Pantalion v. Resmae Mortgage Corporation et al

Filing 34

FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows on 05/12/10 RECOMMENDING that the 11 Motion to Dismiss filed by Wilshire Credit Corporation, MERS, Inc., Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc., and Merrill Lynch Investors Trust Series-2006 RM5 be granted and these dfts be dismissed with prejudice and that the 17 Motion to Dismiss filed by Resmae Mortgage Corporation be granted and this dft be dismissed w/ prejudice. Objections to these F&Rs due w/i 14 days; referred to Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. (Benson, A.)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA CHARITY MAE PANTALION, Plaintiff, vs. RESMAE MORTGAGE CORPORATION, et al., Defendants. _______________________________/ Plaintiff is proceeding in this action pro se and has paid the filing fee. Previously pending on this court's law and motion calendar for March 25, 2010 was a motion to dismiss, filed January 28, 2010, by defendants Wilshire Credit Corporation ("Wilshire"), Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc, and Merrill Lynch Investors Trust Series 2006 RM5. These defendants were represented by Barry Coleman of the Ryan law firm.1 Attorney Mitchell Abdallah appeared for the first time on behalf of plaintiff. Also before the court is ResMAE's motion to dismiss, filed February 17, 2010, and taken under submission without a hearing on April 2, 2010. After hearing oral argument and reviewing the parties' papers, the court now issues the following findings and recommendations. ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CIV. NO. S-09-2262 MCE GGH PS

There are numerous other defendants in this case aside from this group of defendants. 1

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BACKGROUND Plaintiff's complaint was filed in this court on August 17, 2009. Plaintiff alleges that on or about August 19, 2006, she obtained a loan from defendants Home Loans Direct, Annett, Desouki, and Cox secured by a deed of trust naming defendant ResMAE Mortgage Co. ("ResMAE") as the lender. (Compl. ¶¶ 22, 24-26). Plaintiff alleges that these defendants made misrepresentations regarding the terms of the loan which caused plaintiff to enter into it to her detriment. (Id. at ¶ 25.) Plaintiff alleges that MERS was a beneficiary on the Deed of Trust. (Id. at ¶ 9.) The complaint further asserts that as servicer for ResMAE Mortgage, defendant Wilshire Credit Corporation violated RESPA, TILA's disclosure requirements, and engaged in bad faith negotiations. (Id. at ¶ 15.) Defendants ResMAE, Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investor's Inc., and Merrill Lynch Investors Trust Series 2006 RM5 are accused of engaging in a scheme "to defraud borrowers and purchasers of Mortgage Backed Securities..." and are alleged to have violated SEC rules and regulations.2 (Id. at ¶ 16.) Plaintiff alleges violations of the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA") (15 U.S.C. § 1601) against defendant ResMAE, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESPA") (12 U.S.C. § 2605) against defendants DE HDL, Inc., Desouki, Cox, Lodes Capital Escrow, Inc., Hall, Fox Fields Financial Corp., and Fox, SEC rules and regulations, California's Rosenthal Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1788 et seq.), unfair competition (Cal. Bus. and Prof. Code § 17200), fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and to enforce rescission (Cal. Civ. Code § 2923.6). Plaintiff seeks an injunction preventing defendants from collecting on the loan or selling the property, as well as declaratory relief and damages. \\\\\ \\\\\ \\\\\ Plaintiff asserts numerous other allegations against defendants who are not participating in the instant motions to dismiss. 2
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DISCUSSION I. MOTION TO DISMISS FOR INSUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS (Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(5) (Defendants Wilshire Credit Corporation, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc, and Merrill Lynch Investors Trust Series 2006 RM5) This group of defendants first moves to dismiss for insufficient service of process based on plaintiff's delay in service and defective service. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m), service of process must be effectuated within 120 days after the complaint is filed. Plaintiff filed her complaint on August 17, 2009. On December 16, 2009, plaintiff filed a request for fifteen day extension of time to serve process. Her request was based on ongoing negotiations for a loan modification between plaintiff's attorneys and the primary defendant, because she had difficulties locating two individuals, and because her husband who normally assists her with this action was occupied with two family emergencies. On December 30, 2009, fifteen days after the deadline for service, and before the undersigned could review plaintiff's motion for extension of time, plaintiff served process on defendants by regular first class U.S. mail. Federal law requires that a defendant corporation be served either: (A) in the manner prescribed by Rule 4(e)(1) for serving an individual; or (B) by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an officer, a managing or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to received service of process and - if the agent is one authorized by statute, and the statute so requires - by also mailing a copy of each to the defendant.... Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(h). Under subdivision (e)(1), service on individuals may be effectuated pursuant to the laws of the forum state. California requires service on a person designated as agent for service of process where the defendant is a corporation. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 416.10. In lieu of personal delivery, Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 415.20 permits service on a corporation by substituted service which requires leaving the summons and complaint during normal office 3

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hours at the office of the defendant with a person "who is apparently in charge" and thereafter mailing a copy of the summons and complaint to the defendant at that same office. California does provide for service by mail to defendants outside the state; however, the statute requires a return receipt. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 415.40. There is no evidence of such service in this case. Defendants do not indicate whether they are foreign or domestic corporations. The only ostensible service on defendants is reflected in a proof of service filed December 31, 2009, indicating service on December 30, 2009 by first class U.S. mail. (Docket #5.) Plaintiff's service was defective and defendants are entitled to dismissal on that ground. However, in order to forestall a probable re-filing, the undersigned rules on the merits. In regard to defendants who have not yet made an appearance, however, plaintiff's service of process was defective and there is no assurance that other defendants have received service. Therefore, plaintiff will be given 21 days to effectuate proper service on all remaining defendants not party to the instant motion and who have not filed a response to the complaint.3 II. LEGAL STANDARD FOR MOTION TO DISMISS (Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6)) In order to survive dismissal for failure to state a claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6), a complaint must contain more than a "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action;" it must contain factual allegations sufficient to "raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 1965 (2007). "The pleading must contain something more...than...a statement of facts that merely creates a suspicion [of] a legally cognizable right of action." Id., quoting 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure § 1216, pp. 235-236 (3d ed. 2004). "[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to `state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, ___ U.S. ___, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955).
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Defendants Lodes Capital Escrow, Inc. and Nikki Hall have filed an answer. (Dkt. # 9.) 4

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"A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Id. In considering a motion to dismiss, the court must accept as true the allegations of the complaint in question, Hospital Bldg. Co. v. Rex Hospital Trustees, 425 U.S. 738, 740, 96 S. Ct. 1848, 1850 (1976), construe the pleading in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion and resolve all doubts in the pleader's favor. Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421, 89 S. Ct. 1843, 1849, reh'g denied, 396 U.S. 869, 90 S. Ct. 35 (1969). The court will "`presume that general allegations embrace those specific facts that are necessary to support the claim.'" National Organization for Women, Inc. v. Scheidler, 510 U.S. 249, 256, 114 S.Ct. 798, 803 (1994), quoting Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 561, 112 S. Ct. 2130, 2137 (1992). Moreover, pro se pleadings are held to a less stringent standard than those drafted by lawyers. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520, 92 S. Ct. 594, 596 (1972). The court may consider facts established by exhibits attached to the complaint. Durning v. First Boston Corp., 815 F.2d 1265, 1267 (9th Cir. 1987). The court may also consider facts which may be judicially noticed, Mullis v. United States Bankruptcy Ct., 828 F.2d 1385, 1388 (9th Cir. 1987); and matters of public record, including pleadings, orders, and other papers filed with the court, Mack v. South Bay Beer Distributors, 798 F.2d 1279, 1282 (9th Cir. 1986). The court need not accept legal conclusions "cast in the form of factual allegations." Western Mining Council v. Watt, 643 F.2d 618, 624 (9th Cir. 1981). A pro se litigant is entitled to notice of the deficiencies in the complaint and an opportunity to amend, unless the complaint's deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See Noll v. Carlson, 809 F. 2d 1446, 1448 (9th Cir. 1987). III. MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM (Defendants Wilshire Credit Corporation, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc, and Merrill Lynch Investors Trust Series 2006 RM5) These defendants move to dismiss based on failure to state a claim. Plaintiff did 5

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not originally file an opposition; however, after an order to show cause was issued and the hearing continued, plaintiff, still representing herself, filed a timely response and opposition on March 11, 2010.4 On March 25, 2010, plaintiff's newly retained attorney appeared at the hearing to represent plaintiff without having filed a motion to substitute as counsel or having previously made an appearance. Counsel requested that due to his unfamiliarity with the case, he be granted leave to file an amended complaint or a continuance to oppose the motion and effect proper service. Because plaintiff was previously granted a continuance to file an opposition, defendants have been prevented from proceeding with foreclosure proceedings while plaintiff has been living in the house, and because the merits of plaintiff's federal claims cannot be cured on amendment, plaintiff's counsel's request is denied. Counsel will have the opportunity to raise any pertinent arguments on plaintiff's behalf through objections to these findings and recommendations. A. TILA The moving defendants contend that since rescission is directed solely to defendant ResMAE, and ResMAE is currently in bankruptcy proceedings, this claim is automatically stayed. Defendants also contend that this court has no jurisdiction to hear the TILA claim because it is barred by the statute of limitations. A review of the complaint indicates that the only cause of action pertaining to TILA is addressed solely to ResMAE Mortgage Corporation. (Compl. at ¶¶ 38-48.) Therefore, these moving defendants cannot move to dismiss this particular claim. ResMAE's motion to dismiss will be addressed later in these findings and recommendations. Nevertheless, even if plaintiff intended to allege a TILA and/or RESPA claim against defendant Wilshire based on her factual recitation which states that Wilshire Credit Corporation acknowledged violating TILA and RESPA, (compl. ¶ 15), these claims must be Plaintiff's opposition contains no argument, but only lists exhibits which she has attached. (Dkt. #25.) 6
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dismissed. Plaintiff is barred by the statute of limitations for TILA which requires that an action be brought within one year for damages claims, and three years for rescission claims. TILA violations include the failure to provide the required disclosures pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1631 and the failure to clearly and conspicuously disclose information relating to the "annual percentage rate" and the "finance charge" pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1632. To recover damages arising from alleged TILA violations, a plaintiff must file an action to recover damages "within one year from the date of the occurrence of the violation." 15 U.S.C. § 1640(e). The undersigned takes judicial notice of the Deed of Trust and the adjustable rate rider, both dated August 4, 2006, as well as the Notary Public's attestation, dated August 9, 2006. (Def.s' RJN Ex. 1, dkt. #6.) The statute of limitations therefore expired on August 9, 2009, and the instant action was filed after that date, on August 17, 2009. Therefore, plaintiff's damages claim under TILA is time barred. Setting aside the issue of whether the required forms and disclosures were made to plaintiff, the transaction was consummated on or about August 9, 2006. As plaintiff filed this action more than three years after that date, she is barred from seeking rescission. Although plaintiff has provided evidence of a "rescission demand letter," dated July 14, 2008, (Pl.'s Oppo., Ex. B), and her attorney apparently rescinded the loan on July 14, 2008, (id. at 38), providing "notice of rescission within the three year period is irrelevant" to whether plaintiff timely files a claim seeking rescission. Falcocchia v. Saxon Morg., Inc., No. Civ. S-09-2700 LKK GGH, 2010 WL 582059, *6 (E.D. Cal. Feb.12, 2010). Plaintiff must file a complaint seeking rescission before the statute of limitation expires. The three year period for filing TILA rescission claims is an absolute statute of repose that cannot be tolled. Miguel v. Country Funding Corp., 309 F.3d 1161 (9th Cir. 2002). Furthermore, the Ninth Circuit has held that rescission under TILA "should be conditioned on repayment of the amounts advanced by the lender." Yamamoto v. Bank of N.Y., 7

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329 F. 3d 1167, 1170 (9th Cir. 2003) (emphasis in original). District courts in this circuit have dismissed rescission claims under TILA at the pleading stage based upon the plaintiff's failure to allege an ability to tender loan proceeds. See, e.g., Garza v. Am. Home Mortgage, 2009 WL 188604 at *5 (E.D. Cal. 2009) (stating that "rescission is an empty remedy without [the borrower's] ability to pay back what she has received"); Ibarra v. Plaza Home Mortgage, 2009 WL 2901637 at *8 (S.D. Cal. 2009); Ing Bank v. Korn, 2009 WL 1455488 at *1 (W.D. Wash. 2009). In this case, plaintiff has failed to allege any facts relating to her ability to tender the loan proceeds, or that she in fact ever tendered the loan proceeds, especially in light of her bankruptcy proceeding. Finally, rescission is not available under TILA because the transaction for which plaintiff seeks rescission was a "residential mortgage transaction," within the meaning of § 1602(w) (security interest sought against plaintiff's dwelling for the purpose of acquiring it),5 and was therefore expressly exempt from TILA's disclosure and rescission rights pursuant to § 1635(e)(1) ("[t]his section does not apply to. . . a residential mortgage transaction as defined in section 1602(w) of this title"). See also, 12 C.F.R. § 226.23 (f) (exempting residential mortgage transactions from rescission rights). B. RESPA Wilshire has not moved to dismiss based on any conceivable RESPA claim because one is not stated; however, it will be addressed briefly out of an abundance of caution. In regard to the TILA claim, plaintiff has not specifically named Wilshire in her second cause of action based on RESPA, but does specifically name seven other defendants in regard to that claim. She only mentions Wilshire's alleged involvement based on RESPA in her factual

15 U.S.C. § 1602(w) provides: "The term `residential mortgage transaction' means a transaction in which a mortgage, deed of trust, purchase money security interest arising under an installment sales contract, or equivalent consensual security interest is created or retained against the consumer's dwelling to finance the acquisition or initial construction of such dwelling." Accord, 12 C.F.R. § 226.2(a)(24). 8

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summary of the complaint, as she did in regard to TILA, and does so only briefly. (Compl. ¶¶ 15, 49.) 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e)(1) requires the servicer to provide information relating to the servicing of the loan upon a qualified written request by the borrower. Plaintiff has not provided any facts indicating that plaintiff made a qualified written request to Wilshire, and that Wilshire failed to provide information relating to the servicing of the loan. Plaintiff makes only a conclusory allegation that Wilshire, the servicer of ResMAE, "acknowledged TILA and RESPA violations since August of 2008." (Compl. ¶ 15.) "`Naked assertion[s]' devoid of `further factual enhancement'" are not sufficient. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, --- U.S. ----, ----, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). Therefore, any potential RESPA claim against Wilshire will be dismissed. C. ALLEGED SEC VIOLATIONS Plaintiff asserts in her complaint violations of the "Securities and Exchange Commission Rules and Regulation and US Securities Laws." (Compl. at ¶ 72.) She concedes that she is unaware of any specific violations by the SEC, and seeks leave to amend this cause of action "as more knowledge of the potentially fraudulent manipulation of the MBS securitization process becomes better known by the legal community." (Id.) Plaintiff has failed to state a claim in this regard, and will not be given leave to amend. D. State Law Claims As there are no federal claims remaining against these defendants, this court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over plaintiff's possible state law claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3) (The district courts may decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over a claim ...if ­ the district court has dismissed all claims over which it has original jurisdiction"); see also, Acri v. Varian Associates, Inc., 114 F.3d 999, 1000-1001 (9th Cir. 1997) (" `in the usual 9

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case in which all federal-law claims are eliminated before trial, the balance of factors . . . will point toward declining to exercise jurisdiction over the remaining state-law claims' "), quoting Carnegie-Mellon University. v. Cohill, 484 U.S. 343, 350, n. 7, 108 S. Ct. 614, 619, n. 7 (1988). IV. MOTION TO DISMISS FOR FAILURE TO STATE A CLAIM (Defendant ResMAE) ResMAE seeks dismissal of claims against it based on its bankruptcy filing on February 12, 2007. ResMAE contends that because the acts in the complaint and the counterclaim are alleged to have occurred prior to June 15, 2007, and based on the Bankruptcy Court's order directing that all acts prior to that date are permanently barred, all claims and counterclaims against it must be dismissed. Counter-claimants Lodes Capital Escrow, Inc. and Nikki Hall have not opposed ResMAE's motion. Plaintiff, now represented by counsel, has filed an opposition. The pertinent order, issued by the Bankruptcy Court in the District of Delaware on June 5, 2007, states that the satisfaction and release as addressed in the Plan of Reorganization act as a permanent injunction to prevent persons from commencing or continuing any claims against ResMAE which they possessed prior to the effective date. (RJN, Dkt. # 18, Ex. 3 at 25.) The "effective date" is "the first Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions contained in the Asset Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the `Second Closing' under the Asset Purchase Agreement." (RJN, Dkt. #18, Ex. 3 at 90-91.) According to defendants the effective date was June 15, 2007, when the Trust property vested with the Liquidating Trust of ResMAE Mortgage.6 An injunction such as that issued by the Bankruptcy Court cannot be challenged in any court other than the court that issued it. Celotex Corp. v. Edwards, 514 U.S. 300, 312-13, 115 S.Ct. 1493, 1501 (1995). "Celotex tells us that a district court has no authority to modify or Defendants have cited the Plan as authority for this date, but this date was not located in Exhibit A to the Confirmation Order. (RJN Ex. 3 at 42-104.) 10
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to disregard a § 105 injunction. Only the bankruptcy court that issued the injunction has the authority to modify the injunction, and until the injunction is modified the district court is bound by it." Lockyer v. Mirant Corp., 398 F.3d 1098, 1106 (9th Cir. 2005). Based on Celotex, this court has no authority to issue an order addressing any claims against ResMAE, be they claims by plaintiff or counter-claims by co-defendants in this case.7 Plaintiff, now proceeding with counsel, argues only that this motion to dismiss is untimely, and that plaintiff should be given the opportunity to challenge the injunction with the Bankruptcy Court before this action is dismissed. In regard to plaintiff's first argument, as discussed above, service on ResMAE did not comply with the Federal and State rules. Therefore, ResMAE was not required to respond to the complaint in any way. It is true that ResMAE does not challenge service; however, the failure to challenge service, but a defendant not subject to suit, will not be held against it. According to the proof of service filed December 31, 2009, (dkt. # 5), ResMAE was (improperly) served on December 30, 2009. ResMAE filed its notice of filing bankruptcy on January 22, 2010, and a request for dismissal based on the bankruptcy on January 25, 2010. (Dkt. ##7, 10.) It then filed a request for dismissal on February 1, 2010, and only filed a motion to dismiss after being directed to do so by the district court. (Dkt. #s 12, 14, 17.) As ResMAE was never properly served, its motion to dismiss is timely. Plaintiff has cited no authority in support of her request to challenge the bankruptcy injunction order prior to the dismissal of ResMAE. CONCLUSION Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that: plaintiff serve process on all defendants who have not yet filed a responsive pleading, and file a statement reflecting service on those defendants within 21 days of this order. Failure to comply with this order will result in a The counter-claims against ResMAE arose as a direct result of plaintiff's claims, and therefore they are also barred by the order. (Dkt. #9 at 9-14.) 11
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recommendation that the unserved defendants be dismissed from this action. For the reasons stated herein, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 1. The motion to dismiss, filed January 28, 2010, by defendants Wilshire Credit Corporation, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc, and Merrill Lynch Investors Trust Series 2006 RM5, be granted and these defendants be dismissed with prejudice. 2. The motion to dismiss, filed February 17, 2010, by defendant ResMAE be granted, and this defendant be dismissed with prejudice. These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of Title 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within fourteen (14) days after service of the objections. The parties are advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court's order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). DATED: 05/12/10 /s/ Gregory G. Hollows GREGORY G. HOLLOWS UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
GGH:076
Pantalion2262.mtd.wpd

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