NANNETTE JOLIVETTE BROWN, District Judge.
Pending before this Court is Defendants Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for Argent Securities, Inc., Asset-Backed Pass through Certificates, Series 2006-M1 ("Deutsche Bank"), and Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC's ("Ocwen") (collectively, "Defendants") "Rule 12(C) Motion for Partial Judgment on the Pleadings."
Defendants filed the instant motion on January 2, 2018.
Having considered the motion, the memoranda in support and opposition, and the applicable law, the Court will grant Defendants' motion as to Plaintiffs' claim for violation of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act and as to Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to Section 1681s-2(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The Court will deny Defendants' motion as to whether Plaintiffs' tort claims are prescribed. The Court will also deny Defendants' motion as to Plaintiffs' claims pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and as to Plaintiffs' claim for unjust enrichment. The Court will grant Plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint as to whether Plaintiffs are entitled to non-pecuniary damages for the breach of contract claim. Finally, the Court will also grant Plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint as to Plaintiffs' claims for fraud, Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to Section 1681s-2(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and Plaintiffs' state law claim based on Defendants' credit reporting.
In the amended petition for damages, Plaintiffs allege that in October 1993, Plaintiffs purchased immovable property located at 708 Victory Drive, Westwego, Louisiana.
According to Plaintiffs, Ocwen did not continue to send Plaintiffs monthly statements; however, Plaintiffs paid the amount due each month.
On April 16, 2015, Plaintiffs aver, Deutsche Bank filed a petition for Mortgage Foreclosure by Executory Process.
Finally, Plaintiffs allege that in September 2015, Ocwen cashed all payments it had withheld and not applied to Plaintiff's loan.
Defendants first argue that all of Plaintiffs' tort claims are facially prescribed pursuant to Louisiana Civil Code Article 3492's one-year liberative prescriptive period for delictual actions.
Defendants argue that the burden thus shifts to Plaintiffs to prove an interruption or suspension of prescription, which they cannot do because Plaintiffs knew about the alleged misapplied and "converted" loan payments underlying their tort claims since at least December 2013.
Even if Plaintiffs' fraud claim was not time-barred, Defendants argue, Plaintiffs' fraud claim fails the pleading requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) because Plaintiffs cannot establish that Ocwen intentionally refused to disclose information about the alleged missed payments with the purpose of defrauding or gaining an unfair advantage over Plaintiffs.
Furthermore, Defendants argue, Plaintiffs' allegations of fraud based on Ocwen's alleged refusal to speak or failure to disclose are insufficient because Plaintiffs have not alleged the existence of a fiduciary relationship between Ocwen and themselves that would give rise to a legal duty to speak.
Defendants next argue that Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act fails because neither Ocwen nor Deutsche Bank was a debt collector, as defined by the FDCPA.
Similarly, Defendants argue, Deutsche Bank is a creditor, not a "debt collector," as defined by the FDCPA. According to Defendants, the Mortgage Loan was transferred to Deutsche Bank sometime between September 2008 and February 2013, before Plaintiffs were in default.
With respect to Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have no private right of action because enforcement of Section 1681s-2(a) is governed exclusively by the FTC and other government entities, and Section 1681s-2(a) is explicitly excluded from private rights of action by Section 1681s-2(c).
With respect to Plaintiffs' claim for breach of contract, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs cannot recover non-pecuniary damages because Plaintiffs cannot establish that the contract was entered into for a non-pecuniary purpose.
Defendants next argue that the remaining claims from Plaintiffs' original petition pursuant to the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act and for unjust enrichment should also be dismissed to the extent Plaintiffs maintain them.
Last, Defendants argue that because Plaintiffs have other legal remedies against Defendants, whether or not Plaintiffs are successful in pursuing those remedies, Plaintiffs' claim for unjust enrichment should be dismissed.
Plaintiffs first argue that their tort claims are not prescribed.
Furthermore, Plaintiffs argue, their claims are not only based on the misapplied payments in 2013 but also that Ocwen lied and claimed to have returned payments that it was holding and not applying.
In the alternative, Plaintiffs argue, they were victims of a continuous tort because the improper accounting was continuous and ongoing, which caused payments to not be credited towards their loan and ultimately led to the foreclosure on the property.
Next, Plaintiffs argue that they alleged the following facts with particularity sufficient to state a fraud claim: they made all payments to Ocwen that were due and owing; Plaintiffs, individually and through their attorney, sent proof of such payments to Ocwen prior to the foreclosure sale date; even with the proof of payment, Ocwen refused to reconcile their accounting and instead sold Plaintiffs' home at foreclosure; Ocwen knew that payments were being held despite the false representation that they had been returned to Plaintiffs as Ocwen negotiated the checks after the foreclosure sale in September 2015; and through these fraudulent acts, Ocwen obtained mortgage payments from Plaintiffs.
With respect to Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Plaintiffs argue that Ocwen was a debt collector because it sought payments from Plaintiffs while claiming that the loan was not current.
Furthermore, Plaintiffs contend that they have adequately stated a claim pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act by alleging that Ocwen is knowingly reporting incorrect and derogatory information to credit reporting bureaus which have resulted in the Plaintiffs incurring credit related damages.
With respect to Plaintiffs' breach of contract claim, Plaintiffs argue that they are entitled to non-pecuniary damages pursuant to Louisiana Civil Code article 1998, which states, "Regardless of the nature of the contract, [non-pecuniary] damages may be recovered also when the obligor intended, through his failure, to aggrieve the feelings of the obligee."
With respect to Plaintiffs' claim for unjust enrichment, Plaintiffs acknowledge that prior to the foreclosure, other legal remedies were available and are asserted through this lawsuit.
Finally, Plaintiffs consent to voluntary dismissal of their claim pursuant to the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act.
In reply, Defendants first argue that the Court should grant Defendants' motion as unopposed because Plaintiffs did not timely file their opposition brief in accordance with the Court's local rules.
Next, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs' tort claims are prescribed and the continuing tort doctrine does not apply. Defendants argue that the letter from and phone call to Ocwen on December 27, 2013, were sufficient to provide Plaintiffs with constructive notice of their tort claims and to begin the one-year prescriptive period.
With respect to Plaintiffs' claim for fraud, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs "significantly fail to identify any allegations of an
With respect to Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, Defendants argue that Ocwen was not a debt collector as defined by the Act because a mortgage servicer is not a "debt collector" subject to the FDCPA if the debt-collection activities at issue involve a debt that was not in default when it was acquired by the servicer, and the mortgage loan was not in default when servicing rights were transferred to Ocwen in March 2013.
Defendants next argue that "Plaintiffs effectively concede that their claim under FCRA Section 1681s-2 against Defendants, as the alleged furnishers of inaccurate credit information, fails as a matter of law."
To the extent Plaintiffs allege state law tort claims for credit damages, Defendants assert, those claims are preempted under the FCRA and governed exclusively under FCRA Section 1681s-2, pursuant to which Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim.
Defendants also argue that to the extent Plaintiffs seek to assert an unjust enrichment claim in the alternative, "Plaintiffs cannot circumvent clear Louisiana law that provides an unjust enrichment remedy is unavailable where the plaintiff has other legal remedies, even if the plaintiff is ultimately unsuccessful in pursuing those remedies."
Finally, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have not adequately alleged they are entitled to non-pecuniary damages for breach of contract because Article 1998's requirements for nonpecuniary damages apply even if a plaintiff alleges a bad-faith breach of contract pursuant to Civil Code Article 1997.
Plaintiffs first argue that their tort claims are not prescribed because the 2013 December letter was not enough to prove actual notice that the Plaintiffs were victims of a tort.
With respect to their claim for fraud, Plaintiffs repeat the argument made in their opposition that they have alleged facts with specificity sufficient to meet the pleading standard for fraud.
Next, Plaintiffs argue that they have adequately stated a claim pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act because Plaintiffs are not required to explicitly allege that Ocwen fits squarely within the definition of "debt collector" under 15 U.S.C. 1692a(6) to survive a challenge on the pleadings. According to Plaintiffs, they have sufficiently alleged that the loan was transferred to Ocwen, Ocwen later engaged in persistent efforts to collect a debt using mechanisms of inter-state commerce, and at the time of transfer, Ocwen represented to Defendants that the loan was not current.
With respect to their claim pursuant to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Plaintiffs argue that they have adequately stated a claim pursuant to the FCRA by alleging that Ocwen is knowingly reporting incorrect and derogatory information to credit reporting bureaus which have resulted in the Plaintiffs incurring credit related damages.
Plaintiffs next repeat the arguments made in their opposition that they are entitled to nonpecuniary damages for the breach of contract claim because Defendants acted in bad faith.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) provides that "[a]fter the pleadings are closed—but early enough not to delay trial—a party may move for judgment on the pleadings."
In this litigation, Plaintiffs bring claims for: (1) fraud; (2) breach of contract and implied breach of contract; (3) negligence; (4) conversion; (5) violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; (6) violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act; (7) violations of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act; (8) and unjust enrichment. In the instant motion, Defendants argue that all Plaintiffs' claims except the claim for breach of contract should be dismissed, and Plaintiffs should not be permitted to recover non-pecuniary damages for the remaining breach of contract claim. In their opposition and supplemental opposition, Plaintiffs consent to dismissal of their claim pursuant to the Louisiana Trade Practices Act, however, oppose all other arguments Defendants put forth in favor of dismissal.
With respect to Defendants' argument that the Court should not consider Plaintiffs' untimely opposition, the Court has broad discretion as to whether to consider untimely filings, including oppositions to motions.
Defendants argue that all of Plaintiffs' tort claims are facially prescribed pursuant to Louisiana Civil Code Article 3492's one-year liberative prescriptive period for delictual actions. Specifically, Defendants argue that Plaintiffs' tort claims are based on misapplied and/or converted loan payments in 2013, which Plaintiffs knew about at the time; and therefore, Plaintiffs' alleged injuries or damages triggering the start of the one-year period were sustained in December 2013 at the latest. Furthermore, Defendants argue that the continuing-tort theory is not applicable to the facts of this case.
Plaintiffs acknowledge that Louisiana tort claims have a one-year prescriptive period, but argue that Plaintiffs did not know of their cognizable legal claims until the house was actually sold at foreclosure in July of 2015, and therefore, the doctrine of contra non valentem as an exception to the running of liberative prescription applies. Furthermore, Plaintiffs argue, their claims are also based on the fact that Ocwen lied about returning payments that it was holding and not applying, which Plaintiffs had no way of knowing was untrue until Ocwen cashed the held checks in September 2015. In the alternative, Plaintiffs argue, they were victims of a continuous tort that did not end until July 22, 2015, the date of the foreclosure.
When presented with a state law claim, "federal courts apply state statutes of limitations and related state law governing tolling of the limitation period."
"Louisiana jurisprudence has long recognized the doctrine of contra non valentem as a means of suspending the running of prescription when the circumstances of a case fall within one of four categories,"
Defendants cite Costello v. Citibank (South Dakota), N.A., a case decided by the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal.
In Body by Cook v. Ingersoll-Rand Co., this Court held that it "was not free to decide the issue of contra non valentem as a matter of law because there was a disputed issue of material fact as to whether the alleged tort was reasonably knowable by the Plaintiffs under the circumstances, considering [the Plaintiff's] education, intelligence and the nature of defendant's conduct."
In this case, Plaintiffs filed their original petition on May 12, 2016. Plaintiffs allege that they did not have notice of their tort claims until the foreclosure of their property in July of 2015, which is within one year of the original filing date. Defendants argue that the December 27, 2013 letter from and phone call to Ocwen were sufficient to provide Plaintiffs with constructive notice of their tort claims and to begin the one-year prescriptive period. Unlike in Costello, Plaintiffs allege they had no way of knowing of their tort action until the foreclosure on their property in July of 2015. Therefore, determination of whether the alleged tort was reasonably knowable by the Plaintiffs under the circumstances, considering their education, intelligence and the nature of Defendants' conduct, raises an issue of fact that cannot be decided on a Rule 12(c) motion.
Furthermore, Plaintiffs argue that under the continuous tort doctrine, prescription dates from cessation of the wrongful conduct causing the damage, which in this case, Plaintiff argues is to be the date of foreclosure. Defendants argue that the continuing-tort theory is not applicable because each alleged misapplied or converted loan payment that Plaintiffs complain about constitutes "a separate wrong;"
Under the continuing tort doctrine, "[w]hen the cause of the injury is a continuous one giving rise to successive damages, prescription dates from cessation of the wrongful conduct causing the damage."
In Bustamento v. Tucker, the plaintiff alleged that her claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress based on sexual harassment in the workplace was not prescribed because the defendant's conduct creating a hostile work environment was continuous and occurred over a period of time.
In Costello, the Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit, rejected the plaintiffs' argument that the actions of defendants constituted a continuing tort, reasoning:
Additionally, in Scott v. Am. Tobacco Co., the Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit, citing Bustamento, held that a fraud action based on allegations of the defendant's suppression of truth, the continuous withholding of information constitutes a continuing tort.
In this case, Plaintiffs' allege that Defendants' conduct in refusing to apply Plaintiffs' payments to the Mortgage Loan, continuously representing that Plaintiffs' loan was in default, and refusing send Plaintiffs monthly statements or information about their loan, caused Plaintiffs to lose their house, lose their money, and suffer damage to their credit. Unlike in Costello, Plaintiffs do not allege that each separate incident resulted in a discrete, fractional loss of their total damages. Rather, Plaintiffs allege that because of the continuous, cumulative, synergistic nature of Defendants' conduct, the harm to Plaintiffs continually mounted in their damage to credit, loss of money, and lack of ability to rectify the payment errors, and that this harm ultimately culminated in the loss of their house.
Plaintiffs allege that Ocwen suppressed true information in refusing to send Plaintiffs monthly statements or otherwise communicate with them about the status of the loan; that sometime after the April 2013 conversation, Ocwen cut off communication with Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs were told that Ocwen was unable to communicate with Plaintiffs due to their 2008 bankruptcy filing; and that each month following the April 2013 phone call, Plaintiffs would call Ocwen and inquire about the amount of that month's payment. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have alleged that Defendants continually suppressed information giving rise to this fraud claim, and the continuous suppression of that information constitutes a continuous tort. Moreover, the issue of when the continuous conduct abated is an issue of fact.
On a Rule 12(c) motion, "[p]leadings should be construed liberally," and judgment is "appropriate only if there are no disputed issues of fact and only questions of law remain."
Even if Plaintiffs' fraud claim were not time-barred, Defendants argue, Plaintiffs have failed to meet the pleading requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b) because Plaintiffs have not sufficiently alleged that Ocwen acted with fraudulent intent, and Plaintiffs have not alleged the existence of a fiduciary relationship between them and Ocwen that would have obligated Ocwen to disclose payment information to Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs, in turn, argue that they alleged Ocwen's conduct constituting fraud with particularity sufficient to state a fraud claim.
Pursuant to Louisiana Civil Code article 1953, fraud is defined as (1) "a misrepresentation or a suppression of the truth" (2) "made with the intention either to obtain an unjust advantage for one party or to cause a loss or inconvenience to the other." Fraud may also result from silence or inaction.
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b), "[i]n alleging fraud or mistake, a party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake." The Fifth Circuit has held that "general allegations, which do not state with particularity "what representations each defendant made, do not meet this requirement."
In Webb v. Everhome Mortgage, a Fifth Circuit case, the plaintiff brought a claim for fraud stemming from the Defendant's conduct leading to the foreclosure sale of the plaintiff's home.
With respect to the first element for fraud, Plaintiffs allege Defendants made three misrepresentations and engaged in one act of suppression of truth. First, Plaintiffs allege that an Ocwen representative stated in a phone call in April 2013 that they were delinquent on their loan, when, in fact, they were not. Second, Plaintiffs allege that at some time thereafter, Plaintiffs were informed on another phone call with Ocwen that their loan was in arrears and that they would be required to pay $3505.55 to bring the account current.
Third, Plaintiffs allege that on December 27, 2017, they received a letter stating their payment for $657.04 was returned, that they continued to send monthly payments, and that in September 2015, Ocwen cashed all the payments it had withheld and not applied to Plaintiffs' loan.
Fourth, Plaintiffs allege that Ocwen suppressed true information in refusing to send Plaintiffs monthly statements or otherwise communicate with them about the status of the loan; that sometime after the April 2013 conversation, Ocwen cut off communication with Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs were told that Ocwen was unable to communicate with Plaintiffs due to their 2008 bankruptcy filing; and that each month following the April 2013 phone call, Plaintiffs would call Ocwen and inquire about the amount of that month's payment.
"In order to find fraud from silence or suppression of the truth, there must exist a duty to speak or disclose information."
With respect to the second element for fraud, which requires an intention either to obtain an unjust advantage for one party or to cause a loss or inconvenience to the other, Plaintiffs allege in the petition for damages that Ocwen "defrauded the Plaintiffs in an effort [sic] maximize their monetary gain, to steal their home, and to steal their monthly mortgage payments."
Defendants next argue that Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act fails because neither Ocwen nor Deutsche Bank was a debt collector, as defined by the Act. Plaintiffs, in turn, argue that Ocwen was a debt collector because it sought payments from Plaintiffs while claiming that the loan was not current. Plaintiffs further argue that their FDCPA claim should proceed against Deutsche Bank, as well, because Deutsche Bank engaged in improper debt collection activity by filing for foreclosure on Plaintiffs' home when the debt was not valid.
"The term `debt collector' means any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts, or who regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another."
In Bridge v. Ocwen Federal Bank, FSB, the case cited by Plaintiffs in support of their argument that they have sufficiently stated a claim pursuant to the FDCPA, although not binding on this Court, the Sixth Circuit held that the plaintiff's allegation that "there is no assignment of record to establish that Deutsche is a creditor or that Ocwen Bank is a loan servicer; that Ocwen Bank made persistent efforts to collect a debt, i.e., mortgage payments; and that the Defendants used the mails as well as an instrumentality of interstate commerce, i.e., the telephone system, to do so" were "more than sufficient [allegations] to state a plausible claim for relief based on the FDCPA."
Defendants' only argument that Ocwen and Deutsche Bank are not debt collectors, as defined by the FDCPA, is based on Defendants' assertion that the loan was not in default when it was obtained by either party. Plaintiffs, however, allege that they were charged a "37.62 Late Fee" at the time the Mortgage Loan was transferred to Ocwen from the prior servicer. Plaintiffs additionally allege that whether the loan was in default at the time it was transferred to Deutsche Bank is a "question of material fact and therefore not susceptible for dismissal pursuant to a challenge under Fed. R. 12(c)."
On a 12(c) motion, judgment is "appropriate only if there are no disputed issues of fact and only questions of law remain."
Defendants argue that Plaintiffs have no private right of action because enforcement of Section 1681s-2(a) is governed exclusively by the FTC and other government entities, and because Section 1681s-2(a) is excluded from private rights of action by Section 1681s-2(c). Furthermore, Defendants argue they cannot be liable pursuant to FCRA Section 1681s-2(b) because Plaintiffs do not allege that they first reported the supposed inaccurate credit information to a credit reporting agency, the credit reporting agency notified Defendants of the dispute, and Defendants failed to adequately investigate the dispute and correct any inaccurate information. To the extent Plaintiffs allege state law tort claims for credit damages, Defendants argue those claims are preempted by the FCRA.
Plaintiffs, in turn, argue that they have adequately stated a claim pursuant to the FCRA by alleging that Ocwen is knowingly reporting incorrect and derogatory information to credit reporting bureaus which have resulted in the Plaintiffs incurring credit related damages.
Pursuant 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a), "furnishers" of information that transmit information to a credit reporting agency concerning a debt owed by a consumer have a duty to provide accurate information, and correct information that is not complete or accurate. "15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(c), and Section 1681s-2(d) provides that enforcement of Section 1681s-2(a) shall be by government officials."
"Section 1681s-2(b) imposes duties on furnishers of information to, inter alia, investigate disputed information and report the results of any such investigation to the consumer reporting agency."
As Plaintiffs have no private right of action pursuant to Section 1681s-2(a), Defendants are entitled to judgment on the pleadings with respect to this claim. In addition, Plaintiffs have not stated a valid claim pursuant to Section 1681s-2(b); however, it is not clear that Plaintiffs can prove no set of facts in support of this claim that would entitle them to relief. Therefore, judgment on the pleadings is not appropriate, and the Court will instead grant Plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint as to their claim pursuant to Section 1681s-2(b).
With respect to Plaintiffs' alternative state law claims related to Ocwen's reporting of their credit, 15 U.S.C. § 1681t(b)(1)(F) states, "No requirement or prohibition may be imposed under the laws of any State . . . with respect to any subject matter regulated under . . . section 1681s-2 of this title, relating to the responsibilities of persons who furnish information to consumer reporting agencies. . . ." In addition, § 15 U.S.C. § 1681h(e) states, "no consumer may bring any action . . . in the nature of defamation . . . with respect to the reporting of information against any . . . person who furnishes information to a consumer reporting agency" based on information disclosed pursuant to Sections 1681g, 1681h, or 1681m, "except as to false information furnished with malice or willful intent to injure such consumer." Thus, while Section 1681t(b)(1)(F) appears to preempt all state law claims, Section 1681h(e) appears to permit a defamation action in situations involving malice or willful intent to injure.
In Floyd v. Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Co., another section in the Eastern District of Louisiana stated the following with respect to how these sections have been reconciled:
As in Floyd, "with the general factual allegations pled, it is impossible for the Court to perceive [Plaintiffs'] exact theory, and therefore whether there is any preemption under Section 1681t(b)(1)(F)." Moreover, it is not clear whether any set of facts exist in support of a state law claim based on Defendants' credit reporting upon which Plaintiffs could prevail. Accordingly, these claims are not appropriate for judgment on the pleadings, and the Court will instead grant Plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint as to these claims.
Defendants argue that Plaintiffs cannot recover non-pecuniary damages because Plaintiffs cannot establish that the contract was entered into for a non-pecuniary purpose, and Plaintiffs have not alleged that Defendants' alleged breach of contract was calculated to inflict grief, vexation, or inconvenience on Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs, in turn, argue that they are entitled to recover non-pecuniary damages because Defendants acted in bad faith by failing to utilize prudent business practices in their dealings with Plaintiffs; and therefore, Defendants intended to aggrieve Plaintiffs.
Louisiana Civil Code article 1998 states:
Plaintiffs do not argue that the Mortgage is a non-pecuniary contract. Furthermore, Plaintiffs do not allege in the petition for damages that Defendants "intended to aggrieve the feelings" of Plaintiffs through Defendants' failure to perform its obligations under the Mortgage. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have not alleged facts sufficient to show that they are entitled to nonpecuniary damages for the breach of contract claim. However, it is not clear that no set of facts exist in support of Plaintiffs' breach of contract claim that would entitle them to recover nonpecuniary damages. Therefore, judgment on the pleadings is not appropriate, and the Court will instead grant Plaintiffs leave to amend their complaint as to this claim.
Defendants argue that because Plaintiffs have other legal remedies against Defendants, whether or not Plaintiffs are successful in pursuing those remedies, Plaintiffs' claim for unjust enrichment should be dismissed. Plaintiffs acknowledge that prior to the foreclosure other legal remedies were available and are asserted through this lawsuit. However, Plaintiffs argue that should the Court determine that no legal remedies exist for claims after the contractual relationship ended, Plaintiffs should be permitted to proceed under the theory of unjust enrichment.
The Court has made no determination as to whether legal remedies exist for claims after the contractual relationship ended. Moreover, the Court has granted Plaintiffs leave to amend all claims that are not validly stated in the petition for damages and which Plaintiffs have not voluntarily dismissed. Since the Court has not considered and cannot consider whether legal remedies exist for claims after the contractual relationship ended until Plaintiffs amend their complaint, judgment on the pleadings is not appropriate as to this claim.
For the reasons stated above, Plaintiffs' claim for violation of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act and Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to Section 1681s-2(a) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act are hereby dismissed. In addition, Defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings as to whether Plaintiffs' tort claims are prescribed is denied. Defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings as to Plaintiffs' claim pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and as to Plaintiffs' claim for unjust enrichment, is also denied. Plaintiffs have not alleged facts sufficient to show that they are entitled to recover non-pecuniary damages for the breach of contract claim, and therefore, the Court will grant Plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint as to this claim. Finally, Plaintiffs have failed to state a valid claim as to their claims for fraud, their claim pursuant to Section 1681s-2(b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and their state law claim based on Defendants' credit reporting; thus, the Court will grant Plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint as to these claims.
Accordingly,