BARRY M. KURREN, Magistrate Judge.
Before the Court is Defendant Bank of America, N.A.'s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint. (Doc. # 32.) After careful consideration of the motion, the supporting and opposing memoranda, and the arguments of counsel, Defendant's motion to dismiss is DENIED.
On September 8, 2011, Plaintiffs filed the complaint in this case, alleging that Defendant violated the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA") and committed Unfair and Deceptive Business Practices ("UDAP") in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 480. (Doc. # 1.) Defendant subsequently moved to dismiss the complaint, and this Court dismissed the complaint with leave to amend. (Doc. # 27.) The Court concluded that: 1) Plaintiffs' rescission claim failed to plead that Defendant had an adequate amount of time to respond to the request to rescind; and 2) Plaintiffs' UDAP claim was preempted by TILA and was not adequately pled. (
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) permits a motion to dismiss a claim for "failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted[.]" Dismissal of the complaint, or any claim within it, may be based on either a "`lack of a cognizable legal theory' or `the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory.'"
Defendant asserts that Plaintiffs' TILA claim fails because it: 1) is time-barred; 2) does not adequately allege detrimental reliance; and 3) was waived by Plaintiffs' acceptance of the benefits of the loan. (Doc. # 32 at 8-10.)
First, Plaintiffs' TILA damages claim is based on Defendant's wrongful failure to rescind the loan. Although TILA has a one year statute of limitations for damages claims, the statutory period for Defendant's wrongful failure to rescind a transaction runs from the date Defendant refused to rescind.
Second, Defendant argues that Plaintiffs' TILA damages claim is inadequately pled because it fails to allege detrimental reliance. (Mem. In Supp. of Motion at 10.) Plaintiffs assert that they have sufficiently alleged detrimental reliance in the Complaint. (Mem. in Op. at 9.) The Ninth Circuit has held that "in order to receive actual damages for a TILA violation, i.e., `an amount awarded to a complainant to compensate for a proven injury or loss,' . . ., a borrower must establish detrimental reliance."
Third, Defendant's argument that Plaintiffs waived their right to rescind under TILA is not persuasive. In the prior order dismissing Plaintiff's complaint, this Court rejected this argument because Defendant had not produced authority indicating that Plaintiffs could waive their right to rescind by accepting loan benefits when the three year rescission period applied. (Doc. # 27 at 9.) Defendants now argue that
Defendant asserts that Plaintiffs' UDAP claim is: 1) preempted by TILA; and 2) not pled with the requisite specificity because it fails to allege damages and does not meet the standard for pleading fraud. (Doc. # 32 at 12-15.) Plaintiffs assert that they have not based their UDAP claim on fraud or their TILA claims. They assert that they sufficiently alleged a UDAP claim based on improper and undisclosed charges, the failure to give closing documents to Plaintiffs at the signing, and causing confusion by holding the closing at a high school with only a notary present. (Mem. In Op. at 12.)
First, Defendant has not shown that all of Plaintiffs' amended UDAP claims are preempted. Plaintiffs' amended complaint alleges that Defendant violated UDAP by falsely representing the terms of the loan, failing to provide documents to plaintiff in a timely manner, and making excessive charges. (Compl. at ¶ 45.) Plaintiffs' amended complaint also alleges that: 1) they were told they would receive all closing documents at the closing, but did not receive them until ten days after closing; 2) the only person attending the closing was a notary who was unable to explain any of the documents to plaintiff and only told them where to sign; and 3) various fees such as the notary fee and "loan fee to lender" were improper or were not disclosed. (Compl. at ¶¶ 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 34.)
Defendant asserts that this conduct is preempted because it is based on Plaintiffs' TILA claim. (Mem. In Supp. at 12.) However, Defendant has not demonstrated how allegations of improper charges, failing to answer questions, or failing to provide any closing documents are preempted by TILA. The Court concludes that Plaintiffs' amended complaint alleges conduct different from its TILA claim and that Defendant has not carried its burden of demonstrating that all of the conduct alleged in Plaintiffs' amended complaint is preempted.
Second, Defendant's argument that Plaintiffs have failed to plead their UDAP claim with the requisite specificity fails. The amended complaint alleges that specific charges were improper and also alleges that Plaintiffs were confused by holding the closing with only a notary who did not answer questions or provide copies of closing documents. The Court concludes that Plaintiffs' amended complaint provides sufficient background regarding the conduct in dispute.
Finally, Plaintiffs' amended complaint alleges that as a result of the unfair and deceptive practices "Plaintiffs have suffered injury to their property in an amount to be proved at trial. . . ." (Compl. at ¶ 47.) The Complaint also alleges that the failure to give documents at closing "resulted in confusion regarding the terms of the loan, and in Plaintiffs' overpaying on the loan." (
Based on the foregoing, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss is DENIED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.