GEORGE CARAM STEEH, District Judge.
This action arises out of the foreclosure of the Wyandotte, Michigan home of Plaintiffs Brian Kramer and his former wife Maria Kramer. Plaintiffs seek specific performance of their loan modification agreement and damages for alleged violations of the Michigan Regulation of Collection Practices Act ("MRCPA"), M.C.L. § 445.251
On August 9, 2005, Plaintiffs obtained a loan from Home Loan Corporation in the amount of $240,000. (Doc. 6, Ex. A). In connection with the loan, Plaintiffs granted Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS") a mortgage interest on their home in Wyandotte, Michigan which was recorded on January 19, 2006. (Doc. 1, Ex. D). Plaintiffs fell behind in their payments and applied for and were approved for a loan modification agreement with BAC Home Loan Servicing ("Bank of America") on June 5, 2009. (Doc. 6, Ex. D). The terms of that agreement called for Plaintiffs to pay $920.82 each month beginning on August 1, 2009 until September 1, 2035.
The loan modification agreement further provided that any interest rate increases would take effect as provided for in the note which provided for such increases to occur on the first day of October. (Doc. 6, Ex. A, ¶¶ 2(B), 3(C), Ex. D at 3, ¶ 2). The amount of the loan modification was increased to $989.88 effective beginning in October, 2009. (Comp. ¶ 5). According to the complaint, Plaintiffs paid that amount from October, 2009 until February, 2010 and also paid separate monthly tax payments of $200 from October, 2009 to February, 2010.
According to the complaint, in late February, 2010, Bank of America advised Plaintiffs that it was no longer going to honor the loan modification agreement and instructed Plaintiffs to apply for a new loan modification, allegedly to correct any tax/escrow errors. (Comp. ¶ 7). In their response brief, Plaintiffs admit that they failed to make the modified payments due on the loan. (Doc. 10 at 2). The mortgage was foreclosed via advertisement. On September 6, 2012, Defendant purchased the property for $296,507.81 at a sheriff's sale. (Doc. 6, Ex. E). The sheriff's deed was recorded on September 18, 2012.
On April 23, 2013, Defendant initiated eviction proceedings against Plaintiffs in 27th District Court for the State of Michigan. On May 6, 2013, Plaintiffs filed a counter-complaint which the 27th District Court severed and transferred to Wayne County Circuit Court. Defendant removed here on the basis of diversity jurisdiction. Now before the court is Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c) on the grounds that (1) Plaintiffs have failed to show prejudice by any fraud or irregularity in the foreclosure process; (2) Plaintiffs' claim for specific performance is barred by the doctrine of laches and because Plaintiffs have unclean hands; (3) Plaintiffs' claim for violations of the MRCPA lack specific factual allegations, and (4) Plaintiffs' claim for violations of the CMPA must be dismissed as there is no private right of action under that statute.
Defendant seeks judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c). The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has stated that a district court must consider a Rule 12(c) motion using the same standard of review as a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.
In ruling on a motion to dismiss, the court may consider not only the complaint, but also (1) documents referenced in the pleadings and central to plaintiff's claims, (2) matters of which a court may take notice, and (3) public documents.
In Count I of their complaint, Plaintiffs seek specific performance of the loan modification agreement despite the fact that the property has been foreclosed and they no longer own the property. Michigan law grants a mortgagor of residential property a statutory redemption period of six months. M.C.L. § 600.3240(8). When the redemption period expires, the purchaser of the sheriff's deed is vested with "all the right, title, and interest" in the property. M.C.L. § 600.3236. In this case, the sheriff's sale occurred on September 6, 2012, the deed was recorded on September 18, 2012, and the redemption period expired on March 6, 2013. At that time, Plaintiffs' rights in the property were extinguished. Once the redemption period expires, the Michigan Court of Appeals has held that a plaintiff lacks standing to bring a claim.
The Michigan Supreme Court recently reiterated the rule that the failure to comply with conditions set forth in Michigan's foreclosure by advertisement statute does not render foreclosures void, but merely voidable where actual prejudice is shown.
In their response brief, Plaintiffs argue that the foreclosure should be set aside because their loan modification was unenforceable and in violation of the statute of frauds because the agreement was signed only by them and not by Bank of America. The argument is nonsensical as Plaintiffs' complaint seeks specific performance of the very loan modification agreement which Plaintiffs now assert is unenforceable. If the loan modification agreement were somehow invalid, this conclusion would necessarily preclude Count I of the complaint which seeks specific performance of that agreement.
Although not entirely clear, in their response, Plaintiffs also argue that "Defendant has effectively `stolen' Plaintiff's land" on the theory that the mortgage was allegedly secured only by the home and not by the land. (Doc. 10 at 4-5). In support of this argument, Plaintiffs point to the fact that there are two tax identification numbers for the property. Plaintiffs' argument lacks merit. Both the mortgage, assignment of mortgage, and sheriff's deed give a legal description of the property which clearly applies both to the land and the residence located there. (Doc. 6, Ex. B, C, and E). As Defendant states in its reply, the two tax parcel identification numbers are used because the property is located in a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone, providing Plaintiff with a tax abatement through 2015. (Doc. 10, Ex. 3).
Because Plaintiffs have failed to show any irregularity or fraud in the foreclosure process which would invalidate the foreclosure, Plaintiffs' claim for specific performance of the loan modification agreement must be dismissed. Accordingly, the court does not reach Defendant's argument that the doctrine of laches applies or that Plaintiffs have unclean hands.
Count II of the complaint alleges violations of the MRCPA but fails to allege any factual basis for that claim. The complaint simply states that "Defendant, through its attorneys Trott & Trott, P.C., are acting as a debt collector within the meaning of the [MRCPA]." (Doc. 1, Ex. A at ¶ 14). Count II further states, "Defendant, through its attorneys Trott & Trott, P.C. have made false, deceptive, and misleading statements `regarding the character, amount or legal status of [his] debt' in connection with the mortgage." This is the sum total of Plaintiffs' MRCPA claim. Although Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) allows for notice pleading, the pleading must provide "more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do."
Count II of the complaint also seeks relief under the CMPA. The law is well settled that there is no private cause of action under the CMPA.
For the reasons stated above, Defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings (Doc. 6) is GRANTED and the complaint is DISMISSED.