Gunnell v. Fannie Mae et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER denying 2 Motion for TRO. Signed by Judge Ted Stewart on 5/11/2011. (las)

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH
CENTRAL DIVISION

RUELL GUNNELL,
Plaintiff,

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S
APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY
RESTRAINING ORDER

vs.

FANNIE MAE, BAC HOME LOANS
SERVICING, LP FKA COUNTRYWIDE
HOME LOANS SERVICING, LP and,
RECONTRUST COMPANY, N.A. BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A. and DOES 1-10

Case No. 2:11-CV-407 TS

Defendants.

This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff Ruel Gunnell’s Application for Temporary
Restraining Order. In his Application, Plaintiff seeks an order stopping a foreclosure sale of his
property currently scheduled for May 12, 2011. For the reasons discussed below, the Court will
deny Plaintiff’s request.

1

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
On July 23, 2003, Plaintiff entered into a loan transaction with America’s Wholesale
Lender for $322,700. That loan transaction was secured by a Deed of Trust.1 The Deed of Trust
identifies MERS as the beneficiary.2 The Deed of Trust explains that MERS has the right to
foreclose and sell the property.3
Plaintiff, at some point, began experiencing financial difficulties and could not keep up
with the payments required. Plaintiff then contacted Bank of America in an effort to seek a
modification. It is unclear from the Verified Complaint whether Bank of America ever agreed to
a modification, but Plaintiff represents that he sent modified payments. The modified payments
were not accepted and foreclosure proceedings began.
Plaintiff filed his Complaint on May 4, 2011. Plaintiff brings a number of claims against
Defendants, including claims: (1) under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1988 against
ReconTrust; (2) that Utah’s non-judicial foreclosure system is unconstitutional; (3) under state
RICO law; (4) for injunctive relief; (5) for accounting; (6) under the Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act; (7) for declaratory judgment; (8) for slander of title; (9) for quiet title; (10) relating
to the Home Affordable Modification Program; (11) for negligence; (12) for infliction of
emotional distress; and (13) for breach of contract.

1

Docket No. 1, Ex. A.

2

Id.

3

Id.
2

Plaintiff has since filed the instant Application for Temporary Restraining Order. In his
Application, Plaintiff seeks an ex parte temporary restraining order stopping a foreclosure sale
currently scheduled for May 12, 2011.
II. DISCUSSION
A.

EX PARTE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
As stated, Plaintiff seeks an ex parte temporary restraining order. Fed.R.Civ.P. 65(b)

provides:
The court may issue a temporary restraining order without written or oral notice to
the adverse party or its attorney only if:
(A) specific facts in an affidavit or a verified complaint clearly show that
immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage will result to the movant before
the adverse party can be heard in opposition; and
(B) the movant’s attorney certifies in writing any efforts made to give notice and
the reasons why it should not be required.
The Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to meet these requirements. Specifically, Plaintiff
has failed to certify in writing any efforts made to give notice and the reasons why it should not
be required. Plaintiff’s Application for Temporary Restraining Order merely states that
“Defendants are being served and have not had a chance to respond to the complaint.” The Court
finds this statement insufficient under Fed.R.Civ.P. 65(b). Despite this, the Court will consider
the merits of Plaintiff’s Application.

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B.

TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
The standard for a temporary restraining order is the same as a preliminary injunction.4

“A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary remedy, and thus the right to relief must be clear
and unequivocal.”5 In order for Plaintiff to be entitled to a preliminary injunction, Plaintiff must
show: (1) a substantial likelihood of success on the merits; (2) irreparable harm to the movant if
the injunction is denied; (3) the threatened injury outweighs the harm that the preliminary
injunction may cause the opposing party; and (4) the injunction, if issued, will not adversely
affect the public interest.6
Having reviewed the contents of Plaintiff’s Verified Complaint, the Court finds that he
has failed to show a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. Indeed, many of Plaintiff’s
claims—such as his claim that Defendants lack the authority to foreclose and that his mortgage
was “securitized”—are based on theories which have been repeatedly rejected by this Court. As
to Plaintiff’s other claims, the Court finds that he has failed to show a substantial likelihood of
success on the merits of those claims. Therefore, the Court will deny Plaintiff’s Application.
III. CONCLUSION
It is therefore
ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Application for Temporary Restraining Order (Docket No. 2)
is DENIED.
4

Bachman By and through Bachman v. W. High Sch., 900 F.Supp. 248, 250 (D. Utah
1995) aff’d 132 F.3d 542 (10th Cir. 1997).
5

Nova Health Sys. v. Edmondson, 460 F.3d 1295, 1298 (10th Cir. 2006).

6

General Motors Corp. v. Urban Gorilla, LLC, 500 F.3d 1222, 1226 (10th Cir. 2007).
4

DATED May 11, 2011.
BY THE COURT:

_____________________________________
TED STEWART
United States District Judge

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