TED STEWART, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Motions to Dismiss filed by Defendants First Franklin Financial Corporation ("First Franklin"), Bank of America N.A. ("Bank of America"), Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. ("SPS"), and Wells Fargo Bank N.A., as Trustee on behalf of the registered certificate holders of First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-FF4 ("Wells Fargo"), and joined in by Defendant Matheson & Howell P.C. (collectively, "Defendants").
On February 11, 2004, Plaintiff Jolinda K. Heym Rowan obtained a loan from First Franklin in the amount of $168,000.00, which was secured by a Deed of Trust against certain property in Provo, Utah.
On February 26, 2004, First Franklin assigned the Deed of Trust to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Trustee for the certificate holders of First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-FF6, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-FF6. On March 19, 2007, the Deed of Trust was assigned to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Trustee for the certificate holders of First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust 2004-FF4, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-FF4.
On December 16, 2011, Armand J. Howell, of Matheson and Howell, PC, filed a Notice of Default and Election to Sell. On January 3, 2012, Wells Fargo recorded a Substitution of Trustee, appointing Howell as trustee and ratifying the actions taken by Howell prior to the recording of the document.
In considering a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted under Rule 12(b)(6), all well-pleaded factual allegations, as distinguished from conclusory allegations, are accepted as true and viewed in the light most favorable to Plaintiffs as the nonmoving party.
"The court's function on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is not to weigh potential evidence that the parties might present at trial, but to assess whether the plaintiff's complaint alone is legally sufficient to state a claim for which relief may be granted."
Plaintiffs' Complaint is difficult to decipher. However, Plaintiffs appear to assert the following: (1) claims related to the origination of the loan; (2) claims related to Defendants' authority to foreclose; and (3) claims asserting fraud related to the modification of Plaintiffs' loan.
Plaintiffs assert several claims relating to the origination of the loan. Plaintiffs state that they are bringing claims under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, but instead cite to and discusses provisions of the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA"). It appears that Plaintiffs seek to assert claims under TILA, specifically that Defendants failed to provide Plaintiffs with certain documents and that the settlement statement suffered from certain deficiencies. The Court will construe these as TILA claims.
An action for damages under TILA "may be brought ... within one year from the date of the occurrence of the violation."
In addition to their TILA claims, Plaintiffs assert a number of confusing claims related to the loan origination process. Plaintiffs appear to allege that the loan never funded and that no bank funds were used for the loan. Plaintiffs further allege that the loan funds were converted by the loan originator. These allegations, and ones similar to them, are the type of conclusory allegations the Court need not accept. Even considering these conclusory allegations, the Court finds that they do not support a plausible claim for relief. Thus, without more, these claims fail and must be dismissed.
Plaintiffs further assert that Defendants did not comply with Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. However, trust deeds are not regulated by the UCC, but are instead governed by Utah statute.
Plaintiffs next challenge Defendants' authority to foreclose. In particular, Plaintiffs appear to assert that Defendants lack standing to foreclose because the promissory note was securitized. This argument has been repeatedly rejected by this Court, as well as the Utah Court of Appeals and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Plaintiffs also appear to argue that Defendants must produce the note before foreclosing. As with Plaintiff's securitization claim, this "show-me-the-note" theory has been repeatedly rejected.
Plaintiffs also challenge the Notice of Default and Election to Sell and the assignment of the Deed of Trust. Having reviewed these documents, the Court finds no irregularities. The only possible irregularity is that Matheson and Howell, PC, filed the Notice of Default and Election to Sell prior to being appointed as trustee. However, under Utah law, "[t]he beneficiary may, by express provision in the substitution of trustee, ratify and confirm action taken on the beneficiary's behalf by the new trustee prior to the recording of the substitution of trustee."
Plaintiffs further challenge Defendants' authority to foreclose based on the "creation of questionable and forged documents" and alleged "robo-signing."
Plaintiffs assert fraud claims relating to attempts by Plaintiffs to modify their loan.
In addition, Rule 9 requires that Plaintiffs "must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud."
Plaintiffs' allegations fail to meet the pleading standard required for fraud claims. Plaintiffs simply allege that certain Defendants stated that they would modify Plaintiffs' loan, but later denied Plaintiffs' request for modification. Plaintiffs, however, fail to identify who made these statements, when the communications took place, or what exactly was said. In addition, Plaintiffs fail to plead many of the elements required to prevail on a fraud claim. Therefore, this claim must be dismissed.
It is therefore
ORDERED that Defendants' Motions to Dismiss (Docket Nos. 10 and 12) are GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case forthwith.