EDUARDO C. ROBRENO, J.
Thomas A. Oates, Jr. ("Plaintiff") brings this civil action against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Defendant"), for violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), and Pennsylvania law. Defendant removed from the Court of Common Pleas for Chester County, Pennsylvania, and moved to dismiss Plaintiff's Complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and (6). For the reasons that follow, the Court will grant in part and deny in part the Motion to Dismiss.
Because the facts of this case occur in the foreground of a complex regulatory scheme involving a national flood insurance program, a discussion of the facts follows an explanation of that statutory and regulatory scheme.
Congress enacted the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 ("NFIA") to share the risk of flood losses by establishing a national flood insurance program. See 42 U.S.C. § 4001(a) (2006). Congress amended the NFIA to require property owners assisted by federal programs or federally insured institutions to obtain flood insurance if the subject property is located in a special flood hazard area ("SFHA").
If the lender determines at any time during the term of a loan that the property securing the loan is either not covered by flood insurance or is covered inadequately, the lender must notify the borrower that the borrower should obtain insurance at the borrower's expense. 42 U.S.C. § 4012a(e)(1); 12 C.F.R. § 339.7. If the borrower fails to purchase flood insurance coverage within forty-five days after the lender provides notice, the lender must purchase flood insurance on behalf of the borrower and may charge the borrower any associated costs of premiums and fees. 42 U.S.C. § 4012a(e)(2); 12 C.F.R. § 339.7. Lenders may rely on a third party to determine whether a property falls within a SFHA but "only to the extent that such person guarantees the accuracy of the information." 42 U.S.C. § 4104b(d) (2006). Finally, the borrower and lender may jointly request the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("Director") to review whether a property is located in a SFHA. Id. § 4012a(e)(3).
A federal agency may assess a civil penalty against a lender demonstrating a pattern or practice of failing to provide notice or purchase flood insurance coverage as required. Id. § 4012a(f)(2)(B). And the Reform Act protects lenders, in certain circumstances, from liability under state law when the lender purchases flood insurance on behalf of a borrower:
Id. § 4012a(f)(6).
On June 29, 2007, Defendant loaned Plaintiff $241,500. Compl. ¶¶ 4-5, ECF No. 1. The loan was secured by a mortgage on real property and improvements located at 1019 Kimberton Road, West
On August 9, 2007, Defendant obtained a second flood zone certification that the Property was located in a SFHA. Id. ¶¶ 11-12. Accordingly, Defendant advised Plaintiff that the Property was in a SFHA and that Plaintiff must obtain flood insurance on the Property. Id. ¶ 13.
Defendant acquired flood insurance on the Property and assessed the premiums paid to the monthly loan payments. Id. ¶¶ 14, 36. Plaintiff refused to pay the additional flood insurance premiums because he believed the second flood zone certification to be in error.
In 2008, however, Defendant reported to certain credit reporting agencies that Plaintiff was in default or late in making payments on the loan. Id. ¶ 18. And on August 2, 2010, Defendant initiated a mortgage foreclosure action against Plaintiff because the loan was in default. Id. ¶ 19-20. Both actions were the result of the additional insurance premium charges Defendant assessed, which, Plaintiff contends, were erroneous. Id. ¶ 17-34. Plaintiff continued to make monthly payments on the loan less any premiums assessed for the flood insurance policy.
Plaintiff suffered damages in the form of costs for obtaining a surveyor and providing information to Defendant that the Property was not in a SFHA, unreimbursed and improperly assessed flood insurance premiums, attorney's fees and costs, and lost profits relating to Plaintiff's business, Tom Oates Automotive Center, arising from Plaintiff's inability to obtain financing because of alleged inaccuracies in Plaintiff's credit report. Id. ¶¶ 32-37.
On August 2, 2011, Plaintiff commenced this action against Defendant in the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Plaintiff alleges the following six counts: violation of the FCRA (Count I); violation of the FDCPA (Count II); libel (Count III); negligence (Count IV); breach of contract (Count V); and breach of warranty of good faith (Count VI).
On March 6, 2012, Defendant removed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania invoking the Court's federal-question and diversity jurisdiction.
On March 13, 2012, Defendant moved to dismiss the Complaint in its entirety. Mot. to Dismiss 1, ECF No. 5. Plaintiff responded. Pl.'s Resp. 1, ECF No. 6. On July 27, 2012, the Court held a hearing on the Motion. The Motion is now ripe for disposition.
A party may move to dismiss a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). When considering such a motion, the Court must "accept as true all allegations in the complaint and all reasonable inferences that can be drawn therefrom, and view them in the light most favorable to the non-moving party." DeBenedictis v. Merrill Lynch & Co., 492 F.3d 209, 215 (3d Cir.2007) (internal quotation marks omitted). To withstand a motion to dismiss, the complaint's "[f]actual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). This "requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do." Id. Although a plaintiff is entitled to all reasonable inferences from the facts alleged, a plaintiff's legal conclusions are not entitled to deference and the Court is "not bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation." Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286, 106 S.Ct. 2932, 92 L.Ed.2d 209 (1986).
The pleadings must contain sufficient factual allegations so as to state a facially plausible claim for relief. See, e.g., Gelman v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 583 F.3d 187, 190 (3d Cir.2009). "`A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.'" Id. (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)). In deciding a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court limits its inquiry to the facts alleged in the complaint and its attachments, matters of public record, and undisputedly authentic documents if the complainant's claims are based upon these documents. See Jordan v. Fox, Rothschild, O'Brien & Frankel, 20 F.3d 1250, 1261 (3d Cir.1994); Pension Benefit Guar. Corp. v. White Consol. Indus., Inc., 998 F.2d 1192, 1196 (3d Cir.1993).
Defendant moves to dismiss all claims in the Complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiff's demand for lost profits for lack of jurisdiction. For the reasons provided, the Court will grant in part and deny in part the Motion to Dismiss.
First, Defendant argues that the FDPA preempts Plaintiff's state and federal claims. The Third Circuit has not addressed whether there is an express or implied right of action for violations of the flood zone determination and notification requirements of the FDPA. Congress did not expressly confer a private right of action in the FDPA. And courts that have considered the issue have concluded that no private right of action exists. See, e.g., Lukosus v. First Tenn. Bank Nat'l Ass'n, 89 Fed.Appx. 412, 412 (4th Cir.2004) (per curiam).
None of Plaintiff's claims is for a violation of the FDPA; therefore, whether FDPA confers a private right of action is not principally at issue here. Rather, Defendant contends that Plaintiff cannot bring a state cause of action based on a violation of the FDPA. The Pennsylvania courts have not ruled on this issue. And federal and state courts generally refuse to allow a private common law cause of action based on violations of the FDPA. See Ford v. First Am. Flood Data Servs., No. 06-453, 2006 WL 2921432, at *3 (M.D.N.C. Oct. 11, 2006) (reporting cases). Plaintiff has not pointed to a single case in which a
Defendant further argues that Plaintiff cannot bring a claim under the FCRA for a violation of the FDPA. As explained in more detail below, Plaintiff claims Defendant violated the FCRA by failing to investigate allegedly inaccurate information furnished to certain credit reporting agencies. Plaintiff contends Defendant failed to investigate a dispute Plaintiff made in accordance with the FCRA. Plaintiff alleges, and Defendant's agent allegedly agreed, that certain reported credit information relating to payment on the Note and Mortgage is inaccurate because Defendant improperly assessed flood insurance coverage premiums against Plaintiff that Plaintiff refused to pay, thereby causing him to default on the Note. Although Plaintiff's FCRA claim relates to the FDPA, Plaintiff's FCRA claim is not based on a violation of the FDPA.
Plaintiff alleges Defendant willfully and negligently violated the FCRA by failing to investigate allegedly inaccurate information and reporting allegedly inaccurate information to credit reporting agencies. The FCRA "protect[s] consumers from the transmission of inaccurate information about them, and ... establish[es] credit reporting practices that utilize accurate, relevant, and current information in a confidential and responsible manner." Cortez v. Trans Union, L.L.C., 617 F.3d 688, 706 (3d Cir.2010) (internal quotation marks omitted). Among the duties imposed on furnishers of information to consumer reporting agencies, the FCRA requires a furnisher of information, in certain circumstances, to investigate the completeness and accuracy of information furnished. See 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b) (2006). The FCRA provides a private cause of action for the willful and negligent violations of the FCRA. See id. §§ 1681n, 1681o; see also SimmsParris v. Countrywide Fin. Corp., 652 F.3d 355, 358 (3d Cir.2011) ("This leaves 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(b) as the only section that can be enforced by a private citizen seeking to recover damages caused by a furnisher of information."). And a furnisher is only liable for failing to conduct a reasonable investigation after a consumer alerts the credit reporting agency of disputed information and the agency informs the furnisher of the dispute. See 15 U.S.C. § 1681i(a)(2) (2006); see also SimmsParris, 652 F.3d at 359 ("[ A] private citizen wishing to bring an action against a furnisher must first file a dispute with the consumer reporting agency, which then must notify the furnisher of information that a dispute exists. Only after this notification can the furnisher face any liability to a private individual.").
Defendant further argues that Plaintiff fails to allege facts to support a claim that Defendant failed to investigate his dispute but instead "merely alleges his theory and the legal conclusion that [Defendant] `recklessly disregarded its obligations to investigate disputed information under FCRA.'" Mem. in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss 13 (quoting Compl. ¶ 51). This also is not a fair reading of the Complaint. Plaintiff alleges that he notified Defendant of the allegedly erroneous report in December 2009, that Defendant's representative "verbally advised" him that it would make the requested corrections, that Defendant continued to make inaccurate reports even after reversal of the second SFHA determination, and that Defendant failed to make any corrections at least until August 2011.
Finally, Defendant argues that any investigation it would have taken into the allegedly inaccurate reports would have been futile because Plaintiff failed to seek a reversal of the second SFHA determination for two years. This argument is immaterial because Plaintiff alleges Defendant continued to violate the FCRA by furnishing inaccurate reports after reversal of the second SFHA determination in December 2009. Therefore, the Court will deny the Motion with respect to Count I.
Defendant moves to dismiss Count II because Plaintiff fails to allege facts that would demonstrate Defendant is a "debt collector" under the FDCPA. See 15 U.S.C. § 1692k(a) (2006) (establishing civil liability against debt collector for violation of FDCPA). Plaintiff agrees that Defendant is not a debt collector as defined under the FDCPA and withdraws Count II. Pl.'s Resp. 18-19. Therefore, the Court will grant the Motion with respect to Count II.
Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiff's libel and negligence claims because the FCRA preempts those claims. The FCRA establishes civil liability for certain violations of the FCRA. See, e.g., 15 U.S.C. § 1681n (establishing civil liability for willful noncompliance with FCRA); id. § 1681o (establishing civil liability for negligent noncompliance with FCRA). The
15 U.S.C. § 1681h(e) (2006).
Defendant argues Plaintiff fails to allege facts that, if proven, would establish Defendant acted with malice or willful intent to injure, and, therefore, the FCRA preempts the libel and negligence claims.
With respect to his libel claim, Plaintiff responds that the FCRA does not preempt the claim because Plaintiff alleged a facially plausible claim that Defendant acted with malice or willful intent to injure Plaintiff. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges Defendant was aware since December 2009 of the allegedly inaccurate credit reports but, nevertheless, continued to make inaccurate reports. Plaintiff alleges Defendant's personnel acknowledged the mistake but failed to correct it.
"Malice ... may be alleged generally." Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b). Plaintiff alleges Defendant intentionally reported inaccurate information despite its knowledge that the Property is not in a SFHA and, as such, flood insurance coverage is not required. Therefore, the Court will deny the Motion to Dismiss with respect to Count III. See Haynes v. Navy Fed. Credit Union, 825 F.Supp.2d 285, 297-98 (D.D.C.2011) (finding defamation claim not preempted by FCRA when plaintiff alleged, inter alia, defendant knew delinquent mortgage payment reports were false).
With respect to his negligence claim under Count IV, Plaintiff responds that the claim survives because § 1681o provides liability for the negligent violation of the FCRA.
Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiff's breach-of-contract claim because Plaintiff did not identify a breach of any terms of the Mortgage. Under Pennsylvania law, a plaintiff asserting a claim for the breach of contract must establish "(1) the existence of a contract, including its essential
Plaintiff responds that dismissal of the breach-of-contract claim would be improper at this stage in the proceedings. Plaintiff notes that Defendant's assessment of "sham" flood insurance premiums violates the term of the Mortgage to "estimate the amount of Funds due on the basis of current data and reasonable estimates of expenditures of future Escrow Items or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law." Mortgage ¶ 3. Plaintiff argues that Defendant's assessment of premiums after Plaintiff secured private flood insurance forced Plaintiff to pay twice for flood insurance coverage, in violation of the Mortgage. Furthermore, Plaintiff asserts Defendant instituted foreclosure proceedings based on the failure to pay premiums that Defendant allegedly admits were unnecessary. Plaintiff contends that Defendant's actions constitute a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
At this stage in the proceedings, whether Defendant breached either the Note or Mortgage is unclear. Plaintiff has at least stated a facially plausible claim for breach of contract. See Gelman, 583 F.3d at 190. Therefore, the Court will deny the Motion with respect to Count V.
Plaintiff alleges "[Defendant] warrants its contracts to be fair, reasonable, and negotiated in good faith." Compl.¶ 101. Defendant moves to dismiss Plaintiff's breach-of-warranty claim because it is not a cognizable claim. Indeed, Pennsylvania does not recognize an independent cause of action for the breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing. See Northview Motors, Inc. v. Chrysler Motors Corp., 227 F.3d 78, 91-92 (3d Cir.2000) ("[A] party is not entitled to maintain an implied duty of good faith claim where the allegations of bad faith are identical to a claim for relief under an established cause of action." (internal quotation marks omitted)).
Plaintiff agrees that Pennsylvania does not recognize an independent claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Rather, Plaintiff argues Defendant breached "express warranties" in the Mortgage. Pl.'s Resp. 25. A claim for breach of "express warranties" is a claim for breach of contract. The Court may consider the implied duty of good faith in interpreting the terms of the Note and Mortgage. See Northview Motors, 227 F.3d at 91 ("Courts have utilized the good faith duty as an interpretive tool to determine the parties' justifiable expectations in the context of a breach of contract action, but that duty is not divorced from the specific clauses of the contract and cannot be used to override an express contractual term."). Therefore, the Court will grant the Motion with respect to Count VI.
Plaintiff demands lost profits relating to Tom Oates Automotive Center caused by allegedly inaccurate credit reports. Plaintiff alleges he is owner and sole proprietor of Tom Oates Automotive Center. Compl. ¶ 23. Defendant attached a certificate of incorporation for an entity
Plaintiff admits that he is not the sole proprietor of "Tom Oates Automotive," but is, in fact, the president and sole shareholder of Tom Oates Chevrolet, Inc. Pl.'s Resp. 27 Accordingly, Plaintiff requests leave to amend the Complaint to drop the demand for lost profits and, instead, add a demand for lost wages and bonuses. Id. Therefore, the Court will grant Defendant's Motion with respect to Plaintiff's demand for lost profits with leave to amend the Complaint with respect to this demand within seven days of entry of this Memorandum and accompanying Order.
For the foregoing reasons, the Court will grant in part and deny in part the Motion to Dismiss. The Court will grant the Motion with respect to Counts II (FDCPA), IV (negligence), and VI (warranty of good faith), and to the extent Plaintiff's common law claims are based on alleged violations of the FDPA. The Court will dismiss those counts. Furthermore, the Court will grant the Motion with respect to Plaintiff's demand for lost profits and will dismiss Plaintiff's demand with leave to amend the Complaint within seven days of entry of this Memorandum and accompanying Order. The Court will deny the Motion with respect to Counts I (FCRA), III (libel), and V (breach of contract). An appropriate order will follow.
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