JESUS G. BERNAL, District Judge.
Before the Court is Defendant's Motion to Dismiss the Complaint. ("Motion," Doc. No. 7.) The Court finds this matter appropriate for resolution without a hearing.
Plaintiff Farhad Hakakha ("Plaintiff") filed his Complaint against Defendant CitiMortgage, Inc. ("CitiMortgage") on May 21, 2015 in California Superior Court for the County of San Bernardino. ("Complaint," Doc. No. 1, Ex. A.) As discussed in more detail below, the Complaint alleges thirteen causes of action related to a mortgage loan obtained by Plaintiff for his primary residence at 16610 Malahat Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307 ("Malahat Road Property"). (Compl. ¶¶ 13-14.)
CitiMortgage removed the case to federal court on July 2, 2015. (Doc. No. 1.) It filed a Motion to Dismiss the Complaint, ("Motion," Doc. No. 7), and requested judicial notice of eight exhibits seven days later, ("RJN," Doc. No. 8).
In approximately 2007, Plaintiff obtained a mortgage loan to purchase the Malahat Road Property. (Compl. ¶ 13.) The loan was originally serviced by Coast to Coast Funding Group, Inc. but was eventually transferred to Defendant CitiMortgage in approximately November 2008. (
In 2009, while continuing to make regular mortgage payments, Plaintiff inquired with CitiMortgage about the possibility of a reduced interest rate. (
In 2010, CitiMortgage informed Plaintiff that his trial payments were not being put toward the mortgage loan but into an escrow account. (
As of April 2012, Plaintiff had still not received the final modification documents and inquired as to the status of the modification. (
Based in the foregoing factual allegations, Plaintiff asserts the following thirteen causes of action: (1) violation of the "security first rule," Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 726; (2) breach of oral contract; (3) breach of written modification agreement; (4) breach of written contract; (5) wrongful foreclosure in violation of various statutory requirements, including Cal. Civ. Code §§ 2923.5, 2923.6, and 2924g; (6) promissory estoppel; (7) violation of California Civil Code §§ 2924j and 2924k; (8) negligence; (9) negligent misrepresentation; (10) fraud; (11) violation of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("Rosenthal Act"), Cal. Civ. Code § 1788, et seq.; (12) violation of the California Unfair Competition Law ("UCL"), Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200, et seq.; and (13) declaratory relief.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) allows a party to bring a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Rule 12(b)(6) is read in conjunction with Rule 8(a), which requires only a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2);
"While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff's obligation to provide the `grounds' of his `entitlement to relief' requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do."
Surviving a motion to dismiss requires a plaintiff to allege "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face."
Although the scope of review is limited to the contents of the complaint, the Court may also consider exhibits submitted with the complaint,
CitiMortgage asserts that each of Plaintiff's thirteen causes of action fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Plaintiff opposes CitiMortgage's arguments as to his first, third, fifth, sixth, eleventh, and twelfth claims. The Court addresses each claim in turn.
Plaintiff's first claim alleges CitiMortgage's violation of the "Security First Rule" of California Civil Code § 726 ("Section 726"). (Compl. ¶¶ 26-31.) Plaintiff essentially claims that Defendant violated Section 726 by both foreclosing on the Malahat Road Property and accepting Plaintiff's trial modification payments. (Compl. ¶¶ 28-29; Opp'n at 5.) Plaintiff argues that those payments were, in effect, an attempt to collect part of the debt secured by the Malahat Road Property. (Compl. ¶ 29; Opp'n at 5.) CitiMortgage moves to dismiss Plaintiff's first cause of action, arguing that Section 726 is an election-of-remedies statute that only applies to prevent a creditor from suing the obligor of a secured debt without foreclosing. (Opp'n at 4-5.)
Section 726(a) provides that "[t]here can be but one form of action for the recovery of any debt or the enforcement of any right secured by mortgage upon real property." Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 726(a). As explained by the California Supreme Court, "[t]hat action is foreclosure, which may be either judicial or nonjudicial."
Plaintiff does not assert that CitiMortgage sought a deficiency judgment following the trustee's sale, however. Instead, Plaintiff contends that CitiMortgage's acceptance of his trial modification payments before foreclosure were attempts to collect the debt after CitiMortgage had already decided to foreclose on the property. (Opp'n at 5.) Plaintiff fails to provide any legal support for this "set-off" theory, as he calls it, which he bases on CitiMortgage's acceptance of his trial modification payments prior to the foreclosure. Plaintiff cites only to
Accordingly, the Court GRANTS CitiMortgage's Motion with respect to Plaintiff's first cause of action for violation of California Code of Civil Procedure § 726.
Plaintiff's third cause of action asserts that CitiMortgage breached a written modification agreement between the parties by foreclosing on and selling the Malahat Road Property. (Compl. ¶¶ 36-41.) The Complaint's sixth claim also alleges that CitiMortgage improperly foreclosed on the property despite Plaintiff's reliance on CitiMortgage's written and oral representations that it would not do so if Plaintiff complied with the terms of the modification agreement. (Compl. ¶¶ 55-58.) CitiMortgage moves to dismiss both claims based on two arguments. First, CitiMortgage contends that the claims are barred by the statute of limitations. Second, CitiMortgage argues that the Complaint fails to sufficiently assert that CitiMortgage breached a contract or promise.
CitiMortgage first asserts that both Plaintiff's breach of contract and promissory estoppel arguments are barred by the applicable four-year statute of limitations in California Code of Civil Procedure § 337(1). (Mot. at 6-7.) The Complaint was filed in May 2015. (Doc. No. 1.) CitiMortgage contends that the alleged trial modification agreement was purportedly breached when Plaintiff did not receive a permanent modification following his trial payments. (Reply at 4.) CitiMortgage thus calculates the applicable statute of limitations as running from the date when Plaintiff alleges to have made his final trial period payment, which was, at the latest, in 2010. (Mot. at 6-7.)
Plaintiff concedes that a four-year statute of limitations is applicable to both his third and sixth causes of action. (Opp'n at 6.) He contends, however, that CitiMortgage improperly calculates the limitations period from the date of Plaintiff's last trial period payment; Plaintiff asserts that the limitations period did not begin to run until CitiMortgage breached the written modification agreement in April 2012 by conducting a trustee's sale of the Malahat Road Property. (
The parties' differing views as to the date of breach appears to stem from a disagreement regarding the exact contents of the written contract alleged by Plaintiff. If, as CitiMortgage apparently contends, the agreement promised only to grant Plaintiff a permanent modification if Plaintiff made his trial period payments, the breach would seem to have occurred when CitiMortgage failed to permanently modify Plaintiff's mortgage following receipt of his trial payments. In that case, the claim would likely be time-barred. On the other hand, if the agreement constituted CitiMortgage's promise not to foreclose on the property if Plaintiff made certain reduced monthly payments, Plaintiff may be correct that the relevant breach occurred when CitiMortgage foreclosed on the Malahat Road Property. As the trustee's sale is alleged to have occurred in April 2012, the claim would apparently be timely.
The Court is unable to discern from the Complaint whether Plaintiff alleges the first or second type of written agreement and thus cannot determine whether the claim is time-barred. The Complaint conflictingly implies both types of agreements. (
Plaintiff's sixth cause of action for promissory estoppel, however, includes factual allegations beyond those relevant to Plaintiff's breach of written contract claim. Plaintiff specifically bases his promissory estoppel claim not only on the written modification agreement but also on "numerous oral promises that if Plaintiff complied with the terms of the Modification Agreement and cooperated with modification efforts, there would be no foreclosure." (Compl. ¶ 56.) The Complaint thus supplements the allegations described above by asserting that CitiMortgage made an additional, oral promise not to foreclose if Plaintiff complied with the terms of the agreement and cooperated with modification efforts. (
The same ambiguity discussed above (with regard to Plaintiff's breach of contract claim) also interferes with some of the allegations in his promissory estoppel claim. Specifically, the contents of any written promises in the modification agreement remain unclear; they are not pleaded with sufficient clarity and specificity. For example, paragraph fifty-six of the Complaint asserts that CitiMortgage promised in writing "that if the agreement proceeded, any scheduled foreclosure would be postponed" (Compl. ¶ 56); the contents of that promise are thus confusing and unclear. Because the promise cannot be ascertained, it is unclear if Plaintiff has adequately asserted a breach of that promise. Accordingly, the written promise cannot form the basis of a claim for promissory estoppel.
In sum, the Court GRANTS CitiMortgage's Motion with regard to those portions of Plaintiff's promissory estoppel claim that are based on written promises. However, the Motion is DENIED with respect to those portions of Plaintiff's promissory estoppel claim that are based on CitiMortgage's alleged oral promises that it would not foreclose.
Plaintiff next alleges that CitiMortgage wrongfully foreclosed on his property in violation of several statutory requirements. (Compl. ¶¶ 48-54.) The Complaint asserts that the foreclosure was pursued in violation of California Civil Code Sections 2924g, 2923.5, and 726, as well as in violation of CitiMortgage's Servicer Participation Agreement ("SPA") with Fannie Mae. (
CitiMortgage first argues that Plaintiff's claim for wrongful foreclosure must fail because Plaintiff does not allege tender. (Mot. at 9.) However, California courts have held that tender is not required in several circumstances. For example, tender is not required if a borrower alleges that a nonjudicial foreclosure sale is void, as opposed to voidable, because he need not rely on equitable principles to set aside such a sale.
California courts have also held that tender is not required "where it would be inequitable to impose such a condition on the party challenging the sale."
Plaintiff raises various arguments objecting to CitiMortgage's alleged failure to follow proper procedures before the trustee's sale. Plaintiff argues that CitiMortgage failed to comply with the requirements of California Civil Code § 2923.5. (Compl. ¶ 51.) "The whole point of [Civil Code] section[s] 2923.5 [and 2923.6] is to create a new, even if limited, right to be contacted about the possibility of alternatives to full payment of arrearages. It would be contradictory to thwart the very operation of the statute if enforcement were predicated on full tender."
Plaintiff also raises arguments based on California Civil Code § 2924g and CitiMortgage's breach of its SPA with Fannie Mae. (Compl. ¶¶ 49-50.) Plaintiff does not argue, and the Court is not aware of, any exception to the tender requirement that applies to those asserted causes of action.
Therefore, based on Plaintiff's failure to allege tender, the Court GRANTS CitiMortgage's Motion only with respect to Plaintiff's wrongful foreclosure cause of action to the extent that it is based on California Civil Code § 2924g, CitiMortgage's alleged breach of its SPA with Fannie Mae, and CitiMortgage's alleged violation of the Security First Rule of California Civil Code § 726.
CitiMortgage also essentially argues that, because Plaintiff has not proved his wrongful foreclosure claim at the pleading stage, it must fail. Such an argument is clearly incorrect. CitiMortgage attempts to rely on a "rebuttable presumption" that a sale has been conducted properly as long as the trustee's deed recites that the statutory notice requirements and procedures have been satisfied. (Mot. at 10 (citing
In his eleventh cause of action, Plaintiff asserts that CitiMortgage has violated the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("Rosenthal Act") by making false representations in connection with collection of the debt secured by the deed of trust. (Compl. ¶ 82.) CitiMortgage counters that this claim fails as a matter of law because a nonjudicial foreclosure sale does not constitute a debt within the meaning of the Rosenthal Act. (Opp'n at 15-16.)
Plaintiff's allegations pursuant to the Rosenthal Act are vague and conclusory; Plaintiff does not sufficiently explain the facts on which he bases his claim. Moreover, "many courts have found that foreclosure-related actions in connection with a residential mortgage do not give rise to a claim under the RFDCPA."
Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendant's Motion with respect to Plaintiff's eleventh cause of action.
The twelfth cause of action asserts that CitiMortgage's behavior in offering Plaintiff a loan modification and then foreclosing on his property constituted a violation of the California Unfair Competition Law ("UCL"), Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200, et seq. (Compl. ¶¶ 84-92.) CitiMortgage responds that Plaintiff has failed to plead his claim for a violation of the UCL with the requisite particularity. (Mot. at 16-17.)
The UCL prohibits any "unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice." Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200. Violations of other laws satisfy the "unlawful" prong and thus may be treated as unfair competition pursuant to the UCL.
As for Plaintiff's other arguments, however, the Court concludes that the Complaint does not include the required degree of particularity. The Ninth Circuit has held that Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b)'s "heightened pleading standards apply to claims for violations of the . . . UCL."
CitiMortgage also moves to dismiss Plaintiff's second, fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and thirteenth claims for relief. In his Opposition, Plaintiff fails to at all address those claims and/or CitiMortgage's arguments for their dismissal. The Court construes Plaintiff's failure to address those arguments as Plaintiff's concession that they are valid reasons to dismiss those claims.
Accordingly, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has consented to the dismissal of those seven claims and GRANTS CitiMortgage's Motion to Dismiss the second, fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, and thirteenth causes of action in Plaintiff's Complaint.
For the reasons set forth above, the Court GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART the Motion to Dismiss. The Court DISMISSES Plaintiff's first, second, third, fourth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and thirteenth claims in their entirety.
Plaintiff's fifth claim for wrongful foreclosure is DISMISSED except to the extent that it is based on CitiMortgage's violation of California Civil Code § 2923.5 and its failure to notify Plaintiff of the foreclosure of the Malahat Road Property until after the trustee's sale had occurred. Plaintiff's sixth claim for promissory estoppel is DISMISSED except to the extent that it is based on CitiMortgage's oral promises that it would not foreclose on the Malahat Road Property. Plaintiff's twelfth claim for a violation of the UCL is DISMISSED except to the extent that the claim is based on CitiMortgage's alleged violation of California Civil Code § 2923.5.
The Court GRANTS Plaintiff LEAVE TO AMEND. Plaintiff shall file an amended complaint, if any, by