Buchanan v. EMC Mortgage/J.P. Morgan Chase

Filing 5

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER... IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis [Doc.# 2 ] is GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's RESPA claims are DISMISSED pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). IT IS FU RTHER ORDERED that plaintiff's remaining state law claims will be dismissed, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3), as the Court declines to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over these claims. A separate Order of Dismissal will be filed forthwith. Signed by District Judge Ronnie L. White on 12/15/2014. (NEB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
MOREH J. BUCHANAN,

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Plaintiff,
V.

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EMC MORTGAGE/J.P. MORGAN CHASE,
Defendants,

No. 4:14CV2002 RLW

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MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on plaintiffs motion for leave to proceed in forma
pauperis. The motion will be granted. Additionally, having reviewed the case, the Court will
dismiss it under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e).
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B), the Court must dismiss a complaint filed in forma
pauperis if the action is frivolous, malicious, fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted, or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. An action is
frivolous if it "lacks an arguable basis in either law or fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319,
328 (1989); Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 31 (1992). An action is malicious if it is
undertaken for the purpose of harassing the named defendants and not for the purpose of
vindicating a cognizable right. Spencer v. Rhodes, 656 F. Supp. 458, 461-63 (E.D.N.C. 1987),
atf'd 826 F.2d 1059 (4th Cir. 1987). A complaint fails to state a claim if it does not plead

"enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face ." Bell Atlantic Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007).
The Complaint

Plaintiff brings this lawsuit pursuant to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
("RESPA"), 12 U.S.C. § 2601 , et seq., asserting that defendant EMC Mortgage/J.P.Morgan
Chase failed to deal fairly with him relating to a mortgage held on a property located at 10153
Royal Dr., St. Louis MO. Plaintiff asserts that he is bringing this lawsuit on behalf of "the Estate
of Beverly G. Buchanan." He additionally makes claims under Missouri state law for breach of
contract, fraud, gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiff seeks
$25 billion in damages.
Plaintiffs claims are somewhat difficult to articulate, however, it appears that he is
complaining that defendant held a mortgage on the property located on Royal Drive, that was
previously owned by plaintiffs mother, Beverly Buchanan.

Plaintiff asserts that after his

mother died he was allegedly supposed to be named "beneficiary" on the home. He states that
there was a small balance owed on the house at the time of his mother's passing, and in 2004,
when he attempted to contact defendant by telephone to discuss the mortgage situation, he was
told that defendant would only speak with the beneficiary "Ray." Plaintiff states that he initially
hired an attorney to "deal with the real estate issues," but that he felt that he was "taken" by the
attorney, who later died.
Plaintiff states that defendant mailed him a letter regarding RESP A, and when he sought
information from defendant, defendant complied within the 30-day response time. However,
plaintiff asserts that defendant "failed to comply with the 60-day settlement agreement."
Discussion

The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act ("RESP A") provides plaintiffs with a private
right of action if a loan servicer fails to respond to a qualified written request for information
about a loan. 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e). Under RESPA, following the receipt of a qualified written

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request, a loan servicer shall "after conducting an investigation, provide the borrower with a
written explanation or clarification that includes (i) information requested by the borrower ... ;
and (ii) the name and telephone number of an individual employed by, or the office or
department of, the servicer who can provide assistance to the borrower." 12 U.S.C.A. §
2605(e)(2)(C).
To make out a claim under§ 2605(e), a plaintiff must allege sufficient facts to "show: (1)
that the servicer failed to comply with the statute's [qualified written request] rules; and (2) that
the plaintiff incurred ' actual damages' as a consequence of the servicer's failure ." Jones v. Bank
of New York, CIV.A. 12-11503- RWZ, 2013 WL 3728382, at *5 (D.Mass. July 12, 2013) (citing
Okoye v. Bank of New York Mellon, CIV. A. No. 10- 11563- DPW, 2011 WL 3269686, at* 17

(D.Mass. July 28, 2011)); O'Connor v. Nantucket Bank, CIV. 13-11350-PBS, 2014 WL 198347,
at *8 (D.Mass. Jan. 16, 2014).
Based on plaintiffs own assertions, defendant responded appropriately when plaintiff
requested information under the statute. It appears that plaintiff has taken issue, however, with
the fact that a "settlement agreement" was not offered to plaintiff by defendant. The Court
believes that plaintiffs claims rely on a misunderstanding of the term "settlement services," as
defined by the statute.
The term "settlement services," as defined by RESP A, includes:
any service provided in connection with a real estate settlement including, but not
limited to, the following: title searches, title examinations, the provision of title
certificates, title insurance, services rendered by an attorney, the preparation of
documents, property surveys, the rendering of credit reports or appraisals, pest
and fungus inspections, services rendered by a real estate agent or broker, the
origination of a federally related mortgage loan (including, but not limited to, the
taking of loan applications, loan processing, and the underwriting and funding of
loans), and the handling of the processing, and closing or settlement.

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12 U.S.C. § 2602(3). Thus, "settlement services" relate to closing costs associated with fees and
services assessed during home buying, not costs associated with unpaid mortgages. Plaintiff
appears to believe that defendant was obligated by statute to offer to "settle the unpaid mortgage
account," pursuant to the regulations associated with RESP A. That is simply not the law.
Based on the facts outlined in plaintiffs own complaint, the Court finds no evidence of a
RESPA violation by defendant. Moreover, the Court notes that RESPA limits an individual's
damages for violations of its qualified written request requirements to "actual damages. See, e.g.
Hintz v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, NA., 686 F.3d 505, 510 (8th Cir.2012). Plaintiff has not

alleged that he suffered actual damages as a result of any failure by defendants to response
appropriately to his qualified written request. Rather, he has requested damages in an amount of
$25 billion. As such, plaintiff has failed to state a cause of action under RESP A, and his federal
claim will be dismissed. See id. (RESP A claim based on lack of response to qualified written
request was appropriately dismissed when the plaintiff failed to plead actual damages).
The Court notes that plaintiffs remaining claims before this Court are conclusory state
law claims relating to his dealings with EMC/Chase over an unpaid mortgage. As there are no
federal claims currently pending before this Court, the Court will decline to exercise
supplemental jurisdiction over these conclusory claims and dismiss them without prejudice. See
28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3).
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiffs motion to proceed m forma paupens

[Doc.#2] is GRANTED.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiffs RESPA claims are DISMISSED pursuant

to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B).

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IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiffs remaining state law claims will be
dismissed, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c)(3), as the Court declines to exercise supplemental
jurisdiction over these claims.
A separate Order of Dismissal will be filed forthwith.
Dated this 15th day of December, 2014.

RONNIE L. WHITE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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