Elements of Wrongful Foreclosure Tort in Texas (updated)

 
CAUSE OF ACTION FOR WRONGFUL FORECLOSURE 
 
Elements of Wrongful Foreclosure

The elements of wrongful foreclosure are: (1) a defect in the foreclosure sale proceeding; (2) a grossly inadequate selling price; and (3) a causal connection between the defect and the grossly inadequate selling price. Charter Nat'l Bank-Houston v. Stevens, 781 S.W.2d 368, 371 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, writ denied).
 
A wrongful foreclosure claim does not always require proof of a grossly inadequate selling price if another substantive injury to the mortgagor exists. Id. Under Texas law, "a deed of trust is a mortgage with a power to sell on default." Starcrest Trust v. Berry, 926 S.W.2d 343, 351 (Tex.App.-Austin 1996, no writ) (internal quotation omitted). Mortgages, and therefore deeds of trust, are construed like contracts. Id. at 351-52. "Further, `[t]he note and deed of trust on . . . property should be construed together and effectively regarded as one instrument.'" Id. (quoting Chapa v. Herbster, 653 S.W.2d 594, 600 (Tex.App.-Tyler 1983, no writ)).

SOURCE: Helms v. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Dist. Court, SD Texas 2012

The elements for wrongful foreclosure when the plaintiff seeks to set aside the sale are (1) a defect in the foreclosure sale proceedings; (2) a grossly inadequate selling price; and (3) a causal connection between the defect and the grossly inadequate selling price. See Charter Nat’l Bank-Houston v. Stevens, 781 S.W.2d 368, 371 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 1989, writ denied).

SOURCE: Houston Court of Appeals 01-09-00269-CV 4/28/11 (dissenting opinion)

RELATED LEGAL TERMS: Wrongful foreclosure, irregularity in foreclosure sale proceeding, eviction, ownership and right to possession