Needham v. Fannie Mae
Needham v. Fannie Mae
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS
This case is before the magistrate judge by consent of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c). The magistrate judge has reviewed Defendant Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.’s (Wells Fargo) Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings.
Nature of this Case
This case was removed from Fifth Judicial District Court, Washington County, State of Utah by the consent of all defendants served.
Factual Overview
The factual setting for these claims is complex. This paragraph will provide a summary overview of relevant facts.
Needham borrowed money from Wells Fargo and from a superior lender. Wells Fargo foreclosed its lien unaware of Need-ham’s bankruptcy filing. Therefore, Wells Fargo modified its loan terms by agreement with Needham, and received payments from Needham. Needham fell ill and stopped making payments. The superior lender foreclosed on the Needham property. Wells Fargo’s lien was foreclosed along with Needham’s equity position. Excess proceeds from that trustee’s sale were interplead and adjudicated in Fifth
Standard for Judgment on the Pleadings
The standard of review for dismissal under Rule 12(c) is the same as the standard for dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6).
Needham has objected to the use of this standard because Wells Fargo has “introduced several exhibits as part of their motion for judgment on the pleadings” which “are not part of the initial complaint and its exhibits.”
However, all exhibits Wells Fargo has introduced are copies of documents referred to in Plaintiffs Complaint and central to Plaintiffs claims. The use of exhibits specifically referenced by Plaintiff does not convert a pleadings-based motion to a motion for summary judgment.
[I]f a plaintiff does not incorporate by reference or attach a document to its complaint, but the document is referred to in the complaint and is central to the plaintiffs claim, a defendant may submit an indisputably authentic copy to the court to be considered on a motion to dismiss.
If the rule were otherwise, a plaintiff with a deficient claim could survive a motion to dismiss simply by not attaching a dispositive document upon which the plaintiff relied. Moreover, conversion to summary judgment when a district court considers outside materials is to afford the plaintiff an opportunity to respond in kind. When a complaint refers to a document and the document is central to the plaintiffs claim, the plaintiff is obviously on notice of the document’s contents, and this rationale for conversion to summary judgment dissipates.10
Because Needham is obviously aware of documents he referenced in, but failed to attach to his complaint, Wells Fargo is entitled to supply the actual documents to the court and rely on them in a motion for judgment on the pleadings.
Needham also provided (without authentication) a copy of the Notice of Trustee’s Sale from the defective Wells Fargo foreclosure;
FACTS ALLEGED IN THE COMPLAINT
Wells Fargo’s opening memorandum
1. Plaintiff purchased property described as “All of lot ninety-seven (97), Pine View Estates — Phase 5, a residential subdivision, according to the official plat thereof on file in the office of the Washington County Recorders Office, State of Utah (the “Property”) in September 1995 under a purchase money mortgage provided by Zions First National Bank (“Zions”). Plaintiff paid off that loan in March 1996.
2. In May 1997, Plaintiff obtained a second loan from Zions, again secured by the Property.
3. In June 1999, Plaintiff obtained yet another loan, this time from Sunbelt National Mortgage, which was again secured by the Property. The Zions deed of trust was subordinated to this Sunbelt deed of trust, so that Sunbelt was in first position and Zions was in second.
4. On or about May 16, 2003, Plaintiff executed an “EquityLine with Convertible Loan Feature Account Agreement” (the “line of credit”) from Wells Fargo, pursuant to which he was authorized to borrow up to $73,000 from Wells Fargo.
5. As security for the line of credit, Plaintiff executed a Short Form Deed of Trust to the Property in favor of Wells Fargo which incorporated by reference a Master Form Deed of Trust previously recorded by Wells Fargo.
6. Plaintiff borrowed funds from Wells Fargo under the line of credit and then defaulted on his loan.
7. On or about July 9, 2008, the trustee under the Wells Fargo Deed of Trust executed a Notice of Default and Election to Sell (the “Notice of Default”) and recorded the Notice of Default in the official records of the Washington County Recorder, with an entry number of 20080027726.
*1150 8. Plaintiff did not cure his default. On December 17, 2009, the trustee under the Wells Fargo Deed of Trust conducted a non-judicial foreclosure of the Property.
9. Wells Fargo purchased the Property at the December 17 foreclosure sale, and paid funds to discharge Plaintiffs debt to the two senior lenders in an attempt to elevate the priority of its third-position lien.
10. On December 17, 2009, without notice to Wells Fargo, Plaintiff filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. As a result, once Wells Fargo learned of this second bankruptcy, it sought to rescind its payoffs to the two senior lenders. The first position lender returned the funds; the second position lender, Zions Bank, did not. Instead, Zions credited Plaintiffs account and recorded a Deed of Reconveyance releasing its security interest in the Property.
11. Plaintiff did not move to set aside Wells Fargo’s foreclosure during this second bankruptcy. Instead, he sought a continuance of his bankruptcy confirmation hearing to enable Wells Fargo to resolve these issues with the other lenders.
12. During that time, Plaintiff, who was represented by bankruptcy counsel, negotiated with Wells Fargo to restructure his Wells Fargo and Zions debts. As a result, the amount Wells Fargo paid to Zions was made part of Plaintiffs principal obligation to Wells Fargo. Plaintiffs monthly payment amounts were reduced to $388.58 per month and the interest rate, which previously was variable, with a floor of 4.49%, was reduced to 0.0%.
13. Thereafter, Plaintiffs chapter 13 bankruptcy was dismissed on or about June 7, 2010.
14, Later that month, on June 23, 2010, the trustee under the Fannie Mae deed of trust, the successor on the original Sunbelt Deed of Trust, recorded a notice of default. Five months later, on November 4, 2010, Fannie Mae foreclosed on the Property — not Wells Fargo. A third party, defendant 2020 Properties, LLC, purchased the Property at the Fannie Mae trustee’s sale for $161,000 and has since taken possession of the Property.
In his opposing memorandum,
[Facts 1-3 related to Mr. Needham’s disability.]
4. In Spring of 2009, Plaintiff applied for and was successful in receiving a loan modification from Wells Fargo. Payments were made under the agreement until foreclosure.
[Fact 5 notes Wells Fargo’s answer admits the preceding Fact 4.]
[Fact 6 refers again to Plaintiffs disability.]
7. In November 2009, Plaintiff informed Wells Fargo that he needed to make new arrangements for his loan modification since he had been unable to start work because he had contracted MRSA while staying in the hospital due to his disability.
8. After accepting payments and being informed about the sickness, Defendant Wells Fargo informed Plaintiff that they were no longer going to follow the loan*1151 modification agreement and were going to foreclose on the real property.
9. On October 8, 2009, October 15, 2009 and October 22, 2009, Defendant Wells Fargo published notice of its Trustee’s Sale regarding the subject property. [Facts 10-12 relate to the invalid Wells Fargo foreclosure in December 2009.] [Facts 13-21 relate to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.]
22. The property was the subject of a trustee’s sale that was held on November 4, 2010.
23. At the foreclosure sale, defendant 2020 Properties LLC was the successful bidder, bidding and paying the sum of $161,000.00 for the trust deed property. That sum exceeded the total amount owed to the first lien-holder of the trust deed.
24. After deducting attorney’s fees and costs of submitting the excess sale proceeds, the trustee submitted the excess sale proceeds in the amount of $14,776.86 to the Washington County District Court Clerk in accordance with provisions of § 57-1-29, Utah Code Annotated.
[Fact 25 refers to a result in an allegedly similar case in this court.]
26. Wells Fargo also had constructive notice of Mr. Needham’s bankruptcy filing because it is a matter of public record.
These additional facts marshaled by Needham do not cure the failure of the complaint to state a claim.
DISCUSSION
Needham fundamentally misunderstands the issues in the case. The opening page of his memorandum opposing this motion refers to the admittedly invalid, ineffectual Wells Fargo foreclosure: “Mr. Aaron Needham (hereinafter “Mr. Need-ham”) seeks to recover possession of his home that was wrongfully foreclosed on by Wells Fargo.... Wells Fargo did not follow proper procedure in foreclosing on Mr. Needham.”
With this fixation on the Wells Fargo loan and its foreclosure, Needham’s arguments miss the point of Wells Fargo’s motion. Wells Fargo conducted an invalid foreclosure sale, but that only resulted in a very favorable loan modification. Wells Fargo was foreclosed out and was not the party that foreclosed him out. When Needham lost his property, Wells Fargo lost its security.
Contract-Related Claims
Needham’s verified complaint contains four contract-related claims against Wells Fargo: (1) breach of contract; (2) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (3) promissory estoppel; and (4) unjust enrichment.
In his breach of contract claim
The Foreclosing Defendants [defined to include Wells Fargo23 ] breached the note and deed of trust by failing to account for and apply the payments made by Plaintiff to Plaintiffs loan, the result of which led to the Foreclosing Defendants eventually foreclosing on the Subject Property.24
Needham suffered no loss by any foreclosure by Wells Fargo. That foreclosure was rescinded after the automatic bankruptcy stay was discovered. The actual foreclosure of Needham’s property was under the superior lien, the Sunbelt Trust Deed. Therefore any misapplications of payments by Wells Fargo had no effect on his loss of the property.
Needham also says “Wells Fargo breached its loan modification agreement.”
In his claims for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing,
Needham’s claims for promissory estoppel
Needham’s negligence claim alleges that Wells Fargo, “‘acting as plaintiffs lender and loan servicer,’ breached a duty to Plaintiff by (1) foreclosing on the property “without legal authority,’ (2) failing to maintain proper loan records, and (3) failing to accurately credit Plaintiffs payments to his account.”
When the parties’ relationship is governed by contract, the economic loss rule provides that “economic damages are not recoverable in negligence absent physical property damage or bodily injury.”
Needham argues that there is a fiduciary duty between a trustee and a trustor under a deed of trust, which gives rise to a tort-based duty of care and therefore the economic loss rule does not apply to claims arising out of non-judicial foreclosures.
Claim for Fraud and Derivative Claims
Plaintiff also asserts three claims based on fraud. The most substantial claim is based on Wells Fargo’s alleged false promise to negotiate a loan modification alleged in the eleventh cause of action.
Needham’s papers on this motion fail to address Wells Fargo’s assertion that his fraud claims are barred by the statute of frauds. Needham argues in his papers
Needham’s complaint also mentions fraud in his first cause of action to “Set Aside Trustee’s Sale” and second cause of action to “Void the Trustee’s Deed.” Apparently fraud is the basis for the relief sought, though fraud is not particularly plead.
The Foreclosing Defendants committed fraud in the process of foreclosing, because they failed to disclose to Plaintiff that they never had the intention to modify his loan, which is a material fact.46
Although the trustee’s deeds upon sale appears [sic] valid on their face, they are invalid, and of no force and effect, for the reasons set forth above ... along with the fraudulent conduct and irregularities in the process.47
These causes of action state no factual basis for fraud. The only factual basis for fraud is alleged in the eleventh cause of action, which has been shown to be an insufficient allegation. The first cause of action to “Set Aside Trustee’s Sale” and second cause of action to “Void the Trustee’s Deed” fail to state a fraud claim.
Foreclosure-Related Claims
a. Wrongful Foreclosure
Needham’s wrongful foreclosure cause of action alleges that (1) his note was sold to investors; (2) Wells Fargo does not have the original note to prove that it was authorized to conduct a foreclosure; and (3) Wells Fargo sold Plaintiffs loan without notifying him in writing.
Needham argues that “Utah allows for recovery under a wrongful foreclosure claim, where the injured party ‘seeks to have a trustee sale set aside for irregulari
b. Quiet Title and Declaratory Relief
Needham’s ninth cause of action seeks to quiet title in himself and “a judicial declaration that the title to the Subject Property is vested in Plaintiff alone....”
c. Claim to Excess Proceeds of Sunbelt Foreclosure Sale
In his Opposing Memorandum, Need-ham inexplicably requests that Wells Fargo pay over excess proceeds from the November 2010 Sunbelt foreclosure sale.
Fair Housing Act Claim
Needham alleges that Wells Fargo violated the Fair Housing Act under 42 U.S.C. § 3604(f) by refusing to “make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services,” under section 3604(f)(3)(B), when such accommodations may have helped to afford Mr. Needham “equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling.”
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, docket no. 41, filed August 10, 2011.
. Notice of Removal, docket no. 2, filed March 17, 2011.
. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings, at 2.
. Nelson v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co., 419 F.3d 1117, 1119 (10th Cir. 2005).
. Bixler v. Foster, 596 F.3d 751, 756 (10th Cir. 2010) (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)).
. Bixler, 596 F.3d at 756 (quoting Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949).
. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.’s Memorandum in Support of Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Supporting Memorandum) at 3, docket no. 42, filed August 10, 2011.
. Memorandum in Opposition to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.'s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings (Opposing Memorandum) at 2, docket no. 53, filed September 14, 2011.
. Id.
. GFF Corp. v. Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., 130 F.3d 1381, 1384-85 (10th Cir. 1997) (citations omitted).
. Second Affidavit of Aaron Needham, docket no. 53-4, Exhibit F, filed September 14, 2011.
. Exhibit A to Opposing Memorandum.
. Exhibits B-D to Opposing Memorandum.
. Exhibit E to Opposing Memorandum.
. Supporting Memorandum at 3-5. Citations to supporting documents have been omitted.
. , _ , Supporting Memorandum at 3.
. Opposing Memorandum at 3-7. Citations to supporting documents have been omitted.
. Opposing Memorandum at 1.
. Id. at 9.
. Id. at 10.
. Verified Complaint (Complaint), docket no 2-1, filed March 17, 2011.
. Complaint ¶¶ 76-83.
. Id. ¶ 10.
. Id. ¶ 79.
. Id. ¶ 81.
. Supporting Memorandum at 8.
. Complaint ¶ 80.
. Id. ¶ 42.
. Id. ¶¶ 84-89
. Id. ¶ 87.
. Id. ¶ 89.
. Id. ¶¶ 92-97.
. Id. ¶¶ 98-104.
. MediaNews Group, Inc. v. McCarthey, 432 F.Supp.2d 1213, 1238 (D.Utah 2006) (quoting Mann v. Am. W. Life Ins. Co., 586 P.2d 461, 465 (Utah 1978)).
. Supporting Memorandum at 9-10 (quoting Complaint ¶¶ 112-113).
. Id. at 10 (emphasis in original).
. SME Indus., Inc. v. Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Assocs., Inc., 28 P.3d 669, 680 (Utah 2001) quoting American Towers Owners Ass'n, Inc. v. CCI Mech., Inc., 930 P.2d 1182, 1189 (Utah 1996).
. Opposing Memorandum at 12.
. Ramos v. Countrywide Bank, FSB, Case No. 2:09-CV-449 TS, 2009 WL 3584327, at *5, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99909, at *14 (D.Utah Oct. 26, 2009) (unpublished). See also State Bank of S. Utah v. Troy Hygro Sys., Inc., 894 P.2d 1270, 1275 (Utah Ct.App. 1995) ("Ordinarily, no fiduciary relationship exists between a bank and its customer”).
. Blodgett v. Martsch, 590 P.2d 298, 300 (Utah 1978).
. Complaint ¶¶ 115-128.
. Utah Code Ann. §§ 25-5-1, 25-5-3.
. Golden Key Realty v. Mantas, 699 P.2d 730, 732 (Utah 1985).
. Opposing Memorandum at 12.
. A constructive fraud claim requires: "(i) a confidential relationship between the parties; and (ii) a failure to disclose material facts.” d’Elia v. Rice Dev., Inc., 147 P.3d 515, 526 (Utah Ct.App. 2006) (quoting Jensen v. IHC Hosps., 944 P.2d 327, 339 (Utah 1997)).
. Complaint ¶ 60.
. Id. ¶ 65.
. Id.n 71-73.
. Commonwealth Prop. Advocates, LLC v. Mortg. Elec. Registration Sys., 263 P.3d 397, 401-04 (Utah Ct.App. 2011), cert. denied, 268 P.3d 192 (Utah 2011); Nielsen v. Aegis Wholesale Corp., No. 2:10CV606 DS, 2011 WL 1675178, at *2-3, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48029, at *5-7 (D.Utah May 4, 2011). See also Commonwealth Property Advocates, LLC v. Mortg. Elec. Registration Sys., 680 F.3d 1194, 1203-05, 2011 WL 6739431, at *6-7 (10th Cir. Dec. 23, 2011) (discussing Utah law and concluding that the plaintiff's claims, similar to those asserted in this case, have no legal basis under Utah law).
. McGinnis v. GMAC Mortg. Corp., No. 2:10-cv-00301-TC, 2010 WL 3418204, at *2, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 90286, at *7 (D.Utah Aug. 27, 2010) (unpublished).
. Opposing Memorandum at 13-14 (quoting Concepts, Inc. v. First Sec. Realty Servs., Inc. 743 P.2d 1158, 1159 (Utah 1987)).
. Id. at 14.
. Complaint ¶ 110.
. Id.
. Opposing Memorandum at 12-13.
. Case Docket for In Re Proceeds of Sale of 2387 Coletero Circle, Case No. 110500174, State of Utah Fifth District Court, attached as Exhibit E to Opposition Memorandum.
. Complaint ¶ 150.
. Docket no. 41, filed August 10, 2011.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Aaron NEEDHAM aka Aaron D.T. Needham, an individual v. FANNIE MAE eTitle Insurance Agency, a Utah limited liability company Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a South Dakota Corporation Shalom Rubanowitz, an individual 2020 Properties LLC, a Utah limited liability company Kristine J. Carter, an individual and Does 1-25 [Individual, Partnerships, Corporations or anyone claiming any interest to the property described herein]
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published