Steven Williams v. JP Morgan Mortgage Acquisition

PER CURIAM. Upon consideration of this appeal, the Court is of the view that the well-reasoned decision rendered by the District Court adequately addresses all issues raised herein. Therefore, this Court adopts as its decision the Opinion and Order issued by the District Court on March 19, 2010, and affirms the judgment of the District Court. 1 Footnotes [1] Following oral argument, by letter dated August 17, 2011, Appellants referred the panel's attention to several recent Michigan Court of Appeals decisions of potential relevance to this appeal, including Richard v. Schneiderman & Sherman, P.C., No. 297353, 2011 WL 3524302 (Mich.Ct.App. Aug. 11, 2011). However, the specific decision in Richard cited by Appellants was subsequently vacated by the Court of Appeals and replaced with a new decision dated August 25, 2011. See Richard v. Schneiderman & Sherman, P.C., - Mich.App. -, - N.W.2d -, 2011 WL 3760862 (2011). The new decision is identical to the original except that the Court of Appeals replaced the final paragraph and footnote two with two additional paragraphs that clarify and expound upon footnote two. These paragraphs read as follows: However, given the unique nature of foreclosure by advertisement, there is longstanding caselaw that limits the application of [Residential Funding Co., LLC v. Saurman, 292 Mich.App. 321, 807 N.W.2d 412 (2011)]. First, our Supreme Court has held that a mortgagor must challenge the validity of a foreclosure by advertisement promptly and without delay. See White v. Burkhardt, 338 Mich. 235, 239, 60 N.W.2d 925 (1953) (Claim too late where redemption period expired prior to filing of complaint); Fox v. Jacobs, 289 Mich. 619, 625, 286 N.W. 854 (1939) (Twenty months after foreclosure sale too late). In addition, in Hogan v. Hester Investment Co., 257 Mich. 627, 241 N.W. 881 (1932), our Supreme Court held that the validity of a foreclosure by advertisement may not be challenged after the property is sold to a bona fide purchaser. Thus, Saurman does not apply in an action to recover title or possession of property if the mortgagor failed to challenge the foreclosure by advertisement during the redemption period or any proceedings seeking an order of eviction, or if the foreclosed property has been sold to a bona fide purchaser. Here, because plaintiff filed his claim during the redemption period and there is no evidence of a bona fide purchaser, he is entitled to relief under Saurman. Accordingly, we reverse the trial court’s grant of summary disposition, vacate the foreclosure proceeding, and remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. We do not retain jurisdiction. Id. Because Appellants failed to challenge the foreclosure by advertisement within the redemption period, this Court declines to consider the precedent cited in Appellant’s letter of August 17, 2011.