Arndt v. Wells Fargo Bank NA
Arndt v. Wells Fargo Bank NA
Opinion of the Court
This Order addresses Defendant Wells Fargo Bank NA's ("Wells Fargo") motion to dismiss [16] and Karen Ann Arndt's motion to appoint an attorney ad litem for Kenneth Arndt [24]. The Court denies the motion to dismiss as to the issue of capacity but otherwise grants the motion, and denies the motion to appoint an attorney ad litem.
I. ORIGINS OF THE DISPUTE
On January 12, 2007, Paul and Kenneth Arndt signed a Texas Home Equity Affidavit and Agreement (the "Agreement") for real property located at 8405 Portsmouth Drive, Rowlett, Texas 75088. On February 11, 2011, Dallas County Probate Court No. 3 received an Application to Probate the Estate of Paul Arndt Deceased under Cause No. PR-11-00447-3. On March 2, 2011, the Probate Court issued Letters Testamentary to Karen Ann Arndt as the Independent Executor of the Estate of Paul Arndt. In November 2014, Wells Fargo filed an application in the 162nd Judicial District Court of Dallas County seeking an order allowing it to foreclose on the real property located at 8405 Portsmouth Drive pursuant to the Agreement. On March 6, 2015, Karen Arndt filed a lawsuit in the 116th Judicial District Court of Dallas County under Cause No. DC-15-02566 to stop Wells Fargo's expedited foreclosure. Wells Fargo removed the lawsuit to federal court on April 29, 2015. Arndt filed a motion to remand the case to state court on May 28, 2015, which the Court subsequently denied on September 9, 2015. On March 25, 2016, Arndt filed an amended complaint. On April 29, 2016, Wells Fargo filed the present motion to dismiss.
II. THE RULE 12(B)(6) STANDARD
When considering a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, a court must determine whether the plaintiff has asserted a legally sufficient claim for relief. Blackburn v. City of Marshall ,
*704A viable complaint must include "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly ,
In ruling on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a court generally limits its review to the face of the pleadings, accepting as true all well-pleaded facts and viewing them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff. See Spivey v. Robertson ,
III. THE COURT DENIES WELLS FARGO'S MOTION TO DISMISS ARNDT'S LACK OF CAPACITY CLAIMS
In Plaintiff's Amended Complaint, Arndt alleges that in 2006 her son Kenneth's physician diagnosed him as "mentally retarded," "unable to read or write," and "unable to make decisions for himself." Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 3 [12]; Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 15, Ex. 5 [12]. Further, Arndt submits as evidence Kenneth's allegedly child-like signature on the Agreement. As such, Arndt alleges that when Kenneth signed the Agreement, he "lacked the requisite mental capacity to sign such a document ... or understand the consequences of the underlying obligations thereof." Id. at 4. Arndt thus argues that Kenneth's obligations under the agreement "should be excused and dismissed," and that the *705Court should stop Wells Fargo's expedited foreclosure. Id.
Wells Fargo argues that Arndt's allegations are "sparse" and that she "has not stated a claim to avoid the contract." Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 11 [16]. Wells Fargo argues that "mere illiteracy does not relieve a contracting party of the consequences of his agreement," and that if "the other party has no reason to know of the incompetency, performance in whole or in part may so change the situation that the parties cannot be restored to their previous positions or may otherwise render avoidance inequitable." Id. Wells Fargo accordingly moves to dismiss the complaint under the theory that Arndt did not plead mental incapacity sufficient to avoid the contract.
There exists a "presumption of mental competency to enter into a contractual agreement." Paige-Hull v. Wofford ,
Although mere illiteracy does not relieve a contracting party of the consequences of his agreement, a contracting party "must ... be held to have known and fully comprehended the legal effect of the contract." In re Big 8 Food Stores, Ltd. ,
Wells Fargo argues that, even if Arndt has shown incapacity, her argument still fails because the originating lender had "no reason to know of any purported incapacity" and because the contract has already been partially performed. Def.'s Reply in Supp. of Mot. to Dismiss 6-7 [23]. "If the contract is made on fair terms and the other party has no reason to know of the incompetency, performance in whole or *706in part may so change the situation that the parties cannot be restored to their previous positions or may otherwise render avoidance inequitable. The contract then ceases to be voidable." RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF CONTRACTS § 15 cmt. f (Am. Law Inst. 1981). Construing the complaint in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, it is plausible that Wells Fargo should have known of Kenneth Arndt's incompetency at the time of contracting given that he has been diagnosed as "mentally retarded," "unable to read or write," and "unable to make decisions for himself." Arndt has met the facial plausibility standard. The Court thus denies Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss on the issue of capacity.
IV. THE COURT GRANTS WELLS FARGO'S MOTION TO DISMISS ARNDT'S JURISDICTIONAL CLAIMS
After filing her original petition on March 6, 2015 to stop expedited foreclosure by Wells Fargo, and after Wells Fargo removed the case to federal court, Arndt moved to remand to state court on May 28, 2015. In the motion to remand, Arndt argued that this Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the dispute because of the "probate exception" to federal jurisdiction, or alternatively because Wells Fargo waived its right to remove the case, and that a state probate court would rightfully have jurisdiction over the case. On September 9, 2015, the Court denied Arndt's motion to remand because Arndt properly filed this lawsuit in a court of general jurisdiction (invoking an exception to the probate exception) and because Wells Fargo did not waive its right to remove the case. See Order Den. Pl.'s Mot. to Remand 1-2 [8].
Nonetheless, in her amended complaint, Arndt again argues that the Court should remand the case to state probate court. Additionally, Arndt includes a number of arguments that are "estate administration issue[s] proper for the Texas Probate Court," including that Kenneth Arndt has superior homestead rights to the property under Texas Estates Code § 351 and that Wells Fargo failed to properly file, authenticate and sue on its claim with the Texas Probate Court. Because the Court has already decided that it properly has jurisdiction over this dispute, the Court grants Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss Arndt's jurisdictional claims.
V. THE COURT GRANTS WELLS FARGO'S MOTION TO DISMISS CLAIMS ARISING UNDER SECTION 50 OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
Arndt alleges that "Kenneth Arndt has rights in his homestead which are guaranteed by Section 50 of the Texas Constitution," and which Wells Fargo may not violate by dispossessing Kenneth of his home. Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 5 [12]. However, Arndt does not specify what provision of Section 50 has been violated or in what way it has been violated. Wells Fargo argues that "Plaintiff has not put Wells Fargo ... on notice of any alleged violation of Section 50 of the Texas Constitution." Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 13 [16]. "In other words, Plaintiff does not even directly assert that a violation has actually occurred , but merely suggests that Kenneth Arndt has certain rights that are guaranteed."
A viable complaint must include "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Twombly ,
VI. THE COURT GRANTS WELLS FARGO'S MOTION TO DISMISS ARNDT'S "SHOW-ME-THE-NOTE" CLAIMS
Arndt alleges in her amended complaint that Wells Fargo "has failed to prove that it is the holder or assignee of the alleged Note underlying the claim that it made in the foreclosure lawsuit," and that without such proof, Wells Fargo "lacks standing and jurisdiction to assert its claim." Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 6 [12]. Wells Fargo argues that this allegation is a form of the "show-me-the-note" argument, which has been repeatedly rejected in Texas. Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 16-17 [16]. As such, Wells Fargo argues that Arndt's allegation fails.
The "show-me-the-note" argument claims that "only the holder of the original wet-ink signature note has the lawful power to initiate a non-judicial foreclosure." McLemore v. CitiMortgage, Inc. ,
VII. THE COURT DENIES ARNDT'S MOTION TO APPOINT AD LITEM
In her amended complaint, Arndt asks the Court to immediately appoint an ad litem to represent the interests of Kenneth Arndt. See Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 4 [12]. Arndt also filed a separate motion to appoint an ad litem [24] to represent Kenneth Arndt on June 22, 2016. "The court must appoint a guardian ad litem - or issue another appropriate order - to protect a minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an action." FED. R. CIV. P. 17(c)(2). In her motion, Arndt, as Independent Executor of the Estate of Paul Arndt and as Next Friend of Kenneth Arndt, requests an attorney ad litem for Kenneth Arndt to "prosecute his particular interests and champion his cause." Pl.'s Mot. to Appoint Att'y Ad Litem 1 [24]. The Court notes that there is a difference between appointing an attorney ad litem and a guardian ad litem,
VIII. THE COURT DENIES WELLS FARGO'S MOTION TO DISMISS ARNDT'S REQUEST FOR ACCOUNTING
Arndt's amended complaint claims that Wells Fargo "has failed to maintain accurate and historical records of payments and charges against the loan," and demands an accounting from Wells Fargo. Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 5 [12]. Wells Fargo argues that the Court should dismiss the demand for accounting because it is a remedy rather than a cause of action and as such "cannot stand as an independent claim." Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss Pl.'s First Am. Compl. 15 [16]. Wells Fargo does not argue that the Court should dismiss the request for accounting on any other grounds. Arndt's request for an accounting does not have to be a cause of action in order for Arndt to plead it as a remedy accompanying her remaining causes of action and requests for relief. As such, the Court denies Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss Arndt's request for an accounting.
CONCLUSION
The Court denies Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss Arndt's lack of capacity claims and request for accounting. The Court grants Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss Arndt's jurisdictional claims, the Texas Constitution Section 50 claim, the "show-me-the-note" claim, and the request for reconsideration of the motion to remand. The Court grants Arndt leave to replead her Section 50 claim within twenty-one (21) days of this Order. The Court denies Karen Ann Arndt's motion to appoint attorney ad litem for Kenneth Arndt.
The Court thus denies Arndt's request that it reconsider its prior jurisdictional ruling. See Pl.'s Resp. in Opp. to Def.'s Mot. to Dismiss 5 [22].
A guardian ad litem is a substitute party, while an attorney ad litem takes "actions ... to prosecute the minor's claims." See Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Brown ,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Karen Ann ARNDT v. WELLS FARGO BANK NA
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published