Trudell v. Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC

Filing 23

ORDER Adopting 22 Report and Recommendation and Dismissing Plaintiff's 1 Complaint. Signed by District Judge Thomas L. Ludington. (Sian, M)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
NORTHERN DIVISION
RODNEY TRUDELL,
Plaintiff,
v.

Case No. 16-cv-10441
Honorable Thomas L. Ludington
Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris

CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC,
Defendant.
__________________________________________/
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND DISMISSING
PLAINTIFF’S COMPLAINT
On December 3, 2015, Plaintiff Rodney Trudell filed suit in the Circuit Court for the
County of Midland. ECF No. 1. On February 8, 2016, Defendant Carrington Mortgage Services,
LLC, removed this case to federal court, relying on federal question jurisdiction pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1331 and diversity jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332. Id. at 2. In his state court
complaint, Plaintiff alleged that Defendants had wrongfully foreclosed on his home. Compl.,
ECF No. 1, Ex. A at 19. Pretrial matters in this case were referred to Magistrate Judge Patricia T.
Morris on February 22, 2016. ECF No. 5. On May 27, 2016, Defendant filed a motion for
judgment on the pleadings. ECF No. 14. Defendant argued that Plaintiff’s claims failed as a
matter of law because, among other arguments, Defendant complied with all relevant state and
federal laws and regulations, Plaintiff did not allege any substantial errors or irregularities in the
sheriff’s sale, and Plaintiff did not otherwise adequately plead facts sufficient to state a claim.
On September 27, 2016, Judge Morris issued a report recommending that Defendant’s
motion for judgment on the pleadings be granted and that Plaintiff’s complaint be dismissed.
ECF No. 22. Judge Morris noted that Plaintiff had not indicated the existence of any fraud or

irregularity during the foreclosure process. Judge Morris further found that Plaintiff had not
alleged facts which would give rise to a claim for relief under the Real Estate Settlement
Procedures Act, 12 U.S.C. 2605. The Magistrate Judge rejected Plaintiff’s claim under the
Federal Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601, as time-barred. The report also recommended
rejection of Plaintiff’s claims of fraudulent misrepresentation and slander of title for failure to
state a claim upon which relief could be based. Finally, Judge Morris rejected Plaintiff’s
argument that the doctrine of unclean hands justified equitable relief on his behalf, reasoning that
the unclean hands doctrine can be raised only as a defense and not as an affirmative claim.
Because Plaintiff had not raised any viable claims, Judge Morris likewise rejected Plaintiff’s
other requests for equitable remedies.
Although the Magistrate Judge’s report explicitly stated that the parties to this action may
object to and seek review of the recommendation within fourteen days of service of the report,
neither Plaintiff nor Defendant filed any objections. The election not to file objections to the
Magistrate Judge’s report releases the Court from its duty to independently review the record.
Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149 (1985). The failure to file objections to the report and
recommendation waives any further right to appeal.
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation,
ECF No. 22, is ADOPTED.
It is further ORDERED that Plaintiff Rodney Trudell’s Complaint, ECF No. 1, is
DISMISSED with prejudice.

Dated: October 17, 2016

s/Thomas L. Ludington
THOMAS L. LUDINGTON
United States District Judge

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PROOF OF SERVICE
The undersigned certifies that a copy of the foregoing order was served
upon each attorney or party of record herein by electronic means or first
class U.S. mail on October 17, 2016.
s/Michael A. Sian
MICHAEL A. SIAN, Case Manager

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