JUDITH C. McCARTHY, Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiff Maya Pyskaty ("Plaintiff") commenced this action pursuant to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty — Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act ("MMWA"), 15 U.S.C. §§ 2301 et seq. (breach of express warranty and breach of implied warranty of merchantability), New York General Business Law ("N.Y. G.B.L.") § 349 (deceptive acts and practices), N.Y. G.B.L. § 350 (unlawful false advertising), New York Uniform Commercial Code ("N.Y. U.C.C.") § 2-313 (breach of express warranty), N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-314 (breach of implied warranty of merchantability), and allegations of common-law fraud.
Presently before this Court is a motion by defendant Wide World of Cars, LLC ("Wide World") to dismiss Plaintiff's amended complaint ("Amended Complaint" or "Am. Compl."
This case arises out of a dispute between Plaintiff and Wide World, "an auto dealership in the business of selling new and used vehicles." (Am. Compl. ¶ 10). BMW Bank is included as a defendant because of its alleged status as an assignee of a contract executed by Plaintiff and Wide World. (Id. ¶¶ 11, 12).
The Court assumes the parties' familiarity with the facts in this case. Accordingly, the Court recites only those facts necessary to resolve the present motion.
On October 31, 2013, Plaintiff and her husband ("Mr. Pyskaty") visited Wide World and discussed the purchase of a certified pre-owned BMW for Plaintiff's personal use. (Am. Compl. ¶ 13). Plaintiff and Mr. Pyskaty saw a 2010 BMW 750LXI ("the Vehicle"), which was displayed as a certified pre-owned ("CPO") automobile. (Id. ¶ 20). Plaintiff asked a salesperson about the history of the Vehicle and specifically asked if the Vehicle had been in an accident. (Id. ¶ 21). The salesperson "responded that the Vehicle had no accident history, was `perfect' and had a `clean' Carfax." (Id. ¶ 22). The salesperson also confirmed that the Vehicle had passed the inspection requirements for BMW CPO vehicles. (Id. ¶ 25). Plaintiff thereafter agreed to purchase the Vehicle for $51,195. (Id. ¶ 27).
Within the first week of purchase, Plaintiff "noticed that the Vehicle ran rough and vibrated while driving." (Am. Compl. ¶ 29). Plaintiff later noticed that the Vehicle experienced a number of additional issues: lack of power on acceleration, (id. ¶ 42); malfunctioning door locks, (id. ¶ 50); engine sluggishness while in reverse, (id. ¶ 59); lack of power or hesitation on acceleration, (id. ¶ 81); and intermittent loss of power steering, (id. ¶ 83). Plaintiff visited service centers on various occasions in November 2013, January 2014, April 2014, and May 2014, (id. ¶¶ 35, 42-43, 45, 53, 59), and she paid for several repairs in an attempt to fix the Vehicle, (see, e.g., id. ¶¶ 43-44, 48, 54, 57, 60-62).
In or about June 2014, Plaintiff reached out to BMW of North America ("BMW-NA") to request its assistance in returning the Vehicle for a refund, (Am. Compl. ¶ 64), but BMW-NA told her she would have to speak to Wide World, (id. ¶ 65). Plaintiff returned to Wide World and "indicated her desire to revoke acceptance of the vehicle and arrange for return, rescission, and refund." (Id. ¶ 74). Wide World responded that it would only accept the Vehicle as a trade-in and that it would value the Vehicle at $35,000 for the purposes of trade-in. (Id. ¶¶ 75, 76). Plaintiff declined Wide World's offer. (Id. ¶ 77). At some point Plaintiff became concerned that the Vehicle had been in a prior accident and, on June 12, 2014, Plaintiff obtained an Autocheck report on the Vehicle which indicated that the Vehicle had in fact sustained a rear impact collision on August 24, 2012. (Id. ¶¶ 78-80). Plaintiff took the Vehicle off the road during the summer of 2014, and she has kept it garaged since that time. (Id. ¶¶ 83-84).
Plaintiff alleges that the Vehicle has a number of traits that would inform a dealership, but not a layperson, that the Vehicle had been in a major accident. (Am. Compl. ¶ 86). Therefore, according to Plaintiff, Wide World knew that the service history and Carfax report it gave her were "materially inaccurate, incomplete and false at the time provided." (Id. ¶ 90). Plaintiff also alleges that Defendants created a "written warranty under their advertised CPO program," (id. ¶ 120), and that Defendants breached this warranty because the Vehicle "suffers from significant defects in its condition and . . . was not properly serviced and/or repaired in compliance with the BMW CPO requirements prior to sale," (id. ¶ 121).
Plaintiff asserts the following claims in the Amended Complaint: (1) breach of implied warranty of merchantability under the MMWA ("Count I"); (2) breach of express written warranty under the MMWA ("Count II"); (3) breach of express warranty under N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-313 ("Count III"); (4) breach of implied warranty of merchantability under N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-314 ("Count IV"); (5) common-law fraud ("Count V"); (6) deceptive acts and practices under N.Y. G.B.L. § 349 ("Count VI"); and (7) unlawful false advertising under N.Y. G.B.L. § 350 ("Count VII").
In connection with these claims, Plaintiff seeks to recover the following damages: (i) actual damages on all counts. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 117, 124, 133, 137, 145, 157, 165); (ii) up to $1,000 in treble damages on Count VI, (id. ¶ 157); (iii) up to $10,000 in treble damages on Count VII, (id. ¶ 165); (iv) punitive damages in an unspecified amount on Counts III, IV, VI and VII, (id. at 23 ¶¶ (c), (d); ¶¶ 157, 165); (v) punitive damages of "not less than three times her actual damages" on Count V, (id. ¶ 146); (vi) reasonable attorneys" fees, costs, and expenses on Counts I, II, III and IV, (id. ¶¶ 117, 124, 133, 137); (vii) costs and expenses on Count V, (id. at 23 ¶ (e)); and (viii) reasonable attorneys' fees and costs on Counts VI and VII, (id. ¶¶ 157, 165).
As to actual damages, Plaintiff alleges the following: (i) a diminished value of the Vehicle of approximately $30,717 at the time of sale and approximately $36,330 at the time of suit, (see Am. Compl. ¶¶ 94-95, Opp.
As to her breach of warranty claims (Counts I, II, III and IV), Plaintiff states that she "is entitled to and reserves the right, at her discretion, to elect cancellation and rescission of the loan in lieu of those actual damages attributable to the vehicle's diminished value." (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 118, 125, 134, 138).
Currently before the Court is Wide World's motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Wide World argues that this Court lacks jurisdiction because Plaintiff's claims do not meet the MMWA's $50,000 amount-in-controversy threshold.
Wide World puts forth several arguments in support of its motion. First, Wide World claims that Plaintiff is not entitled to a refund under the MMWA because the only warranties at issue here are limited warranties. (Motion
Plaintiff opposes the motion. First, Plaintiff argues that she can include damages for state law claims when computing the MMWA's $50,000 requirement. (Opp.
Wide World responds with several arguments. First, Wide World concludes that the Amended Complaint must be dismissed in its entirety because the only federal claims (Counts I and II) fail to state a cause of action. (Reply
Federal district courts have original jurisdiction with respect to "all civil actions arising under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States." 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Here, Plaintiff invokes federal jurisdiction pursuant to the MMWA, a federal law authorizing consumers to sue suppliers, warrantors or service contractors "for damages and other legal and equitable relief" for failure to comply with any written warranty, implied warranty, or service contract. 15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(1). An action under the MMWA may be brought in state or federal court. Id. However, the MMWA states that:
Id. § 2310(d)(3) (emphasis added).
A party invoking federal jurisdiction "has the burden of proving that it appears to a `reasonable probability' that the claim is in excess of the statutory jurisdictional amount." Scherer v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc'y of U.S., 347 F.3d 394, 397 (2d Cir. 2003) (citations omitted). Courts recognize "`a rebuttable presumption that the face of the complaint is a good faith representation of the actual amount in controversy." Id. (citation omitted). To overcome this presumption, "the party opposing jurisdiction must show `to a legal certainty'" that the amount recoverable does not meet the jurisdictional threshold." Id. (citation omitted). The "legal certainty" test sets a high bar: "[T]he legal impossibility of recovery must be so certain as virtually to negative the plaintiff's good faith in asserting the claim." Id. (citation omitted) (alteration in original). However, a party may prove "legal certainty" in a case "where recovery is limited by the terms of a contract, where the governing law places limits upon the damages recoverable, [or] where the amount demanded is merely Colorable for the purpose of obtaining jurisdiction." Novosel v. Northway Motor Car Corp., 460 F.Supp. 541, 544 (N.D.N.Y. 1978) (citations omitted).
Here, Plaintiff alleges damages greater than $50,000 on the face of the Amended Complaint, (see Section 1(B), supra), and she has therefore established a "reasonable probability" that the amount in controversy exceeds the MMWA's statutory minimum. However, as set forth below, the Court finds that the governing law limits Plaintiff's recoverable damages, and therefore there is "legal certainty" that Plaintiff will not be able to establish the $50,000 jurisdictional minimum.
Courts disagree on whether state law claims may be considered for the purpose of meeting the MMWA's $50,000 amount-in-controversy requirement. Compare Harnden v. Jayco, Inc., 496 F.3d 579, 582 (6th Cir. 2007) ("We may consider this state-law claim in computing whether the amount-in-controversy requirement is met [under the MMWA].") with Scarlott v. Nissan N. Am., Inc., 771 F.3d 883, 887-88 (5th Cir. 2014) ("damages for any pendent state-law claims should not be included to satisfy the jurisdictional amount [under the MMWA].") (citation omitted) and Ansari v. Bella Auto. Grp., Inc., 145 F.3d 1270, 1272 (11th Cir. 1998) ("We are also [in] agreement with the Fifth Circuit that the amount in controversy for purposes of [the MMWA] does not include damages flowing from any pendent state law claim brought by a plaintiff.").
The Second Circuit has never examined this issue, and I agree with those courts holding that state law claims may not be included in computing the MMWA's jurisdictional threshold. First, the text of the statute supports such a finding. On first glance. Subpart (B) of 15 U.S.C. § 231(d)(3) (stating that the amount in controversy is to be "computed on the basis of all claims to be determined in the suit") appears to include state law claims. However, when read in context with Subparts (A) and (C) of the same section, "it is apparent that the term `all claims' . . . most likely refers to the sum of all of the individual MMWA claims contemplated in Subpart (A)." Critney v. Nat'l City Ford, Inc., 255 F.Supp.2d 1146, 1148 (S.D. Cal. 2003). Second, the legislative history of the MMWA supports the same interpretation. See H.R.REP. No. 93-1107, at 7724 (1974) (indicating that Congress wanted to avoid having "trivial or insignificant actions" brought in federal court), as reprinted in 1974 U.S.C.C.A.N. 7702, 7724. Indeed:
Donahue v. Bill Page Toyota, Inc., 164 F.Supp.2d 778, 782 (E.D. Va. 2001) (emphasis in original). Third, the concept of supplemental jurisdiction compels this result. A district court may only exercise supplemental jurisdiction over state law claims if it first has original jurisdiction over a related federal cause of action or through diversity jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). If the term "all claims" in Subpart (B) included state law claims, "then in those cases where the MMWA claims are for less than $50,000, the district court would be deriving original jurisdiction from pendent state claims over which it can exercise supplemental jurisdiction only if it has original jurisdiction. An interpretation that condones such jurisdictional `bootstrapping' cannot be correct." Critney, 255 F. Supp. 2d at 1149.
Therefore, Plaintiff's state law claims will not be considered in determining whether Plaintiff meets the MMWA's amount-in-controversy requirement.
Accordingly, this Court has jurisdiction only if the damages from the MMWA claims alone constitute $50,000. In MMWA suits, "damages ordinarily are limited to the difference between the value of the goods accepted and the value they would have had if they had been as warranted." Lieb v. Am. Motors Corp., 538 F.Supp. 127, 133 (S.D.N.Y. 1982) (citations omitted). See also, e.g., Heiko v. Keil Equip. Co., No. 02 Civ. 7570(BSJ), 2004 WL 230991, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 5, 2004) (citing Lieb and N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-714(2)). Damages for pain and suffering are generally not recoverable for MMWA claims. See Wood v. Gen. Motors Corp., No. CV 08-5224 (JFB)(AKT), 2010 WL 3613812, at *10 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 23, 2010), report and recommendation adopted, No. 08-CV-5224 (JFB)(AKT), 2010 WL 3613809 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 15, 2010). Neither are attorneys' fees. See, e.g., Boelens v. Redman Homes, Inc., 748 F.2d 1058, 1069 (5th Cir. 1984) (noting that the MMWA "requires that the amount in controversy be calculated `exclusive of interests and costs'" and finding that "[a]ttorneys fees are `costs' within the meaning of [the MMWA]") (citation omitted).
The MMWA is silent on "whether exemplary and punitive damages may be considered with actual damages in order to exceed the requisite amount in controversy." Novosel, 460 F. Supp. at 544. As a general matter, punitive damages claims are subject to heightened scrutiny when they are being asserted to satisfy an amount-in-controversy requirement. See Zahn v. Int'l Paper Co., 469 F.2d 1033, 1033 n.1 (2d Cir. 1972) ("Indeed, in computing jurisdictional amount, a claim for punitive damages is to be given closer scrutiny, and the trial judge accorded greater discretion, than a claim for actual damages.") (citation omitted); accord KT Exp. v. Wolf Canyon of Am., Inc., USA, No. 09 Civ. 7123(BSJ), 2010 WL 5249231, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 17, 2010). Courts in the Second Circuit have generally declined to consider punitive damages when calculating the MMWA amount in controversy. See, e.g., Heiko, 2004 WL 230991, at *2; Alkhatib, 2015 WL 3507340, at *24, Lieb, 538 F. Supp. at 133.
However, it is clear that punitive damages are recoverable under the MMWA if they would be recoverable in a breach-of-warranty action brought under governing state law. See, e.g., Rosen v. Gupta, No. 99-7226, 2000 WL 639964, at *1, *2 (2d Cir. May 17, 2000) (summary order) (affirming magistrate and district court opinion noting that "punitive damages are only recoverable under [the MMWA] if they would be recoverable in a breach of warranty action brought under governing state law."); Wood v. Maguire Auto. LLC, No. 5:09-CV-0640 (GTS/GHL), 2011 WL 4478485, at *3 (N.D.N.Y. Sept. 26, 2011) (citing Rosen), aff'd sub nom. Wood v. Maguire Auto., LLC, 508 F. App'x 65 (2d Cir. 2013) (summary order). Under New York law, "[a] claim for punitive damages stemming from a breach of warranty is judged by the same standard for punitive damages arising from a breach of contract." Mayline Enterprises, Inc. v. Milea Truck Sales Corp., 641 F.Supp.2d 304, 313 (S.D.N.Y. 2009) (citation omitted). The standard for awarding punitive damages when a claim arises from a breach of contract is "`a strict one,' and this extraordinary remedy will be available `only in a limited number of instances.'" Rocanova v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc. of U.S., 83 N.Y.2d 603, 613 (N.Y. 1994) (citations omitted). The New York Court of Appeals summarized this standard as follows:
New York Univ. v. Cont'l Ins. Co., 87 N.Y.2d 308, 316 (N.Y. 1995) (emphasis added) (citations omitted). In determining whether conduct is "directed at the public generally,'" New York law distinguishes "between `a gross and wanton fraud upon the public' and `an isolated transaction incident to an otherwise legitimate business.' . . . [implying that] [t]he latter . . . would not constitute conduct aimed at the public generally." TVT Records v. Island Def Jam Music Grp., 412 F.3d 82, 95 (2d Cir. 2005) (quoting Walker v. Sheldon, 179 N.E.2d 497, 500 (N.Y. 1961)). See also id. at 94 (noting that Rocanova and New York University made it "clear that punitive damages were recoverable in a contract action [under New York law] only `if necessary to vindicate a public right.'") (citations omitted); Bristol Vill, Inc. v. Louisiana-Pac. Corp., 916 F.Supp.2d 357, 371 (W.D.N.Y. 2013) (Under New York law, "punitive damages for the breach of contractual obligations, such as express warranties, are generally unavailable unless necessary to vindicate a public right.") (citations omitted).
Here, Plaintiff alleges that she purchased the Vehicle for $51,195
Plaintiff also seeks to amend the Amended Complaint to add punitive damages to her MMWA claims. (See Opp. at 17 n.4). However, Plaintiff could not use such proposed punitive damages to meet the MMWA minimum because Wide World's alleged conduct is more akin to "an isolated transaction incident to an otherwise legitimate business" than "a gross and wanton fraud upon the public." TVT Records, 412 F.3d at 95 (citation omitted). In other words, punitive damages are not "necessary to vindicate a public right" in this case, as required by New York law. Id. at 94 (citations omitted). See, e.g., Mayline, 641 F. Supp. 2d at 312 (rejecting plaintiff's argument "that the fraud was directed at the general public . . . because the truck was held out for sale to the general public with an altered odometer" and holding that plaintiff could not recover punitive damages under New York law because plaintiff proved "only a single incident of odometer alteration"); Stegich v. Saab Cars USA, Inc., 676 N.Y.S.2d 756, 756 (N.Y. App. Term 1998) (holding that plaintiff was not entitled to punitive damages in case involving dealer's failure "to disclose a presale repair to the plaintiff's Saab automobile" on the grounds that "Plaintiff's general assertion that he was `only one of many members of the public who entered the defendant [dealer's] showroom to purchase a `new' car', is hardly sufficient to sustain a finding that defendants' conduct constituted a public wrong.'") (alteration in original). Where, as here, punitive damages are unavailable under New York law, they should not be included in calculating the amount in controversy for jurisdictional purposes. See Enobakhare v. Carpoint, LLC, No. 08 CV 4798(ARR), 2011 WL 703920, at *13 (E.D.N.Y. Jan. 10, 2011) (citation omitted), report and recommendation adopted, No. 08-CV-4798(ARR)(CLP), 2011 WL 704902 (E.D.N.Y. Feb. 16, 2011) ("plaintiff's demand of $3,000,000 in punitive damages should not be considered in calculating the amount in controversy requirement because punitive damages are not permitted in these circumstances under New York law.").
Accordingly, the alleged damages from Plaintiff's MMWA claims alone fail to satisfy the MMWA's $50,000 amount-in-controversy requirement.
Plaintiff also argues that she is entitled to revoke acceptance of the Vehicle and that her revocation amount exceeds $50,000. (Opp. at 14-15).
Plaintiff implicitly concedes that she is not entitled to a "`refund" under Section 2304 of the MMWA because the only warranties alleged here are limited warranties. (Opp. at 14). The Court agrees. See LaRose Aff. Ex.
Therefore, the Court must look to New York state law to determine whether Plaintiff is entitled to revoke her acceptance of the Vehicle. See Kolle v. Mainship Corp., No. 04CV711(TCP)(MLO), 2006 WL 1085067, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 20, 2006) ("When a warrantor. . . issues a limited written warranty, the MMWA provides that the Court must look to State law to determine a plaintiff's entitlement to damages or other equitable remedies.") (citations omitted); Shuldman v. DaimlerChrysler Corp., 768 N.Y.S.2d 214, 216 (N.Y. App. Div. 2003) ("the MMWA is silent as to the remedies for breach of a limited written warranty. Accordingly, the court must look to State law to determine the plaintiff's entitlement to damages or other legal or equitable relief") (citations omitted). Under New York law, revocation of acceptance is available if, in relevant part, the buyer accepted a nonconforming good "whose noncomformity substantially impairs its value to him" and "his acceptance was reasonably induced either by the difficulty of discovery before acceptance or by the seller's assurances." N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-608(1). See also Murphy v. Mallard Coach Co., 582 N.Y.S.2d 528, 530-31 (N.Y. App. Div. 1992). "Revocation of acceptance must occur within a reasonable time after the buyer discovers or should have discovered the ground for it[.]" N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-608(2).
The Court need not decide whether Plaintiff could revoke her acceptance of the Vehicle because even if Plaintiff could revoke her acceptance, she would not be entitled to a full refund of the Vehicle's purchase price. Upon revoking acceptance, a party may recover "so much of the price as has been paid[.]" N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-711(1) ("Section 2-711(1)"). See also, e.g., Federated Retail Holdings, Inc. v. Sanidown, Inc., No. 06 Civ. 6119(LTS)(THK), 2010 WL 5298113, at *7 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 23, 2010) (citing Section 2-711(1) and holding that plaintiff's were "entitled to recover the price paid for the goods that they removed from their stores and returned to Defendant" but "obviously [could] not recover the amount of unpaid invoices"); Exp. Dev. Canada v. Elec. Apparatus & Power, L.L.C., No. 03 Civ.2063(HBP), 2008 WL 4900557, at *18 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 14, 2008) (citing Section 2-711(1) and holding that counterclaimant was "entitled to the return of its partial payment").
A party revoking acceptance may also recover one of two additional remedies. First, a party may "cover" by purchasing substitute goods and may obtain certain damages incurred thereby. N.Y. U.C.C. §§ 2-711(1)(a), 2-712. However, where a party "did not cover, . . . damages under 2-712 are not available." Singapore Recycle Ctr. Pte Ltd. v. Kad Int'l Mktg., Inc., No. 06-CV-4997 (RRM)(RER), 2009 WL 2424333, at *14 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 6, 2009), report and recommendation adopted sub nom. Singapore Recycle Ctr. PTE Ltd. v. Kad Int'l Mktg., Inc., No. 06-CV-4997 (RRM)(RER), 2009 WL 2778003 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 1, 2009). Second, and in the alternative, a party revoking acceptance may "recover damages for non-delivery as provided in [N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-713 ("Section 2-713")]." N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-711(1)(b). Under Section 2-713, a party may be entitled to "the difference between the market price at the time when the buyer learned of the breach and the contract price together with any incidental and consequential damages provided in [N.Y. U.C.C. § 2-715 ("Section 2-715")] but less expenses saved in consequence of the seller's breach." Id. § 2-713. Under Section 2-715, incidental damages "include expenses reasonably incurred in inspection, receipt, transportation and care and custody of goods rightfully rejected, any commercially reasonable charges, expenses or commissions in connection with effecting cover and any other reasonable expense incident to the delay or other breach." id. § 2-715(1), and consequential damages consist of "(a) any loss resulting from general or particular requirements and needs of which the seller at the time of contracting had reason to know and which could not reasonably be prevented by cover or otherwise; and (b) injury to person or property proximately resulting from any breach of warranty." id. § 2-715(2). See also, e.g., Maxwell v. Crabtree Ford, Inc., 543 N.Y.S.2d 626, 630 (N.Y. Just. Ct. 1989) (noting that a buyer who revoked acceptance of a vehicle could "recover the purchase price under Section 2-711 and incidental and consequential damages under Section 2-715.").
Here, Plaintiff "put down a deposit of $2,000." (Am. Compl. ¶ 28), and it appears that she had paid approximately $16,480 in car payments at the time of suit.
Accordingly, even if she chooses to revoke acceptance of the Vehicle, Plaintiff's claims fail to satisfy the MMWA's $50,000 amount-in-controversy requirement.
For the foregoing reasons, Wide World's motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction is granted.