PATRICIA A. SEITZ, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Defendants
On March 28, 2007, Plaintiff executed a $332,500 promissory note and mortgage in favor of First Franklin. The mortgage encumbers property located at 300 NE 36 Street, Oakland Park, Florida (the Property). The note required Plaintiff to make monthly payments of $2,455.89, which were due on the first of every month. Plaintiff failed to make her mortgage payment due on June 1, 2008 and has not made any payments since then. (PI. Dep.
Prior to the closing Plaintiff did a walk-through of the Property and noted numerous unfinished items at the Property. (PI. Dep. 73:15-74:5.). At the time Plaintiff
At the March 28, 2007 closing, Plaintiff did not read the documents she signed. (Id. at 109:6-25.) For the first time, at the closing, Plaintiff learned that the terms of her loan were different than she expected and that her monthly payment would be more than $2500 per month. (Id. at 112:13-113:10.) This was more than the $1600 per month Plaintiff expected to pay. (Id. at 112:13-16.) Plaintiff did not talk to anyone at the closing about this change other than D'Elia. (Id. at 113:21-24.) In response, D'Elia told Plaintiff that if she did not close that day, the market would change and she would not be able to get another mortgage for another 10 or 15 years. (Id. at 116:16-20.) According to Plaintiff, D'Elia and the mortgage broker made it seem like the increased monthly payments were Plaintiffs only option. (Id. at 119:8-25.) Despite the changed monthly payments, Plaintiff went through with the closing. (Compl., ¶ 18.) As part of the closing a TILA disclosure statement was executed. (DE-52 at 32.) Plaintiff, however, asserts that the signature on the disclosure statement is a forgery of her signature.
Plaintiff's complaint alleges that she entered into the note and mortgage in reliance on factual misrepresentations made by Defendants. However, according to the complaint, the misrepresentations relied upon by Plaintiff were made by D'Elia, the developers of the property, and her mortgage broker.
Summary judgment is appropriate when "the pleadings ... show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 247, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); HCA Health Servs. of Ga., Inc. v. Employers Health Ins. Co., 240 F.3d 982, 991 (11th Cir.2001). Once the moving party demonstrates the absence of a genuine
In opposing a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party may not rely solely on the pleadings, but must show by affidavits, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions that specific facts exist demonstrating a genuine issue for trial. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c), (e); see also Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). A mere "scintilla" of evidence supporting the opposing party's position will not suffice; instead, there must be a sufficient showing that the jury could reasonably find for that party. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505; see also Walker v. Darby, 911 F.2d 1573, 1577 (11th Cir.1990).
Plaintiffs complaint alleges a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation, Count 2, and based on that alleged fraud Plaintiff also alleges claims for declaratory relief, Count 1, to quiet title, Count 3, and to cancel the mortgage, Count 4. However, Defendants did not make any representations to Plaintiff prior to the closing. Thus, Plaintiffs fraud claim and all of the derivative claims must fail.
In order to state a claim for fraudulent misrepresentation, a plaintiff must show: "(1) a false statement concerning a material fact; (2) the representor's knowledge that the representation is false; (3) an intention that the representation induce another to act on it; and (4) consequent injury by the party acting in reliance on the representation." Butler v. Yusem, 44 So.3d 102, 105 (Fla.2010) (quoting Johnson v. Davis, 480 So.2d 625, 627 (Fla.1985)). Plaintiff has not shown that any of the Defendants made a false statement concerning a material fact. While Plaintiff has shown that some persons other than Defendants may have made false statements, she has not established that any of the Defendants did so. Thus, Plaintiff cannot establish the first element of her fraudulent misrepresentation claim. Furthermore, Plaintiffs claims for declaratory relief as to the validity of the mortgage, to quiet title, and to cancel the mortgage all are based on the alleged fraud and, thus, Plaintiff cannot establish her right to the relief sought in these additional claims.
In response, Plaintiff argues that fraud claims are generally not appropriately decided on summary judgment. However, where, as here, there are no issues of material fact because Plaintiff has not presented any evidence of false statements
Plaintiff's FDUTPA claim alleges that Defendants violated the statute by charging excessive fees at closing. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that the excessive fees were a $3,325 Loan Origination Fee to Bran Castle Mortgage,
In order to state a claim under FDUTPA a consumer must establish: (1) a deceptive act or unfair practice; (2) causation; and (3) actual damages. Rollins, Inc. v. Butland, 951 So.2d 860, 869 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006). Under FDUTPA, a deceptive practice is one that is likely to mislead consumers and an unfair practice is one that offends established public policy and one that is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous or substantially injurious to consumers. Id. Plaintiff has not shown any evidence that First Franklin committed a deceptive act by charging the $899 Lender Admin Fee. The Fee was disclosed on the settlement statement that Plaintiff saw at the closing and Plaintiff has not alleged or otherwise shown that she was misled by the fee. Further, Plaintiff has presented no evidence that charging the fee, after its disclosure, is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous, or substantially injurious to consumers, much less excessive. While Plaintiff argues that the fee was deceptive because of the timing of its disclosure and the pressure applied to close on the home, Plaintiff has not established how the timing made the fee deceptive or shown any evidence of pressure actually applied by the Defendants prior to closing. Thus, Plaintiff has failed to meet her burden of setting out facts that establish that charging the Lender Admin Fee was deceptive or unfair. Consequently, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs FDUTPA claim.
Defendants move for summary judgment on Plaintiffs TILA claim because it is barred by the applicable statute of limitations. Claims for damages under TILA must be brought "within one year from the date of the occurrence of the violation." 15 U.S.C. § 1640(e). The violation occurs when the transaction is consummated. In re Smith, 737 F.2d 1549, 1552 (11th Cir.1984). Plaintiff's closing took place on March 28, 2007. Plaintiff filed her complaint on December 21, 2009,
Plaintiff argues that her claim is subject to equitable tolling because of Defendants' fraudulent concealment. However, in order to assert equitable tolling, the burden is on Plaintiff to show affirmative actions by the Defendants constituting concealment and that she exercised reasonable diligence to discover her cause of action within the limitations period. See Hill v. Texaco, Inc., 825 F.2d 333, 335 (11th Cir.1987). Plaintiff has done neither. Simply making unsupported conclusions that she is entitled to equitable tolling due to Defendants' fraudulent concealment is insufficient to meet her burden. Furthermore, Plaintiff has not made any allegations or established any facts that show that she acted diligently to discover her cause of action. In order to defeat a motion for summary judgment, a Plaintiff must demonstrate the existence of specific facts demonstrating a genuine issue for trial. Plaintiff has not demonstrated the existence of any facts supporting a defense of equitable tolling. Consequently, Plaintiff is not entitled to equitable tolling and her TILA claim is time barred.
Defendants also assert that Plaintiffs RESPA claim is barred by the applicable statute of limitations. Plaintiff brings her RESPA claim under § 2607. See Compl. at ¶ 52. Any action brought under § 2607 of RESPA must be brought within one year of the date of the occurrence of the violation. 12 U.S.C. § 2614. Plaintiff's closing took place on March 28, 2007 and Plaintiff filed suit on December 21, 2009. Plaintiff again argues that the statute of limitations should be equitably tolled. However, as set out above, Plaintiff has failed to meet her burden of establishing the facts necessary for equitable tolling. Thus, Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on Plaintiffs RESPA claim.
Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED that:
1. Defendants LaSalle Bank National Association, Mortgage Electronic Registration System, Inc., and First Franklin Financial Corp.'s Motion for Summary Final Judgment [DE-47] is GRANTED. The Court will enter a separate judgment.
2. All pending motions not otherwise ruled upon are DENIED as moot.
3. This case is CLOSED.