Baroni v. Bank of New York Mellon (In Re Baroni)

MEMORANDUM ** Allana Baroni (“Baroni”) appeals the district court’s order affirming the bankruptcy court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as “The Bank of New York”) (“BNYM”). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291, and we affirm. 1. Baroni’s note secured by a deed of trust is a “negotiable instrument” under Cal. Com. Code § 3104(a). Yvanova v. New Century Mortg. Corp., 62 Cal. 4th 919, 927, 199 Cal.Rptr.3d 66, 365 P.3d 845 (2016) (citing Creative Ventures, LLC v. Jim Ward & Assocs., 195 Cal. App. 4th 1430, 1445-46, 126 Cal.Rptr.3d 564 (2011) (applying Commercial Code to promissory note) ). That the principal on her note may increase if she fails to pay interest does not render the note non-negotiable. Regardless of any “interest” or additional “charges,” Baroni agreed to pay at the very least $1.248 million—a “fixed amount of money” pursuant § 3104(a). 2. The undisputed evidence establishes BNYM possesses Baroni’s promissory note indorsed in blank. As the “holder of the instrument,” BNYM may “enforce” it in this bankruptcy action. §§ 1201(b)(21)(A), 3301 (internal quotation marks omitted); see also In re Veal, 450 B.R. 897, 910-11, 917 (B.A.P. 9th Cir. 2011) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted); In re Smith, 509 B.R. 260, 266-67 (Bankr. N.D. Cal. 2014) (citations omitted). AFFIRMED. Footnotes [**] This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.