Opinion
No. 79778
03-26-2021
Roger P. Croteau & Associates, Ltd. Koch & Scow, LLC Boyack Orme & Anthony
Roger P. Croteau & Associates, Ltd.
Koch & Scow, LLC
Boyack Orme & Anthony
ORDER OF AFFIRMANCE
Having considered the parties’ arguments and the record, we conclude that the district court properly dismissed appellant's complaint. See Buzz Stew, LLC v. City of N. Las Vegas , 124 Nev. 224, 228, 181 P.3d 670, 672 (2008) (reviewing de novo a district court's NRCP 12(b)(5) dismissal and recognizing that dismissal is appropriate when "it appears beyond a doubt that [the plaintiff] could prove no set of facts, which, if true, would entitle [the plaintiff] to relief"). Appellant's complaint alleged misrepresentation, breach of the duty of good faith, conspiracy, and violation of NRS 113.130. Each of these claims fail. First, appellant's claims for misrepresentation and breach of the obligation of good faith imposed by NRS 116.1113 fail because—contrary to appellant's arguments—respondents had no duty to proactively disclose whether a superpriority tender had been made. Compare NRS 116.31164(2) (2015) (mandating that a sale may not occur if a tender has been made and not recorded), with NRS 116.31164 (2009) (not requiring any such process); see Halcrow, Inc. v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Court , 129 Nev. 394, 400, 302 P.3d 1148, 1153 (2013) (discussing the elements for a negligent misrepresentation claim, one of which is supplying false information); Nelson v. Heer , 123 Nev. 217, 225, 163 P.3d 420, 426 (2007) (providing the elements for an intentional misrepresentation claim, one of which is making "a false representation").
This was the version of the statute in place at the time of the foreclosure sale.
Although appellant frames the issue as whether respondents had a duty to disclose that a tender of the superpriority amount had been made and rejected "after reasonable inquiry," appellant only supported its claim with an affidavit which was not mentioned in or attached to the complaint. As such, this court cannot consider the affidavit while reviewing the district court's order granting respondents’ motion to dismiss. See Baxter v. Dignity Health , 131 Nev. 759, 764, 357 P.3d 927, 930 (2015) (discussing when unattached evidence may be considered). Relatedly, although appellant contends that it relied upon the recitals in the foreclosure deed, the recitals made no representation one way or the other regarding whether a superpriority tender had been made.
Appellant's claim that respondents violated NRS Chapter 113 similarly fails. Even assuming, without deciding, that NRS Chapter 113 applies to NRS Chapter 116 sales, NRS 113.130 requires a seller to disclose "defect[s]," not superpriority tenders. NRS 113.100(1) defines "[d]efect" as "a condition that materially affects the value or use of residential property in an adverse manner." To the extent that a deed of trust could conceivably constitute a "condition," we note that the subject property technically has the same "value" regardless of whether it is encumbered by the deed of trust.
We agree with respondents’ arguments that applying NRS Chapter 113 to NRS Chapter 116 sales seems nonsensical, but we also recognize appellant's competing arguments that NRS Chapter 113 does not exclude NRS Chapter 116 sales and that NRS 113.100(5) ’s definition of "Seller" is expansive.
Nor are we persuaded by appellant's argument that the Seller's Real Property Disclosure Form would require disclosure of a superpriority tender.
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Finally, because respondents did not do anything unlawful, appellant's civil conspiracy claim necessarily fails. See Consol. Generator-Nev., Inc. v. Cummins Engine Co. , 114 Nev. 1304, 1311, 971 P.2d 1251, 1256 (1998) (providing that a civil conspiracy requires, among other things, a "concerted action, intend[ed] to accomplish an unlawful objective for the purpose of harming another") (internal quotation marks omitted). Accordingly, we
ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED.