Daryoush Javaheri v. JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. et al - Document 36
Court Description:
MINUTES (IN CHAMBERS): ORDER Granting in part and Denying in part Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Second Amended Complaint 30 (Filed 4/28/11} by Judge Otis D Wright II. For the foregoing reasons, Defendants Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED in Part and DENIED in Part. (See Order for Details). (sch)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
Present:
The Honorable Otis D. Wright II, United States District Judge
Sheila English
Deputy Clerk
Date
Not Present
Court Reporter
Attorneys Present for Plaintiff(s):
I.
n/a
Tape No.
Attorneys Present for Defendant(s):
Not Present
Proceedings (In
Chambers):
June 2, 2011
Not Present
Order GRANTING in Part and DENYING in Part
Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Second
Amended Complaint [30] (Filed 04/28/11)
INTRODUCTION
Pending before the Court is Defendant JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.’s (“JPMorgan”)
Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff Daryoush Javaheri’s (“Plaintiff”) Second Amended Complaint
(“SAC”). (Dkt. No. 30.) Plaintiff filed an Opposition on May 16, 2011, to which JPMorgan
filed a Reply on May 23, 2011. (Dkt. Nos. 32, 34.) Having considered the papers filed in
support of and in opposition to the instant Motion, the Court deems the matter appropriate
for decision without oral argument. FED. R. CIV. P. 78; L.R. 7-15. For the following
reasons, JPMorgan’s Motion is GRANTED in Part and DENIED in Part.
II.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On November 14, 2007, Plaintiff obtained a mortgage loan in the amount of
$2,660,000 from Washington Mutual Bank (“WaMu”) to finance his property located at
10809 Wellworth Los Angeles, California (the “Subject Property”). (SAC ¶¶ 4, 11-13.) In
conjunction therewith, Plaintiff executed a promissory note (the “Note”) and a deed of trust
(the “DOT”), which encumbered the Subject Property. The DOT identifies WaMu as the
lender and beneficiary under the Note. (SAC ¶ 13.)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
Plaintiff alleges that “between November 15 and November 30, 2007, WaMu
transferred Plaintiff’s Note to Washington Mutual Mortgage Securities Corporation” and that
the Note was subsequently “sold to an investment trust and became part of, or was subject
to, a Loan Pool, a Pooling and Servicing Agreement, a Collateralized Debt Obligation, a
Mortgage-Backed Security, a Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate, a Credit Default Swap,
an Investment Trust, and/or a Special Purpose Vehicle.” (SAC ¶ 14.) Plaintiff identifies this
security as Standard & Poor CUSIP # 31379XQC2, Pool Number 432551. (SAC ¶ 14.)
Because of this alleged transaction in which Plaintiff’s Note was sold as an investment
security, Plaintiff claims that JPMorgan is not the owner, holder, or beneficiary of the Note,
and therefore cannot legally foreclose on the Subject Property. Plaintiff also alleges that
JPMorgan failed to properly record its claim of ownership in the Subject Property, further
evidencing its lack of ownership. (SAC ¶ 15.)
JPMorgan, however, contends that it is the rightful owner, holder, and beneficiary of
Plaintiff’s Note. In support, JPMorgan points to its September 25, 2008 acquisition of
WaMu’s assets by virtue of a Purchase and Assumption Agreement (“P & A Agreement”)
executed by JPMorgan and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), who at the
time was acting as Receiver for WaMu. (Dkt. No. 10, Exhs. 1-2.) JPMorgan, therefore,
maintains that it succeeded to all of WaMu’s assets, including Plaintiff’s Note.
On or about March 22, 2010, Plaintiff received a letter stating that he had not made
his monthly payments since November of 2009. (SAC ¶ 19.) Plaintiff alleges that, within
thirty days of receiving this letter, his attorney faxed a letter in response, but that JPMorgan
did not contact Plaintiff or [his attorney], either in person or by telephone, to
discuss Plaintiff’s financial condition and the impending foreclosure.
[JPMorgan] did not call, it did not write, and it did not provide a toll-free HUD
number to Plaintiff or his lawyer. [JPMorgan] did not offer to meet with
Plaintiff or his lawyer and did not advise them that Plaintiff had a right to
request a subsequent meeting within 14 days.
(SAC ¶ 22.) Nevertheless, on May 14, 2010, JPMorgan and CRC recorded a Notice of
Default (“NOD”) and a Declaration of Compliance, which identified JPMorgan as the
“undersigned mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent.” (SAC ¶ 25.) Subsequently, on
August 16, 2010, California Reconveyance Company (“CRC”) recorded a Notice of
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
Trustee’s Sale. (SAC ¶ 17.)
As a result of the foregoing events, on October 29, 2010, Plaintiff filed a Complaint
in this Court against JPMorgan and CRC. Subsequently, on January 11, 2011, the Court
granted JPMorgan and CRC’s joint Motion to Dismiss the Complaint. (Dkt. No. 20.)
Plaintiff then filed a First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) against JPMorgan on January 3,
2011. (Dkt. No. 22.) The Court granted JPMorgan’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s FAC on
March 24, 2011. (Dkt. No. 28.) On April 12, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Second Amended
Complaint against JPMorgan, asserting claims for: (1) violation of California Civil Code
section 2923.5; (2) wrongful foreclosure; (3) quasi contract; (4) no contract; (5) quiet title;
(6) declaratory and injunctive relief; and (7) intentional infliction of emotional distress.
(SAC at 1.) JPMorgan now brings the instant Motion to Dismiss the SAC in its entirety.
III.
LEGAL STANDARD
“To survive a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6), a
complaint generally must satisfy only the minimal notice pleading requirements of Rule
8(a)(2).” Porter v. Jones, 319 F.3d 483, 494 (9th Cir. 2003). Rule 8(a)(2) requires “a short
and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” FED. R. CIV.
P. 8(a)(2). For a complaint to sufficiently state a claim, its “[f]actual allegations must be
enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly,
550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). Mere “labels and conclusions” or a “formulaic recitation of the
elements of a cause of action will not do.” Id. Rather, to overcome a 12(b)(6) motion, “a
complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief
that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (internal
quotation and citation omitted). “The plausibility standard is not akin to a probability
requirement, but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted
unlawfully. Where a complaint pleads facts that are merely consistent with a defendant’s
liability, it stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement of
relief.” Id. (internal quotation and citation omitted).
When considering a 12(b)(6) motion, a court is generally limited to considering
materials within the pleadings and must construe “[a]ll factual allegations set forth in the
complaint . . . as true and . . . in the light most favorable to [the plaintiff].” See Lee v. City
of L.A., 250 F.3d 668, 688 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Epstein v. Washington Energy Co., 83 F.3d
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 1996)). A court is not, however, “required to accept as true allegations
that are merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences.”
Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001).
IV.
DISCUSSION
The Court will discuss Plaintiff’s seven claims in the following order. First, the Court
will analyze Plaintiff’s fourth claim for “no contract,” which is predicated on events
allegedly occurring during the loan origination process. Second, the Court will address
Plaintiff’s first claim for violation of California Civil Code section 2923.5, which is
predicated on JPMorgan’s alleged failure to contact Plaintiff before filing a notice of default.
Third, the Court will examine Plaintiff’s second claim for wrongful foreclosure, fifth claim
for quiet title, third claim for quasi contract, and sixth claim for declaratory and injunctive
relief, all of which can be resolved by examining the parties’ dispute as to who properly
owns the Note. Finally, the Court will discuss Plaintiff’s seventh claim for intentional
infliction of emotional distress.
A.
Plaintiff’s Fourth Claim for “No Contract”
Plaintiff alleges that no enforceable contract was formed between WaMu and Plaintiff
because there was no “meeting of the minds.” (SAC ¶ 52.) Specifically, Plaintiff contends
that he “expected that he would borrow money from WaMu, . . . pay it back, and then . . .
own the Property,” while “WaMu expected that Plaintiff . . . would not be able to pay it back,
and then WaMu or the investors would own the Property.” (SAC ¶ 52.)
When ruling on Defendant’s previous Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s FAC, the Court
found that “[w]hile Plaintiff frames his claim as one based on the absence of a contract, his
allegations indicate that he is, in fact, alleging fraud.” (Dkt. No. 28 at 5.) In this respect,
Plaintiff’s SAC is virtually identical to his FAC and indeed his “no contract” claim sounds
in fraud. Consequently, Plaintiff must meet the heightened pleading standards under Federal
Rule of Civil Procedure 9(b), which require him to “state with particularity the circumstances
constituting fraud or mistake.” FED. R. CIV. P. 9(b). Plaintiff’s allegations must enable the
defendant to “prepare an adequate answer[.]” Schreiber Distrib. Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture
Co., 806 F.2d 1393, 1400 (9th Cir. 1986); see Bosse v. Crowell Collier & MacMillan, 565
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
F.2d 602, 611 (9th Cir. 1977); Walling v. Beverly Enter., 476 F.2d 393, 397 (9th Cir. 1973).
In that regard, proper identification of the circumstances entails “specif[ication of] such facts
as the times, dates, places, and benefits received, and other details of the alleged fraudulent
activity.” Neubronner v. Milken, 6 F.3d 666, 672 (9th Cir. 1993). Additionally, “[i]n a fraud
action against a corporation, a plaintiff must ‘allege the names of the persons who made the
allegedly fraudulent representations, their authority to speak, to whom they spoke, what they
said or wrote, and when it was said or written.’” Saldate v. Wilshire Credit Corp., 686 F.
Supp. 2d 1051, 1065 (2010) (citing Tarmann v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 2 Cal. App.
4th 153, 157 (1991)).
Here, Plaintiff’s allegations with regard to WAMU’s alleged fraudulent scheme fall
exceedingly short of the Rule 9(b) requirements. Plaintiff fails to identify any particular
facts regarding WaMu’s supposed expectations or misrepresentations as they relate to
Plaintiff’s loan. Instead, Plaintiff generally asserts that WaMu engaged in a predatory
lending scheme with respect to unqualified borrowers in 2006 and 2007. (SAC ¶¶ 46, 55.)
As to Plaintiff’s specific loan, Plaintiff only alleges, in a conclusory fashion, that WaMu
“expected he would default”, that “WaMu pre-sold Plaintiff’s mortgage[,]’ and that WaMu’s
economic interests were adverse to Plaintiff’s interests. (See SAC ¶¶ 48, 49, 51.) These
allegations do not meet the requisite heightened pleading standard under Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 9(b) because they do not set forth the “times, dates, places, benefits received,
and other details of the alleged fraudulent activity” nor do they “allege the names of the
persons who made the allegedly fraudulent representations, their authority to speak, to whom
they spoke, what they said or wrote, and when it was said or written.” See Neubronner, 6
F.3d at 672; Saldate, 686 F. Supp. at 1065. Furthermore, Plaintiff’s allegation that “the
investment bank intended to short the portfolio” is irrelevant as the investment bank, which
Plaintiff fails to identify, is not a party to this action. (SAC ¶ 49.) Without specific
information regarding WaMu’s alleged fraudulent activity, under Federal Rule of Civil
Procedure 9(b), Plaintiff’s claim must fail. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS Defendant’s
Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s fourth claim for “No Contract.” Because Plaintiff has
previously been granted leave to amend this claim, has again failed to sufficiently plead his
allegations, and it appears that further leave to amend will likely prove futile, Plaintiff’s
fourth claim for “No Contract” is hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
B.
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Plaintiff’s First Claim for Violation of California Civil Code § 2923.5
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
California Civil Code section 2923.5 requires “a declaration that the mortgagee,
beneficiary, or authorized agent has contacted the borrower, has tried with due diligence to
contact the borrower as required by this section, or that no contact was required pursuant to
subdivision (h).” CAL. CIV. CODE § 2923.5(b). Courts agree that nothing in this statute
requires that a declaration of compliance with section 2923.5 be signed by a person with
personal knowledge. See Pantoja v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 640 F. Supp. 2d 1177,
1186 (N.D. Cal. July 9, 2009). Therefore, to the extent that Plaintiff’s claim under section
2923.5 is predicated on the fact that the person who signed the Declaration of Compliance
did not have personal knowledge of the facts contained therein, it is insufficient. Indeed, the
Court previously dismissed Plaintiff’s claim in his FAC on this very ground. (See Dkt. No.
28 at 4-5.) However, Plaintiff’s SAC cures the remaining deficiencies with respect to this
claim. Rather than solely attacking the personal knowledge of the signer of the Declaration
of Compliance, Plaintiff alleges that JPMorgan
did not contact Plaintiff or [his attorney], either in person or by telephone, to
discuss Plaintiff’s financial condition and the impending foreclosure.
[JPMorgan] did not call, it did not write, and it did not provide a toll-free HUD
number to Plaintiff or his lawyer. [JPMorgan] did not offer to meet with
Plaintiff or his lawyer and did not advise them that Plaintiff had a right to
request a subsequent meeting within 14 days.
(SAC ¶ 22.) JPMorgan attempts to controvert Plaintiff’s assertion with the Declaration of
Compliance itself. However, Plaintiff claims that the person who signed the Declaration of
Compliance either had no personal knowledge or misrepresented the facts. Taking the facts
as alleged in Plaintiff’s SAC as true, which the Court must do when deciding a motion to
dismiss, Plaintiff’s first claim for violation of California Civil Code section 2923.5 is
sufficient. Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion is DENIED as to Plaintiff’s first claim.
C.
Plaintiff’s Second Claim for Wrongful Foreclosure and Fifth Claim to
Quiet Title
Plaintiff’s second claim for wrongful foreclosure and fifth claim to quiet title are based
on his allegations that JPMorgan does not own the note and that JPMorgan cannot produce
an original promissory note. (SAC ¶ 17, 18.) In his FAC, Plaintiff simply concluded that
“WaMu transferred all beneficial interest in the loan to a private investor.” (FAC ¶ 15.)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
Standing alone, the Court found that this allegation was merely a legal conclusion and did
not “raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” (See Dkt. No. 28 at 3 (citing
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555).) Plaintiff, however, has cured this deficiency by alleging facts
in his SAC to support these claims. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that “between November
15 and November 30, 2007, WaMu transferred Plaintiff’s Note to Washington Mutual
Mortgage Securities Corporation.” (SAC ¶ 14.) Plaintiff claims that the Note was then “sold
to an investment trust and became part of, or was subject to, a Loan Pool, a Pooling and
Servicing Agreement, a Collateralized Debt Obligation, a Mortgage-Backed Security, a
Mortgage Pass-Through Certificate, a Credit Default Swap, an Investment Trust, and/or a
Special Purpose Vehicle.” (SAC ¶ 14.) Plaintiff identifies the security as Standard & Poor
CUSIP # 31379XQC2, Pool Number 432551. (SAC ¶ 14.) The Court must accept these
facts as true when deciding a motion to dismiss. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. at 1949. Coupled with
Plaintiff’s allegation that JPMorgan never properly recorded its claim of ownership in the
Subject Property, (SAC ¶ 16), the abovementioned facts regarding the transfer of Plaintiff’s
Note prior to JPMorgan’s acquisition of WaMu’s assets raise Plaintiff’s right to relief above
a speculative level. Furthermore, in the face of these specific factual allegations, JPMorgan’s
assertion that the P&A Agreement suffices to establish their ownership of the Note is no
longer viable. Indeed, the P&A Agreement does not specifically identify Plaintiff’s Note.
(See Dkt. No. 10, Exh. 2.)
The Court finds that Plaintiff has now sufficiently alleged that JPMorgan did not
own his Note and therefore did not have the right to foreclose. Accordingly, the Court
DENIES Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss with respect to Plaintiff’s second claim for
wrongful foreclosure and fifth claim to quiet title.
D.
Plaintiff’s Third Claim for Quasi Contract
Plaintiff seeks restitution by alleging that JPMorgan was unjustly enriched by “any
payments he made to [JPMorgan] that were not paid to the lender or beneficiary, if any.”
(SAC ¶ 44.) The Court previously dismissed Plaintiff’s claim for restitution because
Plaintiff’s “argument [was] based on his assertion that JPMorgan is not the owner, a holder,
or a beneficiary under the note.” (See Dkt. No. 28 at 5.) As the Court noted above, however,
Plaintiff has cured any deficiencies with respect to this assertion. While JPMorgan correctly
contends that unjust enrichment, restitution, or quasi contract are not independent causes of
action, (Mot. at 7), as previously discussed, Plaintiff’s allegations that JPMorgan did not own
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
his Note have been sufficiently alleged. Consequently, if indeed JPMorgan did not own the
Note yet received payments therefrom, those payments may have been received unjustly.
Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion is DENIED as to Plaintiff’s third claim for quasi contract.
E.
Plaintiff’s Sixth Claim for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief
Plaintiff’s sixth claim for declaratory and injunctive relief seeks a judicial
determination of his rights and duties as to the Note and DOT, and JPMorgan’s rights to
proceed with a non-judicial foreclosure on the Subject Property. (SAC ¶ 68.) Additionally,
Plaintiff seeks a Temporary Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction restraining
JPMorgan from conducting a Trustee’s Sale of the Subject Property during the pendency of
this action. (SAC, Prayer ¶ 1.)
As to Plaintiff’s claim for declaratory relief, the Declaratory Judgment Act states that
“[i]n a case of actual controversy within its jurisdiction . . . any court of the United States .
. . may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such
declaration.” 28 U.S.C. § 2201(a). “Jurisdiction to award declaratory relief exists only in
a case of actual controversy.” Am. States Ins. Co. v. Kearns, 15 F.3d 142, 143 (9th Cir.
1994). Consequently, the Ninth Circuit instructs district courts to first determine whether
there is an actual controversy within its jurisdiction. Principal Life Ins. Co. v. Robinson, 394
F.3d 665, 669 (9th Cir. 2005). If the court finds that an actual controversy exists, it must
next decide whether to exercise its jurisdiction by analyzing the factors enumerated in
Brillhart v. Excess Ins. Co., 316 U.S. 491 (1942). The Brillhart factors require the Court to
(1) avoid needless determination of state law issues; (2) discourage litigants from filing
declaratory actions as a means of forum shopping; and (3) avoid duplicative litigation.
Brillhart, 316 U.S. at 495.
Here, Plaintiff contends an actual controversy has arisen in whether: (1) JPMorgan is
the present owner and beneficiary of the note; (2) JPMorgan is entitled to sell the Property;
and (3) CRC is a trustee duly authorized to file a Notice of Default or a Notice of Trustee’s
Sale. (SAC ¶ 67.) As the Court noted above, Plaintiff has cured the deficiencies with
respect to these allegations. Consequently, the Court finds that an actual controversy exists.
Furthermore, none of the Brillhart factors suggest that the Court should refrain from
entertaining Plaintiff’s claim for declaratory relief. Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion to
Dismiss is DENIED as to Plaintiff’s sixth claim for declaratory relief.
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
As to Plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief, the Court was already presented with this
issue on October 29, 2010 and denied Plaintiff’s ex parte application for temporary
restraining order and preliminary injunction. (Dkt. No. 6.) Plaintiff, however, has now
pleaded additional facts that may support such a request. Therefore, Plaintiff is not
precluded from bringing another ex parte application if he so chooses. Additionally,
Plaintiff seeks that JPMorgan “be forever enjoined and restrained” from selling the Subject
Property. (SAC, Prayer ¶ 2.) “As a general rule, a permanent injunction will be granted
when liability has been established and there is a threat of continuing violations.” MAI Sys.
Corp. v. Peak Computer, Inc., 991 F.2d 511, 520 (9th Cir. 1993). Here, Plaintiff has
properly pleaded his underlying claims and Defendant may therefore be found liable at a
later stage of the litigation. Consequently, Defendant’s Motion is DENIED as to Plaintiff’s
sixth claim for injunctive relief.
F.
Plaintiff’s Seventh Claim for Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress
To successfully plead a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress under
California law, Plaintiff must allege “(1) [JPMorgan]’s extreme and outrageous conduct; (2)
that [JPMorgan] intended to cause, or recklessly disregarded the probability of causing,
emotional distress; (3) that [P]laintiff suffered severe or extreme emotional distress; and (4)
actual and proximate causation of the emotional distress by [JPMorgan]’s outrageous
conduct.” Davenport v. Litton Loan Servicing, LP, 725 F. Supp. 2d 862, 883-84 (N.D. Cal.
2010); see also Corales v. Bennett, 567 F.3d 554, 571 (9th Cir. 2009) (setting forth the same
elements). “Outrageous” conduct is that which is “so extreme as to exceed all bounds of that
usually tolerated in a civilized community.” Id. at 884. Moreover, “[f]or emotional distress
to be severe, it must be ‘of such substantial quantity or enduring quality that no reasonable
man in a civilized society should be expected to endure it.’” Grant v. WMC Mortg. Corp.,
No. CIV 2:10-1117 WBS KJN, 2010 WL 2509415 at *2 (E.D. Cal., June 17, 2010).
In support of his intentional infliction of emotional distress claim, Plaintiff alleges that
JPMorgan “cashed Plaintiff’s monthly checks and kept the money” when it had no right to
do so. (SAC ¶ 73.) Plaintiff further alleges that JPMorgan ignored Plaintiff’s letters
requesting alternative options to foreclosure and that JPMorgan fraudulently transferred the
DOT. (SAC ¶¶ 74, 75.) While Plaintiff concludes that these “acts and omissions . . .
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Title
Date
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
constitute extreme and outrageous conduct,” and that JPMorgan “engaged in such conduct
either intentionally or with reckless disregard as to the effect on Plaintiff[,]”(SAC ¶ 76, 77),
Plaintiff fails to point the Court to any case law to support his contention that such acts
associated with foreclosure, even if wrongful, are “so extreme as to exceed all bounds of that
usually tolerated in a civilized community.” See Davenport, LP, 725 F. Supp. 2d at 884.
Moreover, “[f]or emotional distress to be severe, it must be ‘of such substantial quantity or
enduring quality that no reasonable man in a civilized society should be expected to endure
it.’” Grant v. WMC Mortg. Corp., No. CIV 2:10-1117 WBS KJN, 2010 WL 2509415 at *2
(E.D. Cal., June 17, 2010). Plaintiff makes absolutely no factual allegations with respect to
the severity of his emotional distress in terms of either quantity or quality. Rather, Plaintiff
merely states that he “has suffered emotional distress in the amount of $5,000,000.” (SAC
¶ 78.) Such “labels and conclusions” are insufficient. See Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
Ultimately, Plaintiff’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress is nothing more
than a “formulaic recitation of the elements[,] which simply “will not do.” See id.
Accordingly, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED as to Plaintiff’s seventh claim
for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Because Plaintiff has previously been granted
leave to amend this claim, has again failed to sufficiently plead his allegations, and it appears
that further leave to amend will likely prove futile, Plaintiff’s seventh claim for intentional
infliction of emotional distress is hereby DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
V.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED in Part and
DENIED in Part. Plaintiff’s second claim for wrongful foreclosure, fifth claim for quiet
title, first claim for violation of California Civil Code section 2923.5, third claim for quasi
contract, and sixth claim for declaratory and injunctive relief survive Defendant’s Motion
to Dismiss. Conversely, Plaintiff’s fourth claim for no contract and seventh claim for
intentional infliction of emotional distress are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
:
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.
CV10-08185 ODW (FFMx)
Date
Title
June 2, 2011
Javaheri v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., et al.
SE
Initials of Preparer
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