Cobb v. PayLease LLC

34 F. Supp. 3d 976, 2014 WL 3611800, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99114
CourtDistrict Court, D. Minnesota
DecidedJuly 22, 2014
DocketCivil No. 13-3091 (JRT/JJK)
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 34 F. Supp. 3d 976 (Cobb v. PayLease LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cobb v. PayLease LLC, 34 F. Supp. 3d 976, 2014 WL 3611800, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99114 (mnd 2014).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER DENYING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

JOHN R. TUNHEIM, District Judge.

Plaintiff Jeremy Cobb brings this action alleging violations of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1693 et seq. (“EFTA”), as well as claims for conversion and unjust enrichment against Defendant PayLease LLC (“PayLease”) arising out of an insufficient funds return fee assessed to Cobb’s bank account by PayLease. Cobb’s complaint also includes class allegations. PayLease moves to dismiss Cobb’s Amended Complaint .in its entirety. Because, taking the allegations in the Amended Complaint as true, Cobb has stated a claim under EFTA, and his allegations fall within the scope of conversion and unjust enrichment theories, the Court will deny PayLease’s motion.

BACKGROUND

I. THE RETURNED FEE

On May 14, 2013, Cobb submitted an apartment rental application to Common Properties Management Cooperative (“Common Properties”). (Am. Compl. ¶ 11, Jan. 2, 2014, Docket No. 14.) As part of-the application process Cobb spoke to a Common Properties representative by telephone and authorized an Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) debit from his checking account in the amount of $37.95. (Id. ¶¶ 11-12.) The amount authorized included an application fee of $35.00 plus a convenience charge of $2.95. (Id. ¶ 11.)

On May 16, 2013, due to insufficient funds in Cobb’s account, the ACH debit initiated by Common Properties was returned by Cobb’s bank as unpaid. (Id. [979]*979¶ 15.) That same day, Cobb’s bank assessed a Non-Sufficient Funds (“NSF”) fee of $35.00 to Cobb’s account. (Id. ¶ 16.) On May 29, 2013, PayLease,1 acting as Common Properties’ agent, assessed a $25.00 “returned fee” by ACH from Cobb’s account in connection with the unpaid application fee. (Id. ¶ 17; Decl. of Michael B. Miller, Ex. A at 2, Feb. 7, 2014, Docket No. 19.)2 On June 4, 2013, the $25 returned fee was deposited back into Cobb’s account. (Miller Dec., Ex. A at 3.)

Cobb alleges that during the telephone conversation with the Common Properties’ representative he “was not asked for permission nor was he asked to grant authorization for the collection of any fees via electronic fund transfer (‘EFT’) in the event of a return of his debit payment.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 13.) Additionally Cobb alleges that he “did not voluntarily provide any written or oral permission or authorization to Common Properties, Defendant PayLease, or Defendant’s agents permitting the collection of any fees via electronic fund transfer which might result in the event of a return of his ACH debit payment.” (Id. ¶ 14.)

[980]*980II. AMENDED COMPLAINT

Cobb filed the Amended Complaint on January 2, 2014, bringing three claims against PayLease. In Count I, Cobb alleges that PayLease violated EFTA by “initiating or causing to be initiated an electronic funds transfer to collect their NSF fee without first obtaining Plaintiffs authorization.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 33.) With respect to this claim Cobb contends that “PayLease has not provided any notice whatsoever to the Plaintiff regarding an NSF fee” and “had no basis to expect or believe that Common Properties] provided Plaintiff with any notice that he would be charged an NSF Fee if the ACH was returned due to insufficient funds.” (Id. ¶¶ 38, 40 (emphasis in original).) Cobb seeks actual damages “including without limitation the unlawfully collected NSF fees” as well as statutory damages and attorneys’ fees in connection with his EFTA claim. (Id. ¶44.) In Count II, Cobb brings a claim for conversion based on the allegation that PayLease unlawfully collected or shared in NSF fees obtained from Plaintiff. (Id. ¶ 46.) Finally, in Count III, Cobb brings a claim for unjust enrichment based on PayLease’s “unlawful ]” collection of NSF fees. (Id. ¶ 51.)

ANALYSIS

I. STANDARD OF REVIEW

In reviewing a motion to dismiss brought under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), the Court considers all facts alleged in the complaint as true to determine if the complaint states a “ ‘claim to relief that is plausible on its face.’ ” Gomez v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 676 F.3d 655, 660 (8th Cir.2012) (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009)). To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must provide more than “ ‘labels and conclusions’ or ‘a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action.’” Ashcroft, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Id. “Where a complaint pleads facts that are merely consistent with a defendant’s liability, it stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility,” and therefore must be dismissed. Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Finally, Rule 12(b)(6) “authorizes a court to dismiss a claim on the basis of a dispositive issue of law.” Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 326, 109 S.Ct. 1827, 104 L.Ed.2d 338 (1989).

II. EFTA

EFTA provides a “basic framework establishing the rights, liabilities, and responsibilities of participants” in electronic banking and its primary objective “is the provision of individual consumer rights.” 15 U.S.C. § 1693(b). Congress delegated authority and responsibility to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to “prescribe rules to carry out the purposes of’ the Act in order to “prevent circumvention or evasion thereof, or to facilitate compliance therewith.” 15 U.S.C. § 1693b; see also 12 C.F.R. § 205.1. The Board has promulgated administrative regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. Part 205, which are commonly referred to as Regulation E. See 12 C.F.R. § 205.1. With respect to remedies for violations, EFTA provides that “any person who fails to comply with any provision of this subchapter with respect to any consumer ... is liable to such consumer.” 15 U.S.C. § 1693m(a). EFTA authorizes class actions and allows for the recovery of [981]*981actual or statutory damages and attorneys’ fees. Id.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
34 F. Supp. 3d 976, 2014 WL 3611800, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99114, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cobb-v-paylease-llc-mnd-2014.