Sears v. Baretta Financial

Filing 23

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 6/3/15. (eot)

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r ppma- mz u. pl u s. &mM AT;A V NUO I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A ROANOKE DI SI VI ON J l: 2 5 UN 2 XL W :O WX ? n c œ- DA V I B.SEAR S, D Ci lA c i N o.7: 4CV 00036 vi ton 1 Pli if antf , M EM O R AN D U M O PI I N N O B ARETTA FI AN CI N AL, Ho Gln E. n. e Conr ad Chi fU nie St t D it i tJ e t d a es s rc udge De e nt f nda . Thi e s i pr en l be o et c to pl i ifDa d B.Sea s m oto f rde a t s a e s es ty f r he our n antf vi r ' i n o f ul j dg n . Fo ter a o sstf rhb lw,h moinwil ega td. u me t r h e s n e o t eo t e to l b r ne Backzround O n J nua y 23,201 Se r f l d t s a ton a ns Ba e t Fi nc a , Ca ior a a r 4, a s ie hi c i gai t r ta na i l a lf ni c omorton,alegi vi ai oft FarDe Cole tonPrciesAc (t ai l ng oltons he i bt lci a tc tS FDCPA',1 U. C. ' 5 S. ) jj1 1 692- 692p. On Se e r3,201 a trbengg a eda e e i oftmei whiht ptmbe 4, fe i r nt n xtnson i n c o a om pls s v c ofpr es ,Se r s r d Ba e t Fi nci lt ough t Se r t r oft cc i h er i e oc s a s e ve r t a na a hr he c e a y he Commonwe 1hofVigi a purua t Vigni Codej8. at r ni, s nt o r i a 01329. OnOcobe 29,201 t t r 4,he Cl k oft Se e a y oft Co m onw ea t i s d a Ce ttc t ofCom pla e, hi wasf l d er he cr t r he m 1h s ue rii a e i nc w ch ie wih t eo to N o m be l4, t he ur n ve r 2014. De pie bengpr l s r ed,Ba et Fi nca f ie t ans rorot nviedefnd t s t i opery e v r ta na il a ld o we he s e he aci n wihi t tmepe i pe m it d by t Fede a Rul ofCi lPr edur . On Aprl1 to t n he i rod r te he r l es vi oc e i , 2015,heClr fl a e r ofde a ta ns Ba e t Fi nc a . Ba e t Fi nc a hasnot t e k ied n nty f ul gai t r ta na i l r ta na i l m oved t s asi t ent y ofdef t,orot o et de he r aul herwi appear i any m a se ed n nneri t s cas Sear n hi e. s ha n w mo df rd fulj d me t so ve o ea t u g n . St andar o R e e d f vi w Un e Rul 5 o teF d r l lso Ci l o e u e d fulj d me ti at -tp d r e 5 f h e ea Rue f viPr c d r , ea t u g n s wo se pr s . Se J fe s v. i r I , F. p.2d430,433( D.Va. oce s e e fron Brne. nc.461 Sup E. 2006) Pro t e r . ir o nty o d fulj dg n ,h r mu tb a e tyo d fut S eF d. Ci P. 5a . Afe d fu ts f ea t u me tte e s e n nr f e a l. e e R. v. 5 () tr ea l i e tr db t eClr , pat ma mo et ec u t o d fulj d me tu d rRu e5 ( ) nee y h ek a ry y v h o r f r ea t u g n n e l 5 b . U pon def ul,a loft w e lpl de f t a l ged i t c pl i m a be t ke a t u a t l he l- ea d ac s le n he om a nt y a n s r e. Se Ry nv. me o ng F n Newo k, 5 F.d7 8 7 0(t Ci. 0 ) t Tj ed fn a t b e a Ho c mi s i . t r 2 3 3 7 , 8 4 h r 2 01 (< h ee d n , y ( hi deful,a t pl nifswelpl de alegai off t.' (nt na ciai o te ;se s a t dmis aitf l- ea d l tons acgj' i er l tton mitd) e ) as Fe R. v. 8b)6 . Ac o dn l ,n ted fut u g n c ne t teE p r p it lo d. Ci P. ( ( ) c r ig y i h ea lj d me t o tx ,h s p o rae a i uiyi wh t e o n t h fc o t ep e dng s p o t ted fut u g n a dtec u e o nq r s eh r r o t e a e f h la i s u p rs h e a lj d me t n h a s s f ac i t r n.' Ande s v.Found. orA dva m e t Educ.& Em p' ofA m . ndi ns N o. ton he ei ' r on f nce n . t l a , 99- 508 1 U. App. 1 , 999 S, LEXI 18633,a * ( h Ci.Aug.1 1 ) S t 2 4t r 0, 999 . A lhoug t w el- e ded f c ua a l tonsi a c pl i ta e a ce ed a t u f t h he lpl a a t l lega i n om a n r c pt s r e or pur e ofdea tj poss ful udgme , pa' whodea t doe nota tt alegai a t t a unt nta ly t fuls s dmi he l tons s o he mo ofdn ges Se Fe R. v.P.8b)6)( ovi ngt tçll alegai - ot rt nonerltng ma . e d. Ci ( ( pr di ha kan l ton he ha eai t t a oun ofda a - i a tedi ar s nsvepl a ngi r quiedandt alegai n i not o he m t m ges s dmit f e po i e di s e r he l to s de e '. Cons quenl i t co tdee ne t tla lt i esa ihed,imus t n nid' ) e ty,f he ur tnni s ha ibiiy s tbls t t he de e m i t a opra e a ou ofda age . Ryan,253 F. a 780- 1 l s doi t c t t r ne he ppr i t m nt m s 3d t 8 . n o ng, he our ma c y onduc a e de ir heai unde Rul 55( ( . Thec t yaloma a t n vi ntay rng r e b)2) our ma s ke de e na i ofda a w ihoutahea i a l a t e i a ade t e de i r ba i i t t nni ton m ges t rng s ong s her s n qua e vi nta y s s n he rcor frt awa d. SeeAndero 1 F. a 507( i t tçn s cr tnc sa e d o he r s n, 55 3d t notng ha i ome icumsa e i dititcour e ei adea tj me ma a dda sa c rana efo t pla ngs src t ntrng ful udg nt y war mage s e ti bl r m he e di wihou hol ngahe rng' . t t di ai ' ) Di scuss on i 1 . Li lt unde t FD C PA abiiv r he The FDCPA wasena t d t pr t c c um e sf om a i a de e i pr c i esby c e o o e t ons r r bus ve nd c ptve a tc de c l c or ,a t pr e tnon- bus ve deb orc l c or f om c pe ii di a nt ge. bt ole t s nd o ot c a i t ole t s r om ttve s dva a Unie Sttsv. tlFi Se vs,nc.98F. 131,135( h Ci.1 . l i t src la lt td ae Na' n. r .l , 3d 4t r 996) t s ( tit ibiiy a saut t tpr hi t f leorde ptver pr s nttonsi colec i ade ,a wel asce t n tt e ha o bis as ce i e e e a i n l tng bt s l rai a i de c lci prci s' McLe v.Ra 488F.App' 677,682( hCi. 2) l busve bt ole ton a tce .' an v, x 4t r 201 . n or rt esa ihavi ai oft FDCPA,hepli ifmus pr ( )t tt dee nti a de o tbls olton he t antf t ove: 1 ha he fnda s Sde colecor'a dei dbyt FDCPA;()t tt pli ifha be nt o j c ofc lci f bt l t ' s fne he 2 ha he antf s e he b e t ole ton a i t aii fom ac ume deb ; nd( t tt defnda ha e ctviy rsng r ons r t a 3) ha he e nt s ngage i a aci or d n n ton omisonpr bie byt FDCPA. Rug av.W as M ut, 9F.Supp.2d,642,647( D. s i ohi td he gi h. .71 E. Va. 201 . ( ca et FDCPA i asrc labiiysaut, c ume ne onl pr onevilto 0) t us he Be s titi lt tt e a ons r ed y ove oain t ti rla lt ' GrntFltherv.McMule & Dnzv. A.964F.Supp.2d51 5 ( o rgge ibiiy. a - ec ' ln r P. , 4, 21 D. M d.201 . 3) Ac r ng t t c co di o he ompli ,Ba eta Fi ncilç e a l colecsorat mpt t c lc , a nt r t na a d gul ry l t r te s o ole t diec l ori r c l de sow e ordue o a s r e t be ow e ordue a t r' a t ,i a r ty ndi e ty, bt d r s e td o d no he , nd, hus s ' k c l t 'f pup os oft FDCPA. Se 1 U. C.j1 û olecor'or debt es he e 5 S. 692a() I Ocobe of201 6. n t r 3, Ba eta Fi nc a atem pt d t colec on acons e d t ti c ai ed Se sowed i t a ount r t na i l t e o l t um r ebt ha t l m ar n he m of$28, 97. Spec fc l on ora utOct r30,201 Ba et Fi nc a s ntSea sa lte 646. ii aly, bo obe 3, r ta na i l e r el r t t ssye a aC TI ha wa t ld s S GATI NOTI ' Co l Ex. 1ss b e tl eicu e LI ON CE. ' mp . B. t u j c i n l d d n S S BARETTA FW ANCI vs DAVI SEARS'a ç eNo. AL . D ' nd d cas KL0000044l1 ' J= Thelte 0. #. ' etr s a e t tSe r ha i ed pr vi a t m pt t r s ve t m a t ra t ta l w s tm ay be t t t d ha a s d gnor e ous te s o e ol he te nd ha a ui hc ne se û euli i aj me 'a ns Se r . 1 l as sae t taj xt tp,t s tng n udg nt' gai t a s d. t lo ttd ha udgme ma be r nt y c l c e tuoug wage ga ihm e ,l vy on ba a c ole t d l h m s nt e nk c ount , le on r lorpe s s or i ns ea r onalpr pe t o r y, 3 a ong ot rm e hods The l te i t uc e Sea st c a tBa e t Fi nc a w ihi t n da or m he t . e t r nsr t d r o ont c r ta na i l t n e ys ltga i w oul be c m e ed. ii ton d om nc Ba et Fi nc a hasnotfl s ta ns Se r . Se r al gest tt sa e nt i t r ta na i l ied ui gai t a s a s le ha he t t me s n he l te r r ng ltga i n wer f s ,t tBa r ta Fi nc alkne t tt y w e e f s a t tm e e t r ega di ii to e al e ha r e t na i w ha he r al e t he i t l t e w a s nt a t tt s a e e sw e e m a w ih t i e i ofm i l a ng Sea s he e t r s e , nd ha he t t m nt r de t he nt nton s e di r. Thecou tc udest tt a lga i i t c r oncl ha he le tons n he ompli esabls t Ba et Fi nc a a nt t ih hat r ta na i l vi a e t FD CPA . The FDCPA f bi t us ofta f s ,de ptve orm i l a ng ol t d he or ds he e d ny al e ce i , s e di r e e aton o m e ns'i de c l c i a pr de anon- xha tve ls ofpr bied epr s nt i r a ' n bt ole ton, nd ovi s e usi it ohi t conduc. 1 U. C.j169 Suc c t 5 S. 2e. h onduc i l sSlj t e tt tkea a tont tc nno t ncude éthe hra o a ny ci ha a t lgal betke ort ti noti e dt betke ' 1 U. C.j 1 ( . Thi pa tc ar e ly a n ha s ntnde o a n.' 5 S. 692e5) s riul sdini vi ae Si ( )ade orwoul ras bl beivet tt noi )t eae s lga e o s oltd tf 1 bt d e ona y le ha he tcel hr tnl) e l aci a ( t de c lct doesnoti e t tkel alacin. Na 'Fi Sevs.l .98 ton; nd 2) he bt ole or ntnd o a eg to ' tl n. r . nc, ' F.d a 1 3 t 35. W hehe acommuni a i vi aest spr son i de e mi d fom t va a of t r c ton olt hi ovii s t r ne r he nt ge t tlas s sia e cons r' l a 1 . e as Rus el v. ol eCole ton Se vss he te t ophitc t d ume . d. t 36,s e lo ' s l Abs ut lci r . l ,763F. 385,3 (t Ci. 4) nc. 3d 94 4h r 201 . I t s c e, he l te s ntby Ba e t Fi nc a c e ry t e t ned l gala ton. N o onl n hi as t e t r e r ta na i l l a l hr a e e ci t y wa telte sylda a( TI s h etr t e s C GATI NOTI ' t t es be t ieT LI ON CE'wi h u j c ln I h BARETTA FI NANCI vs DAVI SEARS, i s ci aly sae t tltga i woul be c AL . D ' t pe ûc l tt d ha ii ton ' d omm e e i nc d f Se r di notc a tt c pa w ihi t n da . Upo r di t l te , he hypot tca l s as d ont c he om ny t n e ys n ea ng he e t r t he i l ea t s sia e co um e undoubt dl wo d i e pr tt lte ast e t ni l ga a ton. Se ophitc t d ns r e y ul nt r e he et r hr a e ng e l c i e. e. , tlFi Sevs.l ,98F. a 1 37( di t tc lci notc t e tne lga g.Na ' n. r . nc. 3d t 36- hol ng ha ole ton ies hrae d e l aci whe et no i e i c t d t tt de t ' a ountwoul be r f r e t a a tnwy) ton r he tc s ndi a e ha he b ors cc d e e r d o n to . The a l ga i i t c pl i f t resabls t Ba e t Fi nc a ha no i e i of le tons n he om a nt urhe t i h hat r ta na i l d nt nton t ki l ga a ton. Sea sa l est tB a e' Fi nc a ha no fl d s ta i thi , ha t a ng e l c i r leg ha r ta na i l s t ie ui ga ns m t t he t 4 compa f lel r pr s nt di t lte t tiwoul fl s t a t tBa et Fi nc a kne t t ny a s y e e e e n he et r ha t d ie ui, nd ha r ta na i l w ha t r pr e t tonswer f s a t tmet l te wa m aied. Fo t er a ons t co t he e es n a i e ale t he i he e tr s l r hes e s , he ur concud t tSeasha aesa ihedavi ai ofj 1 ( . l es ha r s tbls olton 692e5) I1. Request R em edi ed es H a ng c l d t tSe shas e t bls d a vi a i oft FD CPA , he co t us vi onc ude ha ar s a i he ol ton he t ur m t det r i t r i t w hi h he i e il d. Se r s cii ly s e t r cove s a ut y da a , e m ne he elef o c s ntte a s pe tca l e ks o e r t t or m ges a t r y' f e ,a co tcos s to ne s e s nd ur t . Under1 U. C.j1 2k()2) a i vi li e il t rcove saut yfdn esa 5 S. 69 a ( , n ndi dua s ntted o e r tt or l mag s t cour ma al butnote e ng $1000.' l de e mi ng a appr it a oun of he t y low, xc edi , ' n t r ni n opra e m t d amage , hecour mus c i ranu be off t r ,i l ng t fe st t t onsde m r ac o s ncudi he r quenc a pe sse e of y nd rit nc t de c l cor snonc he bt ole t ' omplanc t natr ofs h nonc i e,he tle uc ompla ince, nd t extntt whi ht a he e o c he no ompla wa i e ina. 1 U. C.j1 nc ince s ntnto l 5 S. 692k( ( ) b)1 . Appl ng t s f c or , heco tc ude t tSe r i e il d t $1000. i saut y yi he e a t s t ur oncl s ha a s s ntte o , 00 n t t or da a s Alhough la lt ars sfo a sngl lte , healega i i t c m ge . t i biiy ie r m i e etr t l tons n he ompli e t bls ant sa ih t tBa e' Fi i ' nonc ha r ta nancals t ompla ewa dei r t a i e i ,a t tt lte was inc s lbe a e nd ntntonal nd ha he e tr dr fedi at e t ni m a r Ac or ngl Ba e t Fi i wilbeo de e t pa $1000. a t n hz a e ng nne . c di y, r ta nancal l r r d o y , 00 i s a ut y da age . n t t or m s l a ton t da a , he c tm a a r k he c t oft a ton,t e he w ih a n ddii o m ges t our y wa d i os s he c i og t r t t r s nabl atm e sfe. 1 U. C.j1 ea o e to y' e ' 5 S. 692k()3 . Se r ha s mit anatda tfom hi ' a( ) as s ub ted fi vi r s ator y, i ha d L. r e r Es , hi h i c t st tSe r ha i ur e a t ne sf e i t t ne R c r G e nbe g, q. w c ndi a e ha a s s nc r d tor y' e s n he amountof$128 0 The a fdavi as i c t st tSea sha i ured c t i t a , 0.0. fi t lo ndi a e ha r s nc r oss n he mountof $460.0, c i udet c t as ocit wihtlngt i t ntaci n. Thec t i t tt 0 whih ncl he oss s aed t ii he nsa to our fnds ha he am ountoft c a m e a t ne s f e i r a ona e a t tt r co d s he l i d tor y' e s s e s bl , nd ha he e r upporsaw a di c t i t r ng os s n t ea u t e uetdb S a s Ac o dn l ,h j d me wi icu ea a r o atr y' h mo n rq se y e r . c r ig y te u g nt l n l d n wa d f tone s l f e a cossi t muountof$1740. e s nd t n he , 00. C oncl on usi F rt ra o sae ,h c u t l g a tSe r ' to f rd fulj g n a ans o he e s ns ttd te o r wil rn as mo in o ea tud me t g i t B a e t Fi nci l J r ta na a . udgm e w ilbe e e e i f vorofSe sa aga ns Bar ta Fi nc a i t nt l nt r d n a ar nd i t e t na i l n he a mountof$2, 00,whih co it of$1, 00 i saut y dn 740. c nsss 000. n t t or mage a $1740. i s nd , 00 n a t r y' f e a cos s t o ne s e s nd t . The Cl r i diec e t s nd c r ii d c e oft sm e or ndu opi on a t e k s r t d o e e tf e opi s hi m a m ni nd he ac ompa ngor t t de e nta alc c nyi der o he f nda nd l ouns lofr or e ec d. sx-sR: i 5 z d yo u e 2 5 l Ths W a rl n , 01 . - Chi Unied St esD i t ctJ ef t at sri udge 6

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