EXHIBIT 5.1
[Letterhead of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx]
April 4, 2003
Xxxxxxxx & Partners, L.P.
[__________________]
[__________________]
Opinion: Placement Agreement
Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc.,
Asset-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2003-4
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Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Ameriquest Mortgage Securities Inc.
(the"Depositor") and Ameriquest Mortgage Company as seller ("Ameriquest") in
connection with (i) the Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement, dated April [__], 2003
(the "Mortgage Loan Purchase Agreement"), between Ameriquest and the Depositor,
(ii) the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2003 (the
"Pooling and Servicing Agreement"), among the Depositor as depositor, Ameriquest
as master servicer (in such capacity, the "Master Servicer") and Deutsche Bank
National Trust Company as trustee (the "Trustee"), and the certificates issued
pursuant thereto designated as Asset-Backed Pass- Through Certificates, Series
2003-4 (collectively, the "Certificates"), (iii) the Placement Agreement, dated
April [__], 2003 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Depositor, Ameriquest
and Xxxxxxxx & Partners, L.P. (the "Placement Agent") pursuant to which certain
Certificates were sold (collectively, the "Offered Certificates") and (iv) the
Prospectus Supplement, dated April [__], 2003 (the "Prospectus Supplement"), and
the Prospectus to which it relates, dated March 5, 2003 (the "Base Prospectus";
together with the Prospectus Supplement, the "Prospectus"). The Mortgage Loan
Purchase Agreement, the Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the Placement
Agreement are referred to herein collectively as the "Agreements." Capitalized
terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Agreements.
In rendering this opinion letter, as to relevant factual matters we
have examined the documents described above and such other documents as we have
deemed necessary including, where we have
deemed appropriate, representations or certifications of officers of parties
thereto or public officials. In rendering this opinion letter, except for the
matters that are specifically addressed in the opinions expressed below, we have
assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals or as
copies thereof, and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted
to us as copies, (ii) the necessary entity formation and continuing existence in
the jurisdiction of formation, and the necessary licensing and qualification in
all jurisdictions, of all parties to all documents, (iii) the necessary
authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of all documents, and the
necessary entity power with respect thereto, and (iv) that there is not any
other agreement that modifies or supplements the agreements expressed in any
document to which this opinion letter relates and that renders any of the
opinions expressed below inconsistent with such document as so modified or
supplemented. In rendering this opinion letter, we have made no inquiry, have
conducted no investigation and assume no responsibility with respect to (a) the
accuracy of and compliance by the parties thereto with the representations,
warranties and covenants as to factual matters contained in any document or (b)
the conformity of the underlying assets and related documents to the
requirements of any agreement to which this opinion letter relates.
The opinions expressed below with respect to the enforceability of any
right or obligation under any agreement are subject to (i) general principles of
equity, including concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance and injunctive
relief, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law,
(ii) the effect of certain laws, regulations and judicial and other decisions
upon the availability and enforceability of certain remedies including the
remedies of specific performance and self-help and provisions purporting to
waive the obligation of good faith, materiality, fair dealing, diligence,
reasonableness or objection to venue or forum, to confer subject matter
jurisdiction on a federal court located within the State of New York to
adjudicate any controversy in any situation in which such court would not have
subject matter jurisdiction, to waive the right to jury trial, to impose a
penalty or forfeiture, to release, exculpate or exempt a party from, to require
indemnification of a party for, liability for its own action or inaction to the
extent that the action or inaction includes negligence, recklessness or willful
or unlawful conduct, to sever any provision of any agreement, to restrict access
to legal or equitable remedies, to establish evidentiary standards, to appoint
any person or entity as the attorney-in-fact of any other person or entity, to
require that any agreement may only be amended, modified or waived in writing,
to provide that all rights or remedies of any party are cumulative and may be
enforced in addition to any other right or remedy, to provide that the election
of a particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more remedies, to
provide that the failure to exercise or the delay in exercising rights or
remedies will not operate as a waiver of any such rights or remedies, to waive
rights or remedies which can not be waived as a matter of law, to provide for
set-off unless there is mutuality between the parties or to provide that any
agreement is to be governed by or construed in accordance with the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of New York, (iii) bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership, reorganization, liquidation, voidable preference, fraudulent
conveyance and transfer, moratorium and other similar laws affecting the rights
of creditors or secured parties and (iv) public policy considerations underlying
the securities laws, to the extent that such public policy considerations limit
the enforceability of any provision of any agreement which purports or is
construed to provide indemnification with respect to securities law violations.
We do not express any opinion herein with respect to any law the violation of
which
would not have any material adverse effect on the ability of any party to
perform its obligations under any agreement. However, the non-enforceability of
any such provisions will not, taken as a whole, materially interfere with the
practical realization of the benefits of the rights and remedies included in any
such agreement which is the subject of any opinion expressed below, except for
the considerations referred to in foregoing clause (iv) and the consequences of
any judicial, administrative, procedural or other delay which may be imposed by,
relate to or arise from applicable laws, equitable principles and
interpretations thereof. Wherever we indicate that our opinion with respect to
the existence or absence of facts is based on our knowledge, our opinion is
based solely on the actual present knowledge of the attorneys in this firm who
are directly involved in the representation of parties to the transactions
described herein in connection therewith. In that regard we have conducted no
special or independent investigation of factual matters in connection with this
opinion letter.
In rendering this opinion letter, we do not express any opinion
concerning any law other than the federal laws of the United States including
without limitation the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") and
Sections 860A through 860G (the "REMIC Provisions") of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (the "Code") applicable to a real estate mortgage investment conduit
("REMIC") and applicable regulations thereunder and current judicial and
administrative authority with respect thereto and the laws of the State of New
York. We do not express any opinion herein with respect to any matter not
specifically addressed in the opinions expressed below, including without
limitation (i) any statute, regulation or provision of law of any county,
municipality or other political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality
thereof or (ii) the securities or tax laws of any jurisdiction.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that:
1. The Pooling and Servicing Agreement, assuming the necessary
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the parties
thereto, will be a valid and legally binding agreement under
the laws of the State of New York, enforceable thereunder
against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms.
2. The Certificates, assuming the authorization, execution and
delivery of the related Pooling and Servicing Agreement, the
execution and authentication of such Certificates in
accordance with that Pooling and Servicing Agreement and the
delivery thereof and payment therefor as contemplated in the
Registration Statement and in the prospectus and prospectus
supplement delivered in connection with such Certificates,
will be legally and validly issued andoutstanding, fully paid
and non- assessable and entitled to the benefits of that
Pooling and Servicing Agreement.
3. Assuming compliance with the provisions of the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, for United States federal income tax
purposes, each of REMIC I, REMIC II, REMIC III and REMIC IV
will qualify as a real estate mortgage investment conduit
("REMIC") within the meaning of the REMIC Provisions of the
Code, the Class R-I Interest will constitute the sole class of
"residual interests" in REMIC I, the Class R-
II Interest will constitute the sole class of "residual
interests" in REMIC II, the Class R-III Interest will
constitute the sole class of "residual interests" in REMIC
III, each class of Certificates other than the Class R
Certificates will represent ownership of "regular interests"
in REMIC IV and will generally be treated as debt instruments
of REMIC IV and the Class R-IV Interest will constitute the
sole class of "residual interests" in REMIC IV, within the
meaning of the REMIC Provisions in effect on the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to
the Registration Statement, and to the use of our name in the prospectus and
prospectus supplement included in the Registration Statement under the headings
"Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "Legal Matters," without admitting that we
are "persons" within the meaning of Section 7(a) or 11(a)(4) of the 1933 Act, or
"experts" within the meaning of Section 11 thereof, with respect to any portion
of the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX & XXXX
