Bjornson v. USAA Credit Card

Opinion

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5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT TACOMA 9 10 KEVIN BJORNSON, CASE NO. 20-cv-5449 RJB 11 Plaintiff, ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S 12 v. MOTION TO DISMISS, DEFENDANT BANK OF 13 EQUIFAX INC.; DISCOVER CARD; AMERICA N.A.’S MOTION TO USAA CREDIT CARD; BANK OF DISMISS AND ON PLAINTIFF’S 14 AMERICA; and FIRST NATIONAL VARIOUS MOTIONS BANK CARD, 15 Defendants. 16

17 This matter comes before the Court on Defendant First National Bank of Omaha’s (“First 18 National”) Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 37), Defendant Bank of America N.A.’s (“BOA”) Motion to 19 Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint (Dkt. 49), and the Plaintiff’s “Motion to Strike and Dismiss the 20 Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss and Motion for the Entry of Default and Order of Contempt 21 Against the Defendant in Response to the Defendants [sic] Motion to Dismiss” (Dkt. 51). The 22 Court has reviewed the pleadings filed regarding the motions and the remainder of the record 23 herein. 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS, 1 On May 5, 2020, Plaintiff, pro se, filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis and a 2 proposed complaint. Dkt. 1. On June 17, 2020, his application was granted (Dkt. 4) and his 3 Complaint (Dkt. 5) was filed. The Complaint asserts violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 4 15 U.S.C. § 1681, et. seq., Fair Credit Billing Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601, et. seq., Equal Credit

5 Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1691, et. seq., Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 6 1692, et. seq., and the “Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (E-CFR) Furnisher Rule 7 660.4(e)(3). Dkt. 5. 8 Defendants First National and BOA move to dismiss for failure to state a claim pursuant 9 to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12 (b)(6). Dkts. 37 and 49. In his pending motion, the Plaintiff, in part, moves 10 the Court to deny Defendants First National’s motion to dismiss. Dkt. 51. This portion of the 11 motion should be considered an opposition to First Nationals’ motion to dismiss and not a 12 motion. The Plaintiff moves for leave to amend his complaint and attaches a proposed amended 13 complaint (Dkts. 51 and 51-2) and makes various other motions described below. As is relevant 14 here, the Plaintiff also filed a “motion” to dismiss Defendant BOA’s motion to dismiss and again

15 moves to amend his complaint, attaching a different proposed amended complaint; those motions 16 are noted for September 18, 2020. Dkt. 76. The portion of the Plaintiff’s motion to dismiss 17 Defendant BOA’s motion to dismiss should be construed as a response and not a motion. 18 For the reasons provided below, the Defendants’ motions to dismiss (Dkts. 51 and 76) 19 should be granted, the Plaintiff’s ripe motion for leave to file an amended complaint (Dkt. 51) 20 should be denied without prejudice and the Plaintiff’s remaining motions be denied. 21 22 23

24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS, 1 I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY 2 A. FACTS 3 The Complaint alleges that, “Equifax Inc. Failed to properly handle the disputes of the 4 Plaintiff and also failed to update the 7 year fraud alert after receiving the Plaintiffs identity theft

5 affidavit.” Dkt. 5, at 4. It maintains that: 6 Equifax's actions were also in conspiracy of the action(s) taken by Discover Card, First National Bank of Omaha, Bank of America, & USAA Card. 7 Equifax Inc. by failing to imeediately [sic] block each of the codefendants from reporting on the Plaintiffs Credit report and by delaying the dispute process acted 8 in conspiracy to aid the codefendants failure to validate the debts challenged by the Plainitff [sic] and violate the billing rights agreement(s) for each of those 9 accounts. And further allow the illegal and discriminatory reporting of such accounts on the Plaintffs [sic] credit report defaming his reputation. 10 Id. 11 The Complaint alleges that on December 4, 2018, the Plaintiff had a process server serve 12 “Discover Card, USAA, [First National], [BOA], Chase, and American Express” with 13 “Validation of Debt Notices,” “a Consumer Affidavit, Identity Theft Affidavit and an Affidavit 14 of Service by Certified Mail with Signature Required.” Dkt. 5-1, at 1 and 3-4. It states that the 15 Plaintiff waited around 37 days, and then “contacted his credit repair coach after receiving no 16 responses to the notices. He advised the Plaintiff to file a police report and a Federal Trade 17 Commission Report.” Id. As it relates to the moving party First National, the Complaint also 18 alleges that it “received the Plaintiff’s dispute on the 7th of December 2018” and that “the 19 Plaintiff received a response on January 22, 2019. Dkt. 5-1, at 5. In any event the Complaint 20 asserts that the Plaintiff’s “credit repair coach” advised him to “notify each of the three credit 21 bureaus and provide them with the copies of the paperwork that he had used in his original 22 disputes, the police report, the FTC report, and the Affidavit of Support was included as well.” 23 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS, 1 Id., at 5-1, at 2. According to the Complaint, the Plaintiff sent a set of each of these documents 2 to Equifax and the other two credit reporting agencies. Id. 3 The Complaint alleges that [e]ach of the creditors violated the Electronic-Code of Federal 4 Regulations (E-CFR) Furnisher Rule 660.4(e)(3); as did Equifax by failing to dispute any of the

5 accounts or consider any of the information that was presented to them.” Id. 6 The Complaint alleges that the Plaintiff checked his credit report in February and March 7 and Equifax had not updated his report to reflect his disputes. Dkt. 5-1, at 2. It maintains that 8 “[t]he Defendants, by failing to update the fraud alert on the consumers’ credit report, biased 9 anyone who may have made a determination based on the Plaintiff’s Equifax consumer credit 10 report.” Id., at 4. It maintains that Equifax failed to update the seven-year fraud alert. Id., at 9. 11 The Complaint asserts violations of Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681, et. seq., 12 Fair Credit Billing Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1601, et. seq., Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. § 13 1691, et. seq., Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692, et. seq., and the “Electronic 14 Code of Federal Regulations (E-CFR) Furnisher Rule 660.4(e)(3). Dkt. 5. The Plaintiff claims

15 millions of dollars in damages. Id. 16 On June 25, 2020, June 26, 2020, June 27, 2020, and July 13, 2020 the Plaintiff filed 17 additional pleadings he stated he wanted to be attached to the Complaint. Dkts. 10, 13, 14 and 18 20. 19 The Plaintiff’s proposed amended complaint (Dkt. 51-2) is substantially similar to his 20 original complaint. 21 B. PENDING MOTIONS AND OTHER RELEVANT PROCEDURAL HISTORY 22 Both First National and BOA move for dismissal of the Complaint for failure to state a 23 claim under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6). Dkts. 37 and 49.

24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS, 1 In opposition to First National’s motion, the Plaintiff argues that the motion should be 2 “stricken” and default entered against it for failure to answer or defend the case because no 3 notice of appearance had been entered by the lawyer who filed the motion. Dkt. 51. The 4 Plaintiff then argues that he did make factual assertions against First National received his

5 disputes. Id. He discusses what he views the relevance of his allegations regarding his credit 6 coach and argues that First National fails to point to evidence. Id. While it did not appear in his 7 Complaint, the Plaintiff references the Truth in Lending Act. Id. The Plaintiff also moves the 8 Court to revoke First National’s counsel’s right to practice before this Court, to “hold the 9 Defendant in contempt for appearing before the Court without counsel,” and for leave to file an 10 amended complaint to “reference the declaration of exhibits intended to be an addition to the 11 Complaint and its attachment and further provide and affidavit to that extent.” Id. 12 On August 17, 2020, the undersigned denied the Plaintiff’s motion for entry of default 13 against First National and ordered First National’s lawyer to file a notice of appearance. Dkt. 72. 14 To the extent that the Plaintiff again moves to strike First National’s motion or have it denied on

15 those grounds, his motion should be denied without further analysis. A notice of appearance was 16 entered on behalf of First National on August 20, 2020. Dkt. 73. 17 The Plaintiff also opposed BOA’s motion to dismiss. Dkt. 76. Again, while the Plaintiff 18 styles this pleading, in part, as a “Motion to Deny Bank of America’s Motion to Dismiss,” this 19 portion should be construed as a response in opposition to the motion. In response, the Plaintiff 20 asserts that he sent a BOA a Truth in Lending Act dispute and received no response. Dkt. 76. 21 He argues that BOA failed to report the accounts as disputed to Equifax. Id. The Plaintiff again 22 moves to amend his complaint, using a different complaint; this motion is not ripe until 23 September 18, 2020.

24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS, 1 Defendants First National and BOA have filed replies (Dkts. 81 and 81) and the motions 2 are ripe for consideration. 3 C. ORGANIZATION OF OPINION 4 The Court will first consider the motions to dismiss, then the Plaintiff’s motion for leave

5 to file an amended complaint, lastly, Plaintiff’s additional motions. 6 II. DISCUSSION 7 A. FIRST NATIONAL AND BOA’S MOTIONS TO DISMISS 8 Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) motions to dismiss may be based on either the lack of a 9 cognizable legal theory or the absence of sufficient facts alleged under a cognizable legal theory. 10 Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Department, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1990). Material allegations 11 are taken as admitted and the complaint is construed in the plaintiff's favor. Keniston v. Roberts, 12 717 F.2d 1295 (9th Cir. 1983). “While a complaint attacked by a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss 13 does not need detailed factual allegations, a plaintiff's obligation to provide the grounds of his 14 entitlement to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the

15 elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 554-55 16 (2007) (internal citations omitted). “Factual allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief 17 above the speculative level, on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint are true 18 (even if doubtful in fact).” Id. at 555. The complaint must allege “enough facts to state a claim 19 to relief that is plausible on its face.” Id. at 547. 20 Defendant First National Bank and BOA’s motions to dismiss (Dkts. 37 and 49) should 21 be granted and the claims asserted against them in the Complaint should be dismissed. The 22 Plaintiff failed to meaningfully respond to the motions. Further, the motions have merit. The 23 Plaintiff’s Complaint is difficult to follow and fails to clearly explain in a “short plain statement”

24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS, 1 what happened, when, and what claims he is asserting against which Defendant as a result. Fed. 2 R. Civ. P. 8. However, “[d]ismissal without leave to amend is improper unless it is clear, upon 3 de novo review, that the complaint could not be saved by any amendment,” Moss v. U.S. Secret 4 Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 972 (9th Cir. 2009), and it is not yet clear the Complaint can’t be saved.

5 Accordingly, the case should not be dismissed. 6 B. PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO AMEND 7 While dismissal without leave to amend would be improper, the Plaintiff’s current 8 motion to amend (Dkt. 51) should be denied without prejudice. The Plaintiff has a more recent 9 motion to amend pending with a different proposed amended complaint. That motion is noted 10 for consideration on September 18, 2020. Dkt. 76. 11 C. PLAINTIFF’S REMAINING MOTIONS 12 The Plaintiff also moves the Court to revoke First National’s counsel’s right to practice 13 before this Court and to “hold the Defendant in contempt for appearing before the Court without 14 counsel.” Dkt. 51.

15 The Plaintiff’s motions should be denied. They are frivolous and without merit. First 16 National’s counsel filed a notice of appearance after being directed to do so by the undersigned. 17 No further action is warranted. 18 D. OTHER ISSUES 19 The Plaintiff has been filing responses to motions as motions and noting them for 20 consideration on the Court’s calendar. Further, he has filed some motions that are frivolous and 21 without merit. The Plaintiff is warned that he is bound by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 22 and the Local Rules of the Western District of Washington. 23

24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS, 1 III. ORDER 2 THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED THAT: 3 • Defendant First National Bank of Omaha’s Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. 37) 4 IS GRANTED;

5 • Defendant Bank of America N.A.’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s 6 Complaint (Dkt. 49) IS GRANTED; 7 • Plaintiff’s “Motion to Strike and Dismiss the Defendants’ Motion to 8 Dismiss and Motion for the Entry of Default and Order of Contempt 9 Against the Defendant in Response to the Defendants [sic] Motion to 10 Dismiss” (Dkt. 51) IS DENIED, in part, and 11 • Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint (Dkt. 51) IS 12 DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 13 The Clerk is directed to send copies of this Order to all counsel of record and to any party 14 appearing pro se at said party’s last known address.

15 Dated this 8th day of September, 2020. 16 A 17 18 ROBERT J. BRYAN United States District Judge 19 20 21 22 23 24 ORDER ON DEFENDANT FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA’S MOTION TO DISMISS,