Harutyun Hovannesian v. Pennymac Corp. and Teni Hovannesian

DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
FOURTH DISTRICT

HARUTYUN HOVANNESIAN,
Appellant,

v.

PENNYMAC CORP. and TENI HOVANNESIAN,
Appellees.

No. 4D14-3088

[ April 27, 2016 ]

Appeal from the Circuit Court for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm
Beach County; Gregory M. Keyser, Judge; L.T. Case No.
2009CA038927XXXXMB.

Jonathan Kline of Jonathan Kline, P.A., Weston, for appellant.

Nancy M. Wallace, Akerman LLP, Tallahassee, William P. Heller of
Akerman LLP, Fort Lauderdale, and Eric M. Levine of Akerman LLP, West
Palm Beach, for Appellee PennyMac.

TAYLOR, J.

We affirm the final judgment of foreclosure in part, concluding that
PennyMac had standing to enforce the Note and that the trial court did
not abuse its discretion in admitting a loan acquisition screenshot into
evidence. However, because certain categories of damages awarded in the
final judgment were not proven by competent substantial evidence, we
reverse and remand for a determination of the correct amounts owed.

The evidence of damages at trial consisted of the loan payment history
and PennyMac’s witness’s testimony that the figures in the proposed final
judgment were accurate. The proposed final judgment was not admitted
into evidence.

We conclude that the principal balance, the taxes, and the insurance
premiums awarded in the final judgment were supported by competent
substantial evidence—namely, the payment history that was entered into
evidence. But the other damages awarded in the final judgment—
including interest, attorney’s fees, and other miscellaneous expenses—
were not supported by competent substantial evidence. The appropriate
remedy is to reverse and remand the judgment for further proceedings to
properly establish the correct amount due and owing. See McMillan v.
Bank of New York Mellon, 180 So. 3d 1090, 1091–92 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015)
(affirming the foreclosure judgment, but reversing as to the amounts in
the final judgment relating to certain forms of damages that were not
proven by competent substantial evidence, and remanding “for further
proceedings to determine the amounts owed”); Peuguero v. Bank of Am.,
N.A., 169 So. 3d 1198, 1200, 1203–04 (Fla. 4th DCA 2015) (where loan
payment history was submitted into evidence which reflected the amount
of principal owed on the loan but not the amount of interest accrued, the
proper remedy was to remand for further proceedings to properly establish
the damages owed); Boyette v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP, 164 So. 3d
9, 11 (Fla. 2d DCA 2015) (“Default is established in this case, and the
amount of principal, hazard insurance premiums, late charges, and taxes
are supported by competent, substantial evidence. But because the other
costs, namely interest, property inspection fees, and the attorney fees, are
not, we reverse and remand the judgment for further proceedings to
properly establish the amounts allegedly due and owing.”).1

Affirmed in part, Reversed in part, and Remanded.

CIKLIN, C.J., and KLINGENSMITH, J., concur.

* * *

Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.

1We have considered Wolkoff v. American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc., 153 So.
3d 280 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014), but find it distinguishable.

2