Clark v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.Clark v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER RE COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC., RECONTRUST COMPANY, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., (erroneously sued as MERS, INC., Chase Home Finance)
I. INTRODUCTION
On or about August 2, 2007, Plaintiff Bernard F. Clark obtained a mortgage loan in the amount of $360,000 secured by a deed of trust encumbering real property in Groveland, California. Plaintiff defaulted on the loan, and Defendants proceeded to foreclose on the real property. Defendant’s Request for Judicial Notice (“RJN”), Exs. B-D.
On August 24, 2009, Plaintiff filed a complaint in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Tuolumne, alleging ten causes of action. Doc. 1. On November 12, 2009, Defendants removed the action to federal court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1441, based on federal question jurisdiction. Id. Plaintiffs amended complaint, filed March 17, 2010, alleges 17 causes of action: (1) Fraud; (2) Breach of Loan Commitment; (3) Negligence; (4) Breach of Good Faith; (5) Breach of Fiduciary Duty; (6) Economic Duress; (7) Civil RICO; (8) Cal. Civ.Code § 2923.5; (9) Cal. Civ.Code § 2923.6; (10) California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“RFDCPA”), Cal. Civ. Code. § 1788.17; (11) Cal. Civ.Code § 1572; (12) Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), (12) U.S.C. § 2607(b); (13) Quiet Title; (14) Unfair business practices, Cal. Bus. Prof.Code § 17200 et seq.; (15) Produce the Original Note; (16) Cal. Civ.Code § 1572; (17) Injunctive Relief. Doc. 16.
On April 5, 2010, Defendants Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (“Countrywide”), ReconTrust Company (“ReconTrust”), Bank of America, N.A. (“BAÑA”), and Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.’s (“MERS”), (collectively “Countrywide Defendants”) moved to dismiss all of the claims in the case pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Doc. 24.Plaintiff opposed the motion to dismiss. Doc. 31, filed June 1, 2010. Countrywide Defendants replied. Doc. 33, filed June 7, 2010. Defendant Chase Home Fi
II. LEGAL STANDARD
A motion to dismiss brought under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) “tests the legal sufficiency of a claim.”
Navarro v. Block,
A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. The plausibility standard is not akin to a “probability requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that defendant has acted unlawfully. Where a complaint pleads facts that are “merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.’ ”
Id.
(citing
Twombly,
III. BACKGROUND
On or about July 26, 2007, Plaintiff financed the purchase of a residential property located at 12689 Mt. Jefferson Street, Groveland, California (“Subject Property”) through a promissory note with First Mag-nus Financial Corp. (“First Magnus”) in the amount of $360,000 (“Subject Loan”) secured by a deed of trust. ' Doc. 16 at ¶ 9. Plaintiff later defaulted on the Subject Loan. On January 27, 2009, a Notice of Default and Election to Sell Under Deed of Trust, Instrument No. 2007013088, was recorded in the Office of the County Recorder of Tuolumne County. Doc. 16 at ¶ 21. The default was not cured, and on May 1, 2009, a notice of trustee’s sale,
Plaintiff alleges that (1) no Defendant has the original note to prove that it is a party authorized to conduct the foreclosure (Doc. 16 at ¶ 24); (2) Defendants breached an oral promise to modify the existing loan terms (Doc. 16 at ¶ 31); and (3) Plaintiff was not contacted to explore his financial situation prior to notice of default (Doc. 16 at ¶ 156-160). These allegations form the basis of most of Plaintiffs causes of action.
IV. ANALYSIS
A. Constructive or Actual Fraud
Plaintiffs first cause of action alleges fraud by each Defendant. This claim is based largely on the allegation that “each Defendant has represented to Plaintiff and to third parties that they were the owner of the Trust Deed and Note as either the Trustee or the beneficiary regarding ... Possession of the Note is not incidental to the right to foreclose, it is absolutely necessary.” Doc. 16 at ¶ 34. This is a wholly discredited legal theory serially advanced in mortgage fraud cases.
It is well established that there is no requirement under California law that the party initiating foreclosure be in possession of the original note.
Nool v. HomeQ Servicing,
Plaintiff also alleges that the “broker” committed fraud by placing him in a sub-prime mortgage “on the promise that things would get better and the borrower could refinance when the value of their home increases.” Doc. 1 ¶ 39. All claims for fraud must comply with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b), which requires that Plaintiff clearly set forth the “who, what, when, where, and how” concerning their fraud allegations.
Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA,
Plaintiff has been previously afforded leave to amend the fraud claim. The fraud cause of action against the Countrywide Defendants and Chase is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
B. Breach of Loan Commitment
Plaintiffs second cause of action alleges a breach of loan commitment against MERS and First Magnus. This allegation is based on supposed oral promises made by First Magnus to modify the loan and a breach of those promises. Doc. 16 at ¶ 127. Plaintiff further alleges that MERS is liable as a nominee of the lender who breached a contract. Doc. 16 at ¶ 128. As “breach of loan commitment” is not a cognizable legal claim, Plaintiffs claim is analyzed as a breach of contract claim. The elements for a breach of contract are: (1) the existence of a valid contract, (2) plaintiffs performance or excuse for nonperformance, (3) defendants’ breach, and (4) resulting damage.
McKell v. Washington Mutual, Inc.,
Certain types of contracts are invalid unless memorialized by a written document signed by the party against
Here, the alleged promise for a loan modification is subject to the statute of frauds. Absent a written agreement to modify the loan, any claim based upon an oral contract to modify the loan is barred by the statute of frauds.
See Secrest,
At oral argument, Plaintiff claimed that Countrywide promised him that if he brought the loan current, they would modify his loan. Plaintiff further claims that, in reliance on this promise, he obtained money (approximately $8,000) to bring the loan current, but Countrywide refused the loan modification. Although Plaintiff cannot state a breach of contract claim based upon this conduct, he may be able to state a claim for fraud. In California, the elements for a claim of fraud are: (1) misrepresentation; (2) knowledge of falsity; (3) intent to defraud; (4) justifiable reliance; and (5) resulting damage.
Small v. Fritz Companies, Inc.,
The Countrywide Defendants’ motion to dismiss the second cause of action is GRANTED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND. Plaintiff shall have one final opportunity to amend his complaint to state a fraud claim based upon the conduct discussed at oral argument.
C. Negligence
Plaintiff alleges negligence against First Magnus and BANA. The claim against BANA is based solely upon BANA’s violation of RESPA. Doc. 16 at ¶¶ 129-132. Plaintiff further alleges that he sent a Qualified Written Request (“QWR”) to BANA and the reply was untimely.
To establish a negligence claim, “it must be shown that (1) the defendant owed the plaintiff a legal duty, (2) the defendant breached that duty, and (3) the breach was a proximate or legal cause of the plaintiffs injuries. The absence of any one of these three elements is fatal to a negligence claim.”
Gilmer v. Ellington,
To the extent Plaintiffs negligence claim can be interpreted as a stand-alone claim under RESPA against BANA, Plaintiff has not alleged how BANA failed to respond to the QWR. RESPA requires:
if any servicer of a federally related mortgage loan receives a qualified written request from the borrower (or agent of the borrower) for information relating to the servicing of such loan, the servicer shall provide a written response acknowledging receipt of the correspondent within 20 days ... unless the action requested is taken within such period.
12 U.S.C. § 2605(e)(1)(A). Here, Plaintiff admits that BANA did respond to the QWR, but contends that the response was untimely. However, Plaintiff fails to provide any other details regarding the QWR and the “untimely” response. Plaintiff did not request leave to amend the negligence claim. Countrywide Defendants’ motion to dismiss is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
D.Breach of Fiduciary Duty
As a general rule, a financial institution owes no duty of care to a borrower where the institution’s involvement in the loan transaction does not exceed the scope of its conventional role as a lender of money.
Nymark v. Heart Fed. Savings & Loan Assn.,
E. Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
The implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing exists in every contract. The implied covenant “is aimed at making effective the agreement’s promises.”
Kransco v. Am. Empire Surplus Lines Ins. Co.,
A tortuous breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing claim is limited to situations in which a fiduciary or special relationship exists.
Mitsui Manuf. Bank v. Superior Court,
F. Economic Duress
Plaintiffs sixth claim against all Defendants is for “economic duress.” Plaintiff asserts this claim on the grounds that Countrywide made an oral promise to the Plaintiff to modify the loan. Doc. 16 at ¶¶ 143-148.
A party’s consent to a contract must be freely given. Cal. Civ.Code § 1565. Apparent consent is not free when obtained through duress, menace, fraud, undue influence, or mistake. § 1567. “Duress generally exists whenever one is induced by the unlawful act of another to make a contract or perform some act under circumstances that deprive him of the exer
Here, Plaintiffs claim of economic duress is that defendants proceeded with the foreclosure sale in violation of an oral promise that they would not do so if Plaintiff “brought the loan current.” Doc. 1 ¶¶ 146-147. This is an allegation of breach of oral contract, not of economic duress. He also complains that the parties never assigned the deed to one another, an invocation of the “failure to hold the original promissory note” theory, which is merit-less. Plaintiff has failed to plead a claim for economic duress.
Plaintiff did not request leave to amend the claim for economic duress. Countrywide Defendants’ motion to dismiss the Economic Duress claim is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
G. Civil RICO
The seventh cause of action is a Civil RICO claim against all Defendants. 18 U.S.C. § 1962 provides in pertinent part:
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person employed by or associated with any enterprise engaged in or the activities of which effect, interstate or foreign commerce, to conduct or participate, directly or indirectly, in the conduct of such enterprise’s affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity or collection of unlawful debt.
“A civil RICO complaint must at least allege: (1) conduct (2) of an enterprise (3) through a pattern (4) of racketeering activity (known as “predicate acts”) (5) causing injury to plaintiffs ‘business or property.’ ”
Flores v. Emerich & Fike,
Plaintiff essentially alleges that every defendant was aware that the notice of default was invalid and that every defendant either participated in or rendered substantial assistance in the issuance of the invalid notice. These allegations are not remotely sufficient to support of a Civil RICO violation. Plaintiff did not request leave to amend the Civil RICO claim. Countrywide Defendants’ and Chase’s motions to dismiss the Civil RICO claim are GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
H. Cal. Civ.Code §§ 2923.5 & 2923.6.
Plaintiff alleges that Countrywide and ReconTrust failed to comply with California Civil Code § 2923.5 (requiring lenders to contact borrower prior to filing notice of default), Doc. 16 at ¶ 156-160, and that all Defendants failed to comply with 2923.6 (requiring certain waiting periods prior to giving notice of sale). There is no private right of action under either provision.
Gaitan v. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems,
Under California law, a statute will only be deemed to contain a private right of action if the Legislature has manifested an intent to create such a right. Moradi-Shalal v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Companies, 46 Cal.3d 287 , 305,250 Cal.Rptr. 116 ,758 P.2d 58 (1988).
The Perata Mortgage Relief Act was enacted relatively recently, and thus California courts have had little chance to examine its provisions. Nevertheless, section 2923.6, passed along with section 2923.5, clearly does not create a private right of action. That section solely “creat[es] a duty between a loan servicer and a loan pool member. The statute in no way confers standing on a borrower to contest a breach of that duty.” Farner v. Countrywide Home Loans, No. 08cv2193 BTM (AJB),2009 WL 189025 , at *2 (S.D.Cal. Jan. 26, 2009). Other courts to consider this question have agreed unanimously with the Farner court. See Tapia v. Aurora Loan Servs., LLC, No. 1:09-cv-01143 AWI (GSA),2009 WL 2705853 , at *1 (E.D.Cal. Aug. 25, 2009); Anaya v. Advisors Lending Group, No. CV F 09-1191 LJO DLB,2009 WL 2424037 , at *8 (E.D.Cal. Aug. 5, 2009); Pantoja v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.,640 F.Supp.2d 1177 , 1188, No. C 09-01615 JW,2009 WL 2423703 , at *7 (N.D.Cal. July 9, 2009); Connors v. Home Loan Corp., No. 08cv1134-L (LSP),2009 WL 1615989 , at *7 (S.D.Cal. June 9, 2009). Whether or not section 2923.5 creates a private right of action, however, has not been the subject of unanimity among the courts. Only two courts have considered this question, and they have reached inconsistent results. See Yulaeva v. Greenpoint Mortgage Funding, Inc., No. CIV. S-09-1504 LKK/KJM,2009 WL 2880393 , at *11 (E.D.Cal. Sept. 03, 2009) (assuming without deciding that section 2923.5 does not provide a private right of action); Ortiz v. Accredited Home Lenders, Inc.,639 F.Supp.2d 1159 , 1166, No. 09 CV 0461 JM (CAB),2009 WL 2058784 , at *5 (S.D.Cal. Jul. 13, 2009) (finding section 2923.5 does contain a private right of action, as “the California legislature would not have enacted this urgency’ legislation, intended to curb high foreclosure rates in the state, without any accompanying enforcement mechanism.”).
Under California law, “courts are not at liberty to impute a particular intention to the Legislature when nothing in the language of the statute implies such an intention.” Dunn-Edwards Corp. v. Bay Area Air Quality Management Dist.,9 Cal.App.4th 644 , 658[,11 Cal.Rptr.2d 850 ] (1992). Thus, “if the Legislature intends to create a private cause of action, we generally assume it will do so directly, in clear, understandable, unmistakable terms.” Vikco Ins. Servs., Inc. v. Ohio Indemnity Co.,70 Cal.App.4th 55 , 62—63[,82 Cal.Rptr.2d 442 ] (1999), quoting Moradi-Shalal,46 Cal.3d at 294-295 [,250 Cal.Rptr. 116 ,758 P.2d 58 ] (internal marks omitted). Section 2923.5 contains no language that indicates any intent whatsoever to create a private right of action.
Neither section 2923.5 or 2923.6 creates a private right of action. Plaintiff offers no contrary authority or argument.
Plaintiff did not request leave to amend the Section 2923.5 claim. The Countrywide Defendants’ motion to dismiss the claim brought under California Civil Code Section 2923.5 is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. Plaintiff has been previously afforded leave to amend the Section 2923.6 claim. Countrywide Defendants’ and Chase’s motion to dismiss the Section 2923.6 claim is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
I. Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The complaint next alleges a violation of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“RFDCPA”), Section 1788.17 against all Defendants. The
“The law is clear that foreclosing on a deed of trust does not invoke the statutory protections of the RFDCPA.”
Collins v. Power Default Servs., Inc.,
No. 09-4838 SC,
Plaintiff has been previously afforded leave to amend the RFDCPA claim. Countrywide Defendants’ and Chase’s motions to dismiss the RFDCPA claim are GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
J. Cal. Civ.Code § 1572
Plaintiffs eleventh cause of action is against First Magnus and MERS for violation of California Civil Code § 1572 (Actual Fraud). The complaint alleges:
The misrepresentations by Defendants and/or Defendants’ predecessors, failures to disclose, and failure to investigate as described above were made with the intent to induce Plaintiff to obligate themselves on the Loan in reliance on the integrity of Defendants and/or Defendants’ predecessors.
(Compl. at ¶ 180).
In California, “[t]he elements of fraud, which give[] rise to the tort action for deceit, are (a) misrepresentation (false representation, concealment, or nondisclosure); (b) knowledge of falsity (or scienter); (c) intent to defraud, i.e., to induce reliance; (d) justifiable reliance; and (e) resulting damage.”
Small v. Fritz Companies, Inc.,
The allegations in the complaint fail to specify the “who, what, when, where, and how of the misconduct charged.”
Kearns v. Ford Motor Co.,
Plaintiffs sixteenth cause of action restates the allegations from the eleventh cause of action against all Defendants and fails for the same reasons.
Plaintiff has been previously afforded leave to amend the Section 1572 claim. He has not done so. Countrywide Defendants’ motion to dismiss the eleventh cause of action is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. Countrywide Defendants’ and Chase’s motions to dismiss the sixteenth cause of action are GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
K.Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
Plaintiff reasserts a RE SPA claim against each Defendant, alleging: (1) “That the failure to respond to Plaintiffs RESPA constitutes a violation of 12 U.S.C. § 2607(b); and (2) Plaintiff has suffered damages actually and proximately caused by Defendants’ violation of the within statute.” (Doc. 16 at ¶¶ 196, 198). Plaintiffs claim against each Defendant is unfounded, as he only addressed a RESPA letter to BANA.
Just as Plaintiffs prior alleged RESPA claim failed to state a claim, this RESPA claim fails. The new claim does not allege who or how each Defendant violated RES-PA. Instead the allegation simply affords the conclusion of law that the Defendants violated RESPA resulting in damages to the Plaintiff. Plaintiff did not request leave to amend the RESPA claim. Countrywide Defendants’ and Chase’s motions to dismiss this RESPA cause of action are GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
L. Quiet Title
“[A] mortgagor of real property cannot, without paying his debt, quiet his title against the mortgagee.”
Miller v. Provost,
Plaintiff has been previously afforded leave to amend the claim for Quiet Title. Countrywide Defendants’ and Chase’s motions to dismiss the fourth cause of action are GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
M. Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code § 17200
Plaintiff asserts a claim under California’s Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”). Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code § 17200. Section 17200 prohibits “any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice and unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising.” “[A] plaintiff must have suffered an injury in fact’ and lost money or property as a result of the unfair competition’ to have standing to pursue either an individual or a representative claim under the California Unfair Competition Law.”
Hall v. Time, Inc.,
Defendants argue that Plaintiff did not state a claim under the UCL because: (1) “Plaintiff has not alleged sufficient facts under Fed.R.Civ.P. 8”; (2) Plaintiff did not allege statutory violations or allege that any conduct was unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent; (3) Plaintiff did not plead claims of fraud and misrepresentation with specificity; (4) Plaintiff did not state what money and property was lost.
The UCL prohibits unfair competition including “any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice.” Cal.
As to the unlawful prong, the UCL incorporates other laws and treats violations of those laws as unlawful business practices independently actionable under state law.
Chabner v. United Omaha Life Ins. Co.,
Plaintiffs UCL claim has several deficiencies. First, Plaintiffs UCL allegations do not specify the basis for his claim, i.e., whether it is based on an unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent practice, let alone state, with reasonable particularity, the facts supporting the statutory elements of the violation. Second, to the extent Plaintiff asserts an UCL claim based on a violation of other law, his complaint fails to state a claim for a violation of law. Accordingly, to the extent the UCL claim is predicated on the violation of other law, it is insufficiently pled. Third, to the extent Plaintiff asserts a UCL claim that is based on or grounded in fraud, it must meet the requirements of Rule 9(b),
Kearns,
Plaintiff has been previously afforded leave to amend the Section 17200 claim. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the Section 17200 cause of action is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
N. Production of Original Note
The complaint’s 15th cause of action against ReconTrust and MERS alleges that no Defendant owns the note and therefore has no right to foreclose. Doc. 16 ¶ 214. As discussed above, this is not the law in California. Plaintiffs demand to produce the note fails as matter of law for the reasons stated above.
Plaintiff did not request leave to amend this claim. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the 15th cause of action is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
O. Injunctive Relief
Countrywide Defendants and Chase move to dismiss the last cause of action for injunctive relief on the grounds that: (1) injunctive relief is not a cause of action; and (2) it must be tethered to some independent legal duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff.
Plaintiff alleges “Defendants threaten to, and unless restrained, will foreclose upon Plaintiffs home by conducting a trustee’s sale or causing a trustee’s sale to be
“Injunctive relief is a remedy and not, in itself, a cause of action, and a cause of action must exist before injunctive relief may be granted.”
Camp v. Board of Supervisors,
Plaintiff has been previously afforded leave to amend the claim for injunctive relief. Countrywide Defendants’ and Chase’s motions to dismiss the final cause of action are GRANTED WITHOUT PREJUDICE, but only if Plaintiff states a sufficient fraud claim.
V. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, Defendants’ motions to dismiss are GRANTED in their entirety.
Plaintiff requests leave to amend to state a fraud claim against the Countrywide Defendants in connection with the alleged oral promise to modify the loan agreement. Any amended complaint shall be filed within thirty (30) days of electronic service. No claims may be reasserted against Chase.
SO ORDERED.
Notes
. Although Chase was named as a Defendant to this action, no claim specifically refers to Chase.
. The local rules do not permit Plaintiff to file an opposition to Countrywide Defendants' reply. See Local Rule 230 (Fed. R. Civ. P 78).
. Plaintiff’s opposition to Chase’s motion to dismiss largely restates previous arguments and nowhere refers specifically to Chase or Chase’s motion to dismiss. It also contains various incorrect statements, including that "the motion to dismiss intentionally skips any answer to the concerted fraud committed to the plaintiff ....” Doc. 38 2:12-13. This is inaccurate, as Chase addressed the fraud claim in detail in its motion to dismiss. Doc. 36 at 3-5.
.Chase claims that it did not receive an opposition or statement of non-opposition to the motion to dismiss and that neither are present on the docket. Chase is mistaken, as Doc. 38, which is titled an "opposition” to Countrywide Defendants’ reply, contains Plaintiff’s opposition to Chase’s motion to dismiss. However, Document 38 was filed on July 21, 2010, two days after the July 19, 2010 deadline for the filing of his opposition to Chase’s motion. Plaintiff dated the document July 19, 2010, but gives no explanation as to why it was not filed with the Clerk of court on that date.