BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUSTEE FOR CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT INC ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2005 35CB MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2005 35CB v. Andre Beroud; et al., Defendants. (2020)

MEMORANDUM **

7937 Song Thrush Trust (“Song Thrush”) appeals the district court's denial of its motion for relief from judgment under Rule 60(b)(4) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

Even if the district court erred in holding that Song Thrush had the burden of proving that service was improper, see SEC v. Internet Sols. for Bus. Inc., 509 F.3d 1161, 1165 (9th Cir. 2007), any error was harmless. The Bank of New York Mellon (fka The Bank of New York) provided evidence establishing, under the totality of the circumstances, that it substantially complied with Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See Direct Mail Specialists, Inc. v. Eclat Computerized Techs., Inc., 840 F.2d 685, 688 (9th Cir. 1988). Counsel for Song Thrush conceded that the owner of BTK Properties LLC is also the trustee for Song Thrush, and the office manager for BTK's registered agent agreed to accept service of process on behalf of Song Thrush. Therefore, service was “made upon an individual who stands in such a position as to render it fair, reasonable and just to imply the authority on his part to receive service,” which is sufficient for purposes of Rule 4. Id. (citation omitted). Because there is “an arguable basis for jurisdiction,” United Student Aid Funds, Inc. v. Espinosa, 559 U.S. 260, 271, 130 S.Ct. 1367, 176 L.Ed.2d 158 (2010) (quotation omitted), the district court did not err in denying Song Thrush's Rule 60(b)(4) motion.

AFFIRMED.