Margarette R. Vilvar appeals a non-final order denying her motion to vacate an amended final summary judgment of foreclosure. Concluding that Vilvar’s claims have no merit, we affirm and write only to address the insufficiency of the allegations of fraud and misrepresentation contained in Vilvar’s motion to vacate.
The underlying foreclosure action was commenced five years ago when Vilvar failed to pay her mortgage.
One day before the foreclosure sale was to have occurred, Vilvar filed a second petition in bankruptcy, which was also later dismissed. The sale was re-scheduled, but one week before the sale, Vilvar filed a motion to vacate the amended final judgment pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.540(b). In her motion, Vilvar alleged that Cross’s affidavit “was inaccurate and constituted hearsay” and it “failed to include sworn or certified copies of the very business records upon which” Cross relied. The motion was denied and this appeal followed.
The standard of review of an order on a rule 1.540(b) motion is whether there has been an abuse of discretion. J.J.K. Int’l, Inc. v. Shivbaran,
Vilvar argues that Cross’s affidavit failed to comply with Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.510(e) because it “did not constitute admissible evidence, and the facts therein and [the] affiant’s personal knowledge were intentionally or negligently misrepresented to the trial court.”
In Freemon, the appellant moved for relief from a foreclosure judgment because she claimed “that the affidavit of indebtedness attesting to the amounts due on the mortgage and note was not made on the
Freemon’s motion does not demonstrate fraud or show why any of the alleged facts would entitle her to relief sufficient to set aside a default judgment. Freemon nowhere contends that she did not default on her mortgage, nor does she allege that the amounts due and owing, set forth in the affidavit and incorporated in the final judgment, are incorrect.
Id. at 1205.
What occurred in Freemon is precisely what transpired in this case. Cross’s affidavit stated that she was the assistant vice president of Saxon, which, as the loan ser-vicer, was responsible for collection of the loan and pursuit of any delinquency in payments. Cross went on to explain that she was familiar with Saxon’s books, records, and documents relevant to the allegations in the complaint, and that all of the books, records, and documents concerning the loan were kept by Saxon in the regular course of its business. Cross’s affidavit also stated that she had personal knowledge of the facts regarding the sums due and owing to the bank, and provided a complete breakdown of those sums.
In stark contrast, Vilvar’s motion does not demonstrate fraud or show why any of the alleged facts would entitle her to relief sufficient to set aside the amended final judgment. She does not dispute that she defaulted on her mortgage, and does not allege that the amounts set forth in Cross’s affidavit or that were due and owing are incorrect. Indeed, Vilvar has not specifically alleged any fraud in connection with Cross’s statements in her affidavit regarding the amounts due. Equally as compelling is the fact that Vilvar failed to object to or appeal the final judgment and the amended final judgment. Vilvar waited over a year from the entry of the amended final judgment to take issue with Cross’s affidavit.
This Court has made it abundantly clear that general allegations of fraud will not support a motion to vacate a final judgment under rule 1.540(b)(3). See Freemon,
We likewise find no merit to Vil-var’s claim that Cross’s affidavit did not constitute admissible evidence and that failure to attach any sworn or certified
We remind counsel of their ethical obligation to know the legal precedent of this Court and to base their legal arguments on that precedent. Where counsel fails to do so and the result is an appeal that is so clearly devoid of merit both on the facts and the law as to be completely untenable, we will not hesitate to impose sanctions pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.410(a) (2011) and section 57.105, Florida Statutes (2011). See Sullivan v. Sullivan,
Affirmed.
Notes
. In 2005, Vilvar executed a promissory note and mortgage to Rose Mortgage. The mortgage was later transferred to Deutsche Bank.
. Rule 1.510(e) provides:
Supporting and opposing affidavits shall be made on personal knowledge, shall set forth such facts as would be admissible in evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated therein. Sworn or certified copies of all papers or parts thereof referred to in an affidavit shall be attached thereto or served therewith.
Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.150(e).
