Pasquale v. Citibank (South Dakota) N.A. et al

Filing 35

ORDER by Judge Paul S. Grewal granting 16 Motion for Summary Judgment (psglc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/16/2011)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 SAN JOSE DIVISION United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 EUGENE C. PASQUALE, ) ) Plaintiff, ) v. ) ) CITIBANK (SOUTH DAKOTA), N.A., a ) CORPORATION; HUNT & HENRIQUES, a ) general partnership; MICHAEL SCOTT HUNT, ) JANALIE ANN HENRIQUES, DONALD ) SHERRILL, individually and in their official capacity, Case No.: C 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (Re: Docket No. 16) Defendants. On August 30, 2011, Plaintiff Euguene Pasquale (“Pasquale”) filed a complaint for an order 19 to compel arbitration with Defendants Citibank (South Dakota), Hunt & Henriques, Michael Hunt, 20 Janalie Henriques, and Donald Sherrill (“Defendants”). Before the court is Defendants’ motion for 21 summary judgment. Defendants argue that this action is moot because they have initiated the 22 private arbitration process sought by Pasquale. Pasquale opposes the motion for summary 23 judgment. On November 8, 2011, the parties appeared for oral argument. For the reasons set forth 24 25 26 herein, the court GRANTS Defendants’ motion for summary judgment. I. BACKGROUND 27 Pasquale frames this lawsuit in the alternative – first as an action to compel JAMS private 28 arbitration, and second, as an action for damages under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 1 Case No.: 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1 U.S.C. ' 1692 et seq. (“FDCPA”) and the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Act, Cal. Civ. Code ' 2 1788 et seq. (“RFDCA”).1 Pasquale is alleged to have incurred a financial obligation, within the 3 meaning of “debt” as defined by 15 U.S.C. ' 1692a(5) and “consumer debt” as defined by Cal. Civ. 4 Code ' 1788.2(f), in two Citibank (South Dakota) N.A. (“Citibank”) consumer credit accounts.2 5 According to Pasquale, the terms and conditions of the debt are governed by the Citibank 6 Cardmember Agreement (“the Agreement”) attached to the Complaint.3 The Agreement provides 7 8 9 that either the cardholder or Citibank, “without the other’s consent, may elect mandatory, binding arbitration” for any claim or dispute between the cardholder and Citibank.4 The Agreement United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 identifies two resources for arbitration under the Agreement: the American Arbitration Association 11 and JAMS.5 Defendants disagree that the Agreement relied on by Pasquale was the operative 12 cardmember agreement governing the accounts at issue.6 13 At some point after Pasquale allegedly accrued debt on the accounts, Citibank referred the 14 accounts to the Hunt & Henriques law firm (“the firm”) for collection. In June 2010, Pasquale 15 16 received collection letters from the firm regarding both accounts.7 On July 8, 2010, Pasquale 17 responded to the first collection solicitation, seeking validation of the debts, demanding Defendants 18 to cease telephone communications, and exercising his right to demand arbitration under the 19 20 1 See Docket No. 1 && 1, 2 (Compl.). 2 See id. & 19. 3 See id. & 20. 4 See id., Ex. 1 at 3. 5 See id., Ex. 1 at 4. 21 22 23 24 25 6 26 27 Defendants argue that the actual Cardmember agreement governing Pasquale’s account only provides for arbitration before the AAA or National Arbitration Forum, not before JAMS. See Docket No. 16 at 2, 3 (Defs.’s Mot. For Summary Judgment); Docket No. 16-1 & 7 (Sherill Decl.). 7 28 Docket No. 1 && 26-29; Docket No. 1, Ex. 2. 2 Case No.: 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1 Agreement. Pasquale sent additional letters on August 4 and August 5, 2010.8 On August 16, 2010, 2 the firm filed suit on behalf of Citibank against Pasquale in Santa Clara County Superior Court.9 In 3 response, Pasquale filed a motion to compel private arbitration in the state court. He also initiated a 4 demand for arbitration before JAMS.10 Defendants opposed Pasquale’s motion, stating that they 5 did not object to arbitration but that Pasquale had failed to properly initiate the arbitration 6 process.11 On November 2, 2010, the state court denied Pasquale’s motion.12 7 The JAMS arbitration initiated by Pasquale did not proceed at that time. On August 30, 8 9 2011, as described above, Pasquale filed a complaint in this court to compel arbitration, or in the United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 alternative, for damages under federal and state consumer protection laws. On September 15, 2011, 11 Defendants’ law firm in this action entered into contact with JAMS seeking to reopen the 12 arbitration proceedings before JAMS, stating that they are willing to apply Pasquale’s version of 13 14 the Agreement to the dispute, and acknowledging responsibility to pay the case-management fees for reopening the cases.13 Defendants paid JAMS the required fees and received correspondence 15 16 17 from JAMS indicating commencement of the arbitration and the need to begin the arbitrator selection process.14 Because Defendants have agreed to proceed with private arbitration before JAMS and have 18 19 been advised by JAMS that an arbitration proceeding has commenced between all parties, 20 21 8 See Docket No. 1 && 30, 31; Exs. 3-6. 22 9 Docket No. 16-1 & 3, Ex. A. 23 10 See Docket No. 1 & 34; Docket No. 20 & 9 (Pasquale Decl.), Ex. D. 24 11 See id. &&4, 5. 25 12 26 See Docket No. 16-1 & 6, Ex. D. It appears that the state court did not issue a written ruling, and this court is not aware of the basis for the denial. 13 See Docket No. 16-2 & 2 (Topor Decl.), Ex. A. 14 See id. && 3, 4, Exs. B, C. 27 28 3 Case No.: 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1 Defendants argue that there is no longer any controversy for the court to adjudicate. Pasquale 2 disputes that summary judgment is appropriate at this time based on existing questions of material 3 fact and the danger that Defendants’ voluntary consent to proceed with arbitration is not binding 4 and may allow them to back out after disposition of this case on summary judgment. 5 II. LEGAL STANDARD 6 7 8 9 Summary judgment is proper if there is “no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”15 The moving party bears the initial burden of identifying those portions of the pleadings, discovery and affidavits which demonstrate the absence United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 of a triable issue of material fact.16 If the moving party meets its initial burden, then the non- 11 moving party must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.17 A 12 genuine issue for trial exists if there is sufficient evidence for a reasonable jury, viewing the 13 14 evidence in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, to return a verdict for the nonmoving party.18 If the nonmoving party fails to make the requisite showing, “the moving party is entitled to 15 16 judgment as a matter of law.”19 III. DISCUSSION 17 The sole issue before the court is whether Defendants have demonstrated the absence of any 18 19 triable issue of material fact, and if so, whether Pasquale has met his burden to counter that 20 showing. Defendants offer an attorney affidavit and evidence of correspondence with JAMS as 21 proof of their recent commitment to proceed with arbitration before JAMS on all matters arising 22 23 15 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). 16 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986). 17 Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). 18 See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). 19 Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323. 24 25 26 27 28 4 Case No.: 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1 from the dispute over Pasquale’s accounts with Citibank.20 Defendants equate their consent to 2 proceed with arbitration as the equivalent of consenting to Pasquale’s petition in his complaint. 3 Because Pasquale’s claims under the FDCPA and RFDCA are plead “strictly in the alternative,” 4 Defendants contend that their consent to arbitrate before JAMS disposes of any case or controversy 5 before the court. The end result, Defendants argue, is that the court lacks subject matter jurisdiction 6 and has no basis to maintain the action. 7 Pasquale responds that disposition on summary judgment would “open the door to further 8 9 delay tactics by defendants in actually engaging in the arbitration process” and would leave United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 Pasquale without a remedy to compel the process. Pasquale cites Defendants’ previous election to 11 sue in state court rather than respond to Pasquale’s letter demand for arbitration, as well as 12 Defendants’ rejection of Pasquale’s initial attempt at arbitration during the state court lawsuit, to 13 underscore Pasquale’s concern that Defendants’ tardy consent to arbitrate is insufficient to ensure 14 that they will proceed in accordance with their representations. In addition, Pasquale argues that the 15 16 dispute over the applicable cardmember agreement – and whether JAMS is an appropriate 17 arbitration forum given that dispute – creates a material issue of fact at summary judgment. 18 Pasquale contends that Defendants might attempt to use disposition on summary judgment as 19 collateral estoppel for an “inherent factual finding” that the Agreement is not operative for the 20 purpose of arbitration. 21 Pasquale’s concerns are not unfounded, in light of the difficulties that he has encountered 22 securing Defendants’ consent to arbitrate. But in opposition to the motion for summary judgment, 23 24 Pasquale offers only speculation as to Defendants’ insincerity in proceeding with JAMS at this 25 time. The court is not persuaded that Defendants’ earlier repudiation of Pasquale’s attempts to 26 initiate arbitration undermines evidence of Defendants’ more recent actions. Pasquale has not met 27 20 28 See, e.g., Docket No. 16-2 && 2-4, Ex. A-C. 5 Case No.: 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1 2 his burden to demonstrate a genuine issue regarding Defendants’ commitment to proceed with the arbitration that is – at this stage – well underway. Likewise, Defendants’ consent to proceed under the Agreement referenced by Pasquale in 3 4 his complaint renders moot the disagreement regarding which cardholder agreement governed 5 Pasquale’s accounts. The court need not reach that dispute, and makes no determination on the 6 merits, regarding the operative agreement that should dictate the selection of a forum for 7 8 arbitration. Pasquale seeks relief from this court in the form of an order compelling Defendants to arbitrate before JAMS per Pasquale’s previous initiations, as well as a declaration that Defendants 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 9 violated the FAA and an award of costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.21 Because Defendants are 11 already in arbitration before JAMS per Pasquale’s previous initiation, there is no active case or 12 controversy for the court to adjudicate. The court is thus without subject matter jurisdiction to 13 adjudicate Pasquale’s claims.22 14 Should Defendants delay or terminate the arbitration prematurely, Pasquale is not without 15 16 recourse. The FAA provides that “a party aggrieved by the alleged failure, neglect, or refusal of 17 another to arbitrate under a written agreement for arbitration may petition” the court in a civil 18 action “for an order directing that such arbitration proceed.”23 The undersigned makes no 19 determination on the merits of Pasquale’s petition to compel summary judgment or on Defendants’ 20 21 21 22 22 23 24 25 26 27 The court will not construe Pasquale’s request for declaratory relief regarding the FAA as a claim independent of his petition to compel arbitration. Although the court may issue a declaratory judgment even where another remedy is available, such a determination is within the discretion of the court. See 28 U.S. C. ' 2201(a) (“In a case of actual controversy within its jurisdiction … any court of the United States … may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought.”). Moreover, courts generally deny declaratory relief if another remedy is found to be more appropriate. See Smith v. Metropolitan Property & Liab. Ins. Co., 629 F.2d 757, 759 (2nd Cir. 1980); Roark v. South Iron R1 School District, 573 F.3d 556, 559 (8th Cir. 2009) (vacating as “superfluous” a declaratory judgment by the court where the permanent injunction also issued was the “operative remedy”). 23 28 See Docket No. 1, Sec. VII (“Request for Relief”). See 9 U.S.C. ' 4. 6 Case No.: 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT 1 arguments regarding which cardmember agreement should apply. By granting summary judgment 2 in favor of Defendants, the court finds only that it lacks subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate 3 Pasquale’s claims at this time, based on the fact that the relief sought – private arbitration with 4 Defendants before JAMS – has already been obtained. 5 6 IV. CONCLUSION Pasquale’s petition to compel arbitration has been rendered moot by the successful 7 8 9 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 10 initiation of private arbitration before JAMS. The court therefore GRANTS summary judgment in favor of Defendants on all claims. Dated: November 16, 2011 11 _________________________________ PAUL S. GREWAL United States Magistrate Judge 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 7 Case No.: 11-4299 PSG ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

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