ALLISON CLAIRE, Magistrate Judge.
On February 10, 2016, the court held a hearing on defendants Clear Recon Corp. ("Clear Recon") and Bank of America, N.A.'s ("Bank of America") motions to dismiss. Plaintiff failed to appear. Timothy Pomeroy appeared telephonically on behalf of Clear Recon, and Jason M. Richardson appeared on behalf of Bank of America. On review of the motions, the documents filed in support and opposition, and good cause appearing therefor, THE COURT FINDS AS FOLLOWS:
Plaintiff filed his original complaint in Fresno on April 30, 2015. ECF No. 1. Then, on May 5, 2015, the court transferred the matter to this courthouse. ECF No. 2. On August 24, 2015, plaintiff filed a first amended complaint against defendants. ECF No. 6. On October 16, 2015, Clear Recon filed a declaration of non-monetary status.
On November 9, 2015, plaintiff filed a response essentially stating that he had failed to properly serve defendants because of confusion with his process server. ECF No. 9. On November 17, 2015, Clear Recon filed a motion for reconsideration of its declaration of non-monetary status or, in the alternative, an extension of time to file a response. ECF No. 10. On December 1, 2015, the court (1) discharged its order to show cause; (2) granted plaintiff a twenty-one day extension of time to file proofs of service upon defendants; (3) granted Clear Recon's motion for reconsideration and re-affirmed its order striking the declaration; and (4) granted Clear Recon an extension of time to December 16, 2015, to file a responsive motion or pleading. ECF No. 11. The next day, the court issued a minute order continuing the scheduling conference to March 23, 2016. ECF No. 12.
On December 16, 2015, Clear Recon filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff's first amended complaint along with a request for judicial notice. ECF Nos. 13-15. Clear Recon re-noticed its motions on December 17, 2015, and again on December 18, 2015, ultimately scheduling it for hearing on February 10, 2016. ECF Nos. 17, 18. On December 29, 2015, Bank of America filed a motion to dismiss also noticed for hearing on February 10, 2016, along with a request for judicial notice.
The following facts primarily reflect plaintiff's factual allegations. However, where judicially noticeable documents contradict or add to plaintiff's allegations those are cited instead.
Plaintiff alleges that on June 19, 2007, he executed a Deed of Trust in the amount of $384,000.00.
Plaintiff also alleges that on May 4, 2015, he contacted Bank of America and requested a loan modification.
"A motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b) (6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted tests the legal sufficiency of a claim."
In order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim, a complaint must contain more than a "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;" it must contain factual allegations sufficient to "raise a right to relief above the speculative level."
In reviewing a complaint under this standard, the court "must accept as true all of the factual allegations contained in the complaint,"
Congress passed the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), 82 Stat. 146, as amended, to help consumers "avoid the uninformed use of credit, and to protect the consumer against inaccurate and unfair credit billing." 15 U.S.C. § 1601(a). To this end, TILA requires creditors to make certain disclosures in writing at the consummation of a loan or shortly thereafter. 15 U.S.C. § 1631 et seq. As an added protection, TILA grants borrowers the right to rescind a loan "until midnight of the third business day following the consummation of the transaction or the delivery of the [disclosures required by the Act], whichever is later, by notifying the creditor, in accordance with regulations of the [Federal Reserve] Board, of his intention to do so." § 1635(a). Creditors are required to notify borrowers of this right to recission and supply them with the forms necessary to exercise that right.
For the reasons explained below, both defendants' motions to dismiss should be granted and plaintiff should be granted leave to amend. The court should grant Clear Recon's motion to dismiss because it is unopposed, and Bank of America's motion to dismiss because the complaint does not allege facts sufficient to state a claim.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), a district court may dismiss an action for failure to prosecute, failure to comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, failure to comply with the court's local rules, or failure to comply with the court's orders.
The undersigned recommends below that plaintiff be granted leave to amend his complaint. This means that plaintiff may reassert his claims against Clear Recon in an amended complaint if he wishes to do so. If plaintiff wishes to dismiss his claims against Clear Recon, he may file a notice of voluntary dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule 41(a)(1)(A).
The court will also recommend that Bank of America's motion to dismiss be granted because plaintiff does not allege facts sufficient to state a claim. The complaint includes four claims: breach of contract, wrongful foreclosure, quiet title, and declaratory relief.
Plaintiff's claim for breach of contract, which seems to lie solely against Bank of America, fails because plaintiff does not explain what contract is at issue or how Bank of America is in breach. To state a claim for breach of contract, a claimant must allege facts to show: (1) the existence of a contract, (2) plaintiff's performance or excuse for nonperformance, (3) defendant's breach, and (4) resulting damage to the plaintiff.
If plaintiff means to assert a claim based on TILA's right of rescission (and that is not at all clear), he has failed to allege facts sufficient to do so. If a creditor fails to make even a single disclosure required by TILA, the borrower retains his right to rescind until three years after the date of consummation of the transaction or upon the sale of the property, whichever comes first.
Plaintiff alleges that his mortgage was consummated on June 19, 2007, and he requested rescission of that mortgage on August 2, 2009. ECF No. 6 at 6-7. Accordingly, plaintiff's request to rescind was timely only if Countrywide/Bank of America neglected to make a required disclosure. Plaintiff alleges that he never received "Disclosure Documents" from Countrywide, but never explains which documents were not provided.
It is also possible that plaintiff means to bring a claim for violation of HAMP. Plaintiff asserts that by offering him a loan modification that actually exceeded his original payment plain Bank of America violated HAMP, which was created to help lenders keep their homes. ECF No. 6 at 5-6, 15. HAMP, however, does not provide a private right of action.
The court will recommend that Bank of America's motion be granted as to plaintiff's wrongful foreclosure claim as well. Plaintiff's wrongful foreclosure claim seems to actually be a claim for violation of Regulation Z, 12 C.F.R. § 226 et seq., a regulation issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to implement TILA. Beyond that, however, it is unclear what plaintiff is alleging. Plaintiff repeatedly states that Bank of America is "not the holder in due course" and "has no legal relationship to the note" but these allegations are devoid of any facts. ECF No. 6 at 14-15. Plaintiff also specifically points to "12 § 226.39," which is likely a reference to 12 C.F.R. § 226.39.
Plaintiff also fails to allege facts sufficient to state a claim for quiet title. Plaintiff asserts broadly that defendants have no right to foreclose on the Property, without providing a legal or factual basis for the assertion. Initially, plaintiff states that defendants cannot foreclose on the Property because they do not possess the note and cannot prove any interest in it. ECF No. 6 at 16. However, plaintiff does not point to any authority for the proposition that defendants must prove they have an interest in the note before foreclosing. Numerous courts have, in fact, expressly rejected the argument that lenders must produce the original note to initiate foreclosure.
Plaintiff also seems to argue that he is entitled to quiet title because the mortgage and note are void as of the date he rescinded his loan. ECF No. 6 at 17. However, for the reasons discussed above, plaintiff has not alleged facts sufficient to establish his attempted rescission was effective.
Plaintiff's claim for declaratory relief fails because he is seeking relief for past wrongs. Declaratory relief exists so that individuals can request the court adjudicate a case or controversy between parties, as long as that controversy cannot be addressed by another coercive remedy.
The court will grant defendants' requests for judicial notice. Clear Recon requests that the court take judicial notice of: (1) Grant Deed; (2) Deed of Trust; (3) a second Deed of Trust; (4) Notice of Default; (5) Substitution of Trustee and Assignment of Deed of Trust; (6) a second Grant Deed; (7) a Deed of Full Reconveyance;
"A court shall take judicial notice if requested by a party and supplied with the necessary information." Fed. R. Evid. 201(d). "A judicially noticed fact must be one not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either (1) generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." Fed. R. Evid. 201(b). Every document defendants request be judicially noticed is capable of accurate and ready determination because it has been filed in the Solano County Recorder's Office.
In accordance with the foregoing, THE COURT HEREBY ORDERS that its March 23, 2016, initial scheduling conference is VACATED, to be calendared for a future date if necessary.
THE COURT FURTHER RECOMMENDS that:
1. Clear Recon's December 16, 2015, motion to dismiss, ECF No. 14, be GRANTED;
2. Bank of America's motion to dismiss, ECF No. 19, be GRANTED; and
3. Plaintiff be granted thirty days from the date of service of the presiding district judge's order to file an amended complaint that complies with the requirements of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice; the amended complaint must bear the docket number assigned this case and must be labeled "Second Amended Complaint;" plaintiff must file an original and two copies of the amended complaint; failure to file an amended complaint in accordance with this order will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.
These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court. The document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within fourteen (14) days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order.