KENT J. DAWSON, District Judge.
Presently before the Court is Plaintiff/Counterdefendant's Renewed Motion Summary Judgment (#51). Defendant\Counterclaimant Southern Terrace Homeowners Association ("Southern Terrace") filed a response in opposition (#56) as did Defendant 9783 Colored Wind Trust ("Colored Wind") (#54) to which Plaintiff replied (#60).
Also before the Court is Defendant/Counterclaimant Southern Terrace's Motion for Summary Judgment (#49). Defendant Red Rock Financial Services, LLC ("Red Rock") filed a Joinder (#52) to Southern Terrace's motion. Bank of New York Mellon ("BONY") filed a response in opposition (#53) to which Southern Terrace replied (#57).
Finally, before the Court is Defendant Colored Wind's Motion for Summary Judgment (#50). BONY filed a response in opposition (#55) to which Colored Wind replied (#59).
Defendant Rosalinda Ramos ("Borrower") financed her property located at 9783 Colored Wind, Las Vegas, Nevada 89148 ("the Property") with a $231,100.00 loan secured by a deed of trust. In or about 2011, the deed of trust was assigned to Plaintiff BONY.
The Property is subject to and governed by the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions and Grant of Easements ("CC&Rs") for Southern Terrace Homeowners Association. Eventually, Borrower defaulted on her obligation to pay assessments of approximately $70 per month under the CC&Rs to Southern Terrace. Southern Terrace, through its foreclosure agent, Defendant Red Rock, recorded notice of delinquent assessment lien. Red Rock recorded notice of default and election to sell on January 18, 2011. The notice stated that Borrower owed $1,946.26 plus costs and fees without specifying which part was the superpriority lien.
On February 3, 2011, BONY's counsel, Miles Bauer Bergstrom & Winters, LLP ("Miles Bauer") offered to pay the superpriority lien and asked for a total. In response, Red Rock sent a response letter demanding the outstanding balance of $2,836.35. Attached was a document titled "Account Detail" breaking down debits and credits to Borrower's account. The statement did not indicate that they owed any maintenance or nuisance abatement charges. Based on the Account Detail, BONY calculated the superpriority amount as $630.00 (nine months of assessments) and tendered that amount by check to Red Rock on March 4, 2011. Red Rock rejected the tender on behalf of Southern Terrace.
On May 9, 2013, ULS, on behalf of the HOA, recorded the Notice of Foreclosure Sale. On May 31, 2013, ULS on behalf of Southern Terrace conducted a public foreclosure sale and Colored Wind purchased the Property for $8,100.00. The parties now disagree as to whether Southern Terrace's foreclosure extinguished BONY's lien or whether Colored Wind purchased the property subject to the lien.
The purpose of summary judgment is to avoid unnecessary trials by disposing of factually unsupported claims or defenses.
BONY argues that its deed of trust survived Southern Terrace's nonjudicial foreclosure for four discrete reasons: (1) the bank tendered the superpriority portion of the HOA lien; (2) the association foreclosed under an unconstitutional version of NRS § 116 and violated due process as-applied; (3) the HOA never intended to foreclose on the superpriority portion of the lien; and (4) the sale was unfair and should be equitably set aside under
BONY argues that its tender of the superpriority portion of Southern Terrace's lien before the association's foreclosure preserved its deed of trust from extinguishment. The bank's argument hinges on the check that Miles Bauer sent Red Rock after receiving the association's notice of foreclosure. In response to that notice, Miles Bauer contacted Red Rock and requested the superpriority balance and offered to pay whatever that balance was. Red Rock responded with an account statement that itemized all the outstanding fees on the Property's account. From that statement, Miles Bauer calculated nine months of association assessments and remitted Red Rock a check for that amount, $630.00. Red Rock rejected that tender. Instead, Southern Terrace accepted $1,208.28 to satisfy the lien from a third party, retained the lien, used ULS to conduct the foreclosure sale and the property was purchased by Colored Wind.
The Nevada Supreme Court has confirmed that a party's valid tender before foreclosure discharges an association's superpriority lien and voids the foreclosure as to the tendering party's deed of trust.
The Nevada Supreme Court disagreed. It found that the bank's tender was both "in-full" and not impermissibly conditional. Payment in full, according to NRS § 116.3115, includes nine months of unpaid assessments and nuisance and abatement fees, if such fees exist.
The facts here are extremely similar to
Defendant Colored Wind argues that equity favors it when considering BONY's tender because it is a bona fide purchaser. However, where a lender has cured the superpriority default, the association has no authority to foreclose. Any resulting foreclosure is void as to the superpriority lien.
In sum, BONY's deed of trust survived Southern Terrace's foreclosure sale because the bank's tender cured the superpriority lien balance before foreclosure. Therefore, Colored Wind acquired the property subject to BONY's existing deed of trust. The Court, therefore, grants Plaintiff `s motion for summary judgment and declares that its deed of trust still encumbers the property.
Colored Wind filed counterclaims seeking a declaration quieting title against BONY. Having found that BONY's tender cured the superpriority lien before Southern Terrace's foreclosure sale, Colored Wind purchased the property subject to BONY's lien. Accordingly, Colored Wind's claims for relief must be dismissed with prejudice.
After granting BONY's motion and finding that its deed of trust survived Southern Terrace's foreclosure, only BONY's claims for wrongful foreclosure and breach of NRS § 116 against Red Rock and Southern Terrace and the bank's injunction claim against Colored Wind remain. As for BONY's wrongful foreclosure and breach of NRS § 116 claims, the bank pleaded those claims in the alternative to its quiet title and declaratory relief claims. Because the Court has granted judgment on the bank's quiet title claim, it need not consider alternative claims. Accordingly, BONY's wrongful foreclosure and breach of NRS § 116 claims against Southern Terrace and Red Rock are dismissed.
Likewise, the Court dismisses BONY's injunctive relief claim against Colored Wind. Although styled as a stand-alone cause of action here, an injunction is a remedy.
Finally, all Defendants argue that the BONY's quiet title claim is untimely because NRS § 11.190(3) imposes a three-year statute of limitations, and BONY waited nearly four years to file its complaint. Although this district is split on the applicable statute of limitations for this type of quiet title and declaratory relief claim, no court has imposed a three-year statute of limitations. The split is between a four-year and five-year statute of limitations.
Both the Nevada Supreme Court and Ninth Circuit have suggested that a five-year statute of limitations applies.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff/Counterdefendant Bank of New York Mellon's Renewed Motion Summary Judgment (#51) is
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant/Counterclaimant Southern Terrace's Motion for Summary Judgment (#49) is
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Colored Wind's Motion for Summary Judgment (#50) is
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court enter
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court enter
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED.