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PONTOTOC COUNTY • CJ-2020-00036

WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. v. JARRED L. SIBBLE

Filed: Feb 21, 2020
Type: CJ

What's This Case About?

Let’s cut right to the chase: a bank is trying to take a house from a married couple in Ada, Oklahoma, because they stopped paying their mortgage — and the bank is so unsure who else might be squatting in the home that it’s suing two mystery occupants simply known as “Occupant 1” and “Occupant 2,” like they’re characters in a low-budget horror movie about a haunted foreclosure.

Welcome to Crazy Civil Court, where the stakes are real, the drama is petty, and the legal system occasionally has to deal with people whose names are literally “John Doe #1.” This case, filed in February 2020 in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, is not a murder mystery or a celebrity scandal. No one’s accusing anyone of stealing a llama or poisoning a neighbor’s prize-winning petunias. But what it lacks in fireworks, it makes up for in quiet tragedy — and just enough bureaucratic absurdity to make you laugh if you weren’t so sad about the whole thing.

So who are these people? Meet Jarred L. Sibble and Veronica E. Kauffman. Back in 2013, when hope was high and interest rates were low, they were just two regular folks — and, according to the filing, single at the time — who decided to buy a little slice of the American Dream: a modest lot in the West Side Addition to Ada, Oklahoma. That’s Lot 4, Block 2, for those keeping score at home. They borrowed $37,244 from Landmark Bank, N.A., signed on the dotted line, and promised to pay it back over 30 years at a cozy 3.75% interest rate. Their monthly payment? A manageable $172.48 — less than some people pay for phone bills or avocado toast subscriptions.

Fast forward a few years, and Jarred and Veronica have tied the knot — which the court helpfully notes, because apparently someone in the legal system needed to confirm that “Veronica E. Kauffman” and “Veronica E. Sibble” are, in fact, the same person. (Spoiler: they are. Marriage does that.) But somewhere between “I do” and “I can’t afford the mortgage anymore,” things went sideways. The payments stopped. Specifically, the filing says they missed the September 1, 2019, payment and every one after that. By the time Wells Fargo filed suit in February 2020, the couple owed $41,485.22 — including interest, fees, and all the other financial tumbleweeds that gather when a loan goes bad.

Now, you’re probably wondering: why is Wells Fargo involved? Didn’t they borrow from Landmark Bank? Ah, yes — welcome to the wild world of mortgage securitization, where your home loan gets bought, sold, bundled, and resold like a baseball card in a Wall Street trading pit. At some point, Landmark Bank sold the note to someone else, who sold it to someone else, until it eventually landed in the vaults of Wells Fargo, which now claims to be the rightful holder of the debt. That’s not unusual — it happens every day in America — but it does mean that Jarred and Veronica aren’t dealing with some local banker they might’ve shaken hands with. They’re up against a financial Goliath represented by a law firm that specializes in foreclosure — Lamun Mock Cunningham & Davis, P.C. — and a lawyer named Maegan Whelchl, whose job it is to make sure the bank gets its money or the house.

And make no mistake: Wells Fargo wants the house. Or at least, it wants the right to sell it. The legal claim here is a standard foreclosure action — the kind that plays out thousands of times a year across the country. The bank says: “These people broke the contract. They stopped paying. We have a lien on the property. Let us sell it and recoup our losses.” The requested amount — $41,485.22 — isn’t some random number. It’s the balance owed, plus interest from August 2019, plus fees for title searches, attorney costs, and other expenses the bank says it incurred trying to collect. Is that a lot of money? In absolute terms, maybe not — it’s less than the cost of a mid-range SUV. But for someone living in Ada, Oklahoma, where the median household income is around $45,000, $41k is more than a year’s take-home pay for some families. Losing that kind of money — or worse, your home — is life-shattering.

But here’s where it gets weird. The bank doesn’t just name Jarred and Veronica as defendants. It also sues “Occupant 1 (Real Name Unknown)” and “Occupant 2 (Real Name Unknown).” Yes, really. The court document literally lists two people by placeholder names because — get this — the bank doesn’t know who’s living in the house. Maybe they’re tenants. Maybe they’re relatives. Maybe they’re distant cousins who showed up during a family crisis and never left. Or maybe they’re just kids crashing on the couch. We don’t know. The bank doesn’t know. But just in case they’ve developed some legal interest in the property, the bank is suing them too, so that when the house gets sold, nobody can pop up later and say, “Wait, that’s my bedroom!”

It’s the legal equivalent of casting a wide net with a “better safe than sorry” vibe — but it also underscores how impersonal these proceedings can be. To Wells Fargo, this is a defaulted asset. To the court, it’s Case No. something-or-other. But to the people inside that house — whoever they are — it’s home.

So what does the bank want? Simple: a judgment that says, “Yes, you owe this money. Yes, we have the right to take the house. Now get out so we can auction it off.” They’re asking the court to declare their mortgage a “valid first, prior and superior lien,” to order the property sold, and to use the proceeds to pay off the debt. If there’s money left over, it goes to the court. If there’s not enough, the bank might come after Jarred and Veronica for the difference — though that’s less common in Oklahoma, where deficiency judgments after foreclosure are limited.

Now, for our take: what’s the most absurd, frustrating, or darkly comic part of this whole mess? It’s not the mystery occupants — that’s just standard legal CYA. It’s not even the fact that a $37,000 loan ballooned to $41k with fees. No, the real kicker is how routine this is. This isn’t some wild scam or bizarre grudge. This is two people who likely got hit by a job loss, a medical bill, a divorce, or just the slow grind of financial stress — and now they’re being dragged into court by a nameless legal machine that doesn’t care about their story. The note they signed in 2013 promised a modest monthly payment for 30 years. It didn’t come with a warning label: “Side effects may include being sued by a multinational bank and evicted by court order.”

We’re not rooting for anyone to get away with not paying their debts. But we are rooting for a system that doesn’t treat homes like inventory. We’re rooting for a world where a couple in Oklahoma doesn’t have to be sued alongside “Occupant 1” just because life got hard. And we’re definitely rooting for a legal document that refers to real human beings as “Real Name Unknown” to make us all pause and ask: Is this really the best we can do?

Because at the end of the day, behind every foreclosure is a story — even if the court filing only sees a balance due.

Case Overview

Petition
Jurisdiction
District Court, Oklahoma
Relief Sought
$41,485 Monetary
Plaintiffs
Claims
# Cause of Action Description
1 Foreclosure Plaintiff seeks to foreclose mortgage on property in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma

Petition Text

3,514 words
IN THE DISTRICT COURT WITHIN AND FOR PONTOTOC COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. JARRED L. SIBBLE, VERONICA E. KAUFFMAN, OCCUPANT 1 (REAL NAME UNKNOWN) OCCUPANT 2 (REAL NAME UNKNOWN) Defendants, PETITION Comes now the Plaintiff and for its cause of action against the Defendant above named, alleges and states: 1. That the Plaintiff was at all times hereinafter mentioned, and now is, a national association, duly organized, existing and authorized to bring this action. That the defendants, Jarred L. Sibble and Veronica E. Kauffman, were both single at the time they acquired an interest in the subject property, but now are, husband and wife. That the Plaintiff does not know, and with due diligence is unable to ascertain, the true and correct name(s) of the individuals occupying the real property, and therefore sues said individuals by the names of Occupant 1 and Occupant 2, whose true and correct names are unknown to Plaintiff. That said individuals are made parties defendant herein to foreclose any right, title, or interest which they may have or claim to have in and to the real estate and premises herein sued upon by reason of their occupancy. 2. That the original maker(s), for a good and valuable consideration, made, executed and delivered to the Payee, a certain written purchase money promissory note; a true copy of said note is hereto attached, marked Exhibit "A," and made a part hereof by reference. 3. That as a part of the same transaction, and to secure the payment of the note above described and the indebtedness represented thereby, the owner(s) of the real estate hereinafter described, made, executed and delivered to the Payee of said note, a certain purchase money real estate mortgage in writing, and therein and thereby mortgaged and conveyed to said mortgagee the following described real estate situated in Pontotoc County, State of Oklahoma, to-wit: ALL OF LOT 4 IN BLOCK 2 OF WEST SIDE ADDITION TO ADA, PONTOTOC COUNTY, OKLAHOMA; with the buildings and improvements and the appurtenances, (including any modular, manufactured or mobile home located thereon) hereditaments and all other rights thereunto appertaining or belonging, and all fixtures then or thereafter attached or used in connection with said premises. That said mortgage was duly executed and acknowledged according to law, the mortgage tax duly paid thereon, and was filed on 4/30/2013 in the office of the County Clerk of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, and therein recorded in Book 2744 at Page 198, which mortgage and the record thereof is incorporated herein by reference as provided by law. Together with all Modification Agreements entered into subsequent to the execution and recording of the mortgage herein sued upon, including, but not limited to, the Modification Agreement dated June 9, 2017, filed July 26, 2017, with the clerk of Pontotoc county at Book 3136, Page 285. 4. That thereafter, for a good and valuable consideration, said note and mortgage were assigned and endorsed to the Plaintiff. That Plaintiff has complied with all of the terms, conditions precedent and provisions of said note and mortgage, and is duly empowered to bring this suit. 5. Said mortgage provides that in addition to and together with the monthly payments of principal and interest as provided in said note, the mortgagor(s) will pay on the first day of each month, installments of taxes, assessments and insurance premiums, if any, relating to said property and said mortgage, agreed to be paid on said note and mortgage by said makers thereof. 6. That said note and mortgage provide that if default be made in the payment of any of the monthly installments, or on failure or neglect to keep or perform any of the other conditions and covenants of the mortgage, that the entire principal sum and accrued interest, together with all other sums secured by said mortgage, shall at once become due and payable, at the option of the holder thereof, and the holder shall be entitled to foreclose said mortgage and recover the unpaid principal thereon and all expenditures of the mortgagee made thereunder, with interest thereon, and to have said premises sold and the proceeds applied to the payment of the indebtedness secured thereby, together with all legal and necessary expense and all costs. 7. That default has been made upon said note and mortgage in that the installments due SEPTEMBER 1, 2019, and thereafter have not been paid. 8. That preliminary to the bringing of this action, and as a necessary expense thereof, this Plaintiff caused the abstract of title to be extended and certified to date at a cost of a reasonable amount for title search and examination expenses of a reasonable amount with interest per annum thereon, until paid. 9. That said note and mortgage provide that in case of a foreclosure of said mortgage and as often as any proceedings shall be taken to foreclose the same, the makers will pay an attorney's fee as therein provided, and that the same shall be a further charge and lien on said premises. 10. That after allowing all just credits there is due to Plaintiff on said note and mortgage the sum of $41,485.22, with 3.75% interest per annum thereon from AUGUST 1, 2019, until paid; said abstract expense of a reasonable amount with interest thereon, until paid; title search and examination expenses of a reasonable amount with interest per annum thereon, until paid; and a reasonable attorney's fee, and for all costs of this action; and for all charges due under the terms of the note and mortgage, and for such sums as may have been advanced since default on the indebtedness herein sued upon or may be hereafter advanced or incurred by Plaintiff through completion of this action, including taxes, recording fees, assessments, hazard insurance premiums, expenses reasonably necessary for the preservation of the subject property, or of the priority of Plaintiff's first mortgage lien, and further including costs, expenses and attorneys fees incurred in any bankruptcy instituted by any party defendant and all expenses, costs and attorneys fees of execution and sale, including poundage upon sale and that said amounts are secured by said mortgage and constitute a first, prior and superior lien upon the real estate and premises above described. 11. That said mortgage specifically provides that appraisement of said property is expressly waived or not waived at the option of the mortgagee. 12. Plaintiff further alleges as follows: That the defendants, Jarred L. Sibble, Veronica E. Sibble, Occupant 1 (Real Name Unknown), Occupant 2 (Real Name Unknown), may be claiming some right, title, lien, estate, encumbrance, claim, assessment or interest in or to the real estate and premises involved herein adverse to the Plaintiff, which constitutes a cloud upon the title of Plaintiff, but that any right, title, lien, estate, encumbrance, claim, assessment or interest, either in law or in equity which said defendants, or any or either of them may have or claim to have, is subsequent, junior and inferior to the first mortgage lien of the Plaintiff. That Veronica Elizabeth Kauffman, Veronica Elizabeth Sibble, Veronica E. Sibble, are one and the same person as Veronica E. Kauffman, Defendant herein. That Jarred Lance Sibble is one and the same person as Jarred L. Sibble, Defendant herein. That said interest or claims arising by reason of the foregoing facts and circumstances, as well as any other right, title or interest which the defendants named herein, or any or either of them have or claim to have, in or to said real estate and premises is subsequent, junior and inferior to the mortgage and lien of the Plaintiff. 13. In accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Title 15 U.S.C.A. Sec.1692(g), if applicable, unless the person or entity responsible for the payment of the above debt, within thirty days after receipt of this notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid; and if said person or entity notifies the undersigned attorney for Plaintiff in writing within said thirty day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, said attorney will obtain verification of the debt and a copy of such verification will be mailed to said person or entity by the undersigned attorney for Plaintiff; and upon written request by you within the thirty day period, the undersigned attorney for Plaintiff will provide the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays judgment on Defendants, Jarred L. Sibble and Veronica E. Kauffman, in the sum of $41,485.22, with 3.75% interest per annum thereon from AUGUST 1, 2019, until paid; abstract expense of a reasonable amount, with interest thereon, until paid; title search and examination expenses of a reasonable amount with interest per annum thereon, until paid; and a reasonable attorney's fee, and for all costs of this action; and for all charges due under the terms of the note and mortgage, and for such sums as may have been advanced since default on the indebtedness herein sued upon or may be hereafter advanced or incurred by Plaintiff through completion of this action, including taxes, recording fees, assessments, hazard insurance premiums, expenses reasonably necessary for the preservation of the subject property, or of the priority of Plaintiff's first mortgage lien, and further including costs, expenses and attorneys fees incurred in any bankruptcy instituted by any party defendant and all expenses, costs and attorneys fees of execution and sale, including poundage upon sale, on any judgment hereafter entered in this cause, including poundage upon sale, and for all costs of this action. And for a further judgment against all of the Defendants in and to this cause adjudging: That all of the Defendants herein be required to appear and set forth any right, title, claim or interest which they have, or may have, in and to said real estate and premises; and That said mortgage be foreclosed and that the same be declared a valid first, prior and superior lien upon the real estate hereinbefore described, for and in the amounts above set forth, and ordering said real estate and premises sold, for cash, with or without appraisement, as the Plaintiff may elect at the time judgment is entered as provided in said mortgage and by law, subject to unpaid taxes, advancements by Plaintiff for taxes, insurance premiums, or expenses necessary for the preservation of the subject property, if any, to satisfy said judgment, and that the proceeds arising therefrom be applied to the payment of the costs herein, and the payments and satisfaction of the judgment, mortgage and lien of this Plaintiff, and that the surplus, if any, be paid into Court to abide the further order of the Court. That should the proceeds of sale be insufficient to pay the Plaintiff's judgment and upon application of Plaintiff and hearing, a deficiency judgment be awarded to Plaintiff against such Defendants as may be personally liable therefor, all as provided by law. That all right, title and interest of said Defendants, and each of them, if any, in and to said real estate, be adjudged subject, junior and inferior to the mortgage lien and judgment of this Plaintiff, and that upon confirmation of such sale, the Defendants herein, and each of them, and all persons claiming by, through or under them since the commencement of this action, be forever barred, foreclosed and enjoined from asserting or claiming any right, title, interest, estate or equity of redemption in or to said premises, or any part thereof; That this Plaintiff have such other and further relief as may be just and equitable. Signed and dated this 20, day of February, 2020. LAMUN MOCK CUNNYNGHAM & DAVIS, P.C. By: MAEGAN WHELCHL #33303 Maxine Cunningham #2105 Attorneys for Plaintiff 5613 North Classen Boulevard Oklahoma City, OK 73118 (405) 840-5900 NOTE Loan Number: MIN: 100917980C00073216 COLUMBIA MISSOURI APRIL 29, 2013 (City) (State) [Date] 612 West 8th St., Ada, Oklahoma 74820-4804 (Property Address) 1. BORROWER'S PROMISE TO PAY In return for a loan that I have received, I promise to pay U.S.$ 37,244.00 (this amount is called "Principal"), plus interest, to the order of the Lender. The Lender is LANDMARK BANK N.A., A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION I will make all payments under this Note in the form of cash, check or money order. I understand that the Lender may transfer this Note. The Lender or anyone who takes this Note by transfer and who is entitled to receive payments under this Note is called the "Note Holder." 2. INTEREST Interest will be charged on unpaid principal until the full amount of Principal has been paid. I will pay interest at a yearly rate of 3.750%. The interest rate required by this Section 2 is the rate I will pay both before and after any default described in Section 6(B) of this Note. 3. PAYMENTS (A) Time and Place of Payments I will pay principal and interest by making a payment every month. I will make my monthly payment on the 1st day of each month beginning on JUNE 1, 2013. I will make these payments every month until I have paid all of the principal and interest and any other charges described below that I may owe under this Note. Each monthly payment will be applied as of its scheduled due date and will be applied to interest before Principal. If, on MAY 1, 2043, I still owe amounts under this Note, I will pay those amounts in full on that date, which is called the "Maturity Date." I will make my monthly payments at 801 E BROADWAY, COLUMBIA, MISSOURI 65201 or at a different place if required by the Note Holder. (B) Amount of Monthly Payments My monthly payment will be in the amount of U.S.$ 172.48 4. BORROWER'S RIGHT TO PREPAY I have the right to make payments of Principal at any time before they are due. A payment of Principal only is known as a "Prepayment." When I make a Prepayment, I will tell the Note Holder in writing that I am doing so. I may not designate a payment as a Prepayment if I have not made all the monthly payments due under the Note. I may make a full Prepayment or partial Prepayments without paying a Prepayment charge. The Note Holder will use my Prepayments to reduce the amount of Principal that I owe under this Note. However, the Note Holder may apply my Prepayment to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Prepayment amount, before applying my Prepayment to reduce the Principal amount of the Note. If I make a partial Prepayment, there will be no changes in the due date or in the amount of my monthly payment unless the Note Holder agrees in writing to those changes. 5. LOAN CHARGES If a law, which applies to this loan and which sets maximum loan charges, is finally interpreted so that the interest or other loan charges collected or to be collected in connection with this loan exceed the permitted limits, then (a) any such loan charge shall be reduced by the amount necessary to reduce the charge to the permitted limit; and (b) any sums already collected from me which exceeded permitted limits will be refunded to me. The Note Holder may choose to make this refund by reducing the Principal I owe under this Note or by making a direct payment to me. If a refund reduces Principal, the reduction will be treated as a partial Prepayment. 6. BORROWER'S FAILURE TO PAY AS REQUIRED (A) Late Charge for Overdue Payments If the Note Holder has not received the full amount of any monthly payment by the end of 15 calendar days after the date it is due, I will pay a late charge to the Note Holder. The amount of the charge will be 4 .000 % of my overdue payment of principal and interest. I will pay this late charge promptly but only once on each late payment. (B) Default If I do not pay the full amount of each monthly payment on the date it is due, I will be in default. (C) Notice of Default If I am in default, the Note Holder may send me a written notice telling me that if I do not pay the overdue amount by a certain date, the Note Holder may require me to pay immediately the full amount of Principal which has not been paid and all the interest that I owe on that amount. That date must be at least 30 days after the date on which the notice is mailed to me or delivered by other means. (D) No Waiver By Note Holder Even if, at a time when I am in default, the Note Holder does not require me to pay immediately in full as described above, the Note Holder will still have the right to do so if I am in default at a later time. (E) Payment of Note Holder's Costs and Expenses If the Note Holder has required me to pay immediately in full as described above, the Note Holder will have the right to be paid back by me for all of its costs and expenses in enforcing this Note to the extent not prohibited by applicable law. These expenses include, for example, reasonable attorneys' fees. 7. GIVING OF NOTICES Unless applicable law requires a different method, any notice that must be given to me under this Note will be given by delivering it or by mailing it by first class mail to me at the Property Address above or at a different address if I give the Note Holder a notice of my different address. Any notice that must be given to the Note Holder under this Note will be given by delivering it or by mailing it by first class mail to the Note Holder at the address stated in Section 3(A) above or at a different address if I am given a notice of that different address. 8. OBLIGATIONS OF PERSONS UNDER THIS NOTE If more than one person signs this Note, each person is fully and personally obligated to keep all of the promises made in this Note, including the promise to pay the full amount owed. Any person who is a guarantor, surety or endorser of this Note is also obligated to do these things. Any person who takes over these obligations, including the obligations of a guarantor, surety or endorser of this Note, is also obligated to keep all of the promises made in this Note. The Note Holder may enforce its rights under this Note against each person individually or against all of us together. This means that any one of us may be required to pay all of the amounts owed under this Note. 9. WAIVERS I and any other person who has obligations under this Note waive the rights of Presentment and Notice of Dishonor. "Presentment" means the right to require the Note Holder to demand payment of amounts due. "Notice of Dishonor" means the right to require the Note Holder to give notice to other persons that amounts due have not been paid. 10. UNIFORM SECURED NOTE This Note is a uniform instrument with limited variations in some jurisdictions. In addition to the protections given to the Note Holder under this Note, a Mortgage, Deed of Trust, or Security Deed (the "Security Instrument"), dated the same date as this Note, protects the Note Holder from possible losses which might result if I do not keep the promises which I make in this Note. That Security Instrument describes how and under what conditions I may be required to make immediate payment in full of all amounts I owe under this Note. Some of those conditions are described as follows: If all or any part of the Property or any Interest in the Property is sold or transferred (or if Borrower is not a natural person and a beneficial interest in Borrower is sold or transferred) without Lender's prior written consent, Lender may require immediate payment in full of all sums secured by this Security Instrument. However, this option shall not be exercised by Lender if such exercise is prohibited by Applicable Law. If Lender exercises this option, Lender shall give Borrower notice of acceleration. The notice shall provide a period of not less than 30 days from the date the notice is given in accordance with Section 15 within which Borrower must pay all sums secured by this Security Instrument. If Borrower fails to pay these sums prior to the expiration of this period, Lender may invoke any remedies permitted by this Security Instrument without further notice or demand on Borrower. WITNESS THE HAND(S) AND SEAL(S) OF THE UNDERSIGNED. Jarred L Sibble (Seal) Veronica E Kauffman (Seal) -Borrower -Borrower [Sign Original Only] PAY TO THE ORDER OF TIB-THE INDEPENDENT BANKERSBANK, A STATE BANK WITHOUT RECOERCSE LANDMARK BANK N.A., A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Janice Campbell (Seal) Janice Campbell (Seal) -Janice Campbell, Bank Officer -Borrower WITHOUT RECOURSE PAY TO THE ORDER OF TIB - THE INDEPENDENT BANKERS STATE BANK ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. WITHOUT RECOURSE PAY TO THE ORDER OF WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. BY DAVID C. PETERSON, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT CA-HMITY-PLD WITHOUT RECOURSE PAY TO THE ORDER OF WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. BY SAMUEL C. SHELLLEY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT EXHIBIT "A" PAGE 4 OF 4 PAGES
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