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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page I<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA<br />

STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION<br />

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel .<br />

A<br />

STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION ORIGINAL :r<br />

V .<br />

SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, L.L .C .,<br />

Defendant<br />

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APPLICATION OF DANIEL MCDONALD<br />

For a Mortgage Loan Originator License<br />

PROCEEDINGS BEFORE<br />

<strong>BFI</strong>-2012-00067<br />

16<br />

THE HONORABLE DEBORAH V .<br />

ELLENBERG,<br />

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CHIEF HEARING EXAMINER<br />

10 :15 a .m . to 4 :39 p .m .<br />

September 11, 2013<br />

Richmond, Virginia<br />

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Reported by : Renee A . McDermed, RPR<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 7554200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 2<br />

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1 Proceedings before the Honorable DEBORAH V .<br />

2 ELLENBERG, Chief Hearing Examiner, Virginia State<br />

3 Corporation Commission, reported by and before Renee A .<br />

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4 McDermed, Registered Professional Reporter and Notary<br />

5 Public in and for the Commonwealt h of Virginia at<br />

6 large, commencing at 10 :15 a .m ., September 11, 2013, at<br />

7 the State Corporation Commission for the State of<br />

8 Virginia, Richmond, Virginia .<br />

9<br />

10 APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL :<br />

11<br />

12 STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION<br />

13 OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL<br />

14 P .O . Box 1197<br />

15 Richmond, VA 23218<br />

16 (804) 371-9004<br />

17 demarion .johnston@scc .virginia .gov<br />

18 BY : DEMARION P . JOHNSTON, ESQUIRE<br />

19 Counsel for the Bureau of Financial Institutions<br />

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Huseby, Inc .<br />

wwiv.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen AHen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 3<br />

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APPEARANCES OF COUNSEL CONTINUED :<br />

MARCHANT, THORSEN, HONEY, BALDWIN & MEYER, LLP<br />

On the Avenues<br />

5600 Grove Avenue<br />

Richmond, VA 23226<br />

(804) 285-3888<br />

billbaldwin@mthblaw .com<br />

BY : WILLIAM R . BALDWIN, III, ESQUIRE<br />

Counsel for Security Trust Mortgage, LLC,<br />

and Daniel McDonald<br />

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10<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

vnvw.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 4<br />

1 1 N D E X<br />

2<br />

3 WITNESS :<br />

4 SUSAN HANCOCK PAGE<br />

5 Direct Examination by Ms . Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58<br />

6 Cross-Examination by Mr . Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70<br />

7 Redirect Examination by Ms . Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75<br />

8 DUSTIN PHYSIOC<br />

9 Direct Examination by Ms . Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77<br />

10 Cross-examination by Mr . Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163<br />

11 Redirect Examination by Ms . Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186<br />

12 Recross-examination by Mr . Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189<br />

13 DANIEL McDONALD<br />

14 Direct Examination by Mr . Baldwin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193<br />

15 Cross-examination by Ms . Johnston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235<br />

16<br />

17 E X H I B I T S<br />

18 Exhibit 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64<br />

19 Exhibit 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67<br />

20 Exhibit 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68<br />

21 Exhibit 5 and 5C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93<br />

22 Exhibit 6 and 6C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99<br />

23 Exhibit 7 and 7C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102<br />

24 Exhibit 8 and 8C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105<br />

25 Exhibit 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Aflen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 5<br />

1 E X H I B I T S (Continued)<br />

2 Exhibit 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114<br />

3 Exhibit 11 and 11C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117<br />

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4 Exhibit 12 and 12C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118<br />

5 Exhibit 13 and 13C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119<br />

6 Exhibit 14 and 14C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121<br />

7 Exhibit 15 and 15C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123<br />

8 Exhibit 16 and 16C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124<br />

9 Exhibit 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128<br />

10 Exhibit 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129<br />

11 Exhibit 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130<br />

12 Exhibit 20 and 20C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131<br />

13 Exhibit 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132<br />

14 Exhibit 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133<br />

15 Exhibit 23 and 23C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134<br />

16 Exhibit 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135<br />

17 Exhibit 25 and 25C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137<br />

18 Exhibit 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138<br />

19 Exhibit 27 and 27C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139<br />

20 Exhibit 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140<br />

21 Exhibit 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142<br />

22 Exhibit 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145<br />

23 Exhibit 31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146<br />

24 Exhibit 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149<br />

25 Exhibit 33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 6<br />

1<br />

E X H I B I T S<br />

(Continued)<br />

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Exhibit 34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152<br />

Exhibit 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152<br />

Exhibit 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154<br />

Exhibit 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161<br />

Exhibit 38 and 38C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215<br />

Exhibit 39 and 39C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218<br />

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Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 7<br />

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1 (10 :15 a .m ., September 11, 2013)<br />

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5 THE BAILIFF : All rise . oh, yea, oh, yea,<br />

6 oh yea . Silence is commanded while this honorable<br />

7 State Corporation Commission is in session . God<br />

8 save the Commonwealth and this honorable commission .<br />

9 Please be seated .<br />

10 Today's docket consists of <strong>BFI</strong> 2012-00067,<br />

11 Security Trust Mortgage, LLC, for a rule to show<br />

12 cause and BF12013-00069, Daniel McDonald, request<br />

13 for formal hearing to review mortgage loan<br />

14 originator application denial by Commissioner Face<br />

15 pursuant to 5VAC5-20 80 A of the Commission's rules<br />

16 of practices and procedures . W .R . Baldwin, III,<br />

17 counsel for Daniel McDonald and Security Trust<br />

18 Mortgage ; DeMarion P . Johnston, counsel for the<br />

19 Staff Commission . The honorable Deborah V .<br />

20 Ellenberg, Chief Hearing Examiner, presiding .<br />

21 HEARING EXAMINER : Good morning .<br />

22 MR . BALDWIN : Your Honor, if I may,<br />

23 William Ray Baldwin, III, Bill Baldwin, Marchant,<br />

24 Thorsen, Honey, Baldwin & Meyer, LLP, for the<br />

25 respondent, Security Trust, and the applicant,<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 8<br />

1 Daniel McDonald .<br />

2 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you .<br />

3 MS . JOHNSTON : Good morning, Your Honor .<br />

4 I'm DeMarion Johnston, associate general counsel<br />

5 here in the office of general counsel at the<br />

6 Commission . And I represent the Bureau of Financial<br />

7 Institutions this morning .<br />

8 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you for entering<br />

9 your appearances .<br />

10 MR . BALDWIN : Your Honor, if I may, I'm<br />

11 not sure where my client is . We left my office at<br />

12 the same time . I wonder if the Court might indulge<br />

13 us with a brief recess while I go find out if he<br />

14 went to the wrong place in the building .<br />

15 HEARING EXAMINER : He knows where to come .<br />

16 He's been in these courtrooms before, and I have<br />

17 already indulged you 15 minutes in case you had<br />

18 trouble parking since you have never appeared here<br />

19 before . Typically, Commission hearings start<br />

20 promptly on time as scheduled .<br />

21 MR . BALDWIN : I understand, Your Honor .<br />

22 HEARING EXAMINER : I will go through a few<br />

23 opening remarks . And at some point, you may need to<br />

24 consult with your client . And if that is the case,<br />

25 then I will entertain a brief recess at that point ;<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 9<br />

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1 but I would like to go ahead and get started .<br />

2 MR . BALDWIN : Very good, Your Honor .<br />

3 HEARING EXAMINER : On April 9th, 2013, the<br />

4 State Corporation Commission issued a ruling to show<br />

5 cause in which the Bureau of Financial Institutions<br />

6 was seeking an order from the Commission revoking<br />

7 the license of Security Trust Mortgage, a mortgage<br />

8 broker licensed under Chapter 16 of Title 6 .2 of the<br />

9 code of Virginia .<br />

10 Daniel McDonald, sole owner and officer of<br />

11 Security Trust, filed a response to the rule to show<br />

12 cause on behalf of Security Trust on May 9th, 2013 .<br />

13 The Bureau filed a motion for default judgment on<br />

14 May 24th contending, among other things, that the<br />

15 response was defective, as Mr . McDonald cannot<br />

16 represent Security Trust because he is not a<br />

17 licensed attorney and entry of a default judgment<br />

18 was appropriate . That motion is pending, and we<br />

19 will address it as a preliminary matter shortly .<br />

20 Also pending are two other motions . on<br />

21 May 15th, 2013, the Bureau served on Security Trust<br />

22 and filed with the Commission requests for<br />

23 admissions . In the requests for admissions, the<br />

24 Bureau advised that the Commission's rules of<br />

25 practice and procedure deem requested admissions<br />

Ruseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 10<br />

1 admitted unless they are answered or objected to in<br />

2 writing within 21 days of service or such other<br />

3 period as the Commission may designate . No written<br />

4 response was offered on behalf of Security Trust<br />

5 within 21 days or as of this date .<br />

6 On August 21st, the Bureau filed a motion<br />

7 to admit requests for admission, which is also<br />

8 pending . When counsel for Security Trust filed his<br />

9 notice of appearance on Monday, he also filed a<br />

10 motion for relief from potentially deemed<br />

11 admissions . Those two related motions will also be<br />

12 addressed as preliminary matters .<br />

13 In a second, but related matter, on<br />

14 June 6th, 2013, the Commission issued a scheduling<br />

15 order on the application of Daniel McDonald<br />

16 contesting the denial of his application for a<br />

17 mortgage loan originator license .<br />

18 In that order, the Commission determined<br />

19 that there was such significant overlap between the<br />

20 issues involved in these two proceedings and in the<br />

21 interest of judicial economy that the two cases<br />

22 should be combined and were combined to receive<br />

23 evidence at this hearing .<br />

24 1 would note, however, that although the<br />

25 evidence most certainly overlaps, the burden of<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page I I<br />

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1 proof may be very different in the two cases, which<br />

2 1 expect counsel will address during the course of<br />

3 this hearing .<br />

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4 Also, the failure of Security Trust to<br />

5 properly file a response to the rule may affect the<br />

6 ability of counsel for Security Trust to object to<br />

7 the admissibility of Bureau evidence, which we will<br />

8 also address with regard to the motion for default<br />

9 judgment .<br />

10 Mr . Baldwin, I believe that this may be<br />

11 your first appearance before the Commission .<br />

12 MR . BALDWIN : That is correct, Your Honor .<br />

13 HEARING EXAMINER : So, let me explain how<br />

14 we will proceed today .<br />

15 MR . BALDWIN : Very good .<br />

16 HEARING EXAMINER : After we address any<br />

17 preliminary matters, the two that I have identified<br />

18 and any that you, either of the two of you may have,<br />

19 you will have an opportunity to make opening<br />

20 statements, the Bureau first and then you, Mr .<br />

21 Baldwin .<br />

22 The Bureau will then present their case .<br />

23 And, Mr . Baldwin, you will have a chance to<br />

24 cross-examine the witnesses . You will then have the<br />

25 same opportunity to present evidence subject to the<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

%vN"v.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 12<br />

1 cross-examination of Bureau counsel . The Bureau<br />

2 will have an opportunity at the conclusion of that<br />

3 evidence to present any rebuttal that they may have .<br />

4 At the end of the hearing, we may also<br />

5 entertain closing statements . Do you have any<br />

6 procedural questions, Mr . Baldwin, before we start?<br />

7 MR . BALDWIN : I do not, Your Honor .<br />

8 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . The first<br />

9 preliminary matter that I have on my agenda is the<br />

10 motion for default judgment . Ms . Johnston .<br />

11 MS . JOHNSTON : Yes, Your Honor . We're<br />

12 ready to proceed . Since Your Honor gave a timeline<br />

13 of the proceedings to date, for the motion, I'm just<br />

14 going to start with the argument .<br />

15 And, Your Honor, that is McDonald is not a<br />

16 licensed attorney . Security Trust Mortgage, LLC, is<br />

17 a legal entity in and of itself separate from Daniel<br />

18 McDonald . The Commission's rules of practice and<br />

19 procedure are clear, that McDonald cannot represent<br />

20 Security Trust before the Commission .<br />

21 Commission Rule 5VAC5-20-30 states that<br />

22 only a properly licensed attorney at law is<br />

23 permitted to file pleadings or papers or appear at a<br />

24 hearing to represent the interests of another person<br />

25 or entity before the Commission .<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 13<br />

1 Your Honor, the Bureau is asking that<br />

2 Security Trust and McDonald be held to the<br />

3 Commission's rules . If McDonald was not aware that<br />

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4 he could not represent his company, Security Trust,<br />

5 when he filed his response in May, he certainly was<br />

6 on notice on May 24th that he may not be permitted<br />

7 to do so when the Bureau filed its motion for<br />

8 default ; and that was three-and-a-half months ago .<br />

9 McDonald has had plenty of time to obtain<br />

10 an attorney to represent Security Trust, but he's<br />

11 chosen not to do so . He chose to wait until the<br />

12 Friday before the hearing to retain counsel .<br />

13 Security Trust is a licensee who needs to follow the<br />

14 rules of the Commission .<br />

15 And also as part of this proceeding, Mr .<br />

16 McDonald is requesting a license from the<br />

17 Commission . And he also needs to follow the rules<br />

18 of the Commission in order to get that license . The<br />

19 response filed by McDonald for Security Trust is<br />

20 improper, and it's defective . And accordingly,<br />

21 pursuant to Commission Rule 5VAC5-20-90, the Bureau<br />

22 moves that Security Trust be found in default .<br />

23 Thank you .<br />

24 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you . Mr .<br />

25 Baldwin .<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel. vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 14<br />

1 MR . BALDWIN : May it please the Court, the<br />

2 rules of the Commission are plain on this point, and<br />

3 even if they -- and they're not any different than<br />

4 the rules that apply in the -- all of the courts of<br />

5 record of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the<br />

6 courts not of record and the General District Court,<br />

7 with one exception for small claims and with regard<br />

8 to minor matters that would relate to getting a<br />

9 default judgment .<br />

10 But as far as this matter, the rules are<br />

11 very plain . I can't speak to why Mr . McDaniel -- or<br />

12 excuse me, Mr . McDonald did not previously retain<br />

13 counsel . I only know that -- I only know when I was<br />

14 retained and that I have done the best I can to get<br />

15 up to speed on this in the interim .<br />

16 But I would ask that as a general<br />

17 proposition that a matter be decided on the merits<br />

18 rather than on procedure, I think is a traditional<br />

19 pattern throughout Virginia . And although there<br />

20 certainly is cause, given the nature of the rules<br />

21 and the well-established procedures of all of the<br />

22 forums, both judicial and administrative of the<br />

23 Commonwealth of Virginia, it still is, I think, a<br />

24 matter of the discretion for the Hearing Examiner,<br />

25 the Judge, the judicial officer, to determine . And<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 15<br />

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1 at this particular point, Security is represented by<br />

2 counsel .<br />

3 Now, with respect to the -- the Court will<br />

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4 note although I filed a motion for relief with<br />

5 respect to the request for admissions, I did not<br />

6 do -- I did not adopt the answer . The reason for<br />

7 that was that in the time frame that I have -- it<br />

8 was been given to me . By timing of my retainer, I<br />

9 have not able to reach the closure that an attorney<br />

10 is -- needs to reach with regard to an answer<br />

11 because if I were to adopt that, then I would be<br />

12 saying to the examiner that under the equivalence of<br />

13 8 .01-271 .1 that I believe those pleadings were well<br />

14 grounded in fact . And there just simply has not<br />

15 been the time for me to be able to do that . And<br />

16 there hasn't been the time for me to prepare my own<br />

17 pleading, which I could have asked the examiner to<br />

18 allow late filing .<br />

19 1 simply would ask that the Court decide<br />

20 that it's appropriate to let Security present its<br />

21 case and that Your Honor withhold the decision on<br />

22 the deemed matter until such time as the evidence is<br />

23 closed . I think that is within the Court's<br />

24 discretion . When you hear all the evidence, you<br />

25 have the complete power and discretion to ignore<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 16<br />

1 evidence that you deem to be prejudicial to the <strong>BFI</strong><br />

2 because they haven't been given in a timely notice<br />

3 because there was no counsel . You also have the<br />

4 discretion to consider the evidence as it comes<br />

5 before Your Honor .<br />

6 And all I can say is that since it is<br />

7 within Your Honor's discretion, I would ask that<br />

8 Your Honor exercise discretion and not to deem the<br />

9 matter defaulted at this point, but rather to defer<br />

10 any final ruling until the Court has heard the full<br />

11 body of evidence .<br />

12 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you . Ms .<br />

13 Johnston, anything?<br />

14 MS . JOHNSTON : Yes, Your Honor . Mr .<br />

15 Baldwin is correct that Rule 90 5-20-90 of the<br />

16 Commission's rules does say that failure to file a<br />

17 timely answer responsive pleading may result in the<br />

18 entry of judgment, your Honor .<br />

19 But all due process requires is that a<br />

20 state must afford all individuals a meaningful<br />

21 opportunity to be heard . And that's all that is<br />

22 required . And Security Trust received that<br />

23 opportunity . It says the failure to appear after<br />

24 due notice or the unjustifiable violation of some<br />

25 procedural rule affecting the orderly process and<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 17<br />

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1 adjudication of cases may result in a waiver of the<br />

2 hearing of required due process and an entry of<br />

3 judgment by default . And that's what we have here .<br />

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4 We have an unjustifiable violation of the rules .<br />

5 Thank you, Your Honor .<br />

6 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Thank you .<br />

7 1 do agree that Mr . McDonald was not qualified to<br />

8 file pleadings on behalf of Security Trust . And<br />

9 hence, I must conclude that the response to the rule<br />

10 that was filed is defective and was not properly<br />

11 filed .<br />

12 1 also agree that due notice was provided<br />

13 to Security Trust . Security Trust is in default of<br />

14 the Commission's order and directive to file a<br />

15 responsive pleading . The rule states that if<br />

16 Security Trust is found in default, quote, it<br />

17 shall -- and I emphasize shall -- be deemed to have<br />

18 waived all objections to the admissibility of<br />

19 evidence and may -- and I emphasize may -- have<br />

20 entered against it a judgment by default .<br />

21 Security Trust is deemed to have waived<br />

22 all objections to the admissibility of evidence that<br />

23 the Bureau may offer today, but can cross-examine<br />

24 witnesses and offer evidence of its own .<br />

25 The rule, however, does not mandate that a<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 18<br />

1 default judgment automatically follows default for<br />

2 failure to properly file a responsive pleading, nor<br />

3 does the failure to properly file a response through<br />

4 an attorney unfairly prejudice the Bureau . The<br />

5 Bureau should be well aware of the position of<br />

6 Security Trust in this matter .<br />

7 Security Trust is properly represented<br />

8 today and should be prepared to offer a defense<br />

9 against the allegations in the rule . So, despite<br />

10 the failure to properly file through an attorney<br />

11 appropriate pleadings in this case, I will not grant<br />

12 the Bureau's request to enter judgment by default on<br />

13 the allegations in the rule and revoke Security<br />

14 Trust's mortgage broker license at this time . That<br />

15 motion is denied .<br />

16 As a side note, I must be clear since we<br />

17 have a consolidated record here that the default<br />

18 finding only relates to Security Trust in the rule<br />

19 case and does not affect the second case, which<br />

20 involves Mr . McDonald's appeal of the Bureau's<br />

21 appeal of his denial of his license application .<br />

22 MR . BALDWIN : Thank you, Your Honor .<br />

23 HEARING EXAMINER : Okay . The next item or<br />

24 items on my preliminary agenda is the Bureau's<br />

25 motion to admit requests for admissions and Mr .<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 19<br />

1-6<br />

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1 Baldwin's motion for relief from potentially deemed<br />

2 admission .<br />

3 MR . BALDWIN : May it please the Court,<br />

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4 this is a similar argument and similar issue in<br />

5 nature to that which the Court has already disposed<br />

6 of .<br />

7 Matters requested to be admitted were<br />

8 properly served . They were not responded to . They<br />

9 were not responded to even by an unauthorized<br />

10 signatory . Unlike at least the answer that was<br />

11 filed, there was no response whatsoever . Certainly<br />

12 prudence in my own practice, I always make it a<br />

13 point to respond within 21 days for patently obvious<br />

14 reasons .<br />

15 And the absence of any response at all<br />

16 ever has significance, which is what led me to file<br />

17 the motion . I cannot say that all of the matters in<br />

18 the motion were not well founded . But I can say<br />

19 with respect to the very last one, which we<br />

20 highlighted, that I know for a fact that there have<br />

21 been good faith efforts made . And we would -- by<br />

22 Mr . McDonald to address the debt issues . And we're<br />

23 prepared to present that today and by way of<br />

24 illustration and not limitation and not -- we're<br />

25 prepared to put on evidence that the tax lien has<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 20<br />

been removed, that all of the judgments against him<br />

2 have either been satisfied or compromised in<br />

3 accordance with the payment plan, that he's current<br />

4 with his house mortgage, and so that all of the<br />

5 litany of issues that have arisen with regard to<br />

6 this application by Mr . McDonald and the prior one<br />

7 in 2012, those matters are in hand, if not utterly<br />

8 and absolutely, certainly substantially and<br />

9 materially better .<br />

10 And that is pertinent to the hearing of<br />

11 Security because as counsel for <strong>BFI</strong> properly points<br />

12 out, under the rules of -- excuse me, under the<br />

13 Title 6 .2 of the code of Virginia, the actions of a<br />

14 principal of a licensee are imputed of course to the<br />

15 licensee . So -- and it's been expressly stated by<br />

16 Bureau of Financial Institutions in this matter that<br />

17 if Mr . McDonald does not have his house in order,<br />

18 then by definition, Security cannot have its<br />

19 financial house in order .<br />

20 And there have been substantial and<br />

21 material improvements which we're prepared to place<br />

22 upon the record and which sort of are on the record .<br />

23 We don't have a set of filings that I am confident<br />

24 the Hearing Examiner is more used to seeing in the<br />

25 nature of court pleadings, orderly and presented and<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 21<br />

1 in a normal way . But there is a lot in the record<br />

2 that shows that a lot of progress has been made .<br />

3 We plan to present this in a more orderly<br />

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4 fashion today . So, with respect to that, on the<br />

5 merits, I can represent to the Court that there<br />

6 would be a good faith basis for denying that one .<br />

7 And, aga in, because of the timing issues, which are<br />

8 not the fault of <strong>BFI</strong>, that's quite clear, I have not<br />

9 been abl e to attend to the other matters . But in<br />

10 any event, a discovery matter always lies within the<br />

11 discretion of the judicial officer, just as does the<br />

12 issue of a default judgment .<br />

13 And therefore, I would incorporate by<br />

14 reference the argument just made .<br />

15 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Your<br />

16 client, of course, just arrived . I would like to<br />

17 clarify something that I probably should have<br />

18 clarified early whether when I went through how we<br />

19 were going to proceed today .<br />

20 While there has been a lot of paper filed<br />

21 in the case file in the document control center of<br />

22 the clerk's office, at this point, there is nothing<br />

23 on the record yet . Any information that is in that<br />

24 file that either of you want to present you will<br />

25 present today, we will mark it as an exhibit, it<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 22<br />

1 will be sponsored by a witness and admitted into the<br />

2 record at that point .<br />

3 So, you're right, I have seen a lot of<br />

4 paper . But at this point, there is nothing yet in<br />

5 the record of these cases . All right .<br />

6 MR . BALDWIN : Very well, Your Honor .<br />

7 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you .<br />

8 Ms . Johnston .<br />

9 MS . JOHNSTON : Yes . Mr . Baldwin's<br />

10 correct, and I appreciate him being forthcoming that<br />

11 Mr . McDonald did not respond to the Bureau's request<br />

12 for discovery . McDonald did file a document that<br />

13 was labeled "Response to Interrogatories and<br />

14 Requests For Production of Documents," but that<br />

is<br />

document was actually not responsive to the Bureau's<br />

16 discovery request .<br />

17 In an effort to prepare for this hearing,<br />

18 the Bureau gave Security Trust and McDonald another<br />

19 bite at the apple and sent a letter on July 23,<br />

20 2013, again requesting responses to the Bureau's<br />

21 discovery .<br />

22 And in the letter, the Bureau informed<br />

23 McDonald that it would depose him on August 15th if<br />

24 he and Security Trust failed to provide responses to<br />

25 the discovery . July 9th, the Bureau sent a notice<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page23<br />

1 of deposition to McDonald and Security Trust via<br />

2 certified mail . And the Commission issued a<br />

3 subpoena for deposition on July 30th commanding<br />

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4 McDonald to appear on August 15th in order to be<br />

5 deposed to clarify some of the issues that would be<br />

6 addressed at trial today .<br />

7 Despite the notice of a Commission-issued<br />

8 subpoena, McDonald failed to appear for the<br />

9 deposition . McDonald and Security Trust have had<br />

10 multiple chances and nearly four months to respond<br />

11 to the discovery and to answer the questions raised<br />

12 in the discovery and have rejected every opportunity<br />

0<br />

13 and ignored a Commission subpoena in the process .<br />

14 Rule 5VAC5-20-283 of the Commission's<br />

15 rules require responses to the Bureau's request for<br />

16 admission within 21 days of the receipt of the<br />

17 request, or else such request shall be deemed<br />

18 admitted . Accordingly, the Bureau moves that the<br />

19 request for admission in whole be admitted . Thank<br />

20 you .<br />

21 A Thank you .<br />

22 HEARING EXAMINER : Mr . Baldwin, anything<br />

23 in response?<br />

24 MR . BALDWIN : Your Honor, only the fact<br />

25 that there -- there will be evidence that all the<br />

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4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 24<br />

1 matters requested to be admitted are not, in fact,<br />

2 true . And the purpose of a request for admissions<br />

3 is to remove from the adjudicatory process those<br />

4 matters which are not genuinely at issue . And there<br />

5 is a genuine issue which we are prepared to present<br />

6 through the testimony of Mr . McDonald that his<br />

7 financial circumstances have materially improved<br />

8 and, therefore, that his application for a mortgage<br />

9 loan originator's license, in fact, is in good<br />

10 faith, which is a matter which it would be deemed<br />

11 admitted if we're not allowed to present the<br />

12 evidence .<br />

13 And, so, given the purpose of request for<br />

14 admissions, which is not to create a default<br />

15 situation, but rather to remove from the<br />

16 adjudicatory process those matters which are not<br />

17 genuinely in dispute -- that's the purpose of it --<br />

18 there is a genuine dispute about much of what is<br />

19 before Your Honor .<br />

20 And, again, I must acknowledge for the<br />

21 record it is not -- it is not due to the lack of<br />

22 action by the Bureau of Financial Institutions that<br />

23 we are in this situation . But nevertheless, it<br />

24 remains that there is much genuine dispute about the<br />

25 matters in controversy . And the requests for<br />

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0


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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page25<br />

1 admissions are not intended to be a way to remove<br />

2 genuine issues from the purview of the finding<br />

3 authority .<br />

4 HEARING EXAMINER : As Ms . Johnston noted,<br />

5 the Commission rules of practice and procedure<br />

6 explicitly provide that, quote, a matter -- I<br />

7 emphasize -- shall be deemed admitted unless the<br />

8 party on whom requests for admission are served<br />

9 within 21 days of the service of the request or some<br />

10 other period as the Commission may designate,<br />

11 inquote, responds .<br />

12 Neither Security Trust nor Mr . McDonald<br />

13 responded within 21 days or even appeared at a<br />

14 scheduled deposition to respond despite ample notice<br />

15 and being subpoenaed to be there . Without responses<br />

16 to the Bureau's requests for admission by operation<br />

17 of the Commission's rules, they must be deemed<br />

18 admitted .<br />

19 The only flexibility that I have is the<br />

20 option of designating, quote, some other period,<br />

21 inquote, by which to respond . I am prepared to<br />

22 exercise that discretion to designate another period<br />

23 by which those admissions -- those requests for<br />

24 admission may be responded to if you, Mr . Baldwin,<br />

25 are prepared to respond to them item-by-item at this<br />

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W


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page26<br />

1 time . Are you prepared?<br />

2 MR . BALDWIN : Will Your Honor grant me<br />

0<br />

3 five minutes to do -- so I can --<br />

4 HEARING EXAMINER : Yes . This is a point<br />

5 in time that I thought you might need an<br />

6 opportunity .<br />

7 MR . BALDWIN : In fact, more than five . I<br />

8 will be as diligent as I possibly can, but it might<br />

9 take upwards of ten minutes .<br />

10 HEARING EXAMINER : I will grant you ten<br />

11 minutes . We'll take a brief recess and reconvene in<br />

12 ten minutes .<br />

13<br />

14 (Recess, 10 :39 a .m . to 10 :47 a .m .)<br />

0<br />

15<br />

16 THE BAILIFF : All rise . The Commission<br />

17 resumes this session . Please be seated .<br />

HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Mr .<br />

~11,9, Baldwin .<br />

20 MR . BALDWIN : Yes, Your Honor .<br />

21 HEARING EXAMINER : Are you prepared?<br />

22 MR . BALDWIN : We'll go forward at this<br />

23 time, Your Honor . I make reference to the requests<br />

24 for admissions which are included as an exhibit to<br />

25 the <strong>BFI</strong>'s motion to admit requests for admission,<br />

0<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 27<br />

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1 and that motion, I think, was<br />

kugust 26th .<br />

2 HEARING EXAMINER : I<br />

do have it .<br />

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3 MR . BALDWIN : August<br />

21st, excuse me .<br />

So,<br />

IN&<br />

4 I'm going to get Exhibit AA to<br />

5 and in response to Your Honor,<br />

that motion to admit<br />

I will now go<br />

6 forward .<br />

7 HEARING EXAMINER : Before you begin, just<br />

8 as a reminder, to the extent you are not able to<br />

9 address or object to any of the specific requests,<br />

10 they will be deemed admitted .<br />

11 MR . BALDWIN : I understand, Your Honor . I<br />

12 also intend to proceed as I would because I believe<br />

13 the procedure is precisely analogous to that in a<br />

14 circuit court, which is, under the rules, when a<br />

15 portion is correct, you admit the portion, deny the<br />

16 remainder .<br />

17 HEARING EXAMINER : Yes .<br />

18 MR . BALDWIN : I wish to place that before<br />

19 Your Honor right now .<br />

20 HEARING EXAMINER : Yes, please do .<br />

21 MR . BALDWIN : Starting with the matters<br />

22 requested : No . 1, admitted .<br />

23 No . 2, admitted .<br />

24 No . 3, admitted .<br />

25 No . 4, admitted .<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page28<br />

1 No . 5, denied as phrased and qualified as<br />

2 follows : With respect to the first deed of trust,<br />

3 he is current and has been current on that for some<br />

4 time . There maybe late charges, but the late<br />

5 charges are a part of a modification and are not<br />

6 believed to be new late charges . He was in or about<br />

7 January of 2013 in arrears by 90 days . However,<br />

8 that was as a requirement of the modification<br />

9 process . Under the modification process, as<br />

10 practiced by virtually all financial institutions --<br />

11 and I won't pretend to say whether this is a result<br />

12 of somewhat idiotic behavior of banks or some<br />

13 idiotic behavior of regulators, and I guess Your<br />

14 Honor knows my personal opinion on that point . But<br />

0<br />

15 if a bank says I'm 90 days behind and I agree I'm<br />

16 60, 1 can't cure the 90 while it's in modification .<br />

17 No payments are accepted unless you pay everything<br />

18 that they claim is due .<br />

19 So, therefore, I have to qualify that to<br />

20 say to the extent there were any unpaid late<br />

21 charges, they were unpaid because they won't accept<br />

22 a payment during the time that you are requesting a<br />

23 modification, that the modification then pending was<br />

24 ultimately denied . When that modification was<br />

25 denied at that time, Mr . McDonald paid all of the<br />

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0


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 29<br />

0<br />

1 arrearages and brought the loan current, which is<br />

2 its current status . And that, I believe, is the<br />

3 full and fair response to that particular matter .<br />

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4 1 admit that Mr . McDonald is in default of<br />

5 the secondary deed of trust . That is denied . To<br />

6 his best knowledge and to the knowledge of a credit<br />

7 report, which I had him pull yesterday to make sure<br />

8 that it was current which we intend to introduce<br />

9 into evidence, no money is shown as due and owing on<br />

10 that second mortgage .<br />

11 With respect to the statement of his net<br />

12 worth on the personal financial statement being<br />

0<br />

13 higher than his net worth, admitted and qualified .<br />

14 And the qualification is that Mr . McDonald believed<br />

15 that the liabilities shown did not relate to the<br />

16 total amount owed, but rather to a monthly payment<br />

17 and whether or not he was performing properly on<br />

18 those liabilities .<br />

19 With respect to eight, that is admitted .<br />

20 With respect to nine, that is admitted .<br />

21 With respect to ten, admitted .<br />

22 Eleven is admitted, but qualified based on<br />

23 what Mr . McDonald's understanding was as to the<br />

24 nature of liability shown on a balance sheet as<br />

25 opposed to that which I have advised him is the more<br />

0<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

-,""v.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Pagc30<br />

1 widely accepted definition of liabilities .<br />

2 With respect to 12, that is admitted with<br />

3 the exception of 121, Carrington Mortgage, that is<br />

4 denied for the reasons previously stated .<br />

5 With respect to 13, that is admitted<br />

6 within the time frame that we have . I would ask the<br />

7 Court for leave if, on presentation of evidence,<br />

8 meaning the most current credit report, that the<br />

9 Court consider taking more recent information, as<br />

10 that would be presumably more probative than the<br />

11 matters requested to be admitted . We already have<br />

12 admitted that liabilities were owed with the<br />

13 exception of Carrington Mortgage . And, so, I should<br />

14 caveat 13 by saying 131 is denied for the reasons<br />

0<br />

15 previously stated as to Carrington Mortgage .<br />

16 14 is admitted, but with respect -- with<br />

17 the caveat that as to Carrington Mortgage, it is<br />

18 denied that there is any debt .<br />

19 15 is admitted .<br />

20 16, well, the date is -- 16 is denied<br />

21 because it's the way it's phrased . It's as of the<br />

22 date of your response to these requests for<br />

23 admission . Your Honor has indicated today is the<br />

24 date we are answering, therefore, as of today and<br />

25 therefore deny it because that is not the status of<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 31<br />

I~A<br />

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1 today, with one -- with one exception, and the one<br />

2 exception is Mary Washington, which has a judgment<br />

3 for about $17,000, but where there is a payment plan<br />

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4 in effect of paying $100 a month and tha t that is<br />

5 the current status of the payment plan . So, the<br />

6 monies are still owed . I do not believe the<br />

7 judgment has been satisfied, but he is paying that<br />

8 debt as it has been restructured by agreement of the<br />

9 parties .<br />

10 With regard to 17, the document -- I have<br />

11 to respond as follows : The document attached does<br />

12 not show Equity Source Home Loans as a previous<br />

0<br />

13 employer . I spent some time with Mr . McDonald on<br />

14 that point because it's quite clear from the 2012<br />

15 proceedings, of which this Court can take judicial<br />

16 notice, that that was an issue in those proceedings .<br />

17 And it seems clear that Mr . McDonald acknowledged in<br />

18 those proceedings that he was an employee, although<br />

19 there apparently was a dispute as to the period of<br />

20 time in which he was an employee .<br />

21 The papers as filed do not show any<br />

22 reference to Equity Source Home Loans . Mr . McDonald<br />

23 tells me, and I believe he will testify, that he<br />

24 believes he showed that on his filing form . And<br />

25 therefore, we have a conundrum, which is that one<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

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4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 32<br />

1 normally doesn't impugn public records, and a filed<br />

2 application is a public record . By the same token,<br />

3 he doesn't understand why he wouldn't have disclosed<br />

4 that . And to think that it wasn't disclosed in<br />

5 November of 2012 at the time of the filing, when the<br />

6 matter had been litigated within the same year and<br />

7 was a matter known to all is one of those things<br />

8 that you just can't really explain .<br />

9 So, therefore, I have to say that under<br />

10 Rule 4 :11 applicable in this proceeding, we are<br />

11 unable to admit it or deny on the basis of<br />

12 information that is presently known to us . He<br />

13 thinks he disclosed it, but there isn't anything<br />

14 shown on the record to that . And that is the best I<br />

15 can do with regard to 17 . And I understand Your<br />

16 Honor's ruling that that therefore might be deemed<br />

0<br />

17 to be admitted, but I will ask that Your Honor look<br />

18 at that admission as perhaps a little less<br />

19 persuasive than maybe some of the other ones because<br />

20 there are just some inexplicable things about that .<br />

21 HEARING EXAMINER : It will be deemed<br />

22 admitted, but you'll have an opportunity to offer<br />

23 evidence to further explain it when we reach that<br />

24 point .<br />

25 MR . BALDWIN : Very well, Your Honor, thank<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page33<br />

0<br />

1 you .<br />

2 With regard to 18, admitted .<br />

3 19, admitted .<br />

4 20, admitted .<br />

5 If I could have one moment, I overlooked<br />

6 going over one point with Mr . McDonald .<br />

7 21 and 22 are admitted .<br />

8 23 is admitted .<br />

9 24 is admitted .<br />

10 25 is admitted .<br />

11 26 is admitted .<br />

12 27 is admitted .<br />

0<br />

13 28 is admitted .<br />

14 29 is admitted .<br />

15 30 is admitted .<br />

16 31 is admitted .<br />

17 32 is admitted .<br />

18 Well, with regard to No . 33, it,s denied .<br />

19 He believes he had submitted a check at that time to<br />

20 make the payment . The actual record filed with the<br />

21 Fredericksburg General District Court shows<br />

22 satisfied 2-22-13 but that's a judicial record and<br />

23 he believes that the check had already cleared<br />

24 before 2-22-13 . This is addressed to as of 2-8-13 .<br />

25 So, it's denied for those reasons .<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 34<br />

1 34 is admitted .<br />

2 35 is admitted .<br />

3 Excuse me . 35, one is admitted . The<br />

4 second 35 is denied . That was the one I previously<br />

5 spoke to, Your Honor .<br />

6 And I thank the Court for the opportunity<br />

7 to respond .<br />

8 HEARING EXAMINER : Ms . Johnston, does Mr .<br />

9 Baldwin's responses to the requests for admission<br />

10 affect your ability to go forward today?<br />

11 MS . JOHNSTON : No, Your Honor ; and many of<br />

12 the matters that are denied will be cleared up today<br />

13 after testimony . Thank you .<br />

14 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Thank you .<br />

0<br />

is<br />

The responses to the requests for admission are part<br />

16 of the record in that the court reporter has<br />

17 captured them, but I am going to mark as an exhibit<br />

18 the requests for admission and put that in the<br />

19 record so that those two can match up so when you<br />

20 say No . 1 is admitted, we'll know what that<br />

21 corresponds to .<br />

22 MR . BALDWIN : Perhaps Your Honor would<br />

23 like to put in the full motion to admit in the<br />

24 record because that's the pleading of the <strong>BFI</strong> and<br />

25 that includes the actual requests for admissions and<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

is


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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 35<br />

1 it's the full paper . It might present a better<br />

2 picture in the proceedings .<br />

3 HEARING EXAMINER : I will decline to do<br />

4 that because the motion is actually a legal<br />

5 pleading . The request for admission was -- is in<br />

6 the file and was served on Mr . McDonald much earlier<br />

7 in the proceedings . So, there is a separate<br />

8 document that is just entitled "Requests for<br />

9 Admission ." And I will mark and admit that as<br />

10 Exhibit 1 .<br />

11 MR . BALDWIN : Very well, Your Honor .<br />

12 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Are there<br />

13 any other preliminary matters, Ms . Johnston, that<br />

14 you would like to raise before we begin to receive<br />

15 evidence?<br />

16 MS . JOHNSTON : Well, yes, Your Honor . In<br />

17 the response of the Bureau of Financial Institutions<br />

18 to Mr . McDonald's application, the Bureau made two<br />

19 arguments, legal arguments, one for res judicata and<br />

20 collateral estoppel . The Bureau is not going to<br />

21 proceed on the res judicata argument, but would<br />

22 proceed on the collateral estoppel . The Bureau is<br />

23 prepared to orally argue that today ; or Your Honor<br />

24 may rely on what's represented in the response,<br />

25 whatever you prefer, ma'am .<br />

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Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 36<br />

1 HEARING EXAMINER : All right .<br />

2 MR . BALDWIN : Your Honor, I can speak to<br />

3 that . The status of the doctrine -- of estoppel<br />

4 doctrine as an administrative law in Virginia is<br />

5 still slightly unsettled, but I don't think we need<br />

6 to address the extent to which those doctrines are<br />

7 co-terminus with the decisions in the circuit courts<br />

8 or the general district courts .<br />

9 For there to be collateral estoppel, there<br />

10 has to be the same factual issue in play . And the<br />

11 circumstances of Mr . McDonald as affects this<br />

12 application are not the same as those as affected<br />

13 his last application . They are close in time . And,<br />

14 yes, it is absolutely true that there has been a<br />

is<br />

final decision with respect to his prior<br />

16 application, but this is a new application and a new<br />

17 time in question . And therefore, we don't have an<br />

18 identical set of issues -- the issues ultimately are<br />

19 the same, that is, do you meet the requirements for<br />

20 licensure .<br />

21 But the facts are not the same because the<br />

22 circumstances in November of 2012 and thereafter are<br />

23 not the same as the circumstances that appertain to<br />

24 his 2011 application . And, so, we don't have the<br />

25 same set of facts .<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 37<br />

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1 1 think counsel is perhaps looking to a<br />

2 doctrine which I did not spend the time to see if<br />

3 the -- if the Corporation Commission had adopted it,<br />

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4 but it would be easily understood . The courts --<br />

5 the courts retain and certainly under the common law<br />

6 of the SCC in its adjudicatory capacity, would have<br />

7 the right to issue injunctive or other appropriate<br />

8 relief from persons who abuse, just as the circuit<br />

9 courts will enjoin people who bring repeatedly<br />

10 frivolous litigation from doing so without some kind<br />

11 of prior standard to assure that the courts are not<br />

12 clogged by frivolous litigation .<br />

13 1 think it clear that the SCC would have a<br />

14 similar power upon a proper factual record . And<br />

15 whereas the timing of this licensure application<br />

16 were it to me could have been a little bit better<br />

17 because things are getting better every day . And<br />

18 therefore, if you wait a little bit longer and they<br />

19 continue to get better, then tomorrow might be a<br />

20 better day to do it than today .<br />

21 Nevertheless, what we have is one that is<br />

22 filed as of November ; and the circumstances in<br />

23 November were definitely not the same as those that<br />

24 were before the Commission at the last hearing . And<br />

25 therefore, with deference to counsel, collateral<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

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4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Atlen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 38<br />

1 estoppel can apply because the facts are, by<br />

2 definition, in this instance, not the same .<br />

3 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you .<br />

4 Ms . Johnston .<br />

5 MS . JOHNSTON : Your Honor, the Bureau<br />

6 would reply that they are the same . McDonald was<br />

7 just here last year litigating a different MOL<br />

8 application, which was denied by the Commissioner .<br />

9 A formal hearing was held on the matter, and the<br />

10 Commission affirmed the Commissioner's decision on<br />

11 July the 6th of 2012 .<br />

12 Four short months later, McDonald applied<br />

13 for an MLO application . Again, it involves the same<br />

14 parties as McDonald 1, the <strong>BFI</strong> 2012-0003, McDonald<br />

0<br />

15 and the Bureau . It's a subsequent proceeding and a<br />

16 different proceeding, both applications for MLO<br />

17 licenses .<br />

18 McDonald is attempting to relitigate the<br />

19 same factual and legal questions that were at issue,<br />

20 specifically financial responsibility, character,<br />

21 and general fitness for licensure as an MLO . He has<br />

22 not proven any facts or provided any facts that<br />

23 would show that these are different arguably for<br />

24 financial responsibility . But it's a three-part<br />

25 test, and you have to meet all three for licensure .<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page39<br />

1 So, even if, which the Bureau is not<br />

2 conceding that he meets the financial responsibility<br />

3 qualification, he has given nothing to show that he<br />

4 meets the character and general fitness . And<br />

5 therefore, collateral estoppel or issue preclusion<br />

6 does apply .<br />

7 HEARING EXAMINER : I will take your motion<br />

8 and argument under advisement . There have been<br />

9 allegations that circumstances have changed enough<br />

10 to warrant a different outcome in this proceeding,<br />

11 and I am going to receive evidence to determine if<br />

12 that is the case or not . All right? Anything<br />

13 further of a preliminary matter?<br />

14 MS . JOHNSTON : Just one more thing, Your<br />

15 Honor . A lot of the exhibits that the Bureau is<br />

16 going to move into evidence contain personal<br />

17 confidential information about Mr . McDonald . So, I<br />

18 move they be entered under seal, and the Bureau has<br />

19 provided the bailiff with a redacted copy for the<br />

20 public record .<br />

21 HEARING EXAMINER : Very good . As we go<br />

22 through the exhibits, just remind me if it's not --<br />

23 MS . JOHNSTON : Yes, Your Honor .<br />

24 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Thank you .<br />

25 Preliminary matters have been -- have concluded .<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 40<br />

1 So, I would like to entertain opening statements . I<br />

2 probably have a good, after all those preliminary<br />

3 matters, I have a good understanding of, you know,<br />

4 what your positions are ; but let's proceed with<br />

5 opening statements . Ms . Johnston .<br />

6 MS . JOHNSTON : Yes . As you're aware, Your<br />

7 Honor, we are here today in regard to two cases .<br />

8 The first is the State Corporation Commission versus<br />

9 Security Trust Mortgage, LLC, in which the Bureau of<br />

10 Financial Institutions is seeking a revocation of<br />

11 Security Trust's mortgage broker license .<br />

12 The second case is Daniel McDonald's<br />

13 appeal of the Commissioner of Financial<br />

14 Institution's denial of his November 23rd, 2012,<br />

0<br />

15 application for a mortgage loan originator license .<br />

16 Both cases relate back to a proceeding<br />

17 from last year that involved McDonald that I have<br />

18 previously mentioned, the <strong>BFI</strong> 2012-0003, which I'm<br />

19 going to refer to as McDonald 1 for convenience .<br />

20 That action arose because Mr . McDonald had<br />

21 applied for an MLO license in 2011, which is when,<br />

22 about the time that MLOs were first required to be<br />

23 licensed in Virginia . That application was denied<br />

24 by the Commissioner in 2011 via his delegated<br />

25 authority from the Commission . And McDonald<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 41<br />

1 requested a formal appeal of that denial before the<br />

2 Commission .<br />

3 Now, in order to obtain an MLO license,<br />

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4 applicants must meet certain requirements that are<br />

5 found in Virginia law . An applicant who wants to<br />

6 obtain an MLO license is required by the code of<br />

7 Virginia to possess certain qualifications .<br />

8 The qualifications that an applicant must<br />

9 possess are financial responsibility, character, and<br />

10 general fitness such as to warrant belief that the<br />

11 licensee will act as a mortgage loan originator<br />

12 efficiently and fairly in the public interest and in<br />

0<br />

13 accordance with law .<br />

14 The Bureau has promulgated regulations<br />

15 that specifically identify the criteria that the<br />

16 Bureau looks at when determining whether an<br />

17 applicant possesses the required financial<br />

18 responsibility, character, and general fitness . If<br />

19 the Commissioner, again, who acts through delegated<br />

20 authority cannot make these findings, the Commission<br />

21 shall not issue a license to that applicant .<br />

22 Now, turning back to the prior case in<br />

23 McDonald 1, a full hearing was held on this case<br />

24 March 22, 2012, here at the Commission with Michael<br />

25 Thomas, Hearing Examiner presiding . Mr . McDonald<br />

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Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen AIlen, VA 23060 (804) 7554200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 42<br />

1 appeared and fully litigated the issues of his<br />

0<br />

2 financial responsibility, character, and general<br />

3 fitness for licensure as an MLO . The Hearing<br />

4 Examiner issued his report on April 27th, 2012 .<br />

5 The Bureau will show that in his report,<br />

6 he made specific findings of fact in regard to<br />

7 McDonald's financial responsibility, character, and<br />

8 general fitness . Specifically, the Hearing Examiner<br />

9 found that McDonald failed to provide disclosures<br />

10 required by Virginia and Federal law and all loans<br />

11 brokered by Security Trust .<br />

12 McDonald and his mortgage company,<br />

13 Security trust, issued a false and misleading<br />

14 mortgage pre-approval letter in 2010 that was a<br />

is<br />

15 complete fabrication, that McDonald lied on his MLO<br />

16 application, that McDonald willfully failed to<br />

17 disclose two outstanding judgments in a Federal tax<br />

18 lien, that he willfully failed to disclose his<br />

19 employment history for the previous ten years, that<br />

20 he was evasive or misleading in responses to the<br />

21 Bureau's inquiries, and with one exception, he had<br />

22 taken no affirmative steps to satisfy his numerous<br />

23 outstanding debts .<br />

24 And the Hearing Examiner recommended that<br />

25 the Commission affirm the commissioner's denial .<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09111/2013 Page 43<br />

1 The Commission entered a final order in McDonald 1<br />

2 on July 6th, 2012, adopting the Hearing Examiner's<br />

3 finding of fact and recommendations and affirming<br />

4 the Commissioner's denial of McDonald's MLO<br />

5 application . McDonald never appealed the final<br />

6 order .<br />

7 Even though McDonald sought an MLO<br />

8 license, which is an individual license, Daniel<br />

9 McDonald is the sole owner and officer of Security<br />

10 Trust, which is a mortgage broker licensee with the<br />

11 Commission .<br />

12 Now, MLOs take applications for or offer<br />

13 to negotiate the terms of residential mortgage loans<br />

14 on behalf of mortgage companies, including mortgage<br />

15 brokers . Like MLOs, mortgage brokers have to meet<br />

16 certain qualifications in order to be licensed and<br />

17 in order to maintain their license in Virginia .<br />

18 Mortgage brokers and their members, senior<br />

19 officers, directors, and principals must possess the<br />

20 financial responsibility, character, reputation,<br />

21 experience, and general fitness such as to warrant<br />

22 belief that the business will be operated<br />

23 efficiently and fairly in the public interest and in<br />

24 accordance with law .<br />

25 Thus, a mortgage broker and its members,<br />

Huseby, Inc.<br />

mm.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

0<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 44<br />

1 senior officers, directors, and principals must meet<br />

2 the very same qualifications as those for licensure<br />

0<br />

3 as an MLO, financial responsibility, character, and<br />

4 general fitness, plus the two additional<br />

5 qualifications of reputation and experience .<br />

6 Accordingly, after the Commission's final<br />

7 order in McDonald 1, the Bureau was on notice that<br />

8 Security Trust no longer met the requirements for<br />

9 licensure as a mortgage broker given Daniel<br />

10 McDonald's position as its senior officer and owner .<br />

11 Additionally, four short months after the<br />

12 Commission's July 6th order in McDonald 1 and before<br />

13 addressing any of the reasons cited for the previous<br />

14 denial on November 23rd, 2012, McDonald again<br />

0<br />

is applied for an MLO license .<br />

16 The Bureau will show that it made a<br />

17 thorough and fair review of McDonald's MLO<br />

18 application . It will also show that McDonald does<br />

19 not meet any of the qualifications for licensure as<br />

20 an MLO, but especially the qualifications of<br />

21 character and general fitness .<br />

22 The Bureau will show that just as in<br />

23 McDonald 1, McDonald made multiple material<br />

24 misrepresentations to the Bureau on his application,<br />

25 in his MLO personal financial report, in<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 45<br />

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1 correspondence with the Bureau, and in other filings<br />

2 with the Bureau .<br />

3 It will show that McDonald was evasive and<br />

4 misleading to the Bureau when questioned about<br />

5 omissions and inaccuracies in the application and<br />

6 other filings . And the Bureau will show that<br />

7 McDonald has failed to identify facts or<br />

8 circumstances that have changed since the<br />

9 Commission's finding last year that he lacked the<br />

10 qualifications for licensure that would warrant his<br />

11 receipt of an MLO license at this time .<br />

12 Finally, the Bureau will show by clear and<br />

0<br />

13 convincing evidence that Security Trust does not<br />

14 meet the qualifications for licensure as a mortgage<br />

15 broker . Your Honor, the Bureau requests that the<br />

16 Commission revoke Security Trust's mortgage broker<br />

17 license because it does not meet the qualifications<br />

18 for licensure as a mortgage broker .<br />

19 The Bureau states that the Commissioner<br />

20 did not abuse his discretion when he denied<br />

21 McDonald's November 23rd, 2012, application for an<br />

22 MLO license and requests that the Commission affirm<br />

23 the Commissioner's denial based on the fact that<br />

24 McDonald does not meet the qualifications for<br />

25 licensure as an MLO and he also has failed to<br />

0<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 46<br />

1 identify facts or circumstances that have changed<br />

0<br />

2 since last year's order that would warrant his<br />

3 receipt of a license at this time .<br />

4 Additionally, Mr . McDonald filed another<br />

5 MLO application June 3rd of this year, which the<br />

6 Bureau has not acted on and has been treating as<br />

7 part of this current procedure . Your Honor, since<br />

8 McDonald has shown he is going to repetitively file<br />

9 application after application, the Bureau requests<br />

10 that the Commission impose some reasonable period of<br />

11 time during which McDonald is prohibited from<br />

12 applying for an MLO license and that that<br />

13 prohibition address this June 3rd, 2013,<br />

14 application . That's all . Thank you .<br />

0<br />

15 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Thank you,<br />

16 Ms . Johnston .<br />

17 Mr . Baldwin, before you begin your opening<br />

18 statement, Mr . McDonald, I would like to caution you<br />

19 about speaking while the court is in -- you have an<br />

20 attorney . He will speak on your behalf .<br />

21 MR . BALDWIN : Just say yes .<br />

22 MR . McDONALD : Yes .<br />

23 HEARING EXAMINER : Mr . Baldwin .<br />

24 MR . BALDWIN : Your Honor, part of the<br />

2S problem was that Mr . McDonald took issue with the<br />

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Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 47<br />

1 reference to him by his last name rather than by<br />

2 using mister, the traditional term of addressing a<br />

3 male who is above age 18 .<br />

4 HEARING EXAMINER : All right .<br />

5 MR . BALDWIN : If I may have one moment, I<br />

6 need to ask my client one question . We were not<br />

7 aware that there had been -- I was not aware that<br />

8 there had been another filing . I would ask -- I<br />

9 don't believe there's any prohibition . We would ask<br />

10 that that application be withdrawn without prejudice<br />

11 at this time . There should not be two matters<br />

12 before the Commission at the same time on related<br />

13 matters . They should be decided as individual<br />

14 items, and Mr . McDonald has given me permission on<br />

15 the record to withdraw the June 3rd application .<br />

16 And I will file papers indicating that they have<br />

17 been withdrawn so that the electronic record will be<br />

18 complete . I just -- but I would note that at this<br />

19 particular time .<br />

20 HEARING EXAMINER : Any objection, Ms .<br />

21 Johnston?<br />

22 MS . JOHNSTON : No objection, Your Honor .<br />

23 HEARING EXAMINER : And I believe, again,<br />

24 you have stated that on the record in this case, and<br />

25 1 don't believe that it's necessary for you to file<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page48<br />

1 anything initially .<br />

2 MR . BALDWIN : It's my desire to make sure<br />

3 the electronic records are completed, but I'm<br />

0<br />

4 certainly pleased to follow Your Honor's guidance on<br />

5 the point .<br />

6 MS . JOHNSTON : Your Honor, I believe that<br />

7 the system, it's the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing<br />

8 System and Registry . Mr . McDonald is going to have<br />

9 to withdraw that application himself . The Bureau<br />

10 doesn't have the power to kick it out .<br />

11 HEARING EXAMINER : All right . Thanks for<br />

12 that clarification . I withdraw my guidance .<br />

13 MR . BALDWIN : I understand . Well, I want<br />

14 to just -- so it will be on the record, Mr .<br />

0<br />

15 McDonald, what they're saying is to withdraw that<br />

16 application, you will need to make a record filing<br />

17 because you're the one who files it . It's a<br />

18 national application process . Are we understood?<br />

19 MR . McDONALD : Understood .<br />

20 MR . BALDWIN : Thank you, sir .<br />

21 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you .<br />

22 MR . BALDWIN : Now, by way of an opening<br />

23 statement, we have two different issues . We have<br />

24 obviously the licensure issue of Security Trust<br />

25 and -- excuse me, the application to revoke the<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 49<br />

1 license of Security Trust, and we have the<br />

2 application for licensure as a mortgage loan<br />

3 originator by Mr . McDonald . I'll address Security<br />

4 first because the central reason, as is apparent<br />

5 from the papers that I have read and from counsel's<br />

6 opening statement, is that this isn't addressed so<br />

7 much Security as a sep arate legal entity, but rather<br />

8 by application of the fact addressed earlier by me<br />

9 that when you have -- that the actions of a<br />

10 principal of a company are attributed to the company<br />

11 for purposes of licensure .<br />

12 And certainly in this instance, where we<br />

13 have one owner and one operating member and one<br />

14 officer, the rule makes sense, even if it perhaps in<br />

15 some other instance might create shades of gray,<br />

16 we're not in that situation here .<br />

17 But what this is is just another way of<br />

18 saying that Mr . McDonald is a bad person, doesn't<br />

19 meet the requirements, and therefore, the company<br />

20 should be revoked . At the risk of perhaps restating<br />

21 some of the points I made in prior argument, but by<br />

22 way of opening statement, the facts now, the facts<br />

23 in November are not the same as the facts as<br />

24 determined last year .<br />

25 They are -- we are in a different<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

vA"Y.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Aflen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel. vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 50<br />

1 situation . And since we're in a different<br />

0<br />

2 situation, it is appropriate for Security, because<br />

3 of the attribution to it by the actions of its<br />

4 principal, be measured by the way things are now, if<br />

5 you will, rather than the way things were .<br />

6 And if that isn't the appropriate<br />

7 standard, then the moment any member or senior<br />

8 enough to cause attribution to the entity does<br />

9 something wrong, then the entity is done for without<br />

10 chance for any actions . And I do not believe that's<br />

11 consistent with either normal judicial procedure or<br />

12 the procedures of the State Corporation Commission .<br />

13 We don't have a one strike and you're out<br />

14 rule with regard to the licensure process or regard<br />

0<br />

15 to the revocation process . It's the facts and<br />

16 circumstances together that come into play .<br />

17 obviously, if the strike is bad enough, well, yes .<br />

18 On the other hand, if the strike isn't bad<br />

19 enough, then the answer would be no . And therefore,<br />

20 1 think it is appropriate that the -- since the<br />

21 decision is being made today with respect to the<br />

22 revocation of the license of Security that the<br />

23 situation as it is today be viewed by the fact<br />

24 finder as the mechanism for making that<br />

25 determination .<br />

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Huseby, Inc.<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel. vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 51<br />

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1 And as you will look at it today and as we<br />

2 will see when we go through the credit report, I<br />

3 will proffer we will seek to introduce into evidence<br />

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4 a September 10th credit report, and we're going to<br />

5 go down the list and show the status of each of<br />

6 those particular items .<br />

7 Virtually all of them have been resolved .<br />

8 The ones that haven't been resolved -- and as I<br />

9 indicated in the response to the request for<br />

10 admission, there is a judgment in favor of -- is it<br />

11 Mary Washington Hospital? Mary Washington Hospital .<br />

12 But that is on a payment plan .<br />

0<br />

13 And, so, he's either -- he's basically<br />

14 paying as agreed with respect to all of his debts at<br />

15 this particular point in time, and therefore, unless<br />

16 there is a rule that says one strike and you're out,<br />

17 it's appropriate for Security -- for Security to be<br />

18 measured, Security Trust to be measured by what's<br />

19 going on now and by -- and what is going on now are<br />

20 good things .<br />

21 And therefore, we would respectfully state<br />

22 that our issue with the factual issue is not so much<br />

23 what was the case in 2012 . That's been finally<br />

24 adjudicated . And when a matter has been finally<br />

25 adjudicated, the ability to change that is obviously<br />

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Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page52<br />

1 limited . But the decision is being made today not<br />

0<br />

2 based on the situation in the summer of 2012 when<br />

3 the prior decision on Mr . McDonald's prior<br />

4 application became final and therefore what is going<br />

5 on today is what is the point that should be<br />

6 pertinent to Your Honor's decision on whether the<br />

7 license should be revoked .<br />

8 Now, on the -- with regard to the<br />

9 application for mortgage loan origination, the<br />

10 timing is what the timing is . The facts will show<br />

11 that there is a continuing process whereby the<br />

12 situation is getting better . Now, at what point it<br />

13 gets well enough is a matter for the fact finder<br />

14 because there aren't fixed guidelines .<br />

is<br />

15 We deal with aspirational goals such as<br />

16 character, such as good faith efforts to pay debts .<br />

17 And these don't allow themselves to be zeroed and<br />

18 ones in a spreadsheet sort of fashion . It's all<br />

19 facts and all circumstances, as is common with most<br />

20 judicial determinations .<br />

21 But when you see a situation where things<br />

22 were bad -- and there's no question that they were<br />

23 bad, but they have gotten one heck of a lot better,<br />

24 then I respectfully submit that where how things are<br />

25 getting better is the proper test . And the evidence<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

0


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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page53<br />

1 that things are getting better will be, we think,<br />

2 respectfully overwhelming .<br />

3 The IRS lien is off the records . The IRS<br />

4 lien is not reflected in the SCC's records, which<br />

5 typically records individual tax liens with respect<br />

6 to individuals . There is no McDonald, Daniel .<br />

7 There is -- it goes right from McDermott to<br />

8 McDonald, Leonard ; but there is no McDonald, Daniel<br />

9 on the Commission's records . And that's because the<br />

10 tax lien is gone . It's been taken care of .<br />

11 With respect to the various judgments and<br />

12 the like, they're gone . They've been taken care of .<br />

13 With respect to the -- each of the items mentioned<br />

14 are reflected on yesterday's credit report . And I<br />

15 asked Mr . McDonald to pull or -- to pull a credit<br />

16 report from yesterday because by definition, that's<br />

17 the most current information . It would not be<br />

18 appropriate to bring into evidence a June credit<br />

19 report if that looked good, if one in September was<br />

20 a turn for the worse because it would be, in effect,<br />

21 misrepresentation by omission .<br />

22 It might have been true in June, but Your<br />

23 Honor is making the adjudication today . And<br />

24 therefore, what is there today is important . And<br />

25 this is a compendium of the three principle credit<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel. vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 54<br />

1 reports, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion . So, it<br />

2 shows all of them . And it shows a significant<br />

0<br />

3 history of issues, but it also shows in many<br />

4 instances -- virtually all instances that the matter<br />

5 has been resolved .<br />

6 There are a number of ones that are<br />

7 charged off and then payment made . So, the fact<br />

8 that a lender charged an account off is an<br />

9 accounting function, not a legal function . And if a<br />

10 debt has been paid after it was charged off, it<br />

11 doesn't stop the charge-off, but it does mean the<br />

12 debt isn't there anymore . And I would respectfully<br />

13 request that the focus factually should be on the<br />

14 way things are, not on whatever a creditor did at<br />

0<br />

15 some point based upon accounting rules and<br />

16 regulations .<br />

17 And with respect to one point, we will<br />

18 just go through each of these and show what the<br />

19 current status is . And then we will provide the<br />

20 backup documents for those, with one exception . And<br />

21 the one exception has to do with the status of the<br />

22 second mortgage .<br />

23 And I address that in the context of the<br />

24 request for admissions . But Your Honor will see<br />

25 when we present this evidence that Carrington<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VILRGINIA, ex rel . vs. SECURITY TRUST MORTGACE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 55<br />

1 Mortgage is shown as a second mortgagee . And then<br />

2 it says account transferred or sold, paid<br />

3 collection . And then it says past due zero .<br />

4 Balance zero . So, based upon Mr . McDonald's<br />

5 understanding that he has resolved that issue and<br />

6 based upon the credit report, we think that the<br />

7 matter has been resolved .<br />

8 And certainly given the turmoil that we've<br />

9 seen in the financial markets in the last few years,<br />

10 it might not be unusual to find things that are<br />

11 inconsistent in credit reports . I know I, for other<br />

12 clients and other days, I've -- I haven't made a<br />

13 living, but I've written a number of certified<br />

14 letters to the credit reporting people identifying<br />

15 issues .<br />

16 But there doesn't appear to be an issue<br />

17 with regard to the status of that . When you look at<br />

18 the full picture, he has met the standard with<br />

19 respect to a good faith effort to settle his debts .<br />

20 The other points, financial responsibility, I would<br />

21 respectfully submit that's not over the entire<br />

22 history because anybody who ever went bankrupt could<br />

23 not per force ever be deemed to be qualified .<br />

24 So, it should be either at the time of the<br />

25 application or at the time of adjudication . And<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 56<br />

1 it's not clear to me from the rules how you draw the<br />

2 distinction because if you have an application<br />

0<br />

3 that's good and things get bad, one would expect<br />

4 that the Hearing Officer would have the discretion<br />

5 to say I'm sorry, you might have been Bill Gates in<br />

6 November of 2012 ; but no disrespect, on<br />

7 September lith, you're Bill Baldwin . And sorry, you<br />

8 know, Bill Baldwin isn't Bill Gates .<br />

9 On the other hand, if somebody went<br />

10 bankrupt just before they filed and the reason they<br />

11 went bankrupt was because they had a number of<br />

12 guarantee agreements for a real estate development<br />

13 that failed and then they were back in business with<br />

14 a good paying job and were paying their debts as<br />

0<br />

15 they came due in the ordinary course of business at<br />

16 that time, that would present the obverse situation .<br />

17 So, I think it is fair to say where it<br />

18 talks about financial responsibility, the measure of<br />

19 the time of the adjudication would be the more<br />

20 important one . And we respectfully submit we'll be<br />

21 able to show that we've met that .<br />

22 Reputation, I didn't see any issues with<br />

23 respect to reputation in the 2012 or the 2013 . As<br />

24 far as I know, there aren't really reputation<br />

25 witnesses .<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Aflen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013<br />

Page57<br />

0<br />

1 With respect to experience, certainly<br />

2 there's more experience now than there used to be .<br />

3 So, to the extent that's changed, it should be a<br />

4 plus .<br />

5 Character, well, if you're making a good<br />

6 faith effort to pay your debts, that would seem to<br />

7 indicate good character ; but that's a purely<br />

8 evidentiary prospect .<br />

9 General fitness of the applicant and its<br />

10 members, there really isn't any showing that we are<br />

11 aware of at this time to say that Security will<br />

12 not -- that the business -- I note that the law,<br />

13 6 .2-1606 that says will be operated . It doesn't say<br />

14 has been operated .<br />

15 The focus of the Commonwealth of Virginia<br />

16 is what is going to happen in the future . What has<br />

17 happened in the past is a legitimate measure, of<br />

18 course, because we look to what has happened in the<br />

19 past as a measure of the future . But if the future<br />

20 looks especially bright, I would submit that it is<br />

21 appropriate for the Hearing Examiner to look at the<br />

22 matters in the future . And therefore, we will ask<br />

23 at the close of proceedings for an appropriate<br />

24 ruling .<br />

25 HEARING EXAMINER : Thank you, Mr . Baldwin .<br />

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Huseby, Inc .<br />

wivw.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200


COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, ex rel . vs . SECURITY TRUST MORTGAGE, LLC<br />

Proceedings on 09/11/2013 Page 58<br />

1 Ms . Johnston .<br />

2 MS . JOHNSTON : Yes, Your Honor . So, I'm<br />

0<br />

3 ready to proceed on the SCC versus Security Trust<br />

4 matter ; and I'm going to call Susan Hancock as my<br />

5 first witness .<br />

6<br />

7 SUSAN HANCOCK,<br />

8 called as a witness by and on behalf of the<br />

9 Bureau, after having been duly sworn, was<br />

10 examined and testified as follows :<br />

11 DIRECT EXAMINATION<br />

12<br />

13 BY MS . JOHNSTON :<br />

14 Q Good morning, Miss Hancock .<br />

0<br />

15 A Good morning .<br />

16 Q Could you please introduce yourself?<br />

17 A I'm Susan Hancock, deputy Commissioner<br />

18 with the State Corporation Commission's Bureau of<br />

19 Financial Institutions .<br />

20 Q And where are you employed?<br />

21 A With the State Corporation Commission .<br />

22 Q And how long have you been employed with<br />

23 the Bureau?<br />

24 A Just over 26 years .<br />

25 Q And what is your position?<br />

Huseby, Inc .<br />

www.huseby.com<br />

4860 Cox Road, Suite 200, Glen Allen, VA 23060 (804) 755-4200<br />

9

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