Opinion
CASE NO. C17-5532 BHS
09-13-2018
ORDER GRANTING THIRD-PARTY DEFENDANT'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
This matter comes before the Court on Third-Party Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.'s ("Wells Fargo") unopposed second motion for summary judgment (Dkt. 52). The Court has considered the pleadings filed in support of and in opposition to the motions and the remainder of the file and hereby grants the motion for the reasons stated herein
I. PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
On July 30, 2017, Defendants and Third-Party Plaintiffs John Dirwayi and Nataliya Kazimirets ("Dirwayis") executed a note and deed of trust to secure a home in Fife, Washington ("Residence"). Dkt. 1-1, Exhs. A, B. In 2009, the original lender assigned the deed to Wells Fargo, which resulted in Wells Fargo also servicing the note. Id., Exh. C.
In 2009, the Dirwayis requested mortgage payment assistance. Dkt. 33, ¶ 7. On January 27, 2010, the Dirwayis and Wells Fargo entered into a loan modification agreement. Id. at 41-42.
In 2011, the Dirwayis approached Wells Fargo regarding another loan modification. On May 14, 2011, Wells Fargo wrote the Dirwayis informing them that they "may be eligible for a modification offered by Fannie Mae (the owner of your loan)." Id. at 44. Wells Fargo instructed the Dirwayis that, to accept the offer, they were required to make three trial period payments instead of the regular monthly payments. Id. The letter also states that "[a]fter all trial period payments are timely made, your mortgage will be permanently modified." Id. In a "frequently asked questions" supplement, Wells Fargo stated that "[y]our loan will not be permanently modified until you successfully complete the Trial Period Plan and you enter into a Loan Modification" and that "[o]nce you make all of your trial period payments on time, we will send you a Loan Modification Agreement detailing the terms of the modified loan. The Loan Modification Agreement will become effective once you and we have signed it." Id. at 46-47. It is undisputed that the Dirwayis timely made the trial payments.
On September 9, 2011, Wells Fargo wrote the Dirwayis informing them that they were eligible for a loan modification and enclosed a modification agreement ("Second Modification"). Id. at 51. The letter stated that, "[i]f you comply with the terms of the required Trial Period Plan, we will modify your mortgage . . . ." Id. In order to accept the offer, Wells Fargo instructed the Dirwayis to sign and return both copies of the Second Modification. Id. The Dirwayis were interested in the modification, so they signed the Second Modification and returned it to Wells Fargo. Nataliya, however, signed the Second Modification as "N. Dirwayi/N. Kazimirets" when the printed name below the signature line was "Nataliya S. Kazimirets." Id. at 58. Wells Fargo rejected the documents because Nataliya's signature did not match the printed signature.
Wells Fargo sent a second set of documents to the Dirwayis with instructions to sign the documents exactly as the printed name appeared on the document. Id. at 60. On October 8, 2011, the Dirwayis signed the documents, but Nataliya signed as "N. Kazimirets." Id. at 65. The Dirwayis returned the documents and continued to remit the reduced monthly payments. Wells Fargo rejected the documents, and the delay violated Fannie Mae's requirement that the documents be signed by October 1, 2011.
In early 2012, Wells Fargo requested updated financial information from the Dirwayis. Id. at 67-82. On March 28, 2012, Wells Fargo informed the Dirwayis that they did not qualify for a loan modification under the Home Affordable Modification Program. Id. at 92-93. On April 3, 2012, Wells Fargo wrote the Dirwayis informing them that they may be eligible for a modification through Fannie Mae. Id. at 96-101. The Dirwayis rejected the proposed modification and trial payment plan.
On July 23, 2012, Wells Fargo referred the Dirwayis' loan for foreclosure proceedings. On September 27, 2012, the foreclosing Trustee, Quality Loan Service Corp. of Washington, recorded a notice of trustee's sale scheduled for January 25, 2013. Id. at 106-109. On November 5, 2012, Wells Fargo transferred the loan to Plaintiff US Bank N.A.'s ("US Bank") and transferred servicing of the loan to Third-Party Defendant Rushmore Loan Management Services, LLC ("Rushmore"). Id. at 111-112; Dkt. 34-1, ¶ 7.
On July 26, 2013, the Dirwayis filed suit in state court to stop the foreclosure proceeding and asserted a claim for breach of the Second Modification. At some point in early 2014, the parties reached a settlement. On April 29, 2014, the Dirwayis' attorney sent Rushmore's attorney signed copies of another loan modification agreement ("2014 Proposed Modification"). Dkt. 34-3. The proposed payment amount was similar to the Second Modification, and both agreements establish a 40-year payment plan. Id. The new modification, however, indicated an increased deferred principal balance. Id. Although the Dirwayis signed the agreement, their attorney instructed Rushmore's attorney to hold the signed copies in trust until the Dirwayis delivered a countersigned copy of the settlement agreement. Id.
On May 29, 2014, all parties in the suit executed a notice of settlement, and the court subsequently dismissed the complaint without prejudice. US Bank and Rushmore assert that, "in order to accommodate" the Dirwayis, they "entered a system adjustment" to alter the terms of the loan. Id. ¶ 12. The altered terms appear to be consistent with the terms of the 2014 Proposed Modification. Id. After the adjustment, the Dirwayis made payments of $2,058.81 from May 2014 to May 2015. Id. ¶ 13.
In May 2015, Rushmore's attorney sent the Dirwayis' attorney a letter stating that the 2014 Proposed Modification would be revoked if the Dirwayis did not sign and return the proposed settlement agreement. Dkt. 42 at 5. On June 1, 2015, Rushmore's attorney informed the Dirwayis' attorney that he could no longer accept payments on behalf of Rushmore. Id. On July 25, 2015, the Dirwayis' attorney sent Rushmore's attorney a letter with the Dirwayis' June 2015 and July 2015 payments. Id. at 7. Rushmore's attorney returned the checks and informed the Dirwayis' attorney that Rushmore was in the process of revoking the loan modification agreement because the Dirwayis failed to enter the settlement agreement. Id.
On April 27, 2016, US Bank filed the instant judicial foreclosure action. Dkt. 1-1 at 2-39. On June 6, 2017, the Dirwayis filed an answer with affirmative defenses and counterclaims and included a third-party complaint. Dkt. 1-1 at 40-58. The Dirwayis asserted counterclaims against US Bank for breach of contract and violation of the Washington Consumer Protection Act ("CPA"), RCW Chapter 19.86. Id. In the third-party complaint, the Dirwayis asserted claims against Wells Fargo and Rushmore for breach of contract, equitable indemnity, unjust enrichment, and violations of the CPA. Id.
On August 31, 2017, Wells Fargo filed a motion to dismiss. Dkt. 14. On November 15, 2017, the Court converted the motion to a motion for summary judgment and requested subsequent briefing. Dkt. 25. On April 10, 2018, the Court granted the motion in part and denied the motion in part. Dkt. 45. Relevant to the instant motion, the Court denied the motion on the Diwayis' breach of contract claim because a material question of fact existed on the issue of whether the Diwayis performed their own contractual obligations by timely making all required payments under the Second Modification. Id. at 10.
On June 28, 2018, Wells Fargo filed a second motion for summary judgment on the breach of contract claim and submitted evidence that the Diwayis failed to perform. Dkt. 52- 53. Wells Fargo properly noted its motion for consideration on the Court's July 20, 2018 calendar, and, as of the date of this order, the Diwayis have not responded.
II. DISCUSSION
A. Standard
Summary judgment is proper only if the pleadings, the discovery and disclosure materials on file, and any affidavits show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). The moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law when the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of a claim in the case on which the nonmoving party has the burden of proof. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). There is no genuine issue of fact for trial where the record, taken as a whole, could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986) (nonmoving party must present specific, significant probative evidence, not simply "some metaphysical doubt"). See also Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). Conversely, a genuine dispute over a material fact exists if there is sufficient evidence supporting the claimed factual dispute, requiring a judge or jury to resolve the differing versions of the truth. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 253 (1986); T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pac. Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987).
The determination of the existence of a material fact is often a close question. The Court must consider the substantive evidentiary burden that the nonmoving party must meet at trial - e.g., a preponderance of the evidence in most civil cases. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 254; T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc., 809 F.2d at 630. The Court must resolve any factual issues of controversy in favor of the nonmoving party only when the facts specifically attested by that party contradict facts specifically attested by the moving party. The nonmoving party may not merely state that it will discredit the moving party's evidence at trial, in the hopes that evidence can be developed at trial to support the claim. T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc., 809 F.2d at 630 (relying on Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255). Conclusory, nonspecific statements in affidavits are not sufficient, and missing facts will not be presumed. Lujan v. Nat'l Wildlife Fed'n, 497 U.S. 871, 888-89 (1990).
B. Contract Performance
"If a contract requires performance by both parties, the party claiming nonperformance of the other must establish as a matter of fact the party's own performance." Willener v. Sweeting, 107 Wn.2d 388, 394 (1986) (citing Reynolds Metals Co. v. Electric Smith Constr. & Equip. Co., 4 Wn. App. 695 (1971)).
In this case, Wells Fargo argues that the Dirwayis are precluded from asserting a breach of contract claim because they failed to perform under the Second Modification. In support of their previous opposition, Mr. Dirwayi declared that they made every payment through November 2012. Dkt. 40 at 107, ¶ 5. Although Wells Fargo contested Mr. Diwayi's assertion, it did not submit evidence establishing that Mr. Diwayi was incorrect. The Court found that a material question of fact existed on the issue of whether the Diwayis did in fact make every payment and performed their contractual obligations. Dkt. 45 at 10. In support of their current motion, Wells Fargo has submitted evidence establishing that the Diwayis made eight of the required thirteen payments. Dkt. 52 at 7 (citing Dkt. 53 at 11-12). The evidence Wells Fargo relies upon is request for admissions propounded on the Diwayis in which the Diwayis admit that they only made eight payments. The Court finds that the specific evidence relating to each payment made undermines the earlier, more general assertion by Mr. Diwayi that every payment was made. Thus, the Court finds that a question of fact no longer exists on this issue and concludes that the Diwayis did not perform their contractual obligations under the Second Modification.
Although the foregoing conclusion seems to end the matter, Wells Fargo contends that the Diwayis have argued that Wells Fargo repudiated the contract relieving the Diwayis of their obligation to perform. Dkt. 52 at 11. Wells Fargo asserts that the Diwayis have failed to submit any evidence establishing that "Wells Fargo ever expressly repudiated the Second Modification." Id. at 12. Where no factual showing is made in opposition to a motion for summary judgment, the court is not required to search the record sua sponte for some genuine issue of material fact. See Carmen v. San Francisco Unified School Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1029 (9th Cir. 2001). Likewise, "[i]t is not our task, or that of the district court, to scour the record in search of a genuine issue of triable fact. We rely on the nonmoving party to identify with reasonable particularity the evidence that precludes summary judgment." Keenan v. Allan, 91 F.3d 1275, 1279 (9th Cir. 1996). Having failed to identify evidence to preclude summary judgment, the Diwayis have failed to meet their burden in opposition. Therefore, the Court grants Wells Fargo's motion for summary judgment on the Diwayis' breach of contract claim.
III. ORDER
Therefore, it is hereby ORDERED that Wells Fargo's second motion for summary judgment (Dkt. 52) is GRANTED. The Clerk shall terminate Wells Fargo as a Third-Party Defendant.
Dated this 13th day of September, 2018.
/s/_________
BENJAMIN H. SETTLE
United States District Judge