Armstrong v. Navient Solutions, LLC
Armstrong v. Navient Solutions, LLC
Opinion of the Court
In 2014, Plaintiff Ann Holiday received a statement from Navient Solutions, Inc. ("NSI"), a loan servicing company, reflecting a balance of $45,000 for multiple student loans purportedly made to her son, Plaintiff Anwar Armstrong. Asserting that they took out a single student loan for only $9,000, Plaintiffs allege that they contacted NSI to dispute the account balance and that NSI failed to correct the error. Instead, according to Plaintiffs, NSI reported the incorrect loan balance to consumer reporting agencies, which, in turn, used the faulty information from NSI to generate credit reports that negatively affected Armstrong's ability to secure employment.
In response, Plaintiffs filed suit in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, alleging that NSI violated the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act ("CPPA") by making a "misleading *467statement ... regarding their credit worthiness and credit balances." Dkt. 2-2 at 4 (Compl. ¶ 14). They also asserted common law claims for negligence and breach of contract, alleging that NSI "breached its duty of care by failing to safeguard [Plaintiffs'] information, and failing to correct errors in their account balances," id. at 6 (Compl. ¶ 26), and breached its contract with Plaintiffs by "not revers[ing] or adjust[ing] erroneous charges ... and [by] assert[ing] an invalid account balance," id. at 5 (Compl. ¶ 20). NSI removed the action to this Court, and now moves to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See Dkt. 5. NSI asserts that all three of Plaintiffs' claims are preempted by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"),
For the reasons explained below, the Court concludes that the FCRA preempts Plaintiffs' CPPA and negligence claims in part. In addition, the Court concludes that any non-preempted portion of Plaintiffs' negligence claims fails to state a claim, as does Plaintiffs' claim for breach of contract. With respect to the non-preempted portion of Plaintiffs' CPPA claim, it is unclear whether Plaintiffs have alleged facts sufficient to sustain Article III standing. The Court will, accordingly, grant NSI's motion to dismiss in part and deny it in part, and will direct that the parties show cause why the remaining portion of Plaintiffs' CPPA claim should not be dismissed (or remanded) for want of jurisdiction.
I. BACKGROUND
For purposes of the pending motion to dismiss, the following facts taken from Plaintiffs' complaint are accepted as true. See Am. Nat'l Ins. Co. v. FDIC,
Plaintiffs Holiday and Armstrong allege that they "entered an agreement for student loan credit" with NSI, Dkt. 2-2 at 5 (Compl. ¶ 18) for the amount of $9,000, id. at 3 (Compl. ¶ 2 (Statement of Facts) ). In December 2014, however, Holiday received a statement from NSI reflecting a balance "due [of] over $45,000" for "multiple private student loans" allegedly made to Armstrong. Id. at 3 (Compl. ¶ 1). Plaintiffs alleged that they requested proof of the claimed loans but that NSI failed to "produce any executed promissory notes evidencing the loans that [it] claimed were owed," id. (Compl. ¶¶ 3-4), and that NSI failed to credit $8,460 in loan payments already made by Plaintiffs, id. at 4 (Compl. ¶ 6). Plaintiffs further allege that NSI failed to correct the erroneous loan balance and "continue[d] to falsely claim that" Plaintiffs "owe[d] amounts that they [did] not owe." Id. at 3 (Compl. ¶¶ 2, 5). Although the complaint is not a model of clarity, Plaintiffs also appear to allege that NSI reported the incorrect balance-owed to consumer reporting agencies, which, in turn, used the information they received from NSI to generate negative credit reports about Armstrong. Id. at 4 (Compl. ¶ 14) (NSI "misled" Plaintiffs and "others" about the loan balance). "[B]ecause of [those] credit report[s]," Plaintiffs allege, Armstrong was not offered two jobs that he applied for in 2015. Id. at 4 (Compl. ¶¶ 7-10).
Plaintiffs filed suit against NSI in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in 2016. Dkt. 2-1 at 2. NSI removed the case to this Court pursuant to
*468II. LEGAL STANDARD
A motion to dismiss brought under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) is designed to "test[ ] the legal sufficiency of a complaint." Browning v. Clinton ,
III. ANALYSIS
A. Preemption
1. The Fair Credit Reporting Act
"Congress enacted the FCRA in 1970 to ensure fair and accurate credit reporting, promote efficiency in the banking system, and protect consumer privacy." Safeco Ins. Co. of Am. v. Burr ,
It is a violation of the FCRA to "furnish any information relating to a consumer to any [CRA] if [the furnisher] knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate" or to "furnish information relating to a consumer to any [CRA] if (i) the [furnisher] has been notified by the consumer ... that the specific information is inaccurate[,] and (ii) the information is, in fact, inaccurate." 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(1). In addition, one who "regularly and in the ordinary course of business furnishes information to one or more [CRAs] about [the furnisher's] transactions or experiences with any consumer" have a duty to correct and to update any credit reporting information that the furnisher *469"determines is not complete or accurate," and, "[i]f the completeness or accuracy of any [such] information ... is disputed ... by a consumer, the [furnisher] may not furnish the information to any [CRA] without notice that such information is disputed by the consumer."
When it was enacted in 1970, the FCRA expressly preempted state common law claims "in the nature of defamation, invasion of privacy, or negligence with respect to reporting of information against any ... person who furnishes information to a [CRA]." 15 U.S.C. § 1681h(e), Pub. L. 91-508, title VI, § 601,
No requirement or prohibition may be imposed under the laws of any State-(1) with respect to any subject matter regulated under-
...
(F) section 1671s-2 of this title, relating to the responsibilities of persons who furnish information to consumer reporting agencies ....
Pub. Law 104-208, Div. A, Title II, § 2419,
A number of courts have puzzled over the interplay between the 1970 and 1996 preemption provisions. See, e.g., Macpherson v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. ,
First, as explained in Himmelstein , the first theory-which posits that the 1996 provision preempts only state law claims arising after a furnisher of information receives notice of a dispute-is untenable.
*470
The second theory-which posits that the 1996 provision preempts state statutory law but not state common law-is "slightly more attractive." Id. at 58. According to those courts that have adopted this approach, the phrase "requirement[s] or prohibition[s] ... imposed under the laws of any State" is most naturally construed to refer to state statutory law; the phrase "would be an awkward, roundabout way of forbidding state courts" from interpreting or applying state tort law. Manno ,
The problem with this theory is that the Supreme Court considered and rejected a similar argument in Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc. ,
No requirement or prohibition based on smoking and health shall be imposed under State law with respect to the advertising or promotion of any cigarettes the packages of which are labeled in conformity with the provisions of [the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act].
*471Significantly, the Supreme Court decided Cipollone before Congress enacted the 1996 FCRA preemption provision. That is important for two related reasons. First, congressional intent is the ultimate touchstone of preemption, Wyeth v. Levine ,
Returning to the FCRA, the only "other indicia" of congressional intent is the fact that Congress did not repeal or mention the 1970 preemption provision at the time it adopted the 1996 provision (and, indeed, made an unrelated amendment to the 1970 provision, see Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, Pub. L. 104-208,
we do not perceive any inconsistency between the two statutes. Section 1681h(e) preempts some state claims that could arise out of reports to credit agencies; § 1681t(b)(1)(F) preempts more of these claims. Section 1681h(e) does not create a right to recover for wil[l]fully false reports; it just says that a particular paragraph does not preempt claims of that stripe. Section 1681h(e) was enacted in 1970. Twenty-six years later, in 1996, Congress added § 1681t(b)(1)(F) to the United States Code. The same legislation also added § 1681s-2. The extra federal remedy in § 1681s-2 was accompanied by extra preemption in § 1681t(b)(1)(F), in order to implement the new plan under which reporting to credit agencies would be supervised by state and federal administrative agencies rather than judges. Reading the earlier statute, § 1681h(e), to defeat the later-enacted system in § 1681s-2 and § 1681t(b)(1)(F), would contradict fundamental norms of statutory interpretation.
.... [T]he statutes are compatible: the first-enacted statute preempts some state regulation of reports to credit agencies, and the second-enacted statute preempts more.... This understanding does not vitiate the final words of § 1681h(e), because there are exceptions to § 1681t(b)(1)(F). When it drops out, § 1681h(e) remains. But, even if our understanding creates some surplusage, courts must do what is essential if the more recent enactment is to operate as designed.
Purcell ,
The Court, accordingly, has little difficulty concluding that the 1996 FCRA preemption provision applies to both statutory and common law claims.
*4722. Plaintiffs' Inaccurate Reporting Claims
Plaintiffs' CPPA claims challenge, in part, NSI's failure to accurately report their loan balance to CRAs. Plaintiffs allege, for example, that NSI's "representations ... regarding the amount of the account balance" misled Plaintiffs "and others "-presumably the CRAs that generated negative credit reports about Armstrong-"regarding [Plaintiffs'] creditworthiness and credit balances," and that Armstrong lost employment opportunities "because of his credit report." Dkt. 2-2 at 4-5 (Compl. ¶¶ 7-10, 14-15).
These allegations implicate § 1681s-2's requirement that NSI "provide accurate credit information" and that it "investigate, report, and correct inaccurate information upon notice of a dispute." Ihebereme v. Capital One, N.A. ,
For similar reasons, Plaintiffs' breach of contract and negligence claims are also preempted to the extent they challenge NSI's disclosure of inaccurate information to CRAs. Both of those claims allege that NSI failed to maintain accurate records regarding Plaintiffs' loans and loan balances, Dkt. 2-2 at 5-6 (Compl. ¶¶ 20, 26), and both suggest that, as a result of NSI's errors, Armstrong lost employment opportunities, Dkt. 2-2 at 4-6 (Compl. ¶¶ 8, 10, 21, 27). For the same reasons described above, those allegations implicate § 1681s-2, see 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(1)(A) ("A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any [CRA] if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate.");
B. Failure To State a Claim
Without the preempted claims, all that remains of Plaintiffs' complaint is the allegation that NSI misreported information to the Plaintiffs themselves. For the reasons described below, that factual allegation fails to state a claim under D.C. common law or the CPPA.
1. Breach of Contract
The complaint alleges that Plaintiffs "entered into an agreement for student loan credit" with NSI and that NSI "breached [its] contract [with Plaintiffs] because it did not reverse or adjust erroneous charges and/or payments and/or adjustments and asserts an invalid account balance." Dkt. 2-2 at 5 (Compl. ¶¶ 18, 20). Because Plaintiffs' credit reporting claims are preempted, all that remains of this claim is their contention that NSI breached some contractual duty it owed them by misstating their account balance in correspondence with them. As currently pled, Plaintiffs' complaint fails to state a claim.
*473Under D.C. law, "[t]o prevail on a claim of breach of contract, a party must establish (1) a valid contract between the parties; (2) an obligation or duty arising out of the contact; (3) a breach of that duty; and (4) damages caused be [the] breach." Brown v. Sessoms ,
Given Plaintiffs' failure to "plead[ ] th[e] elements" of a contract claim under D.C. law "with adequate factual support to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face,' " Blue ,
2. Negligence
Plaintiffs also allege that NSI was negligent because it failed "to exercise reasonable care in dealing with" Plaintiffs, failed "to disclose all material facts," and failed to "correctly report their account balance." Dkt. 2-2 at 6 (Compl. ¶ 24). To allege a negligence claim, a plaintiff must allege facts sufficient to show "(1) a duty, owed by the defendant to the plaintiff, to conform to a certain standard of care; (2) a breach of this duty by the defendant; and (3) an injury to the plaintiff proximately caused by the defendant's breach." Findlay v. CitiMortgage, Inc. ,
Plaintiffs have failed to identify any authority recognizing a lender or servicer's *474non-contractual duty "to disclose all material facts" and "correctly [to] report ... account balance[s]" outside a contractual relationship, and the Court can discern no basis for imposing such a duty. Findlay ,
3. CPPA
Finally, Plaintiffs assert that NSI violated the CPPA by "sending [an] inaccurate billing statement[ ] to Plaintiffs," thereby "misrepresent[ing] to them the amounts owed for private student loans." Dkt. 9 at 6; see also Dkt. 2-2 at 4 (Compl. ¶ 14) ("[NSI]'s representations ... regarding the amount of the account balance ... constitute a misleading statement ...."). It is not clear from the present record, however, whether Plaintiffs satisfy the requirements of Article III standing with respect to this claim. See Steel Co. v. Citizens for a Better Env't ,
Here, Plaintiffs allege that they were injured as a result of NSI's "misleading statement" because they were "in fact misled," and, as a result, suffered "emotional distress" and "loss of time and convenience," for which they seek compensatory damages, statutory damages, and the costs of suit and attorney's fees. Dkt. 2-2 at 4-5 (Compl. ¶¶ 11, 14, 16). Plaintiffs, however, offer no factual allegations that plausibly support the conclusion that they were misled about their loan balances; indeed, they allege that they brought NSI's error to the company's attention. Id. at 3 (Compl. ¶ 2 (Statement of Facts) ). Moreover, the only relevant injuries that they allege are emotional distress and loss of time and convenience. Yet, "a plaintiff can ... establish Article III injury in fact based on emotional harm" only if "that alleged harm stems from the infringement of some legally protected, or judicially cognizable, interest that is either recognized at common law or specifically recognized as such by the Congress." Al-Aulaqui v. Obama ,
Accordingly, the Court will deny NSI's motion to dismiss as to the non-preempted portion of Plaintiffs' CPPA claim and will order that the parties show cause why that claim should not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons explained above, Defendant's Motion to Dismiss, Dkt. 5, is hereby GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties show cause on or before March 30, 2018 why the remaining portion of Plaintiffs' CPPA claim should not be dismissed (or remanded) for want of jurisdiction. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall appear before the Court on April 17, 2018 at 2:00 p.m., in Courtroom 21 to address the standing issue and discuss appropriate next steps.
"The term 'consumer reporting agency' means any person which, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties, and which uses any means or facility of interstate commerce for the purpose of preparing or furnishing consumer reports." 15 U.S.C. § 1681a(f).
Although at times, there may be good reason to give the phrase a narrower construction, the Court concluded that this history of the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act counseled in favor of giving the phrase its generally accepted meaning. Cipollone ,
Although a plurality gave the term "requirement" a narrower construction in Medtronic, Inc. v. Lohr ,
The Court does not construe Plaintiffs' complaint as seeking a declaratory judgment establishing that they owe NSI only the $9,000 they allege they borrowed (less the $8,460 in payments they allege they made), rather than the "over $45,000" balance on their account statement. Dkt. 2-2 at 3-4 (Compl. ¶¶ 1-2, 6 (Statement of Facts) ). To the extent that Plaintiffs seek such relief, they must seek leave to amend their complaint.
See Bond v. U.S. Dep't of Justice ,
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Anwar ARMSTRONG v. NAVIENT SOLUTIONS, LLC
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published