Wells Fargo Bank v. Hammond

[Cite as Wells Fargo Bank v. Hammond, 2014-Ohio-5270.]

Court of Appeals of Ohio
EIGHTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA

JOURNAL ENTRY AND OPINION
No. 100141

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE

vs.

DARIA SNEED HAMMOND, ET AL.

DEFENDANTS-APPELLANTS

JUDGMENT:
AFFIRMED

Civil Appeal from the
Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas
Case No. CV-11-755313

BEFORE: Celebrezze, J., Boyle, A.J., and Jones, J.

RELEASED AND JOURNALIZED: November 26, 2014
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANTS
Marc Dann
Grace Doberdruk
Daniel M. Solar
Dann Doberdruk & Harshman, L.L.C.
P.O. Box 6031040
Cleveland, Ohio 44103
James R. Douglass
James R. Douglas Co., L.P.A.
4600 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44103

ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEES
For Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Scott A. King
Jessica E. Salisbury-Cooper
Thompson Hine, L.L.P.
Austin Landing I
10050 Innovation Drive
Suite 400
Miamisburg, Ohio 45342

Richard A. Freshwater
Laura L. Watson
Thompson Hine, L.L.P.
3900 Key Center
127 Public Square
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

April A. Brown
Adam R. Fogelman
Maria T. Williams
Lerner, Sampson & Rothfuss, L.P.A.
120 East Fourth Street
8th Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 continued...
Richard T. Craven
Sikora Law, L.L.C.
88 West Main Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Michael J. Sikora, III
Sikora Law, L.L.C.
8532 Mentor Avenue
Mentor, Ohio 44060

Michael L. Wiery
30455 Solon Road
Solon, Ohio 44139

For Defendant Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank, pro se
c/o Legal Department
530 Walnut Street
7th Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., J.:

{¶1} Defendant-appellant, Daria Sneed Hammond (“appellant”), appeals the trial court’s

decision to grant summary judgment in favor of plaintiff-appellee, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

(“Wells Fargo”). Finding no merit to the appeal, we affirm.

I. Statement of the Facts

{¶2} On September 24, 2004, appellant executed a promissory note (the “original note”),

with a principal balance of $220,500, in favor of Green Point Mortgage Funding, Inc. The note

was secured by a mortgage (the “original mortgage”) naming Mortgage Electronic Registration

Systems, Inc. (“MERS”) as nominee for Green Point and its successors. The original mortgage

was secured by the real property located at 4150 Lander Road, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, 44022.

{¶3} In 2006, appellant applied to refinance the original note, completing and executing

three loan applications in which she stated that she was unmarried and held title to the property

as a single woman. On July 13, 2006, appellant executed the note in the principal amount of

$225,250 in favor of Taylor Bean & Whitacre Mortgage Corp. (“TBWM”). To secure payment

of the note, appellant executed a mortgage in favor of MERS as nominee for TBWM and its

successors. The notary acknowledgment following appellant’s signature on the mortgage states

that she signed as “unmarried.” Appellant’s husband, Michael Hammond, did not sign the

mortgage. As a result of the refinance transaction, the original note was paid in full and the

original mortgage was released.

{¶4} While TBWM continued to service appellant’s loan, ownership of the note was

transferred to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”).
 {¶5} In 2008, Wells Fargo took possession of the original note and began servicing the

loan. On February 17, 2010, MERS executed a notice of assignment of mortgage reflecting the

assignment of the mortgage from TBWM to Wells Fargo.

{¶6} In May 2009, appellant failed to make a monthly mortgage payment. In June 2009,

appellant made a payment in the amount of $2,122.85. In July 2009, appellant again failed to

make a payment. By letter dated July 19, 2009, Wells Fargo advised appellant that she was in

default and that her failure to pay $6,600.11 on or before August 18, 2009, could result in

acceleration of the balance due and foreclosure.

{¶7} In August 2009, appellant made a payment of $2,122.85, but failed to bring her loan

current. No further payments were made toward the outstanding balance. As of August 30,

2012, appellant owed on the note the principal amount of $217,670.04, plus interest at the rate of

6.75 percent, from and after June 1, 2009.

II. Procedural History

{¶8} Following appellant’s unsuccessful attempts to modify her loan, Wells Fargo filed a

foreclosure action on March 1, 2010, in Cuyahoga C.P. No. CV-10-719763.

{¶9} On December 6, 2010, appellant filed an answer and counterclaim asserting claims

for violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and Consumer Sales Practices Act,

invasion of privacy by intrusion upon seclusion, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional

distress, wrongful foreclosure, and breach of fiduciary duty. On February 11, 2011, the trial

court granted Wells Fargo’s motion to dismiss appellant’s counterclaim with prejudice. On

April 27, 2011, the trial court granted appellant’s motion to dismiss Wells Fargo’s complaint

without prejudice based on the bank’s failure to attach a signed copy of the promissory note to its

complaint.
 {¶10} On May 16, 2011, Wells Fargo filed a second complaint against appellant and Mr.

Hammond seeking the balance due on the note, to foreclose on the mortgage, and to reform the

mortgage to reflect appellant’s marital status. The complaint also sought estoppel by mortgage

and a declaratory judgment relating to the dower rights of Mr. Hammond.

{¶11} On October 28, 2011, appellant filed an answer and counterclaim asserting claims

against Wells Fargo for violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and Consumer Sales

Practices Act, invasion of privacy, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty.

{¶12} On September 4, 2012, Wells Fargo filed a motion for summary judgment seeking

judgment on the complaint and counterclaims. On October 3, 2012, appellant filed her

memorandum in opposition to summary judgment. On October 19, 2012, the trial court issued a

journal entry granting judgment in favor of Wells Fargo on its claim for foreclosure and

appellant’s counterclaims. The trial court further ordered Wells Fargo to submit a proposed

magistrate’s decision and judgment entry.

{¶13} On February 13, 2013, the trial court held a hearing on the remaining counts raised

in Wells Fargo’s complaint relating to the dower interest of Mr. Hammond. On March 21,

2013, Wells Fargo filed a motion for determination of Mr. Hammond’s dower interest. On

April 3, 2013, the trial court issued a journal entry finding the value in Mr. Hammond’s dower

interest to be $4,896.

{¶14} On April 4, 2013, the magistrate issued a decision and judgment entry granting

judgment in favor of Wells Fargo and against appellant for the balance due on the note and to

foreclose the mortgage. The magistrate ordered that the mortgage be reformed to reflect

appellant’s marital status, but that Mr. Hammond’s dower interest was to be paid out of the
proceeds of the sheriff’s sale. Finally, the magistrate granted judgment in favor of Wells Fargo on

appellant’s counterclaims.

{¶15} On April 17, 2013, appellant filed objections to the magistrate’s decision. On

June 25, 2013, the trial court issued an order overruling appellant’s objections and adopting the

magistrate’s decision in full.

{¶16} Appellant now brings this timely appeal, raising six assignments of error 1 for

review.

III. Law and Analysis

A. Standard of Review

{¶17} Pursuant to Civ.R. 56, summary judgment is appropriate when (1) no genuine issue

as to any material fact exists, (2) the party moving for summary judgment is entitled to judgment

as a matter of law, and (3) viewing the evidence most strongly in favor of the nonmoving party,

reasonable minds can reach only one conclusion and that conclusion is adverse to the nonmoving

party.

{¶18} When moving for summary judgment, the moving party carries the initial burden of

setting forth specific facts that demonstrate its entitlement to summary judgment. Dresher v.

Burt, 75 Ohio St.3d 280, 292-293, 662 N.E.2d 264 (1996). If the moving party fails to meet this

burden, summary judgment is not appropriate; if the moving party meets this burden, summary

judgment is appropriate only if the nonmoving party fails to establish the existence of a genuine

issue of material fact. Id. at 293.

Appellant’s assignments of error are set forth in the appendix to this opinion.
1
 {¶19} To properly support a motion for summary judgment in a foreclosure action, a

plaintiff must present “evidentiary-quality materials” establishing: (1) that the plaintiff is the

holder of the note and mortgage or is a party entitled to enforce the instrument; (2) if the plaintiff

is not the original mortgagee, the chain of assignments and transfers; (3) that the mortgagor is in

default; (4) that all conditions precedent have been met; and (5) the amount of principal and

interest due. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. v. Surrarrer, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100039,

2013-Ohio-5594, ¶ 16, citing U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Adams, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-11-070,

2012-Ohio-6253, ¶ 10.

B. Inconsistent Notes

{¶20} In her first assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in

granting summary judgment in favor of Wells Fargo where the note attached to the complaint

and the note attached to the affidavit of Wells Fargo’s Vice President of Loan Documentation,

Robert Bateman, contained different indorsements. Appellant contends that the inconsistencies

create an issue of material fact for trial.

{¶21} We acknowledge the variance between the note attached to the complaint

containing the specific indorsement to Wells Fargo and the note indorsed in blank attached to the

motion for summary judgment. However, as this court has previously stated, “[t]he mere fact

that there were two different copies of the note in the record * * * does not mandate a finding

that one of the notes was ‘unauthentic’ or otherwise precludes summary judgment.” Deutsche

Bank Natl. Trust Co. v. Najar, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98502, 2013-Ohio-1657, ¶ 59, citing

Adams, supra.

{¶22} Appellant relies on Fannie Mae v. Trahey, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 12CZ010209,

2013-Ohio-3071, to support her position that the existence of multiple copies of the note required
the denial of summary judgment. In Trahey, the Federal National Mortgage Association

(“Fannie Mae”) filed two copies of the promissory note, each containing different indorsements.

The first note was indorsed by Sirva Mortgage, Inc. to blank. The second promissory note,

attached to an amended complaint, showed that Sirva indorsed the note to CitiMortgage and

CitiMortgage indorsed the note to blank. Neither copy of the note indicated dates for the

indorsements. Thus, it was impossible for the court to determine who was the holder of the

note, and had standing to bring suit, at the time the foreclosure action was filed, creating a

genuine issue of material fact.

{¶23} Contrary to the facts of Trahey, there are no similar confusions or material

discrepancies in this case. As outlined above, Wells Fargo established that it was in physical

possession of the original note from at least 2008 to date. This case simply involves the

submission of a copy of the promissory note made prior to its special indorsement to Wells

Fargo, and a copy of the note made after the special indorsement was made. Wells Fargo admits

that Robert Bateman unintentionally attached an outdated copy of the note to his affidavit, and

appellant has not presented any evidence to refute Wells Fargo’s statement that the inclusion of

the note containing the blank indorsement was a clerical mistake. See Natl. City Real Estate

Servs. L.L.C. v. Shields, 11th Dist. Trumbull No. 2012-T-0076, 2013-Ohio-2839, ¶ 27;

CitiMortgage, Inc. v. Schippel, 6th Dist. Erie No. E-11-041, 2012-Ohio-3511.

{¶24} Accordingly, we find that Wells Fargo has sufficiently established that it was the

holder of the note at the time it filed its foreclosure complaint, either as holder of bearer paper or

holder of a specific indorsement.

{¶25} Appellant’s first assignment of error is overruled.

C. Notice of Default and Acceleration
 {¶26} In her second assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred in

granting summary judgment in favor of Wells Fargo because: (1) Robert Bateman’s affidavit

does not specify how the July 19, 2009 notice of default and acceleration letter was mailed; and

(2) the letter was not sent by Freddie Mac as required by the mortgage. We find no merit to

appellant’s argument.

{¶27} Paragraph 22 of appellant’s mortgage provides as follows:

Lender shall give notice to Borrower prior to acceleration following Borrower’s
breach of any covenant or agreement in this Security Instrument * * *. The
notice shall specify: (a) the default; (b) the action required to cure the default; (c)
a date, not less than 30 days from the date the notice is given to Borrower, by
which the default must be cured; and (d) that failure to cure the default on or
before the date specified in the notice may result in acceleration of the sums
secured by this Security Instrument, foreclosure by judicial proceeding and sale of
the Property. The notice shall further inform Borrower of the right to reinstate
after acceleration and the right to assert in the foreclosure proceeding the
non-existence of a default or any other defense of Borrower to acceleration and
foreclosure.

Paragraph 15 of the mortgage details how notices must be sent. That provision, in relevant part,

states that

[a]ll notices given by Borrower or Lender in connection with this Security
Instrument must be in writing. Any notice to Borrower in connection with this
Security Instrument shall be deemed to have been given to Borrower when mailed
by first class mail or when actually delivered to Borrower’s notice address if sent
by other means. Notice to any one Borrower shall constitute notice to all
Borrowers unless Applicable Law expressly requires otherwise.

{¶28} With respect to the issue of notice, Robert Bateman’s affidavit stated the following:

By letter dated July 19, 2009, Wells Fargo advised [appellant] that she was in
default and failure to cure default by paying $6,600.11 on or before August 18,
2009 could result in acceleration and foreclosure. (A copy of the July 19, 2009
letter is attached as Exhibit 15.)

Appellant correctly asserts that Robert Bateman’s affidavit does not specify how the notice of

default and acceleration letter was mailed or otherwise sent to her. However, the deposition
testimony attached to Wells Fargo’s motion for summary judgment demonstrates that appellant

freely admitted that she received the notice of default and acceleration in a letter dated July 19,

2009. Thus, the evidence establishes that, at the very least, Wells Fargo satisfied its obligation

to “deliver” notice of default and acceleration to appellant’s address.

{¶29} Accordingly, we find that Wells Fargo presented evidentiary quality materials

showing that all conditions precedent to foreclosure were satisfied. Moreover, we find no merit

to appellant’s position that Freddie Mac was required to send the notice of default and

acceleration. Wells Fargo, as the lender and servicing agent, was obligated to comply with, and

did comply with, the notice provisions of the note and mortgage.

{¶30} Appellant’s second assignment of error is overruled.

D. Personal Knowledge of Affidavit

{¶31} In her third assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred by relying

on the affidavit of Robert Bateman in support of Wells Fargo’s motion for summary judgment.

Appellant asserts that the averments in Bateman’s affidavit suggest that it is unlikely that he has

personal knowledge of the facts. Appellant notes, for instance, that while Bateman averred that

he has access to and is familiar with Wells Fargo’s business records, there is nothing in the

affidavit showing that he personally viewed the original copy of the promissory note and

compared it to the copy attached to his affidavit, as required under Wachovia Bank of Delaware,

N.A. v. Jackson, 5th Dist. Stark No. 2010-CA-000291, 2011-Ohio-3203, ¶ 46-51. Appellant

also contends that Bateman’s affidavit failed to state that he viewed the original note as opposed

to an electronic scan of the note. See HSBC Mtge. Servs. Inc. v. Edmon, 6th Dist. Erie No.

E-11-046, 2012-Ohio-4990.
 {¶32} We disagree and find that the affidavit was sufficiently based on personal

knowledge for Civ.R. 56(E) purposes.

{¶33} Civ.R. 56(E), which sets forth the requirements for affidavits submitted on

summary judgment, provides, in relevant part:

Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall
set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show
affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated in the
affidavit. Sworn or certified copies of all papers or parts of papers referred to in an
affidavit shall be attached to or served with the affidavit. The court may permit
affidavits to be supplemented or opposed by depositions or by further affidavits.

{¶34} In Najar, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98502, 2013-Ohio-1657, at ¶ 20, this court

stated:

Unless controverted by other evidence, a specific averment that an affidavit
pertaining to business is made upon personal knowledge of the affiant satisfies the
Civ.R. 56(E) requirement that affidavits both in support or in opposition to
motions for summary judgment show that the affiant is competent to testify to
the matters stated.

Moreover, this court has previously held that there is no requirement that an affiant explain the

basis for her personal knowledge where her personal knowledge can be reasonably inferred based

on the affiant’s position and other facts contained in the affidavit. Nationstar Mtge., L.L.C. v.

Perry, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 99497, 2013-Ohio-5024, ¶ 15, citing Najar at ¶ 74.

{¶35} Here, Bateman attested that he has access to Wells Fargo’s business records

pertaining to the records of its customers and that he personally reviewed the records relating to

the note and mortgage signed and executed by appellant. Bateman further averred that the

records were made at or near the time of the occurrence of the matters recorded by persons with

personal knowledge or from information transmitted by persons with personal knowledge, that

the records were kept in the course of Wells Fargo’s regularly conducted business, and that it was
the regular practice of the bank to make such records. Based on his review of those records,

Bateman averred, “I have personal knowledge of and am competent to testify as to all matters

stated in this affidavit.”

{¶36} In our view, the nature of the facts stated in Bateman’s affidavit, combined with his

identity as revealed through the position he holds at Wells Fargo and his duties there, creates a

reasonable inference that Bateman has personal knowledge of the facts contained in his affidavit.

Thus, Bateman’s affidavit was sufficient to establish that he had personal knowledge of the

matters relevant to this case, including that Wells Fargo possessed the original promissory note

since 2008. See Bank of Am. v. Lynch, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 100457, 2014-Ohio-3586.

{¶37} As for the decision of the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Wachovia Bank of

Delaware, N.A., 2011-Ohio-3203 at ¶ 46, 49, which provides that summary judgment affidavits

based on documents must include an averment that the affiant compared copies of the documents

attached to the affidavit with the originals, this court has not adopted this as a requirement under

Civ.R. 56(E), nor do we intend to do so because the Ohio Supreme Court has not made this a

requirement of Civ.R. 56(E). See HSBC Mtge. Servs. v. Williams, 12th Dist. Butler No.

CA2013-09-174, 2014-Ohio-3778.

{¶38} Finally, we find appellant’s reliance on Edmon to be misplaced. In Edmon, the

Sixth District held that the trial court erred in granting summary judgment to the bank where the

borrower demonstrated a triable issue of fact as to the authenticity of the promissory note by

offering testimony showing that the loan servicing officer did not review the original promissory

note prior to swearing in her affidavit that the copy of the note attached to complaint was a true

and accurate copy of the original. In Edmon, the servicing officer admitted at her deposition that

she never viewed the original note. In the case at hand, however, appellant has provided this
court with no evidence to suggest that Bateman reviewed only imaged copies of the documents

he claimed to authenticate in his affidavit. Thus, there is no triable issue relating to Bateman’s

personal knowledge in this matter.

{¶39} Appellant’s third assignment of error is overruled.

E. Reformation of Mortgage

{¶40} In her fourth assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred by

reforming the mortgage when there was no mutual mistake.

{¶41} Reformation is available where it is shown that a written instrument does not

express the true agreement entered into between the contracting parties by reason of a mutual

mistake. Wagner v. Natl. Fire Ins. Co., 132 Ohio St. 405, 412, 8 N.E.2d 144 (1937). In such a

case, the equitable remedy of reformation is available in order to make the writing conform to the

real intention of the parties. Id.

{¶42} In the case at hand, appellant argues that it was the intent of the parties for

appellant to sign the mortgage in her individual capacity, and therefore there was no mutual

mistake. However, appellant’s own deposition testimony states otherwise. Specifically,

appellant testified that her statements in the loan applications that she was unmarried at the time

she executed them were a “mistake.” Moreover, we find that the evidence supports Wells

Fargo’s position that it was always the parties’ intent to have the mortgage designated as the first

and best lien on the subject property.

{¶43} In our view, appellant’s argument that the original lender knew of her marital status

but permitted her to sign in her individual capacity, and thereby intentionally subjected itself to

the superior dower rights of the unknown spouse, is unpersuasive. Instead, we find that the

evidence supports the trial court’s finding of a mutual mistake.
 {¶44} Appellant’s fourth assignment of error is overruled.

F. Freddie Mac’s Interest

{¶45} In her fifth assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred by

granting a judgment of foreclosure when Freddie Mac was the owner of the mortgage but was not

a named party to the foreclosure. Appellant further contends that summary judgment was

inappropriate where Wells Fargo was not the owner of the note when the complaint was filed.

We find no merit to appellant’s argument.

{¶46} In this case, Wells Fargo was the holder of the subject note and mortgage and was

entitled to enforce the instruments. Contrary to appellant’s argument, it was not additionally

required to prove that it was the “owner” of the note and mortgage. See Najar, 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 98502, 2013-Ohio-1657, at ¶ 58. Further, Freddie Mac’s status as guarantor of

the loan provides the institution with no rights to enforce the obligations under the note and

mortgage. Complete relief could be granted without Freddie Mac’s presence in this case. See

Civ.R. 19(A). Accordingly, despite the classification of Freddie Mac as the owner of the debt,

the institution is not a necessary party to this foreclosure litigation. Appellant has provided this

court with no case law to hold otherwise.

{¶47} Appellant’s fifth assignment of error is overruled.

G. Appellant’s Counterclaim

{¶48} In her sixth assignment of error, appellant argues that the trial court erred when it

dismissed her Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) counterclaim. We disagree.

{¶49} Appellant alleges that Wells Fargo violated certain provisions of the FDCPA, all of

which involve restrictions against false or misleading representations regarding mortgage debt

and the collection thereof. The general proscription reads: “A debt collector may not use any
false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any

debt.” 15 U.S.C. 1692e.

{¶50} The purpose of the FDCPA is to “eliminate abusive debt collection practices by

debt collectors,” as distinguished from creditors. 15 U.S.C. 1692. A debt collector refers to

“any business the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts * * *.” A creditor, on

the other hand, refers to an entity that “offers or extends credit creating a debt or to whom a debt

is owed.”

{¶51} In the instant case, appellant’s counterclaim fails as a matter of law. It is well

established that creditors and mortgage service companies are not “debt collectors” and are not

subject to liability under the FDCPA. RBS Citizens, N.A. v. Zigdon, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

93945, 2010-Ohio-3511, ¶ 41, citing Scott v. Wells Fargo Home Mtge. Inc., 326 F.Supp.2d 709

(E.D.Va.2003). See also Montgomery v. Huntington Bank, 346 F.3d 693, 699 (6th Cir.2003).

Thus, Wells Fargo is not subject to the FDCPA because it is not a debt collector as envisioned by

the statute.

{¶52} Appellant’s sixth assignment of error is overruled.

III. Conclusion

{¶53} Based on the foregoing, the trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in

favor of Wells Fargo.

{¶54} Judgment affirmed.

It is ordered that appellee recover from appellant costs herein taxed.

The court finds there were reasonable grounds for this appeal.

It is ordered that a special mandate be sent to the common pleas court to carry this

judgment into execution.
 A certified copy of this entry shall constitute the mandate pursuant to Rule 27 of the

Rules of Appellate Procedure.

FRANK D. CELEBREZZE, JR., JUDGE

MARY J. BOYLE, A.J., and
LARRY A. JONES, SR., J., CONCUR
APPENDIX

Appellant’s assignments of error:

I. The trial court erred by granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment when a
material issue of fact remained for trial because the note attached to the complaint and produced
at deposition was different from the note indorsed in blank attached as an exhibit to the affidavit
of Robert Bateman.

II. The trial court erred by granting appellee Wells Fargo’s motion for summary judgment
because there was no testimony of how the acceleration letter attached to appellee’s affidavit was
mailed and the letter was not sent by Freddie Mac.

III. The trial court erred by relying on the affidavit of Robert Bateman filed in support of
appellee’s motion for summary judgment because the affidavit was not made upon personal
knowledge.

IV. The trial court erred by reforming the mortgage when there was no mutual mistake.

V. The trial court erred by granting a judgment of foreclosure when Freddie Mac was the
owner of appellant Daria Hammond’s mortgage and Freddie Mac was not a party to the
foreclosure.

VI. The trial court erred when dismissing appellant’s Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
“FDCPA” counterclaim when appellee did not own the note and mortgage and made false
representations.