Opinion
Case No. 1:15-cv-00809-SAB
03-10-2017
NORMA MADRIGAL, Plaintiff, v. NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, et al., Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT (ECF No. 56-57, 60, 62, 69, 70, 73)
Currently before the Court is Defendant Nationstar Mortgage LLC's ("Defendant Nationstar") motion for summary judgment.
I.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff's ex-husband executed a deed of trust with Countrywide Home Loan, Inc. to purchase property at 2433 N. Oak Park Ct., Visalia, California 93291. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 18, ECF No. 23.) Plaintiff was awarded an interest in and liability for the home during divorce proceedings. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 17.) The property was awarded as her sole and separate property along with any mortgage encumbering the property. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 17.) Plaintiff resided at the home and used her income to make monthly mortgage payments. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 18.)
At some point in time, the beneficial interest in the loan and servicing the loan was transferred to Defendant Nationstar. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 20.) As of March 2014, Plaintiff's monthly mortgage payments were $605.74 which was comprised of $119.13 principal, $339.26 interest, and $147.35 escrow (for taxes and insurance). (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 21.) Plaintiff made her March 2014 payment and was current on the loan as of March 2014. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 21.)
Plaintiff made a loan payment in the amount of $605.74 in April 2014, but it was held in suspense and not credited to her loan balance. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 22.) In May 2014, Plaintiff's escrow amount changed without notice from $147.35 to $546.17. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 22.) On or about July and August 2014, Defendant Nationstar informed Plaintiff that it had not received the loan payments for the months of July and August 2014, although Plaintiff had made loan payments. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 24.) Plaintiff made payments for September and October 2014, but Defendant Nationstar returned the payments to Plaintiff and refused to credit the loan for the payments made. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 25.) On or about April 27, 2015, Defendant Nationstar caused the foreclosure trustee to record a notice of trustee sale against the property. (Sec. Am. Compl. ¶ 27.)
On May 15, 2015, Plaintiff filed an action in the Tulare County Superior Court seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the foreclosure sale of the property and a complaint against Defendants Nationstar and Barrett Daffin Frappier Treder& Weiss, LLP. (ECF No. 1 at 8-63.) On May 28, 2015, Defendant Nationstar removed this action to the Eastern District of California on the basis of diversity jurisdiction. (ECF No. 1.) This action is currently proceeding on the second amended complaint, filed August 4, 2015, against Defendant Nationstar on claims of breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of California Business and Professions Code Section 17200, and for declaratory and injunctive relief. (ECF No. 23.)
Defendant Barrett Daffin Frappier Treder & Weiss were named in the second amended complaint, but on September 9, 2015, an order issued pursuant to the stipulation of the parties that Defendant Barrett Daffin Frappier Treder & Weiss need not actively participate in this action and is being treated as a nominal party to this action. (ECF No. 30.)
On January 31, 2017, Defendant Nationstar filed a motion for summary judgment, request for judicial notice, and request to file documents under seal. (ECF Nos. 56-58.) On February 1, 2017, Defendant Nationstar filed an amended notice of motion for summary judgment, declaration of Ashley E. Calhoun, motion to file separate statement of undisputed facts, and statement of undisputed facts. (ECF Nos. 59-62.) On February 2, 2017, an order issued granting Defendant Nationstar Mortgage's motion to file a separate statement of undisputed facts. (ECF No. 63.)
Defendant Nationstar requests that the Court take judicial notice of official records of the County of Tulare and Tulare County Superior Court. Under the Federal Rules a court may take judicial notice of a fact that is "not subject to reasonable dispute in that it is either (1) generally known within the territorial jurisdiction of the trial court or (2) capable of accurate and ready determination by resort to sources whose accuracy cannot reasonably be questioned." Fed. R. Evid. 201(b). Judicial notice may be taken "of court filings and other matters of public record." Reyn's Pasta Bella, LLC v. Visa USA, Inc., 442 F.3d 741, 746 n.6 (9th Cir. 2006); Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 250 F.3d 668, 689 (9th Cir. 2001). The Court grants Defendant Nationstar's request for judicial notice.
On February 21, 2017, an order issued denying Defendant Nationstar's request to file documents under seal. (ECF No. 64.) On February 27, 2017, Defendant Nationstar filed a supplement to the motion for summary judgment and a renewed motion to seal documents. (ECF Nos. 69, 70.) Defendant's motion to file documents under seal was granted in part on March 1, 2017. (ECF No. 71.) On March 8, 2017, Defendant Nationstar filed documents under seal. (ECF No. 73.)
II.
UNDISPUTED FACTS
1. In 2000, a borrower, a non-party, obtained a loan evidenced by a note. (Nationstar Mortgage LLC's Decl. (hereafter "Decl. of Nationstar") ¶ 10; Depo. of Norma Madrigal (hereafter "Decl. of Pl.") p. 11:18-20.)
2. The loan was secured by a deed of trust recorded against property in Visalia, California. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 11; Request for Judicial Notice Exh. 1-3.)
3. Plaintiff did not sign and was not a party to the note or deed of trust. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 10-11; Decl. of Pl. 24:8-10, 29:12-14.)
4. Servicing of the loan transferred from non-party Bank of America, N.A. to Nationstar in 2013. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 14.)
5. When the loan transferred to Nationstar, there was a $1,625.36 escrow shortage. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 15.)
6. A detailed escrow statement itemizing payments to and from the escrow account was sent to the borrower. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 7-8, 15.)
7. The full monthly payment on the loan from June 2013 (when Nationstar became servicer) to March 2014 was $605.74. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 16.)
8. Monthly payments owed on the loan from June 2013 to March 2014 were made in full each month and were applied to the loan. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 16.)
9. Effective April 1, 2014, the monthly payment increased by $398.82 to $1,004.56 as a result of the escrow shortage and increases to the borrower's taxes and insurance premiums. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 17.)
10. Nationstar sent a statement to the borrower explaining that due to the escrow shortage and changes in the borrower's taxes and insurance premiums, the monthly payment due would increase to $1,004.56, effective April 1, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 17.)
11. A $605.74 loan payment was made on or about April 7, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 18.)
12. Nationstar could not immediately apply the payment to the loan because the full payment owed for April 1, 2014 was $1,004.56 and Nationstar cannot apply partial payments. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 18.)
13. Nationstar placed the funds in the borrower suspense account, which is an account used when a borrower submits funds insufficient to make the complete payment due. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 18.)
14. Funds from a suspense account are applied to a loan once there are sufficient funds in the suspense account to cover one full payment. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 18.)
15. A $605.74 loan payment was made on or about May 9, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 19.)
16. Like the prior payment, it was insufficient to cover the full $1,004.56 monthly payment owed. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 19.)
17. Because there were sufficient funds in the suspense account to add to the $605.74 payment to make a full payment, Nationstar removed $398.82 from the borrower's suspense account, added it to the $605.74 partial payment, and applied a $1004.56 payment to the loan. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 19.)
18. The payment addressed in paragraph 17, above, was applied to the payment due April 1, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 19.)
19. A $605.74 loan payment was made on or about June 9, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 20.)
20. Nationstar could not immediately apply the payment to the loan because the payment was less than the required monthly payment of $1,004.56 and there were insufficient funds in the suspense account to cover a full payment. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 20.)
21. The payment addressed in paragraph 20, above, was placed in the borrower's suspense account. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 20.)
22. Nationstar reanalyzed the escrow account and as a result, the required monthly payment decreased slightly, to $940.95, effective July 1, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 21.)
23. The escrow disclosure statement sent to the borrower explained the shortage and changes to the borrower's taxes and insurance premiums and notified the borrower the new monthly payment due was $940.95. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 21.)
24. A $605.74 loan payment was made on or about July 9, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 22.)
25. The loan remained due for the May 2014 payment of $1,004.56 and the $605.74 payment was insufficient to cover the full payment. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 22.)
26. Because there were sufficient funds in the suspense account to add to the $605.74 payment to make a full payment, Nationstar removed $398.82 from the borrower's suspense account, added it to the $605.74 partial payment, and applied a $1,004.56 payment to the loan. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 22.)
27. The payment addressed in paragraph 26, above, was applied to the payment due May 1, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 22.)
28. A $605.74 loan payment was made on or about August 12, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 23.)
29. The loan was then due for the June 1, 2014 payment of $1,004.56 and the $605.74 payment was insufficient to cover the full payment. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 23.)
30. Because there were sufficient funds in the suspense account to add to the $605.74 payment to make a full payment, Nationstar removed $398.82 from the borrower's suspense account, added it to the $605.74 partial payment, and applied a $1,004.56 payment to the loan. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 23.)
31. This was applied to the payment due June 1, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 23.)
32. On September 2, 2014, Nationstar sent the borrower a notice of default. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 24.)
33. The notice of default explained the default was $2,888.73 and the loan remained due for July 1, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 24.)
34. It notified the borrower there was a deadline of October 7, 2014, to pay the total amount due and avoid acceleration of the entire loan balance. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 24.)
35. A $605.74 loan payment was made on or about September 22, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 25.)
36. The loan was then due for the July 1, 2014 payment of $940.95 and the $605.74 payment was insufficient to cover it. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 25.)
37. The payment was insufficient to cover the $2,888.73 the borrower had until October 7, 2014 to pay to avoid acceleration of the entire loan balance. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 25.)
38. Nationstar returned the payment discussed in paragraphs 35-37, above. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 25.)
39. Nationstar accelerated the loan balance and the foreclosure process began. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 26.)
40. A $605.74 loan payment was made on or about October 19, 2014. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 27.)
41. The payment was after the October 7, 2014 deadline to pay the default and insufficient to pay either the default or the full loan balance. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 27.)
42. Nationstar returned the payment. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 27.)
43. Nationstar never received a tender of the full amount due on the loan or an offer or tender of the full amount due on the loan. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 28-29.)
44. Nationstar correctly calculated the taxes, insurance, loan payments, and escrow amounts for the loan. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 30.)
45. The taxes, insurance, loan payments, and escrow amounts included in the payment statements and escrow statements related to the loan were correct. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 31.)
46. Plaintiff never applied to Bank of America or Nationstar to have the note and/or deed of trust transferred and/or assigned to her. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 32.)
47. Plaintiff never applied to Nationstar to qualify for a loan modification through which she could become a borrower on the loan. (Decl. of Nationstar ¶ 33.)
III.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT LEGAL STANDARD
Any party may move for summary judgment, and the Court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a); Washington Mut. Inc. v. U.S., 636 F.3d 1207, 1216 (9th Cir. 2011). Summary judgment must be entered "against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to that party's case...." Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322 (1986). "[A] party seeking summary judgment always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying those portions of 'the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any,' which it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 322.
If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually does exist. Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 (1986). Each party's position, whether it be that a fact is disputed or undisputed, must be supported by (1) citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including but not limited to depositions, documents, declarations, or discovery; or (2) showing that the materials cited do not establish the presence or absence of a genuine dispute or that the opposing party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the fact. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1) (quotation marks omitted). The Court may consider other materials in the record not cited to by the parties, but it is not required to do so. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(3); Carmen v. San Francisco Unified Sch. Dist., 237 F.3d 1026, 1031 (9th Cir. 2001); accord Simmons v. Navajo Cnty., Ariz., 609 F.3d 1011, 1017 (9th Cir. 2010).
In judging the evidence at the summary judgment stage, the Court does not make credibility determinations or weigh conflicting evidence, Soremekun v. Thrifty Payless, Inc., 509 F.3d 978, 984 (9th Cir. 2007) (quotation marks and citation omitted), and it must draw all inferences in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party and determine whether a genuine issue of material fact precludes entry of judgment, Comite de Jornaleros de Redondo Beach v. City of Redondo Beach, 657 F.3d 936, 942 (9th Cir. 2011) (quotation marks and citation omitted).
IV.
ANALYSIS
Defendant Nationstar argues that Plaintiff does not have standing to assert any claims based on the note or deed of trust because she was not a party to either document. Additionally, Defendant Nationstar contends that it is undisputed that Nationstar correctly calculated and applied payments. Defendant Nationstar seeks summary judgment on all claims raised in the complaint.
A. Breach of Contract Claim
Defendant Nationstar initially argues that Plaintiff cannot prevail on her breach of contract claim because she was not a party to the note or deed of trust executed between Defendant Nationstar's successor in interest and Plaintiff's ex-husband and there is no exception that would apply to provide Plaintiff with standing to enforce the contract. At issue in this action is a contract to purchase real property. "Financing or refinancing of real property is generally accomplished in California through a deed of trust. The borrower (trustor) executes a promissory note and deed of trust, thereby transferring an interest in the property to the lender (beneficiary) as security for repayment of the loan." Bartold v. Glendale Fed. Bank, 81 Cal.App.4th 816 (2000), overturned on other grounds due to legislative action.
"Under California law, '[a] cause of action for breach of contract requires proof of the following elements: (1) existence of the contract; (2) plaintiff's performance or excuse for nonperformance; (3) defendant's breach; and (4) damages to plaintiff as a result of the breach.' " Ehret v. Uber Technologies, Inc., 68 F.Supp.3d 1121, 1139 (N.D. Cal. 2014) (quoting CDF Firefighters v. Maldonado, 158 Cal.App.4th 1226, 1239 (2008)). Here, it is undisputed that Plaintiff was not a party to the deed of trust or note executed by Plaintiff's ex-husband. Therefore, in order to prevail on her breach of contract claim, Plaintiff must establish standing to enforce the contract by demonstrating that she falls within an exception to the general rule. See Jones v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 26 Cal.App.4th 1717, 1722 (1994) ("someone who is not a party to the contract has no standing to enforce it or to recover extra-contractual damages for the wrongful withholding of benefits to the contracting party").
1. Third Party Beneficiary
"California law permits third party beneficiaries to enforce the terms of a contract made for their benefit." Spinks v. Equity Residential Briarwood Apartments, 171 Cal.App.4th 1004, 1021 (2009) (quoting Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Vars, Pave, McCord & Freedman, 65 Cal.App.4th 1469, 1485 (1998)). The California Civil Code provides that a contract made expressly for the benefit of a third party may be enforced by that party at any time before the contract is rescinded. Cal. Civ. Code § 1559. While a critical element is that the contract must be made expressly for the benefit of the third party, this does not require that the third party be specifically named or identified in the contract. Northstar Fin. Advisors Inc. v. Schwab Investments, 779 F.3d 1036, 1062 (9th Cir.), as amended on denial of reh'g and reh'g en banc (Apr. 28, 2015), cert. denied, 136 S. Ct. 240 (2015). It is the intent of the promisee to benefit the third party that is relevant, because "[t]he point of the third-party-beneficiary doctrine is to allow a third party to enforce, against a promisor, rights running to the third party for which the promisee bargained." Souza v. Westlands Water Dist., 135 Cal.App.4th 879, 893 (2006). The lack of intent by the promisee to benefit the third party defeats the third party claim. Id.
"[A] third party beneficiary contract must either satisfy an obligation of the promissee to pay money to the beneficiary, or the circumstances indicate the promissee intends to give the beneficiary the benefit of the promised performance." Med. Staff of Doctors Med. Ctr. in Modesto v. Kamil, 132 Cal.App.4th 679, 685, 33 Cal. Rptr. 3d 853, 858 (2005), as modified on denial of reh'g (Oct. 6, 2005). Here, the issue is whether the promisee intended to give Plaintiff the benefit of the promised performance.
To determine if a contract was made for the benefit of a third party, California considers "whether an intent to benefit a third person appears from the terms of the contract. See Jones, 26 Cal.App.4th at 1725 ("Whether a third party is an intended beneficiary or merely an incidental beneficiary to the contract involves construction of the parties' intent, gleaned from reading the contract as a whole in light of the circumstances under which it was entered."). If the terms of the contract necessarily require the promisor to confer a benefit on a third person, then the contract, and hence the parties thereto, contemplate a benefit to the third person." Spinks, 171 Cal.App.4th at 1022 (citations omitted). It is not enough that the third party would have incidentally benefited from performance of the contract. Id.; Souza, 135 Cal.App.4th at 891. The parties to the contract must have intended to confer a benefit on the third party from the contract. Spinks, 171 Cal.App.4th at 1022. This excludes enforcement of the contract by persons who are only incidentally or remotely benefitted from the contract. Id.
Ascertaining the intent of the parties is to be inferred solely from the language of the written contract if possible. Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1638, 1639; Spinks, 171 Cal.App.4th at 1023. However, evidence offered to explain the meaning to which the contract is reasonably susceptible is relevant and admissible. Garcia v. Truck Ins. Exch., 36 Cal.3d 426, 435-36 (1984). "A contract may be explained by reference to the circumstances under which it was made, and the matter to which it relates." Cal. Civ. Code § 1647. Evidence of the circumstances and negotiations of the parties may be considered in determining the meaning of a written contract allegedly made in part for the benefit of a third person. Garcia, 36 Cal.3d at 435-36.
Defendant Nationstar argues that Plaintiff was not a third party beneficiary under the contract and submits the grant deed, promissory note, and deed of trust showing that the property was purchased by Benigno Romero, a married man as his sole and separate property. (ECF Nos. 57-1, 57-2, 69.) The question of whether there was an intent to benefit a third party appears from the terms of the contract, Walters v. Calderon, 25 Cal.App.3d 863, 870 (1972), and review of the documents provided does not demonstrate any intent to benefit a third party. The grant deed, recorded June 16, 2000, grants the property to Benigno Romero, a married man as his sole and separate property. (ECF No. 57-1.) In a second grant deed recorded the same date, Plaintiff, wife of grantee, granted the property to Benigno Romero, a married man as his sole and separate property. (ECF No. 57-1.) Review of the promissory note and the deed of trust does not indicate any intent that a third party was to benefit from the parties' agreement.
While Plaintiff asserts in her complaint that she is a third party beneficiary because she was receiving the benefit of the mortgage contract, without more, the fact that Plaintiff received a benefit from performance of the contract only makes her an incidental beneficiary, and is not enough to show she is an intended beneficiary under the contract. Souza, 135 Cal.App.4th at 895. The Court finds that Plaintiff has not demonstrated that a genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether she was a third party beneficiary under the contract entered into by the parties to the agreement.
2. Assignee
Defendant moves for summary judgment on the ground that Plaintiff's claim that she is an assignee is barred by the statute of frauds and she admitted that she had no contractual relationship with the lender and never attempted to assume the loan. Additionally, neither Bank of America nor Defendant Nationstar agreed to replace the borrower with Plaintiff on the loan.
California's statute of frauds provides that a contract for the sale of real property or an interest therein, "if made by an agent of the party sought to be charged, is invalid, unless the authority of the agent is in writing, subscribed by the party sought to be charged." Cal. Civ. Code § 1624(a)(3). Ordinarily a contract can be assigned unless the contract specifically negates the right to assign. 1 Witkin, Summary of Cal. Law, Contracts Ordinarily Assignable, § 712 (10th ed. 2005). While no particular form is necessary for an assignment, to be effectual the assignment must be " 'a manifestation to another person by the owner of the right indicating his intention to transfer, without further action or manifestation of intention, the right to such other person, or to a third person." Cockerell v. Title Ins. & Trust Co., 42 Cal.2d 284, 291 (1954); 1 Witkin, Summary of Cal. Law, Contracts, § 709, p. 795 (10th ed. 2005).
Plaintiff, as the party asserting assignment of the rights under the contract, bears the burden of proving the assignment. Cockerell, 42 Cal.2d at 292. "In an action by an assignee to enforce an assigned right, the evidence must not only be sufficient to establish the fact of assignment when that fact is in issue, but the measure of sufficiency requires that the evidence of assignment be clear and positive to protect an obligor from any further claim by the primary obligee." Id. (citations omitted).
Here, Plaintiff has presented no evidence that Mr. Romero assigned any of his rights under the agreement to Plaintiff. Although Plaintiff was aware that she needed to take additional steps to effect an assignment of the loan at issue in this action, she did not do so. (Pl. Depo. 32:3-11, 36:20-25.) Plaintiff has not submitted evidence to create a genuine issue of material fact as to whether she was an assignee.
3. Transfer
Relatedly, Plaintiff contends that the judicial divorce decree transferred the breach of contract claim to Plaintiff. Defendant Nationstar argues that the alleged breach of contract claim was not transferred to Plaintiff by the divorce decree.
California defines a thing in action as the "right to recover money or other personal property by a judicial proceeding." Cal. Civ. Code § 953. The California Civil Code provides that a "thing in action, arising out of the violation of a right of property, or out of an obligation, may be transferred by the owner." Cal. Civ. Code § 954; see also Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1457, 1458 (the burdens and rights under an obligation may be transferred with the consent of the party entitled to the benefit). California has a strong policy in favor of transferability of all types of property, which includes the rights under contracts. Farmland Irr. Co. v. Dopplmaier, 48 Cal.2d 208, 222 (1957) "Assignable are choses in action arising out of an obligation or breach of contract as are those arising out of the violation of a right of property or a wrong involving injury to personal or real property." Baum v. Duckor, Spradling & Metzger, 72 Cal.App.4th 54, 65 (1999), as modified (May 18, 1999) (citations omitted).
In this instance, Plaintiff has not presented any evidence that either party to the contract consented to transfer the burden or rights under the contract to her. Specifically, Plaintiff stated that she did not contact Mr. Romero when she obtained the divorce nor when filing the current action. (Pl. Depo. 12:5-19, 32:20-22.) Plaintiff contends that the loan was transferred to her through the decree entered by the court in her divorce proceedings. (Id. at 17:5-25; 34:15-23.) However, the divorce decree itself states that "Each party is ordered to execute any documents to effectuate this order." (ECF No. 69-1 at 77.)
At the time that she was seeking the divorce, Plaintiff was informed of the steps she needed to take to have the mortgage put in her name. (Id. at 36:20-37:9.) Plaintiff obtained her divorce through "Self-Help" and they showed her how to complete the documents for the property. (Id. at 37:1-21.) Plaintiff had copies made but had not recorded any documents. (Id. at 38:8-22.) Plaintiff never informed Bank or America or Defendant Nationstar of the divorce decree. (Id. at 35:5-36:12, 41:4-12.)
Plaintiff has presented no evidence that any party to the contract transferred her rights under the contract. Plaintiff has failed to produce evidence to establish that she has standing to bring an action for breach of the contract at issue in this action.
4. Defendant Did Not Breach the Terms of the Contract
Further, even assuming that Plaintiff could bring the breach of contract claim, she has not demonstrated that a genuine issue of material fact exists to preclude entry of summary judgment on behalf of the defendants. Plaintiff's second amended complaint alleges that the borrower performed all significant things required under the contract and Defendant breached the contract by insisting that Plaintiff's loan had a past due balance even though she tendered all payments required by the loan and increasing the escrow without cause and without notice. (ECF No. 23 at ¶¶ 32-34.)
The deed of trust executed between the parties provides that the borrower shall include in each monthly payment, together with the principal and interest in the note and any late charges, taxes and special assessments levied or to be levied against the property, leasehold payments or ground rents on the property, and premiums for insurance. (Deed of Trust ¶ 2, ECF No. 57-3.) If mortgage insurance is due on the loan, the monthly payment shall also include the payment for mortgage insurance. (Id.) These items are "escrow items." (Id.) If at any time the amounts held are insufficient to pay the escrow items when due, "the Lender may notify the Borrower and require the Borrower to make up the shortage." (Id.)
Defendant has presented evidence that the escrow account was short $1,625.36 on June 28, 2013. (ECF No. 69-2 at 22, 53-54.) Bank of America, who was servicing the loan at the time, sent an annual disclosure statement to the borrower dated August 8, 2013 informing him of the escrow shortage. (Id. at 21-2.) Therefore, when the loan was transferred to Defendant Nationstar in November 2013 there was an escrow shortage. (Undisputed Fact ("U.F.") 5.)
The mortgage statement dated February 11, 2014, showed that the escrow account was short $861.16 (ECF No. 69-2 at 23), and included an annual escrow disclosure statement which notified the borrower that due to changes in tax and insurance premiums the monthly payment on the mortgage would be increasing to $1,004.56 on April 1, 2014. (Id. at 27.)
While Plaintiff alleges that the payment amounts changed without notice, the deed of trust provides that any notices to the borrower shall be provided by mailing them by first class mail to the property address or any other address the borrower designates by notice to the lender. (Deed of Trust ¶ 13.) Any notice given as provided in the deed of trust shall be deemed to have been given to borrower or lender. (Id.) The statements were mailed to the borrower at the address of record as agreed to by the agreement of the parties. Accordingly, Defendant Nationstar has presented evidence that the notice provided was in accord with the agreement of the parties.
Plaintiff alleges that she tendered all payments as required under the loan, however, Defendant Nationstar has presented evidence that as of April 1, 2014, the mortgage payment due was $1,004.56 and Plaintiff continued making payments of $605.74. (U.F. 9, 11, 15, 19.) Monthly mortgage statements were sent to the borrower showing that only partial payments had been made on the mortgage and the amount due on the loan. (ECF No. 69-2 at 29-36, 37-43.) Plaintiff continued to make monthly payments of $605.74 while the mortgage payments due were $1,004.56 per month from April 1, 2014 through June 1, 2014, and $940.95 after July 1, 2014. (U.F. 10, 11, 15, 19, 22, 24, 28.) Plaintiff did not tender all payments due under the mortgage.
The deed of trust also provides that in the case of payment default, the lender may require immediate payment in full of all sums secured by the deed of trust if the borrower defaults by failing to pay in full any monthly payment required by the deed of trust prior to or on the due date of the next monthly payment or the borrower defaults by failing, for a period of thirty days, to perform any obligations contained in the deed of trust. (Id. at ¶ 9(a).) The lender does not waive its rights by not requiring full payment if circumstances arise that would permit the lender to require immediate payment in full. (Id. at 9(c).) Nor is the borrow released should the lender extend time of payment or modify the amortization of the sums secured by the deed of trust. (Id. at ¶ 11.)
On September 2, 2014, as provided by the deed of trust, Defendant Nationstar sent the borrower a notice of default. (U.F. 32.) The borrower was provided with a deadline of October 7, 2014, to pay the total amount due and avoid acceleration of the loan. (U.F. 34.) The borrower did not pay the total amount due by October 7, 2014, so the loan balance was accelerated and the foreclosure process began. (U.F. 35-41.) Defendant Nationstar has never received a tender of payment of the full amount due on the loan. (U.F. 44.)
Even assuming that Plaintiff did have standing to bring a breach of contract claim in this action, Plaintiff has not met her burden of demonstrating that any genuine issue of material fact exists as to whether Defendant Nationstar breached the contract. Defendant Nationstar is entitled to summary judgment on the breach of contract claim.
B. Breach of Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
Defendant Nationstar also seeks summary judgment on Plaintiff's claim alleging a violation of the breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
"Every contract imposes upon each party a duty of good faith and fair dealing in its performance and its enforcement." Foley v. Interactive Data Corp., 47 Cal.3d 654, 683 (1988) (quoting Rest.2d Contracts, § 205). The covenant of good faith and fair dealing is implied by law in every contract and exists to prevent one party to the contract from unfairly frustrating the other contracting party's right to receive the benefits of the agreement actually made. Guz v. Bechtel Nat. Inc., 24 Cal.4th 317, 349 (2000).
"The implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing rests upon the existence of some specific contractual obligation." Racine & Laramie, Ltd. v. Dep't of Parks & Recreation, 11 Cal.App.4th 1026, 1031 (1992), reh'g denied and opinion modified (Jan. 6, 1993), as modified on denial of reh'g (Mar. 25, 1993). "The prerequisite for any action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is the existence of a contractual relationship between the parties, since the covenant is an implied term in the contract." Spinks, 171 Cal.App.4th at 477 (quoting Smith v. City and County of San Francisco, 225 Cal.App.3d 38, 49, (1990)). ] "The implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is limited to assuring compliance with the express terms of the contract, and cannot be extended to create obligations not contemplated by the contract." Spinks, 171 Cal.App.4th at 477 (quoting Pasadena Live v. City of Pasadena, 114 Cal.App.4th 1089, 1094 (2004)).
There is no duty to deal fairly or in good faith absent the existence of a contract. Racine, 11 Cal.App.4th at 1032. Without the existence of a contractual relationship between the parties in this action, Plaintiff cannot state a cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Smith, 225 Cal.App.3d at 49.
Further, to prevail on a claim for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, the plaintiff must show that "the conduct of the defendant, whether or not it also constitutes a breach of a consensual contract term, demonstrates a failure or refusal to discharge contractual responsibilities, prompted not by an honest mistake, bad judgment or negligence but rather by a conscious and deliberate act, which unfairly frustrates the agreed common purposes and disappoints the reasonable expectations of the other party thereby depriving that party of the benefits of the agreement." Careau & Co. v. Sec. Pac. Bus. Credit, Inc., 222 Cal.App.3d 1371, 1395( 1990), as modified on denial of reh'g (Oct. 31, 2001). If the actions alleging a breach of the implied covenant do not go beyond a mere breach of contract and rely on the same facts as the breach of contract claim and seek the same recovery, a breach of the implied covenant claim may be disregarded as no additional claim has been stated. Careau & Co., 222 Cal.App.3d at 1395.
Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Nationstar breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing by insisting that Plaintiff had a past due loan balance although she had tendered all payments required by the loan and changing the escrow account without cause and without notice. (ECF No. 23 at ¶ 41.) These are the same allegations upon which Plaintiff bases her breach of contract claim. Insofar as Plaintiff has alleged acts that are directly actionable as a breach of an implied-in-fact contract term, this claim that merely realleges that breach as a violation of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing is superfluous. Guz, 24 Cal.4th at 352; cf. Longest v. Green Tree Servicing LLC, 74 F.Supp.3d 1289, 1301 (C.D. Cal. 2015) (finding the plaintiff had plead sufficiently distinct conduct to support their claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing).
Finally, "acts that comply with the terms of a contract 'cannot without more be equated with bad faith.' " Am. Student Fin. Grp., Inc. v. Dade Med. Coll., Inc., 180 F.Supp.3d 671, 679 (S.D. Cal. 2015) (quoting Balfour, Guthrie & Co., Ltd. v. Gourmet Farms, 108 Cal.App.3d 181, 191 (1980)); Price v. Wells Fargo Bank, 213 Cal.App.3d 465, 479 (1989), reh'g denied and opinion modified (Sept. 21, 1989). Plaintiff has not demonstrated that Defendant Nationstar engaged in any conduct that did not comply with the terms of the contract and Defendant Nationstar is entitled to summary judgment on the breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing claim.
C. California Business and Professions Code Section 17200
Plaintiff alleges in her complaint that Defendant Nationstar violated California's Unfair Competition Law ("UCL") by violating laws as alleged in the complaint and since the conduct was unfair and fraudulent it violates California public policy. Defendant Nationstar seeks summary judgment on this claim as Plaintiff does not have standing to bring a claim based on the contract, and there is no evidence to support the claim that Defendant Nationstar engaged in unfair or fraudulent conduct.
"The UCL does not proscribe specific activities, but broadly prohibits 'any unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business act or practice and unfair, deceptive, untrue or misleading advertising.' " Puentes v. Wells Fargo Home Mortg., Inc., 160 Cal.App.4th 638, 643-44 (2008) (quoting Cal Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200). "An act can be alleged to violate any or all three of the prongs of the UCL—unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent." Stearns v. Select Comfort Retail Corp., 763 F.Supp.2d 1128, 1149 (N.D. Cal. 2010) (quoting Berryman v. Merit Prop. Mgmt., Inc., 152 Cal.App.4th 1544, 1554 (2007)). A breach of contract action may be the predicate for UCL claims provided the conduct is "unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent." Puentes, 160 Cal.App.4th at 645.
1. Unlawful Conduct
Plaintiff alleges that Defendant Nationstar engaged in unlawful conduct to the extent that it violated the law as alleged in the complaint. "For an action based upon an allegedly unlawful business practice, the UCL 'borrows violations of other laws and treats them as unlawful practices that the unfair competition law makes independently actionable.' " Stearns, 763 F.Supp.2d at 1150 (citation omitted); see also Smith v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co., 93 Cal.App.4th 700, 718-19 (2001) ("An 'unlawful' business activity includes 'anything that can properly be called a business practice and that at the same time is forbidden by law.").
"In essence, an action based on Business and Professions Code section 17200 to redress an unlawful business practice 'borrows' violations of other laws and treats these violations, when committed pursuant to business activity, as unlawful practices independently actionable under section 17200 et seq. and subject to the distinct remedies provided thereunder." Farmers Ins. Exch. v. Superior Court, 2 Cal. 4th 377, 383 (1992). However, Plaintiff's second amended complaint is devoid of any allegations that there was a violation of any law. Therefore, Plaintiff has not demonstrated that there is a genuine issue of material fact on the claim that Defendant Nationstar engaged in unlawful conduct.
2. Fraudulent Conduct
Plaintiff contends that Defendant Nationstar engaged in fraudulent conduct by insisting that Plaintiff had a past due loan balance although she tendered all payments required by the loan and by changing Plaintiff's escrow without cause and notice.
"The term 'fraudulent' as used in section 17200 'does not refer to the common law tort of fraud but only requires a showing members of the public 'are likely to be deceived.' " Puentes, 160 Cal.App.4th at 645 (quoting Saunders v. Superior Court, 27 Cal.App.4th 832, 839 (1994); Byars v. SCME Mortgage Bankers, Inc., 109 Cal.App.4th 1134, 1147 (2003)). "Unless the challenged conduct 'targets a particular disadvantaged or vulnerable group, it is judged by the effect it would have on a reasonable consumer." Puentes, 160 Cal.App.4th at 645 (quoting Aron v. U-Haul Co. of California, 143 Cal.App.4th 796, 806 (2006)).
However, as discussed above Plaintiff has not demonstrated that the escrow amount was changed without cause or notice or that the borrower tendered all payments as required under the loan. Plaintiff has not demonstrated that a genuine issue of material fact exists on her claim that Defendant Nationstar engaged in fraudulent conduct.
3. Unfair Conduct
Plaintiff also contends that Defendant Nationstar engaged in unfair conduct by insisting that Plaintiff had a past due loan balance although she tendered all payments required by the loan and by changing Plaintiff's escrow without cause and notice. In a consumer action, the proper definition of unfair under the UCL is uncertain. Puentes, 160 Cal.App.4th at 646. In Cel-Tech Commc'ns, Inc. v. Los Angeles Cellular Tel. Co. ("Cel-Tech"), 20 Cal.4th 163, 179 (1999), the California Supreme Court considered the meaning of unfair in the context of direct business competitors. The Court held that a plaintiff who alleges "an injury from a direct competitor' s 'unfair' act or practice invokes section 17200, the word 'unfair' in that section means conduct that threatens an incipient violation of an antitrust law, or violates the policy or spirit of one of those laws because its effects are comparable to or the same as a violation of the law, or otherwise significantly threatens or harms competition." Cel-Tech, 20 Cal.4th at 187. The Court declined to decide the meaning of unlawful in the context of actions brought by consumers or other claims by competitors under the UCL. Id. at 187 n.12.
Following the decision in Cel-Tech, California courts have been divided on whether to apply the definition in Cel-Tech to UCL actions brought by consumers. Puentes, 160 Cal.App.4th at 646 (collecting cases).
In Lueras v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP, 221 Cal.App.4th 49, 81 (2013), the court recited the definitions of unfair that have been used by different courts.
By defining "unfair competition" to include any unlawful act or practice, the UCL permits violations of other laws to be treated as independently actionable as unfair competition. (Cel-Tech Communications, Inc. v. Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Co., supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 180, 83 Cal.Rptr.2d 548, 973 P.2d 527.) " '[A]n "unfair" business practice occurs when that practice "offends an established public policy or when the practice is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous or substantially injurious to consumers." [Citation.]' [Citation.]" (Smith v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins. Co. (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 700, 719, 113 Cal.Rptr.2d 399.) An unfair business practice also means " 'the public policy which is a predicate to the action must be "tethered" to specific constitutional, statutory or regulatory provisions.' " (Scripps Clinic v. Superior Court (2003) 108 Cal.App.4th 917, 940, 134 Cal.Rptr.2d 101.)Lueras, 221 Cal.App.4th at 81; see also Jolley v. Chase Home Fin., LLC, 213 Cal.App.4th 872, 907 (2013), as modified on denial of reh'g (Mar. 7, 2013) (some courts "hold an 'unfair' practice is one that offends established public policy, that is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous, or substantially injurious to consumers, or that has an impact on the victim that outweighs defendant's reasons, justifications, and motives for the practice" and other courts hold "that the public policy which is a predicate to a claim under the 'unfair' prong of the UCL must be tethered to specific constitutional, statutory, or regulatory provisions"); Cardoni v. Wells Fargo Bank N.A., No. D066351, 2015 WL 1413641, at *14 (Mar. 26, 2015) (requiring plaintiff to prove the defendant's "conduct is tethered to an[ ] underlying constitutional, statutory or regulatory provision, or that it threatens an incipient violation of an antitrust law, or violates the policy or spirit of an antitrust law" for an unfair competition claim).
However, regardless of the definition that would apply to "unfair" in this action, Plaintiff has not demonstrated that Defendants engaged in any unfair conduct in foreclosing upon the delinquent loan at issue herein. Defendant presents evidence that the escrow amount on the loan changed due to the escrow shortage when the loan was transferred and that written notice of the increased loan payment was provided to the borrower. Payments were not applied to the loan balance because they were insufficient to meet the amount due until funds were available to meet the full payment. The borrower was notified that the payments were delinquent and was provided with a date by which to make the payments current. The borrower did not make the loan payments current by the date provided and has never proffered payment of the balance due on the loan.
Plaintiff has not demonstrated that a material issue of genuine fact exists and Defendants are entitled to summary judgment on the UCL claim.
V.
CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that
1. Defendant Nationstar Mortgage Co., LLC's motion for summary judgment is GRANTED;IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: March 10 , 2017
2. Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant Nationstar Mortgage Co, LLC and Barrett Daffin Frappier Treder & Weiss, LLP; and
3. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to close this matter.
/s/_________
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE