Hochstetler et al v. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation et al
Filing
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OPINION AND ORDER granting 6 MOTION to Dismiss filed by Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation as to Plaintiffs' request for relief from the foreclosure judgment and for a refund of all payments made to Wells Fargo and Freddie Mac. The Court sua sponte dismisses Plaintiffs claims made under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Truth in Lending Act, and for intentional infliction of emotional distress pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). However, Plaintiffs are given 30 days from the date of this order toamend their complaint to properly state claims on the above mentioned grounds, if they so wish.. Amended Complaint to be filed by 8/15/2013. Signed by Judge Joseph S Van Bokkelen on 7/16/2013. (kds)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
ERNEST A. HOCHSTETLER and
ROSETTA A. HOCHSTETLER
Plaintiffs
v.
FEDERAL HOME LOAN
MORTGAGE CORPORATION
(FREDDIE MAC) and
WELLS FARGO, N.A.
Civil Action No. 3:12-CV-772-JVB
Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER
A. PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND
On December 21, 2010, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) filed a
foreclosure action in Elkhart Superior Court against Ernest and Rosetta Hochstetler. (Defs. Ex.
B, DE 7 at 18.) On June 17, 2011, the Court entered a default judgment against the Hochstetlers
in the amount of $168,230.54. (Default J. Entry and Decree of Foreclosure, DE 7 at 44.) Freddie
Mac then requested a sheriff sale. However, the sheriff sale was returned unsatisfied. (Defs. Ex.
A, DE 7 at 7.) Finally, between the fourth and fifth orders for a sheriff sale, the Hochstetlers
(Plaintiffs) filed suit in this court against Freddie Mac and Wells Fargo, NA (collectively
“Defendants”).
Plaintiffs claim that the mortgage note is void because Defendants violated the Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act and the Truth in Lending Act, committed fraud, and engaged in ultra
vires activities. They also seek damages for the emotional distress caused by Defendants’
activities.
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In response to these claims, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and the Rooker-Feldman doctrine.
Rooker v. Fid. Trust Co., 263 U.S. 413 (1923); D.C. Ct. of App. v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462
(1983). Defendants submit that all of Plaintiffs’ claims are inextricably intertwined with the
mortgage foreclosure judgment of the state court. Plaintiffs did not respond to the motion to
dismiss.
B. PLAINTIFFS’ CLAIMS
Plaintiffs’ Complaint1 argues that the foreclosure judgment should be overturned because the
mortgage note is invalid, Defendants committed ultra vires actions, and those actions were
fraudulent.2
(1) Validity of the Mortgage Note
Plaintiffs first claim that before their home was foreclosed Defendants never showed
adequate proof that they were the holders of the mortgage. (Compl., at 2.) They assert that
Defendants only provided “unverified” copies of the mortgage. (Id. at 7, 10.) Therefore,
according to Plaintiffs, Defendants never properly verified their debt before the foreclosure
action. They claim that by attempting to collect on an “unverified” debt, Defendants violated §
1692g(b) of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). (Id. at 10, 20.)3
1
Plaintiffs’ first filing was titled Motion to Stop Sale of Home. (Compl., DE 1 at 1.) The Court construes this
document as the Complaint.
2
Plaintiffs allege that this action falls under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. However, Plaintiffs never specify which
constitutional rights Defendants abridged nor attack any federal statutes. Moreover Plaintiffs do not make any
claims against state actors, nor allege that Defendants acted in concert with state actors, a prerequisite for filing
an appropriate § 1983 claim. See DuBose v. Kelly, 187 F.3d 999, 1003 (8th Cir. 1999).
3
The FDCPA is codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1692.
2
Plaintiffs also allege that no loan was in fact created because Defendants never exchanged
anything of value for the mortgage. They claim that Defendants simply created a “checkbook
deposit.” (Id. at 22, 27.) They also allege that without valuable consideration the mortgage is
void, relieving them of any obligation to pay on it. (Id.)
(2) Ultra Vires Claims
Plaintiffs also allege that creating the mortgage was an ultra vires action and thus void. They
argue that Defendants’ attempts to collect on the void note violated § 1692e(2)(A) of the
FDCPA. (Id. at 5, 20.)
According to Plaintiffs, creating a 30-year mortgage is an ultra vires action because the
National Bank Act restricts mortgages to five-year periods. (Id. at 16, 22.) (“[A bank] shall not
. . . hold the title and possession of any real estate purchased to secure debts due to it for a
longer period than five years.” (Id. at 16) (quoting 13 Stat. 107-108, codified at 12 U.S.C. § 29).
Second, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants engaged in an ultra vires action by converting the
mortgage into a different financial instrument. However, they are unclear about what happened
to the mortgage. In one part of the complaint they allege that the “Note” was “converted into a
bond.” (Id. at 20.) But in another part of the complaint, they assert that Defendants “cannot
convert the exchange of my bonds for a property into a loan” and then ask, “[w]ho converted the
bond into a loan?” (Id. at 11, 23.) They allege this conversion materially altered the mortgage
without their consent. (Id. at 11, 22, 23.)
(3) Fraud and Other Claims
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Plaintiffs also assert a claim for fraud. They claim that Defendants “materially altered [the]
note with the intent to defraud [them] . . . which induced [them] to be responsible for the contract
upon terms and conditions other than agreed upon.” (Id. at 21.) However, they do not specifically
state which terms of the note were actually altered.
Plaintiffs also allege that Defendants violated the Truth in Lending Act,4 because they were
“under the impression that through conveying, a note that there was a lawful exchange taking
place.” (Id. at 21, 22.)
Finally Plaintiffs make an undeveloped claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress,
pain and suffering, and mental duress caused by the foreclosure action. (Id. at 27.) They seek
$325,000 in damages but allege no other facts supporting the claim. (Id.)
C. MOTION TO DISMISS
Defendants responded to Plaintiffs’ Complaint by filing a motion to dismiss under Rule
12(b)(1) for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. They assert that Plaintiffs’ claims are “a list of
grievances” against the judgment of the state court, which this Court cannot review under the
Rooker-Feldman doctrine. Additionally, they contend that any relief granted by this Court would
undermine the legal conclusion reached by the state court and overturn its judgment. Therefore,
they urge that all claims be dismissed.
(1) Applicable Law
In ruling on a Rule 12(b)(1) motion this Court “must accept as true all well-pleaded factual
allegations and draw reasonable inferences in favor of the plaintiff.” Capitol Leasing Co. v.
4
The Truth in Lending Act is codified at 15 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq. Pursuant to that authority the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System promulgated Regulation Z codified at 12 C.F.R. § 226.
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FDIC, 999 F.2d 188, 191 (7th Cir. 1993). In evaluating whether subject matter jurisdiction
exists, the Court may look past the complaint to “whatever evidence has been submitted on the
issue to determine whether in fact subject matter jurisdiction exists.” Grafon Corp. v.
Hausermann, 602 F.2d 781, 783 (7th Cir. 1979). Because this complaint was filed pro se, the
claims “should be liberally construed.” Korsunskiy v. Gonzales, 461 F.3d 847, 850 (7th Cir.
2006). As long as the Court can “see what the pro se litigant is driving at, that is enough.” Id.
The Rooker-Feldman doctrine is a narrow rule that limits federal jurisdiction over claims
filed in state courts. A federal court cannot hear claims “brought by state-court losers
complaining of injuries caused by state-court judgments rendered before the district court
proceedings commenced and inviting district court review and rejection of those judgments.”
Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Saudi Basic Indus. Corp. 544 U.S. 280, 284 (2005). The doctrine respects
the authority of Congress which “granted appellate review of state court judgments only to the
Supreme Court.” Gilbert v. Ill. State Bd. of Educ. 591 F.3d 896, 900 (7th Cir. 2010); see 28
U.S.C. § 1257. District courts cannot “reverse or modify a state court judgment—even if that
judgment is wrong.” Kamilewicz v. Bank of Bos. Corp. 92 F.3d 506, 510 (7th Cir. 1996).
The focus of Rooker-Feldman is the relief sought by a plaintiff. If a plaintiff seeks to remedy
an injury caused by the state court judgment, Rooker-Feldman applies. See Long v. Shorebank
Dev. Corp., 182 F.3d 548, 555 (7th Cir. 1999). If the remedy sought is “distinct” from the state
court judgment, Rooker-Feldman does not apply. Id. (quoting Centres, Inc. v. Town of
Brookfield, 148 F.3d 699, 701–02 (7th Cir. 1998)). The crux of the matter is “whether the federal
plaintiff seeks to set aside a state court judgment or whether he is, in fact, presenting an
independent claim.” Kamilewicz, 92 F.3d at 510. A plaintiff’s federal claim may even contradict
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the legal conclusion of a state court judgment as long as the claim is independent. GASH Assocs.
v. Vill. of Rosemont, Ill., 995 F.2d 726, 728 (7th Cir. 1993).
The scope of the Rooker-Feldman doctrine extends beyond claims that were actually raised
in state court to those that are “inextricably intertwined” with the main claim raised in state
court. Whether a claim is “inextricably intertwined” is limited by whether the plaintiff had a
reasonable opportunity to raise that claim in state court. See Long, 182 F.3d at 557. Failure to
raise a claim in state court “may forfeit [a plaintiff’s] right to obtain review of the state court
decision in any federal court.” D.C. Ct. of App. v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462, 483 n.16 (1983). A
plaintiff lacks a reasonable opportunity to raise a claim only if state court procedures have
erected an impenetrable barrier that “litigants are incapable of overcoming in order to present
certain claims to the state court.” Id.
D. ANALYSIS
In applying the Rooker-Feldman doctrine, this Court examines three points: (1) whether
Plaintiffs lost in state court through a judgment issued before they filed their action in federal
court; (2) whether they had a reasonable opportunity to raise their claims in state court; (3)
whether the claims raised in the complaint are independent of the state court judgment.
Plaintiffs both lost in state court when the Elkhart Superior court issued its Default Judgment
foreclosing on their home and had a reasonable opportunity to raise all of the claims alleged in
the complaint at the state court level. Foreclosure actions are essentially equitable in nature, and
trial courts have full discretion to fashion equitable remedies that are complete and fair to all
parties involved. City Sav. Bank v. Eby Const., LLC, 954 N.E.2d 459, 464 (Ind. Ct. App. 2011).
“As a general rule, any defense that shows that the mortgagee is not entitled to foreclose may be
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set up in an action to foreclose.” Ind. Law Encyclopedia § 105. The debtor simply must connect
the defense to the foreclosure action. See, e.g., Otto v. Park Garden Assocs., 612 N.E.2d 135,
140 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993) (rejecting fraud claim because the facts were not connected to the
foreclosure action). All of Plaintiffs’ claims are connected to the foreclosure action because they
attack the validity of the underlying mortgage note or the validity of the foreclosure process.
The third prong of the test requires a more detailed analysis. This Court must determine
whether the claims asserted by Plaintiffs are independent of the state court judgment.
(1) Plaintiffs’ Claims that Are Not Independent of the State Court Judgment
Plaintiffs argue that Defendants created an invalid mortgage and therefore had no legal right
to collect money on the property or foreclose on the property. They ask for a refund of all money
paid on the note and for a judgment granting them ownership of their house.
In order to grant a refund of the money paid on the Mortgage, this Court must overturn or
adjust the default judgment of the state court. The state court granted Defendants a judgment of
$168,230.54, which was the balance left on the principal plus interest owed. Ordering
Defendants to pay back Plaintiffs and to give them their house back would require overturning
the foreclosure judgment of the state court.
Therefore, the Rooker-Feldman doctrine prevents this Court from granting Plaintiffs’
requested relief because it would require this Court to “set aside” the state court judgment. The
claims attacking the validity of the mortgage note are inextricably intertwined with the claims
brought to the state court below. The proper way to challenge the state court’s judgment was
through an appeal to the Indiana Court of Appeals.
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(2) Plaintiffs’ Claims Not Prohibited by Rooker-Feldman but Which Fail to State a Claim
Plaintiffs’ claims made under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Truth in Lending
Act, and for intentional infliction of emotional distress pass the Rooker-Feldman bar because
they assert independent claims for relief. But these allegations fail to state a claim for which
relief can be granted. This Court has the ability to dismiss claims on its own motion as long as
the losing party has the ability to “cure the defect in the complaint or to respond.” Pourghoraishi
v. Flying J, Inc., 449 F.3d 751, 765 (7th Cir. 2006).
Plaintiffs’ claims made under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) pass the
Rooker-Feldman bar. The FDCPA provides a form of relief that can be granted without setting
aside the judgment of foreclosure. The FDCPA in § 1692k provides relief for damages as
allowed at common law, additional damages up to $1,000, and court costs. Thus, as long as the
alleged violations of the FDCPA were complete before the state court judgment, this Court
would be able to provide relief for those violations. Long, 182 F.3d at 556. The claims also
allege injury before the foreclosure action. As a result this Court cannot dismiss these claims
pursuant to the Rooker-Feldman doctrine.
However, all FDCPA claims would fail a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss because nothing in
the complaint actually establishes that Defendants are in fact a debt collector. Title 15 U.S.C.
§ 1692a(6) defines a creditor as “any person . . . who offers or extends credit creating a debt or to
whom debt is owed.” The term debt collector only includes entities whose “principal purpose is
the collection of . . . debts.” It does not include “any person collecting or attempting to collect
any debt owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another to the extent such activity. . .
concerns a debt which was not in default at the time it was obtained by such person.” Id. at
§ 1692a(6)(F). In this action, Wells Fargo cannot be a debt collector, because it was the original
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creditor as evidenced by its name on the mortgage. (Defs. Ex. E, DE 7 at 24.) Additionally,
nothing in the complaint establishes that Freddie Mac started to collect on the debts after the
Hochstetlers were in default. Therefore, the FDCPA claims do not apply to Freddie Mac either.
Plaintiffs’ claims under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) also pass the Rooker-Feldman test.
TILA provides an independent remedy making the creditor liable to the debtor for illegal acts
that cause “any actual damage.” 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(1). Second, debtors may also claim “twice
the amount of any finance charge in connection with the transaction.” Id. (a)(2)(A). Plaintiffs
alleged that Defendants misrepresented the terms of the mortgage before the signing of the
mortgage. Therefore, this claim cannot be denied under Rule 12(b)(1).
However, the TILA claim fails to meet Rule 8 pleading standards. Rule 8 requires that
Plaintiffs provide a short and plain statement of the type of relief sought. See Bell Atlantic Corp.
v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (“Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to
relief above the speculative level.”). Plaintiffs do not specifically allege the contents of the loan
that violate TILA nor the precise sections.
Finally, this Court has supplemental jurisdiction to consider Plaintiffs’ claim for intentional
infliction of emotional distress because the claim forms part of the same controversy as the
federal claims. 28 U.S.C. § 1367(a). The claim also passes the Rooker-Feldman test because it
asserts a claim for relief outside the scope of the state court judgment. However, they simply
make a claim for damages without pleading any specific facts that support their claim. Their
claim does not rise “above the speculative level” and thus does not comply with Rule 8 pleading
standards.
E. CONCLUSION
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Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss under the Rooker-Feldman doctrine is granted as to
Plaintiffs’ requests for relief from the foreclosure judgment and for a refund of all payments
made to Wells Fargo and Freddie Mac.
The Court sua sponte dismisses Plaintiffs’ claims made under the Fair Debt Collection
Practices Act, the Truth in Lending Act, and for intentional infliction of emotional distress
pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6). However, Plaintiffs are given 30 days from the date of this order to
amend their complaint to properly state claims on the above mentioned grounds, if they so wish.
SO ORDERED on July 16, 2013.
S/ JOSEPH S. VAN BOKKELEN
JOSEPH S. VAN BOKKELEN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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