Nationstar Mortgage LLC v. Demi Turner

── Nationstar Mortgage LLC v. Demi Turner ── Court: New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division Date: May 15, 2026 Category: General NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court ." Although it is posted on the internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited . R. 1:36-3. SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY APPELLATE DIVISION DOCKET NO. A-2238-24 NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff-Respondent, v. DEMI TURNER, his heirs, devisees and personal representatives, and his/her, their, or any of their successors in right, title, and interest, Defendant-Appellant, and ANTOINETTE JOHNSON-TURNER, her heirs, devisees and personal representatives, and his/her, their, or any of their successors in right, title, and interest, MRS. TURNER, wife of Demi Turner, MR. TURNER-JOHNSON, husband of Antoinette Turner-Johnson, PROGRESSIVE GARDEN STATE INSURANCE, individually and as subrogee of AMANDA M. LOPEZ, STATE OF NEW JERSEY and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Defendants. ___________________________________ Submitted April 29, 2026 – Decided May 15, 2026 Before Judges Gummer and Vanek. On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Essex County, Docket No. F-001793-24. Demi Turner, self-represented appellant. Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP, attorneys for respondent (Timothy Ziegler, on the brief). PER CURIAM In this residential-mortgage foreclosure action, defendant Demi Turner (defendant) appeals from an August 28, 2024 order1 granting summary judgment to plaintiff Nationstar Mortgage LLC, a January 17, 2025 order denying his motion for reconsideration, and a February 18, 2025 final judgment of foreclosure. Having reviewed the record, the parties' arguments, and applicable law, we affirm all orders on appeal. I. On March 03, 2007, defendant and Antoinette Johnson-Turner executed a 1 In his notice of appeal, defendant indicated he was appealing from an August 30, 2024 order. Given the record, we understand he meant the August 28, 2024 order. A-2238-24 2 note to repay Homebridge Mortgage Bankers Corp. d/b/a Refinance.com (Refinance) a $480,000.00 loan to purchase real property in West Orange, New Jersey (the property). Defendant and Johnson-Turner then executed a mortgage on the property with Refinance (the mortgage). The mortgage was recorded on March 14, 2007. Refinance assigned the mortgage to Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC (Bayview), and that assignment was recorded. On February 27, 2020, defendant and Johnson-Turner executed a loan- modification agreement revising the interest rate, monthly payment amount, maturity date and principle balance owed. It is undisputed defendant and Johnson-Turner defaulted in May 2020 and made no further payments under the modified mortgage terms. On June 25, 2022, Bayview assigned the mortgage to plaintiff. The assignment was recorded four days later. On October 31, 2023, plaintiff sent a notice of intent to foreclose (NOI), by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail, to defendant's last known address and to the address of the mortgaged property. In February 2024, plaintiff filed a foreclosure complaint in the Chancery Division. Only defendant filed a contesting answer. Among other denials and affirmative defenses, defendant contended plaintiff lacked standing to foreclose A-2238-24 3 o