DiMare v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co. (In re DiMare)
DiMare v. Ameriquest Mortgage Co. (In re DiMare)
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION
I. INTRODUCTION
The matter before the Court is the “Plaintiff, Donna DiMare’s Motion for
II. PRELIMINARY MATTERS
Before delving into the merits of the pleadings now before me, I must address several preliminary matters.
First, the Debtor argues that the Cross-Motion is untimely and should be denied on that basis. Pursuant to my pretrial order dated March 17, 2011, the parties were to file dispositive motions, if any, by July 20, 2011. According to Massachusetts Electronic Filing Rule (“MEFR”) 3(c), where the Court orders that a filing must be completed by a specific date but does not specify the time, electronic filing must be completed by 4:30 p.m. to be deemed timely ,
Second, the parties each filed a concise statement of undisputed material facts of record pursuant to Local Rule 56.1 of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts,
I note, however, that while the Debtor attached 30 exhibits to the Motion for Summary Judgment, many of which are not self-evident,
I am reminded that the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has explained that LR, D. Mass. 56.1 “is intended to prevent parties from shifting to the ... court the burden of sifting through the inevitable mountain of information generated by discovery in search of relevant material.”
This, however, does not resolve the difficulties associated with my review of the Cross-Motion and the Opposition. The Opposition, in similar fashion to the Motion for Summary Judgment, simply introduces additional factual assertions, albeit with citations to the record, mixed
For these reasons, my recitation of the facts in this memorandum must be divided into two sections. The first, to be considered with respect to the Motion for Summary Judgment, is taken only from the parties competing statements.
Lastly, the Debtor appears seek summary judgment on several theories not actually asserted in the Complaint, including breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and violations of Mass. Gen. Laws chs. 93A and 183C. It is apodictic that one cannot obtain judgment as a matter of law on a claim was not brought. Therefore, these arguments will not be addressed further.
III. BACKGROUND
A. Procedural History
The present dispute is the latest iteration of a drawn out battle between the Debtor and her mortgage lenders over their efforts to foreclose her property at 19 Alcine Lane, in Burlington, Massachusetts (the “Property”). On December 15, 2006, the Debtor filed her first Chapter 13 petition.
On January 29, 2008, the Debtor filed her second Chapter 13 petition.
After an extended period of inactivity, the Debtor filed the Motion for Summary Judgment on July 11, 2011.
B. The Undisputed Material Facts of Record
The Debtor resides at the Property.
Approximately five months later, the Debtor defaulted on the Ameriquest loan.
Around May 2005, the Debtor contacted East West Mortgage seeking to refinance the Property, but her request was turned down.
On July 25, 2005, the same Aegis representative visited her at the Property for two hours, at which time she stated that she needed a 30-year fixed interest rate loan with a monthly payment lower than what she was currently paying, which was close to $1,800.
After the meeting with the Aegis representative, the Debtor spoke to him on the phone regarding the refinancing on more than five other occasions.
At the closing, the same Aegis representative was accompanied by Attorney Ryan Bailey (“Attorney Bailey”), who conducted the closing.
The Debtor was very upset that the interest rate had changed.
During the closing, the Debtor asked that all the loan documents presented to her be explained.
At his deposition, Attorney Bailey testified that he had no recollection of the Debtor’s closing or the documents associated with it.
C. The “Augmented” Record
As explained above, the Debtor raises several additional facts in her Opposition.
IV. POSITIONS OF THE PARTIES
The Debtor
With respect to Count I, the Debtor contends that “Option One was negligent in the handling and processing of her mortgage and Option One owed [her] a duty of care.”
The primary thrust of the Debtor’s argument in regards to Count II is that “[h]ad it not been for the promise of a lower monthly mortgage payment that Di-Mare replied [sic] on, DiMare would not have agreed to refinance her mortgage.”
Through Count III, the Debtor asserts that Option One committed several violations of the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”)
In Count IV, the Debtor argues that the Option One loan was not in her interest within the meaning of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 28C. In support, she cites the fact that she did not receive cash out of the transaction in excess of the closing fees, there was no change in the amortization period, and the monthly payment required under the Option One loan was substantially higher than the pre-default payment due under the Ameriquest loan. Moreover, she contends that even the terms that improved, such as the .25% reduction in the interest rate and the change from a variable rate to a fixed rate, were insufficient to make the loan in her interest. Lastly, the Debtor asserts that the Option One loan did not enable her to avoid foreclosure, but merely delay it.
With respect to Count V, the Debtor contends that the Option One loan was unconscionable because it is “unfair and deceptive in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183 § 28C and in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140D § 34, and therefore a violation of chapter 93A.”
Through Count VII, the Debtor asserts that she suffered emotional distress as a result of Option One’s predatory lending practices, including the stressful events at the closing, her subsequent dealings with Option One representatives, and having been forced into foreclosure. Because she suffers from fibromyalgia, she alleges the stress is magnified. Indeed, as a result, the Debtor contends that she has lost sleep and has been forced to take additional medication to control her pain.
The Debtor offers no explanation as to why she is entitled to summary judgment with respect to Count VI or why summary
Option One
To start, Option One argues that both Counts I and II must fail as a matter of law because the Debtor had no contact with it prior to the closing and she has not provided any evidence to impute the allegedly wrongful conduct of Aegis to Option One. In particular, Option One cites the complete absence of evidence of an agency relationship between the two. Option One also asserts that the Debtor’s claim for negligence must fail because she has not identified any duty owed to her in connection with the making of the loan.
With respect to Count III, Option One only seeks summary judgment to the extent that the Debtor’s claim is premised on Option One’s failure to provide her with pre-closing disclosures required under the CCCDA, because there is no such requirement with respect to refinancing transactions. Option One contends that the remainder of her claim, namely, that she did not receive the required number of copies of the NORC, is a question of fact for trial. While the Debtor asserts that the signature on the Acknowledgment is a forgery, Option One has produced a report from a handwriting expert who contends that the signature is authentic.
Next, Option One asserts that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law with respect to Count IV because the Option One loan was in the Debtor’s best interest. In support, Option One cites the reduction in her monthly mortgage payment, the change in the interest rate from variable to fixed, the reduction in the interest rate, and the cancellation of an imminent foreclosure. Option One argues that the Debt- or’s assertion that her monthly payment was not reduced is unavailing because the monthly payment disclosed on the Truth in Lending Disclosure was merely an estimate because the Ameriquest loan had an adjustable rate. Moreover, Option One notes that the Debtor admitted that the amount due under the Ameriquest loan at the time of the Option One closing was close to $1,800, which is less than the monthly payment due under the Option One loan.
With respect Count V, Option One contends that the Debtor’s claim that the Option One loan was unconscionable must fail as a matter of law because the Debtor has not demonstrated that the loan was procedurally and substantively unfair. In fact, Option One points out that the Debtor’s arguments completely fail to address the required elements. In any event, Option One argues that the Option One loan was not the product of unfair surprise because she admits that the terms were thoroughly explained to her and that she was repeatedly told that she did not have to close. To the contrary, Option One asserts that it was the impending Ameri-quest foreclosure, not any action on its part, that induced her to enter into the loan. Additionally, the Debtor cannot show substantive unconscionability because she benefitted from the transaction by paying off her prior loan, decreasing her monthly mortgage payment, and avoiding foreclosure.
Similarly, Option One argues that the Debtor is not entitled to restitution under Count VI because she has not demonstrated that Option One was unjustly enriched. Furthermore, Option One asserts that she is estopped from bring this claim because a contract exists between the parties, giving her an adequate remedy at law.
Lastly, Option One seeks summary judgment with respect to Count VII on the basis that the Debtor has failed to prove each element of the cause of action, regardless of whether she intended to bring a claim for intentional or negligent inflic
V. DISCUSSION
A. The Summary Judgment Standard
Pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 56, “the court shall grant summary judgment if the mov-ant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
The party seeking summary judgment “always bears the initial responsibility ... of identifying those portions of ‘the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on filed, together with the affidavits, if any,’ which demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.”
It is worth noting that when seeking summary judgment, a defendant may either affirmatively produce evidence negating an essential element of the plaintiffs claim
[T]he plain language of Rule 56[ ] mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. In such a situation, there can be “no genuine issue as to any material fact,” since a complete failure of proof concerning an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial. The moving party is “entitled to a judgment as a matter of law” because the nonmov-ing party has failed to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of her case with respect to which she has the burden of proof.91
Accordingly, “the burden on the moving party may be discharged by ‘showing’ that is, pointing out to the [trial] court that there is an absence of evidence to support the nonmoving party’s case.”
B. Count I — Negligence
The First Circuit has explained the standard for proving claim of negligence under Massachusetts law:
To prevail on a negligence claim under Massachusetts law, “a plaintiff must show by a preponderance of the evidence (1) a legal duty owed by defendant to plaintiff; (2) a breach of that duty; (3) proximate or legal cause; and (4) actual damage or injury.”94
Notably, the Debtor does not identify any duty owed to her by Option One. Instead, she asserts that the conduct of the Aegis representative won her “trust and confidence creating a fiduciary relationship and duty of care between DiMare and Aegis and ultimately, Option One.”
Therefore, the Debtor having failed to establish the presence of a trialworthy issue with respect to this element of her claim, I find that Option One is entitled to judgment as a matter of law as to Count I of the Complaint.
C. Count II — Promissory Fraud
Under Massachusetts law, to prove fraud in the inducement, a plaintiff is “required to establish the elements of common law deceit, which include ‘misrepresentation of a material fact, made to induce action, and reasonable reliance on the false statement to the detriment of the person relying.’ ”
Here, the Debtor summarizes her argument by stating, “[h]ad it not been for the promise of a lower monthly mortgage payment that DiMare replied [sic] on, Di-Mare would not have agreed to refinance her mortgage.”
D. Count III — Violations of the Federal and/or State Truth in Lending Acts
Having reviewed the Complaint, the Motion for Summary Judgment, the Cross-Motion, and the Opposition, I find that neither party has demonstrated that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law with respect to Count III. First, while the Debtor contends that the signature on the Acknowledgment is not hers, Option One has come forward with sufficient evidence in the form of a handwriting expert’s report indicating that the signature is authentic to demonstrate that a material fact is in dispute. Accordingly, the issue of whether the Debtor received the requisite number of copies of the NORC necessitates a trial.
With respect to the remainder of the Debtor’s claim under Count III, I find that both the record and the parties arguments are too inadequately developed for summary judgment to be appropriate. According to the Complaint, this portion of the Debtor’s claim arises from Option One’s failure to provide accurate pre-clos-ing disclosures as required by 12 C.F.R. § 226.17. In the Motion for Summary Judgment, however, the Debtor appears to argue that she did not receive any pre-closing disclosures until after the closing. Moreover, she asserts that some disclosures were never provided, but it is unclear whether she is referring to required pre-closing disclosures or the closing documents themselves. The Debtor contends that “[t]he documents DiMare received are different than the documents produced by Option One....”
In the Cross-Motion, Option One states that it was not required to provide the Debtor with pre-closing disclosures because a refinancing is not a “residential mortgage transaction” as that term is defined.
Having struggled to understand the parties arguments and failed, I find that a trial with additional briefing is necessary to resolve this matter. Recognizing that the parties first attempt to explain the facts and articulate their legal contentions was far from successful and wanting to avoid having to do their homework for them, I will provide detailed briefing instructions in my amended pre-trial order.
E. Count VI — Borrower’s Interest
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 28C, colloquially known as the “borrower’s interest” statute, provides in relevant part:
A lender shall not knowingly make a home loan if the home loan pays off all or part of an existing home loan that was consummated within the prior 60 months or other debt of the borrower, unless the refinancing is in the borrower’s interest.110
The statute expressly states that the “ ‘borrower’s interest’ standard shall be narrowly construed,” and places the burden on the lender to demonstrate a refinancing meets that standard.
(1)the borrower’s new monthly payment is lower than the total of all monthly obligations being financed, taking into account the costs and fees;
(2) there is a change in the amortization period of the new loan;
(3) the borrower receives cash in excess of the costs and fees of refinancing;
(4) the borrower’s note rate of interest is reduced;
(5) there is a change from an adjustable to a fixed rate loan, taking into account costs and fees; or
(6) the refinancing is necessary to respond to a bona fide personal need or an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.112
The corresponding regulations identify an additional factor: “the time it takes to recoup the costs of refinancing, taking into account the costs and fees.”
Notably, the borrower’s interest statute does not specifically set forth a remedy for a violation of any of its provisions, but nevertheless suggests that a borrower would be entitled to costs and attorneys’ fees for successfully bringing such an action against a lender.
Certainly, the Debtor had a “bona fide personal need,” namely, the avoidance of Ameriquest’s impending foreclosure. This was unquestionably the single most important factor in motivating the Debtor, and Option One contends that this “need” weighs in favor of the loan having been in her interest. As the Debtor does not argue otherwise, I will accept Option One’s contention that avoiding foreclosure was in the Debtor’s interest.
While there was no change in the amortization period of the new loan and the Debtor did not receive cash in excess of the closing fees and costs, it is undisputed that the Option One loan had a fixed interest rate that was lower than the Ameri-quest loan’s adjustable rate. The Debtor asserts that these are not meaningful differences because the Ameriquest loan’s rate was fixed at the time of her default and was only .25% higher than that of the Option One loan. I disagree. While the improvement may not have been immediately significant, it was nevertheless an improvement over the terms of the Ameri-quest loan and in her interest.
Admittedly, the monthly payments involved present a closer and more difficult issue. The Ameriquest loan’s monthly payments during its initial fixed rate period were substantially lower than those required under the Option One loan. Nonetheless, the Debtor was in default at the time the Option One loan closed and she concedes that the payments that she was actually required to make at that time were higher than those under the Option One loan. I further note that this all occurred before the first upward rate adjustment under the Ameriquest loan. On a practical level, this created a situation where the Debtor was unable to take advantage of the then lower contractual rate under the Ameriquest loan because she could not make the higher payments to cure her default. In this sense, the Option One loan provided her a better opportunity to retain her home than she had under the prior loan. I concede, however, that in light of the Debtor’s inability to make the lower contractual rate payments under the Ameriquest loan in the first instance, it was unlikely at best that she could stay current with a higher payment, even if it was less than what was required to cure her default. Ultimately, I do not find that this factor tips in favor of either party.
Although not listed as a factor in the statute, I note that the record before me suggests that the Debtor lacked viable refinancing alternatives. Consideration of this factor goes hand in hand with both the Debtor’s bona fide personal need and the
Under the totality of the circumstances and weighing the factors identified by the statute, I find that the Debtor has not rebutted Option One’s showing that the refinancing transaction was in her interest as contemplated by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 28C. While not perfect, the Option One loan offered the Debtor a chance, though admittedly slim, to keep her home and as such, was a benefit to her. That being said, the Debtor correctly notes that “a lender may run afoul of Chapter 93A by knowingly setting up a borrower for default.”
F. Count V — Unconscionability
In Waters v. Min Ltd.,
The doctrine of unconscionability has long been recognized by common law courts in this country and in England. “Historically, a [contract] was considered unconscionable if it was ‘such as no man in his senses and not under delusion would make on the one hand, and as no honest and fair man would accept on the other.’ Later, a contract was determined unenforceable because unconscionable when ‘the sum total of its provisions drives too hard a bargain for a court of conscience to assist.’ ”
Gross disparity in the values exchanged is an important factor to be considered in determining whether a contract is unconscionable. “[C]ourts [may] avoid enforcement of a bargain that is shown to be unconscionable by reason of gross inadequacy of consideration accompanied by other relevant factors.”121
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts in United Companies Lending Corp. v. Sar
Unconscionability is a question of law to be assessed at the time the contract was executed by the parties. See Zapatha v. Dairy Mart, Inc., 381 Mass. 284, 291, 408 N.E.2d 1370 (1980). It is a case-specific assessment. “Because there is no clear, all-purpose definition of ‘unconscionable,’ nor could there be, uncon-scionability must be determined on a case by case basis, giving particular attention to whether, at the time of the execution of the agreement, the contract provision could result in unfair surprise and was oppressive to the allegedly disadvantaged party.” Id. 381 Mass. at 292-93, 408 N.E.2d 1370 (internal citations omitted)....
Under Massachusetts law, the doctrine of unconscionability recognizes procedural and substantive unconscionability. See Zapatha, 381 Mass. at 292-93, 294 n. 13, 408 N.E.2d 1370. Procedural uncon-scionability evaluates the circumstances under which the contract was executed to determine if it is the product of unfair surprise. Substantive unconscionability evaluates the actual terms of the contract to determine if they are substantively unfair. “If the sum total of the provisions of a contract drive too hard a bargain, a court of conscience will not assist its enforcement.” Waters, 412 Mass. at 68, 587 N.E.2d 231 (citing Campbell Soup Co. v. Wentz, 172 F.2d 80, 84 [3d Cir.1948])....
The fact that this conduct constitutes an unfair or deceptive practice, however, does not mean that this conduct was unconscionable.122
As recognized by Judge Feeney of this district, “[t]he test [for unconscionability] is a conjunctive one,” and the plaintiff must prove both procedural and substantive unconscionability to prevail.
Despite the fact that unconsciona-bility is an intensely factual question with both procedural and substantive components, the Debtor has made no effort to argue the elements of her cause of action or otherwise identify facts that would suggest the existence of a trialworthy issue. Indeed, in the section of her memorandum in support of summary judgment dealing with unconscionability, the Debtor states in a conclusory manner that “DiMare’s loan is unfair and deceptive in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183 § 28C and in violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140D § 34, and therefore a violation of chapter 93A,”
The actions of Aegis and Option One taken together as a whole during the entire loan process including the closing and servicing of the loan that [sic] constitutes the fraud and unconscionability.... While expectations were set during the loan application process, Di-Mare’s troubles began at her loan clos*308 ing, and it was at this closing that she learned her mortgage was with Option One. It was at the closing that she was told the rate and payment amount would be higher than promised. It was at the closing that she learned she would not be able to afford her new mortgage and it was at the closing that she was told if she did not sign the papers she would be homeless and it was at the closing that DiMare felt that she did not have any alternative but to sign the mortgage papers.125
The only fact that the Debtor points to is that at the closing, she learned that the interest rate and payment would be higher than expected. This, however, does not constitute an “unfair surprise.”
G. Count VI — Restitution
From the outset, the Court notes that restitution is not a cause of action, but an equitable remedy to prevent unjust enrichment of the defendant to the detriment of the plaintiff.
In her Complaint, the Debtor alleged that “the defendants received money in circumstances in which it would be un
H. Count VII — Emotional Distress
In her Complaint, the Debtor asserted that “[t]he actions of the defendants, as described herein, caused the plaintiff to suffer emotional distress of a nature and degree that is outrageous and intolerable in a civilized society.”
VI. CONCLUSION
In light of the foregoing, I will enter an order denying the Motion for Summary Judgment, granting the Cross-Motion with respect to Counts I, II, IV, V, VI, and VII, and scheduling a trial with respect to Count III.
. The Complaint asserts the following counts: Count I — Negligence; Count II — Promissory Fraud; Count III — Violations of the Federal and/or State Truth in Lending Acts; Count IV — Borrower’s Interest; Count V — Uncon-scionability; Count VI — Restitution; Count VII — Emotional Distress. I further note that in the Complaint, the Debtor labeled both her unjust enrichment and emotional distress counts as "Count VI." Therefore, I have relabeled the emotional distress count as "Count VII.”
. See MEFR 3(c), adopted by Massachusetts Local Bankruptcy Rule ("MLBR") 9036-1.
. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f)(1), made applicable to adversary proceedings by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056.
. LR, D. Mass. 56.1, adopted and made applicable to proceedings in the bankruptcy court by MLBR 7056-1.
. See Local Rule 7056-1 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts of Record in Support of Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment ("Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts”), Docket No. 148; Defendant Option One Mortgage Corp.’s Response to Plaintiff's Local Rule 7056-1 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts ("Defendant’s Response to Facts”), Docket No.
. LR, D. Mass. 56.1 ("Material facts of record set forth in the statement required to be served by the moving party will be deemed for purposes of the motion to be admitted by opposing parties unless controverted by the statement required to be served by opposing parties.”).
. Additionally, several exhibits appear to be many separate documents. For example, Plaintiff's Exhibit 8 includes, among other things, a signed copy of the Note, as well as various pre-closing documents. Although it is difficult to be certain, several documents also appear to be attached several times as part of different exhibits. This, of course, is precisely why LR, D. Mass. 56.1 exists.
. Rios-Jimenez v. Principi, 520 F.3d 31, 39 (1st Cir. 2008).
. Caban Hernandez v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 486 F.3d 1, 7 (1 st Cir. 2007) (quoting Calvi v. Knox County, 470 F.3d 422, 427 (1st Cir. 2006)).
. Id. at 8.
. See Euromodas, Inc. v. Zanella, Ltd., 368 F.3d 11, 15-16 (1st Cir. 2004) (construing analogous local rule in District of Puerto Rico).
. See Caban Hernandez v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 486 F.3d at 8 (court does not abuse its discretion by enforcing anti-ferreting rules); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)(3) (“The court need only consider the cited materials....”), made applicable to adversary proceedings by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056.
. I take judicial notice of the docket in the adversary proceeding, as well as that of the main case pending before this Court and the Debtor's prior cases. See Rodi v. Southern New England School of Law, 389 F.3d 5, 18-19 (1st Cir. 2004) (citations omitted). Unless otherwise stated, all docket references shall be to the above captioned adversary proceeding.
. See In re Donna M. DiMare, Case No. 06- . 14772-JNF.
. See DiMare v. Ameriquest Mortg., et al., Adv. P. No. 07-1338.
. Aegis did not appear to answer or otherwise defend in the First Adversary Proceeding.
. See In re Donna M. DiMare, Case No. 08-10598-WCH.
. Dimare v. Ameriquest Mortg. Co. (In re Dimare), No. 08-1046, 2008 WL 4853382 (Bankr.D.Mass. Nov. 06, 2008).
. See Dimare v. Ameriquest Mortg. Co. (In re Dimare), No. 08-1046, 2009 WL 5206628 (Bankr.D.Mass. Dec. 22, 2009).
. After Ameriquest was dismissed from this adversary proceeding, the docket reflects no activity until July 19, 2010, when the Debtor moved to reopen the case after it was administratively closed in error that same day. Once the case was reopened, the Debtor did not request a pre-trial status conference until January 25, 2011, which Option One opposed on the basis that it intended to file a motion for summary judgment. Despite numerous continuances and a pre-trial status conference held on March 17, 2011, the parties did not file their respective motions until July, 2011.
. Plaintiff’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 1; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 1.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 1; Plaintiff’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 1.
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 2; Plaintiffs Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 2.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 3; Plaintiff’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 3.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 4; Plaintiffs Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 4.
. Id.; Solomon Affidavit, Docket No. 165, Ex. C.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 5; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 5.
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 6; Affidavit of Nathalie K. Solomon in Support of Defendant Option One Mortgage Corp.’s Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment and Defendant, Option One Mortgage Corp.’s Cross-Motion for Partial Summary Judgment ("Solomon Affidavit”), Docket No. 165, Ex. A2 at 77:19-23; 78:1-4 ("Q. Is it fair to say you received it via certified mail in or around July 2004? A. Yes.”); but see Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 6 ("Denied as worded. DiMare stated that the letter looked familiar. DiMare did not admit that she actually received a copy of the notice of Intent to Foreclose”).
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 7-9; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 7-9.
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 10; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 10.
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 11-12; Plaintiff’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 11-12.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 15; Plaintiff’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 15.
. Plaintiff’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 3; Defendant's Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 3 ("Option One is without information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations contained in Paragraph 3”); Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 16-17; Plaintiff’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 16-17.
. See In re Dimare, 2009 WL 5206628 at *1-2; In re Dimare, 2008 WL 4853382 at *1-2.
. Plaintiff’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148, Ex. 2 at ¶¶ 3-4; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 3-4 ("[Option One] is ... without information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations ...").
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 18-20; Plaintiff's Response to Facts,
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 13; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 13; Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 4, Ex. 1; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 4.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 4, Ex. 1; but see Defendant’s Response to Facts Docket No. 157 at ¶ 4 ("Option One admits that DiMare filled out a loan application with Aegis. Plaintiff [sic] is otherwise without information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations contained in Paragraph 4.”). Although not raised in either statement of undisputed material facts, in her Complaint, the Debtor alleged that pursuant to her divorce agreement, her alimony would terminate in 2011 while the child support payments would end when her son completes his education or leaves college, which could have been before 2011. Complaint, Docket No. 1 at ¶ 16.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 21; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 21.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 22; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 22.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 23; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 23; Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶¶ 5-6; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶¶ 5-6 ("Option One is without information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations contained in Paragraph^] [5 and 6].”).
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 24-25; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 24-25; Plaintiff’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶¶ 7-8; Defendant's Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶¶ 7-8.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 26; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 26.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 9; Defendant's Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 9 ("Option One is without information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations contained in Paragraph 9.").
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 27, 33; Plaintiffs Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 27, 33.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 34-36; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 34-36.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 28; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 28.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 10; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at 1110 ("Option One is without information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations contained in Paragraph 10.”).
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 14; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 14.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 11; Defendant's Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 11 ("Admitted that Di-Mare executed a Note, Mortgage, and other loan documents on August 8, 2005. Option One otherwise denies the allegations contained in Paragraph 11.”). While the record demonstrates that Ameriquest had sent the Debtor several Notices of Intent to Foreclose, there is no evidence that Ameriquest had scheduled a foreclosure sale. Nonetheless, for the purposes of summary judgment, Option One assumes the truth of that allegation.
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 29; Plaintiff’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 29.
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at 1130; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 30.
. Defendant's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 31-32; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 31-32 ("31. Denied as worded. DiMare stated that she read the documents presented to her to the best of her ability.” (underline in original)).
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 11; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 11 ("Admitted that Di-Mare executed a Note, Mortgage, and other loan documents on August 8, 2005. Option One otherwise denies the allegations contained in Paragraph 11.”).
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶ 39; Plaintiff’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶ 39.
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 37-38; Plaintiff's Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 37-38.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶¶ 12-13, 30.
. Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶¶ 12-13, 30; Affidavit of Alan T. Robillard, Docket No. 166 at ¶ 4. Notably, the Defendant does not cite to this affidavit in support of its bare denial of the Debtor's allegations in the Defendant’s Response to Facts.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 14; Defendant's Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 14.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 26; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 26.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶¶ 19, 23; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶¶ 19, 23.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶¶ 15-16, 20; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶¶ 15-16, 20.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶¶ 17-18; Defendant's Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶¶ 17-18. Option One denies that Attorney Bailey was "unsure” how the closing package was provided to him and whether it provided him with a separate copy for the Debtor. Instead, Option One states that he merely said he could not remember. No matter how parties phrase it, the result is the same — Attorney Bailey does not know.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶21; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 21.
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶¶ 24-25; Defendant's Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶¶ 24-25.
. This section contains properly supported factual assertions included as part of the Debtor’s arguments in the Opposition but not in her statement of undisputed material facts. As such, they will only be considered with respect to the Cross-Motion for the purpose
. See Opposition, Docket No. 169 at Exs. A, D; Motion for Summary Judgment, Docket No. 148 at Ex. 23. I note that the "call log" document is clearly a call log, but is otherwise completely incomprehensible.
. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment, Docket No. 148 at Ex. 10.
. Id.
. Opposition, Docket No. 169 at p. 11; Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Docket No. 148 at Ex. 7.
. Memorandum in Support of Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment ("Plaintiff’s Memorandum”), Docket No. 148 at p. 3.
. Id. at p. 4.
. Opposition, Docket No. 169 at p. 4.
. Plaintiff's Memorandum, Docket No. 148 at p. 6.
. 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.
. 12 C.F.R. § 226.1 et seq.
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140D, § 1 et seq.
. The Debtor also objects to Option One's handwriting expert's report, but her objection speaks to the weight of the evidence, which is ultimately an issue for trial.
.Plaintiff’s Memorandum, Docket No. 148 at p. 18.
. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(a) made applicable in adversary proceedings by Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056.
. Triangle Trading Co. v. Robroy Indus., Inc., 200 F.3d 1, 2 (1st Cir. 1999) (quoting Smith v. F.W. Morse & Co., Inc., 76 F.3d 413, 427 (1st Cir. 1996)).
. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); McCarthy v. Northwest Airlines, Inc., 56 F.3d 313, 314-315 (1st Cir. 1995); Nereida-Gonzalez v. Tirado-Delgado, 990 F.2d 701, 703 (1st Cir. 1993).
. Desmond v. Varrasso (In re Varrasso), 37 F.3d 760, 764 (1st Cir. 1994).
. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505.
. Triangle Trading Co., 200 F.3d at 2 (quoting Morris v. Gov’t Dev. Bank of Puerto Rico, 27 F.3d 746, 748 (1 st Cir. 1994)).
. Griggs-Ryan v. Smith, 904 F.2d 112, 115 (1st Cir. 1990) (quoting Medina-Munoz v. R.I. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 896 F.2d 5, 8 (1st Cir. 1990)).
. Nicolo v. Philip Morris, Inc., 201 F.3d 29, 33 (1st Cir. 2000).
. Reich v. John Alden Life Ins. Co., 126 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 1997).
. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. at 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505 (considering the quantum of evidence required to oppose a motion for summary judgment where the defendant supported his motion with an affidavit affirmatively producing evidence negating an essential element of the plaintiff's complaint).
. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. at 320, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Id. at 322-323, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Id. at 325, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Id. at 324, 106 S.Ct. 2548.
. Primus v. Galgano, 329 F.3d 236, 241 (1st Cir. 2003) (quoting Heinrich v. Sweet, 308 F.3d 48, 62-63 (1st Cir. 2002) (internal quotations omitted)). See Frappier v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 645 F.3d 51, 58 (1st Cir. 2011); Jorgensen v. Mass. Port Auth., 905 F.2d 515, 522 (1st Cir. 1990).
. Plaintiff’s Memorandum, Docket No. 148 at p. 4.
. The only evidence of any contact between Option One and Aegis are loan prequalification forms sent by Aegis to Option One on July 11, 2005, and an incomprehensible document the Debtor states is a “call log” between Aegis and Option One from July 28, 2005. See Opposition, Docket No. 169 at Exs. A, D; Motion for Summary Judgment, Docket No. 148 at Ex. 23. Neither establish what the Debtor failed to even allege in her complaint; namely, an agency relationship between the two.
. Frappier v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 645 F.3d at 59 (quoting FAMM Steel, Inc. v. Sovereign Bank, 571 F.3d 93, 102 (1st Cir. 2009)). See Clark v. Rowe, 428 Mass. 339, 346, 701 N.E.2d 624 (1998); Urman v. South Bos. Sav. Bank, 424 Mass. 165, 168, 674 N.E.2d 1078 (1997); Superior Glass Co. v. First Bristol Cnty. Nat'l Bank, 380 Mass. 829, 832, 406 N.E.2d 672 (1980); Nat’l Shawmut Bank of Bos. v. Hallett, 322 Mass. 596, 602, 78 N.E.2d 624 (1948).
. Frappier v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 645 F.3d at 59 (emphasis added).
. Sullivan v. Decision One Mortg. (In re Sullivan), 346 B.R. 4, 20 (Bankr.D.Mass. 2006) (citing Broomfield v. Kosow, 349 Mass. 749, 212 N.E.2d 556 (1965)).
. While I need not reach this issue in light of the Debtor’s failure to demonstrate that Option One owed her a duty, I note that she has also failed to clearly and coherently explain how the duty she alleged existed was breached.
. Commerce Bank & Trust Co. v. Hayeck, 46 Mass.App.Ct. 687, 693, 709 N.E.2d 1122 (1999) (quoting Hogan v. Riemer, 35 Mass. App.Ct. 360, 365, 619 N.E.2d 984 (1993)). See Storie v. Household Intern., Inc., No. 03-40268-FDS, 2005 WL 3728718 *7 (D.Mass. Sept. 22, 2005); In re Sullivan, 346 B.R. at 19.
. McEvoy Travel Bureau, Inc. v. Norton Co., 408 Mass. 704, 711 n. 5, 563 N.E.2d 188 (1990); Broomfield v. Kosow, 349 Mass, at 759, 212 N.E.2d 556; Shawmut-Canton LLC v. Great Spring Waters of America, Inc., 62 Mass.App.Ct. 330, 335, 816 N.E.2d 545 (2004); Commerce Bank & Trust Co. v. Hayeck, 46 Mass.App.Ct. at 693, 709 N.E.2d 1122.
. Plaintiff’s Memorandum, Docket No. 148 at p. 6.
. Plaintiff’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 9; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 9 (“Option One is without information sufficient to admit or deny the allegations contained in Paragraph 9.”).
. Defendant’s Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 159 at ¶¶ 29-32; Plaintiffs Response to Facts, Docket No. 169 at ¶¶ 29-32 ("31. Denied as worded. DiMare stated that she read the documents presented to her to the best of her ability.” (underline in original)).
. Plaintiff's Undisputed Facts, Docket No. 148 at ¶ 11; Defendant’s Response to Facts, Docket No. 157 at ¶ 11 (“Admitted that Di-Mare executed a Note, Mortgage, and other loan documents on August 8, 2005. Option One otherwise denies the allegations contained in Paragraph 11.”).
. Plaintiff's Memorandum, Docket No. 148 at p. 9.
. Id. 9.
. See 209 C.M.R. § 32.02 (2005); see also Vincent v. Ameriquest Mortg. Co. (In re Vincent), 381 B.R. 564, 570 n. 4 (Bankr.D.Mass. 2008).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 28C(a). See also 209 C.M.R. § 53.03.
. Id.
. Id.
. 209 C.M.R. § 53.04(3)(g).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 28C(b).
. See H.B. 4880, St. 2004, ch. 268, § 1 (2004).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183C, § 1 et seq.
. See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183C, § 18(a).
. The Debtor asserts, however, that foreclosure was not avoided, but merely delayed as she immediately defaulted on the first payment due under the Option One loan. This suggests a fact that remains unproven; namely, that at the time of the closing, the Debtor’s eventual default on the Option One loan was a certainty.
.Plaintiff’s Memorandum, Docket No. 148 at 14 (quoting Frappier v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., No. 09-cv11006-MAP, 2010 WL 3944687 *2 (D.Mass. Oct. 7, 2010), aff'd in part, rev'd in part, 645 F.3d 51 (1st Cir. 2011)). The Debtor’s citation of Commonwealth v. Fremont Inv. & Loan, 452 Mass. 733, 897 N.E.2d 548 (2008), is equally inapposite because that case involved alleged violations of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A and Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183 C, not Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 28C.
. Waters v. Min Ltd., 412 Mass. 64, 587 N.E.2d 231 (1992).
. Id. at 66, 69, 587 N.E.2d 231 (citations omitted).
. United Cos. Lending Corp. v. Sargeant, 20 F.Supp.2d 192, 206-207 (D.Mass. 1998). See Laudani v. Tribeca Lending Corp. (In re Laudani), 401 B.R. 9, 34 (Bankr.D.Mass. 2009); In re Sullivan, 346 B.R. at 25; Maxwell v. Fairbanks Capital Corp. (In re Maxwell), 281 B.R. 101, 127 (Bankr.D.Mass. 2002).
. In re Sullivan, 346 B.R. at 26 (quoting Storie v. Household Intern., Inc., No. 03-40268-FDS, 2005 WL 3728718 *9 (D.Mass. Sept. 22, 2005)); see In re Laudani, 401 B.R. at 34.
. Plaintiff’s Memorandum, Docket No. 148 atp. 18.
. Opposition, Docket No. 169 at p. 12.
. See In re Laudani, 401 B.R. at 35 ("Even if the Debtor were surprised that he was unable to obtain more cash from his refinancing with Tribeca than he ultimately received, that surprise is not the equivalent of the unfair surprise component needed to establish procedural unconscionability.”). I further note that the Debtor has failed to demonstrate that the pre-closing representations regarding the mortgage terms rose to the level of fraud or misrepresentation.
. See Waters v. Min Ltd., 412 Mass, at 68, 587 N.E.2d 231.
. Keller v. O'Brien, 425 Mass. 774, 778-779, 683 N.E.2d 1026 (1997); Santagate v. Tower, 64 Mass.App.Ct. 324, 336, 833 N.E.2d 171 (2005).
. Taylor Woodrow Blitman Constr. Corp. v. Southfield Gardens Co., 534 F.Supp. 340, 347 (D.Mass. 1982) (quoting 66 Am. Jur. 2d Restitution and Implied Contracts § 3 (1962)). See Agin v. Mortg. Elec. Registration Sys., Inc. (In re Bower), No. 10-1092, 2010 WL 4023396 *7 (Bankr.D.Mass. Oct. 13, 2010); Braunstein v. McCabe (In re the McCabe Group, PC), 424 B.R. 1, 15 (Bankr.D.Mass. 2010); Santagate v. Tower, 64 Mass.App.Ct. at 329, 833 N.E.2d 171.
.Smith v. Jenkins, 626 F.Supp.2d 155, 171 (D.Mass. 2009) (quoting LaSalle Nat’l Bank v. Perelman, 82 F.Supp.2d 279, 294-295 (D.Del. 2000)). See Keller v. O'Brien, 425 Mass, at 778, 683 N.E.2d 1026; Salamon v. Terra, 394 Mass. 857, 859, 477 N.E.2d 1029 (1985); Nat'l Shawmut Bank v. Fidelity Mut. Life Ins. Co., 318 Mass. 142, 146, 61 N.E.2d 18 (1945); Sutton v. Valois, 66 Mass.App.Ct. 258, 267, 846 N.E.2d 1171 (2006); Santagate v. Tower, 64 Mass.App.Ct. at 329, 833 N.E.2d 171; Stevens v. Nagel, 64 Mass.App.Ct. 136, 141, 831 N.E.2d 935 (2005); Cox v. Cox, 56 Mass.App.Ct. 864, 780 N.E.2d 951 (2002).
. Complaint, Docket No. 1 ¶ 75.
. Id. at ¶ 76.
. Id. at ¶ 79.
. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has held that a plaintiff must prove the following in order to recover for negligent infliction emotional distress: “(1) negligence; (2) emotional distress; (3) causation; (4) physical harm manifested by objective symp-tomatology; and (5) that a reasonable person would have suffered emotional distress under the circumstances of the case.” Payton v. Abbott Labs, 386 Mass. 540, 557, 437 N.E.2d 171 (1982). In contrast, to prove intentional infliction of emotion distress, the plaintiff must show "(1) that the actor intended to inflict emotional distress or that he knew or should have known that emotional distress was the likely result of his conduct, (2) that the conduct was 'extreme and outrageous,' was ‘beyond all possible bounds of decency’ and was 'utterly intolerable in a civilized community,’ (3) that the actions of the defendant were the cause of the plaintiff's distress, and (4) that the emotional distress sustained by the plaintiff was ‘severe’ and of a nature that ‘no reasonable man could be expected to endure it.’ ” Agis v. Howard Johnson Co., 371 Mass. 140, 145, 355 N.E.2d 315 (1976) (citations omitted).
. A claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress fails because, as explained above, the Debtor did not establish that Option One owed her a duty. With respect to intentional infliction of emotional distress, the Debtor has proffered no evidence to even raise a trial worthy issue regarding the first two elements.
. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(5) ("The district court shall order that personal injury tort and wrongful death claims shall be tried in the district court in which the bankruptcy case is pending, or in the district court in the district in which the claim arose, as determined by the district court in which the bankruptcy case is pending.”); see In re Laudani, 401 B.R. at 42; Nosek v. Ameriquest Mortg. Co. (In re Nosek), No. 04-4517, 2006 WL 1867096 *17 (Bankr.D.Mass. June 30, 2006), rev'd on other grounds, Ameriquest Mortg. Co. v. Nosek (In re Nosek), 354 B.R. 331 (D.Mass. 2006).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In re Donna M. DIMARE, Debtor. Donna M. DiMare v. Ameriquest Mortgage Company and Option One Mortgage Corporation
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published