Robert Hanselman v. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

TEXAS COURT OF APPEALS, THIRD DISTRICT, AT AUSTIN

NO. 03-09-00639-CV

David Evan Schanzle, Appellant

v.

JPMC Specialty f/k/a WM Specialty Mortgage LLC
by its Servicer in Fact Chase Home Finance LLC, Appellee

FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, 126TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
NO. D-1-GN-07-002268, HONORABLE RHONDA HURLEY, JUDGE PRESIDING

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant David Evan Schanzle, appearing pro se, appeals the trial court’s order

granting summary judgment in favor of appellee JPMC Specialty Mortgage LLC (“JPMC”) in a suit

for judicial foreclosure and breach of contract based on Schanzle’s default on a home equity loan.

We affirm the judgment of the trial court.

BACKGROUND

On August 21, 2003, Schanzle executed a home equity note and security instrument

perfecting a lien on real property located in Travis County, Texas. The note required repayment of

the original principal amount of $84,000, at an interest rate of 10.45%, to Ameriquest Mortgage

Company. Ameriquest assigned Schanzle’s home equity loan to WM Specialty Mortgage LLC

(“WM Specialty”).
 Schanzle made payments on the note until December 2006, when he failed to make

the monthly payment due December 1. After sending Schanzle a notice of default and opportunity

to cure in January 2007, WM Specialty accelerated the note on February 27, 2007, notifying

Schanzle that the principal balance of the note was due and payable at that time. When Schanzle

failed to pay the accelerated balance of $82,487.52, WM Specialty filed suit for judicial foreclosure

and breach of contract.

Schanzle filed a pro se answer, asserting that WM Specialty’s suit was barred by res

judicata. Schanzle’s claim of res judicata appears to have been premised on the fact that WM

Specialty had previously filed an application for expedited foreclosure of the lien under Texas Rule

of Civil Procedure 736. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 736 (providing procedure for filing application for

expedited foreclosure of lien for home equity loan). The record for the expedited foreclosure

proceeding, which was filed under cause number D-1-GN-07-000656 in Travis County District

Court, is not properly before us in this appeal. It is undisputed, however, that WM Specialty’s

application for expedited foreclosure was denied.1 Of significance to this appeal, Rule 736(9) states:

No order or determination of fact or law under Rule 736 shall be res judicata or
constitute collateral estoppel or estoppel by judgment in any other proceeding or
suit. . . . The denial of an application under these rules shall be without prejudice to
the right of the applicant to re-file the application or seek other relief at law or in
equity in any court of competent jurisdiction.

1
Schanzle contends that WM Specialty’s application for expedited foreclosure was denied
because the loan violated the constitutionally imposed cap on fees for home equity loans. See Tex.
Const. art. XVI, § 50(a)(6)(E) (fees other than interest for home equity loans may not exceed three
percent of original principal amount). Because the proceeding before us in this appeal is a separate
cause from the expedited foreclosure proceeding, we overrule Schanzle’s motion to compel the
production of records related to the expedited foreclosure proceeding.

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Tex. R. Civ. P. 736(9). WM Specialty’s subsequent suit for judicial foreclosure, the proceeding

giving rise to this appeal, was filed pursuant to Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 735. See Tex. R. Civ.

P. 735 (stating that party seeking to foreclose lien created for home equity loan may file suit for

judicial foreclosure).

In addition to his pro se answer, Schanzle filed counterclaims against WM Specialty

for fraud and “predatory lending,” alleging violations of the Texas Constitution and a number of

federal statutes.

On February 16, 2009, WM Specialty, referring to itself as JPMC Specialty Mortgage

LLC f/k/a WM Specialty Mortgage LLC, filed an amended petition, representing that “WM Specialty

Mortgage LLC changed its name to JPMC Specialty Mortgage LLC,” and that “JPMC Specialty

Mortgage LLC is the legal owner and holder of the Home Equity Loan.” Certification of the name

change from the Delaware Secretary of State was attached to the amended petition. Also on

February 16, JPMC filed a “motion to substitute nominal party,” requesting to substitute Chase

Home Finance, LLC as JPMC’s mortgage servicing agent in place of AMC Mortgage Services, Inc.

Schanzle subsequently filed written objections to the motion to substitute.

On March 12, 2009, JPMC filed a motion for summary judgment on its claims for

breach of contract and judicial foreclosure, as well as Schanzle’s counterclaims, and a hearing on

the motion was set for April 28. On April 20, Schanzle moved to strike the affidavit of Lauren

Przybylek, Assistant Vice-President of JPMC, in support of JPMC’s motion for summary judgment.

In his motion to strike, Schanzle argued that Przybylek could not have personal knowledge of the

circumstances surrounding his home equity loan because “her employer” had only recently

“purchased the alleged debt at auction.” The day before the hearing, Schanzle filed his response to

3
JPMC’s motion for summary judgment, which JPMC moved to strike as untimely. See Tex. R. Civ.

P. 166a(c) (response to motion for summary judgment must be filed no later than seven days prior

to hearing on motion).

After the hearing, the trial court issued orders granting JPMC’s motion to substitute

a nominal party, denying Schanzle’s motion to strike the Przybylek affidavit, striking Schanzle’s

response to JPMC’s motion for summary judgment as untimely, and granting summary judgment

in favor of JPMC on all claims and counterclaims.2 In granting summary judgment, the trial court

awarded JPMC its requested relief of foreclosure and dismissed Schanzle’s counterclaims

with prejudice.

After the trial court’s judgment was issued, Schanzle filed a request for findings of

fact and conclusions of law and a motion for new trial. The trial court declined to issue findings of

fact and conclusions of law, and the motion for new trial was overruled by operation of law.

Schanzle then removed the suit to federal court. The federal court remanded the suit back to state

court for lack of jurisdiction, and this appeal followed.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Summary judgments are reviewed de novo. Valence Operating Co. v. Dorsett,

164 S.W.3d 656, 661 (Tex. 2005). To prevail on a motion for summary judgment, the movant must

2
The trial court also issued a letter summarizing its rulings and stating, “Even if the
defendant’s response to the motion for summary judgment . . . was not struck as untimely, the court
would grant the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment as plaintiff is entitled to judgment as a
matter of law.”

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show that there is no issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. TX

Far West, Ltd. v. Texas Invs. Mgmt., Inc., 127 S.W.3d 295, 301 (Tex. App.—Austin 2004, no pet.).

Evidence favorable to the non-movant is taken as true and every reasonable inference must be

indulged in favor of the non-movant and any doubts resolved in its favor. Id.

DISCUSSION

Schanzle raises nine issues on appeal, arguing that (1) JPMC’s motion for summary

judgment was improperly supported by the unsigned and unverified affidavit of Przybylek,

(2) summary judgment was improper because the loan violated the Texas Constitution and the Texas

Debt Collection Practices Act, see Tex. Fin. Code Ann. §§ 392.001-.404 (West 2006), (3) a conflict

of interest exists because the same attorney represented all assigns or successors to Ameriquest,

(4) JPMC’s motion for summary judgment was frivolous in light of the prior expedited foreclosure

proceeding, (5) JPMC forfeited its right of foreclosure by failing to cure the constitutional violation,

(6) the controversy was privately settled in Schanzle’s favor once the time period for curing the

constitutional violation had passed, (7) the creation of the security instrument “created a sham trust,”

(8) JPMC and its affiliated entities do not hold a debt collector’s bond with the Texas Secretary of

State, and (9) the trial court “abused its discretion and acted without Subject Matter Jurisdiction.”

We will address each of these arguments in turn.

First, Schanzle’s contention that Przybylek’s affidavit is unsigned and unverified is

not supported by the record. Przybylek’s signature and the notary’s signature and seal are both

visible on page two of the affidavit, which is contained in the supplemental clerk’s record, along

with JPMC’s motion for summary judgment and the rest of its summary-judgment evidence. See

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Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 312.011(1) (West 2005) (defining “affidavit” as “a statement in writing of

a fact or facts signed by the party making it, sworn to before an officer authorized to administer

oaths, and officially certified to by the officer under his seal of office”). Because Przybylek’s

affidavit is properly signed and verified, we overrule this issue.

In his second issue on appeal, Schanzle argues that summary judgment was improper

because the home equity loan violated the Texas Constitution and the Texas Debt Collection

Practices Act (“TDCPA”). See Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 50(a)(6)(E) (governing home equity loans);

Tex. Fin. Code Ann. §§ 392.001-.404. Schanzle’s argument regarding violations of the TDCPA is

limited to the statement that JPMC failed “to verify and validate the debt as is required by the

[TDCPA].” No citations to the record or legal authorities are provided in support of Schanzle’s

TDCPA claim.3 Our review of the TDCPA sheds no light on the potential basis for Schanzle’s

complaint. As a result, Schanzle’s TDCPA claim is waived for inadequate briefing. See Tex. R.

App. P. 38.1(i) (appellant’s brief must contain clear argument, with appropriate citations to

authorities and record); see also Mansfield State Bank v. Cohn, 573 S.W.2d 181, 185 (Tex. 1978)

(“Litigants who represent themselves must comply with the applicable procedural rules, or else they

would be given an unfair advantage over litigants represented by counsel.”). Schanzle’s allegation

regarding the TDCPA is also waived because it was not properly presented to the trial court as a

counterclaim or a ground for denying summary judgment, instead appearing for the first time in

3
While Schanzle does include a citation to Carrington v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co.,
49 S.W.3d 342 (Tex. 2001), this case supports the proposition that a lender may cure a violation of
the constitutional cap on fees for home equity loans by refunding the overcharge within a reasonable
time. See id. at 347. The TDCPA is not addressed in Carrington.

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Schanzle’s post-judgment request for findings of fact and conclusions of law. See Tex. R. Civ.

P. 166a(c) (“Issues not expressly presented to the trial court by written motion, answer or other

response shall not be considered on appeal as grounds for reversal.”); Carrizales v. Texas Dep’t of

Protective & Regulatory Servs., 5 S.W.3d 922, 925 (Tex. App.—Austin 1999, pet. denied) (stating

that claims not properly raised in trial court are waived on appeal).

In making his constitutional argument, Schanzle contends that summary judgment

was improper because the loan violated the constitutionally mandated three-percent cap on fees other

than interest for home equity loans. See Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 50(a)(6)(E).4 A four-year statute

of limitations has been applied to violations of the constitutional requirements for home equity loans,

calculated from the date of closing on the loan. See Rivera v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.,

262 S.W.3d 834, 840 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008, no pet.) (“[W]e conclude the legal injury occurred

when Countrywide made a loan to the Riveras in excess of the amount allowed by law. . . . Thus, the

Riveras’ cause of action for Countrywide’s violation of [section 50(a)(6)(B) of home equity

provisions of constitution] accrued September 28, 2001, the date of closing of the Riveras’ home

equity loan.”); see also Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 16.051 (West 2008) (four-year statute

of limitations applies to actions for which limitations period has not otherwise been created by

statute). The home equity loan at issue in this case closed on August 21, 2003. Schanzle’s

4
We note that this argument was not properly raised in a timely response to JPMC’s motion
for summary judgment, as the trial court struck Schanzle’s response as untimely. See Tex. R. Civ.
P. 166a(c) (“Issues not expressly presented to the trial court by written motion, answer or other
response shall not be considered on appeal as grounds for reversal.”). Schanzle does not argue on
appeal that the trial court erred in striking his response to JPMC’s motion for summary judgment.
We will, however, address Schanzle’s constitutional argument in the interest of justice.

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counterclaim alleging violations of section 50(a)(6)(E) of the home equity provisions of the

constitution was not filed until October 10, 2007. As a result, Schanzle’s counterclaim is barred by

the four-year statute of limitations.5 Schanzle’s second issue on appeal is overruled.

In his third issue, Schanzle contends that a conflict of interest exists because JPMC’s

counsel represents “all four assigns and/or successors to Ameriquest.” This complaint is waived for

inadequate briefing, as Schanzle presents no argument, legal authorities, or citations to the record.

See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i). We note also that there is no evidence that the interests of WM

Specialty, JPMC, or any of the mortgage servicers involved in this case were ever sufficiently

adverse to create a conflict of interest. See Tex. Disciplinary R. Prof’l Conduct 1.06(b), reprinted

in Tex. Gov’t Code Ann., tit. 2, subtit. G app. A. The record contains an assignment of the note and

transfer of the security interest from Ameriquest to WM Specialty, as well as documents from the

Delaware Secretary of State certifying WM Specialty’s name change to JPMC. There is no

indication that any entity other than JPMC was the proper holder of the note at the time summary

judgment was granted. We overrule this issue on appeal.

In his fourth issue, Schanzle argues that JPMC filed a frivolous motion for summary

judgment, presented “fake evidence,” and made “a frivolous non-applicable argument that some

statute of limitation applies.” This argument is unsupported by legal authority or citations to the

record, and has therefore been waived by inadequate briefing. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i).

5
For counterclaims arising out of the same transaction or occurrence upon which an action
is based, the applicable limitations period is extended for 30 days after the date the party’s answer
is due. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. § 16.069 (West 2008). Schanzle cannot avail himself
of this exception to the limitations period because his answer was due August 13, 2007, and his
counterclaims were not filed until October 10, 2007, more than 30 days later. See id.

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Furthermore, while Schanzle states that JPMC’s motion for summary judgment was frivolous

because “the ultimate material fact” had been “found in Schanzle’s favor in a previous proceeding,”

Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 736 provides that the denial of an application for expedited

foreclosure is not res judicata and does not “constitute collateral estoppel or estoppel by judgment

in any other proceeding or suit.” Tex. R. Civ. P. 736(9). The rule goes on to state that denial of such

an application “shall be without prejudice to the right of the applicant to . . . seek other relief at law

or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction.” Id. Thus, by the plain language of Rule 736,

JPMC was entitled to file a suit for judicial foreclosure after its application for expedited foreclosure

was denied, and any rulings made in the expedited foreclosure proceeding had no res judicata or

collateral estoppel effect. See id. We overrule this issue on appeal.

Schanzle’s fifth and sixth issues are related to his argument that the home equity loan

was void due to a violation of the Texas Constitution. See Tex. Const. art. XVI, § 50(a)(6)(E).

Specifically, Schanzle asserts in his fifth issue that the lien was rendered invalid when JPMC failed

to cure its constitutional violation by refunding any charges in excess of the three-percent cap on

fees. See id. § 50(a)(6)(Q)(x)(a) (lender who charges fees in excess of constitutional cap may cure

violation and validate lien by refunding overcharge not later than 60th day after being notified of

violation). Schanzle argues in his sixth issue that at the completion of the 60-day period to cure, the

matter was settled in his favor and he was entitled to damages for breach of contract. See id. We

have already determined that Schanzle’s counterclaim for violation of the constitutional cap on fees

is barred by the statute of limitations. See Rivera, 262 S.W.3d at 840. As a result, we overrule

Schanzle’s fifth and sixth issues on appeal.

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 In a seventh issue on appeal, Schanzle asserts that the creation of the security interest

“created a sham trust.” This argument, which is presented without legal authority, citations to the

record, or any additional explanation, is waived for inadequate briefing. See Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i).

Schanzle argues, in his eighth issue on appeal, that “[n]one of the corporations

involved in the myriad of plaintiff corporations hold a debt collector’s bond with the Secretary of

State.” Presumably, this argument refers to the bond requirement in section 392.101 of the finance

code. See Tex. Fin. Code Ann. § 392.101. Section 392.101 provides that a “third-party debt

collector or credit bureau may not engage in debt collection unless the third-party debt collector or

credit bureau has obtained a surety bond,” a copy of which “must be filed with the secretary of state.”

Id. For purposes of the bond requirement, however, “a debt collector does not include the

consumer’s creditors, a mortgage servicing company, or an assignee of a debt, as long as the debt

was not in default at the time it was assigned.” CA Partners v. Spears, 274 S.W.3d 51, 79 (Tex.

App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008, pet. denied) (quoting Perry v. Stewart Title Co., 756 F.2d 1197,

1208 (5th Cir. 1985)). Because every entity that has been named on the plaintiff’s side of this

dispute is either a mortgage servicing company or a bona fide assignee of the debt, section 392.101

is inapplicable to this case. See id. We overrule this issue.

In his ninth issue, Schanzle contends that the trial court abused its discretion and

acted without subject-matter jurisdiction. Schanzle does not provide further argument or explanation

in support of this issue. We will, however, construe his briefing liberally and address this issue by

resolving the remaining complaints appearing in Schanzle’s brief that cannot be categorized under

one of the other eight issues on appeal. Specifically, these complaints are that the trial court erred

10
in (1) granting summary judgment without establishing a “Sum Certain of the alleged debt,”

(2) failing to provide 21 days’ notice before the summary-judgment hearing, (3) failing to issue

findings of fact and conclusions of law at Schanzle’s request, and (4) failing to rule on his objections

to JPMC’s motion to substitute a nominal party.

Schanzle’s argument regarding the lack of a “sum certain” appears to be based on the

fact that JPMC’s amended petition states, “After allowing all just and lawful payments, offsets, and

credits against the Note, the principal balance owing on the Note as of May 18, 2007, was

$82,487.52,” while its motion for summary judgment states, “After allowing all just and

lawful payments, offsets, and credits against the Note, the balance owing on the Note as of

December 31, 2008, was $37,087.95.” The reason for this significant reduction in the principal

balance after Schanzle’s default is not clear from the record. In any event, the trial court was not

obligated to include the principal balance in its order granting summary judgment. As a general rule,

a final judgment “must be sufficiently definite and certain to define and protect the rights of all

litigants, or it should provide a definite means of ascertaining such rights, to the end that ministerial

officers can carry the judgment into execution without ascertainment of facts not therein stated.”

Stewart v. USA Custom Paint & Body Shop, Inc., 870 S.W.2d 18, 20 (Tex. 1994). The trial court’s

order in this case expressly awards judgment in favor of JPMC for foreclosure of the real property

in question, and provides a legal description of the property. Under the circumstances, the language

of the order is sufficiently definite and certain to constitute a valid final judgment. See id. The

judgment is also properly limited to the relief requested in JPMC’s motion for summary judgment,

as the motion specifically states, “JPMC Specialty seeks to satisfy the judgment solely from the

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foreclosure proceeds and seeks no deficiency against [Schanzle].” Given the requested relief, the

trial court did not err in failing to identify the note’s principal balance in the order granting

summary judgment.6

Schanzle’s argument regarding notice of the motion for summary judgment is not

supported by the record. JPMC’s motion for summary judgment includes a certificate of service

indicating that Schanzle was served on March 12, 2009. The notice of hearing, which contains a

certificate of service dated March 24, 2009, indicates that the hearing on JPMC’s motion for

summary judgment was set for April 28, 2009. See Tex. R. Civ. P. 166a(c) (motion must be filed

and served at least 21 days before hearing). Based on this record, we conclude that Schanzle had

adequate notice of both the motion and the hearing date.

With respect to Schanzle’s argument that the trial court erred in failing to issue

findings of fact and conclusions of law, the supreme court has held that findings of fact and

conclusions of law are improper in a summary-judgment proceeding. See IKB Indus. (Nigeria)

Ltd. v. Pro-Line Corp., 938 S.W.2d 440, 441-42 (Tex. 1997). Accordingly, the trial court did not

err in declining to issue findings of fact and conclusions of law in response to Schanzle’s request.

As for Schanzle’s objections to JPMC’s motion to substitute, the trial court signed

an order granting JPMC’s motion on May 4, 2009. The record contains a letter from the trial court,

also dated May 4, 2009, which states, “Plaintiff’s Traditional Motion for Final Summary Judgment

6
It is also unclear how Schanzle might have been prejudiced by this reduction in the note’s
principal balance. JPMC’s motion for summary judgment and supporting affidavit represent a
judicial admission that the principal balance was $37,087.95 as of December 31, 2008. See Houston
First Am. Sav. v. Musick, 650 S.W.2d 764, 767 (Tex. 1983) (holding that assertions of fact in party’s
live pleadings are regarded as formal judicial admissions).

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and Plaintiff’s Motion to Substitute Nominal Party came on for hearing on April 28, 2009. Having

considered the motions, responses, summary judgment evidence and arguments of counsel, the court

grants both of the motions.” (Emphasis added.) This letter clarifies that the trial court considered

Schanzle’s response before granting JPMC’s motion. Thus, in granting JPMC’s motion, the trial

court impliedly overruled Schanzle’s objections.

While Schanzle does not specify the basis for his contention that the trial court lacked

subject-matter jurisdiction, we note that this is a suit for judicial foreclosure on property located in

Travis County. District courts have jurisdiction over suits to determine title to real property. See

Tex. Const. art. V, § 8 (jurisdiction of district courts); Chambers v. Pruitt, 241 S.W.3d 679, 684

(Tex. App.—Dallas 2007, no pet.) (“District courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction to

determine title to real property.”); see also Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. § 26.043 (West 2004).

Because Schanzle has failed to identify any manner in which the trial court abused

its discretion or lacked subject-matter jurisdiction, his ninth issue on appeal is overruled.

Having overruled all of Schanzle’s issues on appeal, we affirm the order granting

summary judgment in favor of JPMC. To the extent Schanzle intended to raise any additional

arguments beyond those addressed herein, those arguments are waived for inadequate briefing. See

Tex. R. App. P. 38.1(i).

CONCLUSION

We affirm the trial court’s order granting summary judgment.

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 __________________________________________

Diane M. Henson, Justice

Before Justices Patterson, Pemberton and Henson

Affirmed

Filed: December 9, 2010

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