McDonald v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
McDonald v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Opinion of the Court
An auto lender repossessing a car must comply with a state's commercial code and *470related debtor protections. These laws define disclosures required in the notices of repossession and deficiency sent to the debtor to further the legislature's mandate of all aspects of the lender's repossession and sale conduct are commercially reasonable. The lender may send the same notice to thousands of defaulted debtors in the same state based on the state's law. The auto lender's compliance is made more complicated when the car is purchased from a car dealer in one state for use by a citizen of a different state. Assessing compliance also becomes more complicated when the debtor dies but someone keeps sending the monthly car payment for years until defaulting shortly before the last payment. What state's notice requirements apply? Is a deceased debtor entitled to proper notice? After our Court of Appeals held the debtor's estate may bring commercial code or conversion claims under Pennsylvania law (if it applies), we today address whether the estate of a Pennsylvania debtor who bought a car in Ohio may pursue claims under Article 9 of the Pennsylvania Commercial Code challenging the repossession and deficiency notices sent to the deceased debtor or for conversion for repossessing the car. If so, may we certify a class of over 300 Pennsylvania debtors who lost a car to repossession after this lender sent a notice (based on the car dealer's home state law) not compliant with Pennsylvania's Commercial Code or under Pennsylvania conversion law?
We find disputed issues of fact requiring a trial on some but not all of the debtor estate's Article 9 challenges to the lender's two pre-sale notices and for conversion. But we cannot certify a class as the individual reasonableness and consent issues predominate over the common issues and a class action is not a superior method of resolving the individual liability questions. Even assuming we could possibly find predominance and superiority, we could not certify this proposed class as the unique defenses to the debtor's estate renders it atypical under class action law. We also deny eight Pennsylvanians' effort to intervene, without prejudice for them to seek their remedies if timely when the estate filed this case.
I. Background
A. Facts adduced in discovery.
Pennsylvania citizen Rick McDonald wanted to buy a GMC Sierra truck in early 2007 but needed his mother Patricia McDonald to assist with payments.
Patricia McDonald financed the purchase of the five-year-old GMC Sierra. She signed a Retail Installment Sale Contract ("the Contract") with the Ohio dealership, governed by Ohio law, requiring she make sixty-six monthly installments of $ 465.86.
Wells Fargo repossesses the GMC Sierra on November 28, 2012.
Patricia McDonald died on December 21, 2009.
Wells Fargo's two Notices of sale for the repossessed 2002 GMC Sierra.
Wells Fargo sent Patricia McDonald a "Notice of Our Plan to Sell Property (Consumer Goods)" on November 30, 2012.
Wells Fargo did not sell the GMC Sierra at the January 3, 2013 auction. On January 4, 2013, Wells Fargo sent Patricia McDonald a "Notice of Continued Sale" informing her Wells Fargo Dealer Services "attempted" but "was not able to sell your vehicle" at the originally scheduled auction "and we have scheduled another public sale date":
*473The January 4, 2013 Notice did not describe a lower minimum bid. Liane McDonald, Patricia McDonald's daughter-in-law, swore she does not remember seeing the January 4, 2013 Notice of Continued Sale, as the McDonalds' employee, Sam Betts, signed for it.
Wells Fargo sold the GMC Sierra for $ 3,400 at the January 22, 2013 auction.
Wells Fargo's January 27, 2013 deficiency Notice.
In a January 27, 2013 deficiency Notice, Wells Fargo informed Patricia McDonald of the January 22, 2013 sale and a deficiency balance of $ 292.89 after applying the sale's proceeds.
Over a month after the sale, Erik Sobkiewicz, Esq. wrote to Wells Fargo on behalf of the deceased Patricia McDonald.
B. The Estate sues Wells Fargo.
On December 31, 2015, Liane McDonald obtained Letters of Administration for her mother-in-law Patricia McDonald's estate ("the Estate").
The Estate focuses its claims on Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012, January 4, 2013, and January 27, 2013 Notices. The Estate alleges Wells Fargo's conduct violated Commercial Code section 9610, which requires "[e]very aspect of a disposition of collateral ... be commercially reasonable,"
*475Invoking (but not specifically alleging claims under) the MVSFA's notice requirements applicable to motor vehicle repossessions, the Estate alleges Wells Fargo "did not set forth the amount that the borrower must pay to redeem the repossessed vehicle[,] contained conflicting information as to the borrower's reinstatement and redemption rights[,] and failed to notify the borrower of the borrower's right to reclaim personal property that was in the vehicle at the time it was repossessed."
C. Following our dismissal of the Estate's Amended Complaint based on Ohio and Pennsylvania's survival action laws, our Court of Appeals remands for a choice of law analysis.
Wells Fargo moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint arguing, among other things, Liane McDonald did not state a claim under Pennsylvania law because Ohio law applies under the Contract and the Estate's breach of contract "claim fails because this cause of action had not accrued prior to the death of Patricia McDonald."
The Estate appealed. Our Court of Appeals held Liane McDonald could not bring claims under the Pennsylvania survival action statute ( 42 Pa.C.S. § 8302 ) but found she could bring her claims under another Pennsylvania statute ( 20 Pa.C.S. § 3311(a) ).
Following issuance of our Court of Appeals' mandate, we set a schedule for trial of either the individual or class claims. We denied Wells Fargo's renewed motion to dismiss.
D. Eight Pennsylvanians seek to intervene to bring different class claims.
While we reviewed the summary judgment and class certification motions, eight Pennsylvanians moved to intervene "to protect their rights and the rights of the putative class."
II. Analysis
The parties now cross-move for summary judgment on the Estate's Article 9 and conversion claims.
We find the Estate fails to show Wells Fargo's Notices violated sections 9614 or 9616, but a jury must determine whether Wells Fargo's failure to recant the minimum bid price in the January 4, 2013 Notice and non-compliance with the MVSFA rendered the sale unreasonable under section 9610. A jury must also determine *477whether Wells Fargo had consent to repossess and dispose of the GMC Sierra, a necessary element of the Estate's conversion claim we cannot resolve absent credibility findings. The Estate has not shown the typicality, predominance, and superiority elements needed for class certification. As we cannot certify this class as a matter of law, the intervenors have not shown a basis to intervene with a separate class to the extent they raise the same claims and we will not exercise discretion to add new liability theories which may not apply to the Estate. The Intervenors may attempt to pursue their individual timely claims. But we will proceed to trial on the Estate's claims under section 9610 and conversion alone.
A. Disputed facts require a trial on the Estate's claims under section 9610 and for conversion but the Estate fails to show Wells Fargo violated sections 9614 and 9616 as a matter of law.
The Estate challenges Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 pre-sale Notices. The Estate argues summary judgment in its favor is appropriate because violations of Article 9 of the Pennsylvania Commercial Code and the incorporated MVSFA are apparent on the face of the Notices. These statutory violations, the Estate argues, stripped Wells Fargo of a lawful justification to dispose of the GMC Sierra. Wells Fargo argues the Estate cannot bring the statutory claims because they are governed by Ohio law, and the claims fail on the merits. Wells Fargo argues the Estate's conversion claim is barred by the statute of limitations or the gist of the action doctrine and fails on the merits because the parties' Contract provided the consent and lawful justification to repossess and sell the GMC Sierra at auction.
1. We apply Pennsylvania law to the Article 9 claims.
The parties again dispute whether Pennsylvania or Ohio law governs the Estate's Commercial Code claims. As a federal court sitting in diversity, "we apply the choice-of law-rules of the forum state, Pennsylvania."
a. The Contract's chosen Ohio law does not govern the Article 9 claims.
Pennsylvania courts generally honor and enforce contractual choice of law provisions, so our analysis must begin with the language of the parties' Contract. It provides "[f]ederal law and the law of the state of our address shown on the front of this contract apply to this contract."
Wells Fargo argues even a narrow interpretation of the Contract's choice of law provision encompasses the Article 9 claims, which are more like contract claims than freestanding statutory or common law tort claims. Wells Fargo argues "the UCC requirements effectuate the rights and obligations created by the Contract," distinguishing them from other freestanding statutory causes of action.
Wells Fargo's argument has some logical appeal, as the Pennsylvania Commercial Code may generally supply default contract terms and supplant common law causes of action. In the context of Article 2, for example, the Commercial Code "only applies to contracts for the sale of goods."
Prohibiting modification or waiver of such rules prevents such overreaching where the balance of power is so often tilted in favor of the secured creditor. Other provisions of the Commercial Code involving willing buyers and sellers may not have such protective effect. But in the context of Article 9, such provisions appear to operate wholly independent of the parties' contractual obligations; they are more like a consumer protection statute than a traditional contract claim. We find the Contract's choice of law provision does not govern the Estate's Article 9 claims.
b. Pennsylvania maintains a greater interest in applying its consumer protections to this dispute.
But then what law should apply to the Article 9 claims? "When a choice of law provision in a contract does not apply to particular claims, as is the case here, the claims not covered by the provision must be analyzed under the factors set forth by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Hammersmith v. TIG Insur. Co. ,
We must then "classify the conflict as a 'true,' 'false,' or an 'unprovided-for' situation."
A true conflict necessitates "[a] 'deeper [choice of law] analysis' "
Although we construe the Estate's Article 9 claims as standalone consumer protection claims, we would reach the same result assessing "the contacts listed in § 188(2) of the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws to determine which state has greater contacts with the contract at issue,"
The first factor, the place of contracting, points to Pennsylvania. As we found on September 19, 2018, this factor weighs in favor of Ohio because the Estate did not allege where the parties signed the contract, but we "dr[e]w the reasonable inference they signed at the Ohio dealership."
The second factor, the place of negotiation, is indeterminate. Rick McDonald swore he negotiated the contract with the Ohio dealership over the phone; he conducted the negotiations from Pennsylvania and never set foot in Ohio. There is no evidence the parties concluded negotiations in person at the Pennsylvania ice rink. This factor therefore does not point conclusively to Pennsylvania or Ohio.
The third factor, the place of performance, points more towards Pennsylvania than Ohio. Rick McDonald swore he used the GMC Sierra for work in Pennsylvania. There is no evidence he drove the vehicle in Ohio. It is not apparent what, if any, performance touched Ohio. Under the Contract, Performance GMC assigned its rights to Wells Fargo, which, in turn, instructed Patricia McDonald to send payments to California.
The fourth factor, the location of the subject matter of the contract, points to Pennsylvania. It is not disputed Rick McDonald used the vehicle in Pennsylvania at all relevant times until its repossession in Pennsylvania.
The fifth factor-the domicile, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties-points to *482Pennsylvania. As in September 2018, we still know little about Performance GMC, other than it conducted business in Ohio and assigned its rights under the contract to Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo, however, is a South Dakota citizen which directed Patricia McDonald to send payments to California. Ohio's interest is outweighed by Pennsylvania's interest on this factor, as the McDonalds remained in Pennsylvania at all relevant times.
We apply Pennsylvania law to the Article 9 claims.
2. Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 pre-sale Notices satisfy section 9614.
The Estate argues Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012 Notice and January 4, 2013 Notice of Continued Sale lacked information required by section 9614 of the Pennsylvania Commercial Code, governing the "[c]ontents and form" of pre-disposition notification in consumer-goods transactions.
Section 9614(1)"sets forth the information required for a reasonable notification in a consumer-goods transaction."
(i) describes the debtor and the secured party;
(ii) describes the collateral which is the subject of the intended disposition;
(iii) states the method of intended disposition;
(iv) states that the debtor is entitled to an accounting of the unpaid indebtedness and states the charge, if any, for an accounting; and
(v) states the time and place of a public disposition or the time after which any other disposition is to be made."91
Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012 Notice contains this information. It describes the debtor ("Patricia A. McDonald"), the secured party ("Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. DBA Wells Fargo Dealer Services"), and the collateral to be sold ("2002 GMC Sierra 1GTHK29182E291423").
Wells Fargo also complied with Section 9613(1)(iv)'s requirement the notice "state[ ] that the debtor is entitled to an accounting of the unpaid indebtedness and state[ ] the charge, if any, for an accounting."
The Estate argues Wells Fargo's accounting reference is deficient in any event because Wells Fargo does not "state[ ] the charge , if any, for an accounting."
The Estate does not adduce evidence Wells Fargo charged Patricia McDonald or any other debtors for a first requested accounting. And the statute-which requires the lender "state[ ] the charge, if any , for an accounting"
The Estate's additional arguments do not show Wells Fargo violated section 9614(1)'s remaining requirements. Section 9614(1)(ii) requires the Notice describe "any liability for a deficiency of the person to which the notification is sent."
*484Wells Fargo provides this information on the Notice's first page: "[y]ou can get the property back at any time before we sell it by paying us the full amount you owe (not just the past due payments), including our expenses. To learn the exact amount you must pay, call us at 888-937-9992."
Section 9614(1)(iv) requires the Notice provide "a telephone number or mailing address from which additional information concerning the disposition and the obligation secured is available."
Nor does the January 4, 2013 Notice informing the debtor of the continued sale date run afoul of section 9614's requirements. The November 30, 2012 Notice contains a variety of lengthy disclosures, Wells Fargo's contract information, and a complimentary accounting, as we describe above. The January 4, 2013 Notice merely informs Patricia McDonald of the rescheduled public sale date, time, and location.
3. A jury must resolve the material questions of fact surrounding the reasonableness of the November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 pre-sale Notices under section 9610.
Separate from its claim Wells Fargo's Notices failed to comply with section 9614's detailed requirements, the Estate argues deficiencies in Well Fargo's pre-sale November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 Notices rendered the sale commercially unreasonable under section 9610. This statute broadly requires reasonable notice and a commercially reasonable disposition of collateral. Section 9610 mandates "[e]very aspect of a disposition of collateral, including the method, manner, time, place and other terms, must be commercially reasonable."
While not specifically suing under section 9611, the Estate invokes Wells Fargo's obligations under section 9611, which mandates "a secured party that disposes of collateral under § 9610 (relating to disposition after default) shall send ... a reasonable authenticated notification of disposition."
a. A jury must decide whether Wells Fargo's failure to recant its minimum bid price in the January 4, 2013 Notice rendered the sale unreasonable.
The Estate argues Wells Fargo's January 4, 2013 Notice of Continued Sale, which failed to affirmatively recant or address the minimum price term contained in the November 30, 2012 Notice, rendered the sale commercially unreasonable. Wells Fargo counters it "attempted to sell the vehicle on January 3, 2013, but it was unable to do so," a reasonable basis for omitting any such minimum bid term in *485the January 4, 2013 Notice.
Article 9 emphasizes a secured creditor may send a revised notice of sale, but the revised notice, like all notice, must be reasonable. In its Comment to section 9611, the General Assembly directs "[n]othing in this Article ... prevent[s] a secured party from electing to send a revised notification if its plans for disposition change."
Wells Fargo's lengthy November 30, 2012 Notice advised Patricia McDonald, "[w]e will sell [your vehicle] at public sale at a minimum bid of 9,157.00."
Compared with the lengthy disclosures in the November 30, 2012 Notice, the brief January 4, 2013 Notice could leave a reasonable recipient with the impression Wells Fargo changed only the date and time of the auction since the November 30, 2012 Notice. Given Wells Fargo's failure to recant or address the minimum bid provision in the second Notice, it would not be per se unreasonable for a recipient to perceive the minimum bid provision as still operative. A jury could find commercial reasonableness required Wells Fargo affirmatively address all information or terms no longer accurate or in effect when it sent the January 4, 2013 Notice. We deny the parties' motions for summary judgment on this issue.
b. A jury must also decide whether Wells Fargo's failure to provide the Notices required by the MVSFA rendered the repossession and sale commercially unreasonable under section 9610.
The Estate argues Wells Fargo's failure to comply with the then-operative MVSFA rendered the sale commercially unreasonable under section 9610. The Estate argues Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 pre-disposition Notices failed to "set forth the buyer's right as to reinstatement,"
Although the Pennsylvania General Assembly repealed the MVSFA effective December 1, 2014, we apply the version in effect during Wells Fargo's repossession and sale of the GMC Sierra in 2012-13.
The Estate invokes section 623(D) of the MVSFA, which requires the secured creditor in a self-help repossession provide the debtor, among other things, notice, disclosure of an opportunity to reinstate the contract (if available under the contract), information describing the location where the vehicle is stored, and notice of an opportunity to obtain personal belongings in the vehicle:
When repossession of a motor vehicle, which is the subject of an installment sale contract, is effected otherwise than by legal process, the holder shall immediately furnish the buyer with a written "notice of repossession" delivered in person, or sent by registered or certified mail directed to the last known address of the buyer. Such notice shall set forth the buyer's right as to reinstatement of the contract, if the holder extends the privilege of reinstatement and redemption of the motor vehicle, shall contain an itemized statement of the total amount required to redeem the motor vehicle by reinstatement or payment of the contract in full, shall give notice to the buyer of the holder's intent to re-sell the motor vehicle at the expiration of fifteen (15) days from the date of mailing such notice, shall disclose the place at which the motor vehicle is stored, and shall designate the name and address of the person to whom the buyer shall make payment, or upon whom he may serve notice. The holder's notice shall also state that any personal property left in the repossessed vehicle will be held for thirty (30) days from the date of the notice's mailing. The personal property may be reclaimed within the thirty (30) day time period. Thereafter the property may be disposed of in the same manner as the motor vehicle and other collateral.120
The Estate argues Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 pre-sale Notices violated three specific protections in section 623(D) by failing to "set *487forth the buyer's right as to reinstatement"; "disclose the place at which the motor vehicle is stored"; and, inform the debtor "any personal property left in the repossessed vehicle will be held for thirty (30) days from the date of the notice's mailing."
We need not resolve Wells Fargo's argument the MVSFA contains no private cause of action.
Courts applying Pennsylvania law endorse the Estate's theory of liability. In Nawrocki v. Faulkner Ciocca Ford of Souderton , Judge Dalzell explained "[m]ost of the provisions of the [Finance Act] that an individual buyer can enforce supply elements of another cause of action."
After careful review of Wells Fargo's November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 Notices, the Estate adduced evidence of a MVSFA violation to proceed to a jury, but we cannot resolve the question of liability as a matter of law. It cannot reasonably be disputed Wells Fargo's Notices do not describe the place at which it stored the GMC Sierra before the auction or the right to obtain personal property left in the repossessed GMC Sierra. And although the November 30, 2012 Notice informed Patricia McDonald she could "reinstate this default until" December 20, 2012 by paying the $ 2,862.75 due on the account, Wells Fargo argues "all Patricia's payments were past due and there were no future payments under the installment contract to be made," so "there was nothing to reinstate."
To the extent Wells Fargo argues the Estate failed to demonstrate Patricia McDonald had any property in the vehicle at *488time of repossession, Wells Fargo is free to argue this evidence to a jury as evidence of commercial reasonableness under the circumstances and/or a lack of actual damages. For although we find the Estate has sufficiently alleged an injury for purposes of Article III standing, "Pennsylvania law makes clear that the question of whether [the plaintiff] suffered a compensable injury and, if so, the extent of that injury, is for a jury to decide."
c. We cannot resolve as a matter of law Wells Fargo's fact-intensive defense under section 9628.
Wells Fargo argues it cannot be held liable under Article 9 because there existed no debtor at the time it repossessed and sold the GMC Sierra, and, even if there were a debtor, it did not know the debtor's identity or how to communicate with the debtor. Wells Fargo first argues section 9625 limits recovery to "a person that was a debtor or a secondary obligor at the time a secured party failed to comply with this chapter."
The Estate reaches this conclusion citing Pennsylvania cases discussing intestate succession, despite numerous witnesses swearing Patricia McDonald had a Will. Patricia McDonald's Will, however, is not in the record. We also question Wells Fargo's aggressive reading of Article 9, which would appear to leave secured creditors free to commit any number of repossession violations with impunity so long as they do so before grieving family members open an Estate. We lack a basis to find the Pennsylvania General Assembly drafted Article 9 to permit such conduct. And we further doubt Wells Fargo would be so generous in its statutory interpretation were it attempting to collect a debt from Patricia McDonald.
But we need not explore the perimeters of Pennsylvania estate law to conclude, as we believe our Court of Appeals did, at least one debtor existed at the time Wells Fargo repossessed and sold the GMC Sierra. Pennsylvania statute provides "[n]othing in this title shall be construed as impairing any lien or charge on real or personal estate of the decedent which existed at his death."
*489Wells Fargo also invokes section 9628 providing "[a] secured party is not liable because of its status as secured party to ... [a] person that is a debtor or obligor unless the secured party knows: (i) that the person is a debtor or obligor; (ii) the identity of the person; and (iii) how to communicate with the person."
As we found in our September 19, 2018 Memorandum, "[d]etermining Wells Fargo's knowledge-or lack thereof-of the debtor's identity would require resolving a factual dispute, which we cannot do at this stage of the litigation."
4. We grant summary judgment to Wells Fargo on the Estate's section 9616 claims challenging the January 27, 2013 deficiency Notice.
The Estate moves for summary judgment on its claims seeking actual damages for Wells Fargo's alleged failure to explain "its calculation of any surplus or deficiency" and "failed to include in its notice ... 'a telephone number or mailing address from which additional information concerning the transaction is available.' "
Wells Fargo's January 27, 2013 deficiency Notice is governed by section 9616, which requires the secured party "[s]end an explanation to the debtor or consumer obligor"
(1) The aggregate amount of obligations secured by the security interest under which the disposition was made and, if the amount reflects a rebate of unearned interest or credit service charge, an indication of that fact, calculated as of a specified date ...
(2) The amount of proceeds of the disposition.
(3) The aggregate amount of the obligations after deducting the amount of proceeds.
(4) The amount, in the aggregate or by type, and types of expenses, including expenses of retaking, holding, preparing for disposition, processing and disposing of the collateral and attorney fees secured by the collateral which are known to the secured party and relate to the current disposition.
(5) The amount, in the aggregate or by type and types of credits, including rebates of interest or credit service charges, to which the obligor is known to be entitled and which are not reflected in the amount in paragraph (1).
(6) The amount of the surplus or deficiency.139
*490The deficiency notice Wells Fargo sent Patricia McDonald contains a detailed accounting which tracks section 9616's requirements:
Using language directly from section 9616, Wells Fargo's January 27, 2013 Notice provides an "[a]ggregate amount of obligations secured" ($ 2,238.10).
The Estate also argues Wells Fargo's January 27, 2013 Notice failed to include "a telephone number or mailing address from which additional information concerning the transaction is available."
*491The Estate's characterization ignores the context of the Notice, in which Wells Fargo twice lists the same phone number: first, to arrange payments, and second, to raise inquiries. The Estate relies on Wells Fargo's first reference to its phone number, which states: "If this letter indicates that you owe a deficiency, please contact our office at 1-800-752-8533 Monday through Friday ... to make satisfactory arrangements to pay the Deficiency Balance You Must Pay."
The January 27, 2013 Notice complies with section 9616's mandate to provide "a telephone number or mailing address from which additional information concerning the transaction is available."
5. We deny the cross-motions on the Estate's conversion claim.
The parties cross-move for summary judgment on the Estate's conversion claim. The Estate argues Wells Fargo's failure to adhere to the MVSFA and Article 9 deprived it of legal justification to "dispose of the [GMC Sierra],"
Wells Fargo first argues we cannot proceed to the merits of the conversion claim because it is barred by Pennsylvania's two-year statute of limitations. Wells Fargo argues it repossessed the GMC Sierra on November 28, 2012, sold it on January 22, 2013, and the Estate, for no apparent reason, waited three years (until January 25, 2016) to file this case. The Estate counters our Court of Appeals foreclosed this argument because it explained "[t]he Pennsylvania Supreme Court has further clarified that statutes of limitations run 'from the grant of administration.' "
In our Court of Appeals, Wells Fargo argued delay in opening the Estate cannot excuse the untimely conversion claim because "the cause of action accrue[d] upon the taking of the property"; "the Amended Complaint pleads no excuse or explanation why no administrator was appointed for over six years after [Patricia] McDonald's death and three years after the Sierra was repossessed"; and "[t]he Estate should not benefit from the concealment of McDonald's death, and the unexplained years-long delay in obtaining the authorization necessary to administer the estate."
*492It held "[Liane] McDonald has the power to maintain her causes of action against Wells Fargo should Pennsylvania law be found to apply to them," and "[t]he fact that McDonald was not appointed as administratrix of Patricia McDonald's estate until years after the sale of the vehicle does not change our conclusion ."
Attempting to overcome our reluctance to relitigate an issue our Court of Appeals already addressed, Wells Fargo now argues we should find the conversion claim time-barred because our Court of Appeals relied on outdated authority. Wells Fargo argues Riner v. Riner , which our Court of Appeals quoted for the proposition "statutes of limitations run 'from the grant administration,' "
Any statute of limitation which would bar any debt or liability owed the estate of a decedent within one year after the decedent's death shall be extended until the end of one year following the decedent's death. Failure or delay in taking out letters testamentary or of administration shall not affect the operation of any statute of limitations applicable to a debt or liability owed the estate of a decedent.160
While Wells Fargo emphasizes the second sentence of section 3376 addressing a delay in taking out letters of administration, the Estate's unliquidated conversion claim does not appear to be either a "debt or liability" triggering section 3376. The Pennsylvania Superior Court's decision in Prevish v. Northwest Medical Center supports this conclusion. The court in Prevish held an "unliquidated personal injury tort claim"
[T]he choice of the phrase "debt or liability" and the omission of the terms "claim" and "cause of action" persuades us that the drafters of amended Section 3376 intended the phrase "debt or liability" to mean something other than "claim" or "cause of action." If the drafters had intended to extend statutes of limitation which would otherwise bar not only any debt or liability owed the estate of a decedent but also any cause of action or unliquidated claim belonging to the estate of a decedent, they could easily have said so. Because they did not, we conclude that Section 3376 does not apply *493to extend the statute of limitation in this case.162
The court in Prevish also explained the "general rule" in Pennsylvania "a personal injury tort claim remains unliquidated until it is reduced to a definite amount by a verdict or a settlement."
Wells Fargo argues a timely conversion claim cannot be heard on the merits because it is a breach of contract claim disguised as a tort claim and barred by the gist of the action doctrine. We disagree. To effectuate a policy of forbidding litigants from shoehorning breach of contract claims into putative tort claims, Pennsylvania's gist of the action doctrine "forecloses tort claims: '1) arising solely from the contractual relationship between the parties; 2) when the alleged duties breached were grounded in the contract itself; 3) where any liability stems from the contract; and 4) when the tort claim essentially duplicates the breach of contract claim or where the success of the tort claim is dependent on the success of the breach of contract claim.' "
The Estate's conversion claim is not barred by the gist of the action doctrine because it is premised on Wells Fargo's failure to comply with requirements found in the MVSFA and Commercial Code- not a breach of the parties' Contract. "Under Pennsylvania law, conversion 'is the deprivation of another's right of property, or use of possession of a chattel, or other interference therewith without the owner's consent and without legal justification.' "
On the merits, the Estate makes a persuasive showing Wells Fargo lacked lawful justification to dispose of the vehicle. The November 30, 2012 and January 4, 2013 pre-sale Notices do not "disclose the place at which the motor vehicle is stored,"
In Scott v. Fred Beans Chevrolet of Limerick, Inc. , Judge Dalzell granted an automotive dealership's motion for summary judgment on the debtor's conversion claim despite finding a jury must resolve the notice claim. The debtor told the dealership it could pick up the vehicle, and Judge Dalzell found the debtor's consent defeated the conversion claim. Consent in our circumstances must be assessed by a jury. For example, it is not disputed Rick McDonald "was present when the Sierra was repossessed, and he spoke with the repo agent."
B. We deny the Estate's class certification motion.
The Estate also moves for class certification on its remaining claims: (1) actual and statutory damages under section 9610 arising from Wells Fargo's repossession and sale of the GMC Sierra in a commercially unreasonable manner; and, (2) compensatory damages for conversion.
Liane McDonald testified she became administratrix of the Estate to "help the family"
*495Capitulating to Wells Fargo's argument, the Estate proposed a new main class.
a) that [sic] entered into a retail installment sales contract for the purchase of a motor vehicle under which the Defendant became the secured party;
b) who within six years prior to the filing of this action had such vehicle(s) repossessed in Pennsylvania by the Defendant; and
c) to whom the Defendant sent
(1) an "authenticated notification of disposition" within the meaning of 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9611(b) that exhibited one or more of the following characteristics:
i. stated a date for the sale of the repossessed vehicle that was different that [sic] the date on which the vehicle was actually sold;
ii. set forth a minimum bid that was greater than the amount for which the repossessed vehicle was actually sold;
iii. stated information regarding the method by which the repossessed collateral would be disposed of that differed from the method by which it was actually disposed of;
iv. did not state that the borrower is entitled to an accounting of the unpaid indebtedness and the charge, if any, for such an accounting;
v. did not provide information regarding the borrower's right to reinstate;
vi. did not provide information regarding the borrower's right to redeem; or
vii. did not state that any personal property left in the repossessed vehicle would be held for 30 days and could be reclaimed during that period; or
(2) an "explanation" within the meaning of 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(b)(1) after the Defendant disposed of their Vehicles that
i. did not to explain [sic] that additional information concerning the transaction was available and provide a telephone number or mailing address from which borrowers could access that information; or
ii. included a notice that a credit may have been applied for the difference between the minimum bid disclosed in the Notice of Our Plan to Sell Property and the amount received for the vehicle at disposition or sale.
Wells Fargo opposes certifying this modified class. It adduced a declaration from John Sonner, a manager of Wells Fargo Auto's specialty collections division.
Mr. Sonner swore Wells Fargo ran a query of borrowers with last-known addresses in Pennsylvania whose vehicles Wells Fargo repossessed between January 25, 2010 and January 25, 2016.
In reviewing a motion for class certification, we act as a fiduciary for absent class members and protect the interests of the federal judicial system.
Finally, the Estate must demonstrate two additional criteria to certify its class under Rule 23(b)(3) : (1) questions of law or fact common to class members predominate over questions affecting only individual members, and (2) class resolution is superior to other methods.
1. We can ascertain the class members.
Class ascertainability is "an essential prerequisite of a class action ... under Rule 23(b)(3)."
The Estate "may not merely propose a method of ascertaining a class without any evidentiary support that the method will be successful."
*498a. The class is defined with reference to objective criteria.
The Estate met its burden to show the class is defined with reference to objective criteria as to its Commercial Code and conversion claims. As to the Article 9 claim, whether the Notices recanted the reinstatement right or failed to include the notices required by the MVSFA are objective inquiries.
The Estate also proceeds to trial on the conversion claim, which raises previously discussed statute of limitations concerns. The Estate's conversion claim is timely because it sued fewer than two years after it opened the Estate.
b. The Estate has shown a reliable and administratively feasible mechanism for determining Class membership.
The Estate did not propose a mechanism of ascertainability in its Motion for class certification. Wells Fargo argues the class is unascertainable because Wells Fargo cannot identify a customer's state of residence at the time of their loan's origination or repossession without "performing an account-by-account review."
We are concerned with proposing an ascertainability method for the first time at a hearing as it affects the "rigorous analysis" our Court of Appeals requires for class certification. Some courts deny class certification when the lead plaintiff fails to propose an ascertainability method.
We found Estate's counsel persuasive as to ascertainability at our March 18, 2019 hearing. As a result, we will examine the Estate's proposed mechanism to see if it (1) identifies whether members fall within the class definition in (2) a reliable and administratively feasible way. This requires an analysis of our Court of Appeals' ascertainability decisions.
i. The proposed mechanism identifies members who fall within the class definition.
Our Court of Appeals addressed the ascertainability standard in Marcus v. BMW of North America, Inc.
*500
Our Court of Appeals fashioned similar holdings in both Hayes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Shortly thereafter, our Court of Appeals identified a situation where objective records could readily identify class members. In Byrd v. Aaron's, Inc. ,
Corporate records also provided potential grounds for ascertainability in City Select Auto Sales Inc. v. BMW Bank of North America.
We can sort our Court of Appeals' decisions defining ascertainability into two groups: (1) the Marcus - Hayes - Carrera trilogy, where our Court of Appeals found objective records could not identify potential class members; and (2) the Byrd - City Select duo, where our Court of Appeals showed how objective records or affidavits could identify potential class members.
Ascertainability is of importance here because of the requisite choice-of-law analysis. Pennsylvania law must apply to a potential plaintiff for the plaintiff to be in the class because Ohio law does not provide a survivorship action.
Wells Fargo's declarant Mr. Sonner swears Wells Fargo's records can identify debtors who can bring a Commercial Code claim or a conversion claim. Mr. Sonner ran a query of accounts whose cars Wells Fargo repossessed in a certain timeframe.
The "account-by-account" review makes Wells Fargo's database closely mirror the database from City Select . Much like the City Select database could not identify whether a customer received a fax without an individual inquiry, the Wells Fargo database cannot identify a customer's state of residence at the time of repossession without performing an account-by-account review. And much like the City Select database left one factual inquiry-whether a potential plaintiff received a fax-for the district court to determine, we too have one factual inquiry to determine: where did each of the customers who received non-Pennsylvania notices live at the time of repossession? Wells Fargo's records can resolve this factual inquiry after an account-by-account review. While the database may be over-inclusive, such a consideration is relevant only toward our determination of whether the proposed mechanism is administratively feasible. The account-by-account review constitutes a mechanism to identify potential class members.
ii. The proposed mechanism is reliable and administratively feasible.
The mechanism must also be reliable and administratively feasible. In Byrd , after finding the plaintiffs' proposed mechanism could identify class members who bought contaminated computers, our Court of Appeals held the method was not administratively infeasible.
Our Court of Appeals continued to address administrative feasibility in City Select . After our Court of Appeals decided the database could identify class members, it discussed administrative feasibility.
We take no position on whether the level of individualized fact-finding in this case is administratively infeasible because we are limited by the record before us, which does not include the Creditsmarts database. The determination whether there is a reliable and administratively feasible mechanism for determining whether putative class members fall within the class definition must be tailored to the facts of the particular case. The amount of over-inclusiveness, if any, of the proposed records is a critical consideration .256
Even if it is true that the BMW fax was not sent to every customer who had a fax number in the database during the relevant time period, the class could still be certified, so long as there is a method for determining which customers did receive such faxes, which could be by affidavit. While a high degree of over-inclusiveness could prevent certification, any degree of over-inclusiveness will not do so.257
Our rigorous review confirms the Estate's proposed mechanism is reliable and administratively feasible because the Wells Fargo database does not contain a high degree of over-inclusiveness. The Estate must analyze the records of only 327 customers who received non-Pennsylvania notices to ensure Wells Fargo repossessed their cars in Pennsylvania. As our Court of Appeals directed in Byrd , the mere need to review some records will not preclude certification. We think this is the precise situation our Court of Appeals warned of in Byrd ; were we to disallow the Estate's proposed "level of inquiry" into Wells Fargo's records, certifying any Rule 23(b)(3) class would become nearly impossible. While some of Wells Fargo's records might show the customers did not have their cars repossessed in Pennsylvania, as in City Select , some over-inclusiveness will not foil an otherwise-proper ascertainability method. We find no apparent need for plaintiffs to submit affidavits affirming they had their car repossessed in Pennsylvania, as Wells Fargo's records should answer this inquiry.
2. The Estate meets all of Rule 23(a) requirements except typicality.
We now turn to the requirements of Rule 23(a) : numerosity, commonality, typicality, and adequacy.
a. Numerosity
The Estate satisfies the numerosity requirement. The "number of class members is the starting point of our numerosity analysis."
b. Commonality
The Estate satisfies the commonality requirement. Commonality is demonstrated where the plaintiff "share[s] at least one question of fact or law with the grievances of the prospective class."
c. Typicality
We must focus on three issues in evaluating typicality: "(1) the claims of the class representative must be generally the same as those of the class in terms of both (a) the legal theory advanced and (b) the factual circumstances underlying that theory; (2) the class representative must not be subject to a defense that is both inapplicable to many members of the class and likely to become a major focus of the litigation; and (3) the interests and incentives of the representative must be sufficiently aligned with those of the class."
Wells Fargo's first argument no longer applies because the Estate modified its class definition to include only Pennsylvania residents who received non-Pennsylvania notices. Wells Fargo makes no argument the Ohio notices are not standard form-to the contrary, Wells Fargo refers to the notices as "Ohio form notices."
Wells Fargo next argues the Estate alone is subject to a (1) defense Ohio law applies to the transaction, a (2) defense Patricia McDonald could not reinstate the contract after she defaulted, (3) a defense the conversion claim is subject to statute of limitations defenses, and (4) a defense the Estate cannot recover under the Commercial Code because no debtor existed when Wells Fargo failed to comply with the Commercial Code and, even if one existed, Wells Fargo did not know the identity and means of communicating with the debtor.
We disposed of the choice of law defense in our summary judgment analysis. The second defense, availability of reinstatement, is simply a question of fact, as we addressed in our summary judgment analysis; it is not a defense atypical to the Estate. And the third defense, statute of limitations, does not bear on typicality. "While the statute of limitations defense may ultimately affect an individual's right to recover, it does not affect the presentation of the liability issues."
As we describe in our summary judgment analysis, Wells Fargo has not shown section 9625 immunizes it from liability merely because the McDonald family did not open an Estate before Wells Fargo's repossession and sale. Under section 9628, however, Wells Fargo makes a more persuasive showing the Estate is subject to a defense inapplicable to many members of the proposed class and likely to become a focus of litigation. Section 9628 provides "[a] secured party is not liable because of its status as secured party to ... [a] person that is a debtor or obligor unless the secured party knows: (i) that the person is a debtor or obligor; (ii) the identity of the person; and (iii) how to communicate with the person."
Without resolving the merits of Wells Fargo's defense as a matter of law, we find it carries persuasive force. Wells Fargo argues it sent Patricia McDonald notices for years after she died. Someone paid monthly for years. Wells Fargo argues it did not know Rick McDonald's role in the Contract and did not know how to communicate with a debtor other than recognizing monthly payments paid on an account held by Patricia McDonald. Rick McDonald's *506numerous statements representing his mother as alive and ill after her death bolster this defense. Wells Fargo's argument has already constituted a major focus of litigation and we expect the parties to continue disputing this issue at trial. This defense is unique to the McDonalds, as the purchase occurred under unusual circumstances and the borrower died before default. The Estate has not shown this defense would apply to other class members.
Wells Fargo adduced substantial fact-based defenses to liability under section 9610 and for conversion. These defenses relate to the unique nature of the deceased debtor, payments by someone else, notices reviewed by someone else, and someone other than the debtor meeting with the repossession agent. While not as strong a disqualifier as failure to show predominance and superiority, the Estate has not presently met its burden of overcoming the substantial defenses to its claims which would appear to be atypical for debtors.
d. Adequacy
In assessing the adequacy requirement, we must ensure the representative party "fairly and adequately protect[s] the interests of the class."
i. The Estate's counsel can adequately represent the class.
In examining adequacy, we must "test[ ] the qualifications of the counsel to represent the class."
The first factor, "the work counsel has done in identifying or investigating potential claims in the action," favors certification. Counsel for the Estate worked on this case since 2016 and obtained remand of our earlier dismissal. Counsel countered motions for summary judgment and from intervenors and timely moved for class certification. Counsel appeared well-prepared and presented persuasive arguments at our March 18, 2019 hearing. On the other hand, counsel deposed no Wells Fargo representatives.
*507
The second factor, "counsel's experience in handling class actions, other complex litigation, and the types of claims asserted in the action" is indeterminate. Attorneys Robleto and Kuruce identify only one class action they have worked on without identifying the result of the case. Attorney Fabian
The third factor, "counsel's knowledge of the applicable law," is also indeterminate. Counsel for the Estate did not argue the ascertainability requirement in their Motion for class certification and in their reply to Wells Fargo's argument about ascertainability, counsel still failed to propose a mechanism for ascertaining class membership. But we found Attorney Robleto well-prepared at our March 18, 2019 hearing, at which he argued ascertainability.
The fourth factor, "the resources that counsel will commit to representing the class," favors class certification. Counsel defended several depositions and pursued class certification since filing suit. We do not doubt three attorneys can adequately protect the interests of a potential class of 327 members.
On balance, we find the Estate's counsel adequate to represent the relatively small class of debtors. We find most persuasive the first factor of the work counsel has done in identifying or investigating potential claims in the action. Counsel presented persuasive arguments on behalf of the class through litigation spanning three years.
ii. The Estate does not have disqualifying conflicts of interest.
Wells Fargo argues Liane McDonald does not possess adequate knowledge to represent the class. Wells Fargo argues Liane McDonald testified she is only "vaguely" aware of the installment contract's details, she relies on Rick to manage the lawsuit, she gave evasive discovery responses, and she is unaware of a judgment entered against her in a previous lawsuit. Second, Wells Fargo argues fraud taints the Estate's ability to represent the class because Rick is the de facto lead *508plaintiff, coordinating the lawsuit while Liane is the lead plaintiff only "on paper." Third, Wells Fargo argues Liane McDonald's status as administratrix of her estate gives her a conflict of interest rendering her inadequate. We disagree.
iii. The Estate possesses adequate knowledge to represent the class.
"A class representative need only possess 'a minimal degree of knowledge necessary to meet the adequacy standard.' "
Liane McDonald meets the low standard of knowledge necessary to meet the adequacy standard. Liane McDonald sat for a deposition and competently answered questions regarding the basis of her lawsuit and the duties of a class representative.
Second, Wells Fargo argues fraud taints Liane McDonald's ability to represent the class because Rick, who is inadequate to represent the class, is the de facto plaintiff. Rick McDonald has been involved with the litigation, but Liane McDonald has displayed an adequate level of knowledge and interest in the case to serve as lead plaintiff. As Rick McDonald is Liane McDonald's husband and he used the GMC Sierra, we would expect Rick McDonald to provide facts and consult with Liane McDonald as she administers her mother-in-law's estate. Wells Fargo still argues Liane McDonald herself made misrepresentations related to the suit. Courts have found inadequate "representatives who were dishonest or lacked candor about matters central to the litigation itself."
Finally, Wells Fargo argues Liane McDonald possesses a conflict of interest because she represents both the Estate and a class of debtors. The adequacy inquiry "serves to uncover conflicts of interest between named parties and the class they seek to represent."
Wells Fargo has not identified a "fundamental" conflict based on Liane McDonald's position as administratrix of the Estate-at best, it has pointed out an "unduly speculative" conflict. Wells Fargo argues Liane McDonald cannot rectify her duty to "preserve and protect" the Estate's property with her duty to vindicate the interests of the class plaintiffs. But all class actions share such a conflict. "For instance, if Mrs. [McDonald] herself were still alive and wished to pursue this litigation, [Wells Fargo] could argue that she has a conflict of interest because her personal interest in minimizing the expenses of the litigation may be inconsistent with her duty to maximize recovery for the class members."
3. The Estate fails to meet the Rule 23(b)(3) requirements for class certification.
The Estate also must satisfy Rule 23(b)(3) : predominance and superiority. The Estate fails to meet either requirement.
a. Predominance
"Predominance 'tests whether proposed classes are sufficiently cohesive to warrant adjudication by representation.' "
*510
We today grant summary judgment to Wells Fargo on all the Estate's claims except: (1) a claim under section 9610 challenging Wells Fargo's repossession of the GMC Sierra as commercially unreasonable under the MVSFA and failing to recant the minimum bid in the January 4, 2013 Notice; and, (2) conversion.
Our analysis of predominance under section 9610 requires we also review section 9611 because the Estate also invokes section 9611 in its amended complaint. We must pause to differentiate the two claims the Estate brings under sections 9610 and 9611.
Section 9610 governs "[d]isposition of collateral after default."
i. Whether the disposition is commercially reasonable and whether the notification is reasonable under are fact-intensive inquiries.
Regardless of whether we analyze the Estate's claims under a "commercially reasonable" or "reasonable" standard, we must perform a fact-intensive inquiry. To determine commercial reasonableness, Pennsylvania courts apply a "totality of the circumstances" test.
The fact-intensive nature of the commercial reasonableness inquiry dooms the Estate's class or any class challenging Wells Fargo's conduct under Section 9610. We will not ask a jury to conduct up to 327 individualized inquiries considering the totality of the circumstances to determine whether lack of notice is commercially unreasonable. A notice failing to include the property provision could still be commercially reasonable if, for instance, the debtor did not have any valuable property in the vehicle. In such a circumstance, the factor of "avoidance of loss" would arguably not be present. Moreover, a jury would have to examine up to 327 separate scenarios to determine whether the commercially reasonable situations contemplated by Article 9 are present.
Likewise, whether a notification is reasonable is fact-intensive under section 9611. The section lists criteria a notification in a consumer goods transaction must have to be sufficient.
ii. Whether Wells Fargo converted debtors' property is an individualized inquiry.
"Under Pennsylvania law, conversion is defined as 'the deprivation of another's right of property in, or use or possession of, a chattel ... [1] without the owner's consent and [2] without lawful justification.' "
The first element of conversion, consent, requires individualized inquiries. Under Pennsylvania law, "conversion claims are disallowed where such claims are based on the same facts as the contract claim and the proper remedy lies in breach of contract."
*513Individualized damages calculations further weigh against a finding of predominance. Under Pennsylvania law, the ideal "measure of damages for conversion is the market value of the converted property at the time and place of conversion."
b. Superiority
"A class action must represent the best 'available method[ ] for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy.' "
C. Having found no basis to certify a class for the remaining Article 9 and conversion claims, we deny the motion to intervene to bring the same or similar Article 9 class claims.
Eight Pennsylvania citizens moved to intervene to bring a class action during the pendency of the cross-motions for summary judgment and the Estate's Motion for class certification. Each of these Intervenors are Pennsylvania residents who purchased their vehicles in Pennsylvania. They moved to intervene on three grounds: failure of the Estate's counsel to diligently prosecute the matter; the Estate may not have standing as a representative plaintiff; and, significant issues of typicality, commonality and choice of law likely weakened the certification. The Intervenors, whose individual interests are presently protected during the pendency of the Motion for class certification, move for intervention arguing their counsel is better prepared to bring this case.
We carefully reviewed the Intervenors' proposed class action complaint in which they challenge arbitrary and unreasonable fees third parties allegedly charged when the debtor would redeem their repossessed vehicle; the right to reinstate their retail installment loan; or the adequacy of notice concerning their access to their personal possessions. We addressed the Estate's claims to reinstate the retail installment loan and regaining access to personal possessions. The Estate brought a claim under these two theories, and we have found a triable issue as to the Estate. The Estate has not brought a challenge to third parties' assessment of fees to obtain its car. The Intervenors also seek to challenge Wells Fargo's notices which are admittedly different for Pennsylvania-originated loans than the ones raised by the Estate's Ohio-originated *514loan. This different set of allegations is not presently at issue.
The Intervenors argue the intervention is either mandated or permissive under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24. To allow mandatory intervention, we must find a timely application; an intervenor with sufficient interest in the case; a threat of the intervenor's interest being impaired by the disposition of this case; and, the existing Plaintiff does not adequately represent the prospective intervenor's interest.
The Intervenors' alleged notice claims under section 9610 are adequately protected by the Estate. We cannot certify those claims for class treatment either for the Estate or any other party as a lead representative not because of the adequacy of the Estate or its counsel, but because the issues arising under 9610, including those raised by the Intervenors, so predominate the shared questions of law to render a class action ineffective and not a superior method of resolving the debtor's claims. To the extent the Intervenors raised different substantive claims challenging third party fees or similar challenges, these claims are nowhere near the Estate's amended complaint. The Estate does not share these claims. Adding these claims would create a brand-new theory of liability and damages not raised by the Estate.
In any event, the Intervenor Plaintiffs may file their own individual claims as the statute of limitations to those individual claims has been tolled since the filing of this class action in 2016.
*515But this unavailability does not leave the Intervenors in a worse position. To the extent their claim is timely, they could bring their claim as though it was 2016. To the extent they wish to obtain class status for different claims, they may be able to argue for tolling of related individual claims. There is no basis for mandatory intervention.
There is also no basis to exercise our discretion to allow the Intervenors to now join this case as individual plaintiffs in a case filed in 2016 seeking some, but not all, the same relief. We are scheduled for the trial of the Estate's individual claims beginning on June 25, 2019.
The Intervenors' challenges to the class counsel and the ability to consider certifying the class miss the point. We reject the Intervenors' arguments. We do not certify this case based on the adequacy of counsel or commonality, but rather due to the lack of predominance and superiority necessary for a class resolution for so many persons with different claims under both the Article 9 and conversion claims.
III. Conclusion
The Estate demonstrates genuine issues of material fact precluding summary judgment on its claims under section 9610 of Article 9 of the Pennsylvania Commercial Code relating to the Notices provided under the MVSFA and failure to recant the minimum price in the January 4, 2013 Notice and for conversion. The Estate's remaining claims must be dismissed as a matter of law as there are no genuine issues of matter fact precluding judgment.
Given the substantial individual issues raised in these remaining claims under section 9610 and for conversion, we are compelled to find the individual issues of reasonableness under section 9610 and consent for conversion predominate over the common issues and the class action is not a superior method of resolving this controversy. The unique nature of Wells Fargo's defenses to the Estate's claims also render the Estate an atypical class member unable to lead the class. We deny the Estate's Motion for class certification. We also deny the Intervenors' Motion to intervene as there is no basis for a class action and the Intervenors have the same rights today as they had in 2016 at the time the Estate filed this case.
ECF Doc. No. 82-2 at 17 of 36 (N.T. R. McDonald, Dec. 12, 2018).
See ECF Doc. No. 82-8.
ECF Doc. No. 82-2 at 25 of 36 (N.T. R. McDonald, Dec. 12, 2018).
Id. at 18, 23 of 36.
Id. at 22, 25 of 36.
ECF Doc. No. 82-8 at 1 of 2.
ECF Doc. No. 82-8 at 2 of 2 ("If your default consists solely of a failure to pay a payment on time, we may demand that you pay all that you owe on this contract only if your failure to pay has continued for at least thirty (30) days."). The "Late Charge" provision of the Contract provides "[i]f payment is not received in full within 10 days after it is due, you will pay a late charge of $ 20 or 5% of the part of the payment that is late, whichever is greater." Id. at 1 of 2.
ECF Doc. No. 106 at ¶ 51.
ECF Doc. No. 81 at ¶ 54. The Estate disputes this characterization but does not dispute: (1) Rick McDonald in January 2010 "told Wells Fargo that Patricia has been sick and was in the hospital," ECF Doc. No. 106 at ¶ 55; (2) Rick McDonald in August 2010 "told Wells Fargo that Patricia was sick,"id. at ¶ 56; (3) Rick McDonald in March 2011 "told Wells Fargo that Patricia was not making payments due to illness and that he was trying to assist her," id. at ¶ 57; (4) Rick McDonald in September 2011 "told Wells Fargo that he is helping Patricia out because she has been sick," id. at ¶ 58; (5) Rick McDonald in April 2012 "told Wells Fargo that Patricia has been ill and he is helping out with bills," id. at ¶ 59; (6) Rick McDonald in July 2012 "told Wells Fargo that Patricia was severely ill," id. at ¶ 60; and (7) Rick McDonald in August 2012 "told Wells Fargo that Patricia had breast cancer and was on hospice care," id. at ¶ 61.
ECF Doc. No. 82-23 at ¶ 18 ("The Account records show that the Account had been delinquent in varying amounts as early as May 2007 and was continuously in default from August 6, 2012 through the repossession due to the failure to make payments.").
Id. at ¶ 20 ("On November 28, 2012, the GMC Sierra was repossessed from the address of 4199 Leechburg Road, New Kensington, PA 15068. At that time, the loan was in payment default.").
Compare ECF Doc. No. 83 at 5 (arguing "because the loan had fully matured on November 6, the loan could not be reinstated"); id. at 21 n.12 ("Patricia (had she been alive) had the option to pay the total outstanding debt-the accumulated missed payments-to redeem the vehicle, but there was nothing to reinstate."); with ECF Doc. No. 82-9 at 2 of 2 (stating "[y]ou have the right to reinstate this default until [12/20/12]").
ECF Doc. No. 82-9.
ECF Doc. No. 82-11.
ECF Doc. No. 82-1 at 39 of 68 (N.T. L. McDonald, Nov. 12, 2018).
ECF Doc. No. 82-21 at 1 of 2.
ECF Doc. No. 82-13.
ECF Doc. No. 82-1 at 41 of 68 (N.T. L. McDonald, Nov. 12, 2018).
ECF Doc. No. 82-5; ECF Doc. No. 106 at ¶ 110.
ECF Doc. No. 1-2.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9610(b).
ECF Doc. No. 12 at ¶ 7.
Id. at ¶ 8.
Id. at ¶ 57.
Id. at ¶ 7.
ECF Doc. No. 19 at 7.
ECF Doc. No. 38 (Order); ECF Doc. No. 39 (Memorandum).
McDonald v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ,
Wells Fargo argued, among other things, Ohio law applies to each of Liane McDonald's statutory claims, mandating dismissal because the Estate can proceed only under Pennsylvania law; the conversion claim, Wells Fargo argued, fails because it is "barred by the two-year statute of limitations," "barred by the 'gist of the action' doctrine," and Wells Fargo repossessed the Sierra in compliance with the parties' Contract. ECF Doc. No. 47 at 12. We denied Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss. See ECF Doc. No. 59 (Order); ECF Doc. No. 58 (Memorandum). We found the Estate plausibly alleged Pennsylvania law applied to its statutory and conversion claims but invited the parties to revisit the issue at summary judgment. See ECF Doc. No. 58 at 9 ("At this preliminary stage, the balance of these factors tilts toward Pennsylvania law. We are mindful, however, the parties may discovery material information about their contacts and relationship warranting consideration of this issue anew at summary judgment."). We also found the Estate's Commercial Code and conversion claims survived dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6)'s plausibility standard. See id. at 9-12.
We set a two-phase discovery process. See ECF Doc. No. 63 at 2. In phase one, we directed the parties to take discovery needed to "prepare motions and responses for class certification and for summary judgment on [the Estate's] individual claims."Id. The second phase, if warranted, would allow the parties to take discovery needed to "prepare for trial of the Plaintiff's individual claims or the claims of the defined class." Id.
ECF Doc. No. 111 at ¶ 1.
Id. at ¶¶ 1-5.
See ECF Doc. No. 80 (Wells Fargo's Motion for Summary Judgment); ECF Doc. No. 83 (Wells Fargo's Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment); ECF Doc. No. 84 (Estate's Motion for Summary Judgment); ECF Doc. No. 89 (Estate's Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment); see also ECF Doc. No. ECF Doc. No. 94 (Wells Fargo's Brief in Opposition to Liane McDonald's Motion for Summary Judgment); ECF Doc. No. 101 (Estate's Reply Brief in Support of Summary Judgment); ECF Doc. No. 98 (Estate's Brief in Opposition to Wells Fargo's Motion for Summary Judgment); ECF Doc. No. 99 (Wells Fargo's Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment).
Hammersmith v. TIG Ins. Co. ,
ECF Doc. No. 82-8 at 2 of 2. "[A]ddress shown," the parties do not dispute, refers to Performance GMC's Ohio business address. See McDonald ,
See Coram Healthcare Corp. v. Aetna U.S. Healthcare, Inc. ,
Grimm v. Discover Fin. Servs. , No. 08-747,
Jiffy Lube Int'l, Inc. v. Jiffy Lube of Pa., Inc. ,
ECF Doc. No. 82-8 at 2 of 2 (emphasis added).
Jiffy Lube ,
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 8.
ECF Doc. No. 98 at 5; see also id. at 6 (arguing "[t]he Estate's claims [are] not contract claims, they arise from Pennsylvania's statutes").
Power Restoration Int'l, Inc. v. PepsiCo, Inc. , No. 12-1922,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9602.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9602 cmt. 2.
Grimm ,
Heichel v. Marriott Hotel Servs., Inc. , No. 18-1981,
McDonald ,
Hammersmith ,
Woods Servs., Inc. v. Disability Advocates, Inc. ,
Hammersmith ,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9602 cmt. 2.
McDonald ,
See ECF Doc. No. 58 at 8 ("Ohio, unlike Pennsylvania, does not offer a survival action under which the Estate could bring these claims, indicating Ohio has at least some interest in protecting its businesses who seek protection under the laws of Ohio."); see also Pac. Emp'r Ins. Co. v. Glob. Reinsurance Corp. of Am. ,
See ECF Doc. No. 1 at ¶ 13 ("Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is a national banking association with its main office located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Thus, it is a citizen of South Dakota for diversity purposes." (internal citation omitted) ).
Hammersmith ,
Id. at 231 (quoting Cipolla ,
In re Actiq Sales & Mktg. Practices Litig. ,
Specialty Surfaces Int'l, Inc. v. Cont'l Cas. Co. ,
We are mindful the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws separately addresses conflicts principles applicable to tort claims. For example, Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws § 147, governing "[i]njuries to [t]angible [t]hings," provides:
In an action for an injury to land or other tangible thing, the local law of the state where the injury occurred determines the rights and liabilities of the parties unless, with respect to the particular issue, some other state has a more significant relationship under the principles stated in § 6 to the occurrence, the thing and the parties, in which event the local law of the other state will be applied.
Although the parties do not dispute the Estate's conversion claim is governed by Pennsylvania law, we would reach the same result if we applied § 147 to the parties' entire relationship, because we find "the injury occurred" in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania maintains a greater interest in applying its laws to this dispute.
Pac. Emp'r ,
Grimm ,
ECF Doc. No. 58 at 8.
And even if, as Rick McDonald testified at his deposition, Patricia McDonald signed additional documents in Pennsylvania and mailed them to the Ohio dealership, this fact alone would not tilt the balance of this factor away from Pennsylvania, where the McDonalds remained throughout the purchasing process.
13 Pa.C.S.A § 9614.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9614(1)(i).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9613(1).
ECF Doc. No. 82-9 at 1 of 2.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9613(1)(iv).
ECF Doc. No. 82-9 at 1 of 2 (emphases added).
See 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9614(2) ("A particular phrasing of the notification is not required.").
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9613(1)(iv) (emphasis added).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9613(1)(iv).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9614(1)(ii).
ECF Doc. No. 82-9 at 1 of 2.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9614(1)(iii).
ECF Doc. No. 82-9 at 1 of 2.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9614(1)(iv).
ECF Doc. No. 82-9 at 1 of 2.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9610(b) (emphasis added).
Cosgrove v. Citizens Auto. Fin., Inc. , No. 09-1095,
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 20.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9611 cmt. 8.
ECF Doc. No. 82-9 at 1 of 2.
ECF Doc. No. 82-11.
ECF Doc. No. 89 at 5 (emphasis omitted) (quoting 69 Pa.C.S.A § 623(D) ).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9610(b).
The parties do not dispute the Pennsylvania General Assembly codified the MVSFA's protections in substantially similar form at 12 Pa.C.S.A. § 6201 et seq. They also do not contest we must apply the version of the MVSFA in effect at the time of repossession and disposition of the GMC Sierra.
69 P.S. § 623(A)
See 69 P.S. § 623(B).
69 P.S. § 623(D).
ECF Doc. No. 89 at 5 (emphasis omitted) (quoting 69 Pa.C.S.A § 623(D) ).
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 21-22.
See, e.g. , In re Patterson ,
ECF Doc. No. 12 at ¶ 52.
Nawrocki v. Faulkner Ciocca Ford of Souderton , No. 07-1827,
Cosgrove ,
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 21 n.12.
Scott v. Fred Beans Chevrolet of Limerick, Inc. ,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9625(c)(2).
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 14 (emphasis omitted).
ECF Doc. No. 98 at 9.
20 Pa.C.S.A. § 3381.
Morfesi v. Sherman , No. 90-C-967,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9628(b)(1).
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 16 (emphasis added).
ECF Doc. No. 58 at 9-10.
ECF Doc. No. 89 at 8-9 (quoting 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(a)(4) ).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(b)(1).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(c).
ECF Doc No. 82-21 at 1 of 2; see 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(c)(1).
ECF Doc No. 82-21 at 1 of 2; see 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(c)(2).
ECF Doc. No. 82-21 at 1 of 2; see 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(c)(3)
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(c)(4).
ECF Doc. No. 82-21 at 1 of 2.
ECF Doc. No. 89 at 9 (quoting 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(a)(4) ).
ECF Doc. No. 82-21 at 2 of 2 (emphasis omitted).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9616(a)(4) ).
ECF Doc. No. 89 at 11.
ECF Doc. No. 94 at 15.
McDonald ,
No. 16-4144 (3d Cir.), July 19, 2017 Brief of Appellee Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. at 26-27, McDonald v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ,
McDonald ,
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 24 n.16.
20 Pa.C.S.A. § 3376.
Prevish v. Nw. Med. Ctr. Oil City Campus ,
Id. at 200 (emphasis omitted).
Id. at 199.
ECF Doc. No. 83 at 25 n.17.
McDonald ,
Chong v. 7-Eleven, Inc. , No. 18-1542,
Nationstar Mortg. LLC v. Radian Guar. Inc. , No. 18-03798,
Nawrocki , No. 07-1827,
ECF Doc. No. 89 at 5 (emphasis omitted) (quoting 69 Pa.C.S.A § 623(D) ).
ECF Doc. No. 106 at ¶ 77.
ECF Doc. No. 82-1 at 10 (N.T. L. McDonald, Nov. 12, 2018).
Id. at 11.
Id. at 52-56.
Id. at 4.
ECF Doc. No. 88 at 7-8.
ECF Doc. No. 96 at 9-13. A "fail-safe" class is "one that is defined so that whether a person qualifies as a member depends on whether the person has a valid claim. Such a class definition is improper because a class member either wins or, by virtue of losing, is defined out of the class and is therefore not bound by the judgment." Messner v. Northshore Univ. HealthSystem ,
ECF Doc. No. 103 at 4-6.
ECF Doc. No. 95-1 at ¶ 3.
Id. at ¶¶ 17-33.
Id. at ¶ 7.
Id. at ¶ 16.
Id. at ¶ 10.
Id. at ¶ 12.
ECF Doc. No. 82-23 at ¶ 22.
Id. at ¶ 14.
Id. at ¶ 15.
Id. at ¶ 16.
At our March 18, 2019 hearing, the Estate's counsel referred to a potential class size of at least 211 debtors. We cannot ascertain how Mr. Sonner's declaration provides a potential minimum of exactly 211 debtors. We surmise counsel used 211 as a minimum because we referenced 211 as a hypothetical number during the hearing.
In re General Motors Corp. Pick-up Truck Fuel Tank Prods. Liab. Litig. ,
Carrera v. Bayer Corp. ,
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(a).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(b)(3).
In re Constar Int'l Inc. Sec. Litig. ,
Beck v. Maximus, Inc. ,
Carrera ,
Byrd v. Aaron's Inc. ,
Id. at 164 (emphasis added in original) (citing Carrera , 727 at 306 n.2 (3d Cir. 2013) ).
Carrera ,
See In Re Thalmoid and Revlimid Antitrust Litig. , No. 14-6997,
12 Pa.C.S.A. § 6201.
McDonald ,
Kingston Coal Co. v. Felton Min. Co. ,
ECF Doc. No. 96 at 12.
ECF Doc. No. 103 at 6.
See Carrow v. FedEx Ground Package Sys., Inc. , No. 16-3026,
See, e.g. , In re Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litig. , No. 13-2437,
Comcast Corp. v. Behrend ,
Hayes ,
Grandalski v. Quest Diagnostics Inc. ,
Byrd ,
See City Select Auto Sales, Inc. v. BMW Bank of N. Am. Inc. , No. 13-4595,
City Select ,
Our Court of Appeals also addressed ascertainability in Grandalski v. Quest Diagnostics Inc. , but there it mostly focused on the difference between the ascertainability and predominance requirements.
See Phillips Petroleum Co. v. Shutts ,
ECF Doc. No. 95-1 at ¶ 14.
Id. at ¶ 16.
Id. at ¶ 14.
Id. at ¶ 10.
Byrd ,
City Select ,
We do not preclude the Estate from seeking affidavits, as they would provide added indicia of reliability supported by Wells Fargo's records. See Carrera ,
Gibbons v. Weltman, Weinberg & Reis Co., LPA , No. 17-1851,
See, e.g. , Fenwick v. Ranbaxy Pharm., Inc. ,
In re Modafinil Antitrust Litig. ,
Baby Neal v. Casey ,
Slapikas v. First Am. Title Ins. Co. ,
In re Schering Plough Corp. ERISA Litig. ,
Barel v. Bank of Am. ,
ECF Doc. No. 96 at 11.
McDonough v. Toys R Us, Inc. ,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9628(b)(1).
Dewey v. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft ,
In re Gen. Motors Corp. ,
Georgine ,
Sheinberg v. Sorensen ,
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(1)(A)(i-iv).
Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(g)(1)(B).
ECF Doc. No. 96 at 25.
ECF Doc. No. 115. We denied the Estate's Motion. ECF Doc. No. 125.
Attorney Fabian has yet to enter an appearance despite submitting a verification.
See, e.g. , ECF Doc. No. 86 at 59 of 64, ¶ 8 ("class sertifiacyion [sic]"), id. at ¶ 10 ("my work before the trials [sic] courts"), id. at ¶ 11 ("I also devoted considerable time to propounding discovery requests and analyzing the results of that discover [sic], in addition to responding the [sic] discovery served of [sic] the classes.").
ECF Doc. No. 86 at 59 of 64 ¶ 8 ("I performed legal research under both federal and state law as to both the substantive issues in each case and the specific class action issues, including class sertifiacyion [sic] and one-way intervention, that arose [sic]").
ECF Doc. No. 103 at 12 ("Wells Fargo's contention that it voluntarily [sic] a random sampling of notices. [sic] Is an utter falsehood. [sic]").
New Directions Treatment Servs. v. City of Reading ,
Bordeaux v. LTD Fin. Servs., L.P. , No. 2160243,
Greenfield v. Villager Indus., Inc. ,
ECF Doc. No. 82-1 at 49 (N.T. L. McDonald, Nov. 12, 2018).
Id. at 10.
Id. at 11.
Id. at 52-56.
Pagan v. The New Wilson's Meats, Inc. , No. 08-0751,
Id. at 252 (collecting cases).
ECF Doc. No. 96 at 23.
Amchem Prod. ,
Dewey ,
Negrete v. Allianz Life Ins. Co. of N. Am. , No. 05-6838,
Kaplan v. Pomerantz ,
Though we ultimately decline to certify a class due to a lack of predominance, our adequacy analysis would not preclude objectors from being heard had we certified a class and the parties settled.
The predominance inquiry is not to be confused with the ascertainability requirement-"[t]he ascertainability requirement pertains to membership in the proposed class, whereas predominance pertains to eliminating or minimizing individual issues that would be involved in determining liability." In re Domestic Drywall Antitrust Litig. ,
In re Nat'l Football League Players Concussion Injury Litig. ,
In re Hydrogen Peroxide Antitrust Litig. ,
Neale v. Volvo Cars of N. Am., LLC ,
Chiang v. Veneman ,
The Estate invokes both § 9610 and § 9611 in its Amended Class Action Complaint, although its claim cites only section 9610. See ECF Doc. No. 12 at 13-14 (§ 9610 ); ¶ 22 (§ 9611).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9610.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9610(b).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9611 (emphasis added).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9611(b).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9625 cmt. 2.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9625(b).
Savoy v. Beneficial Consumer Disc. Co. ,
Solfanelli v. Corestates Bank, N.A. ,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9627 cmt. 2.
Chrysler Credit Corp. v. B.J.M., Jr., Inc. ,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9625(b).
Judge Schiller certified a settlement class under the Pennsylvania Commercial Code. See Cosgrove ,
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9613(1).
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9613 cmt. 2.
13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9612(a) ; 13 Pa.C.S.A. § 9613(2).
Hudson v. Eaglemark Sav. Bank , No. 10-6994,
Fred Beans ,
Duane Morris, LLP v. Todi , No. 001980 2001,
ECF Doc. No. 82-8 at 149a.
Cf. Fred Beans ,
Pikunse v. Kopchinski ,
Id. at 1052.
Newton v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. ,
In re Prudential Ins. Co. Am. Sales Practice Litig. Agent Actions ,
American Pipe & Construction. Co. v. Utah ,
See In re Wellbutrin XL Antitrust Litig. ,
United States v. Alcan Aluminum, Co. ,
Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(b).
Crown, Cork & Seal Co. v. Parker ,
Lindblom v. Santander Consumer USA, Inc , No. 15-00990,
--- U.S. ----,
China Agritech, Inc. v. Resh , --- U.S. ----,
This trial date may need to change, but we expect trial will occur before mid-summer 2019.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Liane MCDONALD v. WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
- Cited By
- 7 cases
- Status
- Published