Lorraine v. Wallin et al

Filing 50

ORDER Plaintiff is permitted to PROCEED with the claims as specified herein. Plaintiff is GRANTED LEAVE TO AMEND with respect to the following: the federal TILA claim; the federal ECOA claim; and, the Nevada IIED claim as to Wallin, Sheppard a nd Fiat of Reno. "Second Amended" complaint due by 4/7/2017. The Clerk shall ISSUE a summons for defendant Fiat of Reno, and send Plaintiff a copy of the amended complaint, and service of process form USM-285. Plaintiff shall complete the USM-285 form and return it to the USM by 3/28/2017. Plaintiff's pending motions for summary judgment (ECF Nos. 20 , 33 ) are DENIED AS MOOT in light of the filing of the amended complaint. Defendant Santander's pending second motion to remand (ECF No. 45 ) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. (See Order for specifics.) The notice of intent to dismiss Sergio Marchionne is VACATED, as Plaintiff did not name Mr. Marchionne as a defendant in the amended complaint. Mr. Wallins Motion to Dis miss (ECF No. 7 ) is DENIED AS MOOT as it addressed the original complaint. Aaron Waite's motion (ECF No. 49 )to dismiss is likewise DENIED AS MOOT as Waite was not named as a defendant in the amended complaint. Signed by Magistrate Judge William G. Cobb on 3/8/2017. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - DRM)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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CONSTANCE LORRAINE,
Plaintiff,

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Case No. 3:16-cv-00409-MMD-WGC
ORDER

v.
NORMAN L. WALLIN, et. al.
Defendants.

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I. BACKGROUND

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Plaintiff Constance Lorraine filed her application to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) and
pro se complaint, alleging, in essence, that she was wrongfully induced into a purchasing a
vehicle that she advised she could not afford. She asserted various state and federal law claims.
She has filed various motions in this case, including a motion to amend. (See 3:16-cv00409-MMD-WGC, ECF No. 13.) At a January 10, 2017 status conference, the court advised
Plaintiff that pursuant to Local Rule 15-1 she had to attach the proposed amended complaint to
her motion for leave to amend. (See Minutes of Jan. 10, 2017 status conference, 3:16-cv-00409MMD-WGC, ECF No. 43 at 2.) Therefore, the court denied her motion to amend without
prejudice, advising Plaintiff that she could re-file the motion along with a complete copy of the
proposed amended complaint. (Id.)
On February 28, 2017, Plaintiff filed a new application to proceed IFP and pro se
complaint which alleges many of the same allegations as are pending in the original complaint in
this case, but adds Fiat of Reno as a defendant. (3:17-cv-00127-RCJ-WGC, ECF Nos. 1, 1-1.)
The court has issued an order construing the newly filed complaint as the proposed amended
complaint in this case, 3:16-cv-00409-MMD-WGC, and directed the Clerk to file it as such in
this case. (See ECF No. 48)

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The court will now proceed with screening the amended complaint.

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II. SCREENING
A. Standard
28 U.S.C. § 1915 provides: "the court shall dismiss the case at any time if the court
determines that...the action or appeal (i) is frivolous or malicious; (ii) fails to state a claim upon
which relief may be granted; or (iii) seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune
from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i)-(iii). This provision applies to all actions filed in
forma pauperis, whether or not the plaintiff is incarcerated. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122,
1129 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc); see also Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845 (9th Cir. 2001) (per
curiam).
Dismissal of a complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted is
provided for in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), and this court applies the same
standard under Section 1915(e)(2)(B) when reviewing the adequacy of the complaint or amended
complaint. See Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 447 (9th Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). Review
under 12(b)(6) is essentially a ruling on a question of law. See Chappel v. Lab. Corp. of America,
232 F.3d 719, 723 (9th Cir. 2000).
In reviewing the complaint under this standard, the court must accept as true the
allegations of the complaint, Hosp. Bldg. Co. v. Trustees of Rex Hosp., 425 U.S. 738, 740
(1976), construe the pleadings in the light most favorable to plaintiff, and resolve all doubts in
the plaintiff's favor, Jenkins v. McKeithen, 395 U.S. 411, 421 (1969). Allegations in pro se
complaints are held to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers, and
must be liberally construed. See Hughes v. Rowe, 449 U.S. 5, 9 (1980); Haines v. Kerner, 404
U.S. 519, 520-21 (1972) (per curiam); Hamilton v. Brown, 630 F.3d 889, 893 (9th Cir. 2011).
A complaint must contain more than a "formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of
action," it must contain factual allegations sufficient to "raise a right to relief above the
speculative level." Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). "The pleading
must contain something more...than...a statement of facts that merely creates a suspicion [of] a
legally cognizable right of action." Id. (quoting 5 C. Wright & A. Miller, Federal Practice and
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Procedure § 1216, at 235-36 (3d ed. 2004)). At a minimum, a plaintiff should state "enough facts
to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 570; see also Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556
U.S. 662, 678 (2009).
A dismissal should not be without leave to amend unless it is clear from the face of the
complaint that the action is frivolous and could not be amended to state a federal claim, or the
district court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the action. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d
1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995) (dismissed as frivolous); O'Loughlin v. Doe, 920 F.2d 614, 616 (9th
Cir. 1990).
B. The Original Complaint
The court screened Plaintiff’s original complaint and allowed her to proceed with the
following claims:
First, she stated a claim for elder abuse under Nevada Revised Statute 41.1395 against
Norman Wallin and Kevin Sheppard based on allegations that she was over 65, Defendants
wrongfully took her car in bad faith, and charged her more than advertised for the vehicle and
less that what her vehicle was worth based on her age and vulnerabilities. (ECF No. 3 at 5.)
Second, she stated a Nevada common law fraud claim against Wallin and Sheppard based
on allegations that they made false statements of material fact that they knew were false when
they told her that her car’s plates had been removed, the car had been detailed and moved to a
used car lot and could not be returned, which she relied on in accepting the new vehicle. (ECF
No. 3 at 6.)
Third, she a stated Nevada fraud in the inducement claim against Wallin and Sheppard
based on the allegations that they used lies, trickery, deceit and false pretenses to force her into a
position to purchase a new vehicle. (ECF No. 3 at 6.)
Fourth, she stated claims for deceptive trade practices under Nevada law against Wallin
and Sheppard. (ECF No. 3 at 7.)
Fifth, she stated a Nevada common law claim for intentional infliction of emotional
distress (IIED) against Wallin and Sheppard. (ECF No. 3 at 8.)

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Sixth, she stated claims under the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), 15 U.S.C. §
1601, et. seq., and its implementing regulation, Regulation Z, which requires that creditors
disclose certain information in consumer credit transactions and subjects a creditor who violates
the act to civil liability (ECF No. 3 at 9-10), and the disclosures must be made clearly and
conspicuously in writing (including the number, amount and due dates or period of payments
scheduled to repay the total payments). Plaintiff alleged she was forced to read the disclosures in
a dimly lit room, with small type, and the court determined she could proceed with her TILA
claim on this basis. (Id. at 11.) The court also found Plaintiff could proceed under TILA to the
extent she alleged that they disclosed items under the amount financed (an alarm fee and vehicle
protection plan) that should not have been included. (Id. at 11-12.) Next, the court found that
construing the allegations liberally, Plaintiff could proceed under TILA on her allegations that
Defendants failed to give her the required disclosures prior to consummation of the transaction.
(Id. at 12.)
Seventh, she stated a federal law claim for violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act
(ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § § 1601-1693r, against Wallin, Sheppard and Santander Consumer USA
Inc., dba Chrysler Capital, based on allegations that she did not receive an adverse action letter
when taking adverse action against her. (Id. at 12-14.)
Finally, she stated a Nevada common law conversion claim against Sheppard based on
allegations that he advised her that she could not get her car back, and if she did not make
payments on the Fiat it would be repossessed. (Id. at 14.)
No claims were asserted against Aaron Waite or Sergio Marchionne. While she was
given leave to amend to assert claims against them (ECF No. 3 at 15 n. 5), she did not include
these individuals as defendants in her amended complaint; therefore, no claims are proceeding
against them.
C. Amended Complaint
In the amended complaint, Plaintiff sues Norman Wallin (Fiat of Reno salesman), Kevin
Sheppard (Fiat of Reno sales manager), Santander Consumer, USA Inc. for Chrysler Capital,
Inc. (Santander), and the Fiat of Reno Dealership. (ECF No. 48 at 1-2.)
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As she did in the original complaint, Plaintiff alleges that on July 18, 2015, she drove
from Fernley to be with her son while he looked at buying a new Fiat. (ECF No. 48 at 3.)
Salesman Wallin asked if she was interested in buying a car too, and she responded she was on a
fixed income of $736 a month, could only afford $200 a month, and had bad credit. (Id.) Wallin
said that was not a problem. (Id.) Wallin asked for her keys to check out a possible trade-in, and
she gave him her keys. (Id.) After several hours, she asked for her keys back and was told they
had removed the plates of her car, detailed it, and moved it to a lot. (Id.) She was told that she
could drive a new Fiat home and if she did not want to buy it she could bring it back but needed
to sign papers. (Id.) She had not looked at or driven a Fiat, and was taken to a dimly lit room and
told to sign papers. (Id.) They gave her keys, told her how to drive the car and left her alone.
(Id.) They told her that her son had left, but in reality he was in the back of the dealership putting
gas in the car he had purchased. (Id.)
Wallin asked her to wait two days before she brought the Fiat back. (Id. at 4.) She called
two days later and told Sheppard she was bringing the Fiat back and wanted her car back. (Id.)
Sheppard told her they had sold her car, and Plaintiff told him: “When I get my car back you get
yours.” (Id.) Wallin had quit his job and was not available. (Id.) She asked Sheppard to see the
contract earlier, and he advised her it was not made out yet and that she “wouldn’t understand it
anyway.” (Id.)
There have been three subsequent attempts to repossess the Fiat. (Id. at 6.) The person
involved in the third attempt said he was from Chrysler and threatened her, and it took her a long
time to get over the stress of this incident. (Id.)
At the time of the incident, she was 85 years old and severely handicapped. (Id. at 5.)
She asserts claims for: (1) theft of her supposed trade-in; (2) unfair and deceptive
business practices; (3) violation of the Federal Truth in Lending Act; and (4) fraudulent
inducement to enter into a contract; (5) intentional and actual fraud; (6) financial elder abuse; (7)
violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act; and (8) IIED. (Id. at 4-6.) The court will now
address each of these claims in turn.

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1. Theft of Trade-In
Plaintiff states a colorable claim for conversion under Nevada law against Sheppard,
Wallin and Fiat of Reno in alleging that Wallin told her they were going to check out her car for
a potential trade in, but then it was detailed and taken to another lot; and, that she was advised by
Fiat employee Sheppard that she could not get her car back and that if she did not make
payments on the Fiat it would be repossessed. See Evans v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., 5 P.3d
1043, 1048, 116 Nev. 598, 606 (Nev. 2000) (citation omitted) (“Conversion is ‘a distinct act of
dominion wrongfully exerted over another’s personal property in denial of, or inconsistent with
his title or rights therein or in derogation, exclusion, or defiance of such title or rights.’”).
2. Unfair and Deceptive Business Practices
Nevada law prohibits deceptive trade practices when a person:
[I]n the course of his or her business or occupation...:
...
11. Advertises goods or services as being available free of charge with intent to
require payment of undisclosed costs as a condition of receiving the goods or
services.
...
13. Makes false or misleading statements of fact concerning the price of goods or
services for sale or lease, or the reasons for, existence of or amounts of price
reductions.
...
15. Knowingly makes any other false representation in a transaction.
...
Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 598.0915. In addition, a person engages in a deceptive trade
practice in Nevada when the person:
(9) Fails, in a consumer transaction that is rescinded, cancelled or otherwise
terminated in accordance with the terms of an agreement, advertisement,
representation or provision of law, to promptly restore to a person entitled to it a
deposit, down payment or other payment or, in the case of property traded in but
not available, the agreed value of the property ....
(12) Knowingly takes advantage of another person’s inability reasonably to
protect his or her own rights or interests in a consumer transaction when such an
inability is due to illiteracy, or to a mental or physical infirmity or another similar
condition which manifests itself as an incapability to understand the language or
terms of any agreement.
NRS 598.021(9), (12).

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Additional deceptive trade practices include: the failure to disclose a material fact in
connection with the sale or lease of goods or services, NRS 598.0923(2); violation of a state or
federal state regulating the sale of goods or services, NRS 598.0923(3); the use of coercion,
duress or intimidation in a transaction, NRS 598.0923(4).
An elderly person (defined as sixty or older under NRS 598.0933), may bring a civil
action for injury resulting from a deceptive trade practice, and may recover actual damages,
punitive damages, and reasonable attorney’s fees. NRS 598.0977.
Plaintiff has stated colorable claims for deceptive trade practices under Nevada law
against Wallin, Sheppard, and Fiat of Reno based on her allegations that she advised them of her
limited income and bad credit, and they told her they just wanted to look at her car for a possible
trade-in and then when she asked for her keys back she was told it had been put on a lot and she
could take a Fiat home and come back in two days. When she called back in two days’ time, she
was told that they sold her vehicle.
3. Violation of the Federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
TILA, 15 U.S.C. § 1601, et. seq., was enacted on May 29, 1968 as part of the Consumer
Credit Protection Act. Pub. L. 90-321. Its implementing regulation is referred to as Regulation Z,
12 C.F.R. 226.1, et. seq., and TILA became effective July 1, 1969. TILA requires that creditors
disclose certain information in consumer credit transactions. 15 U.S.C. § 1638. Its purpose is “to
assure a meaningful disclosure of credit terms so that the consumer will be able to compare more
readily the various credit terms available to him and avoid the uninformed use of credit ....” 15
U.S.C. § 1601(a).
TILA requires that borrowers receive written disclosures regarding important terms of
credit before they are legally bound to pay the loan, including the APR, finance charge, amount
financed, total payments, number of payments, monthly payment, and due dates of payments.
15 U.S.C. 1638(B). A creditor who fails to comply with the requirements is civilly liable for
actual and statutory damages. 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a).
Regulation Z requires that the disclosures be made “clearly and conspicuously in writing,
in a form that the consumer may keep.” 12 C.F.R. § 226.17. The creditor must disclose “[t]he
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number, amount, and due dates or period of payments scheduled to repay the total of payments.”
15 U.S.C. § 1638(a)(2)(B)(6); 12 C.F.R. § 226.18(g). The staff commentary to Regulation Z
states:
This standard requires that the disclosures be in a reasonably understandable
form. For example, while the regulation requires no mathematical progression or
format, the disclosures must be presented in a way that does not obscure the
relationship of the terms to each other. In addition, although no minimum type
size is mandated (except for the interest rate and payment summary for mortgage
transactions required by § 228.18(s)), the disclosures must be legible, whether
typewritten, handwritten, or printed by computer.
12 C.F.R. Pt. 226, Supp. I, Subpt. C, § 226.17(a)(1).
In screening the original complaint, the court construed Plaintiff’s allegations that she
was forced to read the TILA disclosures in a dimly lit room, with small type, as stating a
colorable TILA claim. While Plaintiff includes the allegation that she was led to a dimly lit room
to sign papers, she does not include the allegations, which appeared in the original complaint,
that the required TILA disclosures were not in a reasonably understandable form.
In screening the original complaint, the court also construed Plaintiff’s allegations that
items were disclosed under the amount financed that should not have been included as stating a
claim under TILA. Plaintiff does not include those allegations in the amended complaint.
Finally, the court found that the original complaint stated a TILA claim based on the
alleged failure to give her the required TILA disclosures prior to consummation of the
transaction. Plaintiff, however, does not include this allegation in the amended complaint.
In sum, the amended complaint fails to state a claim under TILA. Plaintiff is granted
leave to amend to state such a claim if she desires.
4. Fraudulent Inducement to Enter into a Contract
“A party to a contract may seek rescission of that contract based on fraud in the
inducement.” Awada v. Shuffle Master, Inc., 173 P.3d 707, 713, 123 Nev. 613, 622 (Nev. 2007).
To establish fraud in the inducement, a plaintiff must establish that: (1) the defendant made a
false representation, (2) that it knew or believed to be false or had an insufficient basis on which
to make the representation, (3) the defendant intended to convince the plaintiff to enter into the

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contract, (4) the plaintiff justifiably relied on the representation, and (5) damages resulted. See
J.A. Jones Constr. Co. v. Lehrer McGovern Bovis, Inc., 89 P.3d 1009, 1018, 120 Nev. 277, 29091 (2004).
Plaintiff has sufficiently asserted a colorable fraud in the inducement claim against
Wallin, Sheppard and Fiat of Reno.
5. Intentional/Actual Fraud
The elements of a common law fraud claim in Nevada are: (1) the defendant made a false
representation; (2) the defendant knew or believed the representation was false or had an
insufficient basis for making the representation; (3) the defendant intended to induce the plaintiff
to act or refrain from acting in reliance upon the misrepresentation; (4) the plaintiff justifiably
relied on the misrepresentation; and (5) damage to the plaintiff resulted from such reliance.
Bulbman, Inc. v. Nevada Bell, 825 P.2d 588, 592, 108 Nev. 111 (Nev. 1992) (citation omitted).
Plaintiff states a colorable fraud claim against Wallin, Sheppard and Fiat of Reno. She
claims that Wallin told her they were just going to check out her possible trade in, but later, at
closing time, said it was detailed and moved to a lot and that she could drive a Fiat home and
bring it back if she did not want to buy it, and then led her to a dimly lit room and told her to
sign the papers. When she asked to see the contract, Sheppard told her it was not made out yet
and that she would not understand it anyway. At the same time, they told her that her son had
left, which she avers turned out not to be true. Wallin asked her to wait two days before bringing
the Fiat back, and when she called and spoke with Sheppard stating that she wanted to bring the
car back and get her car, he told her that her car had been sold.
6. Financial Elder Abuse
NRS § 41.1395(1) states:
[I]f an older person or a vulnerable person suffers a personal injury or death that
is caused by abuse or neglect or suffers a loss of money or property caused by
exploitation, the person who caused the injury, death or loss is liable to the older
person or vulnerable person for two times the actual damages incurred by the
older person or vulnerable person.
Here, the alleged abuse would be loss of property by exploitation. The statute defines
“exploitation” as:
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(b) any act taken by a person who has the trust and confidence of an older person
or a vulnerable person or any use of the power of attorney or guardianship of an
older person or a vulnerable person to:
(1) Obtain control, through deception, intimidation or undue influence, over the
money, assets or property of the older person or vulnerable person with the
intention of permanently depriving the older person or vulnerable person of the
ownership, use, benefit or possession of that person’s money, assets or property;
or
(2) Convert money, assets or property of the older person with the intention of
permanently depriving the older person or vulnerable person of the ownership,
use, benefit or possession of that person’s money, assets or property.

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NRS 41.1395(4)(b)(1)-(2).

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Plaintiff states a colorable claim for elder abuse under Nevada law against Wallin, Sheppard, and

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Fiat of Reno. She alleges that Wallin, Sheppard and Fiat exploited her to gain her vehicle and

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then sought return of the Fiat.

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7. Violation of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA)

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The ECOA is found in Title VII of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. § §

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1601-1693r. It prohibits discrimination by any creditor “against any applicant, with respect to

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any aspect of a credit transaction ... on the basis of ... age.” 15 U.S.C. § 1691(a). It applies to all

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“credit transactions.” Bros v. First Leasing, 724 F.2d 789, 791 (9th Cir. 1984). A “creditor”

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under the ECOA is “any person who regularly extends, renews, or continues credit.” 15 U.S.C. §

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1691a(e). “Credit” is “the right granted by a creditor to a debtor to defer payment of debt or to

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incur debts and defer its payment or to purchase property or services and defer payment

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therefor.” 15 U.S.C. § 1691a(d). A creditor does not discriminate by considering “the age of an

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elderly applicant when the age of such applicant is to be used by the creditor in the extension of

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credit in favor of such applicant[.]” 15 U.S.C. § 1691(b)(4).

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The ECOA requires a creditor to notify an applicant within thirty days after receipt of the

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application of the action taken, and if adverse action is taken, the applicant is “entitled to a

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statement of reasons for such action from the creditor.” 15 U.S.C. § 1691(d)(1), (2). The creditor

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may fulfill this obligation by:
(A) providing statements of reasons in writing as a matter of course to applicants
against whom adverse action is taken; or
(B) giving written notification of adverse action which discloses (i) the
applicant’s right to a statement of reasons within thirty days after receipt by the
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creditor of a request made within sixty days after such notification, and (ii) the
identity of the person or office from which such statement may be obtained. Such
statement may be given orally if the written notification advises the applicant of
his right to have the statement of reasons confirmed in writing on written request.
15 U.S.C. § 1691(d)(2)(A)-(B).

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An applicant may sue for a violation of the ECOA when a creditor takes adverse action

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(denial or revocation of credit, change in terms of credit arrangement, or refusal to grant credit in

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the amount or on the terms requested), without giving the required notice. 15 U.S.C. § 1691(d),

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§ 1691e.

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In the original complaint, Plaintiff alleged that she did not receive an adverse action letter

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(presumably when she was ultimately denied financing for the vehicle), and that based on her

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age she was given excessive finance charges as compared to others. The court construed these

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allegations as stating an ECOA claim against Wallin, Sheppard, and Santander. The amended

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complaint fails to include any of these allegations; therefore, it does not state a claim under the

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ECOA. Plaintiff is granted to leave to amend to attempt to assert such a claim.

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8. IIED

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A plaintiff asserting an IIED claim in Nevada must allege: “(1) extreme and outrageous

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conduct with either the intention of, or reckless disregard for, causing emotional distress, (2) the

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plaintiff’s having suffered severe or extreme emotional distress and (3) actual or proximate

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causation.” Star v. Rabello, 97 Nev. 124, 125, 625 P.2d 90, 92 (Nev. 1981).

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In the original complaint, Plaintiff alleged that the conduct of Sheppard and Wallin was

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extreme and outrageous, and as a result she suffered severe mental and emotional distress. In the

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amended complaint, she mentions suffering from distress as a result of the conduct of the

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repossession agent from Chrysler, but does not allege that Sheppard, Wallin and Fiat of Reno’s

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conduct caused her distress.

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As it stands, she does not state an IIED claim in the amended complaint against

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Sheppard, Wallin or Fiat of Reno. She does state a colorable claim against Santander. Plaintiff is
granted leave to amend to attempt to assert an IIED claim against the Wallin, Sheppard and Fiat
of Reno, keeping in mind the elements listed out above.

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III. CONCLUSION
(1) Plaintiff is permitted to PROCEED with the following claims in the amended
complaint: a Nevada conversion claim against Sheppard, Wallin and Fiat of Reno; a Nevada
deceptive trade practices claim against Wallin, Sheppard and Fiat of Reno; a Nevada fraudulent
inducement claim against Wallin, Sheppard, and Fiat of Reno; a Nevada fraud claim against
Wallin, Sheppard and Fiat of Reno; a Nevada financial elder abuse claim against Wallin,
Sheppard and Fiat of Reno; and, an IIED claim against Santander.
(2) Plaintiff is GRANTED LEAVE TO AMEND with respect to the following: the
federal TILA claim; the federal ECOA claim; and, the Nevada IIED claim as to Wallin,
Sheppard and Fiat of Reno.
(3) Plaintiff may file a second amended complaint within THIRTY DAYS of the date of
this Order which cures the deficiencies with respect to the TILA, ECOA and IIED claims (as to
Wallin, Sheppard and Fiat of Reno), as outlined in this Order. The pleading shall be titled as the
“Second Amended Complaint,” and shall be complete in and of itself without reference to any
previous complaint. Any allegations, parties or requests for relief from prior pleadings that are
not carried forward in the amended complaint will no longer be before the court. If Plaintiff fails
to file an amended complaint within thirty days, the action will go forward only on the claims
allowed to proceed in this Order. As it stands, the amended complaint is only proceeding on
State law claims; however, in light of the granting of leave to amend, jurisdiction will be
addressed when Plaintiff files a second amended complaint, or the time to do so has expired,
whichever occurs first.
(4) The Clerk shall ISSUE a summons for defendant Fiat of Reno, and send Plaintiff a
copy of the amended complaint and service of process form USM-285. Plaintiff has TWENTY
DAYS to complete the USM-285 form and return it to the U.S. Marshal to complete service
upon Fiat of Reno. Within TWENTY DAYS of receiving from the U.S. Marshal a copy of the
USM-285 form showing whether service has been accomplished, Plaintiff should be directed to
file a notice with the court indicating whether Fiat of Reno was served. If serve was not
effectuated, and if Plaintiff wishes to have service attempted again, she must file a motion with
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the court providing a more detailed name and/or address for service, or indicating that some
other method of service should be attempted. Plaintiff is reminded that pursuant to Rule 4(m) of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, service must be accomplished within ninety days of the
date of the filing of the amended complaint.

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(5) The court has concurrently issued an order referring this action to the Pilot Pro Bono
Program. See General Order 2014-01.

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(6) Plaintiff’s pending motions for summary judgment (ECF Nos. 20. 33) are DENIED
AS MOOT in light of the filing of the amended complaint.

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(7) Defendant Santander’s pending second motion to remand (ECF No. 45) is DENIED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE. A separate order has been issued addressing Plaintiff’s most recent
notice of removal, directing that it be filed as a separate action. (See ECF No. 47 at 2.) The new
action is 3:17-cv-00131-MMD-WGC. Once service of the notice of removal on Santander is
completed, Santander may re-file its motion to remand in that action.

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(8) The notice of intent to dismiss Sergio Marchionne is VACATED, as Plaintiff did not
name Mr. Marchionne as a defendant in the amended complaint.

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(9) Mr. Wallin’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 7) is DENIED AS MOOT as it addressed
the original complaint.

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(10) Aaron Waite’s motion to dismiss is likewise DENIED AS MOOT as Waite was not
named as a defendant in the amended complaint.

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(11) The deadlines from the Discovery Plan and Scheduling Order will be revised after
the filing of the second amended complaint, or the expiration of time to do so, whichever occurs
first.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED: March 8, 2017.

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__________________________________________
WILLIAM G. COBB
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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