Croce et al v. Trinity Mortgage Assurance Corporation, a California corporation et al, No. 2:2008cv01612 - Document 28 (D. Nev. 2009)
Court Description: ORDER Granting 7 Motion to Dismiss. Granting 14 Motion to Dismiss. Clerk of the Court enter JUDGMENT for Defendants Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Aurora Loan Services, LLC, and Quality Loan Servicing Corporation and against Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs shall have up to and including October 14, 2009 to file proof of service of the summons and complaint upon Trinity. Signed by Judge Kent J. Dawson on 9/28/09. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - AXM)
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Croce et al v. Trinity Mortgage Assurance Corporation, a California corporation et al Doc. 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 9 10 WILLIAM CROCE, et al., 11 Plaintiffs, 12 v. 13 TRINITY MORTGAGE ASSURANCE CORPORATION, et al., Case No. 2:08-CV-01612-KJD-PAL ORDER 14 Defendants. 15 16 Presently before the Court is Defendants Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems 17 (“MERS”) and Aurora Loan Services, LLC’s Motion to Dismiss (#7). Defendants also filed a 18 Request for Judicial Notice (#8). Plaintiffs filed a response in opposition (#10/11) to which 19 Defendants replied (#13). Also before the Court is Defendant Quality Loan Servicing Corporation’s 20 Motion to Dismiss (#14). Plaintiffs filed a response in opposition (#23) to which Defendant replied 21 (#27). 22 I. Background 23 On or about May 23, 2007, Plaintiffs executed an “Interest Only Fixed Rate Note” (“the 24 Note”) promising to pay Defendant Trinity Mortgage the sum of $730,000 to finance the purchase of 25 property located at 6731 Clay Tablet Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89149. Plaintiffs allege that 26 Dockets.Justia.com 1 Defendants failed to explain the workings of the interest rate, how it was computed, obtained 2 improper fees for placing loans, and transferred servicing of the note without informing Plaintiffs 3 amongst other claims. 4 Concurrently with executing the note, Plaintiffs executed a Deed of Trust. Defendant MERS 5 was named as nominee for the Lender, Defendant Trinity, and beneficiary. Subsequently, a 6 substitute trustee, Defendant Quality Loan Servicing Corporation (“Quality”) , was named and 7 recorded with Clark County. 8 On February 1, 2008, Quality sent Plaintiffs a notification that their loan was in default. On 9 May 5, 2008, Notice of Trustee’s Sale was issued and recorded. Plaintiffs filed the present action in 10 state court on October 27, 2008, alleging violations of the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), the Real 11 Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act 12 (“HOEPA”), the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), state law claims for breach of 13 fiduciary duty, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and seeking injunctive relief as 14 remedy. The foreclosure sale was completed on October 30, 2008. Moving Defendants were served 15 with the summons and complaint no later than October 31, 2008. Defendants promptly removed the 16 action to federal court and filed the present motions to dismiss. 17 II. Standard for a Motion to Dismiss 18 In considering a motion to dismiss, “all well-pleaded allegations of material fact are taken as 19 true and construed in a light most favorable to the non-moving party.” Wyler Summit Partnership v. 20 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., 135 F.3d 658, 661 (9th Cir. 1998) (citation omitted). 21 Consequently, there is a strong presumption against dismissing an action for failure to state a claim. 22 See Gilligan v. Jamco Dev. Corp., 108 F.3d 246, 249 (9th Cir. 1997) (citation omitted). 23 “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted 24 as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937, 25 1949 (2009) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007)). Plausibility, in the 26 2 1 context of a motion to dismiss, means that the plaintiff has pleaded facts which allow “the court to 2 draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. 3 The Iqbal evaluation illustrates a two prong analysis. First, the Court identifies “the 4 allegations in the complaint that are not entitled to the assumption of truth,” that is, those allegations 5 which are legal conclusions, bare assertions, or merely conclusory. Id. at 1949-51. Second, the 6 Court considers the factual allegations “to determine if they plausibly suggest an entitlement to 7 relief.” Id. at 1951. If the allegations state plausible claims for relief, such claims survive the motion 8 to dismiss. Id. at 1950. 9 III. Analysis 10 A. Defendant Trinity 11 Causes of action one (1), three (3), five (5), eleven (11) and twelve (12) have been brought 12 against Defendant Trinity Mortgage Assurance Corporation (“Trinity”) only. Therefore, the Court 13 need not address the moving parties’ arguments regarding these claims, since no cause of action is 14 asserted against them. However, it appears that Trinity has not been served with the summons and 15 complaint within one hundred twenty (120) days of the filing of the complaint in accordance with 16 Rule 4(m) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiffs’ Complaint was filed in state court on 17 October 27, 2008. The 120 day time period for effecting service of the summons and complaint 18 upon Defendant Trinity expired no later than February 27, 2009. Plaintiffs have not yet filed proof of 19 service on Defendant Trinity. 20 B. Cause of Action Two–Violation of RESPA 21 In Plaintiffs’ second cause of action they allege that Defendants violated RESPA by placing 22 loans for the purpose of unlawfully increasing or obtaining yield spread fees and that Aurora 23 transferred a servicing contract without appropriate notice. However these claims must be dismissed, 24 because the Court can take judicial notice of the adjudicative facts in Defendants Aurora and MERS’ 25 Request for Judicial Notice (#8). No yield spread premiums were paid in this case. See Request for 26 Judicial Notice, Doc. No. 8, Exh. 4. Furthermore, the undisputed record demonstrates that Aurora 3 1 did give proper notice to Plaintiffs which was acknowledged by them. See Request for Judicial 2 Notice, Doc. No. 8, Exh. 5. Accordingly, these claims are dismissed as to the moving Defendants. 3 C. Cause of Action Four–Violation of the FDCPA 4 Plaintiffs’ claims under the FDCPA must be dismissed because Defendants do not meet the 5 definition of debt collectors. The FDCPA defines a debt collector as “any person ... who regularly 6 collects or attempts to collect ... debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another.” 15 U.S.C. 7 § 1692a(6). The term “debt collector” does not include: 8 9 [A]ny person collecting or attempting to collect any debt owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another to the extent such activity ... (ii) concerns a debt which was originated by such person [or] (iii) concerns a debt which was not in default at the time it was obtained by such person. 10 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(6)(G). The legislative history of section 1692a(6) indicates conclusively that a 11 debt collector does not include the consumer's creditors, a mortgage servicing company, or an 12 assignee of a debt, as long as the debt was not in default at the time it was assigned. See S.Rep. No. 13 95-382, 95th Cong., 1st Sess. 3, reprinted in 1977 U.S.Code Cong. & Ad.News 1695, 1698. See also 14 Perry v. Stewart Title Co., 756 F.2d 1197, 1208 (5th Cir. 1985). In this case, the FDCPA is 15 inapplicable, since Defendants are not debt collectors. Furthermore, Plaintiffs stipulate to the 16 dismissal of this claim. Therefore, the Court dismisses Plaintiffs’ claims arising under the FDCPA. 17 D. Cause of Action Six–Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing 18 In Plaintiffs’ rather vague allegations, they assert that Defendants breached the covenant of 19 good faith and fair dealing by commencing foreclosure proceedings without the “required documents 20 to execute the Notice of Default.” However, Plaintiffs give no details of which documents were 21 necessary and were not in possession of Defendants. Particularly, Plaintiffs make no specific 22 assertion as to the conduct of Aurora or MERS. Additionally, the Notice of Breach and Default 23 recorded on February 1, 2008 demonstrates that Quality held the beneficial interest under the Deed of 24 Trust and the Notice was sent by FIS Default Solutions as Quality’s agent. See Request for Judicial 25 Notice, Doc. No. 8, Exh. 8. This claim must also be dismissed as to all moving Defendants. 26 4 1 E. Cause of Action Seven–Injunctive Relief for Failure to Produce Note 2 Plaintiffs attempt to raise a factual challenge regarding which party actually held the Note. 3 Plaintiffs’ complaint argues that upon execution of the Note, Trinity prepared a letter stating that 4 “your mortgage account has been transferred to Aurora Loan Services, Inc.” Plaintiffs then argue 5 that a fact question remains as to whether Trinity or Aurora was authorized to receive payments 6 under the terms of the Note. However, Plaintiffs incorrectly assert the facts. The notice, executed at 7 the same time as the Note, merely informed Plaintiffs, in accordance with RESPA, that “servicing” 8 had been transferred to Aurora. See Request for Judicial Notice, Doc. No. 8, Exh. 5. Plaintiffs have 9 failed to state a claim that requires either injunctive relief or declaration of the parties’ rights. 10 Accordingly, this claim is dismissed as to all Defendants. 11 F. Cause of Action Eight–Injunctive Relief to Determine Legal Status of MERS 12 Plaintiffs’ principal argument for declaratory relief is that MERS does not have standing as a 13 beneficiary under the Note and Deed of Trust, and therefore, is not authorized to participate in the 14 foreclosure proceedings. Plaintiffs have cited no authority that is controlling upon this Court that 15 holds that MERS cannot have standing as a nominee beneficiary in connection with a nonjudicial 16 foreclosure proceeding under Nevada law. This Court has previously determined that MERS does 17 have such standing. See, e.g., Orzoff v. MERS, No. 2:08-cv-01512 (Mar. 26, 2009); Dunlap v. 18 MERS, No. 2:08-cv-00918 (Jan. 5, 2009); Beltran v. MERS, No. 2:08-cv-1101 (Jan. 5. 2009). 19 Courts around the country have held the same. See, e.g., Johnson v. MERS, Inc., 252 Fed.Appx. 293 20 (11th Cir. 2007)(affirming grant of summary judgment to MERS on its foreclosure of plaintiff’s 21 property); Pfannelstiel v. MERS, Inc., 2009 WL 347716 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 11, 2009)(rejecting 22 plaintiff’s claim that MERS lacked authority to commence foreclosure proceedings on plaintiff’s 23 property); Trent v. MERS, Inc., 2007 WL 2120262 (M.D. Fla. July 20, 2007)(granting MERS’ 24 motion to dismiss plaintiff’s complaint challenging property foreclosure); Smith v. Bank of New 25 York, as Trustee, 366 B.R. 149 (Bkrtcy. D.Colo. 2007)(holding that MERS, functioning as nominee 26 for the lender and its assigns, had standing to conduct foreclosure on behalf of the beneficiary). 5 1 Plaintiffs additionally argue that the foreclosure was improper because the Substitution of 2 Trustee was recorded after, though signed contemporaneously with, the Notice of Breach and 3 Default. Plaintiffs have not identified any Nevada law that requires the Substitution of Trustee to be 4 recorded before the substitute trustee begins its duties. The Note and Deed of Trust did not require a 5 Substitution of Trustee to be recorded first. Notice was properly and timely filed and NRS § 107.080 6 was substantially, if not fully, complied with. The Note and Deed of Trust executed by Plaintiffs 7 granted the trustees and beneficiaries the power they rightfully executed in this case. Accordingly, 8 Plaintiffs have failed to state a claim against MERS, Aurora, or Quality. 9 G. Cause of Action Nine–Fraud 10 Plaintiffs have stipulated that the fraud claims against Quality may be dismissed. Plaintiffs 11 allege that the fraudulent statement underlying this cause of action was made when Trinity and 12 MERS made the representation that MERS was the beneficiary under the Deed of Trust. No 13 allegations have been made against Defendant Aurora, and accordingly, this claim is dismissed as to 14 Defendant Aurora. Finally, the alleged fraudulent statement is not false or misleading. MERS was, 15 in fact, the beneficiary under the Deed of Trust. Accordingly, this claim will be dismissed as to 16 MERS. 17 H. Cause of Action Ten–Declaratory Relief Seeking to Declare Invalidity of Foreclosure 18 In Plaintiffs’ tenth cause of action, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants cannot foreclose, because 19 they do not hold the note, or somehow misused the nonjudicial foreclosure process. The Defendants 20 in this action all have authority by the terms of the Note, Deed of Trust, or Nevada statute to take the 21 actions that have been alleged in this case. 22 Because Defendants did not produce the original Note, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants did 23 not qualify as holders in due course and had no right to act on the Deed of Trust, declare default, or 24 proceed with the foreclosure. Nevada law provides that a deed of trust is an instrument that may be 25 used to “secure the performance of an obligation or the payment of any debt.” NRS § 107.020. 26 6 1 When a debtor defaults, the creditor beneficiary may resort to its security in a trustee's sale as a 2 means of satisfying the debtor's obligation. NRS § 107.080. 3 The procedure for conducting a trustee's foreclosure sale in Nevada is set forth in NRS § 4 107.080 et seq. The foreclosure process is commenced by the recording of a notice of breach and 5 election to sell by the trustee. NRS § 107.080(2)(b). After the notice of default is recorded, the 6 trustee must wait three months. NRS § 107.080(2)(c). The trustee must then give notice of the time 7 and place of the sale. NRS § 107.080(4). A sale is conducted, monies are bid, and a trustee's deed is 8 issued. Foreclosure procedures must be followed or the sale will be invalid. See Rose v. First Fed. 9 Sav. and Loan, 105 Nev. 454, 777 P.2d 1318 (1989) (trustee's sale invalid where notice requirements 10 11 not satisfied). Section 107.080 provides that the “power of sale” is conferred upon the “trustee.” Defendant 12 MERS subsequently substituted Defendant Quality as Trustee. The Substitution of Trustee made 13 clear that Defendant Quality was the substituted Trustee. Section 107.080(b) expressly states that the 14 trustee can execute its power of sale once “[t]he beneficiary, the successor in interest of the 15 beneficiary or the trustee first executes and causes to be recorded in the office of the recorder of the 16 county wherein the trust property, or some part thereof, is situated a notice of the breach and of his 17 election to sell or cause to be sold the property to satisfy the obligation.” Plaintiffs have failed to cite 18 to any authority under Nevada law that a trustee's power of sale is tied to the presentment of the 19 original note to the debtor. Thus, under NRS § 107.080, Defendant Quality, as trustee, was 20 authorized to begin the nonjudicial foreclosure process by recording the Notice of Default and 21 Election to Sell. 22 In support of Plaintiffs’ argument that Defendants lacked standing to proceed with the 23 nonjudicial foreclosure of the subject property because they failed to provide the original Note, 24 Plaintiffs cite to a nonbinding opinion from an Ohio federal court, In re Foreclosure Cases (Deutsche 25 Bank Nat'l Trust Co. v. Moore), Case No. 1:07CV2282 (N.D. Ohio Oct.31, 2007). However, the 26 referenced case is distinguishable as it dealt with judicial foreclosure proceedings brought by lenders, 7 1 in contrast to the present situation. The present lawsuit involves a nonjudical foreclosure, as 2 expressly allowed under Nevada law. Plaintiffs fail to convince the Court why the holding is 3 applicable here. As explained above, Nevada law articulates the procedures by which a nonjudicial 4 foreclosure may be conducted, which Defendants followed in relation to Plaintiffs’ Note and Deed of 5 Trust. Furthermore, at least under California law, an “allegation that the trustee did not have the 6 original note or had not received it is insufficient to render the foreclosure proceeding invalid.” Neal 7 v. Juarez, 2007 WL 2140640 (S.D. Cal. July 23, 2007) (citing R.G. Hamilton Corp. v. Corum, 218 8 Cal. 92, 97, 21 P.2d 413 (1933) and California Trust Co. v. Smead Inv. Co., 6 Cal.App.2d 432, 435, 9 44 P.2d 624 (1935)). See, e.g., Commercial Standard Ins. Co. v. Tab Constr., Inc., 94 Nev. 536, 583 10 P.2d 449, 451 (Nev.1978) (stating that Nevada courts often look to California law where Nevada law 11 is silent). Therefore, Plaintiffs’ tenth cause of action is dismissed without leave amend. 12 IV. Conclusion 13 14 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (“MERS”) and Aurora Loan Services, LLC’s Motion to Dismiss (#7) is GRANTED; 15 16 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant Quality Loan Servicing Corporation’s Motion to Dismiss (#14) is GRANTED; 17 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court enter JUDGMENT for Defendants 18 Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Aurora Loan Services, LLC, and Quality Loan Servicing 19 Corporation and against Plaintiffs; 20 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiffs shall have up to and including 21 October 14, 2009 to file proof of service of the summons and complaint upon Trinity within the 22 allowed time; 23 //// 24 //// 25 //// 26 //// 8 1 If Plaintiffs fail to respond or to file proof of service, the Court will dismiss the complaint 2 against Defendant Trinity without prejudice in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 3 4(m). 4 DATED this 28th day of September 2009. 5 6 7 8 _____________________________ Kent J. Dawson United States District Judge 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 9
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