LAUREL BEELER, United States Magistrate Judge.
Plaintiffs John R. Graybill and Patricia Goff-Graybill (the "Graybills") filed this lawsuit against Wells Fargo Bank raising eight claims stemming from Wells Fargo's actions regarding their mortgage loan, their 2006 refinancing of it, their 2009 attempts to modify the loan under the Home Affordable Modification Program ("HAMP"), and the foreclosure of their house: (1) breach of contract; (2) promissory estoppel; (3) fraud; (4) violation of California's unfair competition law, Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code § 17200; (5) negligence; (6) declaratory relief; (7) fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in the sale of the loan; and (8) fraud in the alteration of Plaintiffs'
From November 1987 to July 23, 2012, the Graybills, who are married, lived at their home at 608 Eastwood Way, Mill Valley, California. Third Amended Complaint ("TAC"), ECF No. 33, ¶ 5. This case involves their loan refinancing in 2006 with World Bank and their attempts to secure a HAMP loan modification in 2011 with World Bank's successor, Wachovia/Wells Fargo. See id. Through "all times pertinent" to the TAC, Wells Fargo has claimed that it had the right to service and collect on the loan. Id. ¶ 25.
This section first reviews the history of World Bank/Wachovia/Wells Fargo and then summarizes the complaint's allegations about the refinancings and the attempted loan modification under HAMP.
World Bank changed its name to Wachovia Mortgage on December 21, 2007. Id. ¶ 16. Wells Fargo agreed to buy Wachovia in October 2008 and then completed the purchase in January 2009. Id. ¶ 17. On November 1, 2009, Wachovia converted to a national bank called Wells Fargo Bank Southwest, NA, which then merged with and into Wells Fargo Bank, NA. Id. With the merger, ultimately the servicing of Plaintiffs' loans was taken over by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, a division of Wells Fargo Bank. Id. ¶ 18. Plaintiffs' dealings with Wells Fargo during the years 2010 and 2011 were often with Wachovia and representatives of Wells Fargo Bank that were identified as representatives of Wachovia, and Wachovia's name appears on some of the documents discussed in the complaint and attached to it. Id. ¶ 21. Wells Fargo has also done business as America's Service Company ("ASC"). Id. ¶ 23.
In 2005, the Graybills refinanced their home mortgage by taking out a loan from World Savings Bank, FSB ("World Savings"). Id. ¶ 12. They also had a second mortgage from World Savings. See id. ¶ 13. In August 2006, the Graybills owed $516,000 on their first mortgage and $74,200 on the second for a total of $590,200. Id. ¶¶ 12-13.
Around June or July 2006, World Savings solicited the Graybills to refinance their mortgage, and they began working with loan officer Patricia Rufenacht. Id. ¶ 223. One or both plaintiffs met with her in July and August 2006 for a total of about six time to complete an application, and she talked with them by phone a few times in August to persuade them to take out a loan to replace their existing loan. Id. ¶ 224. During conversations in August 2008 in her office, Rufenacht falsely told Plaintiffs that it would be in their best interests to consolidate their two mortgages into one mortgage with a principal of $635,000. Id. ¶ 226. She "falsely informed and assured" them that the best interest plan for their new mortgage was be the "PICK-A-PAYMENT" plan. Id. ¶ 227. She said that the lower interest rate (which was actually variable) and the payment amount flexibility were valuable advantages not available under their existing loan. Id. She also said that — unlike their previous loans — the interest rate on the new loan was tied to an index with historically low rates that continued to decrease. Id. She said that industry experts predicted that interest rates would continue to fall, and Plaintiffs' monthly payments would be even lower than the initial payments. Id. Even in the worst case scenario of an interest-rate increase, she said that the increase would have a negligible effect on their monthly payments. Id. ¶ 228. The PICK-A-PAYMENT interest plan allowed interest to be deferred and added to the principal amount of the loan. Id. ¶ 229.
On or about August 29, 2006, the Graybills submitted a partially completed application for a new loan in the principal amount of $635,000 with a variable interest rate that initially was 7.605 percent per annum. Id. ¶¶ 225, 249.
On December 15, 2006, the refinancing was completed, and the consolidated mortgage value was $609,120 (the "2006 Loan"). Id. ¶¶ 14-15. Approximately $9,000 of the principal balance was for fees and costs associated with the application and processing of the new loan. Id. ¶ 241. The Graybills allege the following:
The Graybills learned that Rufenacht's representations and omissions about the PICK-A-PAYMENT loan — boiling down to, it was a good financial move for them — were false only in April 2009, when they could no longer make full payments on the loan. Id. ¶ 244. They learned of the altered application only in July 2012, "when they found an altered application form that had been sent back to them by World Savings after the close of their 2006 loan refinance." Id. ¶¶ 256, 260-61.
After April 2009 through 2011, the Graybills were unable to make the full payments due on their mortgage that Wells Fargo was servicing. Id. ¶¶ 27, 29. In July 2009, Mrs. Goff-Graybill contacted a Wells Fargo representative to "discuss the fact that she was then unable to make a full payment on the 2006 loan and that she was able to make only a partial payment." Id. ¶ 30. The Wells Fargo representative "informed her that it would be best for the Plaintiffs to not make any payments if they could not make full payments" and that "Wells Fargo would not consider modifying their mortgage unless they, the Plaintiffs, were in default on their mortgage payments." Id. ¶ 31. After that advice, the Graybills stopped making their mortgage payments and began to communicate with Wells Fargo about a modification of the terms of the 2006 loan. Id. ¶ 32.
In August 2009, the Graybills began working to modify the 2006 loan with Mark Stuart, a Wells Fargo representative in Novato, California. Id. ¶ 33-34. On Stuart's suggestion, in September 2009, the Graybills applied for a loan modification under Wells Fargo's Mortgage Assistance Program 2 ("MAP2R"). Id. ¶¶ 35-36.
"After making reduced payments pursuant to the MAP2R loan modification," Mrs. Goff-Graybill "was injured in a motor vehicle accident and was not physically and mentally able to continue working and earning income." Id. ¶ 38. Due to Mrs. Goff-Graybill's disability, the Graybills were unable to make their payments under the MAP2R program. Id. ¶ 39. After their default, Plaintiffs were gradually able to earn more money, and their household income increased to the point that they were again eligible for a loan modification. Id. ¶ 43.
At the beginning of 2011, Plaintiffs applied for a loan modification under HAMP. Id. ¶ 44. When they applied for the modification, "Wells Fargo had previously notified Plaintiffs of their default on their mortgage payments as they had not been making full payments on their mortgage loan." Id. ¶ 45. Indeed, on April 1, 2011, a notice of default was recorded based on Plaintiffs' previous default on their payments as of July 2010. Request for Judicial Notice Ex. G, ECF No. 24. On or about June 29, 2011, a notice of trustee's sale on the Graybills' home was recorded and the sale was scheduled for July 26, 2011. Id. ¶ 46.
On or about July 12, 2011, the Graybills were contacted by Wade Stoltz, "who introduced himself as a home preservation specialist of Wachovia Home Mortgage and as their sole contact to lead the Plaintiffs through the HAMP loan modification process." Id. ¶ 47. Stoltz told the Graybills that he personally would help them "every step of the way" and told Mr. Graybill what documents and information were necessary to apply for a HAMP modification. Id. On or about July 14 and 15, 2011, the Graybills faxed Stoltz the completed HAMP loan application, all necessary accompanying documents, and additional documents that Stoltz requested on July 15, 2011. Id. ¶¶ 49-50. Mr. Stoltz sent them a letter on July 16, 2011 again saying that he was their primary contact and would personally assist them with the loan modification process. Id. ¶ 51. Once the Graybills submitted their application for a HAMP modification, the pending foreclosure sale was suspended. Id. ¶ 53.
Plaintiffs allege that Stoltz and Wells Fargo "knew or should have known" that his statements orally and in writing were not true. Id. ¶ 147.
On or about July 16, 2011, the Graybills received two letters from Sharon Zuniga, identified as a Senior Vice President at Wachovia. Id. ¶ 52. One letter reiterated what Wade Stoltz had conveyed to them, and another dated July 13, 2011 (the "July 13 letter") stated in part:
Id. ¶ 52; see id. Ex. 3.
Within a few weeks, the Graybills learned that Wachovia had denied their application. First, on August 10, 2011, a Wachovia representative called them from
Id. ¶ 55; see id. Ex. 4.
The Graybills obtained and provided an appraisal of their home to show that Wachovia's calculations had underestimated the net present value ("NPV") of their home, and Wachovia received it on September 1, 2011. Id. ¶ 56. Wachovia sent a letter confirming receipt of the information and saying that it would reconsider their eligibility for a HAMP loan modification. Id. ¶ 57. On September 6, 2011, Mr. Graybill contacted a Wachovia representative called Vickie Weldon, who told him that she had received the information, she expected to have a decision by September 30, 2011, "if that decision was not favorable, the Plaintiffs would then have thirty days to again dispute the NPV determination and submit other documentation to contest the non-approval," and the house would not be scheduled for a foreclosure sale while the information was being considered (or during the 30-day dispute process if the NPV was again determined to be negative). Id. ¶ 58. She also told him that the Graybills could not apply for another loan modification program while their appeal was pending. Id. ¶¶ 58-59. (Plaintiffs assert that Vickie Weldon and Wells Fargo "knew or should have known" that Weldon's statements were not true. Id. ¶ 149.)
On October 7 or 8, 2011, the Graybills received notice from Wells Fargo (dated September 27, 2011) that their appeal had been denied and they were ineligible for the HAMP loan modification. Id. ¶ 60; see id. Ex. 5 (letter attached to TAC). Nothing on the notice said that a foreclosure sale had been scheduled. Id. ¶ 60 & Ex. 5. The notice said that the reason for the non-approval was a negative NPV determination. Id. 1 61. The Graybills studied the criteria disclosed in the notice about the denial and "noticed significant errors that effected [sic] their eligibility for a HAMP loan modification." Id. ¶ 62. They then began to gather evidence to show that the determination of their ineligibility had been made in error, that their application should be reconsidered, and they prepared to discuss these inaccuracies with Wells Fargo (Wachovia). Id. ¶ 63. The Graybills relied on the statements previously made to them in writing and verbally by Wells Fargo representatives that the Graybills had 30 days from the Notice of Non-Approval to show that the decision had been made in error and that if they submitted supplemental information, Wells Fargo would reconsider their application for a HAMP modification. Id. ¶ 64.
Had the NPV been calculated properly, they allege, they would have been eligible for a HAMP loan modification. Id. 1 65. They tried to contact Wells Fargo Bank to discuss the reasons for non-approval and
On October 19, 2011, they received an advertising mailer showing that their home was scheduled for foreclosure on October 26, 2011, which was their first notice of the foreclosure. Id. ¶ 67. They tried calling Wells Fargo, but the telephone numbers that the Wells Fargo representatives provided them previously "were no longer connecting them to those representatives or to anyone who had any knowledge of there [sic] HAMP application. Id. ¶ 68. They called on October 20 and October 21, using the numbers that Wells Fargo "had reassigned to them" and tried calling other telephone numbers and left messages. Id. ¶ 70. On October 21, 2011, they spoke to someone in the loan department who was unable to give them any information about their loan or foreclosure but did give them the telephone number of the legal department. Id. ¶ 72. That day, they spoke to someone in the legal department who told them that she could not find any information about the loan on Wells Fargo's system. Id. ¶ 73. Plaintiffs have records of their calls to document this. Id. ¶ 74.
On October 26, 2011, Wells Fargo sold and purchased the Graybills' home at a foreclosure auction for "$522,500, an amount $112,500 less than the $635,000 amount used by Wells Fargo to determine the NPV which Plaintiffs attempted to dispute." Id. ¶ 76; see Request for Judicial Notice, Ex. H. This foreclosure sale happened before the Graybills were able to contact a Wells Fargo representative to discuss the September 27, 2011 notice of non-approval and the errors in the NPV calculation. TAC ¶ 77. Also, "Plaintiffs' home was not sold to a third party without notice of the defects in the foreclosure proceeding." Id. ¶ 79.
Wells Fargo brought eviction proceedings against the Plaintiffs and obtained a judgment for possession of the Property. Id. ¶ 81. The Graybills were evicted on July 24, 2012. Id. ¶ 82; see Request for Judicial Notice Ex. J.
The Graybills consulted with Denise Thomas in order to help them avoid eviction by analyzing the factors that were used to make the NPV determination. Id. ¶ 84. On May 22, 2012 Wells Fargo sent Ms. Thomas a letter signed by Jacob Johnson, "Executive Mortgage Specialist, Office of Executive Complaints." Id. ¶ 83. Mr. Johnson's letter is Exhibit 6 to the TAC, and it provides the following chronology of the Graybills' pre-foreclosure NPV dispute:
TAC Ex. 6, ECF No. 33-6.
The Graybills deny that Wells Fargo sent them any notice by courier. Id. ¶ 85. They also point out that thirty days did not elapse between September 27, 2011 (when Wells Fargo claims to have sent them the notice) and October 26, 2011, the foreclosure date. Id. ¶ 87.
The Servicer Participation Agreement ("SPA") that Wells Fargo entered into with Fannie Mae provides that the Servicer, Wells Fargo Bank:
TAC, ECF No. 33, ¶ 42; id. Ex. 1 at 2, ¶ 2A. The SPA required Wells Fargo to take reasonable efforts to remove impediments to its authority and secure all third party consents and waivers that are required in order to effectuate any modification. Id. ¶ 42. The SPA also provides that the Servicer shall follow the regulation in the related HAMP Servicer Handbook ("SPA Handbook"). Id. ¶ 91; see TAC Ex. 2 (excerpts from the relevant SPA Handbook dated September 1, 2011). The foreword to the SPA Handbook states: "This Handbook constituted Program Documentation under the Servicer Participation Agreement and is incorporated by reference into the Servicer Participation Agreement." TAC, ECF No. 33, ¶ 92; see TAC Ex. 2 at 11.
The SPA Handbook sets forth the procedures that servicers must follow in the HAMP program, see id. ¶ 98 & Ex. 2, including the following:
The Graybills also assert that Wells Fargo was required under the handbook to assign them a relationship manager after they applied for the HAMP modification, and the relationship manager should have been available to them when their loan was referred for foreclosure so that Plaintiffs could communicate with Wells Fargo to resolve issues about the foreclosure such as the NPV determination and Plaintiffs' dispute of the NPV factors. Id. ¶ 109. Plaintiffs assert that their mortgage was eligible for a HAMP modification. See id. ¶ 110.
The Graybills filed suit against Wells Fargo in state court on July 20, 2012 and amended their complaint there on November 2, 2013. See Notice of Removal Exs. A, ECF No. 1 at 17, & B, ECF No. 1 at 98. Wells Fargo removed the case to federal court on November 9, 2012. See Notice of
The Graybills assert eight claims: (1) breach of contract; (2) promissory estoppel; (3) fraud; (4) violation of California's unfair competition law, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200; (5) negligence; (6) declaratory relief; (7) fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in the sale of the loan; and (8) fraud in the alteration of Plaintiffs' loan application. Wells Fargo moves to dismiss all claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) and — for the fraud claims — failure to allege fraud with particularity. The court sets forth the legal standards and then addresses the claims.
A complaint must contain a "short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed. R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2). A complaint must therefore provide a defendant with "fair notice" of the claims against it and the grounds for relief. See Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (quotation and citation omitted).
A complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face. See id. "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." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). "The plausibility standard is not akin to a `probability requirement,' but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Id. (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955). "While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff's obligation to provide the `grounds' of his `entitle[ment] to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955 (internal citations and parentheticals omitted).
In considering a motion to dismiss, a court must accept all of the plaintiff's allegations as true and construe them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See id. at 550, 127 S.Ct. 1955; Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 93-94, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 167 L.Ed.2d 1081 (2007); Vasquez v. Los Angeles County, 487 F.3d 1246, 1249 (9th Cir.2007).
A plaintiff must state claims grounded in fraud with particularity. Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b). "Averments of fraud must be accompanied by the `who, what, when, where, and how' of the misconduct charged." Vess v. Ciba-Geigy Corp. USA, 317 F.3d 1097, 1106 (9th Cir.2003). Rule 9(b) applies to cases brought in federal court irrespective of whether the substantive law is state or federal. Id. at 1102. Therefore, in an action based on state law, while a district court will rely on the applicable state law to ascertain the elements of
The Graybills first allege that Wells Fargo breached a contract with the Graybills that was formed by its course of dealing with them. Wells Fargo counters that there was no agreement, no consideration, that it was barred by the statute of frauds, and that its terms are too uncertain and that any damages are speculative or nonexistent.
Under California law, "`a contract requires parties capable of consent, the consent of those parties, a lawful object, and sufficient consideration.'" Banaga v. Taylor Bean Mortgage, No. C 1140007 JSC, 2011 WL 5056985, at *3 (N.D.Cal. Oct. 24, 2011) (quoting ASP Properties Group v. Fard, Inc., 133 Cal.App.4th 1257, 1268-69, 35 Cal.Rptr.3d 343 (2005)).
To state a claim for breach of contract, a plaintiff must show the following: (1) a contract existed; (2) the plaintiff performed his duties or was excused from performing his duties under the contract; (3) the defendant breached the contract; and (4) the plaintiff suffered damages as a result of that breach. See First Commercial Mortgage Co. v. Reece, 89 Cal.App.4th 731, 745, 108 Cal.Rptr.2d 23 (2001). "Facts alleging a breach, like all essential elements of a breach of contract cause of action, must be pleaded with specificity." See Levy v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 150 Cal.App.4th 1, 5, 58 Cal.Rptr.3d 54 (2007).
The Graybills' contract claim is that the telephone calls and letters with Wade Stoltz and Sharon Zuniga constituted a firm offer that if they applied for a HAMP loan and submitted certain documents to Wells Fargo, then Wells Fargo would consider their application as follows. First, Wells Fargo would review their documents and application and fairly determine their eligibility for a HAMP modification. Second, if they were eligible, they would be offered a HAMP loan modification. Third, if Wells Fargo found that they were ineligible, then they would be allowed 30 calendar days "from the date of the notice of non-approval to dispute the determination and submit a written request to have their NPV recalculated" and discuss other alternatives. Id. ¶ 127. Fourth, during the 30-day period, no foreclosure would be conducted and the Graybills would not lose their home. Fifth, during the 30-day period, the Graybills could dispute the ineligibility determination and Wells Fargo would review any supplemental materials
As to breach, the Graybills allege that Wells Fargo breached the contract by the following: (1) not carefully reviewing and considering their information in their HAMP application; (2) not giving them 30 days from the September 27 Notice to discuss their options with a Wells Fargo representative before the foreclosure; (3) not giving them 30 days from the September 27 Notice to dispute the NPV evaluation; (4) foreclosing on the Property less than 30 days after the September 27 Notice; and (5) foreclosing on the Property without considering any supplemental information that the Graybills could have submitted to dispute the NPV determination. See id. ¶ 128.
As damages, the Graybills allege that they lost their home and the opportunity to avoid foreclosure, and they suffered emotional distress, the costs of moving, and the costs and fees of this lawsuit. Id. ¶ 129.
Wells Fargo responds that there was no agreement and no consideration, it fully performed the contract, it was an invalid oral agreement, it was too uncertain, and there are no damages. See Motion, ECF No. 34 at 13-15. In dismissing the Second Amended Complaint ("SAC"), the court agreed with many of these points. The breach of contract claim in Third Amended Complaint contains no new allegations that change the result.
First, in dismissing the Graybills Second Amended Complaint, the court found that:
Order, ECF No. 30 at 19. The Graybills' theory seems to have slightly shifted, and now they allege that the August 3, 2011 Notice contained the allegedly operative contract terms. TAC, ¶ 127; Opp'n, ECF No. 38 at 9. But the Graybills provide no basis for finding that the August 3, 2011 Notice is any more of a contract than the July 13 letter. While Wells Fargo may have promised not to foreclose for 30 days (plus the time to review supplemental material submitted), that does not render the promise legally enforceable. See Banaga v. Taylor Bean Mortg. Co., No. 11-4007(JSC), 2011 WL 5056985, at *3-*4 (N.D.Cal. Oct. 24, 2011).
The breach of contract claim independently fails for lack of consideration. The court's conclusion that the SAC failed to allege consideration to support a contract bars this claim, and the court adopts it again here. See Order, ECF No. 30 at 19-20. In opposition, the Graybills argue that the August 3, 3011 Notice was a separate contract supported by "new significant consideration in the form of an appraisal...." Opp'n at 10. That argument is unpersuasive for the reasons stated in Banaga:
2011 WL 5056985 at *4.
Finally, any purported contract was never breached. Even if the August 3, 2011 Notice were a binding contract, Wells Fargo performed it. It is undisputed that Wells Fargo did not foreclose for 30 days, it ran a new NPV evaluation based on the Graybills' submissions, and it issued a new notice. Instead, the Graybills' theory is that the August 3, 2011 Notice gave them the right to repeatedly dispute Wells Fargo's determination and that foreclosure would be postponed for the duration of their appeals. They allege that a Wells Fargo representative named Vickie Weldon told them that on September 6, 2011 and that her statements are extrinsic evidence used to explain the meaning of a written instrument. See Opp'n at 9; TAC ¶¶ 58 & 125. That argument fails because it contradicts the unambiguous language of the instrument. The August 3, 2011 Notice states that if the Graybills provide Wells Fargo with an appraisal of their property value with supporting documentation, Wells Fargo will "preform a preliminary NPV evaluation using the property value you provide to us. If the preliminary NPV test is positive, we'll order a new appraisal for your property." Compl. Ex. 4, ECF No. 33-4 at 2. It tells them how to submit the requisite information and that if they do "[w]e'll write to you with our final decision on your loan modification based on the new NPV evaluation." Id. at 3 (emphasis added). The August 3, 2011 Notice unambiguously provided the Graybills with one opportunity to submit information before a final decision and the Graybills' extrinsic evidence would give it a meaning to which it is not reasonably susceptible. Accordingly, the court dismisses claim one.
As in the SAC, the Graybills' promissory estoppel claim rests on their same allegations supporting their contract claim and fails for the reasons discussed in the court's previous order. See TAC, ¶¶ 131-41; Order, ECF No. 30 at 20-21.
Under California law, "[a] promise which the promisor should reasonably expect to induce action or forbearance on the part of the promisee or a third person and which does induce such action or forbearance is binding if injustice can be avoided only by enforcement of the promise." See Kajima/Ray Wilson v. Los Angeles Cnty. Metro. Transp. Auth., 23 Cal.4th 305, 310, 96 Cal.Rptr.2d 747, 1 P.3d 63 (2000). Promissory estoppel is an equitable doctrine whose remedy may be limited "as justice so requires." See id. The elements of promissory estoppel are: "(1) a clear promise; (2) reasonable and foreseeable reliance by the party to whom the promise is made; (3) injury (meaning, substantial detriment); and (4) damages `measured by the extent of the obligation assumed and not performed.'" See Errico v. Pacific Capital Bank, N.A., 753 F.Supp.2d 1034, 1048 (N.D.Cal.2010) (citing and quoting Poway Royal Mobilehome Owners Ass'n. v. City of Poway, 149 Cal.App.4th 1460, 1470, 58 Cal.Rptr.3d 153 (2007)).
The Graybills claim that they reasonably relied on the alleged promise not to foreclose within 30 days of the September 27, 2011 notice that they were not approved for a HAMP modification. Id.; see Opp'n at 13. Even if a Wells Fargo representative told the Graybills that they could repeatedly dispute the bank's NPV determination and postpone foreclosure, their
The promissory estoppel claim is also insufficiently pleaded. As the court previously explained in dismissing the SAC:
Order, ECF No. 30 at 21. In their opposition, the Graybills acknowledge the court's reliance on Nong, state that they disagree with it, but provide no reasoned basis for distinguishing it. Accordingly, the court dismisses the Graybills' promissory estoppel claim.
"The elements of a cause of action for fraud in California are: `(a) misrepresentation (false representation, concealment, or nondisclosure); (b) knowledge of falsity (or `scienter'); (c) intent to defraud, i.e., to induce reliance; (d) justifiable reliance; and (e) resulting damage.'" Kearns v. Ford Motor Co., 567 F.3d 1120, 1126 (9th Cir.2009) (quoting Engalla v. Permanente Med. Group, Inc., 15 Cal.4th 951, 974, 64 Cal.Rptr.2d 843, 938 P.2d 903 (1997)). As described above, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b), a party must plead with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud.
In claim three, the Graybills allege common-law fraud based on the representations described above that were made by Wade Stoltz, Sharon Zuniga, Vickie Weldon, and similar statements by "Wells Fargo's representatives." See TAC ¶¶ 144-60. They also allege that Wells Fargo made fraudulent claims in the prior unlawful detainer action against the Graybills by stating that it provided them with 30 days notice that their HAMP application had been rejected 30 days before it sold the home (and that such notice was required). See ¤ ¶ 161-65.
The court previously addressed the allegations regarding Stoltz, Zuniga, and Weldon and dismissed them as "representations about HAMP procedures and ... not the heightened allegations that establish intent to defraud." Order, ECF No. 30 at 23. The court reaches the same conclusion here. Statements about "Wells Fargo's representatives" do not meet the Rule 9 pleading standard. Id. As for the allegations about Wells Fargo's representations in the unlawful detainer action, the Graybills' remedy for such statements was to appeal that judgment, not to collaterally attack it in federal court. In any event, the Graybills fail to explain the basis for their contention that Wells Fargo was barred from foreclosing until 30 days after the September 27, 2011 Notice, rather than just 30 days after the August 3, 2011
The UCL prohibits any "unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice." Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code § 17200. "Since section 17200 is [written] in the disjunctive, it establishes three separate types of unfair competition. The statute prohibits practices that are either `unfair' or `unlawful,' or `fraudulent.'" Pastoria v. Nationwide Ins., 112 Cal.App.4th 1490, 1496, 6 Cal.Rptr.3d 148 (2003); see also Cel-Tech Communications, Inc. v. Los Angeles Cellular Tel. Co., 20 Cal.4th 163, 180, 83 Cal.Rptr.2d 548, 973 P.2d 527 (1999). To support a claim for a violation of the UCL, a plaintiff cannot simply rely on general common law principles. Textron Fin. Corp. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, 118 Cal.App.4th 1061, 1072, 13 Cal.Rptr.3d 586 (2004).
The UCL also incorporates other laws and treats violations of those laws as unlawful business practices independently actionable under state law. Chabner v. United Omaha Life Ins. Co., 225 F.3d 1042, 1048 (9th Cir.2000). Violation of almost any federal, state, or local law may serve as the basis for a UCL claim. Saunders v. Superior Court, 27 Cal.App.4th 832, 838-39, 33 Cal.Rptr.2d 438 (1994). In addition, a business practice may be "unfair or fraudulent in violation of the UCL even if the practice does not violate any law." Olszewski v. Scripps Health, 30 Cal.4th 798, 827, 135 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 69 P.3d 927 (2003).
Any individual who has "has suffered injury in fact and has lost money or property as a result of the unfair competition" may initiate suit. Cal. Bus. & Prof.Code § 17204. To have standing, a plaintiff must sufficiently allege that (1) he has "lost `money or property' sufficient to constitute an `injury in fact' under Article III of the Constitution" and (2) there is a "causal connection" between the defendant's alleged UCL violation and the plaintiff's injury in fact. Rubio v. Capital One Bank, 613 F.3d 1195, 1203-04 (9th Cir. 2010) (citations omitted).
Here, the Graybills allege violations under all three prongs of the UCL. See TAC, ECF No. 33, ¶¶ 141-68. As to the unlawful prong, the Graybills' unlawful UCL claim is predicated on Wells Fargo's not adhering to the requirements of HAMP. TAC, ECF No. 33, ¶¶ 97-109, 170-82. The argument fails for multiple reasons.
First, the unlawful UCL claim fails on its merits because it is premised on their erroneous belief that the September 27, 2011 was a non-approval notice that they could dispute or discuss with the bank. As discussed above, it was not. The August 3, 2011 Notice was their non-approval notice and it contained the requisite bank contact information. See Compl. Ex. 4. The Graybills disputed their NPV determination and Wells Fargo re-ran the numbers and did not foreclose until more than 30 days after the August 3, 2011 Notice. The Graybills do not point to any law that gave them the right to serially dispute the NPV determination.
The unlawful claim also fails because the Graybills do not identify a law that was violated. Their claim is premised on Wells Fargo's allegedly not following the guidelines in the HAMP Handbook attached as Exhibit 2 to their complaint. See Opp'n at 22 ("The Handbook is the `law,' and Wells Fargo's violations of it are per se violations of California's laws against unfair competition."). But their contention is predicated
As to the unfair prong, the Graybills argue that it was unfair for Wells Fargo to not abide by the HAMP guidelines and unfair to inform them that they could serially dispute the ineligibility decision. See Opp'n at 24. Wells Fargo counters that the Graybills lack standing because they did not suffer a financial injury. Mot. at 24. The court agrees with Wells Fargo. Because the Graybills were not entitled to a loan modification, Wells Fargo's alleged failure to follow the guidelines did not injure them. Accord Nungaray v. Litton Loan Servicing, LP, 200 Cal.App.4th 1499, 1501 n. 1, 135 Cal.Rptr.3d 442 (2011), as modified (Dec. 1, 2011) (explaining that HAMP applicants are not entitled to modification because many of the values used in the NPV calculation are within the servicer's discretion). Accordingly, they lack standing. Nor do the Graybills plead facts to support an inference that they could have avoided foreclosure absent the purported misrepresentation about serially disputing ineligibility decision.
Finally, the Graybills contend that Wells Fargo was not competing fairly because it did not follow "the rules that applied to all loan servicers that entered into loan servicers' agreements with Fannie Mae to offer HAMP loan modifications" while other lenders did follow those rules. TAC ¶ 183. The Graybills lack standing to complain that Wells Fargo unfairly competed with other banks. Accordingly, the court grants Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss the Graybills' claim under the unfair prong.
As to the fraud prong, Wells Fargo argues that the claim fails because it does not allege facts showing that members of the public are likely to be deceived by the alleged fraudulent business practice. Mot. at 24. In opposition, the Graybills explain that their claim is based on the same theories as their common-law fraud claim but do not address this argument. See Opp'n at 25. The court previously dismissed the Graybills' fraudulent UCL claim on this basis and does so again here. See Order, ECF No. 30 at 22-23 (citing Morgan v. AT & T Wireless Servs., Inc., 177 Cal.App.4th 1235, 1255, 99 Cal.Rptr.3d 768 (2009); Bardin v. Daimlerchrysler Corp., 136 Cal.App.4th 1255, 1275, 39 Cal.Rptr.3d 634 (2006)). In sum, the court dismisses claim four in its entirely.
In the SAC, the Graybills stated a negligence claim based on allegations that Wells Fargo "assumed duties of care to the Plaintiffs that went beyond the usual lender and borrower relationship" when it "undertook to provide [them] with an opportunity for a HAMP modification," "informed the Plaintiffs of the HAMP application process and ... how that process would and would not affect a foreclosure sale of the Plaintiffs' home...." See Order, ECF No. 30 at 24 (quoting SAC ¶¶ 182-83). In the TAC, the Graybills' negligence claim is unchanged except for two new paragraphs of legal argument. See TAC ¶¶ 196-97. The court adopts it previous reasoning here and again dismisses
The declaratory judgment claim in the TAC is identical to the claim in the SAC, and the court dismisses it again for the same reasons. Compare SAC ¶¶ 199-205, with TAC ¶¶ 216-22; see Order, ECF No. 30 at 24.
The Graybills also allege fraud and breach of fiduciary duty surrounding the 2006 refinancing of their loan. See TAC, ECF No. 33, ¶¶ 223-48. This claim is based on the alleged statements that loan officer Patricia Rufenacht made to them regarding the advisability of a refinance under the PICK-A-PAYMENT plan. See id. (alleging that she said that it was the best plan, that the interest rate was tied to an index with historically low rates, that industry experts predicted interest rates would fall, and that a worst-case-scenario rise in interest rates would have only a negligible effect on their payments). The factual allegations are unchanged from allegations in the SAC.
The court previously dismissed the Graybills' fraud claim based on these allegations. See Order, ECF No. 30 at 25-26. Because there is no new basis for this claim, the court dismisses it again for the same reasons.
Wells Fargo also argues that HOLA preempts the Graybills' claim, regardless of whether it is labeled as fraud or breach of fiduciary duty. Mot. at 29-31. The court agrees.
"Congress enacted [HOLA] to charter savings associations under federal law, at a time when record numbers of home loans were in default and a staggering number of state-chartered savings associations were insolvent. HOLA was designed to restore public confidence by creating a nationwide system of federal savings and loan associations to be centrally regulated according to nationwide `best practices.'" Silvas v. E*Trade Mortg. Corp., 514 F.3d 1001, 1004 (9th Cir.2008) (quoting Fid. Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n v. de la Cuesta, 458 U.S. 141, 160-61, 102 S.Ct. 3014, 73 L.Ed.2d 664 (1982)) (internal citation omitted).
HOLA created the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") to administer the statute, and "it provided the OTS with `plenary authority' to promulgate regulations involving the operation of federal savings associations." State Farm Bank v. Reardon, 539 F.3d 336, 342 (6th Cir.2008). Under one of those regulations, 12 C.F.R. § 560.2, OTS makes clear that it "occupies the entire field of lending regulation
12 C.F.R. § 560.2(b). If the type of law in question is listed in 12 C.F.R. § 560.2(b), it is preempted. Silvas v. E*Trade Mortgage Corp., 514 F.3d 1001, 1005 (9th Cir. 2008). "Even state laws of general applicability, such as tort, contract, and real property laws, are preempted if their enforcement would impact federal savings associations in areas listed in § 560.2(b)." Stefan v. Wachovia, No. C 09-2252 SBA, 2009 WL 4730904, at *3 (N.D.Cal. Dec. 7, 2009) (holding all of plaintiffs' state law claims regarding the foreclosure process, such as wrongful foreclosure, and plaintiffs claim that the terms of the loan were unconscionable, were preempted by HOLA).
As a threshold matter, Wells Fargo contends that HOLA applies here because World Savings was a federal savings bank in 2007, when it made the 2006 Loan. Mot., ECF No. 34 at 29 n. 4. The Graybills do not dispute this, and the judicially noticed documents establish the same conclusion. See Opp'n, ECF No. 38 at 29; see also RJN Exs. B-E, ECF No. 35-4 at 20-28. Accordingly, the court finds that HOLA applies.
Next, Wells Fargo argues that HOLA preempts the claims in the TAC. See Mot. at 30-13. It contends that the Graybills claim would impose requirements related to disclosure and advertising and the processing and origination of mortgages. Id. It is undisputed that this claim is for "misrepresentation in one form or another during the loan origination process." Garcia v. Wells Fargo Bank, No. 5:12-cv-01670 EJD, 2012 WL 2576206, at *3 (N.D.Cal. July 3, 2012) (claims based on World Savings Banks' misrepresentations during mortgage origination preempted under HOLA). Accordingly, the court finds that it is preempted under HOLA.
The Graybills argue that HOLA does not preempt their claim because Rufenacht "went beyond her role as a loan officer" in giving them advice, to that she was acting as "a financial advisor to the Plaintiffs and assumed the role of a fiduciary." Opp'n, ECF No. 38 at 29. They do not, however, explain why that would overcome the broad scope of HOLA preemption. The Graybills cite Wyatt v. Union Mortgage Co., 24 Cal.3d 773, 157 Cal.Rptr. 392, 598 P.2d 45 (1979) in support of their claim. But that case involved a breach of fiduciary duty claim against a mortgage loan
Indeed, ample authority shows that HOLA preempts breach of fiduciary duty claims in similar circumstances. For example, in Appling v. Wachovia Mortg., FSB, 745 F.Supp.2d 961, 966 & 973 (N.D.Cal.2010), the court found that HOLA preempted a breach of fiduciary claim based on the failure to make disclosures and misrepresentations about the viability of refinancing under a World Savings PICK-A-PAYMENT loan. As in Appling, Rufenacht's alleged misrepresentations were made in the processing, origination, and sale of a mortgage. Accordingly, they are preempted by 12 C.F.R. § 560.2(b) and dismissed with prejudice.
The Graybills also allege that Wells Fargo is liable for fraud based on Rufenacht's or another Wells Fargo representative's allegedly altering their loan application so as to inflate their claimed assets by $135,000 and add $5,00 to the value of their home. TAC ¶¶ 249-71. The court previously dismissed this claim as barred by the statute of limitations for failure to allege detrimental reliance. See Order, ECF No. 30 at 25-26. Wells Fargo again moves to dismiss on the ground that the TAC fails to allege detrimental reliance because Wells Fargo was defrauded, not the Graybills. Mot. at 33.
This claim is substantially similar to the claim in the SAC, but there are several new allegations. Compare SAC ¶¶ 225-45, with TAC ¶¶ 249-71. In the new allegations, the Graybills allege that when they attended the closing of their loan, they were presented with "voluminous documents some of which they reasonably believed they had already read." TAC ¶ 257. Based on that assumption, they allege that they "had no reason" to read the documents again. Id. ¶ 258. Nor did they have any reason to read or reread the documents later or to suspect their application had been altered. Id. ¶ 259. In July 2012, while packing their household goods, John Graybill came across the altered loan application. Id. ¶ 260. Until then, the Graybills were unaware that their loan application had been altered. Id. ¶¶ 261, 264. Finally, the Graybills claim that they were relied on "the approval of their loan application as evidence that they were qualified for it, and that they would be able to make the payments on the loan that they were taking out...." Id. ¶ 267.
As discussed in the previous order, the statute of limitations for fraud is three years, though the doctrine of equitable tolling may suspend the statute of limitations in some circumstances. See King v. State of California, 784 F.2d 910, 915 (9th Cir.1986). The inquiry is "whether there was excusable delay by the plaintiff: If a reasonable plaintiff would not have known of the existence of a possible claim within the limitations period, then equitable tolling will serve to extend the statute of limitations for filing suit until the plaintiff can gather what information he needs." Johnson v. Henderson, 314 F.3d 409, 414 (9th Cir.2002) (internal quotation marks omitted).
The allegations copied from the SAC or the new allegations do not establish that the Graybills' delay in reading their loan documents was reasonable so as to toll the statute of limitations. See Kelley v. Countrywide Home Loans, No. CVF-09-1148 LJO DLB, 2009 WL 3489422 at *4 (E.D.Cal. Oct. 26, 2009) (application of "discovery rule" rejected where plaintiff had all relevant information at the time of
The Graybills have had four opportunities to state valid claims for relief but have not succeeded. And many of the claims in the TAC are substantively indistinguishable from those in the SAC. When a party repeatedly fails to cure deficiencies, the court may order dismissal without leave to amend. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 1261 (9th Cir.1992) (affirming dismissal with prejudice where district court had instructed pro se plaintiff regarding deficiencies in prior order dismissing claim with leave to amend). Under these circumstances, the court dismisses all of their claims with prejudice.
The court
This disposes of ECF No. 34.
