Cornejo v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC

151 F. Supp. 3d 1102, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 170399, 2015 WL 9268690
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. California
DecidedDecember 21, 2015
DocketCase No.: 1:15-cv-00993-JLT
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 151 F. Supp. 3d 1102 (Cornejo v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cornejo v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, 151 F. Supp. 3d 1102, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 170399, 2015 WL 9268690 (E.D. Cal. 2015).

Opinion

ORDER GRANTING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS

Jennifer L. Thurston, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Plaintiffs Frank Cornejo and Dora Cor-nejo assert Defendants — including Ocwen Loan Servicing, .LLC; U.S. Bank, National Association, as Trustee for the Holders of the Structured Asset Securities Corporation Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2005-RF3; and Western Progressive Trustee, LLC d/b/a Western Progressive, LLC — are liable for violations-of California law for actions taken during the foreclosure of their home.

Defendants seek judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Doc. 11) Plaintiffs oppose the motion, arguing the factual allegations, assumed as true, are sufficient to support their claims for relief. (Doc. 13) The Court heard the oral arguments of the parties at a hearing on December 18, 2015.

Because Defendants demonstrate there is no dispute of fact related to several of Plaintiffs’ claims as discussed below, the motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED IN PART,

I, Procedural History

Plaintiffs initiated this action by filing a complaint against Defendants in Kern County Superior Court in Case No. BCV-15-100047-SPC on May 14, 2015, alleging violations of California law related to the foreclosure of their residence. (Doc. 1-1 at 6-37) Defendants filed a Notice of Removal on June 29, 2015 (Doc: 1), thereby initiating the matter in this Court. Defendants filed them Answer to-the Complaint on September 1,2015. (Doc. 6)

On November 17, 2015, Defendants filed the motion for judgment on the pleadings now pending before the Court. (Doc. 11) Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion on November 17, 2015 (Doc. 13), to which Defendants filed a reply on December 11,2015 (Doc. 14).

II. Legal Standards

“After the pleadings are closed— but early enough not to delay trial — a party may move for judgment on the pleadings.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c). A motion pursuant to Rule 12(c) is “functionally identical” to a motion under Rule 12(b). Dworkin v. Hustler Magazine, Inc., 867 F.2d 1188, 1192 (9th Cir.1989). Consequently, when considering a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(c), the court “must accept all factual allegations in the [pleadings] as true and construe them in the [1107]*1107light most favorable to the non-moving party.” Fleming v. Pickard, 581 F.3d 922, 925 (9th Cir.2009).

To prevail on a Rule 12(c) motion, the moving party bears the burden to 'demonstrate that (1) “no material issue of fact remains to be resolved” and (2) “he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Doleman v. Meiji Mut. Life Ins. Co., 727 F.2d 1480, 1482 (9th Cir.1984). Jhdgment on the pleadings is improper if the Court is required to go “beyond the pleadings to resolve an issue.” Hal Roach Studios, Inc. v. Richard Feiner & Co., 896 F.2d 1542, 1550 (9th Cir.1990). Rather, when “matters outside the pleadings are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion must be treated as one for summary judgment under Rule 56.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(d); see also Hal Roach Studios, 896 F.2d at 1150. However, “documents attached to the complaint and incorporated by reference are treated as part of the complaint, not extrinsic evidence; thus, these documents are properly considered in a Rule 12(c) motion.” Summit Media LLC v. City of Los Angeles, 530 F.Supp.2d 1084, 1096 (C.D.Cal.2008).

The Court retains the discretion to grant a Rule 12(c), motion with leave to amend, or to grant dismissal rather than enter judgment. See Pacific W. Grp. v. Real Time Solutions, 321 Fed.Appx. 566, 569 (9th Cir.2008); see also Lonberg v. City of Riverside, 300 F.Supp.2d 942, 945 (C.D.Cal.2004) (“although Rule 12(c) does not mention leave to amend, courts have discretion both to grant a Rule 12(c) motion with leave to amend, and to simply grant dismissal of the action instead of entry of judgment”). Similarly, “[although Rule 12(c) does not expressly authorize ‘partial’ judgments, neither does it bar them, and it is common practice to apply Rule 12(c) to individual causes of action.” Carmen v. San Francisco Unified School Dist., 982 F.Supp. 1396, 1401 (N.D.Cal. 1997)).

III. Factual Allegations

Plaintiffs allege they purchased' real property commonly known as 3425 Rancho Sierra Street in Bakersfield, California (“the Property”)- by executing a Deed of Trust on July 31, 1992. (Doc. 1-1 at 9, ¶ 9) Plaintiffs assert, “In response to -wildly unprecedented decrease in property values and additional loss of income, [they] suffered from - financial hardship and a decrease in available household funds." (Id., ¶ 12) According to Plaintiffs, they “maintained a strong track record of timely payments due under the mortgage -until the monthly payments became untenable and default inevitable.” (Id.)

Plaintiffs assert “the interest as beneficiary in the Deed of Trust” was assigned to U.S. Bank on April 26, 2013, and was recorded as Instrument No. 0213063394 on May 7, 2013. (Doc. 1-1 at 9, ¶ 10) At a time “unknown to the Plaintiffs,” Ocwen Loan Servicing “becáme the mortgage servicer to the Deed of Trust and mortgage.” (Id., ¶ 11) According to Plaintiffs, Ocwen “serviced the day-to-day tasks related to the Deed of Trust and mortgage in favor of [U.S. Bank].” (Id.) Plaintiffs repórt that Ocwen and Western Progressive recorded a Notice of Default against the Property as Instrument No. 000214131129 on October 22, 2014. (Id. at 10, ¶ 13)

Plaintiffs allege that prior to recording the Notice of Default, “neither the Defendants nor any of their authorized agents contacted the Plaintiffs in order to assess the borrower’s financial situation and ‘explore options for the borrower to avoid foreclosure.” (Doc. 1-1 at 10, ¶ 16) Specifically, Plaintiffs contend Defendants did not “advise[ ] the Plaintiffs of the statutory right to request a meeting regarding foreclosure alternatives which would be [1108]*1108scheduled within fourteen (14) days,” or provide “a toll-free telephone number to contact a United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) certified housing counseling agency.” (Id.)

Plaintiffs assert that Ocwen “first contacted the Plaintiffs about options to avoid foreclosure by providing a form letter” on December 16, 2014. (Doc. 1-1 at 10, ¶ 18) Plaintiffs report the letter, “entitled ‘Request for Mortgage Assistance (RMA)/ Hardship Affidavit,’” included.“some general loss mitigation information and solicited an application for loan modification programs from the Plaintiffs.” (Id. at 11, ¶ 18)

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151 F. Supp. 3d 1102, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 170399, 2015 WL 9268690, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cornejo-v-ocwen-loan-servicing-llc-caed-2015.