Lovelady-Jones Incorporated v. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Filing 19

ORDER GRANTING 8 Motion to Dismiss ; GRANTING 13 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply. Signed by Judge Sam Sparks. (dl)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AUSTIN DIVISION

LOVELADY-JONES INCORPORATED,
Plaintiff,
Case No. A-17-CA-1096-SS

WELLS

FARGO

BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION,

Defendant.

ORDER
BE IT REMEMBERED on the 2nd day of March 2018, the Court held a hearing in the

above-styled cause and the parties appeared through counsel. Before the Court is Defendant Wells
Fargo Bank, National Associations (Wells Fargo)'s Motion to Dismiss [#8], Plaintiff Lovelady-Jones

Incorporated's Response [#11] in opposition, and Wells Fargo's Supplement [#18] in

support.1

Having reviewed the documents, the arguments of counsel, the relevant law, and the file as a whole,

the Court now enters the following.

Plaintiff filed this suit in state court to prevent Wells Fargo from foreclosing on a property
located at 900 Nelson Ranch Road in Cedar Park, Texas (the Property). Plaintiff asserts Wells Fargo
is liable for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and violation of the Texas

Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Plaintiff also seeks declaratory relief to quiet title. Well Fargo
removed to this Court and now moves for dismissal.

Plaintiff also filed a second motion for an extension of time to respond to Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss.
Mot. Second Extension [#13]. Plaintiff filed this motion because it was late in filing its response even though the
Court had granted it an extension. Although the Court is not normally in the habit of excusing late responses, the Court
GRANTS Plaintiffs motion for a second extension to allow a full record to be created in this case.
1

See

Plaintiff is a debtor in a bankruptcy case pending in the Western District of Texas, Austin
Division. See In re Lovelady-Jones, Inc. d/b/a Serendipity Learning Center, No. 17-10647-HCM.
On August 7, 2017, the bankruptcy court entered an order allowing Wells Fargo to exercise its rights

and remedies under the loan documents and foreclose on the Property. Suppi. [#1 8-2] Ex. B
(Aug. 7, 2017 Bankruptcy Order). Wells Fargo claims this Court should dismiss the instant suit

because Plaintiff does not have standing as the Property and any claims against Wells Fargo are
property of the bankruptcy estate.

The Court agrees. The Property and any claims against Wells Fargo regarding the Property
are part of the bankruptcy estate, not Plaintiff's property. See Aug. 7, 2017 Bankruptcy Order.

Therefore, Plaintiff has no standing to bring such claims against Wells Fargo and his claims must
be dismissed. If any further litigation regarding Wells Fargo's right to foreclose on the Property is
commenced, a motion for attorneys' fees and sanctions would be welcome.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff Lovelady-Jones Incorporated's Second Motion for

Extension of Time [#13] is GRANTED; and
IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, National

Associations's Motion to Dismiss [#8] is GRANTED.
SIGNED this the

/ I

day of March 2018.

LI
SAM SPARKS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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