Hamrick et al v. REO Properties Corporations et al

Filing 34

ORDER. IT IS ORDERED that P's 3 Motion to Remand is DENIED. Signed by Judge Robert C. Jones on 7/15/2010. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - PM)

1
2 3
4

jjt 1j ky g
j

5

6

UNI E D STATES D I T R I T CO U RT T S C

7
8

D I T R I T O F NEVA DA SC

9

LEW I L.HAMRI K andTONIM.DAVI , ) S C S ) plitf, an if ) REO PROPERTI S CORP,and FI ELIY) E DT )

3:9- V- 071 - CJ-RAM) O C 0 4R (

1V 0. 11 l 4 15
16
17 18 19
Hamrick et al v. REO Properties Corporations et al

) ) ) ) y

ORDER

1 NTO A T L ISendNt.C . 2 AINL I ENUAaC O, T DefR nE 1 3

Thi i a di put i vol i g f r c osur . Pl i t f Lewi L.Ham rck and ToniM .Davi ss s e n vn o e l e a nis f s i s

(plit f' s ed Deen ans Fi ei Nai n l t Is r n e Cor o a in (Fiei ' a d d a n is' u ' f) f d t d ly t a Til n u a c t o e p r t ' d ly' n o f t) REO Pr perisCor orton(' EO' (ol ctvel ' ef ndant' i stt cour andasked te o te p ai ' ' c l i y D e R)e s' n a e ) t h cour t cancelhetust e' deedandawar damagesi excessof$20,00. Subsequenty, to t r es d n 01 l
Doc. 34

20

Def ndantFiely r moved t e cas t t i Cour. (/ ) Pr senty bef r t e Cour i e di e t h e o hs t /1 . e l o e h ts Plitf' Motont Remand(/ ) Bot Deendant oppos dt emotont r mand( 11./ 4) an i s i o f /3 . h f s eh i oe # ,1 / 22 andPlitfr pl d.(/ 5) TheCourhear or l gumentonJune11, a n i e i /1 . fe t d a ar 2010.I I HEREBY TS
2l 23 24 25

O RDERED t atPlitf' Motont Remand (/ )i DENI D. h a nif s io /3 s E

26
28

l ai tfsar r si ent ofand domiied i Ney da Def ndantFi elt i a Calf r i pl n if e e d s cl n a e d iy s i na o
.

27 cor or ton. Def ndantREO i a Del w ar c r or ton. p ai e s a e o p al
j

Dockets.Justia.com

1

1 BACKGROUND .

2

Pl i t#s l ed i t ei hom e f rffeen year . W hen Pl i tfs'i com e decr ased, ani i v nh r oi t s a n if n e

3 Pl i tfs atem pt d t m odiy t ei hom e l ans butcoul notm ake m orgage paym ent on a n if t eo fhr o d t s 4 tm e. Pl i t f alege Def ndant m ade f l e and m i l adi g st t m ent wih r gar t t ei i an is l f e s as se n a e s t e doh r 5 m od gage and Pl i tfs wer t l ' ver t i g woul be wor ed out' Pl i t#s fl d t ei a n if e od ' y hn e d k . a n i ie h r

6 c mplitoquittteonJul 22, o a n t e il y 2009 and adef uljdgmentwasent r dagais Fiely a tu ee nt d i t
7 i t e Nevada st t c ur f rSt r yCount onAugust28, nh a e o to o e y 2009. Nonet elss, Sept m ber h e on e 8 15, 2009,Fi elt r cor ed a tust e' deed upon s l , d iy e d r es a e nami g REO ast e gr nt e. Fi al , n h ae nl y
9 on O ct ber22,2009,R EO m ai d a Notc t V acat Pr pery t Pl i t f . o l e ie o e o t o ani s f 1 0 Pl i tfs alege t atDef ndant il gal r cor ed a tust e' deed upon sal and t at a n if l h e sl e le d y r es e h

11 Def ndant i pr pery f r cl sed t ei r si enc .Pl i tfs' pl i ti cl dest r e c ai s, e sm o l oe o h r e d e a n if com a n n u he l m 1 i c udi g sl nderoftte,cancel ton ofa t us ee' deed,and ator ey 'f es. Addii nal , 2 nl n a il li a rt s tn se to l y

1 Pl i tfs ask d t e s at cour t awar gener ldamages i excess of$20, 00 as wel as 3 a n if e h te to d a n 0 l
1 punii e dam ages. 4 tv 1 5 Afer Pl i tfs fl d t ei com pl i t Def ndant Fi el y fl d a notce of r m ovalon t a n if ie h r an , e d i ie t i e 1 Decem ber 7,2009. Fi el y cl i ed t e U , .Di ti t C our f r t e Di ti tof Nevada has 6 d i am t h S s rc to h s rc

1 orgialursditonoverte casebecauset er i complt dier iyo ciienshi bet een 7 i n j i ci h h es ee v st f tz pw
1 t e pari s and t e pr pery i curen l val ed at $1 8, 00, whi h sats i s t e 8h te h o ts r ty u 20 c ife h
1 amounti - ontover y r quiem entf rr m oval l addii n,Fi elt ar ues t atPl i tfs' 9 -n c r s e r op .n to d iy g l n a n if

20 demandf rc m pens t r damages, tvedamages, a or ey 'eesexc eds$75,O0. oo ao y punii and Q n s f e O
21 Pl i tfs fl d a moton t r m and ar uig Fi el y di notmeetis bur en t pr ve t att e a n if i e i oe gn di d t t d oo hh

22 amounti c ntover y exceeds $75, 00. Def ndant Fi ely and REO bot opposed t e nor s 0 e s di t h h
23 m oton t r m and. i oe 24 I. LeoAu ST NDARD I A

2 5 Remov li an ide en en b ss f riv kn f d r lurs it n. Gen r l ,t e a s n p d t a i o n o ig e e a j idci o eal h y 2 def ndantcanivok f der lemovalursditonīt ecase c ul have beenfld orgialy 6 e n e e ar j i ci f h od i e in l
27 28

2

1 i f d r l ou t 28 U. . . 1 41 a . Th d f n a tc n r mo ea c s i 1 t e p dis n e e a c r. S C j 4 ( )2 e e e d n a e v a e f ) h a e :
2 ar ofdier eciienshi'and2)t eamounti contover y, usieofit r st andc st, e v s tz p, h n r s excl v ne e s os 3 exceeds$75,00. 28.U. . . 1332( ) 0 SC j a.
4 The def ndantseekng r m ovalal ays bear t e bur en ofes abl hig gr undsf r e ie w sh d t in o s o

5 f der lj rsditon. Calor i exr lLock erv.Dyner y,Ic. 375 F.d 831,838 ( t Ci. e a u i ci i na e. y f g n, 3 9h r 6 2004) Ther moval endantmayest blsht atheamountnc ntover yexc eds$75,00 . e def ai ht ior s e 0 7 byeiher1)demonstatngtatii 'acil appar nt'r m tecomplittattecli slk l t r i h ts ' al fy e 'o h f an h h am ie y 8 exceed$75,00* 2)setigf rhf csi t enotceofr movalhatsuppor afndig oft e 0, or tn o t a t n h i e t lin h 9 r quiieamount SigerB. af Far MutAut .ns.Co.116 F.d373, ( t Ci.1 97) e st .n Sl e m . ol , 3 377 9 h r 9 . , 1 Mccaa v Mas . .Lie Is.Co.330 F. 0 . s Mut f n , Supp. 1143,1145( .Nev, 2d D 2004) Mostc uds . o
1 hol t e r m oval endantm us pr ve by a pr ponder nc oft e evi enc t att e am ount 1 dh e def to e ae h d eh h

1 i contovery exc eds te j rs itonalr quiementatt e tme ofr mov l Sanchez k. 2n rs e h u id ci er hi e a. '

1 Monum ent lLi I s.Co. 1O2 F.d 398,4O4 (t Ci.1996) McNut F,Gener /Motr 3 a fn e , 3 9h r , . t a os 1 Ac eptnce Cor .298 U. .178,189 ( 936) see alo Shaw l Dow Br nds,I c.994 F.d 4 ca pt S 1. , s ? , a n, 2 1 364, n. ( t Ci.1993)( oligt atter moval t ndar i metiadef ndant s ow 5 366 2 7 h r h dn h h e sa d s fe can h 1 ' r asonabl pr babiiy'hatheamountncontoveryexceedst ej rsditonal ni um ) 6 'e a e o l 't t t i rs h u i ci mi m .
17 11 ANALYSI 1. S

1 8

Her , tesdonotc nt s t edier iyof tzenshi.Thus,her lv ntursditonal e pari o e th v st cii p t e e a j i ci

1 queston i whet er t e am ount i - ontover y r quiem ent has been m et Pl i tfs ar 9 is hh -n c r s e r . a n if e

20 seeki g $20, 00 i com pens t r damages i addii n t punii e damages and ator eys' n 0n aoy n to o tv tn

21 f es. Sice i i notdacily appar nt t atte amounti c ntover y exceeds $75,00, e n ts ' al f e 'h h nor s 0
22 Def ndant bear t e bur en of sh w i g t at i i m or lkel t an not t e am ount i e s h d o n h ts eiyh h n

23 conr verysatsistej rs itonalmii um .Sanchez,102 F.d at404. to s ife h u id ci nm 3 24 W her t ecompl its eksdeclr t r orij nctve r le ,te valeoft e ' ateri eh an e a ao y nu i e if h u hmt n 25 c ntover y' texceed$75,00.28 U. . . 1 32( ) It epl itf seek declr t r or o r s 'mus 0 S C j 3 a . f h a nif s a ao y
26

27

ecton 1 41( )st t st at anyciiactonbr ughti a St t c ur ofwhiht e i 4 a ae h vl i o n ae o t ch 28 dititcoursofte Unied Stt shaveorgialursditon,mayber moved byte src th t ae i n j i ci e h
def ndant .u! o t e di titc ur oft e Unied St t s f rany diti t... e t h s rc o t h t ae o s rc wher such e acton i pendi g. is n' '
3

zS

u

l ij ncie r l f t e amounti c ntover y i meas r d by dhe vale ofte obec oft e nu tv ei , h e nor s s ue ' t u h jt h

2 Iia in. Hu tv Na h. at Ap l Adv riig Co m b, 2 U. . 33, 47 ( 97 ) s e ig t ' n . s St e p e e t n t o' s m 43 S 3 3 1 7 , e . 3 aloMcNut, U. . 181(idigt evaleoft eobj c wasmeasur dbyt e Is est at s t298 S at fn n h u h e t e h os h
4 woul f low it e satt i quesinwer enor ed) d o l f h t ue n to e fc . 5 Her ,t e obectoft e Itgaton i t e f r clsed pr pedy,and t e pr pedy' vale eh j h ii i s h o e o o ho su 6 exc edss7sj oo.Appar nty, ai tfst emselesadmi edt e pr pery i w orh$128, 00, e o e l Pl n if h v t h o ts t t 03 7 Bec use t evale ofPlitfs'homeexceededt ej rs itonalr quiementatt e tme of a h u an if h u id ci er hi 8 r movalte amounti conr veryf rdier i j rsditon i met e ,h n to s o v st u i ci s . y 9 Addiinal ,hej rsditonalmii um i dier i c sesi det r iedbyt eamount to l t u i ci y nm n v st a s e m n y h 1 atsak t eiherpary.BEM (LLC.v. hr polgi,I c.301F.d 5 8,553( t Ci.2002) 0 t eo t t Ant o o e n , 34 7h r 1 ( olig t at'hejrsditonalmii um i dier iycases i nott & amountsoughtbyt e 1 b d n h ' u i ci t nm n v st s h h 1 pl it; butt e amountatsaket eiherparyt te sui'. l ot erwor s,t e amounti 2 an i h t ot l oh t) n h ' dh n
13 cont over y i satsfed w hen eiher pl i tf ' gai or def ndants l ss exceeds t e r ss ii t a n ifs n e 'o h

1 j r dit n l mou t I r Fo dMotrCo.ciba k 2 4F.d9 2, 8( t Ci, 01 (idig 4 ui ci a a n. n e r so o / t n , 6 3 5 95 9h r20 ) f n i n
1 t at' he am ount i contover y r quiem enti s ts i d i eiherpary can gai or I se t e 5h' t n r ser s a i fe f t t n oh

1 jrsditonalamount) 6 u i ci '.
1 7 Her ,Pl i tfs ar aski g t e cour t canc l deed oftustand gr nt hem equiabl e a n if e nh to ea r at te

1 r l fagai s Def ndant .It etust e' deed wer canc l d, he pot ntal nf rPl i tfs 8 ei e nt e s fh r e s e ee t e i gai o a n if

1 woul bet eownerhi andenoymen oftepr pery, chi worh$128,00atmii um . 9 dh sp j t h o t whi s t 0 nm 20 Mor over REO cai ed ipai $130, 00t acquie i t r s i t ef r cl s dpr pedy.I REO e , lm t d 0o r n e e tn h o e o e o f
21 wer t f rei is i t r sti t e f r cl sed pr pery, REO w oul sufer a I ss of at I ast e o o f t t nee n h o e o ot d f o e

22 $130,00, ch i abov t ejrsditonalmi i um . 0 whi s e h u i ci nm
2 3 Pl i tfs r l on Gugl l i o $.M cl'e Foods Cor .and cl i t atDef ndant have a n if e y im n / e k e p am h e s
2 not m et t ei heavy bur en t oppose r m and, Pl i tfs asser t at t avoi r m and, 4 hr d o e a n if th o de 25 Def ndant m us pr ve t a I gal t i t t atoppos ng c unsel sf l el assessi g t e c se e s t o o e cera n y h io i as y nha
26

:7

3Event ough Fi ely' opposii n t Pl i tf s moton t r m and st t st atPl i tfs h d is t to o a n ir i oe ae h a n if'

com ql i ti cl ded an exhi ishowi qt eval eofpr pery t be $128, 00, he Cour di not an n u bt nh u o to 0t td 28 r c le any exhi i showi g Pl i t s' aial t e pr pedy vql e. However Pl itfsdo e ev bt n a n i appr s of h o g u , a n if not sput t at he pr peryval eexc eds$75, 00.I st ad,Pl l t#sar ue t atDef ndant di e h t o t u ē 0 ne an i g h e s
have notm et hei bur en t pr ve Pl l tfs ar f l el assessi g t e am ounti contover y. tr d oo a n if e a s y nh n rs 4

1 oric m pet ntydoig so.Gugl l io t.Mc/eeFoodsCor .506 F.d 696,699 ( t Ci, no el n imn / f e p, 3 9h r 2 2007) However Plitfs' gumentoverook t e Gugl l io cour' holig t ata Igal . , an if ar l sh imn e ts d n h e
3 cerai t t stappl s onl when a orgi al om pl i t i d i a s at coud sufi i nty st t s t e t ny e i e y in c a n fl n t e e fc e l a e h

4 j rsditonalmii um ,/ ,The Gugl l iocour hel t atwhen te amounti contovery u i ci nm d im n e t dh h nrs
5 i ambi uousfom t e compl i t t e def ndantm u tpr vi e evi ence est blshi g t ati i s g rh a n, h e s od d a i n h ts

6 ' or Ikel t an not'hatt e amounti contover y exceeds $75, 00. I . see alo Val ez ' ei yh m 't h n rs 0 d' , s d

7 y. ltt I s.Co.372 F.d 1115,1117 (t Ci.2004)( olig t att e pr ponder nce of 'Alsae n , 3 9h r h dn h h e a
8 t e evi enc st ndar appl s w hen t e am ounti contover y i notf ci l appar ntfom h d ea d i e h n r ss a al y er

9 t e c m plit;see a/o McNut, U. .at189. h o an l s t298 S
1 0 Her ,Def ndant have shown t att e val e of pr pery Ik l exceeds $75,00. e e s hh u o t ie y 0

ll Plitfsdo notdiput t i showig.Sic Def ndant hav esabl hed tej rsditonal a n if s e hs n ne e s eti s h u i ci
1 m i i um by a pr ponder nce oft e evi ence,Def ndant have m ett ei bur en t oppose 2 nm e a h d e s hr d o
13 r m and . e

1 4

I . CoNcuusl N V o

1 5
1 6

Accor igl,I I ORDERED tatPlitf' Motont Remand ( 3)i DENI D. dn y T S h an if s io #s E
I I SO O R D ER ED . TS

1 7
18 l9

Dat d: hi 15t day ofJul ,201 . e ts h y 0

2 0
21
22

. O B ER T C.. ES U n t d St t u s rc J d e ie a t ti t u g

23 24
25

26

27
28 5