Opinion
Case No. 12-CV-0699 AJB (MDD)
10-02-2012
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS'
MOTION TO DISMISS COMPLAINT
(Doc. No. 4)
(Doc. No. 7)
Presently before the Court are two motions to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint alleging ten causes of action arising out of the foreclosure of Plaintiffs' residence. On August 10, 2012, Defendant Chicago Title Company ("Chicago") filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, (Doc. No. 4), and on August 13, 2012,Defendants JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. ("JPMorgan"), as acquirer of certain assets of Washington Mutual Bank, F.S.B. from the FDIC acting as receiver; California Reconveyance Company ("CRC"); and U.S. Bank, N.A., as successor Trustee to Bank of America, N.A., successor by merger to Lasalle Bank, N.A., as Trustee for Washington Mutual Mortgage Pass through Certificates, WMALT Series 2006-4 ("USB") (collectively, "Washington Mutual") filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, (Doc. No. 7). Together, the motions filed on behalf of the Chicago Defendant and the Washington Mutual Defendants represent all of the named Defendants in the instant action (collectively, "Defendants"). Per the Court's scheduling order setting the briefing schedule for the pending motions, Plaintiffs were instructed to file their opposition to Defendant Chicago's motion no later than September 4, 2012, (Doc. No. 6), and file their opposition to Defendant Washington Mutual's motion no later than September 17, 2012, (Doc. No. 10). To date, Plaintiffs have failed to file an opposition to either of the pending motions. Accordingly, for the reasons set forth below, the Court finds Plaintiffs have consented to the merits of both motions and GRANTS Defendants motions to dismiss pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1.f.3.c.
Defendants Washington Mutual also requested that the Court take Judicial Notice of: (1) the Deed of Trust securing the Property; (2) the Purchase and Assumption Agreement, whereby JP Morgan Chase acquired certain assets of Washington Mutual bank F.S.B.; and (3) the Notice of Default recorded on January 26, 2012. As all documents are a matter of public record, are easily verifiable, and the accuracy of which cannot be questioned the Court grants Washington Mutual's request for judicial notice. See Fed. R. Evid. 201(b)
Plaintiffs erroneously named several Defendants, all of which, excluding Chicago, fall under the umbrella of Washington Mutual.
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BACKGROUND
The property that forms the basis of this dispute is located at 10222 Sienna Hills Drive, San Diego, California 92127 (the "Property"). (Compl. ¶ 18.) On January 30, 2006, Plaintiffs obtained a residential loan (the "Loan") in the amount of $764,950.00. A deed of trust ("DOT") securing the Loan was recorded with the San Diego County Recorder's Office on February 2, 2006, as instrument number 2006-0080785. (RJN Exh. 1.) The DOT lists Washington Mutual Bank, F.S.B. ("WaMu") as the lender, Plaintiffs and Angelo Aboy as borrowers, and CRC as the trustee. (RJN Exh. 1.) On September 25, 2008, the FDIC and JPMorgan entered into a Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the "P&A Agreement"), whereby JPMorgan acquired certain assets of WaMu, including the Loan. (RJN Exh. 2.) After Plaintiffs defaulted on the Loan, a Notice of Default and Election to Sell ("NOD") was recorded on January 26, 2012 with the San Diego County Recorder's Office as instrument number 2012-0044277. The NOD confirms that the Loan was $56,594.80 in arrears as of January 25, 2012. (RJN Exh. 3.). Currently no trustee sale has taken place. Plaintiffs filed the instant complaint on March 22, 2012, alleging: (1) lack of standing; (2) deceit and intentional misrepresentation; (3) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (4) slander by title; (5) quiet title; (6) declaratory relief; (7) violations of California Civil Code Section 2932.5; (8) violation of California Civil Code Section 17200, et seq.; (9) violation of California Code of Civil Procedure Section 726; and (10) civil RICO violations. (Doc. No. 1.)
LEGAL STANDARD
Civil Local Rule 7.1.e.2. requires a party opposing a motion to file an opposition or statement of non-opposition within fourteen calendar days of the noticed hearing. As further described in Local Rule 7.1.f.3.a., the opposition must be in writing. Failure to comply with these rules "may constitute a consent to the granting of a motion" under Local Rule 7.1.f.3.c.
District courts have broad discretion to enact and apply local rules, including dismissal of a case for failure to comply with the local rules. Ghazali v. Moran, 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995); United States v. Warren, 601 F.2d 471, 474 (9th Cir. 1979). The Ninth Circuit also permits dismissal pursuant to a local rule where the party is acting pro se. Accordingly, even though the court has an obligation to liberally construe their pleadings, "pro se litigants are bound by the rules of procedure." Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 54 (citing King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987)). Before dismissing an action for failure to comply with local rules, the district court "weigh[s] several factors: '(1) the public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court's need to manage its docket; (3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases of their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions.' " Ghazali, 46 F.3d at 53 (quoting Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 1423 (9th Cir. 1986)).
DISCUSSION
First, "the public's interest in expeditious resolution of litigation always favors dismissal." Yourish v. Cal. Amplifier, 191 F.3d 983, 990 (9th Cir. 1999). Not only is orderly and swift resolution of disputes important to the rule of law, but delay in reaching the merits "is costly in money, memory, manageability, and confidence in the process." In re Phenylpropanolamine Prods. Liab. Litig., 460 F.3d 1217, 1227 (9th Cir. 2006). Along with determining the public's interest in expeditious resolution of the litigation, the district court judge is also in the best position to determine whether the delay in failure to oppose a motion or to comply with a timing requirement interferes with the court's docket management. Yourish, 191 F.3d at 990; Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 642. Accordingly, because Plaintiffs have failed to respond to both pending motions, and the Court has a need to manage its docket, factors one and two weigh in favor of dismissal. Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 642.
Under factor three, "a defendant suffers prejudice if the plaintiff's actions impair the defendant's ability to go to trial or threaten to interfere with the rightful decision of the case." In re Phenylpropanolamine, 460 F.3d at 1227 (quoting Adriana Int'l Corp. v. Thoeren, 913 F.2d 1406, 1412 (9th Cir. 1990)). Prejudice may include failing to produce documents or submitting documents late. Id. Moreover, the law presumes that unreasonable delay is prejudicial. Id. (citing In re Eisen, 31 F.3d 1453). The plaintiff may rebut this presumption either by showing that no actual prejudice occurred or by setting forth a non-frivolous explanation for the delay, which then shifts the burden to the defendant to show some actual prejudice. Id. (citing In re Eisen, 31 F.3d at 1453). Because plaintiff's failure to respond has impaired Defendants ability to pursue this action, this factor also weighs in favor dismissal.
Finally, as public policy favors disposition of cases on the merits, this factor generally weighs against dismissal. Pagtalunan, 291 F.3d at 643. However, "a case that is stalled or unreasonably delayed by a party's failure to comply with local rules cannot move forward toward resolution on the merits." In re Phenylpropanolamine, 460 F.3d at 1228. Thus, because Plaintiff is the reason Defendants are presently before the Court, and whose responsibility it is to move the case toward disposition on the merits, factors four and five also weigh in favor of dismissal. Id. See also In re Phenylpropanolamine, 460 F.3d at 1228. (The district court must also consider the impact of the sanction of dismissal and the availability of less drastic alternatives.).
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court hereby GRANTS Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint in its entirety. Plaintiffs have thirty (30) days from the date of this order to file an amended complaint, otherwise the Court will instruct the Clerk of the Court to close the case and render judgment in favor of Defendants. IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia
U.S. District Judge