YVETTE KANE, District Judge.
Before the Court is: Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab's May 4, 2017 Report and Recommendation (Doc. No. 28), addressing three pending motions to dismiss filed by Defendants Phelan, Hallinan, Diamond & Jones, LLP and Mario J. Hanyon ("the Phelan Defendants") (Doc. No. 9), Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC ("Bayview") (Doc. No. 12), and Wells Fargo, N.A. ("Wells Fargo") (Doc. No. 17); Defendants' objections to the Report and Recommendation (Doc. Nos. 32, 35, 37); Plaintiff Zachary Thomas Dowell's response to Defendants' objections (Doc. No. 44); and Plaintiff's motion for professional examination (Doc. No. 41).
In her Report and Recommendation, Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab recommends: (1) granting Defendants' motions to dismiss Plaintiff's request for an injunction staying the relevant state court foreclosure proceedings; (2) granting Defendants' motions to dismiss Plaintiff's 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims; (3) granting Defendants' motions to dismiss Plaintiff's Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA") claims to the extent those claims are not based on the filing of the motion for summary judgment in the state court foreclosure action ("the MSJ"), but denying the motions to dismiss Plaintiff's FDCPA claims to the extent those claims are based on the filing of the MSJ; and (4) denying the motions to dismiss Plaintiff's Pennsylvania Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act ("FCEUA") claims. (Doc. No. 28 at 64-65.)
Defendants have filed lengthy objections to the Report and Recommendation. (Doc. Nos. 32, 35, 37.) With regard to Plaintiff's FCEUA claims, Wells Fargo and Bayview argue that Plaintiff's FCEUA claims should be dismissed because the debt on which the claims are based is a purchase money mortgage, and the FCEUA prohibits claims based on such mortgages. (Doc. Nos. 32 ¶¶ 3-7, 35-1 at 10-11.) In addition, the Phelan Defendants argue that the FCEUA does not apply to them because they are not debt collectors. (Doc. No. 38 at 2-3.)
With regard to the FDCPA claims, Bayview and the Phelan Defendants argue that all FDCPA claims should be dismissed due to the FDCPA's one year statute of limitations. They posit that the alleged fraudulent actions surrounding the filing of the MSJ are not independent violations of the FDCPA that toll the statute of limitations. (Doc. Nos. 35-1 at 3-10, 38 at 3-9.) In addition, two Defendants request clarifying orders relating to Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab's FDCPA recommendations. Specifically, Wells Fargo requests clarification that all FDCPA claims against Wells Fargo will be dismissed with prejudice because Wells Fargo was no longer a party to the state court foreclosure action at the time the MSJ was filed. (Doc. No. 32 ¶¶ 1-2.) The Phelan Defendants request clarification as to which FDCPA claims will remain in the event this Court adopts Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab's recommendation to dismiss the FDCPA claims that are not based on the filing of the MSJ. (Doc. No. 38 at 21-22).
Finally, Defendants object to the Report and Recommendation on a number of miscellaneous grounds. Among those objections, Bayview argues that Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab erred in her application of the
Having thoroughly reviewed these objections, this Court finds that Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab correctly and comprehensively addressed the substance of Defendants' objections in the Report and Recommendation. In addition, this Court declines to address the new arguments that the Phelan Defendants raise in their objections but failed to raise before Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab in their motion to dismiss.
Wells Fargo requests an order stating that all FDCPA claims against Wells Fargo are dismissed with prejudice. (Doc. No. 32 ¶ 2.) Wells Fargo argues that when Chief Magistrate Judge Schwab recommended dismissal of all FDCPA claims except those based on alleged false statements made in the MSJ, the result was that all FDCPA claims against Wells Fargo were recommended for dismissal, because when the MSJ was filed in the foreclosure proceeding, Wells Fargo was no longer a party or the mortgage-holder. (
Regarding the Phelan Defendants' request for clarification (Doc. No. 38 at 21), according to the Report and Recommendation, all FCEUA claims survive dismissal, as well as all FDCPA claims that are based on the alleged false statements made in the MSJ. (Doc. No. 28 at 64-65.) Therefore, Count Six, which alleges violations of the FCEUA, survives dismissal. In addition, Counts Two and Five, which allege violations of the FDCPA, survive dismissal to the extent they allege violations surrounding the filing of the MSJ. Counts One, Three, and Four are dismissed because they are completely based on actions that allegedly took place prior to the filing of the MSJ, and counts based on those actions are barred by the applicable statute of limitations. (