HENRY J. BOROFF, Bankruptcy Judge.
Before the Court is a "Motion for Judgment on Partial Findings" (the "Motion for Judgment"), filed by defendant Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Trustee under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement Series ITF Series NBAS 2006-C ("Deutsche Bank"). By its Motion for Judgment, Deutsche Bank alleges that plaintiffs David and Linda Giza (together, the "Gizas") have failed to offer sufficient credible evidence to support the essential elements of their claim under the Massachusetts Consumer Credit Cost Disclosure Act, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140D, § 1, et seq. ("MCCCDA") that their residential mortgage held by Deutsche Bank should be rescinded. The Gizas' rescission claim is grounded on their allegation that, at the closing of their loan, the original lender failed to furnish them with all of the forms mandated by the MCCCDA. The Gizas having completed their case and rested, and the Court having carefully reviewed the confused evidence presented, the Court finds and rules that the Gizas have failed to rebut the presumption of delivery under the MCCCDA of the relevant documents and, accordingly, have failed to meet their burden of production. The
The Gizas are spouses residing at 15 Orchard Street in Palmer, Massachusetts (the "Property") and are debtors in these separately filed Chapter 13 cases.
On April 1, 2006, the Gizas sought to refinance their mortgage with Amcap Mortgage, Inc. ("Amcap").
At trial, the Gizas appeared hard-pressed to recall the actual events that took place at the Closing, including the manner in which and what documents were presented to and signed by them; however, they concede that they signed the Acknowledgments. Id. at 75:17-76:1. Following the execution of the Loan Documents, the Closing Agent gave the Gizas a set of copies of the Loan Documents (the "May 2006 Documents"). The Gizas could not recall whether the May 2006 Documents given by the Closing Agent to the Gizas were loose and then placed by Linda Giza in a folder or envelope or whether they were given to her by the Closing Agent in a folder or envelope. Id. at 20:14-24. In any event, Linda Giza testified that she took the May 2006 Documents and put them in a safe located on the Property. Id. at 21:24-22:2. The Gizas testified that they did not look at or examine the May 2006 Documents prior to Linda Giza putting them in the safe on the Property and have no recollection of looking
At some point in 2007, the Gizas sought to list the Property for sale. In an effort to clean the Property in preparation for sale, some documents, including at least one document related to the Loan, were relocated to a storage facility not on the Property.
On May 10, 2007, David Giza filed a voluntary Chapter 13 case in this Court. In re David Giza, No. 07-41782. Some time between the commencement of that case and February 2008, Linda Giza claims to have discovered that the "seam" on the original folder or envelope containing the May 2006 Documents "let loose." Trial Tr. at 30:7-21; see also JPTS, at ¶ 23. She then separated the May 2006 Documents into different containers. Trial Tr. at 31:20-24; see also JPTS, at ¶ 23. Linda Giza testified that she put the papers relating to David Giza into a "Landry, Lyons & White" folder, but she could not recall for certain the second container used to hold the remaining papers nor whether she put them back in the safe.
On February 4, 2008, Linda Giza claims to have taken documents out of the safe located on the Property and handed them to David Giza who then took them to the Gizas' attorney's office (the "February 2008 Documents"). Id. at 34:6-22; 108:10-109:25. The February 2008 Documents were scanned at the Gizas' attorney's office and remained in David Giza's custody throughout the scanning. David Giza then took the February 2008 Documents home and Linda Giza put them back in the safe located on the Property. Id. at 35:22-36:1.
On June 14, 2008, the Gizas' attorney sent a notice of rescission (the "2008 Rescission Letter") to Amcap and Deutsche Bank on behalf of the Gizas, claiming Truth in Lending Act ("TILA") violations
On October 30, 2008, Linda Giza claims to have again personally delivered documents taken from the safe on the Property to the Gizas' attorney's office for scanning (the "October 2008 Documents").
On May 27, 2009, Linda Giza filed a voluntary Chapter 13 case in this Court. In re Linda Giza, No. 09-30886. Three days later, on May 30, 2009, the Gizas instituted the instant adversary proceeding
On June 2, 2009, the Gizas' attorney sent a second notice of rescission (the "2009 Rescission Letter") to Amcap, Deutsche Bank, and OneWest on behalf of the Gizas, this time citing TILA and MCCCDA violations
On June 25, 2009, three weeks after David Giza filed his adversary proceeding, Linda Giza filed a nearly identical adversary proceeding in her bankruptcy case, although she added claims for violation of the automatic stay by the defendants with regard to her interest in the Property. Linda Y. Giza v. Amcap mortgage, Inc., Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, [as Trustee], and OneWest Bank, FSB, A.P. No. 09-03032. On June 3, 2010, the two adversary proceedings were consolidated.
Through their Complaint, the Gizas sought to (1) have this Court determine the validity and extent of the recorded mortgage in light of the 2008 and 2009 Rescission Letters and (2) recover, under TILA and MCCCDA, statutory damages, injunctive relief, costs, and attorney's fees for the failure of the defendants to honor their mortgage rescission.
On May 20, 2010, the parties filed a Joint Pre-Trial Statement with this Court, agreeing to a discovery plan with respect to the Gizas' remaining claim. In the meantime, sometime in early May 2010, Linda Giza claims to have found additional documents related to the Amcap Loan in a storage facility not located on the Property. (She testified at trial to having no recollection as to how they got there. Trial Tr. at 40:7-41:19; see also JPTS, at ¶ 36.) On May 25, 2010, the Gizas personally delivered to their attorney, various documents related to the Loan, including those discovered in the storage facility, as well as documents related to the adversary proceeding (the "May 2010 Documents"). Trial Tr. at 40:7-16; see also JPTS, at ¶ 37. The May 2010 Documents were scanned at the Gizas' attorney's office and remained in the Gizas' custody throughout the scanning. Upon completion of the scanning, the May 2010 Documents were sealed in a large envelope.
Throughout June and July 2010, the May 2010 Documents were inspected and scanned on multiple occasions both on and away from the Property. JPTS, at ¶ 41-44. On June 11, 2010, one of the Gizas' attorneys came to the Property and inspected the May 2010 Documents. The inspection was conducted on the Property and in the Gizas' presence. The Gizas testified that the attorney observed them
On June 21, 2010, the Gizas filed a Motion to Amend and the instant Amended Complaint. The proposed amendments sought to correct several factual errors and assert additional claims against Deutsche Bank and OneWest, in an attempt to draw OneWest back into the case. Most significant was the Gizas' discovery and amended allegation that a total of four Notices, rather than a total of three as previously alleged, were actually given to the Gizas at the Closing, but three to David Giza and only one to Linda Giza. On January 4, 2011, this Court denied all of the Gizas' substantive requests to amend the Complaint, with the exception of permitting the Gizas to change the number of Notices received. Giza v. Amcap Mtg., Inc. (In re Giza), 441 B.R. 395 (Bankr. D.Mass.2011) ("Giza II").
On February 28, 2011, Deutsche Bank filed a Motion for Summary Judgment arguing that the Gizas' claim under the MCCCDA was untimely, as they failed to exercise their right to rescind within the three-day period required by § 10(a) of the MCCCDA and therefore, could not state a claim under the MCCCDA as a matter of law. Deutsche Bank further contended that because the Gizas each signed the Acknowledgments, there existed a legal presumption that the Gizas did in fact receive the required number of Notices and Disclosure Statements. The Gizas objected to Deutsche Bank's Motion for Summary Judgment, maintaining that they had a legitimate claim under the MCCCDA and that there were genuine issues of fact and law to be determined by this Court. Following a hearing held on April 21, 2011, this Court denied Deutsche Bank's Motion for Summary Judgment from the bench and set a new trial date for June 13 and 17, 2011.
On June 13, 2011, this Court commenced trial and Deutsche Bank simultaneously filed the Motion for Judgment that is currently before this Court. Both David and Linda Giza testified and a total of 20 exhibits were admitted into evidence. At the conclusion of the Gizas' evidence, this Court took the Motion for Judgment under advisement, suspending the balance of the trial pending a ruling thereon. The Gizas declined to submit a new memorandum in response to the Motion for Judgment and instead asked this Court to take notice of their "Brief in Opposition to Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment." Trial Tr. at 132:5-7.
The Gizas argue that they properly rescinded the Loan pursuant to Chapter 140D, § 10 of the MCCCDA and § 1635 of TILA because Amcap failed to deliver to each of them the required number of Notices and Disclosure Statements. And because Deutsche Bank failed to honor the Gizas' valid notices of rescission, the Gizas claim that they are vested with the right to retain the net Loan proceeds and Deutsche Bank therefore has no allowable
The Gizas concede that their execution of the Acknowledgments at the Closing gives rise to a rebuttable presumption that they each did in fact receive two Notices and one Disclosure Statement. However, the Gizas contend that they have presented sufficient evidence to rebut this presumption.
Deutsche Bank objects to the Gizas' claims on the facts and as a matter of law. First, Deutsche Bank argues that the Gizas cannot avoid the MCCCDA's time bar for rescission by claiming that they have an extended right to rescind due to the alleged missing documents. Deutsche Bank maintains that even if the Gizas are able to show that they did not receive the requisite number of Notices and Disclosure Statements, the missing forms should be considered a mere "technical violation"— since the Gizas' claim is not that the Notices and Disclosure Statements were deficient, but rather that they simply received an insufficient number of them. Deutsche Bank further asserts that a technically incorrect Notice complies with TILA and the MCCCDA if it substantially informs the borrower of the right to cancel the loan. Second, Deutsche argues that even if the Gizas could extend their right to rescind as a matter of law based upon the claim of receiving an insufficient number of Notices and Disclosure Statements, they have not provided sufficient credible evidence to overcome the presumption of receipt created by the Gizas' Acknowledgments that they each received two copies of the Notice and one of the Disclosure Statement.
In response to Deutsche Bank's first argument, the Gizas maintain that the plain language of the MCCCDA allows them to rescind the Loan for a period of four years after its consummation because the original mortgage lender did not deliver to them the required number of Notices and Disclosure Statements. And although the Gizas do admit to the collective receipt of four Notices and one Disclosure Statement per their Amended Complaint, they argue that they have demonstrated that Linda Giza received only one of those Notices and that the one Disclosure Statement was addressed to both David and Linda Giza, leaving one Notice and one Disclosure Statement undelivered. In addition, the Gizas point to several authorities holding that the failure to deliver the requisite number of forms during a closing should not be considered a mere technical violation, as Deutsche Bank claims.
In response to Deutsche Bank's second argument, the Gizas do not dispute that they each signed the Acknowledgments nor do they dispute that their signatures create a rebuttable presumption of delivery. The Gizas do, however, again maintain that they have presented sufficient evidence to allow this Court to find that they have rebutted that presumption.
A motion for judgment on partial findings in a bench trial is governed by Rule 52(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure ("Rule 52(c)"), as made applicable to adversary proceedings in bankruptcy by Rule 7052 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Under Rule 52(c), "[i]f a party has been fully heard on an issue during a nonjury trial and the court finds against the party on that issue, the court may enter judgment against the party on a claim or defense that, under the controlling law, can be maintained or defeated only with a favorable finding on that issue." Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(c). Such a judgment must be "supported by findings of
TILA was enacted as a federal consumer protection statute with "the broad purpose of promoting `the informed use of credit' by assuring `meaningful disclosure of credit terms' to consumers." Ford Motor Credit Co. v. Milhollin, 444 U.S. 555, 559, 100 S.Ct. 790, 63 L.Ed.2d 22 (1980) (quoting 15 U.S.C. § 1601(a)). The MCCCDA is a Massachusetts statute "`closely modeled'" on TILA. Fuller v. Deutsche Bank Nat'l Trust Co. (In re Fuller), 642 F.3d 240, 243 (1st Cir.2011) (quoting Mayo v. Key Financial Services, Inc., 424 Mass. 862, 864, 678 N.E.2d 1311 (1997)). "[T]he regulations promulgated under TILA and [M]CCCDA are substantially similar. . . . The only differences are with respect to the statutes of limitation for rescission and damage claims." Whitley v. Rhodes Fin. Servs., Inc. (In re Whitely), 177 B.R. 142, 147-48 (Bankr. D.Mass.1995).
Chapter 140D, § 10(a) of the MCCCDA allows a borrower to rescind a loan that is secured by the borrower's principal dwelling if the creditor did not provide to the borrower all disclosures required by the
Id. (emphasis added).
The related regulation, "Notice of Right to Rescind," provides that:
209 C.M.R. § 32.23(2)(a) (2005)(emphasis added). As cited above, Chapter 140D, § 10(a) of the MCCCDA entitles each borrower in a residential mortgage transaction to a disclosure statement.
TILA likewise requires that lenders "clearly and conspicuously disclose" to
12 C.F.R. § 226.17(a)(1) (2009).
Under the MCCCDA, a borrower's written acknowledgment that he or she received two Notices and one Disclosure Statement creates a rebuttable presumption that the borrower did in fact receive those forms:
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140D, § 10(c).
Under the "Bursting Bubble" theory, "a party need only introduce rebutting evidence that is sufficient to support a finding contrary to the presumed fact." In re Sousa, 2011 WL 917853, at *5 (citing 2 McCormick on Evidence § 344). When the Gizas each signed the Acknowledgments, a rebuttable presumption of receipt arose in Deutsche Bank's favor. Accordingly, the Gizas have the burden of going forward and presenting evidence that would support a finding that they never received the requisite number of Notices and Disclosure Statements.
The Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire was presented with the same issue in In re Sousa. See 2011 WL 917853. There, the Sousas' (the borrowers) "credible testimony" was sufficient for the court to find that "the presumption of delivery of the notice of the right to rescind was rebutted." Id. at *7. Judge Deasy characterized the Sousas' testimony as "consistent, persuasive, and ... based on their specific recollections." Id.
At trial, the Sousas presented only their testimony to rebut the presumption of delivery. However, both Mr. and Mrs. Sousa's testimony recounting the events were unshakable. The Sousas described a closing process where they took the time to review each document they signed. The Sousas testified that they not only signed, but also read, the acknowledgments of receipt. Additionally, however, the Sousas testified that they were told by the closing agent that the copies of all the closing documents, including the Notices and Disclosure Statements, would be provided at the end of closing, but they never were.
Applying the Bursting Bubble theory, Judge Deasy began with Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 301 in his evaluation of whether the Sousas had met their burden of rebutting the presumption of delivery:
Fed.R.Evid. 301. The court reasoned that, "[b]ecause a borrower's sworn testimony or affidavit is considered evidence, such evidence may rebut the presumption if it is credible and contradicts the presumed fact." In re Sousa, at *6.
Unlike the testimony provided by the Sousas, the Gizas' testimony at trial was inconsistent, unpersuasive and based on confused and fragmented recollections. The Gizas could neither recall the identity of the Closing Agent nor the actual events of the Closing itself. Further, the Gizas conceded having signed the Acknowledgments without any actual knowledge of whether they did in fact receive the documents they were acknowledging to have received. Finally, the Gizas testified that they did not look at or examine the Loan Documents (there, the May 2006 Documents) upon receiving them or before putting them in a safe on the Property. Unlike the debtors in In re Sousa, the Gizas' testimony did not eliminate the possibility that the correct number of copies of the Notice were actually provided at the Closing. Undoubtedly, the Gizas failed to rebut the presumption of delivery under the Bursting Bubble theory.
Under the "Folder" theory (also known as the "Envelope" theory), a party "claim[s] that all of the documents that [he or she] received at the closing were contained in an envelope." Jackson v. New Century Mortgage Corp., 320 F.Supp.2d 608, 611 (E.D.Mich.2004). "The sufficiency of the `folder theory' is related to the reliability of the folder itself." In re Jaaskelainen, 391 B.R. at 642. The presumption has only been rebutted when the integrity of the Closing Booklet has been established through credible witness testimony. Id.; See also Jackson, 320 F.Supp.2d at 612.
In the instant case, the Gizas submitted the documents they presented at their February 2011 depositions, which they then maintained and still maintain to represent the documents they received at the Closing (the "February 2011 Documents"). See Pls.' Exs. 1(a) and 1(b). The February 2011 Documents contain four Notices: three bearing David Giza's name at the "Customer's Signature" line and one bearing Linda Giza's name at the "Customer's Signature" line, though all four list "David Giza, Linda Y. Giza" as the "Borrower(s)." Id. The February 2011 Documents also include one Disclosure Statement bearing both David Giza's and Linda Giza's names at the signature line and lists "David Giza, Linda Y. Giza" as the "Borrower(s)." Id. However, the February 2008 Documents, the documents on which the 2008 Rescission Letter was sent and the initial Complaint was based, contained only three Notices.
The MCCCDA's silence as to the standard that a party must meet to rebut the presumption of delivery does not mean that no such standard exists. Nor does it mean that bare allegations and haphazard documentary evidence of nonreceipt are sufficient to rebut the presumption. The inability of the Gizas to testify with certainty as to what they received at Closing, coupled with the confusing travel and custody of the documents which they did receive, are singly and together insufficient to rebut the presumption of delivery of those relevant documents as provided as a matter of law under the MCCCDA. For the foregoing reasons, Defendant's Motion for Judgment must be GRANTED.
An order consistent with this Memorandum will issue accordingly.
212 B.R. 716, 722 (Bankr.D.Mass.1997) (citations omitted). This Court further noted in In re Desrosiers that, although the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve exempted credit transactions subject to the MCCCDA
Id. at n. 6; See also Giza I, at 272-73.
No. 08-159444-WCH, 2011 WL 4498875, at *17 (Bankr.D.Mass.2011). Accordingly, Judge Hillman ruled that "the ambiguity must be resolved against the drafter of the Acknowledgment such that it did not create a presumption of adequate delivery of a total of four copies of the [Notice]." Id. (citing LFC Lessors, Inc. v. Pac. Sewer Maint. Corp., 739 F.2d 4, 7 (1st Cir.1984) ("an ambiguous contract should be construed against the drafting party"); Chelsea Indus., Inc. v. Accuray Leasing Corp., 699 F.2d 58, 61 (1st Cir.1983) ("[I]n case of doubt, an instrument is to be taken against the party that drew it"); ER Holdings, Inc. v. Norton Co., 735 F.Supp. 1094, 1100 (D.Mass.1990) ("Massachusetts law construes ambiguous contractual language against the drafter")).