Walcker v. SN Commercial, LLC
Walcker v. SN Commercial, LLC
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
Plaintiffs-Appellants Elmer and Stella Walcker (“the Walckers”) took out a loan that was later transferred to SN Commercial, LLC (“SNC”) and serviced by SN Commercial’s affiliate, SN Servicing (“SNS”). While servicing this loan SNS sent two letters to the Walckers: one introducing itself as the loan servicer, and one discussing options for the Walckers to pay off their loan. The Walckers filed an action against SNS, SNC, and the other appellees alleging, inter alia, that they violated the Washington Collection Agency Act (“WCAA”),
On January 31, 2006, Defendants, prior to filing an answer, moved for summary judgment. After conducting a hearing on the matter, the district court held that: (1) SNS was not subject to the provisions of the WCAA; (2) the Notices sent by SNS to the Walckers did not violate the WCAA; and (3) because the Walckers’ claims against SNC, SN Trust, and Christiana were based on SNS’s violation of the WCAA, the Walckers’ claims against the same also failed.
The WCAA requires licensees
In a case involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), the Seventh Circuit held that a letter, similar to the letters in this case, did not violate the FDCPA because it did not demand payment. Bailey v. Sec. Nat’l Servicing Corp., 154 F.3d 384, 388-89 (7th Cir. 1998) (“Under the law only communications ‘in connection with the collection of any debt’ (see 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692e, 1692g) fall under the ambit of the Act, and the defendants’ letters cannot reasonably be placed in that category. The important letter dated January 4 does not ‘demand’ any payment whatsoever, but merely informs the Baileys about ‘the current status’ of their account.”). While the FDCPA imposes penalties for “communications in the collection of any debt,” the WCAA imposes penalties for communications “in the collection of a claim.” 15 U.S.C. §§ 1692e, 1692g; Wash. Rev.Code § 19.16.450. “Debt” is defined in the FDCPA as “any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance, or services which are the subject of the transaction are primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, whether or not such obligation has been reduced to judgment.” 15 U.S.C. § 1692a(5). A claim under the WCAA is defined as “any obligation for the payment of money or thing of value arising out of any agreement or contract, express or implied.” Wash. Rev.Code § 19.16.100(5). Despite the fact that the court in Bailey was dealing with the FDCPA, the Seventh Circuit’s reasoning can easily be applied to this case.
Even though the letters sent by SNS to the Walckers may have violated Wash. Rev.Code § 19.16.250, the Walckers are not entitled to penalties as neither of the letters is a communication “in the collection of a claim.” The first letter sent by SNS informed the Walckers that their loan had been transferred from KeyBank to SNS. The second letter offered the Walckers options for getting a fresh new start with their outstanding payments. These are informational letters regarding the current status of the Walckers’ account, not demands for payment; therefore, penalties are not warranted under Wash. Rev.Code § 19.16.450.
Assuming that the letters SNS sent violated Wash. Rev.Code § 19.16.250, the Walckers’ WCPA claim still fails. The Washington Consumer Protection Act, Wash. Rev.Code § 19.86.020, states that “[ujnfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce are hereby declared unlawful.” An individual who is injured in his or her business or property by a violation of Wash. Rev.Code § 19.86.020 may bring a civil action to recover the actual damages sustained by him together with the costs of the suit. Wash. Rev.Code § 19.86.090. To prevail on a WCPA claim on the basis of a per se violation, the Walckers must show “(1) the existence of a pertinent statute; (2) its violation; (3) that such violation was the proximate cause of damages sustained and
Although the district court dismissed the action for different reasons, the ultimate judgment of dismissal was correct.
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.
. The Walckers also alleged an independent violation of the WCAA by SNC which the district court dismissed. The Walckers have not assigned error to the district court's decision as it regards that decision, and it is not part of this appeal.
. KeyBank National Association, Mortgage Electronic Registrations Systems, Inc., and Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. were also named as party defendants in the original action. The Walckers claims against these additional parties were dismissed by separate order of the court and/or stipulation of the parties and are not the subject of this appeal.
. The district court did not rule on the Walck-ers’ claims for violation of the WCPA because the Walckers’ claims for the WCPA violation flowed from their claims for WCAA violations.
. SNS obtained a license under the prior version of the Washington debt collection legislation. It continues to maintain that license even though it was argued that such was no longer required. We assume for the purpose of this appeal that SNS was a licensee.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.