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Statute of Limitations in Foreclosure Action: Timing is Everything

Timing is everything – in love, in life and in lawsuits. Unlike timing in love and in life, timing in lawsuits is governed by certain laws including those referred to as the statute of limitations. Determining when the statute of limitations’ clock begins to tick can be tricky. For example, and as further discussed in today’s article, in Florida, a lender has five years from the date of default to foreclose on its mortgage and note. If the lender fails to file a foreclosure action within five years of the date of default upon which its lawsuit is based, the lender is barred from filing the foreclosure action.

This was the issue before the Third District Court of Appeal in the very recent case of Snow v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., decided on January 14, 2015. In this case, on May 25, 2007, the Snows executed a mortgage note with Wells Fargo for property located in Miami, Florida. Pursuant to the terms of the mortgage, Wells Fargo had the option to accelerate the debt in the event of a default.

Prior to accelerating the remainder of the debt upon default, Wells Fargo was required to provide the Snows with notice specifying the default, providing an opportunity for the Snows to cure the default within thirty days of the notice and informing the Snows that the failure to cure the default may result in acceleration of the mortgage debt. Upon the Snows’ default on October 1, 2007, Wells Fargo sent a notice to the Snows on December 6, 2007 which provided the Snows with thirty-five days to cure the default by paying off the amount of the default. However, the Snows failed to cure the default within the thirty-five day period (by January 10, 2008). It’s important to note that Wells Fargo’s notice did not provide notice that the remainder of the note would be accelerated if the default was not cured.

Then, on March 12, 2008, Wells Fargo filed a foreclosure action against the Snows. However, on June 28, 2011, Wells Fargo voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against the Snows, without prejudice. The term “without prejudice” in a judgment of dismissal ordinarily indicates the absence of a decision on the merits and leaves the parties free to litigate the matter in a subsequent action, as though the dismissed action had never existed.

On March 5, 2013, Wells Fargo filed its second foreclosure action against the Snows. The Snows argued that the second foreclosure action was barred by the five-year statute of limitations because the limitations period began to run on January 10, 2008 (the date by which the Snows were required to cure the default). Therefore, the Snows asserted the statute of limitations expired on January 10, 2013, three months prior to the filing date of the second foreclosure action.

Wells Fargo argued that the date the statute of limitations began to run was not January 10, 2008, but rather March 12, 2008, the date the first foreclosure complaint was filed. Therefore, Wells Fargo asserted the five-year limitations period had not yet expired when Wells Fargo filed the second foreclosure lawsuit on March 5, 2013. The trial court agreed with Wells Fargo and determined that the second foreclosure action was filed prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

On appeal, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s decision and held that the second foreclosure lawsuit was timely filed. In its discussion, the Court noted the difference in the calculation of the statute of limitations with regard to mortgage notes with an automatic acceleration clause and those with an optional acceleration clause.

When an acceleration clause is automatic, the entire indebtedness becomes due immediately upon default, and the five-year statute of limitations begins to run without notice. When an acceleration clause is optional, the lender must exercise this option and give notice to the borrower of the election, making the entire indebtedness due. It is when the lender exercises the acceleration option and notifies the borrower of its exercise that the five-year statute of limitations begins to run.

In this case, the statute of limitations began to run on March 12, 2008, when Wells Fargo filed its first foreclosure action. The Court found that the December 6, 2007 notice of default from Wells Fargo was not Wells Fargo’s exercise of its option to accelerate the mortgage note because the notice did not provide that the full amount of the indebtedness was immediately due nor did it demand payment of the full amount of indebtedness. Wells Fargo did not make such a demand for the full amount due (i.e., the accelerated amount) until it filed its first foreclosure complaint on March 12, 2008. Therefore, the Court determined that the statute of limitations would have expired on March 12, 2013, a week after the second foreclosure action was filed. Timing is everything.