Lo v. Federal National Mortgage Association d/b/a Fannie Mae
Filing
81
ORDER that 42 Defendant Federal National Mortgage Association's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Signed by Judge Richard F. Boulware, II on 8/6/15. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - MMM)
1
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
2
DISTRICT OF NEVADA
3
***
4
SAM SAIHUNG LO,
Case No. 2:12-CV-01411-RFB-VCF
5
Plaintiff,
ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND
DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S
MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
(ECF No. 42)
6
v.
7
8
9
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE
ASSOCIATION
doing business as Fannie Mae,
10
Defendant.
11
12
I. INTRODUCTION
13
14
Presently before the Court is Defendant Federal National Mortgage Association’s motion
15
for summary judgment. ECF No. 42. Plaintiff Sam Saihung Lo alleges five state law claims
16
stemming from his “as-is” purchase of a mold-infested condominium from Fannie Mae. Because
17
the Court holds that Lo’s NRS 113 waiver is unenforceable, Lo’s claim for breach under that
18
chapter will survive. Because the Court finds that genuine issues of material fact remain as to
19
whether Fannie Mae misrepresented conditions of the subject property to Lo and whether Lo
20
justifiably relied on those representations, Lo’s claims for deceptive trade practices/consumer
21
fraud and negligent misrepresentation will also survive. Additionally, because the court finds
22
that a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Lo’s justified expectations under the
23
contract were denied, Lo’s claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair
24
dealing will survive. However, because Lo has failed to identify a contract provision breached
25
by Fannie Mae, the Court will grant Fannie Mae’s motion with respect to Lo’s claim for breach
26
of contract.
27
...
28
...
1
II. BACKGROUND
2
The Court finds the following facts to be undisputed. In October 2011, Lo purchased a
3
mold-ridden condo located at 7950 W. Flamingo Road, no. 2140 in Las Vegas, Nevada, (the
4
“subject property”) from Fannie Mae. Jason Abrams of Luxury Homes of Las Vegas was the
5
listing real estate agent and managed the subject property prior to the sale. ECF No. 74 Ex. 1 p.
6
8-9.
The events leading up to the sale were as follows.
7
On August 10, 2011, Abrams
8
requested a bid from NuTone Construction Company for an emergency water extraction for
9
flooding at the subject property. ECF No. 74 Ex. 11. The next day, a representative of NuTone
10
informed Abrams that the source of the water damage was a broken angle stop located in the
11
master bathroom and that the leak had also damaged four adjacent units. ECF No. 74 Ex. 12 p.
12
2. In a letter dated August 15, 2011, the attorney for the condominium HOA complained to
13
Abrams about the damage caused to the adjacent units. The attorney informed Abrams that the
14
HOA had no liability for the damage, and that all affected parties, including the HOA, would be
15
instructed to seek remuneration from Fannie Mae. ECF No. 74 Ex. 18 p. 3.
16
Abrams requested bids from NuTone to dry out and repair all five affected units. ECF
17
No. 74 Ex. 13 p. 2. NuTone submitted bids to Abrams on August 12, 2011, and August 16,
18
2011. Most importantly, the bid for Unit “2140/1140”1 indicated under the section entitled
19
“Comments/Other Repairs” that “[d]iscoloration growth has begun in the master bath and
20
bedroom.” Id. Ex.14 p. 14 (emphasis added). Abrams retained NuTone to repair the damage to
21
the subject property only. NuTone in turn hired Restoration Contract Services to assist with the
22
repairs. ECF No. 74 Ex. 10. In August and September of 2011, NuTone and Restoration
23
Services performed various repairs on the subject property. ECF No. 74 Ex. 9, Ex. 10.
24
Meanwhile, Fannie Mae’s apparent refusal to pay for repairs to the other affected units
25
garnered the attention of a United States Senator and the local news. On September 8, 2011,
26
United States Senator Dean Heller of Nevada wrote to the HOA explaining that one of his
27
constituent’s units had suffered significant damage and that he had contacted a representative
28
1
Unit 2140 is the subject property and unit 1140 is the unit located directly below it.
-2-
1
from Fannie Mae and Abrams Realty to no avail. ECF No. 74 Ex. 19. The next day, ABC
2
Channel 13 (KTNV) contacted the HOA and requested a “mold report” pertaining to one of the
3
affected units. ECF No. 74 Ex. 20. The HOA then sent letters to both Abrams and Fannie Mae
4
with the subject line “7950 W. Flamingo Road # 2140-Mold Report,” seeking their permission to
5
release the report to the media. ECF No. 42 Ex. 21.
In the fall of 2011, Lo became interested in purchasing the subject property.
6
On
7
September 23, 2011, Abrams informed Lo’s agent that there were multiple offers on the property
8
and that the property had “suffered water damage due to a faulty angle stop in the master
9
bathroom that has been remedied.” ECF No. 42 Ex. 1. On September 27, 2011, Lo submitted
10
his offer on the property via a completed Residential Purchase Agreement. ECF No. 42 Ex. 2.
11
The Agreement contained a waiver of claims provision, which provided that at close of escrow
12
the property would be sold “as is, where is” without any warranties or representations. Id. The
13
next day, Lo hired a home inspection company to conduct a routine inspection. ECF No. 74 Ex.
14
34. The inspection company did not report any mold. Id. On September 27 and September 29,
15
respectively, Lo signed a purported “Buyer’s Waiver of NRS Chapter 13 SRPD Rights” and a
16
Purchase Addendum containing additional waivers. ECF No. 74 Ex. 28, Ex 33. On October 3,
17
2011, Fannie Mae accepted Lo’s offer by executing the Purchase Agreement and Purchase
18
Addendum.2 ECF No. 74 Ex. 33.
19
In October 2011, Restoration Services retained MSE Environmental Services to conduct
20
a mold inspection at the subject property. ECF No. 74 Ex. 8. On October 13, 2011, MSE
21
performed a visual inspection of the subject property and took air samples.3
22
inspection report indicated that the kitchen, master bath, and hallway exhibited “red flags”
23
consistent with mold. Id. A final laboratory report prepared by MSE dated October 19, 2011,
24
confirmed the presence of elevated levels of fungal spores. ECF No. 74 Ex. 8.
25
2
26
27
28
The visual
Fannie Mae identifies September 27, 2011, the date that Lo signed the Purchase Agreement, as the date of contract
formation. This assertion is contradicted by the record. The Purchase Agreement provides that the Agreement is
not valid until accepted by the seller and the seller’s signature is dated October 3, 2011. Therefore, the Court finds
that the parties entered into the Purchase Agreement on October 3, 2011. ECF No. 42 Ex. 2 p. 12.
3
Fannie Mae stated in its motion for summary judgment that the air samples were not taken until October 18th.
Based on the identical MSE-prepared lab reports submitted by both parties, the Court finds that the air samples were
in fact taken on October 13th. ECF No 74 Ex. 8 p. 25.
-3-
1
Eight days later, on October 27, 2011, escrow closed. ECF No. 74 Ex. 25. When Lo
2
took possession of the condo on November 4, 2011, he discovered that the condo was infested
3
with mold. ECF No. 74 p. 13. On November 8, 2011, Lo wrote Fannie Mae and Abrams
4
seeking to rescind the sale. Neither Abrams nor Fannie Mae responded to Lo’s request. ECF
5
No. 74 p. 14, Ex. 35 ¶ 25. Lo then filed suit, alleging: (1) Breach of NRS 113.150 and related
6
sections; (2) Deceptive Trade Practices/Consumer Fraud; (3) Breach of Contract; (4) Breach of
7
the Contract-Based Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing; (5) Negligence/Negligent
8
Misrepresentation. Fannie Mae moved for summary judgment on all of Lo’s claims. ECF No.
9
42. Lo filed a response in opposition. ECF No. 74. Fannie Mae did not file a reply. The Court
10
heard oral argument from the parties and this order follows.
11
12
III. LEGAL STANDARD
13
Summary judgment is appropriate when the pleadings, depositions, answers to
14
interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show “that there is no
15
genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of
16
law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); accord Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). When
17
considering the propriety of summary judgment, the court views all facts and draws all
18
inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Johnson v. Poway Unified Sch.
19
Dist., 658 F.3d 954, 960 (9th Cir. 2011). If the movant has carried its burden, the non-moving
20
party “must do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material
21
facts . . . . Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the
22
nonmoving party, there is no genuine issue for trial.” Scott v. Harris, 550 U.S. 372, 380 (2007)
23
(alteration in original) (internal quotation marks omitted).
24
25
IV. DISCUSSION
26
A. Breach of NRS 113.150 and Related Sections
27
Nevada Revised Statutes Section 113.130 requires a seller of real property to make
28
certain disclosures about the condition of the property, including any known defects, prior to
-4-
1
conveyance. The Real Estate Division of the Department of Business and Industry prescribes the
2
format and the contents of these disclosures. NRS 113.120. It accomplishes this by requiring use
3
of a Seller’s Real Property Disclosure (SRPD) Form. Seller’s Real Property Disclosure Form,
4
Department
5
http://red.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/rednvgov/Content/Forms/547.pdf.
of
Business
and
Industry
Nevada
Real
Estate
Division,
6
Effective October 1, 2011, the Nevada legislature revised NRS 113.130 to make the
7
seller’s disclosure requirements non-waivable. See SB 314, 2011 Ch. 456 §§ 34, 37 p. 2832-34.
8
As amended, NRS 113.130(3) provides: “A seller of residential property may not require a
9
purchaser to waive any of the requirements of subsection 1 as a condition of sale or for any other
10
purpose.”
Prior to the amendment, a buyer could waive his right to receive the seller’s
11
disclosures provided that the waiver was in writing and notarized.
12
Fannie Mae argues that Lo’s claim for violations of NRS 113.150 and related sections
13
fails because Lo signed the NRS 113 waiver prior to the effective date of the Amendment.
14
Therefore, Lo’s waiver is valid and his claim is barred. ECF No. 42 p. 9. Alternatively, Fannie
15
Mae argues that even if Lo’s waiver is invalid, Abrams made the required disclosures when he
16
informed Lo’s agent that the property had suffered water damage. ECF No. 42 p. 10-11. Lo
17
argues that his waiver is invalid because of the October 1, 2011 amendment, and Fannie Mae is
18
liable because it failed to make the required disclosures. ECF No. 74 p. 18-23.
19
At the outset, the Court notes that both the sale and conveyance of the property occurred
20
after October 1, 2011. Furthermore, the deadlines for the required disclosures under NRS 113
21
are based upon the date of conveyance. Since the property was not conveyed until October 27,
22
Fannie Mae’s obligations were performable within the amended statutory framework. The Court
23
finds that Lo’s waiver was invalid because, as of October 1, 2011, Fannie Mae had a non-
24
waivable duty to make the required disclosures by no later than October 17—10 days before
25
conveyance of the property. NRS 113.130(1)(a). If, after service of the completed form, Fannie
26
Mae discovered any new defect or discovered that any existing defect had worsened, Fannie Mae
27
had a non-waivable duty to inform Lo of these additional facts prior to the date of conveyance on
28
October 27. NRS 113.130(1)(b). The Court further finds that the Purchase Agreement and
-5-
1
Addendum are enforceable notwithstanding the unenforceability of the NRS 113 waiver
2
provisions because the Purchase Addendum contains a severability clause. ECF No. 74, Ex. 33 ¶
3
26.
4
The parties do not dispute that Fannie Mae did not serve a completed SRPD on Lo.
5
Abrams’s September 23, 2011 e-mail disclosing that the property had suffered water damage that
6
had been remedied is not an unaltered version of the SRPD promulgated by the Real Estate
7
Division. As of October 1, 2011, the most current SRPD specifically required disclosure of any
8
“previous or current fungus or mold” and “[a]ny other conditions or aspects of the property
9
which materially affect its value or use in an adverse manner.” Nev. Real Estate Div. SRPD
10
revised 10/1/11; ECF No. 74 Ex. 29. Moreover, the SRPD not only requires a seller to disclose
11
previous or current water damage, but additionally requires the seller to disclose any current or
12
previous fungus or mold. Disclosing water damage is thus not interchangeable with disclosing
13
mold for SRPD purposes.
14
Fannie Mae’s motion for summary judgment on Lo’s claim for breach of NRS 113.150
15
and related sections (Claim One) is denied, because Fannie Mae was required to serve a
16
completed SRPD on Lo and Lo has set forth sufficient evidence to support his claim that Fannie
17
Mae violated the statute by failing to do so,
18
B. Deceptive Trade Practices/Consumer Fraud
19
Fannie Mae argues that it is not liable for deceptive trade practices/consumer fraud
20
because it did not misrepresent any known condition of the property, obscure any prior damage,
21
or otherwise misrepresent the subject property. ECF No. 42 p. 12. Lo argues that Fannie Mae
22
engaged in deceptive trade practices/consumer fraud by failing to disclose the existence of mold
23
– a condition known to Fannie Mae that would affect Lo’s use of the property. ECF No. 74 p.
24
23.
25
A person alleged to be a victim of a deceptive trade practice may bring a consumer fraud
26
action. See NRS 41.600(1) and (2)(e). A claim for consumer fraud requires the plaintiff to
27
prove: (1) an act of consumer fraud by the defendant; that (2) caused; (3) damage to the plaintiff.
28
Picus v. Wal-Mart Store, Inc., 256 F.R.D. 651, 659 (D. Nev. 2009) (predicting how Nevada
-6-
1
courts would rule). Consumer fraud is “a deceptive trade practice as defined in NRS 598.0915 to
2
598.0925, inclusive.” NRS 41.600(2)(e). NRS 598.0923(5)(A)(2) requires a seller of real
3
property to disclose a “condition known to the seller that would affect the buyer’s use of such
4
property.”
5
The Court finds that Lo has submitted evidence from which a reasonable jury could
6
conclude that Fannie Mae knew about the mold and failed to disclose it. The Court finds that a
7
jury could reasonably find that Abrams, Fannie Mae’s agent, and Fannie Mae through its agent
8
were aware of mold in the subject property. This could be inferred from several facts. First, and
9
perhaps most significantly, a bid from NuTone submitted to Abrams indicated that “discoloration
10
growth,” an apparent reference to the mold growth, had begun in the unit. Second, MSE, one of
11
the subcontractors conducting the remediation and repairs commissioned by Abrams and Fannie
12
Mae conducted a visual inspection which revealed “red flags” consistent with mold growth 14
13
days prior to the close of escrow. And the lab report confirming the presence of mold was
14
prepared 8 days prior to closing. While the Court does not find Abrams’s knowledge of the mold
15
or receipt of these reports to be undisputed, the Court finds that a jury could reasonably infer his
16
knowledge of the condition based upon the high probability that these contractors and
17
subcontractors would have immediately notified Abrams about the existence of a mold
18
infestation in a unit he was managing and that they would not have waited over one week to
19
notify him. The Court finds that there are genuine issues of material fact as to this claim. Lo has
20
met his burden for summary judgment purposes and Fannie Mae’s motion for summary
21
judgment on Lo’s consumer fraud claim (Claim Two) is accordingly denied.
22
C. Breach of Contract
23
Fannie Mae argues that Lo’s breach of contract claim fails because Lo signed waivers
24
exempting Fannie Mae from liability for mold and other defects and agreed to buy the property
25
“as is, where is”. When the property was sold to Lo “as-is” the contract was complete and there
26
was no breach. ECF No. 42 p. 12. Lo argues that Fannie Mae breached the contract by failing to
27
provide the SRPD, failing to disclose the mold, and failing to disclose the existence of the mold
28
reports. ECF No. 74 p. 24.
-7-
1
To prevail on a breach of contract claim in Nevada, a plaintiff must prove: (1) the
2
existence of a valid contract; (2) a breach by the defendant; and (3) damage as a result of the
3
breach. Richardson v. Jones, 1 Nev. 405, 405 (Nev. 1865). “A breach of contract may be said to
4
be a material failure of performance of a duty arising under or imposed by agreement.”
5
Calloway v. City of Reno, 993 P.2d 1259, 1263 (Nev. 2000).
6
The Court finds that Lo’s breach of contract claim fails because Lo has failed to identify
7
a contractual provision breached by Fannie Mae. Although Fannie Mae had a statutory duty to
8
provide the SRPD, Fannie Mae was not contractually obligated to do so. Other courts have
9
incorporated statutory duties into a contract where the statutory scheme expressly provides that
10
the statute should be so incorporated, see e.g., Maykuth v. Adolph Coors Co., 690 F.2d 689, 694
11
(9th Cir. 1982) (interpreting Montana law), or where the contract expressly incorporates statutory
12
requirements. NRS 113.150 gives a purchaser statutory remedies for a seller’s failure to provide
13
the disclosures, but it does not create a contractual duty. Thus, Fannie Mae’s failure to provide
14
the SRPD cannot form the basis for Lo’s breach of contract claim.
15
Likewise, Fannie Mae was not contractually obligated to disclose the mold reports. Lo
16
had a contractual right to request any reports, but there is no indication in the record that he
17
exercised that right and that Fannie Mae breached the contract by refusing to provide the reports
18
once requested. The language of the Purchase Addendum upon which Lo relies reads: “[A]n . . .
19
environmental inspection report may have been prepared for the benefit of the Seller. Upon
20
request, the Purchaser will be allowed to review the report . . . .” ECF No. 74 p. 26. This clause
21
does not obligate Fannie Mae to disclose the existence of any report; rather, it simply obligates
22
Fannie Mae to produce reports it has prepared upon request by the buyer.
23
Lo also relies on the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision in Mackintosh v. Jack Matthews
24
& Co., 855 P.2d 549, 553 (Nev. 1993), to argue that Fannie Mae had a contractual duty to
25
disclose the mold. ECF No. 74 p. 25. While Mackintosh recognized a fraud-based duty to
26
disclose facts adversely affecting a buyer’s use of real property under certain circumstances, no
27
breach of contract claim was before the court.
28
...
-8-
1
In light of the limited holding in Mackintosh, the Court declines to find that Fannie Mae had a
2
contract-based duty to disclose the existence of the mold to Lo.
Lo’s claim for breach of contract (Claim Three) is dismissed, because Lo has not
3
4
identified a provision in the contract breached by Fannie Mae.
5
D. Breach of the Contract-Based Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
6
Fannie Mae argues that it cannot be liable for breach of the implied covenant of good
7
faith and fair dealing because Fannie Mae complied with the contract in good faith by
8
transferring the condo to Lo “as-is.” ECF No. 42 p. 13. Lo argues that Fannie Mae acted in bad
9
faith by, among other things, failing to provide Lo with an SRPD, otherwise failing to disclose
10
the mold and the mold report, falsely denying Lo the right to request, obtain, and review the
11
mold report prior to closing, falsely denying Lo the right to request additional repairs based upon
12
the SRPD, and falsely denying Lo the right to rescind the contract. ECF No. 74 p. 27.
13
Under Nevada law, an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing exists in every
14
contract. Pemberton v. Farmers Ins. Exch., 858 P.2d 380, 382 (Nev. 1993). The Nevada
15
Supreme Court has explained that “when one party performs a contract in a manner that is
16
unfaithful to the purpose of the contract and the justified expectations of the other party are thus
17
denied, damages may be awarded against the party who does not act in good faith.” Hilton
18
Hotels v. Butch Lewis Prod., 808 P.2d 919, 923 (Nev. 1991). Reasonable expectations are to be
19
"determined by the various factors and special circumstances that shape these expectations." Id.
20
at 924.
21
The Court finds that Lo’s claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair
22
dealing also survives summary judgment. Lo had a “justified expectation” that Fannie Mae, and
23
in particular Abrams, would not actively misrepresent or conceal material facts prior to and then
24
in the course of performing under the contract. Although Abrams’s representation that the water
25
damage had been remedied was pre-contract, a reasonable jury could conclude that Abrams
26
perpetuated this misrepresentation even after a contract had been reached when he failed to
27
correct this misstatement. Such a perpetuation of a material misrepresentation would clearly
28
-9-
1
violate Lo’s justified expectation that Fannie Mae would not deliberately misstate material facts
2
related to the terms of the contract.
3
Additionally, the Court finds that Abrams’ continued arguable concealment of
4
information about mold in the subject property also undermined Lo’s ability to invoke his rights
5
under the contract. Specifically, the Purchase Addendum—drafted by Fannie Mae—includes
6
language explicitly referencing mold and allowing Lo to receive copies of any inspection reports,
7
but only upon Lo’s request. The affirmative misrepresentation by Abrams about the remediation
8
of previous water damage and the subsequent failure to correct this misrepresentation impeded
9
Lo’s ability to invoke his rights under the contract regarding mold reports. Moreover, while the
10
parties dispute whether Abrams knew about the mold, as noted above, Lo set forth sufficient
11
evidence from which a jury could reasonably conclude that he did. It is very possible that a
12
reasonable jury would find that, prior to the close of escrow, Abrams was aware of the MSE-
13
prepared reports confirming the presence of mold in the subject property.
14
presented a genuine issue of material fact regarding whether his justified expectations under the
15
contract were denied when Abrams failed to correct his statement that the water damage had
16
been repaired. Accordingly, the Court declines to grant Fannie Mae’s motion for summary
17
judgment on Lo’s claim for breach of the implied covenant and fair dealing (Claim Four).
Thus, Lo has
18
E. Negligence/Negligent Misrepresentation
19
Fannie Mae argues that Lo’s negligence claims fail because Fannie Mae repaired the
20
water damage and disclosed the damage to Lo. Fannie Mae avers that it had no duty of
21
disclosure, since it (and Abrams) were not aware of the mold. ECF No. 42 p. 14 (citing Nelson
22
v. Heer, 163 P.3d 420 (Nev. 2007)). Additionally, Fannie Mae argues that Lo’s negligence
23
claims are barred by the economic loss doctrine. Lo argues that Fannie Mae was indeed aware of
24
the mold and failed to disclose it. Lo further argues that his claim is not barred by the economic
25
loss doctrine because Lo is seeking damages not only for the “loss of the benefit of the bargain,”
26
but also for, among other things, the cost of remediating the mold and the loss of the use of the
27
subject property. Id. at 28-29.
28
...
- 10 -
1. Negligence
1
2
To prevail on a negligence claim, a plaintiff must prove that: (1) the defendant owed the
3
plaintiff a duty of care; (2) the defendant breached that duty; (3) the breach was the legal cause
4
of the plaintiff’s injuries; and (4) the plaintiff suffered damages. Sadler v. PacifiCare of Nev.,
5
340 P.3d 1264, 1267 (Nev. 2014) (internal citation omitted).
6
The economic loss doctrine is a judicially created rule that seeks to draw the legal line
7
between contract and tort liability. Terracon Consultants W., Inc., v. Mandalay Resort Grp., 206
8
P.3d 81, 87 (Nev. 2009). The doctrine generally bars unintentional tort actions when the plaintiff
9
seeks to recover “purely economic losses.” Id. at 86. “Purely economic loss is generally defined
10
as the loss of the benefit of the user’s bargain including pecuniary damage for inadequate value,
11
the cost of repair and replacement of the defective product, or consequent loss of profits, without
12
any claim of personal injury or damage to other property. Calloway v. City of Reno, 993 P.2d
13
1259, 1263 (Nev. 2000) (overruled on other grounds by Olson v. Richard, 89 P.3d 31, 31-33
14
(Nev. 2004)).
15
The Court finds that the economic loss doctrine bars Lo’s negligence claim under a
16
common-law negligence theory. Lo has not claimed personal injury or damage to property other
17
than the subject property. Lo’s claimed damages of remediating the mold and loss of the use of
18
the subject property are purely economic losses for purposes of this doctrine. Lo’s negligence
19
claim is therefore dismissed.
20
2. Negligent Misrepresentation
21
The economic loss doctrine does not apply to actions for negligent misrepresentation.
22
Negligent misrepresentation is a special financial harm claim for which tort recovery is expressly
23
permitted. Terracon, 206 P.3d at 88. The Nevada Supreme Court has explained the tort of
24
negligent misrepresentation as follows:
One who, in the course of his business, profession or employment, or in any other
action in which he has a pecuniary interest, supplies false information for the
guidance of others in their business transactions, is subject to liability for
pecuniary loss caused to them by their justifiable reliance upon the information, if
he fails to exercise reasonable care or competence in obtaining or communicating
the information.
25
26
27
28
- 11 -
1
Barmettler v. Reno Air Inc., 956 P.2d 1382, 1387 (Nev. 1998). “[A] defendant may be found
2
liable for misrepresentation even when the defendant does not make an express
3
misrepresentation, but instead makes a representation which is misleading because it partially
4
suppresses or conceals information.” Epperson v. Roloff, 719 P.2d 799, 803 (Nev. 1986).
5
Lo has set forth sufficient evidence to support his claim for negligent misrepresentation.
6
A reasonable jury could conclude that Fannie Mae, through its agent Jason Abrams, did not
7
exercise reasonable care in communicating to Lo that the water damage to the subject property
8
had been remedied. Alternatively, a jury could find that Abrams’s representation was misleading
9
because it partially suppressed or concealed information—mold in the subject property. As
10
noted above, a genuine issue of disputed fact exists as to the extent of Abrams’ and Fannie Mae’s
11
knowledge of the mold in the subject property. Lo has also set forth evidence from which a
12
reasonable jury could conclude that Lo justifiably relied upon Abrams’s statement that the water
13
damage had been remedied. For these reasons, the court denies Fannie Mae’s motion for
14
summary judgment on Lo’s negligent misrepresentation claim (Claim Five).
15
16
IV. CONCLUSION
17
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED
18
Defendant Federal National Mortgage Association’s motion for summary judgment, ECF
19
No. 42, is GRANTED with respect to Claim Three for Breach of Contract.
20
The motion is DENIED with respect to Claim One for Breach of NRS 113.150 and
21
Related Sections, Claim Two for Deceptive Trade Practices/Consumer Fraud, Claim Four for
22
Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, and Claim Five for Negligent
23
Misrepresentation.
24
25
DATED: August 6, 2015.
_________________________________
RICHARD F. BOULWARE, II
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
26
27
28
- 12 -
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?