Biltcliffe v. Citimortgage, Inc.

952 F. Supp. 2d 371, 2013 WL 3466886, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96317
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedJuly 10, 2013
DocketCivil Action No. 12-11967-FDS
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 952 F. Supp. 2d 371 (Biltcliffe v. Citimortgage, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Biltcliffe v. Citimortgage, Inc., 952 F. Supp. 2d 371, 2013 WL 3466886, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96317 (D. Mass. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS

F. DENNIS SAYLOR IV, District Judge.

This action arises from a homeowner’s default on a home loan and the resulting mortgage foreclosure. In 2004, plaintiff James Biltcliffe and his wife purchased a home in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. As part of the transaction, he and his wife granted a mortgage on the house to the lender, which was ultimately assigned to defendant CitiMortgage, Inc.

After the Biltcliffes fell behind on payments in 2008, CitiMortgage sent them default notices, which informed them that the debt could be accelerated and a foreclosure sale effectuated should the default not be cured. In 2011, CitiMortgage proposed a loan modification pursuant to the Home Affordable Modification Program (“HAMP”), a federal initiative designed to provide incentives for lenders to agree to modification of home loan agreements in lieu of foreclosure. Biltcliffe made partial payments in the amounts set forth in the proposed modification, but CitiMortgage never executed the modification agreement and proceeded to foreclose on the property-

Biltcliffe commenced this action against CitiMortgage on October 11, 2012, in Massachusetts Superior Court alleging (1) breach of contract, (2) unjust enrichment, and (3) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.1 CitiMortgage removed the action to this Court. Jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship.

CitiMortgage has moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c). For the reasons set forth below, the motion will be treated as a motion for summary judgment and granted.

I. Background

A. Factual Background

The facts are stated as alleged in the complaint and reflected by supplemental filings from both parties.

In 2004, plaintiff James Biltcliffe and his wife Kathleen purchased a home at 420 Spruce Street, Bridgewater, Massachu[375]*375setts. In connection with their purchase of the property, they received a loan and signed a mortgage in the original principal amount of $208,000. The mortgage was ultimately assigned to defendant CitiMortgage, Inc., which serviced the loan. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 3^1).

The mortgage included a paragraph incorporating the statutory power of sale pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 183, § 21 and providing conditions for acceleration of the debt. That paragraph provided as follows:

Lender shall give notice to Borrower prior to acceleration following Borrower’s breach of any covenant or agreement in this Security Instrument (but not prior to acceleration under Section 18 unless Applicable Law provides otherwise). The notice shall specify: (a) the default; (b) the action required to cure the default; (c) a date, not less than 30 days from the date the notice is given to Borrower, by which the default must be cured; and (d) that failure to cure the default on or before the date specified in the notice may result in acceleration of the sums secured by this Security Instrument and sale of the Property. The notice shall further inform Borrower of the right to reinstate after acceleration and the right to bring a court action to assert the non-existence of a default or any other defense of Borrower to acceleration and sale. If the default is not cured on or before the date specified in the notice, Lender at its option may require immediate payment in full of all sums secured by this Security Instrument without further demand and may Invoke the STATUTORY POWER OF SALE and any other remedies permitted by Applicable Law.

(Am. Compl. at Ex. A, ¶ 22). The mortgage also provided that CitiMortgage could “accept any payment or partial payment insufficient to bring the [debt] current, without waiver of any rights [thereunder .... ” (Am. Compl. at Ex. A, ¶ 1).

The Biltcliffes defaulted on their repayment obligations in February 2008. The Biltcliffes allege that they have no record of receiving any notice of default from CitiMortgage. (See PI. Opp. at 1-2; Am. Compl. ¶7). CitiMortgage has produced two demand letters, dated September 4, 2008, and September 24, 2008, that disclosed the amount of missed payments and late charges that the Biltcliffes would have had to pay before December 2008 in order to- avoid foreclosure. (See Am. Ans. at Ex. 3-4). The letters also disclosed that “failure to cure the default by [December] may result in the acceleration of all sums due under the [mortgage].” (Id.). Jeanne Pezold, a Business Operations Analyst at CitiMortgage, submitted an affidavit that the letters were sent on the dates recited above and verifying their authenticity. (See Pezold Aff. at ¶¶7-11). The Biltcliffes did not timely cure the default.

On April 9, 2010, CitiMortgage accelerated the debt. CitiMortgage has produced a copy of an acceleration notice drafted by its foreclosure attorneys and addressed to the Biltcliffes at their home at 420 Spruce Street, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. (See Am. Ans. at Ex. 5). The notice specifically stated that “the note is hereby accelerated and the entire balance is due and payable forthwith and without further notice.” (Id.). The Biltcliffes deny ever receiving that acceleration notice and challenge its authenticity. Sarah Harmon, the attorney who drafted the letter, submitted an affidavit stating that the acceleration notice was sent on the date recited above and verifying its authenticity. (See Harmon Aff. at ¶¶ 2-3).

On March 28, 2011, the Biltcliffes filed a petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 13 [376]*376in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts. (Am. Compl. ¶ 8).

On August 22, 2011, CitiMortgage sent a package of documents to the Biltcliffes purportedly offering them a finalized loan modification pursuant to HAMP. (See Am. Compl. at Ex. B). The package included a cover letter that outlined the steps necessary to “accept this offer,” which included two steps: “[1] completing] and returning] the enclosed agreement by the due date [August 30, 2011] ... [and] [2] continuing] to make your trial period payments on, time.” (Id.) The loan modifica; tion agreement itself included the statement that “the Loan Documents [would] not be modified unless and until (i) the Lender accepts this Agreement by signing and returning a copy of it to [the borrower], and (ii) the Modification Effective Date ... has occurred.” (Id.). The Biltcliffes signed the loan modification agreement on August 29, 2011, and began making payments of $1,608.08 per month pursuant to its terms. (Am. Compl. ¶ 9). CitiMortgage never returned a signed copy to them. (Id. at ¶ 13).

On October 3, 2011, the Biltcliffes filed a motion in the bankruptcy action to allow a mortgage modification, attaching the copy of the loan modification agreement with their signatures on it. (Id. at ¶ 10). On October 25, CitiMortgage filed an objection to that motion, stating that it was “willing to review the debtor for loan modification, but requests that the debtor be obligated to make his full monthly mortgage payment until a decision is made on the loan modification.” (Id. at ¶ 11).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
952 F. Supp. 2d 371, 2013 WL 3466886, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96317, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/biltcliffe-v-citimortgage-inc-mad-2013.