Sevier et al v. Real Time Resolutions, Inc. a Texas Corporation, No. 4:2022cv06693 - Document 21 (N.D. Cal. 2023)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS WITH LEAVE TO AMEND by Judge Jeffrey S. White granting 4 Motion to Dismiss. Amended Pleadings due by 8/25/2023. (kkp, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/4/2023)
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1 2 3 4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 7 8 NICOLE SEVIER and ROBERT THURMAN, 9 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 13 Case No. 22-cv-06693-JSW Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO DISMISS WITH LEAVE TO AMEND v. Re: Dkt. No. 4 REAL TIME RESOLUTIONS, INC. A TEXAS CORPORATION, Defendant. 14 Now before the Court is the motion to dismiss filed by Defendant Real Time Resolutions, 15 16 Inc. (“RTR”). The Court has considered the parties’ papers and the relevant legal authority, and hereby GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss, with leave to amend. 17 BACKGROUND 18 19 20 21 22 23 On October 28, 2022, Plaintiffs Nicole Sevier and Robert Thurman (“Plaintiffs”) filed an amended complaint in Contra Costa Superior Court, challenging RTR’s attempts to foreclose on their property located at 1161 Camino Solano, Concord, California 94521 (the “Property”). (Dkt. No. 1-2, Ex. E, First Amended Complaint (“FAC”)). Plaintiffs bring claims for violation of California Civil Code section 2924(a)(1); violation of the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), 12 C.F.R. section 1026.41; violation of Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (“Rosenthal 24 Act”), Cal. Civ. Code section 1788.30; violation of California Financial Code section 4978(a); 25 26 27 28 unfair competition pursuant to California’s Business and Professions Code sections 17200, et seq. (the “UCL Claim”); Cancellation of Written Instruments, Cal. Civ. Code section 3412; and 1 wrongful foreclosure.1 On October 31, 2022, RTR removed this action. (Dkt. No. 1, Notice of Removal.) In its 2 3 notice of removal, RTR contends that this Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. section 1331. 4 (Id. ¶ 3.) RTR also contends that this action may be removed to this Court because the events 5 alleged in the Complaint involve real property located in Contra Costa County, California. (Id. ¶ 6 4.) ANALYSIS 7 8 A. A motion to dismiss is proper under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) (“Rule 9 United States District Court Northern District of California Applicable Legal Standard. 10 12(b)(6)”) where the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The 11 Court’s “inquiry is limited to the allegations in the complaint, which are accepted as true and 12 construed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Lazy Y Ranch LTD v. Behrens, 546 F.3d 13 580, 588 (9th Cir. 2008). Even under the liberal pleading standard of Rule 8(a)(2), “a plaintiff’s 14 obligation to provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief’ requires more than labels and 15 conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell 16 Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (citing Papasan v. Allain, 478 U.S. 265, 286 17 (1986)). 18 Pursuant to Twombly, a plaintiff must not merely allege conduct that is conceivable but 19 must allege “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its fact.” Id. at 570. “A 20 claim has facial plausibility when the Plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw 21 the reasonable inference that the Defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. 22 Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). As a general rule, “a district court may not consider material beyond the pleadings in ruling 23 24 on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion.” Branch v. Tunnell, 14 F.3d 449, 453 (9th Cir. 1994), overruled on 25 other grounds, Galbraith v. Country of Santa Clara, 307 F.3d 1119 (9th Cir. 2002) (citations 26 27 28 1 Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their claim for violation of California Civil Code section 2924(a)(1). (Opposition (“Opp.”) 6:20.) The Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss this claim. 2 1 omitted). However, documents subject to judicial notice may be considered on a motion to 2 dismiss. In doing so, the Court does not convert a motion to dismiss to one for summary 3 judgment. See Mack v. South Bay Beer Distrib., 798 F.2d 1279, 1282 (9th Cir. 1986), overruled 4 on other grounds by Astoria Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n v. Solimino, 501 U.S. 104 (1991). For 5 example, the Court can take judicial notice of the existence of public records or court documents, 6 but it may not take judicial notice of disputed facts in those documents. See, e.g., Lee v. City of 7 Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 689-90 (9th Cir. 2001); Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees 8 Local 2 v. Vista Inn Management Co., 393 F. Supp. 2d 972, 978 (N.D. Cal. 2005); Fed. R. Evid. 9 201. United States District Court Northern District of California 10 If the allegations are insufficient to state a claim, a court should grant leave to amend, 11 unless amendment would be futile. See, e.g. Reddy v. Litton Indus., Inc., 912 F.2d 291, 296 (9th 12 Cir. 1990); Cook, Perkiss & Liehe, Inc. v. N. Cal. Collection Serv., Inc., 911 F.2d 242, 246-47 (9th 13 Cir. 1990). Plaintiffs’ TILA Claim is Time-Barred. 14 1. 15 Plaintiffs allege that RTR violated the TILA, 12 C.F.R. section 1026.41, for “failing to 16 serve and disclose periodic statements for a residential mortgage.” (FAC ¶ 29.) RTR argues that 17 Plaintiffs’ claim alleging RTR violated the TILA, 12 C.F.R. section 1026.41, is time-barred 18 because of the one-year statute of limitations in 15 U.S.C. section 1640(e). (Motion to Dismiss 19 (“Mot.”) 4:25-28.) Section 1640(e) states that “any action under this section may be brought . . . 20 within one year from the date of the occurrence of the violation.” Plaintiffs allege that they did 21 not receive “any statement on their loan from [l]ate 2008 to December 2021.” (FAC ¶ 29.) RTR 22 alleges “that the loan in question was only assigned to RTR in December of 2021, which means 23 that any prior failure to send statements was the fault of prior servicers, not RTR.” (Mot. 5:4-6.) 24 Plaintiffs’ Opposition does not respond to RTR’s arguments. 25 Plaintiffs’ Section 1026.41 claim is time-barred on the face of the complaint. Accordingly, 26 the Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss this claim, with leave to amend. See Yagman v. 27 Garcetti, 852 F.3d 859, 863 (9th Cir. 2017). 28 3 1 2. Plaintiffs’ Fail to State a Claim Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and Rosenthal Act. 2 Plaintiffs allege that RTR has violated the Rosenthal Act by making false statements and 3 misrepresentations in connection with a collection of debt. (FAC ¶¶ 43, 44.) RTR asserts that 4 Plaintiffs’ “claim is conclusory and devoid of facts.” (Mot. 7:13.) 5 To state a claim for a violation of the Rosenthal Act, a plaintiff must allege that (1) 6 7 plaintiff is a “debtor,” (2) the debt at issue is a “consumer debt,” (3) the defendant is a “debt collector,” and (4) the defendant violated a provision of the Act. Cal. Civ. Code § 1788.10; 8 Bostwick v. SN Servicing Corp., No. 21-CV-02560-LB, 2021 WL 4267492, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 9 20, 2021); Robinson v. Managed Accounts Receivables Corp., 654 F. Supp. 2d 1051, 1058 (C.D. 10 Cal. 2009) (citations omitted). “In Section 1788.17, the Rosenthal Act incorporates sections 11 United States District Court Northern District of California 1692(b) through 1692(j) of the [FDCPA] and requires every debt collector abide by its provisions. 12 Thus, a violation of the FDCPA constitutes a violation of the Rosenthal Act.” Bostwick, 2021 WL 13 4267492, at *1. 14 15 16 17 18 Section 1692(e) of the FDCPA prohibits a debt collector from “us[ing] any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.” 15 U.S.C. § 1692(e). “Such a statement must be ‘material’ to be actionable.” Shishmanian v. ARS Nat’l Servs., Inc., No. CV-700608-(JOA/JWX), 2017 WL 6940528, at *4 (C.D. Cal. May 16, 2017) (quoting Donohue v. Quick Collect, Inc., 592 F.3d 1027, 1033 (9th Cir. 2010)). “Whether 19 conduct violates Section 1692(e) . . . requires an objective analysis that takes into account whether 20 ‘the least sophisticated debtor would likely be misled by a communication.’” Donohue, 592 F.3d 21 at 1033 (quoting Guerrero v. RJM Acquisitions LLC, 499 F.3d 926, 934 (9th Cir. 2007)). 22 Specifically, Plaintiffs allege that RTR violated section 1692(e)(2) of the FDCPA. Plaintiffs 23 allege that RTR misrepresented the amount of the debt Plaintiffs owed by including interest and 24 25 fees which, they allege, “federally prohibited from collection on the Plaintiff’s loan in its reinstatement calculation[.]” (FAC ¶ 43.) Plaintiffs also allege that RTR “made other false 26 statements to Plaintiffs regarding the amount of their debt.” (Id. ¶ 44.) 27 Here, Plaintiffs failed to identify which portions of the communication amount to “false, 28 4 1 deceptive, or misleading representation” or identify the amount of interest and fees that were 2 illegally charged. Plaintiffs also fail to identify the “other false statements” regarding the amount 3 of debt owed by Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs have not alleged “more than a sheer possibility that [RTR] 4 acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft, 566 U.S. at 678. Without more, the Court finds that the Section 5 1692(e) allegation is nothing more than “formulaic recitation[s] of the elements of a cause of 6 action.” Id. Plaintiffs fail to allege conduct constituting a violation of Section 1692(e) of the FDCPA. 7 8 Accordingly, the Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss the Rosenthal Act claim, with leave to 9 amend. 10 11 3. Plaintiffs’ Fail to State a Claim Under California Financial Code Section 4978(a). United States District Court Northern District of California Plaintiff argues that RTR violated California Financial Code Sections 4973(f)(1) and 12 13 4979.5. “Section 4973(f)(1) applies to those who originate covered loans and Section 4979.5 applies to mortgage brokers.” Vargas-Ramos v. Specialized Loan Servicing LLC, No. CV- 14 2205443-(MWF/JCX), 2022 WL 18397505, at *5 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 21, 2022). Here, RTR is the 15 servicer of the loan. (FAC ¶ 2.) Plaintiffs do not explain why the cited statutes apply to RTR. 16 California Financial Code Sections 4973(f)(1) and 4979.5 do not apply to RTR as they did 17 not originate Plaintiffs’ loan, nor did they serve as mortgage brokers for the loan. (Mot. 8:13-23.) 18 See, e.g., Vargas-Ramos, 2022 WL 18397505 (finding California Financial Code Sections 19 20 4973(f)(1) and 4979.5 did “not apply to the moving Defendants as they did not originate Plaintiff’s Loan, nor did they serve as mortgage brokers for the Loan”); Santos v. World Cap. Fin., 21 No. CV-084839-(CAS/AJWx), 2009 WL 10673190, at *3 (C.D. Cal. May 18, 2009) (dismissing 22 23 24 25 26 27 claim based on California Financial Code Sections 4973(f)(1) noting “that section does not apply to defendants because defendants did not originate plaintiff’s loans”); Sutherland v. Diversified Capital Inc., 2008 WL 2951353, at *2 (N.D. Cal. July 24, 2008) (“[Section] 4973(f)(1) is only binding on originators of loans.”). Plaintiffs also refer to the usury provision in Article XV Section 1 of California’s Constitution, “which establishes maximum interest rates that creditors can charge.” Hovey v. 28 5 1 F.S.B., No. 2:22-CV-06367-SB-AS, 2022 WL 18216093, at *4 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 15, 2022). 2 Plaintiffs include additional facts in its Opposition to support this allegation, including that RTR 3 charged Plaintiffs a loan rate of 12.875%. In determining the propriety of a Rule 12(b)(6) 4 dismissal, a court may not look beyond the complaint to the plaintiff’s moving papers, such as a 5 memorandum in opposition to a defendant’s motion to dismiss.” Schneider v. California Dept. of 6 Corrections, 151 F.3d 1194, 1197 n.1 (9th Cir. 1998). This case is no exception. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss the claims under California United States District Court Northern District of California 7 8 Financial Code sections and Article XV Section 1 of California’s Constitution, with leave to 9 amend. 10 4. 11 The plain language of Section 3412 permits cancellation of a void instrument, when there Plaintiffs Fail to State a Claim for Cancellation of Instrument. 12 is “reasonable apprehension that if left outstanding it may cause serious injury.” Cal. Civ. Code § 13 3412. “To plead a cause of action for cancellation of instrument, plaintiff must show that he will 14 be injured or prejudiced if the instrument is not cancelled, and that such instrument is void or 15 voidable.” Zendejas v. GMAC Wholesale Mortg. Corp., No. 1:10-CV-00184-OWW, 2010 WL 16 2629899, at *7 (E.D. Cal. June 29, 2010) (granting motion to dismiss because plaintiffs failed to 17 assert any valid reason, except that the defendants did not have the right to foreclose, why the 18 instruments are void or voidable). “A plaintiff must provide facts, ‘not mere conclusions, showing 19 the apparent validity of the instrument designated, and point out the reason for asserting that it is 20 actually invalid.’” Santa v. BSI Fin. Servs., Inc., 495 F. Supp. 3d 926, 950 (S.D. Cal. 2020) 21 (quoting Ephraim v. Metropolitan Trust Co. of California, 28 Cal. 2d 824, 833 (1946)). 22 Plaintiffs merely state that they have a “reasonable belief” that the Notice of Default is 23 “voidable or void ab initio” and if left outstanding, “may cause serious injury to Plaintiff.” (FAC 24 ¶¶ 75, 76.) Plaintiffs do not allege facts regarding how they will be injured if the Notice of 25 Default is not cancelled or how the Notice of Default is void or voidable. See, e.g., Johnson v. 26 PNC Mortgage, Inc., 80 F. Supp. 3d 980, 989-90 (N.D. Cal. 2015) (dismissing cancellation of 27 instruments claim for lack of injury and because plaintiff failed to show assignment of deed of 28 trust void or voidable “against them”); Saterbak v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 245 Cal. App. 6 1 2 United States District Court Northern District of California 3 4th 808, 818-19 (2016). Accordingly, the Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss the Cancellation of Instrument claim, with leave to amend. 4 5. 5 The UCL prohibits “any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice.” Cal. Bus. Plaintiffs Fail to Allege Sufficient Facts to State a UCL Claim. 6 & Prof. Code § 17200; Berryman v. Merit Prop. Mgmt., Inc., 152 Cal. App. 4th 1544, 1554 7 (2007). “The UCL ‘borrow[s] violations of other laws and treats’ them as unlawful business 8 practices ‘independently actionable under section 17200.’” Oas v. Rama Cap. Partners, LLC, No. 9 820-CV-01634-(MCS/ADS), 2020 WL 7786546, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 18, 2020) (quoting 10 Farmers Ins. Exch. v. Super. Ct., 2 Cal. 4th 377, 383 (1992) (quotations omitted)). “Where a 11 plaintiff cannot state a claim under the ‘borrowed’ law, he or she cannot state a UCL claim either.” 12 Suarez v. Bank of Am. Corp., No. 18-CV-01202-MEJ, 2018 WL 2431473, at *31 (N.D. Cal. May 13 30, 2018) (citing Ingels v. Westwood One Broad. Servs. Inc., 129 Cal. App. 4th 1050, 1060 14 (2005)) (“A defendant cannot be liable under § 17200 for committing unlawful business practices 15 without having violated another law.”)) 16 Plaintiffs’ UCL Claim “rise[s] and fall[s] with the substantive causes of action already 17 discussed.” Tamburri v. Suntrust Mortg., Inc., 2011 WL 6294472, at *18 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 15, 18 2011). The Court has dismissed each of the underlying causes of action, as explained above, so it 19 must dismiss Plaintiffs’ UCL Claim. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss 20 the UCL Claim, with leave to amend provided Plaintiffs can allege sufficient facts in support of 21 their underlying claims. 22 6. 23 Plaintiffs allege that RTR wrongfully foreclosed on the Property based upon violations in Plaintiffs Fail to State a Claim for Wrongful Foreclosure. 24 the above claims. “When a debtor is in default of a home mortgage loan, and a foreclosure is 25 either pending or has taken place, the debtor must allege a credible tender of the amount of the 26 secured debt to maintain any cause of action for wrongful foreclosure.” Alicea v. GE Money 27 Bank, No. 09-CV-00091-SBA, 2009 WL 2136969, at *3 (N.D. Cal. July 16, 2009). “A valid and 28 viable tender of payment of the indebtedness owing is essential to an action to cancel a voidable 7 1 sale under a deed of trust.” Karlsen v. American Savings and Loan Assoc., 15 Cal. App. 3d 112, 2 117-18 (1971); Montoya v. Countrywide Bank, 2009 WL 1813973, at *11-12 (N.D. Cal. June 25, 3 2009 (“Under California law, the ‘tender rule’ requires that as a precondition to challenging a 4 foreclosure sale, or any cause of action implicitly integrated to the sale, the borrower must make a 5 valid and viable tender of payment of the debt”). Plaintiffs do not allege any tender of payment, 6 “rendering the claim deficient on its face.” Alicea, 2009 WL 2136969, at *3. Nor do Plaintiffs 7 “indicate in [their] Opposition that [they] are prepared to cure the deficiency in the [c]omplaint by 8 making the offer of tender.” Id. United States District Court Northern District of California 9 Plaintiffs contend that they are excused from the above stated “tender requirement” 10 because of RTR’s violations of the other substantive claims. (FAC ¶ 82.) Plaintiffs cite no legal 11 authority for the proposition that they may be excused from the “tender requirement.” The Court 12 has dismissed each of the underlying causes of action, as explained above. Also, the Notice of 13 Default explicitly, bold and in capital letters, directs the Plaintiffs to RTR in order “[t]o find out 14 the amount you must pay, or to arrange for payment to stop the foreclosure[.]” (Dkt. No. 1-2, Ex. 15 C.) Plaintiffs have not alleged or demonstrated that they have tendered or are capable of tendering 16 the debt owed. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ claim for 17 wrongful foreclosure, with leave to amend. CONCLUSION 18 19 For the foregoing reasons, the Court GRANTS RTR’s motion to dismiss with leave to 20 amend. If Plaintiffs choose to amend their allegations, they shall file a Second Amended 21 Complaint consistent with this Order by no later than August 25, 2023. 22 23 24 25 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: August 4, 2023 ______________________________________ JEFFREY S. WHITE United States District Judge 26 27 28 8
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