.
175 Wash. 2d at 107. Accordingly, where an entity fails to identify a lawful principal
who controls its actions, it has not established that it is an agent for purposes of
the DTA. Bain. 175 Wash. 2d at 107.
Here, NovaStar's agreement with JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan
Trust—the apparent holders ofthe note at the time QLS was appointed
successor trustee—specified that NovaStar's authority as loan servicer included
all powers necessary to "effectuate foreclosure or other conversion ofthe
ownership ofthe Mortgaged Property securing a related Mortgage Loan."
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No. 67770-5-1/14
NovaStar is correct that the agreement expressly permitted the company to
"exercise this power in its own name." However, contrary to NovaStar's
assertion that it acted only as an agent, the agreement specified that NovaStar's
relationship to JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan Trust was "intended by the
parties to be that of an independent contractor and not that of a joint venturer,
partner or agent." (Emphasis added.)
The language of this agreement cannot be reasonably construed to
indicate that NovaStar was acting as the agent of the true beneficiary. Instead,
the agreement appears to give unlimited power to NovaStar to pursue
foreclosure actions. There is no suggestion in the agreement that any entity was
"accountable for the acts of [NovaStar]." Bain, 175 Wash. 2d at 107. Indeed, an
inference arises that NovaStar acted without direction from any lawful principal.
Because the evidence does not establish that NovaStar was acting as the agent
of JPMorgan Chase and J.P. Morgan Trust—the apparent beneficiaries under
Rucker's deed of trust—it may well be that NovaStar had no statutory authority to
appoint QLS as successor trustee. If this proves true at trial, then QLS had no
authority to conduct a trustee's sale of Rucker's property and the foreclosure
proceedings were contrary to the DTA. Walker. No. 65975-8-I, slip op. at 10.
Rucker and April do not seek damages based upon this alleged DTA
violation. Instead, they contend only that the foreclosure sale must be vacated.
Accordingly, we must determine whether vacation of a sale is an available
remedy where a trustee is not properly appointed prior to conducting a trustee's
sale.
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No. 67770-5-1/15
In two recent cases, our Supreme Court has explained that the vacation of
a foreclosure sale is required where a trustee has conducted the sale without
statutory authority. In Schroeder v. Excelsior Management Group. LLC. 177
Wash. 2d 94, 297 P.3d 677 (2013), a property was sold at a trustee's sale despite
evidence that the land was used primarily for agriculture. The court explained
that the DTA's express requirement that such land be foreclosed judicially cannot
be waived contractually. Schroeder. 177Wn.2d at 107, 112. Moreover, "[a]
trustee in a nonjudicial foreclosure may not exceed the authority vested by that
statute." Schroeder. 177 Wash. 2d at 112. Accordingly, the court directed that "the
trial court must hold a hearing to determine whether the property was primarily
agricultural at relevant times; if it was, the nonjudicial foreclosure sale shall be
vacated." Schroeder. 177 Wash. 2d at 115.
Similarly, in Albice v. Premier Mortgage Services ofWashington. Inc.. 174
Wash. 2d 560, 276 P.3d 1277 (2012), the trustee had continued the trustee's sale
for 161 days, thus exceeding the 120-day maximum set forth by RCW
61.24.040(6). The court explained that the trustee's failure to act within the
allotted time violated the statute, thus divesting the trustee of statutory authority.
Albice. 174 Wash. 2d at 568. Without such authority, the court explained, "any
action taken is invalid." Albice. 174 Wash. 2d at 568. Accordingly, the court
remanded to the trial court to "enter an order declaring the sale invalid." Albice,
174Wn.2dat575.
Here, Rucker and April contend not only that QLS exceeded its statutory
authority, but that QLS was never a proper trustee at all. If the failure of a
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No. 67770-5-1/16
properly-appointed trustee to follow statutory procedures can result in the
vacation of a sale, this remedy is equally appropriate where an entity conducts a
trustee sale in the complete absence of authority. There are genuine issues of
material fact regarding whether QLS conducted the sale of Rucker's property
without such authority. If it is determined at trial that NovaStar was not acting as
the agent of a true beneficiary, then the appointment of QLS was improper, and it
follows that QLS had no statutory authority to conduct the trustee's sale. As in
Schroeder and Albice, in such circumstances, vacation of the sale is a proper
remedy.13
The trial court erred by granting summary judgment to NovaStar based
upon a determination that the trustee's sale was valid.14 Atrial is required to
determine whether QLS was a properly-appointed successor trustee entitled to
conduct the sale.
IV
NovaStar contends that even if the trustee's sale was invalid, Rucker and
April waived their right to challenge the sale byfailing to bring a presale lawsuit to
restrain the nonjudicial foreclosure. We disagree.
"Waiver is an equitable principle that can apply to defeat someone's legal
13 Rucker and April further assert that the note and deed of trust are void because Rucker
had not yetexecuted a power ofattorney at the time that Micaela signed these documents on his
behalf. However, even ifMicaela signed without proper authority, Rucker clearly ratified
Micaela's signing of the note and deed of trust by subsequently making six months of payments
on the loans. Indeed, Rucker testified that it was his intent to grant to Micaela the power to act on
his behalf with respectto "an agreement ofsale, loan application, note, mortgage, [and] deed of
trust regarding the purchase and financing of the premises." The trial court did noterr by
determining that no genuine issue of material fact existed with respect to this issue.
14 Because material issues of fact exist, the trial court did not err by denying the motion of
Rucker and April for summary judgment in their favor.
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No. 67770-5-1/17
rights where the facts support an argument that the party relinquished their rights
by delaying in asserting or failing to assert an otherwise available adequate
remedy." Albice, 174 Wash. 2d at 568. Our Supreme Court has explained that in
the foreclosure context, a person may waive his or her postsale claims where the
person: (1) received notice of the right to enjoin the sale, (2) had actual or
constructive knowledge of a defense to foreclosure prior to the sale, and (3)
failed to bring an action to obtain a court order enjoining the sale. Plein v.
Lackey, 149 Wash. 2d 214, 227, 67 P.3d 1061 (2003). However, the court has
explained, waiver does not apply to all circumstances or types of postsale
challenges.15 Albice, 174 Wash. 2d at 570. Instead, waiver is applicable "only
where it is equitable under the circumstances and where it serves the goals of
the act."16 Albice, 174 Wash. 2d at 570. "[I]n determining whether waiver applies,
the second goal—that the nonjudicial foreclosure process should result in ...
interested parties having an adequate opportunity to prevent wrongful
foreclosure—becomes particularly important." Albice, 174 Wash. 2d at 571.
In Albice, the owners of a residence entered into a forbearance agreement
to cure the default on their loan. 174 Wash. 2d at 564. They agreed to tender
monthly payments in order to postpone the nonjudicial foreclosure sale. ]d.
Although each payment was tendered late, the loan servicer nevertheless
15 "Where applicable, waiver only applies to actions to vacate the sale and not to
damages actions." Klem v. Wash. Mut. Bank. 176 Wash. 2d 771, 796, 295 P.3d 1179 (2013). Here,
of course, Rucker and April seek only to vacate the sale.
16 The DTA is construed to further three basic objectives: "'First, the nonjudicial
foreclosure process should remain efficient and inexpensive. Second, the process should
provide an adequate opportunity for interested parties to prevent wrongful foreclosure. Third, the
process should promote the stability of land titles.'" Schroeder, 177 Wash. 2d at 104 (quoting Coxv,
Helenius. 103 Wash. 2d 383, 387, 693 P.2d 683 (1985)).
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No. 67770-5-1/18
accepted the payments, jd. However, when the homeowners tendered their final
payment 17 days late, the loan servicer deemed this to constitute a breach of the
forbearance agreement. ]d. Accordingly, the payment was rejected. Id.
Although the forbearance agreement provided that upon breach, a 10-day written
notice would be issued, the homeowners never received such a notice. ]d. The
property was thereafter sold at a trustee's sale only six days after the loan
servicer's rejection of the homeowners' final payment. ]d.
Under these circumstances, our Supreme Court concluded that "waiver
cannot be equitably established." Albice, 174 Wash. 2d at 571. The court explained
that, during the period that the homeowners were making payments under the
forbearance agreement, they had no reason to seek to restrain the sale because
they reasonably believed that such a sale would not proceed:
[The homeowners] had no knowledge of their alleged breach in
time to restrain the sale. [The homeowners] tendered all payments,
albeit late, under the Forbearance Agreement. [The loan servicer]
accepted all of those late payments and permitted [the trustee] to
continue the sale each time, except for the last. By repeatedly
accepting the prior late payments, [the loan servicer] created
expectancy in [the homeowners] that their last late payment would
also be accepted. [The homeowners] could not have known [the
loan servicer] would considertheir last late payment a breach ofthe
agreement, having never done so before. They reasonably
believed their last payment cured the default. While the
Forbearance Agreement stated they would receive a 10-daywritten
notice upon breach, [the homeowners] never received this notice.
They rightly assumed the sale would be canceled after they
tendered their last payment.
Albice. 174 Wash. 2d at 571-72. Because the loan servicer misled the homeowners
into believing that the sale would not take place—thereby depriving them of the
opportunity to prevent an unlawful foreclosure—the court held that the
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homeowners did not waive their rights by failing to bring a presale lawsuit.17
Albice. 174Wn.2dat572.
Here, there are genuine issues of material fact regarding the reasons for
the decision not to file a lawsuit to restrain the sale. In both the trial court and on
appeal, Rucker and April assert that they reasonably relied upon the
representation of a QLS employee that the sale would not take place. This
employee, however, did not testify and, accordingly, April's statements were the
only evidence that such a representation was made. No written confirmation of
the alleged postponement was presented. Nor is it clear that the failure to
pursue a lawsuit to restrain the sale was entirely prompted by the QLS
employee's representation. April also testified that she did not pursue a
foreclosure sale because she was unaware that as a tenant of the property, she
had any right to challenge the sale.18 For his part, Rucker testified that he had no
personal knowledge that a foreclosure sale was even set to take place.
Nevertheless, in reviewing a summary judgment order, the evidence must
be viewed in the light mostfavorable to the nonmoving party. Both Rucker and
April assert that they would have filed a lawsuit had they known that the
17 The court further explained that its decision would serve to promote the stability ofland
titles, the third goal ofthe DTA. "[T]o ensure trustees strictly comply with the requirements ofthe
act, courts must be able to review postsale challenges where, like here, the claims are promptly
asserted." Albice, 174 Wash. 2d at 572. Enforcing such statutory compliance, the court noted,
"encourages trustees to conduct procedurally sound sales." Albice, 174 Wash. 2d at 572. The court
explained that when trustees strictly comply with their legal obligations under the act, "interested
parties will have no claim for postsale relief, thereby promoting stable land titles overall." Albice,
174Wn.2dat572.
18 Contrary to April's belief, the notice oftrustee's sale stated that"[a]nyone having any
objections to this sale on any grounds whatsoever will be afforded an opportunity to be heard as
to those objections if they bring a lawsuit to restrain the sale pursuant to RCW 61.24.130."
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foreclosure sale would go forward. NovaStar points to no evidence indicating
that a QLS employee did not, in fact, represent to April that no sale would take
place. Nor does it argue that a homeowner would not be entitled to rely upon
such a representation. Instead, the corporation points only to evidence
demonstrating that the sale took place as scheduled. Such evidence, however,
is not relevant to the question of reliance.
Because there are genuine issues of material fact regarding, first, whether
a representation was made and, second, whether Rucker and April reasonably
relied upon that representation in failing to bring a lawsuit to restrain the sale, the
trial court erred by determining on summary judgment that Rucker and April
waived their right to challenge the sale.19
Reversed.
We concur:
19 Rucker and April further contend that there are issues offact regarding whether
NovaStar was, in fact, the winning bidder at the trustee's sale. Because we determine that a trial
is required, we do not address this remaining contention.
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