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Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0 | Re: Strategic Default on 2nd
BUT - If the same financial institution holds both the 1st and 2nd mortgages - then there is a legal precedent which prevents the 2nd mortgage holder from seeking a deficiency. They lose their "sold-out junior" status.
This is only for notes when the same bank (any bank) holds both, for instance B of A is your bank for both the primary and the HELOC.
If the first lender forecloses and the 2nd does not participate in the foreclosure AND they do not receive anything at the trustee sale, then they are considered a "sold-out junior". Basically they had their security pulled out from under them, through no fault of their own. In that circumstance, the sold-out junior can sue on the note and obtain a deficiency judgment.
BUT, if the same bank owns both notes the following is more protection:
GEORGE V. SIMON et al., Petitioners, v. THE SUPERIOR COURT OF CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY, Respondent; BANK OF AMERICA, NT & SA, Real Party in
Interest.
No. A053038
COURT OF APPEAL OF CALIFORNIA, FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT,
DIVISION TWO.
4 Cal. App. 4th 63; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428; 1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274; 92 Cal. Daily Op.
Service 1878; 92 Daily Journal DAR 2890
March 3, 1992, Decided
SUBSEQUENT HISTORY: [***1] Review Denied May 28, 1992, Reported at 1992 Cal. LEXIS 2876.
PRIOR HISTORY: Superior Court of Contra Costa County, No. C 90-00309, David A. Dolgin, Judge.
SUMMARY:
CALIFORNIA OFFICIAL REPORTS SUMMARY
A bank loaned $ 1,575,000 to borrowers in exchange for two promissory notes, which were secured by separate
deeds of trust on the same real property. After the borrowers defaulted on the senior note, the bank effected a
nonjudicial foreclosure under the power of sale conferred by the senior lien. The bank subsequently filed suit against the
borrowers for amounts due under the junior note, including a claim for money on a written instrument and for a
deficiency judgment. The borrowers demurred and moved for summary adjudication, on the ground that the claims were
barred by the three-month limitation period of Code Civ. Proc, § 580a. The trial court determined that the limitation
period was inapplicable to the bank's claims, overruled the demurrer, and denied the motion for summary adjudication.
(Superior Court of Contra Costa County, No. C 90-00309, David A. Dolgin, Judge.)
The Court of Appeal issued a peremptory writ of mandate directing the trial court to enter an order striking the
bank's causes of action for money on a written instrument and for a deficiency. The court held that Code Civ. Proc., §
580d, prohibiting a deficiency judgment in favor of a creditor exercising a power of sale contained in a deed of trust,
barred the bank's action. The court held that the antideficiency statutes were to be liberally construed to effectuate the
legislative purpose behind them, including the policy of providing parity in the creditors' remedies of private and
judicial foreclosure sales. The court also held that the bank was not a "sold-out junior lienor," even though it had lost its
security for the junior note, since the bank's own action of foreclosing the senior lien had caused the loss of security,
and since its position as dual lienholder eliminated the possibility that it might end up with no interest in the secured
property. (Opinion by Peterson, J., with Kline, P. J., and Benson, J., concurring.)
HEADNOTES
CALIFORNIA OFFICIAL REPORTS HEADNOTES
Classified to California Digest of Official Reports, 3d and 4th Series
Page 1
(1) Deeds of Trust § 2--Definitions and Distinctions--Dragnet Clause: Words, Phrases, and Maxims--Dragnet
Clause. --A "dragnet clause" contained in a deed of trust is a clause that has the effect of making the security
instrument security for the debtor's past, present, and future obligations to a particular creditor.
(2) Mandamus and Prohibition § 15--Mandamus--Conditions Affecting Issuance--Existence and Adequacy of
Other Remedy--Appeal--Question of First Impression. --Mandate was an appropriate remedy to review an order
denying a summary judgment and overruling a demurrer, where the case presented an important issue of first
impression involving application of the antideficiency statutes (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 580a-580d). The statutory
requirement of the inadequacy of an appellate remedy before mandate may issue, expressed in Code Civ. Proc., § 1086, is relaxed where the issues presented are of great public importance, and where general guidelines can be laid down for future cases. In addition, review by writ of the trial court's denial of petitioner's motion for summary adjudication of issues was expressly authorized by Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (l).
(3) Deeds of Trust § 38--Sale Under Power--Effect of Sale--Sold-out Junior Lienor. --A bank that was the beneficiary of both a senior and junior deed of trust on the same property, and foreclosed on the first deed of trust, was not a "sold-out junior lienor" with regard to its junior deed of trust. The bank's position of dual lienholder eliminated any possibility that the bank, after foreclosure and sale of the liened property under the first lien, might end up with no interest in the secured property. Accordingly, the bank was not a "sold-out junior lienor," even though it exhausted the security for its junior lien by its own action in foreclosing its senior lien at private sale.
(4) Deeds of Trust § 45--Sale Under Power--Deficiency--Actions to Recover--Sold-out Junior Lienor--Plaintiff
Foreclosing Senior Lien. --A bank's action to recover the deficiency due under a promissory note secured by a junior
deed of trust was barred by Code Civ. Proc., § 580d (deficiency judgment after private foreclosure forbidden), where
the bank had previously foreclosed a senior deed of trust on the debtor's property. The bank's action was barred
regardless of whether a dragnet clause existed in the senior lien merging the two loans. Permitting the bank to make
successive loans, and then to obtain a deficiency judgment after the bank chose to eliminate the security for its junior
loan by foreclosing its senior lien, would violate the policy of providing a parity of remedies between judicial and
private foreclosure sales. In addition, the borrowers could not be said to have waived the provisions of Code Civ. Proc.,
§ 580d, by agreeing to two separate loans, since the statutory proscriptions could not be avoided through artifice, nor
could the debtor be compelled to waive the statute in advance. The antideficiency legislation was established for a
public reason and cannot be contravened by a private agreement.
[See 3 Witkin, Summary of Cal. Law (9th ed. 1987) Security Transactions in Real Property, § 179.]
(5) Deeds of Trust § 45--Sale Under Power--Deficiency--Statutory Construction. --The antideficiency statutes are
to be liberally construed to effectuate the specific legislative purpose behind them. Courts give the antideficiency
legislation a broad and liberal construction that often goes beyond the narrow bounds of the statutory language. The
objective sought to be achieved by a statute, as well as the evil to be prevented, is of prime consequence in its
interpretation.
COUNSEL: Boor****an, Jensen & Garthe, Andrew R. Adler and A. Charles Dell'Ario for Petitioners.
No appearance for Respondent.
Lillick & Charles, James S. Monroe and Anne C. Slater for Real Party in Interest.
JUDGES: Opinion by Peterson, J., with Kline, P. J., and Benson, J., concurring.
OPINION BY: PETERSON, J.
OPINION
Page 2
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***1; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
[*65] [**429] Petitioners, George V. Simon, M.D., and his former wife Bonnie (Simon) Johnson (individually
Simon and Johnson, respectively; collectively the Simons), seek a writ of mandate to nullify the order of the trial court
denying their motion for summary adjudication of issues, and overruling their demurrer to the first and second causes of
action of the first amended complaint of real party in interest, Bank of America, NT & SA (Bank).
[*66] In granting the writ, we hold that, where a creditor makes two successive loans secured by separate deeds of
trust on the same real property and forecloses under its senior deed of trust's power of sale, thereby eliminating the
security for its junior deed of trust, section [***2] 580d of the Code of Civil Procedure 1 bars recovery of any
"deficiency" balance due on the obligation the junior deed of trust secured.
1 Unless otherwise indicated, all subsequent statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In August 1986, Bank lent the Simons a total sum of $ 1,575,000, for which the latter gave Bank two separate
promissory notes--the first in the amount of $ 1.2 million (senior note); the second for $ 375,000 (junior note). Each
note was secured by a separate deed of trust naming Bank beneficiary and describing the same real property (Simon
residence). The senior note was dated August 18, 1986; the deed of trust securing it (senior lien) was recorded August
28, 1986. The junior note was dated August 22, 1986; the deed of trust securing it (junior lien) was recorded August 28,
1986, subsequent to recordation of the senior lien. (1) Neither deed of trust contained a " 'dragnet' " clause, i.e., a clause
which "has the effect of making the security [***3] instrument security for the debtor's past, present and future
obligations to a particular creditor." ( Union Bank v. Wendland (1976) 54 Cal.App.3d 393, 398 [126 Cal.Rptr. 549].)
[**430] In August 1988, the Simons had defaulted on the senior note. Bank effected a nonjudicial foreclosure
under the power of sale conferred by the senior lien. At the trustee's sale in those proceedings, Bank purchased the
Simon residence for a credit bid of $ 1,050,000, later selling the property to a third party for $ 1,025,000. 2
2 Although the property was appraised for about $ 1.7 million during this period, Bank denies this figure was
an accurate opinion of the fair market value.
In January 1990, Bank commenced the underlying action seeking recovery from the Simons of $ 319,591 claimed
due on the junior note, together with accrued penalties, interest, and attorney fees; the junior lien having been exhausted
by Bank's nonjudicial foreclosure of its senior lien.
After the Simons' [***4] answer raised multiple affirmative defenses, including various provisions of the
antideficiency statutes of the Code of Civil Procedure, Bank filed a first amended complaint in four causes of action: (1)
a claim of money on a written instrument, (2) a deficiency judgment, (3) fraud, and (4) negligent misrepresentation in
the inducement of the loan. We [*67] are concerned here with only the first two causes of action, which seek recovery
of the obligation represented by the junior note.
Simon demurred to the first and second causes of action on the grounds they were barred by the three-month
limitation period of section 580a. Johnson moved for summary adjudication of those causes of action on the same
ground. They joined in each other's request for relief.
On April 25, 1991, respondeat superior court overruled the demurrer and denied the motion for summary
adjudication stating, "Code of Civil Procedure Section 580a is inapplicable to the first and second causes of action ...
[which] are not barred by the limitations period of said section." This petition followed.
The parties and the trial court addressed themselves to the issue of whether Bank was barred from pursuing its
[***5] causes of action for the deficiency due on the junior note, because it failed to file its complaint within three
months of the August 1988 trustee's sale under its senior lien; i.e., did Bank by foreclosure of its senior lien become, for
purposes of this action, a "sold-out junior lienor" to which the three-month limitation period of section 580a for filing
Page 3
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***1; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
deficiency actions following foreclosure is inapplicable under the holding of Roseleaf Corp. v. Chierighino (1963) 59
Cal.2d 35 [27 Cal.Rptr. 873, 378 P.2d 97].
We requested and received briefing and argument from the parties on a broader question of law this case presents
implicating section 580d. 3 ( Union Bank v. Wendland, supra, 54 Cal.App.3d 393.) May a creditor, making two
successive loans to a debtor on the security of the same real property, obtain title thereto by nonjudicial foreclosure
under the power of sale of a senior lien and, having thus eliminated the security for its junior lien, recover any
deficiency due on the obligation the junior lien secured? If section 580d bars such deficiency actions, consideration
[***6] of the application of the section 580a three-month limitation period in which to file them is moot.
3 Originally, the applicability of section 580d was not before us since the trial court proceedings focused on
section 580a. However, at our request, the parties briefed and argued this issue. "The question is one of law,
and the failure to consider it now would serve no purpose other than to exacerbate the burdens of the litigation."
( Sokol v. Public Utilities Commission (1966) 65 Cal.2d 247, 256-257 [53 Cal.Rptr. 673, 418 P.2d 265]; accord,
Ward v. Taggart (1959) 51 Cal.2d 736, 742 [336 P.2d 534].) At oral argument, Bank's counsel conceded that
the issue of the applicability of section 580d to the instant case is properly before this court.
[*68] II. DISCUSSION
A. Writ Relief
Section 1086 provides that a writ of mandate "must be issued in all cases where there is not a plain, speedy, and
adequate [***7] remedy, in the ordinary course of law." (See also, Running Fence Corp. v. Superior Court (1975) 51
Cal.App.3d 400, 408 [124 Cal.Rptr. 339].) (2) In interpreting section 1086, the courts have held: "[T]he intervention
[**431] of an appellate court may be required to consider instances of a grave nature or of significant legal impact, or
to review questions of first impression and general importance to the bench and bar where general guidelines can be
laid down for future cases. In such cases, the statutory requirement of inadequacy of appellate remedy may have been
relaxed in favor of immediate review of a question of statewide importance so that lower decisions in other cases will be
uniform [citations]. Indeed, where 'the issues presented are of great public importance and must be resolved promptly'
[citations], the existence of an alternative appellate remedy will not preclude the original jurisdiction conferred by the
California Constitution [citations]." ( Hogya v. Superior Court (1977) 75 Cal.App.3d 122, 129-130 [142 Cal.Rptr. 325],
italics added, fns. omitted.)
Because the facts [***8] of this case present an important issue of apparent first impression involving application
of the antideficiency statutes of this state, we conclude that mandate is an appropriate remedy.
Independently of the foregoing, review by writ of the court's denial of petitioners' motion for summary adjudication
of issues is expressly authorized by statute. (See § 437c, subd. (l).)
B. Background of the Antideficiency Statutes
The antideficiency statutes were spawned by the depression of the 1930's. "Prior to 1933, a mortgagee of real
property was required to exhaust his security before enforcing the debt or otherwise to waive all right to his security (§
726; see Walker v. Community Bank (1974) 10 Cal.3d 729, 733-734). However, having resorted to the security, whether
by judicial sale or private nonjudicial sale, the mortgagee could obtain a deficiency judgment against the mortgagor for
the difference between the amount of the indebtedness and the amount realized from the sale. As a consequence during
the great depression with its dearth of money and declining property values, a mortgagee was able to purchase the
subject real property at the foreclosure [***9] sale at a depressed price far below its normal fair market value and
thereafter to obtain a double recovery by holding the debtor for a large [*69] deficiency. ( Roseleaf Corp. v.
Chierighino (1963) 59 Cal.2d 35, 40; see Glenn, Mortgages (1943) § 156, pp. 857-861.) In order to counteract this
situation, California in 1933 enacted fair market value limitations applicable to both judicial foreclosure sales (§ 726)
and private foreclosure sales (§ 580a) which limited the mortgagee's deficiency judgment after exhaustion of the
Page 4
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *67; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **430;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***5; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
security to the difference between the fair value of the property at the time of the sale (irrespective of the amount
actually realized at the sale) and the outstanding debt for which the property was security. ... (See Hetland, Secured
Real Estate Transactions (Cont. Ed. Bar 1974) § 9.3, pp. 183-184.)" ( Cornelison v. Kornbluth (1975) 15 Cal.3d 590,
600-601 [125 Cal.Rptr. 557, 542 P.2d 981], fns. and parallel citations omitted.)
In 1933, the Legislature further constricted recovery of deficiencies by creditors by enacting section 580b barring,
[***10] inter alia, any deficiency judgments after foreclosure of a purchase money mortgage on real property occupied
entirely or in part by the purchaser. 4
4 "Section 580b places the risk of inadequate security on the purchase money mortgagee. A vendor is thus
discouraged from overvaluing the security. Precarious land promotion schemes are discouraged, for the security
value of the land gives purchasers a clue as to its true market value. [Citation.] If inadequacy of the security
results, not from overvaluing, but from a decline in property values during a general or local depression, section
580b prevents the aggravation of the downturn that would result if defaulting purchasers were burdened with
large personal liability. Section 580b thus serves as a stabilizing factor in land sales." ( Roseleaf Corp. v.
Chierighino, supra, 59 Cal.2d at p. 42; see also Spangler v. Memel (1972) 7 Cal.3d 603, 612 [102 Cal.Rptr.
807, 498 P.2d 1055]; Bargioni v. Hill (1963) 59 Cal.2d 121, 123 [28 Cal.Rptr. 321, 378 P.2d 593].)
[***11] "Although both judicial foreclosure sales and private nonjudicial foreclosure sales [i.e., on exercise of the
power of sale in a [**432] deed of trust] provided for identical deficiency judgments in nonpurchase money situations
subsequent to the 1933 enactment of the fair value limitations, one significant difference remained, namely property
sold through judicial foreclosure was subject to the statutory right of redemption (§ 725a), while property sold by
private foreclosure sale was not redeemable. By virtue of sections 725a and 701, the judgment debtor, his successor in
interest or a junior lienor could redeem the property at any time during one year after the sale, frequently by tendering
the sale price. The effect of this right of redemption was to remove any incentive on the part of the mortgagee to enter a
low bid at the sale (since the property could be redeemed for that amount) and to encourage the making of a bid
approximating the fair market value of the security. However, since real property purchased at a private foreclosure
sale was not subject to redemption, the mortgagee by electing this remedy, could gain irredeemable title to the property
by a bid substantially [***12] below the fair value and still collect a deficiency judgment for the difference between the
fair value of the security and the outstanding indebtedness.
[*70] "In 1940 the Legislature placed the two remedies, judicial foreclosure sale and private nonjudicial
foreclosure sale on a parity by enacting section 580d .... Section 580d bars 'any deficiency judgment' following a
private foreclosure sale. 'It seems clear ... that section 580d was enacted to put judicial enforcement on a parity with
private enforcement. This result could be accomplished by giving the debtor a right to redeem after a sale under the
power. The right to redeem, like proscription of a deficiency judgment, has the effect of making the security satisfy a
realistic share of the debt. [Citation.] By choosing instead to bar a deficiency judgment after private sale, the
Legislature achieved its purpose without denying the creditor his election of remedies. If the creditor wishes a
deficiency judgment, his sale is subject to statutory redemption rights. If he wishes a sale resulting in nonredeemable
title, he must forego the right to a deficiency judgment. In either case the debtor is protected.' ( Roseleaf Corp. v.
Chierighino, supra, 59 Cal.2d 35, 43-44.) [***13] " ( Cornelison v. Kornbluth, supra, 15 Cal.3d at p. 602, italics
added.)
Thus, section 580a, enacted before section 580d, limits the amount of a deficiency judgment after the real property
security has been sold at a nonjudicial sale to the lesser of either the excess of the indebtedness over the fair market
value of the property or the excess of the indebtedness over the sale price. 5 The section also provided, at the time of the
subject foreclosure, that any action to recover a deficiency "must be brought within three months of the time of sale
under such deed of trust or mortgage." (Stats. 1982, ch. 1535, § 1, p. 5966.)
5 Section 580a, as effective during the pendency of this action, provided in pertinent part: "Whenever a money
judgment is sought for the balance due upon an obligation for the payment of which a deed of trust or mortgage
Page 5
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *69; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **431;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***9; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
with power of sale upon real property or any interest therein was given as security, following the exercise of the
power of sale in such deed of trust or mortgage, the plaintiff shall set forth in his complaint the entire amount of
the indebtedness which was secured by said deed of trust or mortgage at the time of sale, the amount for which
the real property or interest therein was sold and the fair market value thereof at the date of sale and the date of
such sale. ... The court may render judgment for not more than the amount by which the entire amount of the
indebtedness due at the time of sale exceeded the fair market value of the real property or interest therein sold at
the time of sale with interest thereon from the date of the sale; provided, however, that in no event shall the
amount of said judgment, exclusive of interest after the date of sale, exceed the difference between the amount
for which the property was sold and the entire amount of the indebtedness secured by said deed of trust or
mortgage." (Stats. 1982, ch. 1535, § 1, pp. 5965-5966.)
[***14] C. Bank Is Not a "Sold-out Junior Lienor"
As one commentator has observed: "The importance of C.C.P. 580a was greatly diminished with the passage of
C.C.P. 580d ..., prohibiting a deficiency judgment following a nonjudicial sale, but it is still applied when a junior lienor
purchases at the sale. (See Walter E. Heller Western v. [*71] [**433] Blox[ham] (1985) 176 Cal.App.3d 266, 272
....)" 6 (3 Witkin, Summary of Cal. Law (9th ed. 1987) Security Transactions in Real Property, § 157, p. 657, italics
added.) "The effect [of the enactment of section 580d] is that the beneficiary of a deed of trust executed after 1939
cannot hold the debtor for a deficiency unless he uses the remedy of judicial foreclosure ... with its accompanying right
of redemption ...." (3 Witkin, op. cit. supra, § 175, p. 677.)
6 Walter E. Heller Western, Inc. v. Bloxham (1985) 176 Cal.App.3d [221 Cal.Rptr. 425] is discussed, post.
Here, the trial court [***15] considered the question of whether the creditor- bank holding both senior and junior
liens on the same real property, which purchases that property at the senior lien nonjudicial foreclosure sale, must file
its action to collect the obligation secured by the junior lien within three months of that sale, pursuant to section 580a.
He impliedly found, in his rulings on demurrer and summary issue adjudication, that under these circumstances Bank
was a "sold-out junior lienor" ( Roseleaf Corp. v. Chierighino, supra, 59 Cal.2d at p. 39) as to which the three-month
limitation period of section 580a was inapplicable; i.e., although Bank's deficiency causes of action were filed in
January 1990, more than three months after its senior lien foreclosure sale in August 1988, section 580a was no bar to
those causes of action because Bank was a sold- out junior lienor to whom section 580a and its limitation period were
inapplicable under Roseleaf. Roseleaf held that "The purpose of the fair-value limitations in sections 580a and 726 does
not extend to sold-out junior lienors." ( at p. 40.) (3) Bank contends that, since it foreclosed on [***16] its first but not
its second deed of trust, section 580a and the three-month limitation period it contains do not apply here because it is
such a "sold-out junior lienor," although it concededly reached that status by the act of its own senior lien foreclosure.
The further bar of section 580d 7 to Bank's deficiency actions was first raised by an affirmative defense of the
Simons to Bank's original complaint. Substituted counsel for the Simons later demurred to Bank's first amended
complaint and moved for summary adjudication of issues, relying on the bar of the three-month limitation period of
section 580a.
7 Section 580d, as effective during the pendency of this action, provided in pertinent part: "No judgment shall
be rendered for any deficiency upon a note secured by a deed of trust or mortgage upon real property hereafter
executed in any case in which the real property has been sold by the mortgagee or trustee under power of sale
contained in such mortgage or deed of trust." (Stats. 1941, First Ex. Sess. 1940, ch. 29, § 2, p. 84.)
[***17] In Roseleaf, appellant Roseleaf Corporation sold its hotel to Chierighino and his family. The
consideration given by the Chierighinos included a note secured by a first deed of trust on the hotel, and three notes
each secured by [*72] a second trust deed on three parcels of real property owned by Chierighino. Strangers to the
action were beneficiaries of the first trust deeds on these three parcels. After the sale of the hotel, those beneficiaries
sold the three parcels by exercising their powers of sale in the first trust deeds. The second trust deeds held by Roseleaf
Page 6
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *70; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **432;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***13; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
were rendered valueless by exhaustion of their security on completion of the first trust deed sale. Roseleaf sued to
recover the full amount unpaid on the three notes secured by the second trust deeds. The trial court entered judgment for
Roseleaf, and Chierighino appealed contending that Roseleaf's action was limited by section 580a and barred by
sections 580b and 580d.
The Supreme Court found that section 580a did not apply to a third party sold-out junior such as Roseleaf whose
security was lost by reason of a nonjudicial foreclosure by another party holding the first deed of trust. 8 The court also
[***18] held that the three-month [**434] limitation period of section 580a did not apply to Roseleaf as a third party
sold-out junior lienor. (59 Cal.2d at p. 39.)
8 "Fair value provisions are designed to prevent creditors from buying in at their own sales at deflated prices
and realizing double recoveries by holding debtors for large deficiencies. [Citations.] [P] ... [P] The position of
a junior lienor whose security is lost through a senior sale is different from that of a selling senior lienor. A
selling senior can make certain that the security brings an amount equal to his claim against the debtor or the fair
market value, whichever is less, simply by bidding in for that amount. He need not invest any additional funds.
The junior lienor, however, is in no better position to protect himself than is the debtor. Either would have to
invest additional funds to redeem or buy in at the sale. Equitable considerations favor placing this burden on the
debtor, not only because it is his default that provokes the senior sale, but also because he has the benefit of his
bargain with the junior lienor who, unlike the selling senior, might otherwise end up with nothing." (59 Cal.2d at
pp. 40-41, italics added.)
[***19] Bank erroneously equates itself in the case at bench to the junior lienor in Roseleaf. In doing so, it ignores
the fact that, unlike Roseleaf, it held both the senior and junior liens; it seeks to cast itself as the "sold-out junior lienor"
Roseleaf discussed simply because it exhausted the security for its junior lien by its own action in foreclosing its senior
lien at private sale.
Thus, the factors which influenced the Roseleaf court are not present in the instant case. Bank was not a third party
sold-out junior lienholder as was the case in Roseleaf. As the holder of both the first and second liens, Bank was fully
able to protect its secured position. It was not required to protect its junior lien from its own foreclosure of the senior
lien by the investment of additional funds. Its position of dual lienholder eliminated any possibility that Bank, after
foreclosure and sale of the liened property under its first lien, might end up with no interest in the secured property, the
principal rationale of the court's decision in Roseleaf. (59 Cal.2d at p. 41.) In fact, Bank purchased the Simon [***20]
residence on foreclosing its first lien by a credit bid without putting up any additional funds whatsoever.
[*73] Bank also relies on Dickey v. Williams (1966) 240 Cal.App.2d 270 [49 Cal.Rptr. 529] and Investcal Realty
Corp. v. Edgar H. Mueller Constr. Co. (1966) 247 Cal.App.2d 190 [55 Cal.Rptr. 475]. Like Roseleaf, both cases are
factually distinct from the situation in the instant case. Neither case is one in which the foreclosing senior lienholder
was also the junior lienholder of the same property.
In Dickey, the court found that a junior lienholder who purchases the secured property at the sale conducted by a
foreclosing third party is a sold-out junior lienholder within the holding of Roseleaf. (240 Cal.App.2d at p. 272.)
In Investcal Realty Corp., a junior lienor purchased a secured first parcel at the third party senior lienholder's
foreclosure sale, and judicially foreclosed on its junior lien on a second and separate parcel. The separate deeds of trust
secured the same promissory note. The junior lienor then sought [***21] a deficiency judgment for any balance
remaining unpaid on the promissory note. The court found the junior lienor was not precluded from judicially
foreclosing on the second parcel because it had purchased the first parcel. "We cannot hold Investcal waived its secured
interest as to the other lien [on the second parcel] if the junior lienholder [Investcal] purchases the property [the first
parcel] at the senior lienholder's trustee sale. [Citation.]" (247 Cal.App.2d at pp. 197-198.)
In a related context, courts have recognized a distinction between a purchasing junior lienor and a nonpurchasing
Page 7
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *72; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **433;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***17; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
junior lienor in applying the "fair market value" provisions of section 580a. In Bank of Hemet v. United States (9th Cir.
1981) 643 F.2d 661, the court held that a junior lienor who purchases at the senior's sale is limited by the fair market
value provisions of section 580a when seeking a deficiency judgment. "This case is ... distinguishable from Roseleaf in
that here the junior lienholder did bid on and purchase the property ...." ( at p. 669.) "In brief, the Bank was not a
sold-out junior lienholder as was [***22] the case in Roseleaf. [P] The crucial issue is whether this difference requires
that section 580a be applied to the [**435] Bank. We hold that it does. It follows that its right to a deficiency
judgment may be limited. To so limit the deficiency judgment right is consistent with the general purpose of section
580a, viz., to protect against a lienor buying in the property at a deflated price, obtaining a deficiency judgment, and
achieving a recovery in excess of the debt by reselling the property at a profit. Not to apply section 580a to the Bank
under facts of this case would create the distinct possibility of an excess recovery ...." ()
The Fourth District in Walter E. Heller Western, Inc. v. Bloxham, supra, 176 Cal.App.3d at page 273 agreed with
the Ninth Circuit's holding in Bank [*74] of Hemet, supra, that the fair market value provisions of section 580a apply
to limit the amount of the deficiency judgment recoverable by a junior lienor purchasing at a senior lienor sale. The
court in Heller reiterated that the junior in Roseleaf did not purchase at the senior's sale: "To apply the fair [***23]
value limitations to that junior would result in the amount of his deficiency being limited by the amount of someone
else's bid, a factor over which he has no control. However, once a junior chooses to purchase, it is equitable to apply
the fair value limitations to him. Any loss to him as creditor by his own underbidding is gained by him as purchaser for
a bargain price. [Citation.]" (176 Cal.App.3d at pp. 273-274.)
Similarly, the Second District in Citrus State Bank v. McKendrick (1989) 215 Cal.App.3d 941 [263 Cal.Rptr. 781]
concluded that a junior lienor who purchases the secured property at the foreclosure sale of a senior lienor is bound by
the three- month limitation period of section 580a. "[T]he language of section 580a could not be clearer. It states that
any action for a deficiency judgment 'must be brought within three months' of the foreclosure sale. Given the mandate
of section 580a, an action brought more than three months after the sale, as is the case here, is subject to dismissal as
untimely." (215 Cal.App.3d at p. 949.) 9
9 The Bank urges that even if section 580a applies to the instant case, the three-month limitation period should
not be used to bar the action since the court's decision in Citrus State Bank v. McKendrick, supra, 215
Cal.App.3d 941, postdates the date of the trustee's sale. We note that the limitation period has been a part of
section 580a since its enactment in 1933. We also note that the Ninth Circuit in its 1981 decision in Bank of
Hemet v. United States, supra, specifically mentioned the three-month limitation period of section 580a. (643
F.2d at p. 669.)
[***24] D. Section 580d Bars the Bank's Deficiency Causes of Action
The case at bench is not, however, one where, as in Citrus State Bank, a junior lienor purchases at a third party
senior lienor's foreclosure sale. Nor is it a case, as in Roseleaf, where a foreclosing senior lienor and the consequent
"sold-out junior lienor" whose security is thereby exhausted are separate parties.
The issue presented here was framed in the concurring opinion of Justice Elkington in Union Bank v. Wendland,
supra, as we hereinafter discuss.
We asked the parties to brief the applicability of this district's decision in Union Bank, particularly Justice
Elkington's concurring opinion. In that case, Wendland purchased a home for $ 26,500 in 1966. In 1967, he borrowed $
28,000 from the Stanford Bank, executing a promissory note and a deed of trust encumbering that real property as
security. Subsequently, Wendland borrowed another $ 6,000 (the second note) from the same lender without [*75]
giving additional security. Finally, in 1969, Wendland borrowed another $ 10,973 executing a third promissory note and
a second deed of trust on the same [***25] residential property. In 1971, Union Bank merged with Stanford Bank and
became the holder of the first and third promissory notes and the beneficiary of the two deeds of trust. Wendland
defaulted on the payments due under the first note, and the home was sold by the trustee pursuant to the first deed of
Page 8
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *73; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **434;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***21; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
trust. Union Bank was the purchaser.
In 1972, Union Bank filed a complaint against Wendland on the third note, seeking a personal judgment against
Wendland. [**436] Wendland denied that he was indebted on the third note and alleged that section 580b, which
applies to purchase money transactions, operated to bar the deficiency sought by the bank. After submission of the
case, Wendland sought to amend his answer to state that section 580d not 580b barred the bank's claim. The trial court
denied the motion to amend and entered judgment in favor of the bank.
Presiding Justice Molinari, writing for the majority, found that the sale under the first deed of trust triggered the
operation of section 580d to bar the action on the third note as an action for a deficiency. Justice Molinari's rationale
was that the third note, although specifically secured by the second deed of trust, [***26] was also a note secured by
the first deed of trust by virtue of its dragnet clause, and that the same result would be reached by application of the
merger doctrine which provides that a merger of a greater and a lesser estate occurs at law whenever they coincide in
the same person without an intermediate estate. (54 Cal.App.3d at pp. 405-406.) "To permit Union Bank to avoid the
effect of section 580d by what amounts to a method of paper shuffling, i.e., the execution of the second deed of trust
with the same security on which The Stanford Bank [Union Bank's predecessor] relied as security in making the original
loan, is to countenance an evasive device and to permit a circumvention of the antideficiency statutes. [P] ...
Accordingly, if property given as security under a deed of trust securing an original obligation is overvalued, or if, as a
result of a combination of the original obligation and a future advance it is overvalued, so as to render the security
inadequate, the risk should be that of the lender." ( at pp. 406-407, fn. omitted.)
Justice Elkington concurred in Justice Molinari's opinion based on the applicability of section [***27] 580d
without reliance on the effect of a dragnet clause in the senior deed of trust and the merger doctrine. He reiterated that
section 580d and its sister sections 580a, 580b, and 580c are an expression of California's strong public policy that
lenders shall be strictly limited in their right to deficiency judgments after foreclosure on real property security given for
their loans. (54 Cal.App.3d at p. 407.)
[*76] Justice Elkington then focused, as we do, on the issue of "whether by making two successive loans on the
security of the same property, the lender was permitted by private foreclosure under the 'first deed of trust's' power of
sale (1) to obtain title to the real property security, and then (2) hold the borrower liable for a deficiency, i.e., the
balance due on 'the third note,' the security for which had been rendered valueless by the lender's own act." (54
Cal.App.3d at p. 409, italics in original.)
Justice Elkington concluded that the lender could not take a deficiency judgment under such circumstances. "It is
opined that such a practice would be contrary to the provisions [***28] of section 580d, and to the policy expressed
thereby. It would permit the lender to frustrate the statute's public purpose by obtaining the real property security at a
private foreclosure sale thus denying the borrower any right of redemption, and also obtaining a judgment for the
remaining deficiency. Such a transaction should be construed in such a manner as 'to avoid thwarting the purpose of
section 580d.' [Citation.]" (54 Cal.App.3d at p. 409, italics added.)
Finally, Justice Elkington closed his concurrence by distinguishing Union Bank's position from that of the lender in
Roseleaf Corp. v. Chierighino, supra: "Nor do I believe that the lender bank, in the context of this case, should be
equated with a third party who might make a loan taking as security a second deed of trust on the same real property. It
is true that when the security of a second deed of trust is rendered valueless by a prior foreclosure, through no fault or
action of the second lender (see Brown v. Jensen [(1953)] 41 Cal.2d 193, 195-196 [259 P.2d 425]), [***29] that lender
for equitable reasons will ordinarily be permitted an action against the debtor on the second obligation. (See Roseleaf
Corp. v. Chierighino, supra, 59 Cal.2d 35, 43-44.) But [**437] such principles are obviously inapplicable in a factual
context such as that before us, where the single lender with the choice of a private or judicial foreclosure sale, opts for
the private sale. Having elected to proceed by way of a private sale under the 'first deed of trust's' power of sale the
lender in reason, and equity, was bound by that election. Having taken title to the subject real property in that manner,
it was precluded by section 580d from also taking a deficiency judgment." (54 Cal.App.3d at p. 410, fn. omitted.)
Page 9
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *75; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **435;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***25; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
Bank contends that the holding of Wendland is inapplicable to this case because its first deed of trust did not
contain a dragnet clause and because, in the absence of such a clause, the merger doctrine does not apply. Bank also
maintains that Justice Elkington's concurring opinion does not comport with the statutory language of section 580d or
the holding [***30] of Roseleaf, in that section 580d does not apply to a "sold-out junior lienor," continuing to insist
[*77] it meets that definition although it can be classified as such only because it literally "sold-out" itself by
foreclosing on its senior lien, and no third party's foreclosure or purchase affected the security of its junior lien.
(4) We believe Justice Elkington correctly perceived that section 580d bars a deficiency action of the type Bank
has here initiated, regardless of whether a dragnet clause exists in the senior deed of trust "merging" the junior and
senior loans which arguably are, as merged, secured by the senior lien. The Supreme Court in Roseleaf found the
purpose of section 580d is "to put judicial enforcement on a parity with private enforcement. ... If the creditor wishes a
deficiency judgment, his sale is subject to statutory redemption rights. If he wishes a sale resulting in nonredeemable
title, he must forego the right to a deficiency judgment. In either case the debtor is protected. [P] The purpose of
achieving a parity of remedies would not be served by applying section 580d against a nonselling junior lienor. ... He
may redeem from a senior [***31] judicial sale [§ 701], or he may obtain a deficiency judgment. [Citations.] After a
senior private sale, the junior has no right to redeem. This disparity of rights would be aggravated were he also denied a
right to a deficiency judgment by section 580d .... The junior's right to recover should not be controlled by the whim of
the senior ...." ( Roseleaf Corp. v. Chierighino, supra, 59 Cal.2d at pp. 43-44, italics added.)
Neither will a parity of creditor's remedies be served if Bank here is permitted to make a successive loans secured
by a senior and junior deed of trust on the same property; utilize its power of sale to foreclose the senior lien, thereby
eliminating the Simons' right to redeem; and having so terminated that right of redemption, obtain a deficiency
judgment against the Simons on the junior obligation whose security Bank, thus, made the choice to eliminate.
Unlike a true third party sold-out junior, Bank's right to recover as a junior lienor which is also the purchasing
senior lienor is obviously not controlled by the "whim of the senior." We will not sanction the creation of multiple trust
deeds [***32] on the same property, securing loans represented by successive promissory notes from the same debtor,
as a means of circumventing the provisions of section 580d. 10 The elevation of the form of such a contrived procedure
over its easily perceived substance would deal a mortal blow to [*78] the antideficiency legislation of this state.
Assuming, arguendo, [**438] legitimate reasons do exist to divide a loan to a debtor into multiple notes thus secured,
section 580d must nonetheless be viewed as controlling where, as here, the senior and junior lenders and lienors are
identical and those liens are placed on the same real property. Otherwise, creditors would be free to structure their loans
to a single debtor, and the security therefor, so as to obtain on default the secured property on a trustee's sale under a
senior deed of trust; thereby eliminate the debtor's right of redemption thereto; and thereafter effect an excessive
recovery by obtaining a deficiency judgment against that debtor on an obligation secured by a junior lien the creditor
chose to eliminate. (Cf., e.g., Freedland v. Greco (1955) 45 Cal.2d 462, 467 [289 P.2d 463] [***33] [Section 580d
was sought to be circumvented by the device of two notes of $ 7,000 each representing one $ 7,000 debt. One note was
secured by a second deed of trust, the other by a chattel mortgage. Plaintiff foreclosed on the deed of trust and chattel
mortgage, leaving a deficiency balance on the underlying debt of $ 7,000. Judgment for that deficiency was reversed.
"It is unreasonable to say the Legislature intended that section 580d could be circumvented by such a manifestly evasive
device. In such a situation the legislative intent must have been that the two notes are, in legal contemplation and under
section 580d, one ...."].)
10 Nor can we accept Bank's contention that the Simons waived the provisions of section 580d by agreeing to
two separate loans. "It is well settled that the proscriptions of section 580d cannot be avoided through artifice (
Passanisi v. Merit-McBride Realtors, Inc. (1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 1496, 1508), nor can the debtor be compelled
to waive its provisions in advance ( Freedland v. Greco (1955) 45 Cal.2d 462, 467-468). This is 'because the
antideficiency legislation was established for a public reason and cannot be contravened by a private agreement.
[Citation.] In determining whether a particular recovery is precluded, we must consider whether the policy
behind section 580d would be violated by such a recovery. [Citation.]' ( Commonwealth Mortgage Assurance
Co. v. Superior Court (1989) 211 Cal.App.3d 508, 515.)" ( Rettner v. Shepherd (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 943, 952
Page 10
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *76; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **437;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***29; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878
[282 Cal.Rptr. 687], parallel citations omitted.)
[***34] (5) The antideficiency statutes are to be "liberally construed to effectuate the specific legislative purpose
behind them. ... The courts have exhibited a very hospitable attitude toward the legislative policy underlying the
anti-deficiency legislation and have given it a broad and liberal construction that often goes beyond the narrow bounds
of the statutory language. [Citation.] And the legislative purpose against deficiency judgments may not be subverted." (
Union Bank v. Wendland, supra, 54 Cal.App.3d at p. 408 (conc. opn. of Elkington, J.) internal quotation marks and
brackets omitted.) "The objective sought to be achieved by a statute as well as the evil to be prevented is of prime
consequence in its interpretation." ( Western Oil & Gas Assn. v. Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control Dist.
(1989) 49 Cal.3d 408, 426 [261 Cal.Rptr. 384, 777 P.2d 157], internal quotation marks and brackets omitted; accord, In
re Marriage of Morrison (1978) 20 Cal.3d 437, 447 [143 Cal.Rptr. 139, 573 P.2d 41]; Roland Co. v. Walling (1946)
326 U.S. 657, 671 [90 L.Ed. 383, 390-391, 66 S.Ct. 413] [***35] ["This purpose remains the key to the meaning of the
words ...."]; American Tobacco Co. v. Superior Court (1989) 208 Cal.App.3d 480, 486 [255 Cal.Rptr. 280].)
We, therefore, conclude that section 580d applies to bar Bank's causes of action for a deficiency judgment. That
conclusion moots the question of the [*79] application of the three-month limitation period of section 580a to the
filing of Bank's complaint therefor.
III. DISPOSITION
Let a peremptory writ of mandate issue directing respondeat superior court to vacate its orders of April 25, 1991,
overruling petitioners' demurrer and denying their motion for summary adjudication, and to enter a new order striking
the first two causes of action from the complaint.
Kline, P. J., and Benson, J., concurred.
The petition of real party in interest for review by the Supreme Court was denied May 28, 1992. Lucas, C. J., and
Panelli, J., did not participate therein.
Page 11
4 Cal. App. 4th 63, *78; 5 Cal. Rptr. 2d 428, **438;
1992 Cal. App. LEXIS 274, ***33; 92 Cal. Daily Op. Service 1878 |
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