Morris v. Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Morris v. Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff Katherine Morris (Morris) brings this action against Wilmington Savings Fund Society (WSFS), asserting, in four counts, three breach of contract claims and a fourth claim for violation of federal lending laws. This matter is before the court on WSFS's motion to dismiss.
Morris's complaint was filed in the Circuit Court for the County of Page, Virginia on or about April 16, 2018 and removed to federal court on May 17, 2018. ECF No. 1, 2. The claims center on Morris's default on her mortgage on the property located at 133 Trackside Lane f/k/a 210 1st Street, Shenandoah, Virginia (the Property) and WSFS's subsequent mailing of the "Notice of Default and Intent to Accelerate" (pre-acceleration notice) and foreclosure. ECF No. 1-2, 2. Count I alleges breach of contract by claiming that WSFS failed to give notice according to the terms of the Deed of Trust (DOT) by sending the pre-acceleration notice via certified mail, rather than first-class mail, as required by Section 15 of the DOT. Count II, also a breach of contract claim, alleges that WSFS violated Section 22 of the DOT by failing to provide a pre-acceleration notice in compliance with Section 22's terms (again because WSFS sent the notice by certified mail). Count III, Morris's final breach of contract claim, alleges that WSFS "made it impossible under Section 19 of the DOT for [Morris] to reinstate the loan five days prior to the sale of the Property." Finally, Count IV alleges violations of the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) associated with WSFS's alleged failure to provide payoff balances within a statutorily set period of time.
With respect to Count I, WSFS contends Morris's breach of contract claim fails because it is directly contradicted by the pre-acceleration notice, attached as an exhibit to Morris's complaint. ECF No. 4, 5. Specifically, WSFS maintains the pre-acceleration notice sent to Morris "Via Certified Mail" constitutes first-class mail for purposes of the DOT. Id. at 5. WSFS moves for dismissal as to Count II, contending further that the notice sent met all the requirements of Section 22 of the DOT. Id. at 6. WSFS moves for dismissal as to Count III on the grounds that Virginia law does not recognize an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing with respect to the DOT. Id. at 9. WSFS alleges Count III therefore fails as a matter of law. Id. Lastly, WSFS moves for dismissal of Count IV because the statutes upon which Morris relies apply only to high-cost mortgages. Id. at 10. WSFS contends the subject loan is not a high-cost mortgage. Id. Even if the statutes Morris relies upon apply, WSFS further alleges Count IV should be dismissed because Morris did *366not allege a written request for a reinstatement quote as required by statute. Id. at 11.
A.
Katherine Morris ("Morris"), a resident of Virginia, alleges she owns the Page County property in dispute. Morris entered into a loan for $65,195 secured by the Property and executed by CitiMortgage, Inc. The note for that loan is now held by WSFS. Morris paid full and timely mortgage payments for 8.5 years. On October 12, 2016, loan servicer BSI Financial Services sent the post-acceleration notice, which stated that Morris needed to bring her mortgage payments current by November 16, 2016 or face acceleration of the loan and sale of the Property. Morris was sixteen mortgage payments behind at that time, which amounted to $11,447.90. Morris never received the pre-acceleration notice and did not obtain a copy of it until the day of the detainer hearing on December 8, 2017.
WSFS appointed Commonwealth Trustees, LLC as substitute trustee to sell the Property on December 14, 2016. Morris received a Notice of Substitute Trustee's Sale on April 10, 2017 stating a foreclosure sale of the Property was scheduled for May 8, 2017. Morris immediately requested a reinstatement quote from the subsequent servicer, Fay Servicing, on six occasions. Morris needed a reinstatement quote in a timely manner so she could withdraw funds from her 401(k) retirement account. Fay Servicing provided the reinstatement quote on May 4, 2017. Morris's retirement account company could not release funds until May 10, 2017. Morris had the means to pay the pre-acceleration default amount, but could not access the funds by May 8, 2017.
WSFS, through its substitute trustee, sold the Property by auction on May 8, 2017. After the sale, Fay Servicing offered Morris the opportunity to voluntarily vacate the Property through a "Cash for Keys Agreement and Release" if Morris waived all rights to the Property. Morris refused. WSFS notified Morris on July 17, 2017 that she was to vacate the Property within ten days. On August 8, 2017, WSFS filed an unlawful detainer action against Morris in Page County General District Court. Morris challenged the validity of WSFS's title to the Property based on its breach of material terms of the deed in order to sell the Property. The court determined Morris's claims would likely survive demurrer but ruled it lacked subject matter jurisdiction to decide validity of the title of December 8, 2017. WSFS filed another unlawful detainer action against Morris in Page County Circuit Court on January 29, 2018, which was pending at the time this complaint was filed.
Morris then filed this action in Page County Circuit Court on April 16, 2018 alleging breach of contract as to Sections 15, 22, and 19 of the DOT and violations of TILA and RESPA.
B.
To survive a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a complaint need only contain sufficient factual matter which, if accepted as true, "state[s] a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
While the court must accept as true all well-pled factual allegations, the same is not true for legal conclusions. "Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Iqbal,
In considering a motion to dismiss, the court is "generally limited to a review of the allegations of the complaint itself." Goines v. Valley Cmty. Servs. Bd.,
[The court] also considers documents that are explicitly incorporated into the complaint by reference, Tellabs, Inc. v. Makor Issues & Rights, Ltd.,551 U.S. 308 , 322,127 S.Ct. 2499 ,168 L.Ed.2d 179 (2007), and those attached to the complaint as exhibits, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 10(c). And ... [the court] may consider a document submitted by the movant that was not attached to or expressly incorporated in a complaint, so long as the document was integral to the complaint and there is no dispute about the document's authenticity. [Sec'y of State for Defence v. ] Trimble [Nav. Ltd. ], 484 F.3d [700], 705 [ (4th Cir. 2007) ] ; Am. Chiropractic Ass'n v. Trigon Healthcare, Inc.,367 F.3d 212 , 234 (4th Cir. 2004) ; Phillips v. LCI Int'l Inc.,190 F.3d 609 , 618 (4th Cir. 1999).
Id. at 166.
C.
WSFS argues Morris's breach of contract claim due to insufficient notice in Count I fails because WSFS sent the pre-acceleration notice via certified mail. The DOT states in Section 15, "Any notice to Borrower in conjunction with this Security Instrument shall be deemed to have been given to Borrower when mailed by first class mail or when actually delivered to Borrower's notice address if sent by other means." ECF No. 1-2, 29. Morris claims WSFS solely used "other means" because the pre-acceleration notice was sent via certified mail and certified mail is not first-class mail as intended by the DOT. WSFS, on the other hand, claims that certified mail is "an optional feature of first-class mail," and not a separate type of mailing.
While certified mail might indeed be an extra available option when attempting to send first-class mail, many courts do treat the two as separate mailing mechanisms for purposes of meeting notice requirements. Certified mail and first-class mail are distinguishable because certified mail requires the recipient's signature for delivery. Jones v. Flowers,
*368the letter cannot be left like regular mail...."
Other jurisdictions have held that, where notice is required by "mail," notice sent via certified mail only complies with the "mailing" requirement upon actual receipt. See, e.g., Aurora Loan Servs., LLC v. Condron,
Courts have distinguished between certified mail and first-class mail because first-class mail can simply be delivered to the address and the addressee need not be home. In Re Frazier,
*369For this reason, courts in many jurisdictions require that, when a certified mailing goes unclaimed, further action must be taken to ensure notice requirements are met. See Hagie v. Oceana County Treasurer, No. 340161,
The court finds service by certified mail is not sufficient unless the recipient actually receives the mail. Here, WSFS has not presented evidence of receipt of the certified mail and has not shown evidence of an additional effort to send the pre-acceleration notice through other means. Morris has satisfied her burden at this stage in the proceedings by stating a plausible claim as to Count I. The motion to dismiss Count I is DENIED.
D.
Count II alleges that WSFS breached the terms of the DOT by violating Section 22:
"Lender shall give notice to Borrower prior to acceleration following Borrower's breach of any covenant or agreement in this Security Instalment (but not prior to acceleration under Section 18 unless Applicable Law provides otherwise). The notice shall specify: (a) the default; (b) the action required to cure the default; (c) a date, not less than 30 days from the date of the notice given to the Borrower, by which the default must be cured; and (d) that failure to cure the default on or before the date specified in the notice may result in acceleration of the sums secured by this Security Instrument and sale of the Property." ECF No. 1-2, 31.
Morris alleges that WSFS failed to provide a pre-acceleration notice in compliance with these terms because Morris never received such a notice.
E.
Count III alleges a breach of Section 19 of the DOT, alleging that WSFS did not timely provide a reinstatement quote, breaking the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. WSFS contends that this count fails because Virginia law does not recognize the implied covenant outside of the Virginia Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). To the contrary, "the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has consistently held that Virginia does recognize an implied duty of good faith and fair dealing in common law contracts."
*370Stoney Glen, LLC v. Southern Bank and Trust Co.,
For this claim, Morris relies on Section 19 of the deed which states:
"Borrower shall have the right to enforcement of this Security Instrument discontinued at any time prior to the earliest of: (1) five days prior to the sale of the Property pursuant to any power of sale contained in this Security Instrument Those conditions are that Borrower: (a) pays Lender all sums which then would be due under this Security Instrument and the Note as if no acceleration had occurred; (b) cures any default of any other covenants or agreements; (c) pays all expenses incurred in enforcing this Security Instrument, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fee, property inspection and valuation fees; and other fees incurred for the purpose of protecting Lender's interest in the Property and rights under this Security Instrument; and (d) takes such action as Lender may reasonably require to assure that Lender's interest in the Property and rights under the Security Instrument, and Borrower's obligation to pay the sums secured by this Security Instrument, shall continue unchanged. Lender may require that Borrower pay such reinstatement sums and expenses in one or more of the following forms, as selected by Lender: (a) cash; (b) money order; (c) certified check, bank check, treasurer's check or cashier's check, provided such check is drawn upon an institution whose deposits are insured by a federal agency, instrumentality or entity; or (d) Electronic Funds Transfer. Upon reinstatement by Borrower, this Security Instrument and obligations secured hereby shall remain fully effective as if no acceleration had occurred."
ECF No. 1-2, 29-30. Morris contends WSFS breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing because it was impossible for Morris to reinstate the loan five days before the sale. WSFS, for its part, argues that the acceleration of the loan upon Morris's default and the resulting foreclosure were nothing more than the exercise of explicit contractual rights, and that a claim of breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing requires "that the alleged breach was dishonest and in bad faith," rather than merely an action that is unfavorable to the plaintiff. ECF No. 4, 10. See Enomoto,
*371Section 19 of the DOT grants to Morris the right to halt foreclosure proceedings and reinstate the terms of her loan if she cures her default and pays all fees associated with the default. At first glance, this section seems to create rights for the borrower, rather than place duties on the lender. A logical and unavoidable condition precedent to the exercise of these rights, however, is knowledge of what conditions the borrower must meet to discontinue enforcement of the Security Instrument. Indeed, Section 19 includes a long list of potential payments and fees the borrower may or may not have to meet, and even alludes to other potential payments that are not listed. The full reckoning of what a borrower must do to halt foreclosure proceedings is entirely within the control of the lender-here, WSFS through its appointed servicer, Fay Servicing. Implied by the granting of these rights, therefore, is that WSFS alert Morris of what she owes. Morris alleges that she requested a reinstatement quote on April 12, 2017. ECF No. 1-2, 4. Essentially, Morris asked what conditions she would have to meet in order to exercise her Section 19 rights. WSFS did not provide Morris with a reinstatement quote until May 4, 2017, 22 days after her request and four days before the Property was sold at auction. ECF No. 1-2, 4.
The duty of good faith and fair dealing in Virginia does not prevent a party from exercising contractual rights. Virginia Vermiculite, Ltd. v. W.R. Grace & Co.,
Rehbein v. CitiMortgage, Inc., for instance, involved a plaintiff who, after falling behind in mortgage payments, applied to the defendant for a loan modification.
Here, however, it is Morris who had a clear contractual right. Her complaint alleges that she was not attempting to alter the terms of her contract, as the plaintiff in Rehbein did, but to fulfill the terms of the contract as written. To do that, however, she needed a reinstatement quote which she could only secure with the opposing party's cooperation. She did not receive this reinstatement quote until it was too late for her to exercise her rights. Other cases dealing with the implied covenant and acceleration of mortgages are *372similarly distinguishable. Cook v. CitiFinancial, Inc., No. 3:14-cv-00007,
Morris has sufficiently pled a plausible breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing to pass the threshold of 12(b)(6). WSFS's motion to dismiss Count III is therefore DENIED.
F.
Finally, Morris alleges violations of the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA")
Here, the loan was a 30-year fixed rate mortgage with an 11.5% interest rate entered into on October 26, 2007. DOT ¶ F. According to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council ("FFEIC"), the average prime offer rate on October 26, 2007 for a 30-year fixed loan was 6.45%.
G.
Accordingly, and for the reasons set forth herein, the court GRANTS the motion to dismiss Counts I, II, and III, and DENIES the motion to dismiss Count IV.
An appropriate order will be entered.
WSFS claims Morris's attached exhibit, the copy of the notice that she received at the detainer hearing, shows that it was sent by first-class mail. ECF No. 4, 2. Though the envelope is labeled "First-Class Mail," the letter is labeled "Sent Via Certified Mail." ECF No. 1-2, 33 & 34. As certified mail is considered an add-on feature of first-class mail by the USPS, it is consistent with the facts alleged in the complaint that the notice envelope would be marked with a "First-Class Mail" label.
The Washington statute dictating notice requirements required that written notice of cancellation of a policy be either "actually delivered" or "mailed" to the named insured. Cornhusker Cas. Ins. Co.,
Again, the policy addressed in Fidelity & Cas. Co. of New York required "written notice delivered to the insured or mailed to his last address as shown by the records of the company."
The court is aware that many of the above cited cases deal with notice of the cancellation of insurance policies, which incorporate specific public policy considerations. See Cornhusker Cas. Ins. Co.,
The pre-acceleration notice attached to the complaint contains all elements listed in Section 22 of the DOT. See ECF No. 1-2, 34-36. WSFS's only plausible alleged violation of this section is the failure to deliver the notice properly, as discussed above.
WSFS relies upon a number of cases in claiming the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing does not apply to transfers of real estate in Virginia. The first, Jones v. Fulton Bank. N.A., dismisses a claim of breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing in a real estate contract because it was pled under the Uniform Commercial Code and as a separate tort, not because Virginia does not recognize any such implied covenant outside of the UCC.
Courts recognize the provisions of
See "Average Prime Offer Rates" Tables. Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council , https://www.ffiec.gov/ratespread/aportables.htm (calculating the Average Prime Offer Rate and publishing weekly updates).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Katherine MORRIS v. WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY
- Cited By
- 4 cases
- Status
- Published