PrimeLending v. Walker

THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE. IT SHOULD NOT BE
CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 268(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company, Respondent,

v.

Ronnell Demar Walker a/k/a Ronnell D. Walker; and
South Pointe Homeowners Association, Defendants,

Of whom Ronnell Demar Walker a/k/a Ronnell D.
Walker is the Appellant.

Appellate Case No. 2016-002234

Appeal From Berkeley County
Dale Edward Van Slambrook, Master-in-Equity

Unpublished Opinion No. 2019-UP-329
Submitted September 1, 2019 – Filed October 9, 2019

AFFIRMED

Ronnell Demar Bey, of Summerville, pro se.

Erica Greer Lybrand, of Rogers Townsend & Thomas,
PC, of Columbia, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM: Ronnell Demar Walker appeals the master-in-equity's order of
foreclosure and sale. On appeal, Walker, pro se, argues the master erred by (1)
granting the foreclosure and sale to PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company
(PrimeLending) without sufficient validating evidence, (2) violating his
constitutional rights to due process and equal protection of the law, (3) violating
his civil rights by acting under color of authority, and (4) denying him the right to
face his accuser. We affirm.

1. As to whether the master erred by granting the foreclosure and sale: Bank of
Am., N.A. v. Draper, 405 S.C. 214, 219, 746 S.E.2d 478, 480 (Ct. App. 2013)
("Standing refers to a party's right to make a legal claim or seek judicial
enforcement of a duty or right." (omissions by court) (quoting Powell ex rel. Kelley
v. Bank of Am., 379 S.C. 437, 444, 665 S.E.2d 237, 241 (Ct. App. 2008))); id. at
220, 746 S.E.2d at 481 ("Generally, a party must be a real party in interest to the
litigation to have standing." (quoting Hill v. S.C. Dep't of Health & Envtl. Control,
389 S.C. 1, 22, 698 S.E.2d 612, 623 (2010))); S.C. Code Ann. § 36-1-201(b)(21)(a)
(Supp. 2018) (stating a holder is "the person in possession of a negotiable
instrument that is payable . . . to . . . an identified person that is the person in
possession"); S.C. Code Ann. § 36-3-301 (Supp. 2018) (noting the holder of an
instrument is entitled to enforce the instrument); U.S. Bank Trust Nat'l. Ass'n v.
Bell, 385 S.C. 364, 374, 684 S.E.2d 199, 204 (Ct. App. 2009) ("A mortgage and a
note are separate securities for the same debt, and a mortgagee who has a note and
a mortgage to secure a debt has the option to either bring an action on the note or
to pursue a foreclosure action.").1

2. As to whether the master violated Walker's constitutional rights to due process
and equal protection of the law: Ellie, Inc. v. Miccichi, 358 S.C. 78, 99, 594 S.E.2d
485, 496 (Ct. App. 2004) ("Numerous cases have held that where an issue is not
argued within the body of the brief but is only a short conclusory statement, it is
abandoned on appeal."); Wright v. Craft, 372 S.C. 1, 20, 640 S.E.2d 486, 497 (Ct.

1
To the extent Walker contends the master did not have subject matter jurisdiction
over the case, we find the master had subject matter jurisdiction. Subject matter
jurisdiction is the power of a court to hear a general class of cases, and
masters-in-equity have power to hear foreclosure actions. See Johnson v. S.C.
Dep't of Prob., Parole, & Pardon Servs., 372 S.C. 279, 284, 641 S.E.2d 895, 897
(2007) ("Stated somewhat differently, 'subject matter jurisdiction is the power of a
court to hear and determine cases of the general class to which the proceedings in
question belong.'" (quoting State v. Gentry, 363 S.C. 93, 100, 610 S.E.2d 494, 498
(2005))); Rule 53(b), SCRCP ("In . . . an action for foreclosure, some or all of the
causes of action in a case may be referred to a master . . . .").
App. 2006) (providing an issue listed in the statement of issues on appeal but not
addressed in briefs is abandoned).2

3. As to whether the master violated Walker's civil rights by acting under color of
authority: Wilder Corp., 330 S.C. at 76, 497 S.E.2d at 733 ("It is axiomatic that an
issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal, but must have been raised to and
ruled upon by the [master] to be preserved for appellate review.").

4. As to whether the master erred by allowing PrimeLending's witness to testify
over Walker's objection to lack of personal information and by denying his motion
to strike: Rule 602, SCRE ("A witness may not testify to a matter unless evidence
is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal
knowledge of the matter. Evidence to prove personal knowledge may, but need
not, consist of the witness' own testimony."); McPeters v. Yeargin Const. Co., 290
S.C. 327, 332, 350 S.E.2d 208, 211 (Ct. App. 1986) ("A motion to strike testimony
after it has been admitted without objection is addressed to the sound discretion of
the [master].").3

AFFIRMED.4

HUFF, WILLIAMS, and MCDONALD, JJ., concur.

2
To the extent Walker argues his lack of notice of mediation violated his due
process rights, we find this issue was not preserved for appellate review because it
was not raised to or ruled on by the master. See Wilder Corp. v. Wilke, 330 S.C.
71, 76, 497 S.E.2d 731, 733 (1998) ("It is axiomatic that an issue cannot be raised
for the first time on appeal, but must have been raised to and ruled upon by the
[master] to be preserved for appellate review."). Similarly, to the extent Walker
contends PrimeLending owed him a duty of care pursuant to South Carolina Senate
Bill 702, we find that issue was not preserved for appellate review because it was
not raised to or ruled upon by the master. See id.
3
To the extent Walker appeals any issue relating to Crawford's testimony on the
basis of the confrontation clause or his sixth amendment right to confront his
accuser, we find these arguments were not preserved for appellate review because
the arguments were not raised to or ruled on by the master. See Wilder Corp., 330
S.C. at 76, 497 S.E.2d at 733 ("It is axiomatic that an issue cannot be raised for the
first time on appeal, but must have been raised to and ruled upon by the [master] to
be preserved for appellate review.").
4
We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.