OPINION 1
Presently pending before the Court is the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss the Plaintiffs’ Complaint which alleges: (I) violation of the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(k) 2 ; (II) violation of the Pennsylvania Fair Trade Extension Uniformity Act 73 P.S. § 2270.1 and the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade and Consumer Protection Act 73 P.S. § 201; (III) violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; and, (IV) injury to a class of which the Plaintiffs are representative plaintiffs. Defendant, Chase Home Finance, filed a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and (6). For the reasons stated herein, I will grant the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss as to Count I of the Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. I will also dismiss Counts II-IV for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
I. Jurisdiction
The Court has jurisdiction over Count I of the Complaint pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1334 and § 157(b)(1) & (2)(A)(B) as it is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b). However, the Court does not have jurisdiction as to Counts II-IV and, therefore, dismisses these Counts for lack of jurisdiction.
II. Facts and Procedural History
On June 26, 2010, the Debtor, David Charles Schatz, Jr. (“Debtor”), filed his Chapter 13 bankruptcy. On June 30, 2010, the Defendant, Chase Home Finance (“Defendant” or “Chase”), was served with the Notice of 341 Meeting of Creditors in the Debtor’s case. The Plaintiffs in this case, David Charles Schatz, Jr. and Tracy L. Schatz (“Plaintiffs” or “Schatzes”) received a mortgage loan statement (the “Statement”)
3
, from the Defendant dated July 31, 2010. The Debtor’s Chapter 13 Plan was confirmed on September 24, 2010. The Schatzes commenced this Adversary Proceeding by filing a Complaint on November 29, 2010. In the Complaint, the Plaintiffs allege (I) violation of the automatic stay pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(k); (II) violation of the Pennsylvania Fair Trade Extension Uniformity Act 73 P.S. § 2270.1 and the Pennsylvania Unfair Trade and Consumer Protection Act 73 P.S. § 201; (III) violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; and, (IV) injury to a class of which the Plaintiffs are representative plaintiffs. A copy of the Statement in question was attached as Exhibit D to the Plaintiffs’ Complaint at Docket
In the Motion to Dismiss, Chase does not deny sending the Statement to the Schatzes. However, Chase argues that doing so did not violate the automatic stay since the Statement did not state a payment was overdue, did not demand payment, did not provide a due date, and did not threaten any action for non-payment. Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss ¶¶ 3, 6. Chase further argues that since the Statement was not an attempt to collect a pre-petition debt, Count I of the Complaint should be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Chase asserts this Court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over Counts II-IV and these Counts should be dismissed pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). Chase argues there is a lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because the claims do not arise under Title 11 and are not related to the Debtor’s bankruptcy case. Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss ¶ 7.
III. Discussion
A. Motion to Dismiss Count I for Failure to State a Claim Upon which Relief can be Granted Violation of the Automatic Stay
1. Standards Applicable to Motions to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim Upon Which Relief Can be Granted Under F.R.B.P. 7012(b)(6)
If a complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, then the complaint shall be dismissed upon motion of a defendant. Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7012(b)(6). The complaint must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief’. Fed. R.Civ.P. 8(a), made applicable by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7008. Factual allegations in the complaint should be treated as true and construed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party.
Kehr Packages, Inc. v. Fidelcor, Inc.,
While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiffs obligation to provide the “grounds” of his “entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level
Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly,
Some two years later, the Supreme Court clarified
Twombly
in the ease of
Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
— U.S. -,
Two working principles underlie our decision in Twombly. First, the tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in a complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions. Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere con-elusory statements, do not suffice.... Second, only a complaint that states aplausible claim for relief survives a motion to dismiss. Determining whether a complaint states a plausible claim for relief will, as the Court of Appeals observed, be a context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and common sense. But where the well-pleaded facts do not permit the court to infer more than the mere possibility of misconduct, the complaint has alleged — but it has not “show[n]” — “that the pleader is entitled to relief’.
Ashcroft,
2. Overview of the Automatic Stay
The Plaintiffs’ Complaint alleges that Chase violated the automatic stay under § 362 when Chase sent the Statement to the Schatzes’ address after the Debtor had filed his Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition. Immediately upon filing bankruptcy, a debtor’s estate gains certain protections outlined in § 362(a). Generally, these provisions prohibit specific actions by creditors against the debtor or the property of the debtor.
At issue in the current matter is § 362(a)(6) which prohibits “any act to collect, assess, or recover a claim against the debtor that arose before the commencement of the case under this title.” 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(6). Section 362 also imposes consequences for certain violations of the automatic stay.
If a creditor willfully violates the automatic stay, § 362(k) allows a debtor to recover for “actual damages, including costs and attorney’s fees, and, in appropriate circumstances, may recover punitive damages.” 11 U.S.C. §
362(k)(l)
4
.
However, in order to recover damages, the debtor must be able to prove that the creditor
willfully
violated the automatic stay. 11 U.S.C. § 362(k)(l) (emphasis added). “Willfulness does not require that the creditor intend to violate the automatic stay provision, rather it requires that the acts which violate the stay be intentional.”
In re Lansdale Family Restaurants, Inc.,
I also note that Tracy L. Sehatz is listed as a co-Plaintiff in this Adversary Proceeding. However, she is not a debtor in any bankruptcy proceeding pending in this Court. The subject Chapter 13 ease was filed by David Charles Sehatz, Jr., alone. I find that no bankruptcy automatic stay was in effect regarding Tracy L. Sehatz when the Statement was sent by Chase.
3. Conclusion — The Statement sent to the Debtor was not a violation of the automatic stay and the Court will grant the Motion to Dismiss
Having determined that I have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 157 as to Count I of the Complaint, I now must decide if the Statement sent by Chase was an attempt to collect a pre-petition debt in violation of the automatic stay under
Chase alleges that sending the Statement was not a violation of the automatic stay. However, the Schatzes’ Complaint alleges:
12. Defendant intentionally bypassed Plaintiffs’ attorney and contacted Plaintiffs directly regarding the repayment of the alleged consumer account with intent to deceive Plaintiffs into a belief that payment was required pursuant to the Mortgage Loan Statement without credit for substantial payments that had been made by Plaintiffs.
Pis.’ Compl. ¶ 12. Paragraph 13 continues stating:
13. Defendant violated 11 U.S.C. § 362 by attempting to collect on a consumer debt when Defendant knew or should have known that 11 U.S.C. § 362 barred further creditor collection on the aforementioned account because Defendant had been put on actual and constructive notice of Plaintiff / Debtors’ Bankruptcy.”
Pis.’ Compl. ¶ 13. As noted above, § 362(a)(6) prohibits “any act to collect, assess, or recover a claim against the debt- or that arose before the commencement of the case ...”. 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(6).
Chase responds to these allegations by arguing that courts have held that sending a mailing to a debtor is not automatically a violation of the automatic stay. Def.’s Br. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss 5.
In re Knowles,
To the extent your original obligation was discharged, or is subject to an automatic stay of bankruptcy under Title 11 of the United States Code, this statement is for compliance and/or informational purposes only and does not constitute an attempt to collect a debt or to impose personal liability for such obligation. If your Plan requires you to make post-petition mortgage payments directly to the Trustee, any such payments should be remitted to the Trustee directly in accordance with the orders of the Bankruptcy Court.
Compl. Ex. D. Thus, the Statement’s disclaimer explains that if the Debtor is under the protection of the automatic stay, then the Statement is for informational purposes only and not an attempt to collect the debt. The Statement did not otherwise make any threats or provide any consequences if the Debtor failed to make a payment, and further it does not require any action on part of the Debtor to retain his property. Other courts have held that sending a debtor informational notices regarding their loan is not a violation of the automatic stay.
In re Pultz,
A secured creditor should be encouraged to send out payment coupons, envelopes and periodic statements if a debtor has filed a statement that the debtor plans to keep property subject to secured debt and to make payments. Debtors frequently complain to the court that they want to make their payments, but their creditors do not cooperate by providing payment coupons. Secured creditors hesitate to provide such cooperation for fear of violating the automatic stay or the discharge injunction.
Id. at 471. In addition, receiving the information contained in the Statement may be useful to a debtor like Schatz in accurately filling out the Debtor’s Schedules. I also recognize that such information could assist a Chapter 13 debtor in drafting his Chapter 13 plan.
The Statement in this case is distinguishable from a statement sent by a creditor in another case I recently considered,
In re Butz,
Based upon the facts and reasoning above, I will grant the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss as to Count I of the Complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), applicable to this Adversary Proceeding by operation of Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure 7012(b). I find that Chase did not violate the automatic stay by sending the Statement to the Debtor after the Debtor had filed his bankruptcy petition. I characterize the Statement as an informative mailing and not an attempt by the creditor to collect a pre-petition debt. The language of the disclaimer, which is found in the center of the first page, in an outlined box, is important to my findings and conclusion. Specifically, I find the language is unambiguous and sufficiently alerts a debtor that if the debtor is protected by the automatic stay, then the “statement is for compliance and/or informational purposes only and does not constitute an attempt to collect a debt or to impose personal liability for such obligation.” Compl. Ex. D. Further, I would note that the disclaimer is not buried in boilerplate language, nor hidden on the backside of the document. The location of the disclaimer allows it to be easily read by a recipient when reviewing the statement. I do recognize the breadth and the importance of the automatic stay in bankruptcy proceedings. However, I do not accept that the automatic stay prohibits all communication between a creditor and a bankruptcy debtor.
B. Motion to Dismiss Counts II-IV for a Lack of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction
1. Standards Applicable to Motions to Dismiss for a Lack of Subject-Matter Jurisdiction Under F.R.B.P. 7012(b)(1)
Again, motions to dismiss are analyzed under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy
Because at issue in a factual 12(b)(1) motion is the trials court’s jurisdiction its very power to hear the case there is substantial authority that the trial court is free to weigh the evidence and satisfy itself as to the existence of its power to hear the ease. In short, no presumptive truthfulness attaches to plaintiffs allegations, and the existence of disputed material facts will not preclude the trial court from evaluating for itself the merits of jurisdictional claims. Moreover, the plaintiff will have the burden of proof that jurisdiction does in fact exist.
Id.
at 891. A court’s subject matter jurisdiction under Rule 12(b)(1) can be attacked either by a facial or a factual challenge. “In reviewing a facial attack, the court must only consider the allegations of the complaint and documents referenced therein and attached thereto, in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. In reviewing a factual attack, the court may consider evidence outside the pleadings.”
Gould Electronics, Inc. v. U.S.,
2. Overview of Subject Matter Jurisdiction
Bankruptcy courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and may only hear certain types of claims which they are granted the authority to hear under 28 U.S.C. § 157 and 28 U.S.C. § 1334.
In re W.R. Grace & Co.,
A bankruptcy court also has a second, more limited type of jurisdiction. This is commonly referred to as “related to” jurisdiction. Its statutory basis is contained in 28 U.S.C. § 157(c)(1). A “Related to” proceeding has been routinely defined as one where “the outcome of that proceeding could conceivably have any effect on the estate being administered in bankruptcy.”
In re Exide Technologies,
3. Conclusion — This Court lacks subject-matter jurisdiction as to Counts II-IV of the Complaint and will grant the Motion to Dismiss
As stated above, bankruptcy courts are courts of limited jurisdiction and may only hear core matters or matters considered “related to”. 28 U.S.C. § 157. For the reasons stated below, I find that the Court does not have subject-matter jurisdiction over Counts II-IV because these claims do not arise in or under Title 11, nor are they considered “related to” the bankruptcy case.
In determining if a claim is core or non-core, courts must consult two sources. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has stated:
First, a court must consult § 157(b). Although § 157(b) does not precisely define “core” proceedings, it nonetheless provides an illustrative list of proceedings that may be considered “core.” Second, the court must apply this court’s test for a “core” proceeding. Under that test, a proceeding is core [1] if it invokes a substantive right provided by title 11 or [2] if it is a proceeding, that by its nature, could arise only in the context of a bankruptcy case.
Halper,
Since I have found that Counts II-IV are non-core proceedings, I must next decide if they are considered “related to” proceedings. If I determine they are “related to” proceedings, I have the jurisdiction to hear the case, but I must submit my proposed findings of fact and proposed conclusions to the District Court which can enter a final judgment. If I decide the matters are not “related to” proceedings, I must dismiss the case for the lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
First, I acknowledge the extremely broad definition of “related to” as defined in
Pacor.
An argument can be made that almost any proceeding that involves the property or finances of a debtor could be considered “related to”. However, I believe a more considered interpretation of the definition is proper.
See Celotex Corp. v. Edwards,
I also feel that it is important to note the time line of this case and certain choices made by the Schatzes. Debtor filed his case on June 26, 2010, and had his Chapter 13 Plan confirmed on September 24, 2010. On or about July 31, 2010, which was post-petition but pre-confirmation, the Schatzes received the Statement sent by Chase. In Debtor’s confirmed Plan, he elected to have the property of the estate vest in him at confirmation. Debtor’s Ch. 13 Plan, Docket # 7, Case 5-10-bk-05293.
The conflicting language of § 1306 and § 1327 has lead to several different approaches by courts in attempting to harmonize the two sections. In a recent decision by my colleague, Chief Judge France, she addressed the different approaches adopted by courts and discussed the various criticisms of each approach.
In re Wei-Fung Chang,
Based on the reasoning discussed in the
In re Wei-Fung Chang
opinion, I will analyze this matter using the reconciliation approach. Since these potential causes of action arose prior to the confirmation of the Debtor’s plan, at confirmation the Schatzes’ interest in these causes of action vested in the Debtor and are no longer considered property of the estate. The interest of Tracy L. Schatz, a non-debtor, in the causes of action, was never property of the estate. Due to the fact these causes of action are no longer property of the estate, the Debtor’s “rights, liabilities, options, freedom of action, or the handling and administration of the bankruptcy estate” would not be affected by their outcome. Therefore, I hold Counts II-IV are not “related to” the bankruptcy case.
See Halper,
In Paragraph 1 of the Complaint, the Schatzes argues the Court has supplemental jurisdiction over the state claims pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367. However, § 1367 has been held in the Third Circuit to apply only to District Courts; not to Bankruptcy Courts.
See In re Foundation for New Era Philanthropy,
In summary, I find that Counts II-IV are not core claims nor are they “related to” the bankruptcy case, and therefore, I grant the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss as to Counts II-IV for a lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
IV. Conclusion
Consistent with the reasoning given above, the Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is granted as to Count I of the Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy 7012(b)(6), and Counts II-IV are dismissed for lack of subject-matter
Notes
. Drafted with the assistance of Kyle Chandler, Juris Doctor Candidate 2012, The Pennsylvania State University — Dickinson School of Law; Judicial Intern.
. Unless otherwise noted, all future statutory references are to the Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101, et seq., as amended by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, Pub.L. No. 109-8, 119 Stat. 37 ("BAPCPA”).
.The mortgage loan statement in question here is characterized by the Plaintiffs as an invoice and by the Defendant as a statement. For simplicity, it will be referred to as the Statement in this Opinion.
. Section 362 was amended by the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (''BAPCPA”). With these amendments, § 362(h) was re-designated as § 362(k). Even though Defendant's Motion to Dismiss incorrectly refers to § 362(h), I will refer to it as § 362(k). Precedent which is applicable to previous § 362(h) is still applicable to § 362(k).
See In re Tezla,
. Please see Chief Judge France's full Opinion for more information on the different approaches adopted by the courts.