C. ASHLEY ROYAL, District Judge.
This cause comes before the Court on Plaintiff Jane McGinnis' Motion for Default Judgment [Doc. 6] against Defendant American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. ("AHMSI"). AHMSI was served with a copy of the Complaint on June 26, 2011. As of the date of this Order, AHMSI has failed to answer or otherwise respond. Plaintiff filed a Motion for Entry of Default [Doc. 5], which was entered by the Clerk on August 30. On September 27 Plaintiff filed this instant Motion requesting default judgment as to AHMSI's liability and a jury trial to determine the character, extent, measure, and amount of damages.
On October 31, 2011, Plaintiff purchased a home at 172 Hilton Street in Monticello, Georgia, (the "Property") by obtaining a $72,750.00 loan (the "Mortgage") financed by Taylor, Bean & Whitaker ("TB&W"). At all relevant times, the Mortgage was a federally related mortgage loan and was subject to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, 12 U.S.C. § 1601
From her first payment in 2006 until TB&W transferred its rights to servicing the Mortgage in October 2009, Plaintiff made all of her monthly mortgage payments. On October 17, 2009, AHMSI became the transferee servicer. In addition to informing Plaintiff of this transfer, AHMSI also enclosed information regarding Plaintiff's rights under RESPA in a letter dated October 27.
Shortly after the service transfer, AHMSI notified Plaintiff that she had failed to make certain payments to TB&W in the final months prior to the transfer, and now, as a result, was in default. On December 7, 2009, Plaintiff's son, Adam McGinnis, at all times on behalf of Plaintiff and with Plaintiff's authority, sent AHMSI proof of payment for the alleged defaulted payments and requested that it resolve the dispute. Despite this letter, AHMSI continued to inform Plaintiff that she was in default. This prompted Plaintiff's son to resend proof of payment, requesting an immediate resolution. Notwithstanding, AHMSI continued to contact Plaintiff, notifying her that all of her loans, including the Mortgage, were in default, and threatening foreclosure of the Mortgage. Additionally, AHMSI reported Plaintiff's default to the collection agencies employed by AHMSI and the credit reporting bureaus. Throughout this entire ordeal, the only conceivable response to Plaintiff's December 2009 inquiry was a letter from AHMSI that merely informed Plaintiff of the amount that she was allegedly in arrears, including late fees. This letter was dated June 30, 2010, over six months after Plaintiff's initial correspondence.
Up until March 2011, AHMSI accepted Plaintiff's Mortgage payments without issue. However, on March 2, AHMSI informed Plaintiff that it was foreclosing on the Property and reimbursed her for her February 2011 payment that it had previously cashed. Plaintiff continued to make her March, April, May, and June payments to AHMSI; however, AHMSI subsequently returned these payments, refusing to accept them.
Later that March, Plaintiff began to receive notices of foreclosure from McCurdy & Candler, the law firm representing AHMSI in the foreclosure proceedings. Plaintiff's son contacted the attorneys to explain the payment dispute and, in April, provided the firm with proof of payment. The firm told Plaintiff that it had forwarded this information to AHMSI for review, but that it would be unable to stop the foreclosure proceeding unless AHMSI so instructed.
During April and May of 2011, AHMSI ran a notice of foreclosure in
As a result of the above events, Plaintiff alleges that she has suffered severe and extreme mental and emotional distress, and that she has suffered physically and financially as a result of AHMSI's actions. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that she is being treated by a psychologist to ease the stress and anxiety caused by AHMSI's actions and that she is "fearful" that AHMSI will foreclose on her other loans in the same manner, despite her timely payments. [Doc. 1, p. 16]. Plaintiff additionally alleges that she has suffered a pecuniary loss, including the loss of rental income, as well as damage to her credit reputation.
Prior to obtaining a default judgment, the party seeking judgment must first seek an entry of default. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a). Plaintiff has satisfied this requirement. After entry of default, Plaintiff is required to seek default judgment from the Court. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(b).
The mere entry of default does not mandate the entry of a default judgment. Instead, the Court must find a sufficient basis in the pleadings for the judgment to be entered.
Plaintiff brings the following ten counts against AHMSI: 1) wrongful foreclosure; 2) violations of §§ 2605(e) and (k) of RESPA; 3) defamation; 4) intentional infliction of emotional distress; 5) conversion; 6) intentional and negligent failure to exercise due care in servicing Plaintiff's loan; 7) tortious interference with property rights; 8) negligence per se; 9) attorney's fees and expenses; and 10) punitive damages. AHMSI's liability of each will be assessed below.
Plaintiff first contends that AHMSI wrongfully foreclosed on her property because she was not in default on her loan. Under Georgia law, "where a grantee does not comply with the statutory duty under O.C.G.A. § 23-2-114 to exercise fairly the power of sale in a deed to secure debt, the debtor may sue for damages for the tort of wrongful foreclosure."
In this case, the Court finds that Plaintiff has sufficiently established a well-pleaded claim for wrongful foreclosure. Plaintiff's Complaint demonstrates that AHMSI serviced Plaintiff's mortgage and therefore had the legal duty to exercise fairly and in good faith the power of sale in a deed to secure Plaintiff's debt. Plaintiff has also sufficiently alleged that she was not in default, and thus, AHMSI breached its duty by foreclosing on her property. Finally, Plaintiff sufficiently established a causal connection between the breach of AHMSI's duty and the injury she sustained as a result. Accordingly, because Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged a claim of wrongful foreclosure, default judgment as to this claim is
Plaintiff's second count alleges that AHMSI violated Sections 2605(e) and 2605(k) of RESPA. First, Plaintiff alleges that, by failing to respond to her qualified written request for information relating to the servicing of her loan, AHMSI violated Section 2605(e). Under § 2605(e), when a loan servicer receives a qualified written request, it must "provide a written response acknowledging receipt of the correspondence" within twenty days and provide the borrower with the applicable written explanation within sixty days.
In this case, Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged that her letters and facsimiles to AHMSI constituted qualified written requests. In her correspondence, Plaintiff requested a print-out of her account history with the alleged past due payments, immediate assistance regarding the misunderstanding, and provided AHMSI with proof of payment. AHMSI responded, if at all, over six months after Plaintiff's initial request, certainly not within the twenty and sixty-day time periods mandated by the statute. The Court accordingly finds that Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged that AHMSI violated § 2605(e) of RESPA. Default judgment as to this claim is therefore
Plaintiff also asserts that AHMSI violated § 2605(k). Specifically, she alleges that AHMSI "did not take timely action to respond to plaintiff's pleas to correct her account, refused to properly investigate its errors, failed to correct false reporting to the credit bureaus and failed to follow standard servicer's duties and standards of care." [Doc. 1, p. 17]. However, sections 2605(k)-(m) of RESPA, enacted by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111-203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010) (the "Act"), are inapplicable to events occurring prior to its effective date of transfer, eighteen months after the Act's enactment date of July 21, 2010.
Plaintiff next alleges that AHMSI is liable for "publishing false information about her in the newspaper." [Doc. 1, p. 18.] Under Georgia law, newspaper libel is defined as "[a]ny false and malicious defamation of another in any newspaper, magazine, or periodical, tending to injure the reputation of the person and expose him to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule." O.C.G.A. § 51-5-2. Accordingly, Plaintiff must prove five elements: 1) publication 2) of a defamatory statement about the plaintiff 3) which is false 4) that the Defendant is at fault for publishing, and 5) Plaintiff suffered actual injury.
In this case, Plaintiff's newspaper libel claim is sufficiently alleged. Plaintiff alleges that AHMSI ran a notice of foreclosure in the Monticello Newspaper from April to May 2011. The advertisement identifies Plaintiff and the Property by name, and states that the sale is because of "default in the payment of the indebtedness, secured by a Security Deed." [
Plaintiff also claims that AHMSI "report[ed] false information about her to the credit bureaus." [Doc. 1, p. 17]. The Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), 15 U.S.C. § 1681h(e), protects companies who furnish information to consumer reporting agencies from state law defamation claims "unless the information it provided was both false and also given with the malicious or willful intent to damage the consumer."
According to the sufficiently alleged facts in Plaintiff's Complaint, AHMSI made false statements to credit reporting agencies that she had defaulted on her Mortgage payments. Further, AHMSI made this report after Plaintiff, on more than one occasion, disputed the accuracy of AHMSI's accounting to AHMSI. Based on these allegations, Plaintiff has alleged that AHMSI knew that Plaintiff was not in default and nevertheless reported Plaintiff to the credit reporting agencies. Thus, Plaintiff has alleged sufficient malice in support of her defamation claim. Finding that Plaintiff's defamation claim is not preempted by § 1681h(e), the Court concludes that Plaintiff has also sufficiently alleged a defamation claim for false reporting to credit bureaus. Thus, default judgment is
Plaintiff next alleges that AHMSI intentionally inflicted emotional distress. Under Georgia law, a plaintiff must show the following elements in order to establish a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress: "(1) the conduct must be intentional or reckless; (2) the conduct must be extreme and outrageous; (3) there must be a causal connection between the wrongful conduct and the emotional distress; and (4) the emotional distress must be severe."
Here, Plaintiff's Complaint alleges sufficient facts to support a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress against AHMSI: AHMSI ignored Plaintiffs "pleas" to correct her account; AHMSI repeatedly called and sent threatening letters; and AHMSI foreclosed on the Property after Plaintiff had repeatedly told AHMSI that she was not in default. [Doc. 1, p. 15]. Plaintiff additionally alleges that such conduct has led to severe mental and emotional anxiety and stress, including her fear that AHMSI will foreclose on her other loans. As a result, a psychologist is treating Plaintiff for this and anxiety. The court accordingly concludes that Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress against AHMSI. Default judgment is
Plaintiff alleges that AHMSI took and converted her Mortgage payments by not applying them to her account. Conversion is "[a]ny distinct act of dominion wrongfully asserted over another's property in denial of his right, or inconsistent with it."
In this case, Plaintiff has alleged that she made all of her Mortgage payments in a timely manner, and that AHMSI did not post Plaintiff's February, March, April, May, and June payments to her account. Plaintiff, however, does not allege that she requested that AHMSI apply the funds to her account. Because this element is necessary to establish a claim of conversion, the Court concludes that Plaintiff's conversion claim is
Plaintiff next asserts that AHMSI intentionally or negligently failed to exercise due care in servicing her loan. Under Georgia law, the failure to perform a contract does not constitute a tort, and a plaintiff has "a tort claim only where, in addition to breaching the contract, the defendant also breaches an independent duty imposed by law."
Here, Plaintiff has failed to allege any negligent actions or inactions by AHMSI that fall outside of its administration of the Mortgage. The only duties that Plaintiff alleges AHMSI violated were its duties to "service her loan in a non-negligent manner and to exercise ordinary care in the servicing of her loan." [Doc. 1, p. 19]. These duties, however, do not sustain separate tort duties outside of AHMSI's administration of the Mortgage. Accordingly, the Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to sufficiently allege a claim for the intentional and negligent failure to exercise due care in servicing Plaintiff's Mortgage. Default judgment is therefore
Plaintiff next alleges that AHMSI unlawfully interfered with "Plaintiff's enjoyment of her property or . . . with her rights in her property" under O.C.G.A. § 51-9-1. [Doc. 1, p. 21]. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that AHMSI interfered with her enjoyment and rights of her property by (1) foreclosing on her property, and (2) by interfering with Plaintiff's landlord/tenant contract.
Under Georgia law, any unlawful interference with a property right is a trespass.
Plaintiff's first claim of tortious interference based on AHMSI's wrongful foreclosure is sufficiently alleged. AHMSI's deliberate action to foreclose on Plaintiff's property is in accord with Georgia's interpretation of trespass. Further, Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged that the foreclosure had a legal effect on her actual title to the property. Thus, default judgment is
Plaintiff's second claim of tortious interference, however, is not sufficiently alleged. In her Complaint, Plaintiff states that AHMSI's action "interfered with Plaintiff's contract with the tenant and the subject of the property, depriving Plaintiff of rental income." [Doc. 1, p. 21]. While Plaintiff makes references to rental income throughout her Complaint, this is the first and only time Plaintiff makes any reference to an actual contract at the time of foreclosure. Such a conclusory allegation is insufficient. Accordingly, Plaintiff's claim for tortious interference of her property based on a contract with a tenant is not sufficiently alleged; default judgment is
Plaintiff's complaint alleges four different claims of negligence per se: RESPA, defamation, tortious interference, and a common law duty not to intentionally harm Plaintiff. For the reasons below, default judgment as to this claim is
Plaintiff alleges that AHMSI had a "duty under 12 U.S.C. § 2605 not to intentionally or negligently injure Plaintiff." [Doc. 1, p. 20]. Such an allegation, however, fails to allege a claim for which relief can be granted.
Plaintiff also claims that AHMSI "had a duty under Georgia's defamation laws not to falsely report plaintiff to the credit bureaus," and "a duty under Georgia law not to tortiously interfere with Plaintiff's property rights." [Doc. 1, p. 20]. "Before an act can be considered as negligence it must be in violation of some duty ow[ed], under the circumstances."
Here, Georgia law does not create either of the duties Plaintiff seeks to impose upon AHMSI. Accordingly, Plaintiff has failed to allege a negligence per se claim with regards to defamation and tortious interference, and therefore default judgment is
Plaintiff claims that "AHMSI had a duty under common law not to intentionally harm" her. [Doc. 1, p. 20]. Disregarding Plaintiff's bare allegation, negligence per se specifically contemplates the violation of a statute.
Plaintiff alleges that she is entitled to attorney's fees and expenses under O.C.G.A. § 13-6-11, because AHMSI "acted in bad faith, has been stubbornly litigious, and has caused plaintiff unnecessary trouble and expense." [Doc. 1, p. 21]. Under Georgia law, when a plaintiff requests attorney's fees on any one of these three grounds as asserted by Plaintiff, the award must be specifically pleaded and prayed for in the complaint.
Under Georgia law, punitive damages may be awarded in tort actions in which it is proven by "clear and convincing evidence that the defendant's actions showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or that entire want of care which would raise the presumption of a conscious indifference to consequences." O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1(b).
Here, Plaintiff has sufficiently alleged the following tort claims: wrongful foreclosure, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and tortious interference with property rights. The Court further finds that these tort claims are grounded in "clear and convincing evidence" that AHMSI showed willful misconduct, malice, and/or the entire want of care which gives rise to the "presumption of a conscious indifference to consequences."
Although the entry of default judgment on certain claims is appropriate here, the Court still has an obligation "to assure that there is a legitimate basis for any damage award it enters."
In her Complaint, Plaintiff requested a jury trial, seeking actual, compensatory, and punitive damages. In the instant Motion, Plaintiff requests that this Court reserve entry of judgment on damages pending a jury trial. Most of Plaintiff's surviving claims—wrongful foreclosure, section 2605(e) of RESPA, defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference with property rights, and punitive damages—are claims in which the amount of damages is a non-liquidated sum and which cannot be easily calculated. Moreover, the Court finds that, considering the nature of the underlying tort actions, a jury is the more appropriate body to determine Plaintiff's damages than the Court. Accordingly, a jury will assess the amount of damages that Plaintiff is entitled.
Plaintiff is also entitled to attorney's fees and costs incurred. Plaintiff must submit her application for attorney's fees and costs within fourteen (14) days of the date of this Order.
In light of the uncontested allegations and exhibits submitted in Plaintiff's Complaint, the Court concludes that Plaintiff's Motion for Default Judgment [Doc. 6] is