DEAN D. PREGERSON, District Judge.
Presently before the court is Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs' First Amended Complaint ("FAC"). Having considered the submissions of the parties, the court grants the motion and adopts the following order.
In 2007, Plaintiffs executed a promissory note for $1,995,000.00, secured by a Deed of Trust to real property located at 6227 Hollymont Drive, Los Angeles, California 90068. (FAC ¶ 31, Ex. 1 at 3.) The Deed named Defendant Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS") as a nominee for the lender and beneficiary under the Deed. (FAC Ex. 1 at 3.) On December 23, 2010, MERS recorded an assignment of the Note and Deed to Defendant Bank of New York Mellon ("the Bank"), as Trustee for the CWALT, Inc. Alternative Loan Trust ("the Trust"). (FAC ¶ 32, Ex. 2 at 2.)
On August 20, 2014, Plaintiffs, proceeding pro se, filed the instant action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Plaintiffs filed the First Amended Complaint on October 27, 2014. The District Court for the Southern District of New York later transferred this matter sua sponte to this court. (Dkt. 27.) In essence, the FAC alleges that the Deed was improperly assigned in 2010, and that the assignment violated the Trust's Prospectus and the Bank's duties as Trustees. The FAC alleges nineteen causes of action, brought under federal, California, and New York law, related to these allegations.
A complaint will survive a motion to dismiss when it contains "sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face."
"When there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement of relief."
Plaintiffs' Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Causes of Action allege that the December 2010 assignment of the Deed violated several terms of the Trust's Prospectus. Defendants argue that Plaintiffs lack standing to challenge alleged violations of the Prospectus. Indeed, Plaintiffs' FAC seems to acknowledge as much, alleging that Plaintiffs "do not have the authority to prosecute the enforcement of securities violations." (FAC ¶ 30.) The import of Plaintiffs' assertion that their claims "establish the plausibility that the [assignment is] in direct conflict with the Prosepectus" is therefore unclear to the court. Although Plaintiffs allege that they are entitled "to potential monies for the identification of actions, to the SEC, that result [in] fines or penalties as a direct result of Plaintiffs' assistance," Plaintiffs provide no authority for that proposition nor any argument why any such entitlement would confer standing upon Plaintiffs to challenge the Prospectus. The Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Causes of action are dismissed, with prejudice.
Plaintiffs' Nineteenth Cause of Action alleges a violation of the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA"), 15 U.S.C. SEC 1601
Plaintiffs' First Cause of Action seeks a declaration that no Defendant has any interest in Plaintiffs' Note, Deed, or property. (FAC ¶ 96.) Plaintiffs allege that only a "non-existent mortgage" was assigned, the Deed of Trust was never transferred, and, Plaintiffs allege, is now unsecured. (FAC ¶ 92.) Although the basis for Plaintiffs' contentions is somewhat unclear, it appears from the two sentences of Plaintiffs' opposition devoted to this issue that Plaintiffs' First Cause of Action is premised upon allegations that their Note was improperly securitized. (Opp. at 8.) Plaintiffs do not have standing, however, to bring such claims.
Plaintiffs' Second through Eighth Causes of Action allege various violations of Internal Revenue Service requirements. Rather than address Defendants' contention that Plaintiffs lack standing to bring such claims, Plaintiffs argue that they intend "to amend the complaint to include the Internal Revenue Service." (Opp. at 13.) The court therefore dismisses the Second through Eighth Causes of Action.
Plaintiffs' discussion regarding amendment to include the IRS also refers to New York Estates Powers and Trusts Law ("EPTL") § 7-2.4. That statute serves as the basis for Plaintiffs' Tenth Cause of Action, which seeks a declaration that the assignment of Plaintiffs' Note is void under EPTL § 7-2.4. That claim, however, is foreclosed by the Second Circuit's decision in
Plaintiffs have not opposed Defendants' Motion to Dismiss with respect to the Ninth and Fourteenth through Eighteenth causes of action, which are, therefore, dismissed.
For the reasons stated above, Defendants' Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. Plaintiffs' First through Eighth Causes of Action are DISMISSED, with leave to amend. Any amended complaint shall be filed within fourteen days of the date of this Order. All other causes of action are DISMISSED, with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.