RAMOS, District Judge.
Plaintiffs Krisber and Mario Castro ("Plaintiffs" or the "Castros") commenced this action against Defendants Green Tree Servicing LLC ("Green Tree") and Kevin Smith (collectively, "Defendants") alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692, et seq. ("FDCPA"), and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227. ("TCPA"). Amended Complaint ("Am. Compl.") ¶¶ 66-94 (Doc. 10.) Before the Court are the parties' cross-motions for summary judgment pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 56. Docs. 48, 57. Specifically, Plaintiffs move for summary judgment on certain of their FDCPA claims, Doc. 48, and Defendants move for summary judgment on Plaintiffs' TCPA claim. Doc. 57. Additionally, Defendants request that the Court limit Plaintiffs at trial to "garden variety" emotional distress damages on their FDCPA claims. Id. For the reasons set forth below, Plaintiffs' motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, and Defendants' motion is DENIED.
The following facts are undisputed except where otherwise noted.
On or about August 11, 2004, Plaintiff Krisber Castro executed a note (the "Note") in the principal amount of $83,000 payable to National Bank of Kansas, secured
In or about 2008, the Castros fell behind on their mortgage payments. Id. ¶ 7. Beginning in February 2009, Countrywide Home Loans ("Countrywide"), and then Bank of America ("BOA"), sent Plaintiff Krisber Castro Monthly Home Loan Statements stating that their "records indicate that [her] loan [was] in default." Declaration of Krisber Castro ("Krisber Decl.") (Doc. 52), Ex. C. In or about August 2009, BOA sent Ms. Castro a notice stating that "[BOA] ... services your home loan on behalf of the holder of your note (Noteholder). This is to advise you that your account remains seriously delinquent." Krisber Decl., Ex. D. The notice further stated that "[i]f we do not hear from you immediately, we will have no alternative but to take appropriate action to protect the interest of the Noteholder in your property.... [BOA] ... will proceed with collection action until your account is brought fully current...." Id. The notice advised that the total amount due on August 16, 2009 was $710.14. Id.
In or about August 2009, after the debt was in default, Defendant Green Tree, a debt collector,
Id. At no time before sending the September 18, 2009 letter did Green Tree accelerate the Note. Pls.' 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 18.
On September 21, 2009, Green Tree sent Ms. Castro a second letter, offering automatic payment services and advising that she would soon begin receiving monthly mortgage statements from Green Tree. Krisber Decl., Ex. F.
Thereafter, Green Tree sent Ms. Castro a monthly billing statement dated September
On or about October 28, 2009, Green Tree sent Ms. Castro a notice entitled "90 Day Notice," which stated: "You could lose your home. Please read the following notice carefully." Krisber Decl., Ex. H. The letter further stated:
Id.
After the 90 Day Notice of default expired, Green Tree determined not to commence suit against Plaintiffs. Bromberg Decl., Ex. 3 (Rule 30(b)(6) Depo. Tr.) at 206-27.
Soon after Plaintiffs received the first letter from Green Tree dated September 18, 2009, they began receiving calls on their home and cell phones from Defendant Smith, a collector employed by Green Tree, who contacted Plaintiffs in an attempt to get them current on their loan payments. Defs.' Response to Pls.' 56.1 Stmt. ¶¶ 29-30, 33.
The parties dispute the number of calls Green Tree placed to Plaintiffs' cell phones. Although Plaintiffs admit that the cell phone records introduced at the deposition of the Verizon Wireless representative indicate only four calls to Plaintiffs' cell phones, they contend that those phone records do not include all the calls placed by Green Tree to their cell phones. Pls.' Response to Defs.' 56.1 Stmt. ¶ 8. For
Plaintiffs included in their submissions to the Court a transcription of thirty voicemail messages left by Defendant Smith and his coworkers on the Plaintiffs' home and cellular phones.
Summary judgment is appropriate where "the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact." Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a). "An issue of fact is `genuine' if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party." Senno v. Elmsford Union Free Sch. Dist., 812 F.Supp.2d 454, 467 (S.D.N.Y.2011) (citing SCR Joint Venture L.P. v. Warshawsky, 559 F.3d 133, 137 (2d Cir.2009)). A fact is "material" if it might affect the outcome of the litigation under the governing law. Id. The party moving for summary judgment is first responsible for demonstrating the absence of any genuine issue of material
In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the Court must "`construe the facts in the light most favorable to the non-moving party and must resolve all ambiguities and draw all reasonable inferences against the movant.'" Brod v. Omya, Inc., 653 F.3d 156, 164 (2d Cir.2011) (quoting Williams v. R.H. Donnelley, Corp., 368 F.3d 123, 126 (2d Cir.2004)). However, in opposing a motion for summary judgment, the non-moving party may not rely on unsupported assertions, conjecture or surmise. Goenaga v. March of Dimes Birth Defects Found., 51 F.3d 14, 18 (2d Cir. 1995). The non-moving party must do more than show that there is "some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." McClellan v. Smith, 439 F.3d 137, 144 (2d Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986)). To defeat a motion for summary judgment, "the non-moving party must set forth significant, probative evidence on which a reasonable fact-finder could decide in its favor." Senno, 812 F.Supp.2d at 467-68 (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, 477 U.S. 242, 256-57, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)).
Congress enacted the FDCPA in 1977 in order to check "abusive, deceptive, and unfair" practices employed by debt collectors. Wiener v. Bloomfield, 901 F.Supp. 771, 774 (S.D.N.Y.1995). As relevant to the present motion, the Act requires that, within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, debt collectors send the consumer a validation notice which provides certain information regarding the debt. 15 U.S.C. § 1692g. It generally prohibits the use of "any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt." Id. § 1692e. The Act also proscribes debt collectors from using "unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt," such as the collection of any amount "unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law." Id. § 1692f(1).
If a plaintiff establishes a violation of the FDCPA, he or she may recover statutory damages in an amount not to exceed $1,000, plus any actual damages sustained. See id. § 1692k(a)(1), (a)(2)(A).
Here, Plaintiffs' claims under the FDCPA are based upon Defendants' various written and oral communications, including the phone messages Defendants left on Plaintiffs' voicemail.
In evaluating FDCPA claims, courts in this Circuit use "an objective standard based on whether the `least sophisticated consumer' would be deceived by the collection practice." Maguire v. Citicorp Retail Servs., Inc., 147 F.3d 232, 236 (2d Cir.1998). The Second Circuit has held that "[t]he hypothetical least sophisticated consumer does not have the astuteness of a Philadelphia lawyer or even the sophistication of the average, everyday, common consumer, but is neither irrational nor a dolt." Ellis v. Solomon & Solomon, P.C., 591 F.3d 130, 135 (2d Cir.2010) (quotation marks and citation omitted). Although the goal of this standard is to protect those consumers "most susceptible to abusive debt collection practices," courts are "careful not to conflate lack of sophistication with unreasonableness." Id. (citation omitted). Accordingly, "the FDCPA does not aid plaintiffs whose claims are based on bizarre or idiosyncratic interpretations of collection notices," and "even the least sophisticated consumer can be presumed to possess a rudimentary amount of information about the world and a willingness to read a collection notice with some care." Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Moreover, the Second Circuit has indicated that because the least sophisticated consumer standard is objective, the determination of how the least sophisticated consumer would view language in a defendant's collection letter is a question of law. Berger v. Suburban Credit Corp., No. 04 Civ. 4006(CLP), 2006 WL 2570915, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 5, 2006) (citing Schweizer v. Trans. Union Corp., 136 F.3d 233, 237-38 (2d Cir.1998)); see also Bodur v. Palisades Collection, LLC, 829 F.Supp.2d 246, 253 (S.D.N.Y.2011) ("In the Second Circuit, the least sophisticated consumer standard may be applied as a matter of law and thus is an appropriate issue for disposition on a motion for summary judgment.") (citation omitted); Beauchamp v. Fin. Recovery Servs., Inc., No. 10 Civ. 4864(SAS), 2011 WL 891320, at *2 n. 18 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 14, 2011) ("Although courts are divided on whether breach of the least sophisticated consumer standard is a question of law or fact, the trend in the Second Circuit is to treat this question as a matter of law that can be resolved on a motion to dismiss.").
Finally, because the FDCPA imposes strict liability, "a consumer need not show intentional conduct by the debt collector to be entitled to damages," Russell v. Equifax A.R.S., 74 F.3d 30, 33 (2d Cir. 1996), and a "single violation of the FDCPA is sufficient to impose liability." Zimmerman v. Portfolio Recovery Assocs., LLC, 276 F.R.D. 174, 177 (S.D.N.Y.2011) (quoting Ellis, 591 F.3d at 133).
Plaintiffs argue that Green Tree's September 18, 2009 letter violated FDCPA § 1692g, -e, -e(2)(A), -e(5), -e(10), -f and -f(1)
Section 1692g of the FDCPA requires that "[w]ithin five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication... send the consumer a written notice containing": (1) the amount of the debt; (2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed; (3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, the debt will be assumed to be valid; (4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer; and (5) a statement that, upon the consumer's written request, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor. 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(a). The written communication required by this provision is known as a "validation notice." See Muniz v. Bank of Am., N.A., No. 11 Civ. 8296(PAE), 2012 WL 2878120, at *3, *3 n. 3 (S.D.N.Y. July 13, 2012).
In support of their argument that Defendants' September 18, 2009 letter violated the FDCPA by "assert[ing] a claim for the entire balance of [their] loan," Pls.' Mem. L. 14, Plaintiffs cite case law holding that § 1692g requires debt collectors to "disclose the amount past due as of the date the letter is sent, not the consumer's overall balance with the creditor." Adlam v. FMS, Inc., No. 09 Civ. 9129(SAS), 2010 WL 1328958, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. April 5, 2010). Defendants do not appear to contest that § 1692g requires debt collectors to inform consumers of the amount past due as of the date of the communication.
The Court notes at the outset that even assuming Defendants' reading of § 1692g is correct (i.e., that it permits debt collectors to include a less-than-complete validation notice in the initial communication and inform the consumer of the amount due within five days thereafter), Defendants simply did not inform Plaintiffs of the amount past due within five days of their initial communication. Although Defendants assert that their initial communication with Plaintiffs was by letter dated September 21, 2009, Defs.' Mem. L. Opp. 5, the record is clear that Defendants' first communication with Plaintiffs in connection with the collection of the debt was by letter dated September 18, 2009. See Pls.' 56.1 Stmt. ¶¶ 13-15; see also Krisber Decl., Ex. E. Indeed, the September 18, 2009 letter explicitly states that it is "an attempt to collect a debt," that "any information obtained will be used for that purpose," and that Green Tree is a "debt collector." Krisber Decl., Ex. E. Moreover, it is also undisputed that Defendants did not inform Plaintiffs of the amount owed on their debt until at least September 26, 2009, eight days after their initial communication.
Finally, even assuming arguendo that Defendants did inform Plaintiffs of the amount owed on the debt within five days of their September 18, 2009 initial communication, Plaintiffs would still be entitled to summary judgment on their claim because the Court finds that, as a matter of statutory interpretation, the express wording of § 1692g requires that all of the information
Accordingly, because the September 18, 2009 letter did not accurately identify the amount of debt owed, and because Defendants failed to send a notice containing all the required information within five days of the September 18 letter, the Court finds that summary judgment in favor of Plaintiffs on their § 1692g claim is warranted. See Thomas v. Am. Serv. Fin. Corp., No. 12 Civ. 4235(ADS)(AKT), ___ F.Supp.2d ___, ___, 2013 WL 1898954, at *6 (E.D.N.Y. May 7, 2013) ("[U]nless a debt collector conveys this statutorily-required information, it violates the [FDCPA].") (quoting Hecht v. Green Tree Servicing, LLC, No. 12 Civ. 498(JBA), 2013 WL 164514, at *2 (D.Conn. Jan. 15, 2013)).
Section 1692e of the FDCPA prohibits "any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt[,]" and provides a nonexhaustive list of example violations. 15 U.S.C. § 1692e. In particular, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated § 1692e(2)(A), which prohibits "[t]he false representation of the character, amount, or legal status of any debt"; 1692e(5), prohibiting the "threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken"; and 1692e(10), which prohibits "[t]he use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect... any debt."
As previously discussed, courts in the Second Circuit evaluate claims under the FDCPA according to how the "least sophisticated consumer" would understand the communication. See Maguire, 147 F.3d at 236. Additionally, several other circuit courts, as well as a number of district courts in this Circuit, read a materiality requirement into the FDCPA's prohibition of false, deceptive or misleading practices in the collection of a debt. See Gabriele v. Am. Home Mortg. Servicing, Inc., 503 Fed.Appx. 89, 94 (2d Cir.2012) (citing cases). Thus, in determining whether a plaintiff has stated a claim under § 1692e of the FDCPA, courts have considered whether the false representations "rest on material misrepresentations." Warren v. Sessoms & Rogers, P.A., 676 F.3d 365, 374 (4th Cir.2012); see also Walsh v. Law Offices of Howard Lee Schiff, P.C., No. 11 Civ. 1111(SRU), 2012 WL 4372251, at *3-*4 (D.Conn. Sept. 24, 2012) (citing cases and adopting materiality requirement); Lane v. Fein, Such & Crane LLP, 767 F.Supp.2d 382, 389-90 (E.D.N.Y.2011) (holding that misstatement
Plaintiffs argue that "[b]y attempting to collect the full accelerated amount of [their] mortgage debt — without having accelerated it," Defendants violated § 1692e. Pls.' Mem. L. 15. Defendants, on the other hand, argue that they cannot be held liable under § 1692e because the September 18, 2009 letter did not constitute a demand for payment. Defs.' Mem. L. Opp. 6. Rather, the letter established Defendants' relationship with Plaintiffs and set forth the loan amount for validation purposes. Id.
As an initial matter, the Court rejects as patently frivolous Defendants' argument that the September 18, 2009 letter was not a request for payment. The language of the notice is clear, as it specifically states, "This is an attempt to collect a debt.... Green Tree is a debt collector." Krisber Decl., Ex. E. Moreover, the Court notes that § 1692e governs communications made "in connection with the collection of any debt." 15 U.S.C. § 1692e. There can be no doubt that Green Tree's September 18, 2009 validation notice was made "in connection with the collection" of the debt owed by Plaintiffs. Additionally, courts have routinely found § 1692e violations in connection with validation notices sent pursuant to § 1692g, like the September 18 notice at issue here. See, e.g., Russell, 74 F.3d at 34-35 (holding that validation notice violated both §§ 1692g and 1692e); Ehrich v. I.C. Sys., Inc., 681 F.Supp.2d 265, 273-74 (E.D.N.Y.2010) (same); Foti v. NCO Fin. Sys., Inc., 424 F.Supp.2d 643, 666-67 (S.D.N.Y.2006) ("The standard for determining a violation of § 1692e(10) is essentially the same as that for § 1692g.").
For the reasons set forth above regarding Green Tree's violation of § 1692g, the September 18, 2009 letter also violates § 1692e. The Court finds that the least sophisticated consumer would be misled by the inclusion of the total underlying balance, rather than the amount being collected, and would not know either the amount sought by the letter or the fact that she was not required to pay off the balance in full. Accordingly, the September 18 letter could mislead a consumer as to the "nature and legal status of the underlying debt" and/or "impede a consumer's ability to respond to or dispute collection." Gabriele, 503 Fed.Appx. at 94. Accordingly, the Court finds that summary judgment in favor of Plaintiffs is warranted on their § 1692e claim.
Section 1692f of the FDCPA prohibits a debt collector from using any "unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt." 15 U.S.C. § 1692f. The statute lists eight non-exhaustive examples of § 1692f violations. Plaintiffs specifically argue that Defendants' September 18, 2009 letter violated § 1692f(1), which prohibits "[t]he collection of any amount (including any interest, fee, charge, or expense incidental to the principal obligation) unless such amount is expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law."
Other than a vague reference to § 1692f in their moving papers, Plaintiffs fail to provide the Court with any evidence or case law to support their claim that Defendants' collection activities were not authorized by agreement or permitted by law. Moreover, although Defendants' use
Plaintiffs argue that Green Tree's September 26, 2009 "Privacy Notice" violated FDCPA § 1692e, e(5) and e(10). Krisber Decl., Ex. G. As noted above, 15 U.S.C. § 1692e prohibits "any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt." Subsection (5) prohibits "[t]he threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken," id. § 1692e(5), and subsection (10) prohibits "[t]he use of any false representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information concerning a consumer," id. § 1692e(10).
Plaintiffs contend that the Privacy Notice violates the FDCPA because it falsely threatens to disclose information about Plaintiffs' debt to third parties. Pls.' Mem. L. 16-17. Specifically, the Privacy Notice states that Green Tree may share Plaintiffs' personal information, including: (i) identifying information, such as their name, address, and social security number; (ii) financial information, such as their income, assets, credit worthiness and credit history; and (iii) transactional information with Green Tree and its affiliates, such as account activity and loan terms, and information that is provided to Green Tree by third parties, including lenders that have transferred the loan or servicing rights and credit reporting agencies. The Notice then lists several "reasons [Green Tree] can share your personal information" and indicates that in addition to Green Tree's "affiliates," it may also share certain information with "other financial companies" and "non-affiliates." Additionally, the Notice indicates which types of sharing Plaintiffs can opt out of. Finally, it is undisputed that the Privacy Notice accompanied a Monthly Billing Statement, which stated that Plaintiffs' account "is seriously past due" and listed the total payment due as $1,704.02.
Defendants appear to make two arguments in opposition to Plaintiffs' motion. First, Defendants argue that the Privacy Notice does not mention anything about Plaintiffs'"debt" and therefore does not convey an intent or legal entitlement to disseminate information related to Plaintiffs' debt. Defs.' Mem. L. Opp. 8. Moreover, Defendants contend that the Notice does not threaten or otherwise condition Plaintiffs' privacy rights on the payment of their debt. Id. Second, Green Tree argues that it was required by law to send the Privacy Notice to Plaintiffs under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act ("GLBA"), 15 U.S.C.A. § 6801, et seq.
In support of their argument, Plaintiffs rely heavily on the Seventh Circuit opinion in Ruth v. Triumph P'ships, 577 F.3d 790 (7th Cir.2009), in which the court found a similar privacy notice "clearly misleading on [its] face." The privacy notice at issue in Ruth stated that the debt collector would "disclose nonpublic personal information" about the consumer to a wide variety of third parties, including direct marketers, retailers, banks, and mortgage lenders, unless the consumer executed an "Opt-Out Response Form." Id. at 793. Additionally, the notice was sent to the plaintiff in the same envelope as a collection letter. The court provided the following reasoning in support of its holding that the privacy notice violated the FDCPA:
Id. at 801-02.
Although not controlling, the Court finds the Ruth decision persuasive. The type of information collected and shared by Green Tree — like the information at issue in Ruth — includes nonpublic, personal information, including the consumer's social security number, his or her income, assets, and "information about [his or her] spouse or dependents." Moreover, the Notice explicitly states that Green Tree can share the consumer's personal information with "other financial companies" and "non-affiliates" and indicates that the consumer may limit the sharing of certain information only by sending in an "opt-out form." However, the Notice specifically provides that consumers may not limit Green Tree's sharing of information with other financial companies "[f]or joint marketing" purposes. Additionally, the Privacy Notice does not provide the consumer with any assurances that Green Tree would take measures to ensure the consumer's privacy or that the sharing would be in compliance with the FDCPA or other applicable privacy law. Accordingly, the least sophisticated consumer would reasonably conclude that the Privacy Notice constituted a threat by Green Tree to disclose non-public information to nonparties unless the consumer "opted out" or paid the amount demanded in the collection letter.
Contrary to Defendants' contention, the fact that the Notice does not specifically state that Green Tree would share information about Plaintiffs' debt does not necessarily suggest that the Notice does not violate § 1692e. Indeed, § 1692e prohibits a debt collector from using "any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt" 15 U.S.C. § 1692e (emphasis added). The Court finds that any reasonable trier of fact would conclude that the Privacy Notice was sent in connection with the collection of Plaintiffs' debt. Like the notice in Ruth, the Privacy Notice was sent in the same envelope as the collection letter, which clearly stated that it was "an attempt to collect a debt" and that "any information obtained will be used for that purpose."
Finally, Green Tree does not appear to deny that sharing the nonpublic information they had about Plaintiffs without their express prior consent would have violated the FDCPA. Indeed, § 1692c(b) of the FDCPA clearly prohibits debt collectors from communicating with third parties about consumers absent certain exceptions. It states:
See 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(b). Section 1692b allows debt collectors to communicate with third parties about a consumer only for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer under very limited conditions. See id. § 1692b. Thus, the FDCPA clearly prohibits Green Tree from sharing Plaintiffs' personal nonpublic information without their express prior consent and, accordingly, the only reasonable interpretation of the Notice was as a threat to take illegal action. Moreover, inconsistent with the FDCPA's requirement that the debt collector affirmatively obtain actual permission directly from the consumer before disseminating certain information, the Privacy Notice provides that the consumer must affirmatively act to prevent the release of their private information.
Although the Second Circuit has not yet addressed the issue of privacy notices in the context of the FDCPA, the only court within this District of which the Court is aware to have addressed the question issued a decision that supports the Court's reading of the Privacy Notice at issue here. In Kinel v. Sherman Acquisition II LP, No. 05 Civ. 3456(RCC)(THK), 2006 WL 5157678 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 28, 2006) (Report & Recommendation), adopted 2007 WL 2049566 (S.D.N.Y. July 13, 2007), the challenged privacy notice read as follows:
Id. at *9. The court in Kinel rejected the plaintiff's argument that the privacy notice violated the FDCPA because it did not expressly state that customer information may be shared with third parties other than for the purpose of debt collection. Id. at *12. Given the absence of such language, the court held that an unsophisticated consumer would not have interpreted the notice as reserving the right to make improper third party disclosures. Id. In so holding, the court explicitly contrasted the privacy notice provided by the defendant in Kinel to the privacy notices at issue in two Northern District of Illinois cases, Chapman v. Worldwide Asset Mgmt., No. 04 Civ. 7625, 2005 WL 818880 (N.D.Ill. Apr. 6, 2005) and Blair v. Sherman Acquisition, No. 04 Civ. 4718, 2004 WL 2870080 (N.D.Ill. Dec. 13, 2004), in which the courts held that the notices violated the FDCPA because they stated that defendants "may disclose [nonpublic personal] information to third parties, including financial service providers, retailers, and direct marketers," as well as "nonaffiliated third parties," and provided that in order to prevent such disclosure, the consumer must take the affirmative step of mailing in an opt-out form. Chapman, 2005 WL 818880, at *2, *4; see also Blair, 2004 WL 2870080, at *6-*7 (denying motion to dismiss claims under § 1692e(5) and e(10) where unsophisticated consumer could interpret privacy policy language to imply that personal information would be disclosed to third parties, and where policy required consumers to affirmatively opt-out of any such third party disclosures).
Similar to the language at issue in Ruth, Chapman and Blair, the Privacy Notice at issue here clearly states that Green Tree "collect[s] and share[s]" certain nonpublic information with third parties, including "non-affiliates" and "other financial companies," and requires the consumer to "opt out" of such sharing. Accordingly, the Court finds that the Privacy Notice violates § 1692e of the FDCPA.
Defendants submit that they were required by the GLBA to send the Privacy Notice to Plaintiffs and contend that complying with the requirements of both the GLBA and the FDCPA presents debt collectors with an "untenable situation." Defs.' Mem. L. Opp. 9. Although not explicitly stated as such, the Court reads Defendants' argument as a "bona fide error defense." Under the bona fide error defense, a debt collector may avoid FDCPA liability for a violation by establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that: 1) it was unintentional, and 2) that it "resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such error." 15 U.S.C. § 1692k(c). The Supreme Court recently held that a debt collector cannot escape liability under the bona fide error defense due to a mistake of law, and that the defense applies only to "errors like clerical or factual mistakes." Jerman v. Carlisle, McNellie, Rini, Kramer & Ulrich LPA, 559 U.S. 573, 130 S.Ct. 1605, 1614-15, 176 L.Ed.2d 519 (2010).
Plaintiffs contend that Defendants' October 28, 2009 letter (the "90 Day Notice") violates §§ 1692e and 1692f of the FDCPA by, inter alia, threatening to take an action that could not be legally taken, in violation of § 1692e(5), and misstating that Plaintiffs' account was in foreclosure, in violation of § 1692e(2)(A).
The October 28, 2009 notice is labeled as a "90 Day Notice" and states at the beginning: "YOU COULD LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING NOTICE CAREFULLY." Krisber Decl., Ex. H. The letter continues by stating that Green Tree is required to send the notice "to inform you that you are at risk of losing your home" and that Plaintiffs can cure the default by making a payment of $1,704.02 by January 29, 2010. Id. The letter concludes by stating that "[i]f this matter is not resolved by 01/29/2010, we may commence legal action against you." Id.
Plaintiffs argue that the letter threatens to take action that could not legally be taken because it does not comply with the procedures outlined in the Mortgage for foreclosing on the property; that is, Green Tree would not be permitted to foreclose on the property if Plaintiffs failed to comply with the terms of the 90 Day Notice because the Notice does not conform with the notice requirements under the Mortgage. Pls.' Mem. L. 21-22.
To establish a violation of § 1692e(5) based upon a purported threat to take legal action, a plaintiff must demonstrate two things: (i) threatened action, (ii) that could not legally be taken or that was not intended to be taken. Baptist v. Global Holding & Inv. Co., L.L.C., No. 04 Civ. 2365(DGT), 2007 WL 1989450, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. July 9, 2007). With respect to the first element, courts look to the content of the communication, taken as a whole, to determine whether "the clear import of the language" threatens that "legal action has already been or is about to be initiated and can be averted from running its course only by payment." Sorel v. Capital One Servs., L.L.C., No. 11 Civ. 703(SRU), 2012 WL 3596487, at *6 (D.Conn. Aug. 20, 2012) (quoting Pipiles v. Credit Bureau of Lockport, Inc., 886 F.2d 22, 25 (2d Cir.1989)); see also Bentley v. Great Lakes Collection Bureau, 6 F.3d 60, 62 (2d Cir.1993) (finding false threat of litigation where the "`least sophisticated consumer' would interpret ... language to mean that legal action was authorized, likely and imminent"). In analyzing false threat claims, courts have held that "even where communications specifically refer to legal action, a threat does not exist where the references are couched in terms of mere possibility." Sorel, 2012 WL 3596487, at *6 (quoting Gervais v. Riddle & Assocs., P.C., 479 F.Supp.2d 270, 274 (D.Conn.2007); Madonna v. Acad. Collection
Here, the 90 Day Notice warns Plaintiffs that they "are at risk of losing [their] home" and states that if the matter is not resolved by a particular date, Green Tree "may commence legal action against you." The "use of tentative words like `may' rather than `will'" conveys that "legal action is merely an option rather than a foregone conclusion." Sorel, 2012 WL 3596487, at *9. Moreover, the Court notes that the Notice provides Plaintiffs with information about available options — other than paying the amount overdue — to avoid legal action. The Notice attaches a list of government-approved housing counseling agencies in Plaintiffs' area which provide free or very low-cost counseling, and explicitly states that "[h]ousing counselors can help you assess your financial condition and work with us to explore the possibility of modifying your loan, establishing an easier payment plan for you, or even working out a period of loan forbearance." Krisber Decl., Ex. H. The Notice continues: "If you wish, you may also contact us directly at 800-643-0202 and ask to discuss possible options." Id. Only after outlining the possible available options to avoid foreclosure does the Notice indicate that Green Tree may pursue legal action if the matter is not resolved by a certain date. In light of the fact that the 90 Day Notice is not from an attorney, and merely indicates that litigation may be considered as an available option, the Court finds that the Notice does not threaten that legal action "has already been or is about to be initiated and can be averted from running its course only by payment." Pipiles, 886 F.2d at 25. To the contrary, the language and structure of the Notice suggest that Plaintiffs have several possible options other than payment to avoid legal action, and indicate that such legal action is merely one possible course of action. Accordingly, because the Court finds that the Notice does not constitute a "threat" to take an action that cannot legally be taken, Plaintiffs are not entitled to summary judgment on their FDCPA claim on the 90 Day Notice.
Plaintiffs argue that Defendant Smith's various voicemails do not contain the notices required by 15 U.S.C. § 1692e(11), which requires that in "subsequent communications" with the consumer, the debt collector disclose that the communication is from a debt collector. Pls.' Mem. L. 12. Plaintiffs submitted a transcription of thirty
It cannot be disputed that none of the messages at issue explicitly convey that the call is from a "debt collector." Defendants argue, however, that "in all of the messages ... the caller identifies himself either as `Green Tree' or `Kevin Smith,'" and that it is "undisputed that the plaintiffs knew that Green Tree was attempting to collect a debt and that Kevin Smith was a debt collector employed by Green Tree to collect the debt." Defs.' Mem. L. Opp. 11-12. Accordingly, Defendants contend that the messages "effectively communicated to the plaintiffs that they were from a debt collector." Id. at 12.
Once again, Defendants' factual assertion, that the caller identifies himself as either "Green Tree" or "Kevin Smith" in every message, is demonstrably misleading. The Court has identified three messages in which the caller is not identified at all. See Krisber Decl., Ex. I ¶¶ 3, 22, 24. Accordingly, even under Defendants' reading of the statute, Defendants would still be liable under § 1692e(11) for the three voicemail messages that failed to identify the caller. See Zimmerman, 276 F.R.D. at 177 (noting that a "single violation of the FDCPA is sufficient to impose liability") (citation omitted). The Court need not consider the merits of Defendants' argument regarding the proper interpretation of § 1692e(11), i.e., that simply identifying themselves as "Green Tree" or "Kevin Smith" satisfies the statute — though it would appear to be specious on its face
Defendants move for summary judgment on Plaintiffs' TCPA claim on the basis that "there is no evidence to demonstrate that there were any connected calls from an auto-dialer to the plaintiffs' cell phones" and that "the plaintiffs consented to receiving calls on their cell phones by using their cell phones to initiate contact with the defendants, thus falling under an exception to the TCPA." Defs.' Mem. L. 1.
The TCPA makes it unlawful "to make any call (other than a call made for emergency purposes or made with the prior express consent of the called party) using any automatic telephone dialing system or an artificial prerecorded voice ... to any telephone number assigned to a paging service, cellular telephone service, specialized mobile radio service, or other radio
At the pre-motion conference held on January 10, 2013, the Court denied Defendants' request for leave to file a motion for summary judgment based on counsel's failure to convince the Court that there existed no disputed issues of material fact such that summary disposition of the matter would be appropriate.
Defendants' contention that none of the calls to Plaintiffs' cellular phones were from an automatic dialer is patently meritless. Green Tree's own Rule 30(b)(6) witness testified in no uncertain terms that Green Tree placed at least thirty-four calls to Plaintiffs' cellular phones using an auto dialer. See Mauro Aff., Ex. M (30(b)(6) Depo. Tr.) at 11-12 ("Q. So there's 34 calls that were made with an auto dialer to the telephone number 845-536-9192, appearing in these notes, correct? A. Yes, sir. Q. And then there are two calls that you are suggesting the auto dialer attempted to call, but the calls didn't go through? A. That's correct."); Ex. B (Verizon Wireless Depo. Tr.) at 4 (confirming that 845-536-9192 is one of Plaintiffs' cell phone numbers). In an attempt to avoid liability under the TCPA, Defendants distinguish between those calls that were "connected" (i.e., were picked up by Plaintiffs), and those that were not answered or went to Plaintiffs' voicemail. Defendants suggest that it is "irrelevant" that Green Tree made thirty-four calls to Plaintiffs' cell phones using an auto-dialer "when there is absolutely no evidence that any of those calls ever connected." Defs.' Reply Mem. L. 2. However, the TCPA clearly restricts the making of any call using an automatic telephone dialing system to a cellular phone, and does not distinguish between calls that are picked up and calls that go to voicemail. 47 U.S.C. § 227(b)(1)(A)(iii). Accordingly, for purposes of Plaintiffs' TCPA claim, it is immaterial whether the Plaintiffs picked up all of Defendants' calls or whether several of the calls went unanswered.
Moreover, Defendants' argument that their TCPA violations should be excused on the theory that Plaintiffs did not incur any additional cost as a result of the thirty-four calls at issue fails as a matter of statutory construction. Under the "rule of the last antecedent," which provides that, where no contrary intention appears, a limiting clause or phrase should be read as modifying only the noun or phrase that it immediately follows, the Court finds that the phrase "for which the called party is charged for the call" only modifies "any service."
With respect to Defendants' argument that Plaintiffs consented to the calls at issue, the Court notes that prior express consent is deemed to be granted "only if the wireless number was provided by the consumer to the creditor, and that such number was provided during the transaction that resulted in the debt owed." In the Matter of Rules and Regulations Implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991, CC Docket No. 02-278, 23 FCC Rcd. 559, 564-65 (2008) ("2008 TCPA Order").
Moreover, the Court notes that the evidence on which Defendants rely in support of their argument actually undercuts their position. Specifically, Defendants cite to the deposition transcript of Mario Castro, in which he testified that he did not tell Defendants that they could call him on his cell phone and that he "believe[s]" Defendants obtained his cell phone number when they "grabbed the number from the caller ID." See Hansen Aff., Ex. K (Mario Castro Depo. Tr.) at 25. This testimony directly contradicts Defendants' argument, as a reasonable reading of Mr. Castro's testimony demonstrates that Plaintiffs did not consent to Defendants' telephone calls. Additionally, in support of their argument, Defendants contend that "plaintiffs made more outgoing calls to Green Tree than they received." Defs.' Mem. L. 8. However, Defendants' assertion is belied by the record
Defendants argue that because Plaintiffs did not provide authorizations to obtain their medical records, the Court should limit the proof they are permitted to offer at trial regarding their actual damages as a result of Defendants' FDCPA violations. Actual damages are intended to "compensate a plaintiff for out of pocket expenses, personal humiliation, embarrassment, mental anguish, and/or emotional distress that results from defendant's failure to comply with the FDCPA." Mira v. Maximum Recovery Solutions, Inc., No. 11 Civ. 1009(ADS)(GRB), 2012 WL 4511623, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 31, 2012) (Report & Recommendation) (quoting Milton v. Rosicki, Rosicki & Assocs., P.C., No. 02 Civ. 3052(NG), 2007 WL 2262893, at *3 (E.D.N.Y. Aug. 3, 2007)), adopted 2012 WL 4581590 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 29, 2012). Defendants point to no authority to suggest that Plaintiffs are required to submit medical records or testimony in order to allow a jury to determine their actual damages at trial. The fact that Plaintiffs apparently did not seek or receive medical treatment may well factor into the jury's damages determination, see Mira, 2012 WL 4511623, at *3 (finding that plaintiff's request for $10,000 award in FDCPA case was excessive in light of the fact that "no evidence has been produced that Plaintiff sought or received medical treatment as a result of [the defendant's] contacts"), however, it does not preclude Plaintiffs from introducing their own testimony regarding the humiliation, embarrassment, mental anguish, and/or emotional distress they suffered as a result of Defendants' FDCPA violations.
As detailed above, Defendants' submissions to the Court contain several factual assertions that are demonstrably wrong and clearly contradicted by the record in this case. Specifically, Defendants' submissions contain the following inaccurate contentions:
Each of these factual assertions are directly relevant and material to the issues raised by the parties' motions. It is therefore difficult to see how these various inaccurate and/or misleading assertions could have been made inadvertently. Accordingly, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendants, within thirty days of the date of this Order — that is, on or before September 13, 2013 — show cause in writing as to why an Order for sanctions pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 11(b)(3) and (c) should not be issued.
For the reasons set forth above, Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, and Defendants' motion for summary judgment is DENIED. Specifically, Plaintiffs are granted summary judgment on their (i) §§ 1692g and 1692e claims related to the September 18, 2009 letter, (ii) § 1692e claim related to the Privacy Notice; and (iii) § 1692e claim related to Defendants' voicemail messages. Accordingly, liability against Defendants on several of Plaintiffs'
It is further ORDERED that on or before September 13, 2013, Defendants show cause in writing as to why an Order for sanctions pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(b)(3) and (c) should not be issued.
The parties are instructed to file their joint pre-trial order no later than September 13, 2013 and to appear for a pre-trial conference on September 20, 2013 at 11:00 am, at which a final pretrial conference date and trial date will be set.
It is SO ORDERED.