throbber
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`EXHIBIT1
`EXHIBIT 1
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`
`
`SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
`COUNTY OF NEW YORK
`
`In the matter of the application of
`
`U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (and U.S.
`BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL
`ASSOCIATION (each separately as Trustee, Securities
`Administrator, Paying Agent, and/or Calculation Agent
`under various Pooling and Servicing Agreements),
`
`
`
`PetitionerPetitioners,
`
`for judicial instructions pursuant to CPLR Article 77.
`
`Index No. 656028/2021
`
`Justice Andrew S. Borrok
`Part 53
`
`FIRSTSECOND AMENDED
`PETITION
`
`
`
`PetitionerPetitioners U.S. Bank National Association and U.S. Bank Trust Company,
`
`National Association, solely in itstheir capacities as trustee, securities administrator, paying agent,
`
`and/or calculation agent (as named in such role or as successor to the named party, the
`
`“PetitionerPetitioners”)
`
`for
`
`the
`
`seventy-sevensixty-six
`
`residential mortgage-backed
`
`securitization trusts (“RMBS”) listed on Exhibit A hereto (including any individually designated
`
`loan groups therein, the “Subject Trusts”), filesfile this firstsecond amended petition (the
`
`“Petition” or “Second Amended Petition”) pursuant to Article 77 of the New York Civil Practice
`
`Law and Rules (“CPLR”) seeking instruction concerning the interpretation and application of
`
`certain provisions of the contracts governing the Subject Trusts (the “Governing Agreements”).
`
`This Second Amended Petition modifies the list of Subject Trusts to add the “Group II
`
`Certificates” of SACO I 2005-10 (as that term is defined in Exhibit B (SACO I 2005-10 PSA))
`
`(“SACO I 2005-10 (Grp. II)”),1and revises omit reference to the eleven RMBS previously at issue
`
`in this proceeding pursuant to the first amended petition (the “First Amended Petition”)
`
`
`1 Petitioner is not seeking instruction concerning the “Group I Certificates” for SACO I 2005-10
`(as defined in Exhibit B (SACO I 2005-10 PSA)) because the issues raised herein are not expected
`to impact the Group I Certificates due to amounts owed to the insurer of certain Group I
`Certificates.
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`(NYSCEF No. 33),1 but which have since been severed from this action following entry of certain
`
`Partial Severance Orders and Partial Final Judgments related to these RMBS (NYSCEF Nos. 171,
`
`258), and to revise certain aspects of the original petition (NYSCEF No. 1) (the “OriginalFirst
`
`Amended Petition”). A redline comparing the Second Amended Petition to the OriginalFirst
`
`Amended Petition is attached as Exhibit 1 to the affirmation of Nidhi Nina Yadava filed
`
`contemporaneously herewith.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`1.
`
`In itstheir respective roles for each of the Subject Trusts, Petitioner isPetitioners are
`
`responsible for calculating and distributing payments to investors, known as “certificateholders,”
`
`from the collections derived from the mortgage loans held in the Subject Trusts. Certificateholders
`
`own designated classes of “certificates” that are entitled to distributions in a specific order set
`
`forth in payment provisions in the Governing Agreements. These provisions are commonly
`
`referred to as “waterfalls,” and the Governing Agreements contain three distinct waterfalls that
`
`govern distributions: (i) the “interest” waterfall, (ii) the “principal” waterfall, and (iii) the
`
`“Excess Cashflow” waterfall.
`
`2.
`
`This Petition concerns issues regarding (i) the manner in which distributions are
`
`calculated and applied under the waterfalls after the aggregate outstanding principal balances of
`
`the Class A, Class M, and/or Class B classes of certificates (the “Primary Classes”) are reduced
`
`to zero, and (ii) the treatment of borrower payments of deferred or forborne principal, interest,
`
`and/or other amounts on mortgages that have been subject to servicer modifications in connection
`
`
`1 The First Amended Petition was preceded by an original petition dated as of October
`18, 2021 (the “Original Petition”) (NYSCEF No. 1) which was accompanied by an original
`order to show cause entered as of November 16, 2021 (the “Original Order to Show Cause”)
`(NYSCEF No. 30).
`
`
`
`-2-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`with a default or a reasonably foreseeable default (as determined by servicers), which is a
`
`subsidiary issue that has the potential to impact issue (i).
`
`Issues Related to Distributions of Funds
`After Primary Classes’ Principal Balances Are Reduced to Zero
`
`Each of the Subject Trusts issued Class A, Class M, and/or Class B classes, i.e., the
`
`3.
`
`Primary Classes. See, e.g., Exhibit C (SACO I 2006-4 Pooling and Servicing Agreement)
`
`(“PSA”), § 6.01.2 These classes of certificates have priority payment rights at varying levels with
`
`respect to the funds collected over the life of the Subject Trusts. See generally id. § 5.04(a). The
`
`Subject Trusts also issued Class C, CE, or B-IO classes (referred to herein as the “Class C Classes”
`
`or “Class C”), which may be entitled to specified funds in certain circumstances. See generally
`
`id.
`
`4.
`
`Distributions to the Primary Classes under the principal and interest waterfalls are
`
`calculated based upon the outstanding principal balances of each Primary Class. See id.
`
`§ 5.04(a)(1)-(2).
`
`5.
`
`Distributions to the Class C Classes are generally limited to certain amounts that
`
`may be distributable under the Excess Cashflow waterfall, and the economic interests of the Class
`
`C Classes are tied to the “overcollateralization” structure of the Subject Trusts. See generally id.
`
`§ 5.04(a)(3).
`
`
`2 Although certain of the Governing Agreements use varying terminology for particular concepts,
`they are materially similar with respect to the issues addressed in the Petition unless otherwise
`noted. To the extent this Petition cites particular definitions or provisions from the Governing
`Agreements, unless otherwise noted it uses SACO I 2006-4 as an exemplar, and the pooling and
`servicing agreement for this transaction, dated March 1, 2006, is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
`Because the total volume of the relevant contracts is many thousands of pages in length, Petitioner
`isPetitioners are prepared to provide the Court with electronic versions of each Subject Trust’s
`pooling and servicing agreement in a format to be specified by the Court.
`
`
`
`-3-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`6.
`
`Under the overcollateralization structure, the initial aggregate unpaid principal
`
`balance of the mortgage loans held in each Subject Trust exceeded the initial aggregate principal
`
`balance of the Subject Trust’s Primary Classes. See Exhibit D (SACO I 2006-4 Remittance Report,
`
`Apr. 2006) at 2, 5; see also Exhibit E (SACO I 2006-4 Prospectus Supplement) (“Pro Supp”) at
`
`S-9. At any given time, the current amount of overcollateralization is equal to the excess aggregate
`
`unpaid principal balance of the mortgage loans over the aggregate outstanding principal balance
`
`of the Primary Classes. See PSA § 1.01 (Definition of Overcollateralization Amount). This
`
`excess, if any, may fluctuate, and it is intended as a credit enhancement for the Primary Classes
`
`insofar as the collateral in the Subject Trusts was generally expected to generate more cashflow
`
`than needed to satisfy interest and principal amounts owed to the Primary Classes. See Exhibit E
`
`(Pro Supp) at S-8 to S-9. This feature was specifically intended to insulate the Primary Classes
`
`from incurring “realized losses.” Id. at S-17.
`
`7.
`
`If on any payment date the level of overcollateralization in a Subject Trust exceeds
`
`the amount of overcollateralization required under the Governing Agreements, funds may be
`
`distributed under the Excess Cashflow waterfall (in addition to any required distributions made
`
`under the interest and principal waterfalls). See PSA, §§ 1.01 (Definition of Excess Cashflow),
`
`5.04(a)(3). Excess Cashflow may be distributed to certain Primary Classes as reimbursement for
`
`prior realized losses or interest shortfalls incurred by such Primary Classes, and thereafter any
`
`remaining funds constituting Excess Cashflow may be distributed to the Class C Classes, which
`
`are in a subordinate position in the Excess Cashflow waterfall. See id. § 5.04(a)(3).
`
`8.
`
`As a result of defaults on the mortgage loans, the Primary Classes have incurred
`
`substantial realized losses, which have also eroded the overcollateralization in the Subject Trusts.
`
`See Exhibit F
`
`(Selected Aggregate Subject Trust Data).
`
`
`
`Indeed,
`
`the
`
`individual
`
`
`
`-4-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`overcollateralization for each Subject Trust has generally not reached levels high enough to permit
`
`distributions under the Excess Cashflow waterfall, and such distributions have been very limited
`
`since issuance. See id. As of the September 2021 payment period, the Subject Trusts currently
`
`have $191,245,983173,938,232
`
`in aggregate overcollateralization, and
`
`the amount of
`
`overcollateralization (which, for certain of the Subject Trusts, is determined with respect to
`
`particular loan groups) ranges from $12,599 to $19,614,369.3 See id.
`
`9.
`
`Due to both principal payments and the application of realized losses, the Primary
`
`Classes’ principal balances will eventually be reduced to zero and some already have been reduced
`
`to zero. See id. It is expected that when the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Primary
`
`Classes for a Subject Trust is reduced to zero, there will be some amount of assets remaining in
`
`the Subject Trusts (or, for Subject Trusts where this has already occurred, there are in fact assets
`
`remaining). See id. It is also expected that certain of the Primary Classes will have outstanding
`
`unreimbursed realized losses and/or interest shortfalls at that time (or presently have losses and/or
`
`shortfalls for applicable Subject Trusts where the Primary Classes have already reached an
`
`aggregate principal balance of zero). See id.
`
`10.
`
`The Governing Agreements, however, are unclear as to whether collections on the
`
`mortgage loans should be distributed under the principal or Excess Cashflow waterfalls when the
`
`Primary Classes’ principal balances are reduced to zero (“Post-Zero Balance Collections”). This
`
`gives rise to various questions concerning how PetitionerPetitioners should administer the
`
`waterfalls here, which ultimately may impact whether, and to what extent, the Primary Classes or
`
`Class C Classes are entitled to distributions of Post-Zero Balance Collections.
`
`
`3 Unless otherwise noted, all statements in this Petition concerning the Subject Trusts’ current
`economics are as of the September 2021 payment period.
`
`
`
`-5-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`11.
`
`In addition, the Governing Agreements include a “Retired Class Provision” that
`
`may arguably prohibit distributions to the Primary Classes after such classes’ principal balances
`
`have been reduced to zero. See PSA, § 5.04(a). As a result, the Retired Class Provision may
`
`prevent distributions of Post-Zero Balance Collections to the Primary Classes regardless of
`
`whether Post-Zero Balance Collections are construed to come within the principal or Excess
`
`Cashflow waterfalls. See id. This may potentially result in distributions to the Class C Classes,
`
`even though certain Primary Classes have substantial outstanding realized losses. See id. It is
`
`unclear whether the Retired Class Provision should have this effect given the structure of the
`
`Subject Trusts, and this particular provision is subject to an ongoing dispute among interested
`
`parties in a different matter concerning some of the Subject Trusts. Additionally, Petitioner
`
`hasPetitioners have received correspondence from investors asserting that the Retired Class
`
`Provision should not be applied to prevent distributions of Excess Cashflow to Class A classes,
`
`and should also not be applied to prevent increases to the balances of such classes in certain
`
`circumstances.
`
`Issues Related to Treatment of Collections of Deferred Payments on Modified Mortgage Loans
`
`12.
`
`The servicers for the mortgage loans in the Subject Trusts periodically authorize
`
`loan modification agreements with borrowers under which borrowers may be permitted to defer
`
`scheduled payments of principal or payments of interest or other amounts.
`
`13.
`
`Servicers typically include all amounts that are deferred under modification
`
`agreements in a non-interest-bearing component of the mortgage loan’s principal balance
`
`(“Deferred Principal Amounts”), and generally report and treat Deferred Principal Amounts as
`
`losses on the mortgage loans, i.e., as a “loan-level loss.” It is a common industry practice for
`
`servicers to treat such amounts as losses even though most of the Governing Agreements do not
`
`expressly call for treating Deferred Principal Amounts as losses. See id. § 1.01 (Definition of
`
`
`
`-6-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`Realized Loss). This practice reflects the possibility that borrowers may ultimately not pay back
`
`Deferred Principal Amounts that are due on modified loans, and, at least in part, has been
`
`influenced by government guidance stemming from the 2008 financial crisis, as discussed infra
`
`¶¶ 70-76.
`
`14.
`
`In some instances, however, borrowers may eventually pay Deferred Principal
`
`Amounts according to a schedule set forth in the applicable modification agreement, which often
`
`provides that Deferred Principal Amounts are due at the end of the term of the loan or over some
`
`set period of time. When this happens, servicers reduce the non-interest-bearing principal balance
`
`associated with the modified loan in the amount of any borrower payments corresponding to
`
`Deferred Principal Amounts (“Deferred Principal Collections”).
`
`15. With respect to the certificates, servicer treatment of Deferred Principal Amounts
`
`as loan-level losses may reduce overcollateralization and may result in the application of realized
`
`losses to the Primary Classes, if there is insufficient overcollateralization to provide a buffer for
`
`such realized losses when applied. See id. § 5.05(a); see also id. § 1.01 (Definition of Applied
`
`Realized Loss Amount). If a realized loss is applied to one or more Primary Classes, Petitioner
`
`isPetitioners are required to reduce, or write down, the certificate principal balance of the particular
`
`Primary Classes to which the loss is applied. See id. §§ 5.05(b), 1.01 (Definitions of Applied
`
`Realized Loss Amount, Certificate Principal Balance). Additionally, if Deferred Principal
`
`Collections are distributed to one or more Primary Classes, Petitioner isPetitioners are required to
`
`reduce the certificate principal balance of the particular Primary Classes that received such
`
`distributions to account for a principal payment. See id. §§ 1.01 (Definition of Certificate Principal
`
`Balance), 5.04(a)(2).
`
`
`
`-7-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`16.
`
`From time to time, servicers may also remit collections representing recoveries on
`
`previously recognized loan-level losses for loans subject to a liquidation or final disposition, as
`
`indicated in servicer reporting, and these types of recoveries are defined as “Subsequent
`
`Recoveries.” See id. § 1.01 (Definition of Subsequent Recoveries); see also id. § 3.04 (“The
`
`Master Servicer . . . shall account fully to the Trustee for any funds received by the Master Servicer
`
`or that otherwise are collected by the Master Servicer as . . . Subsequent Recoveries in respect of
`
`any such Mortgage Loan.”). The Governing Agreements require PetitionerPetitioners to increase,
`
`or “write-up,” the balance of the Primary Classes in the amount of Subsequent Recoveries
`
`remitted by the Servicer. See id. § 5.04(b); see also id. § 1.01 (Definitions of Certificate Principal
`
`Balance, Subsequent Recoveries). This is done to account for the prior application of a realized
`
`loss to the certificates stemming from the underlying loan-level loss on liquidated or disposed-of
`
`loans.
`
`17.
`
`But, the Governing Agreements for the vast majority of the Subject Trusts do not
`
`define Subsequent Recoveries to include amounts collected that relate to Deferred Principal
`
`Amounts or previously reported losses resulting from loan modifications. See id. And, Subsequent
`
`Recoveries are the only designated amounts for which write-ups may be applied under the
`
`Governing Agreements—i.e., if an amount is not a Subsequent Recovery, there is no express
`
`mechanism requiring the application of a write-up for such amount. Consistent with these aspects
`
`of the Governing Agreements for such Subject Trusts, Petitioner doesPetitioners do not treat
`
`Deferred Principal Collections as Subsequent Recoveries, and doesdo not apply write-ups to the
`
`Primary Classes when Deferred Principal Collections are distributed. There are, however, four
`
`Subject Trusts where the Governing Agreements are slightly different with respect to this issue:
`
`(i) three of the Subject Trusts have a definition of Subsequent Recoveries that includes “amounts
`
`
`
`-8-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`received” with respect to “a Mortgage Loan that has been modified which resulted in a Realized
`
`Loss,” and (ii) one Subject Trust has no reference to Subsequent Recoveries. See Exhibit G
`
`(Subsequent Recovery Concepts for the Subject Trusts). In total, then, seventy-threesixty-two of
`
`the seventy-sevensixty-six Subject Trusts do not define Subsequent Recoveries to include
`
`collections stemming from modification-related realized losses, such as Deferred Principal
`
`Collections. See id.
`
`18.
`
`The treatment of Deferred Principal Collections may materially impact the amount
`
`of funds distributed to any particular class of certificates in the future. The aggregate mortgage
`
`loan balance for a Subject Trust, as reported by servicers each period, necessarily reflects a
`
`decrease for any Deferred Principal Amounts included in a non-interest-bearing balance for a
`
`modified loan, due to servicers treating such amounts as loan-level losses. Such losses decrease
`
`the aggregate mortgage loan balance at the time of modification. When Deferred Principal
`
`Collections are subsequently received and distributed to certificateholders in a later period, such
`
`amounts decrease the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Primary Classes—because no
`
`write-up is applied. But, in the period of such distributions, servicers do not apply a downward
`
`adjustment to the collateral balance due to the fact that a loan-level loss was previously recognized
`
`for the related Deferred Principal Amounts. As a result, distributions of Deferred Principal
`
`Collections may increase the amount by which the aggregate principal balance of the mortgage
`
`loans (which, again, are not reduced for such amounts) exceeds the Primary Classes’ aggregate
`
`outstanding principal balance (which, again, are reduced for such amounts). This necessarily may
`
`lead to increases in overcollateralization. Additionally, if Deferred Principal Collections do not
`
`result in the application of write-ups to the Primary Classes, such classes will approach a zero
`
`dollar principal balance more quickly than they otherwise would if write-ups were applied. See
`
`
`
`-9-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`PSA § 1.01 (Definition of Certificate Principal Balance). All of this has the potential to increase
`
`Post-Zero Balance Collections and may impact which classes of certificates receive future
`
`distributions.
`
`19.
`
`Although Petitioner’sPetitioners’ practice is consistent with the terms of the
`
`Governing Agreements for the aforedescribed seventy-threesixty-two Subject Trusts, Petitioner
`
`anticipatesPetitioners anticipate that certain interested parties may argue that Deferred Principal
`
`Collections should be included in Subsequent Recoveries, or that write-ups should otherwise be
`
`applied for such amounts. Other interested parties may take the opposite view. Petitioner
`
`notesPetitioners note that in a different case concerning waterfall issues, certain investors filed a
`
`counter-petition opposing the inclusion of Deferred Principal Collections in Subsequent
`
`Recoveries, but asserting that Deferred Principal Collections should nevertheless result in the
`
`application of write-ups to certain classes of certificates. See infra ¶¶ 31-34.
`
`20.
`
`PetitionerPetitioners cannot predict the amount of Deferred Principal Collections
`
`servicers ultimately may remit to the Subject Trusts in the future. However, servicers have
`
`reported hundreds of millions of dollars in loan-level losses associated with Deferred Principal
`
`Amounts for active mortgage loans, and thus Deferred Principal Collections could potentially be
`
`substantial depending upon the rate at which borrowers repay Deferred Principal Amounts. The
`
`more substantial Deferred Principal Collections are, the more substantial the impact may be on
`
`Post-Zero Balance Collections.
`
`*
`
`*
`
`*
`
`21.
`
`All of these issues expose PetitionerPetitioners to potential conflicting claims
`
`concerning the proper method to distribute funds under the Subject Trusts’ Governing Agreements,
`
`and Petitioner expectsPetitioners expect that these issues may ultimately impact distributions in
`
`
`
`-10-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`excess of $191173 million in aggregate. See Exhibit F. Judicial instruction is necessary to ensure
`
`that Petitioner isPetitioners are able to make distributions without the prospect of after-the-fact
`
`challenges that may encumber trust funds or result in claw-backs or disputes. This proceeding will
`
`provide all interested parties with the opportunity to appear and be heard, and will result in a
`
`resolution of all relevant issues such that PetitionerPetitioners may distribute the funds at issue
`
`with finality.
`
`OTHER WATERFALL CASES
`
`22.
`
`Although this Petition raises novel questions regarding the administration of
`
`waterfall provisions, courts have previously addressed, and continue to address, payment
`
`distribution issues with respect to hundreds of “legacy” era RMBS transactions, including many
`
`of the Subject Trusts.
`
`23.
`
`Certain of the Subject Trusts have been included in both (i) court-approved
`
`settlements with respect to asserted or unasserted claims concerning alleged breaches of
`
`representations and warranties regarding mortgage loans and/or violations of loan servicing
`
`obligations under various provisions of the Governing Agreements, and (ii) post-settlement,
`
`follow-on judicial instruction proceedings concerning the administration and distribution of
`
`settlement payments for such court-approved settlements.
`
`24.
`
`In the largest such proceeding concerning distribution issues (“JPM II”), U.S.
`
`Bank and other petitioners filed a petition under CPLR Article 77 for judicial instruction as to the
`
`administration and distribution of billions of dollars in settlement funds. See In re Wells Fargo
`
`Bank et al., No. 657387/2017, Decision and Order at 1-2 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty. Feb. 13, 2020) (Dkt.
`
`No. 843).
`
`25.
`
`On February 13, 2020, the court in JPM II issued a 46-page order (the “JPM II
`
`Trial Court Order”) providing judicial instruction as to the administration and distribution of the
`
`
`
`-11-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`JPM II settlement funds. Id. Various parties in the JPM II proceeding appealed the JPM II Trial
`
`Court Order to the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department. See In re Wells Fargo
`
`Bank et al., No. 2020-02716, Opinion at 1 (1st Dep’t, Aug. 19, 2021) (Dkt. No. 111). The First
`
`Department issued an opinion affirming the JPM II Trial Court Order on August 19, 2021. See id.
`
`(the “JPM II Appellate Opinion”). Two parties subsequently filed motions before the First
`
`Department seeking reargument or permission to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals, and
`
`those motions were denied on November 16, 2021. See In re Wells Fargo Bank et al., No. 2020-
`
`02716, Order (1st Dep’t, Nov. 16, 2021) (Dkt. No. 127). These same parties have
`
`sincesubsequently filed motions before the New York Court of Appeals seeking permission to
`
`appeal. Their motions remain pending as of the filing date of this Amended Petition, and these
`
`motions have since been denied on the grounds that the order sought to be appealed from did not
`
`finally determine the proceeding.
`
`26.
`
`Numerous RMBS trusts that were initially included in JPM II are no longer at issue
`
`in the proceeding, as appearing parties have mutually resolved the settlement payment
`
`administration and distribution issues for certain trusts with court approval. See, e.g., In re Wells
`
`Fargo Bank et al., No. 657387/2017, Partial Severance Order and Partial Final Judgment (Sup. Ct.
`
`N.Y. Cnty. Mar. 30, 2020) (Dkt. No. 289). Nevertheless, as of the date of this Second Amended
`
`Petition, sixty-twonineteen trusts are still at issue in JPM II, including twenty-twoseventeen of the
`
`Subject Trusts.
`
`27.
`
`Certain issues raised in JPM II relate to issues raised in the present Petition. JPM
`
`II, however, involves only the administration and distribution of a particular settlement payment,
`
`including pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement at issue, see JPM II Trial Court Order
`
`at 1-4, whereas the present Petition involves the administration and distribution of mortgage loan
`
`
`
`-12-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`collections in the ordinary course (i.e., outside of a settlement context) pursuant to the terms of the
`
`Governing Agreements.
`
`28.
`
`Additionally, following the issuance of the JPM II Trial Court Order, Wells Fargo
`
`Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo”), as payment administrator for certain RMBS trusts
`
`(other than the Subject Trusts), filed a petition under CPLR Article 77 seeking judicial instruction
`
`regarding waterfall administration issues for thirty-six RMBS trusts (the “2021 Wells Fargo Art.
`
`77”). See In re Wells Fargo Bank, No. 154984/2021, Verified Petition (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty. May
`
`21, 2021) (Dkt. No. 1); see also id., Second Amended Verified Petition (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty. July
`
`16, 2021) (Dkt. No. 55). The RMBS trusts at issue were issued around the same time as the Subject
`
`Trusts, and the trusts have the same sponsor as the Subject Trusts, i.e., Bear Stearns. See id. ¶¶ 6-
`
`8 nn 4-6.
`
`29.
`
`In the 2021 Wells Fargo Art. 77, the applicable contracts contain language that
`
`limits the application of write-ups to Class M and Class B classes. Id. ¶ 21. Notwithstanding this
`
`language, Wells Fargo has historically applied Subsequent Recovery write-ups to Class A classes,
`
`in addition to Class M and Class B classes. Id. ¶ 6. However, the JPM II Trial Court Order ruled
`
`that, in the context of the settlement at issue, such write-ups could only be applied to the Class M
`
`and Class B classes. Id. ¶ 4. As a result, Wells Fargo changed its practices to begin applying
`
`Subsequent Recovery write-ups to only the Class M and Class B classes. Id. ¶ 6, 9.
`
`30.
`
` Following its practice change, Wells Fargo apparently received correspondence
`
`from certain investors demanding that it revert to its historical practice, and received
`
`correspondence from other investors demanding that it maintain its practice change consistent with
`
`the JPM II Trial Court Order. Id. ¶¶ 10, 37. Wells Fargo’s petition seeks instruction concerning
`
`
`
`-13-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`whether it should follow the JPM II Trial Court Order with respect to this issue, or whether it
`
`should revert to its historical practice. See id. ¶¶ 37, 39.
`
`31.
`
`That matter, however, goes beyond the above issues. Following the filing of the
`
`petition, certain investors filed a counter-petition regarding whether Deferred Principal Collections
`
`should be treated as Subsequent Recoveries for four RMBS trusts at issue. In re Wells Fargo
`
`Bank, No. 154984/2021, Amended Counter-Petition and Answer of Deer Park Road Management
`
`Co., LP and Related Funds (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty. Aug. 25, 2021) (Dkt. No. 121) (the “Deer Park
`
`Counter-Petition”). The counter-petition asserts that the treatment of Deferred Principal
`
`Collections may impact the core issues raised in Wells Fargo’s petition. See id.
`
`32.
`
`At least seventeen interested parties have now appeared in the matter, in addition
`
`to Wells Fargo and counter-petitioners. These parties take various positions concerning the issues
`
`raised in the petition and counter-petition.
`
`33.
`
`Some parties, including Wells Fargo, assert that Deferred Principal Collections
`
`should be treated as Subsequent Recoveries, which, under the logic of the JPM II Trial Court
`
`Order, would prevent Subsequent Recovery write-ups from being applied to the Class A classes.
`
`See In re Wells Fargo Bank, No. 154984/2021, Wells Fargo Answer to Deer Park Counter-Petition
`
`at 5-6 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty. Sept. 3, 2021) (Dkt. No 167).
`
`34.
`
`Other parties, such as the counter-petitioners, assert that Deferred Principal
`
`Collections should not be treated as Subsequent Recoveries, but nevertheless argue that Deferred
`
`Principal Collections should result in the application of write-ups under the loss mechanics of the
`
`applicable contracts. See, e.g., Deer Park Counter-Petition ¶¶ 56, 66-68. According to these
`
`parties, this would permit the application of write-ups to Class A classes for Deferred Principal
`
`Collections, and would be consistent with Wells Fargo’s long-standing course of performance,
`
`
`
`-14-
`
`
`
`

`

`FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 07/27/2023 12:31 PM
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 308
`
`INDEX NO. 656028/2021
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 07/27/2023
`
`prior to its practice change. Id. ¶¶ 75-76. Some of these same parties, including counter-
`
`petitioners, also advance an alternative argument in the event the court holds that write-ups should
`
`not be applied under the loss mechanics of the applicable contracts. See id. ¶ 90. This argument
`
`posits that if the court holds as much, no write-ups could be applied for any Deferred Principal
`
`Collections because such amounts are not Subsequent Recoveries and thus cannot result in
`
`Subsequent Recovery write-ups. Id. Absent any write-ups under the loss mechanics or Subsequent
`
`Recovery provisions for the applicable contracts, these parties argue that Deferred Principal
`
`Collections should be distributed without any corresponding write-ups and that doing so would
`
`increase overcollateralization in the deals. See id. ¶ 96-97. According to these parties, this would
`
`then lead to eventual Excess Cashflow distributions to reimburse Class A classes. Id. ¶ 102.
`
`35.
`
`The above cases do not resolve the issues raised in the Petition, but relate to this
`
`matter. As a result, Petitioner hasPetitioners have filed this proceeding as related to both In re
`
`Wells Fargo Bank et al., No. 657387/2017, and In re Wells Fargo Bank, No. 154984/2021.
`
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`
`36.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction under CPLR Articles 4 and 77 to entertain
`
`a special proceeding to determi

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket