JOHN A. ROSS, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Defendant's Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 12). Although Defendant frames its motion as a motion to dismiss, the Court treats it as a motion for more definite statement under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(e). This matter is fully briefed and ready for disposition.
Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(e), "[a] party may move for a more definite statement of a pleading to which a responsive pleading is allowed but which is so vague or ambiguous that the party cannot reasonably prepare a response." When a "pleading fails to specify the allegations in a manner that provides sufficient notice, a defendant can move for a more definite under Rule 12(e) before responding."
On July 12, 1999, Plaintiff purchased the property at 1701 Chambers Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63136 ("Subject Property") and obtained a Deed of Trust for the Subject Property. (Petition to Set Aside Foreclosure (hereinafter "Complaint" or "Compl."), ECF No. 4, ¶¶1, 3). Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a subsidiary of Wells Fargo & Company, commenced a non-judicial foreclosure on the Subject Property in 2010. (
In the Complaint, Plaintiff alleges claims for Improper Execution of Foreclosure (Count I) and Wrongful Foreclosure (Count II). Plaintiff alleges that "[a] [f]oreclosure pursuant to §443.310-§ 443.325 R.S. MO. was not performed." (Compl., ¶¶11, 15). Plaintiff further alleges that "Plaintiff's indebtedness to Defendants [sic] was caused by Defendant's negligence in handling Plaintiff's arrearage." (
In its Motion, Defendant first notes that Missouri does not recognize a cause of action for improper execution of foreclosure that is independent of a claim for wrongful foreclosure. Thus, the only cognizable claim is for wrongful foreclosure to set aside the successor trustee's deed. (Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss ("Memorandum"), ECF No. 13, p. 3).
Second, Defendant claims that Plaintiff has not satisfied the pleading requirements of Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a). (Memorandum, pp. 3-4). Rule 8(a) requires that "[a] pleading that states a claim for relief must contain: (1) a short and plain statement of the grounds for the court's jurisdiction, unless the court already has jurisdiction and the claim needs no new jurisdictional support; (2) a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief; and (3) a demand for the relief sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief." Defendant claims that Plaintiff has not alleged facts to support her claim of wrongful foreclosure. (Memorandum, pp. 3-4).
In response, "Plaintiff stands firm that this court could easily draw `reasonable inference[s]' from Plaintiff's pleadings that Plaintiff is alleging the statutes were not followed by Defendant in pursuing its non-judicial foreclosure." (Plaintiff's Memorandum in Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Dismiss ("Response"), ECF No. 22, p. 2). Plaintiff nevertheless acknowledges that "more discovery may be needed to fully plead non-compliance to anyone's fully satisfaction." (
The Court finds that Plaintiff's allegations are insufficient under Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a), as they contain bare bones legal allegations, without any factual support. "Rule 8 does not empower respondent to plead the bare elements of his cause of action, affix the label `general allegation,' and expect his complaint to survive a motion to dismiss."
In addition to the fact pleading deficiencies, Defendant asserts that Plaintiff's claim for wrongful foreclosure fails to state a claim as a matter of law. Defendant argues that the evidence before the Court establishes that the foreclosure was proper and conducted in accordance with the statutory requirements for a non-judicial foreclosure.
In response, Plaintiff asserts that the foreclosure was a result of negligence or mistake. (Response, p. 4). In essence, Plaintiff argues that she and Defendant were pursuing a loan modification, but that Defendant mistakenly foreclosed on the Subject Property. (
Plaintiff has not plead this theory that the foreclosure was a mistake in her Complaint. Instead, Plaintiff claims that she needs to "explain her understanding." (Response, p. 5). If this is Plaintiff's theory, then she needs to allege that theory in her complaint and support those allegations with greater factual details that comport with Fed.R.Civ.P. 8. As Plaintiff's Complaint stands, it does not state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
The Court, therefore, grants Plaintiff fourteen days to file an amended complaint that cures the defects cited herein.
Accordingly,