Opinion
Civil Action No. 18-11284-NMG
2020-10-22
Michael W. DYER, et al., Plaintiffs, v. CAPITAL ONE, N.A., et al., Defendants.
Richard S. Ravosa, Jr., Ravosa Law Offices, P.C., Boston, MA, for Plaintiffs. David Himelfarb, McCarter & English, LLP, Boston, MA, for Defendants.
Richard S. Ravosa, Jr., Ravosa Law Offices, P.C., Boston, MA, for Plaintiffs.
David Himelfarb, McCarter & English, LLP, Boston, MA, for Defendants.
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
GORTON, United States District Judge
Plaintiffs Michael W. Dyer and Nancy A. Dyer (collectively, "plaintiffs" or "the Dyers") allege that the failure of defendant Capital One, N.A. ("Capital One" or "defendant") to validate their mortgage loan balance led to several violations of state and federal law. Pending before the Court is defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings even though its pleading is entitled a "motion to dismiss."
I. Background
A. Factual Background
Plaintiffs allege that on March 6, 1990, they purchased real estate located at 5 Presbrey Place, Natick, Massachusetts which they occupied as their primary residence. Defendant was the lender and servicer of the mortgage on the property for a period of time relevant to this case before eventually assigning the servicing of the loan to Rushmore Loan Management Services, LLC ("Rushmore") and the mortgage itself to Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB ("Wilmington").
The Dyers claim that Capital One failed to respond to their numerous attempts to ascertain the status of their loan when defendant was the lender and servicer of the mortgage. On or about June 16, 2015, plaintiffs sent a "Qualified Written Request" ("QWR") to defendant requesting, among other things, a complete payment history. They allege that defendant failed to respond to the QWR. On November 10, 2015, the Dyers sent a demand letter to Capital One pursuant to Mass. Gen. L. c. 93A ("Chapter 93A") alleging various violations thereof, including that the bank had failed to comply with the QWR. Plaintiffs assert that defendant did not adequately respond to the demand letter.
On September 5, 2017, plaintiffs sent written notice requesting validation of their debt but defendant purportedly did not respond. In addition to the letters plaintiffs sent to defendant, they also contend that they sent hundreds of faxes and had over 1,000 points of contact with the bank over a period of years in an effort to clarify the status of their loan.
At the time plaintiffs filed suit, they allege that Wilmington, the assignee of the mortgage, had begun foreclosure proceedings on their property in Natick.
B. Procedural Background
The Dyers filed their complaint in this Court on June 19, 2018, alleging ten counts against Capital One, Rushmore and Wilmington: breach of contract and of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing (Count I); violations of Mass. Gen. L. c. 244, §§ 35B and 35C (Count II); violation of Chapter 93A (Count III); declaratory judgment for an accounting (Count IV); slander of title (Count V); promissory estoppel (Count VI); violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 (Count VII); violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA"), 12 U.S.C. § 2605 (Count VIII); failure to credit payments in a timely and appropriate fashion in violation of 12 C.F.R. § 1026.36(c)(1)(i) (Count IX); and violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 (Count X).
Plaintiffs initiated settlement discussions with Rushmore and Wilmington that led to a stipulation of dismissal entered on December 7, 2018. Capital One, the only remaining defendant, moved for judgment on the pleadings (mis-described as a motion to dismiss) pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c).
II. Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
A. Legal Standard
Although a Rule 12(c) motion for judgment on the pleadings considers the factual allegations in both the complaint and the answer, it is governed by the same standard as a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. See Perez-Acevedo v. Rivero-Cubano, 520 F.3d 26, 29 (1st Cir. 2008). To survive such a motion, the subject pleading must contain sufficient factual matter to state a claim for relief that is actionable as a matter of law and "plausible on its face." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) ). For a claim to be facially plausible, the pleadings must show "more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully." Id. A plaintiff cannot merely restate the defendant's potential liability and the court is not "bound to accept as true a legal conclusion couched as a factual allegation." Id.
In considering the merits of such a motion, the Court must accept all factual allegations in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor. R.G. Fin. Corp. v. Vergara-Nunez, 446 F.3d 178, 182 (1st Cir. 2006). The Court may also consider other documents if 1) the parties do not dispute their authenticity, 2) they are "central to the plaintiffs’ claim" or 3) they are "sufficiently referred to in the complaint." Curran v. Cousins, 509 F.3d 36, 44 (1st Cir. 2007) (quoting Watterson v. Page, 987 F.2d 1, 3 (1st Cir. 1993) ).
B. Application
1. Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
Defendant moves to dismiss Count I on the ground that plaintiffs have not alleged any specific rights that defendant purportedly breached or that defendant acted in bad faith.
Every contract contains an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing which is preserved unless a party injures the right of another to reap the benefits under the terms of the contract. Foregger v. Residential Credit Solutions, Inc., 2013 WL 3208596, at *6, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87546, at *16 (D. Mass. 2013). The covenant cannot be invoked to "create rights and duties not otherwise provided for in the existing contractual relationship." Uno Rests., Inc. v. Boston Kenmore Realty Corp., 441 Mass. 376, 385, 805 N.E.2d 957 (2004). There is a presumption that all parties act in good faith and the plaintiff has the burden of proving lack of good faith. T.W. Nickerson, Inc. v. Fleet Nat'l Bank, 456 Mass. 562, 570, 574, 924 N.E.2d 696 (2010). Lack of good faith "carries an implication of a dishonest purpose, conscious doing of wrong, or breach of duty through motive of self-interest or ill will." Young v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 717 F.3d 224, 238 (1st Cir. 2013) (quoting Hartford Accident & Indem. Co. v. Millis Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., 11 Mass. App. Ct. 998, 418 N.E.2d 645, 647 (Mass. App. Ct. 1981) ). Although evidence of a party acting unreasonably under the totality of the circumstances may indicate a lack of good faith, the essential inquiry is
whether the alleged conduct was motivated by a desire to gain an unfair advantage, or otherwise had the effect of injuring the other party's rights to the fruits of the contract.
Id.
The Dyers allege that Capital One, as their loan servicer, gave them an opportunity to dispute the amount of the debt owed but failed to respond to their efforts to do so. Although defendant's lack of communication is perplexing, plaintiffs have not alleged that the bank was motivated by a dishonest purpose or that plaintiffs were unable to enjoy the benefit of their contractual bargain. See id. at 239 (affirming the dismissal of plaintiff's implied covenant claim complaint because it "fail[ed] to plead that defendants’ behavior was motivated by a desire to gain an unfair advantage or had the effect of injuring her ability to obtain the contract's fruits"). Furthermore, the Dyers do not describe the content of the alleged communications with Capital One in enough detail for the Court to infer a lack of good faith on the part of defendant for its failure to respond. Accordingly, plaintiffs have not adequately stated a claim of breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
2. Violation of Chapter 93A
Defendant asserts that plaintiffs’ claim that it violated Chapter 93A should be dismissed because it is wholly conclusory.
To prevail on a claim alleging a violation of Chapter 93A, a plaintiff
must prove that a person who is engaged in trade or business committed an unfair or deceptive trade practice and that the [plaintiff] suffered a loss of money or property as a result.
Morris v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P., 775 F. Supp. 2d 255, 259 (D. Mass. 2011) (citation omitted).
The allegations in plaintiffs’ complaint alone are insufficient to state a plausible claim under Chapter 93A because they contend only that defendant failed adequately to respond to their 93A demand letter, which is not actionable. See Da Silva v. U.S. Bank, N.A., 885 F. Supp. 2d 500, 506 (D. Mass. 2012) ("[A] failure to respond to a demand letter does not in and of itself constitute a valid claim under Chapter 93A."). Although the Court may properly consider plaintiffs’ 93A letter, as well as the allegations set forth therein because it is central to the plaintiffs’ claim under Chapter 93A and was sufficiently referred to in the complaint, see Cousins, 509 F.3d at 44, the letter does not provide facts sufficient to state a plausible claim that defendant engaged in unfair and deceptive business practices. In their 93A letter, the Dyers contend that Capital One has not "correctly accounted for and applied" mortgage payments or responded to plaintiffs’ inquiries. Without allegations demonstrating unfairness or deception, as opposed to clerical error or mere lack of care, plaintiffs’ claim for a violation of Chapter 93A cannot be sustained. See Brown v. Bank of Am. Corp., 2011 WL 1311278, at *3-4, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36235, at *8-9 (D. Mass. 2011) ; Morris, 775 F. Supp. 2d at 263.
3. Declaratory Judgment
Defendant contends that plaintiffs’ request for a declaratory judgment that they are entitled to an accounting of their debt should be dismissed because they are not so entitled as a matter of law and the claim is therefore improper under the Declaratory Judgment Act ("DJA"), 28 U.S.C. § 2201.
The Dyers seek a declaratory judgment pursuant to Mass. Gen. L. c. 231A and the DJA. They cite Fed. R. Civ. P. 57 as entitling them to an
explanation, accounting, and validation of the debt ... prior to foreclosing on their home.
To the extent that plaintiffs bring their claim under the DJA, this Court is without jurisdiction. A court may issue a declaratory judgment pursuant to the DJA only where there is an actual case or controversy within the meaning of Article III of the U.S. Constitution. Ferreira v. Dubois, 963 F. Supp. 1244, 1261 (D. Mass. 1996). A declaratory judgment is unattainable where the judgment sought, if granted, would have no practical effect on the parties. Id. at 1262. Here, Capital One is no longer the mortgagee and cannot foreclose on the Dyers’ residence. Therefore, the declaratory judgment sought by plaintiffs is inapt and the Court is without jurisdiction to provide the requested relief under the DJA.
Plaintiffs’ claim fares no better under state law because the Dyers are not entitled to an accounting. Under Massachusetts law, an equitable accounting is available "only if there exists a fiduciary or trust relationship between the parties." Chedd-Angier Production Co. v. Omni Publications International, Ltd., 756 F.2d 930, 937 (1st Cir. 1985). The mere existence of a relationship between a mortgage servicer and borrower, without more, "does not give rise to a fiduciary duty to the latter." Rellstab v. Ditech Fin. LLC, 396 F. Supp. 3d 215, 218 (D. Mass. 2019) (quoting Shaw v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28863, 2013 WL 789195, at *4 (D. Mass. 2013) ). Accordingly, plaintiffs are not entitled to an accounting.
4. Slander of Title
Capital One moves to dismiss Count V on the ground that the Dyers have not alleged the required elements of slander of title. To properly assert such a claim, a plaintiff must show that "(1) the defendant made a false statement, (2) which was published with malice, and (3) caused injury to the plaintiff." Rice v. Santander Bank, N.A., 196 F. Supp. 3d 146, 156 (D. Mass. 2016) (citation omitted). The loss sustained by the plaintiff must be pecuniary. Id. at 157.
Plaintiffs contend that an affidavit filed by defendant in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds caused them to sustain damages, namely that they "risked losing their fee simple title to the subject property." The mere risk that one may lose an interest in real property without any actual loss of such property cannot be valued in terms of money and is therefore insufficient to show pecuniary damages. See Feighery v. York Hosp., 38 F. Supp. 2d 142, 148 (D. Me. 1999) ("Pecuniary damages are ‘such as can be estimated in and compensated by money.’ " (citation omitted)). Because plaintiffs have not demonstrated they have suffered a pecuniary loss, they have failed to state a claim for slander of title.
5. Promissory Estoppel
Capital One submits that the Dyers’ promissory estoppel claim should be dismissed because they failed to allege that they relied to their detriment on the alleged promises made by defendant.
Under Massachusetts law, to state a claim for promissory estoppel "a plaintiff must allege that (1) a promisor makes a promise which he should reasonably expect to induce action or forbearance of a definite and substantial character on the part of the promisee, (2) the promise does induce such action or forbearance, and (3) injustice can be avoided only by enforcement of the promise." Mackenzie v. Flagstar Bank, FSB, 738 F.3d 486, 496 (1st Cir. 2013). To succeed on an estoppel theory, a plaintiff must demonstrate that that he/she has been
induced by the conduct of another to do something different from what otherwise would have been done and that harm has resulted.
Lumbermens Mut. Casualty Co. v. Offices Unlimited, 419 Mass. 462, 468, 645 N.E.2d 1165 (1995).
Plaintiffs contend that defendant invited them to inquire about and dispute the validity of their debt and that they detrimentally relied on defendant's representations. They have not alleged, however, any facts that would allow an inference that their decision to dispute the validity of their debt harmed them in any way. The only harm plausibly alleged in the complaint is the fact that Wilmington commenced foreclosure proceedings against them but the Dyers do not allege that foreclosure would have been avoided if they had not been induced to rely on the representations of the bank. See Mackenzie, 738 F.3d at 496 (upholding the dismissal of a promissory estoppel claim where "there is no reason for [the Court] to believe the [plaintiffs] would have successfully avoided foreclosure, or been better off in any way, but for their reliance" on the defendant's promise). For that reason, plaintiffs have failed adequately to plead the elements of a promissory estoppel claim.
6. RESPA Violations
Capital One contends that the Dyers have failed to demonstrate either actual or statutory damages resulting from defendant's alleged failure to respond to their inquiries.
To state a claim under RESPA pursuant to 12 U.S.C. § 2605, a plaintiff must show
(1) that the servicer failed to comply with the statute's [qualified written request] rules; and (2) that the plaintiff incurred actual damages as a consequence of the servicer's failure.
Okoye v. Bank of New York Mellon, No. 10-cv-11563, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82769, 2011 WL 3269686, at *17 (D. Mass. 2011) (brackets in original). As an alternative to the second requirement, a plaintiff may plead statutory damages, which requires a "showing of a pattern or practice of noncompliance by the servicer." Afridi v. Residential Credit Sols., Inc., 189 F. Supp. 3d 193, 200 (D. Mass. 2016).
First, the Dyers have not alleged facts showing actual damages resulting from Capital One's alleged failure to respond to their requests for validation of their loan. They assert that they sent requests to the bank on June 16, 2015, and September 5, 2017. Furthermore, in their opposition to defendant's motion for judgment on the pleadings, the Dyers contend that they sent defendant 477 faxes between February 23, 2015, and June 3, 2017 as evidence that they suffered actual damages. There is nothing in the complaint, however, to suggest that the costs associated with the faxes sent to defendant were incurred as a consequence of defendant's failure to respond. The Dyers had begun sending faxes to Capital One well before sending the QWR in June, 2015, and do not contend that any faxes were sent after they sent the second request.
Furthermore, plaintiffs have insufficiently pled a pattern or practice of noncompliance with RESPA because they have not alleged any facts regarding noncompliance outside the context of their own correspondence. See Toone v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 716 F.3d 516, 523 (10th Cir. 2013) (affirming dismissal of RESPA claim because allegation of a pattern or practice based on the plaintiffs’ own requests was conclusory); Copeland v. Lehman Bros. Bank, 2011 WL 9503, at *4-5, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123, at *12-13 (S.D. Cal. 2011) (dismissing a RESPA claim because the plaintiffs did not identify any experience other than their own that demonstrate a pattern or practice of noncompliance).
7. Violation of the Code of Federal Regulations
Under 12 C.F.R. § 1026.36(c)(1)(i), loan servicers are required to credit a consumer's periodic payment to the consumer's loan account as of the date of receipt. See Spaulding v. Citifinancial Servicing, LLC, 2018 WL 1698263, at *4, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58760, at *13-14 (D. Mass. 2018).
Capital One contends that the Dyers’ claim under § 1026.36(c)(1) must fail for a lack of factual support. In the complaint, plaintiffs allege that defendant violated the subject regulation when it failed, timely and appropriately, to credit their loan payments. Plaintiffs repeat that allegation in their Chapter 93A letter but provide no factual support regarding the amount or dates of the alleged payments. Plaintiffs, instead, rely on conclusory statements couched as factual allegations that this Court is not obliged to accept as true when deciding a motion to dismiss. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Accordingly, plaintiffs have not stated a plausible claim under § 1026.36(c)(1). 8. Remaining Claims
In the Dyers’ opposition to the motion for judgment on the pleadings (Docket No. 26), they stipulate to the dismissal of their remaining claims, which include violations of Mass. Gen. L. c. 244, §§ 35B and 35C (Count II); violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 (Count VII); and violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 (Count X). Consequently, plaintiffs’ claims under those counts will be dismissed without discussion.
ORDER
For the foregoing reasons, the motion of defendant Capital One for judgment on the pleadings (Docket No. 24) is ALLOWED.