Galindo v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC

282 F. Supp. 3d 1193
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedSeptember 29, 2017
DocketCase No. 17–CV–00021–LHK
StatusPublished

This text of 282 F. Supp. 3d 1193 (Galindo v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Galindo v. Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, 282 F. Supp. 3d 1193 (N.D. Cal. 2017).

Opinion

LUCY H. KOH, United States District Judge

Plaintiffs Cesar Galindo ("Galindo") and Maria Rivera ("Rivera") (collectively, "Plaintiffs"), bring suit against Defendant Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC ("Defendant") for negligence and violation of California's Unfair Competition Law ("UCL"). See ECF No. 31 (First Amended Complaint, or "FAC"). Before the Court is Defendant's motion to dismiss. ECF No. 50 ("Def. Mot."). Pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7-1(b), the Court finds this matter suitable for decision without oral argument and accordingly VACATES the motion hearing set for October 5, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. Having considered the submissions of the parties, the relevant law, and the record in this case, the Court hereby GRANTS with prejudice in part and DENIES in part Defendant's motion to dismiss.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Factual Background

On September 26, 2006, Galindo borrowed $436,000 from Bank of America, N.A. ("BOA"), secured by a deed of trust encumbering property located at 3146 Barletta Lane in San Jose, CA (hereinafter, "the Property"). FAC, Ex. 1. ("Deed of Trust"). Rivera, the wife of Galindo, is not a borrower on the loan, but "is a joint owner of the Property." FAC ¶ 15. Plaintiffs defaulted on the loan on March 1, 2009. ECF No. 51-1.1 A Notice of Default *1196and Election to Sell Under Deed of Trust was recorded on March 2, 2011. Id.

On September 1, 2012, Defendant acquired from BOA the servicing rights for Plaintiffs' loan. FAC, Ex. 2. Plaintiffs allege that they "began applying for a [Home Affordable Modification Program ("HAMP") ] loan modification," although Plaintiffs do not specify in their Complaint a date that Plaintiffs began applying for a loan modification. FAC ¶ 17. In 2015, "after years of loan modification application negotiations that resulted in bad faith denials, Plaintiffs filed an administrative complaint." FAC ¶ 21. On May 29, 2015, Plaintiffs received a letter from Defendant in response to Plaintiffs' administrative complaint. Id. Ex. 2.

Defendant's May 29, 2015 letter to Plaintiffs, which Plaintiffs attach to the FAC, informed Plaintiffs that "[a] review of [Defendant]'s records indicate[d] [Plaintiffs] were approved [by Defendant] for a Trial Period Plan (TPP) Offer," and that an offer was sent to Plaintiffs' attention on September 14, 2012. Id. "The [September 14, 2012 TPP offer] letter indicated if [Plaintiffs] completed the TPP by making all payments as stipulated in the offer," Plaintiffs would receive a loan modification. Id. Under the terms of the TPP offer, Plaintiffs "were required to make three (3) TPP payments" in order to "be eligible for the modification." Id. Defendant's May 29, 2015 letter to Plaintiffs informed Plaintiffs that Defendant denied Plaintiffs a loan modification "on December 13, 2012" because Plaintiffs "failed to make the TPP" payments. Id. However, according to Plaintiffs, "Plaintiffs never received notice" of the offer. FAC ¶ 24.

Defendant's May 29, 2015 letter to Plaintiffs also informed Plaintiffs that Defendant's "[r]ecords indicate[d] that [Plaintiffs'] initial request for a [HAMP loan modification] was received on May 26, 2014; however, [Plaintiffs] were denied for the HAMP program and [Defendant] was unable to offer [Plaintiffs] a HAMP because the owner of the account does not participate in the government's HAMP program." Id. Defendant's May 29, 2015 letter further informed Plaintiffs that Defendant had continued to review Plaintiffs' account for alternatives to HAMP, but "additional documents were required" from Plaintiffs, and Plaintiffs never submitted the required documents. Id.

Defendant's May 29, 2015 letter to Plaintiffs further stated that Defendant approved Plaintiffs "for a Proprietary Modification" on December 14, 2014. Id. Defendant sent Plaintiffs "[a] Proposed Modification Agreement" on December 15, 2014. Id. The Proposed Modification Agreement "indicated that in order to accept the terms [Plaintiffs] were required to make a down payment in the amount of $4,245.88 on or before January 1, 2015 and two (2) TPP payments each in the amount of $4,245.88 on February 1, 2015 and March 1, 2015." Id. However, because Plaintiffs "failed to make the initial TPP by the required due date[,] the modification was denied on February 9, 2015." Id. Defendant sent a denial letter to Plaintiffs on February 11, 2015. Id.

Defendant's May 29, 2015 letter to Plaintiffs also told Plaintiffs that Defendant received "[a] second HAMP request" from Plaintiffs on April 8, 2015." Id. However, Defendant again denied Plaintiffs a HAMP modification "because the owner of the account either does not allow principal reduction or does not participate in the HAMP" program. Id.

*1197In or about September 2015, BSI Financial Services, Inc. ("BSI") acquired from Defendant the servicing rights to Plaintiffs' loan. FAC ¶ 26. Thereafter, Plaintiffs sent a loan modification request to BSI. Id. ¶ 27. On September 28, 2015, BSI filed a Notice of Trustee's Sale (hereinafter, "Notice of Sale") with the Santa Clara County Recorder's Office. FAC ¶ 32 & Ex. 3. Plaintiff alleges that when BSI recorded the Notice of Sale, "[n]o decision had been made on Plaintiffs' loan modification application." Id.

B. Procedural History

On January 4, 2017, Plaintiffs filed suit against BSI in this Court. ECF No. 1. Plaintiffs alleged four causes of action against BSI: (1) negligence; (2) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (3) violation of California Civil Code Section 2923.6(c) ; and (4) violation of the UCL.

On January 26, 2017, BSI moved to dismiss all four causes of action. See ECF No. 11. On February 2, 2017, Plaintiffs opposed BSI's motion. ECF No. 14. On February 9, 2017, BSI filed a reply. ECF No. 15.

On March 17, 2017, the Court granted BSI's motion to dismiss. ECF No. 23. As relevant here, the Court held that Plaintiffs failed to state a claim for negligence against BSI because Plaintiffs based their negligence claim, in part, on conduct that was committed by Defendant , not BSI. Id. at 10-11. For similar reasons, the Court held that Plaintiffs could not state a claim for violation of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing or the UCL against BSI for Defendant's conduct. The Court held that Plaintiffs also failed to state a claim that BSI violated California Civil Code § 2923.6(c). The Court granted Plaintiffs leave to amend the complaint within thirty days, but stated that Plaintiffs "may not add new causes of action or parties without leave of the Court or stipulation of the parties pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15." Id. at 17.

On April 13, 2017, Plaintiffs filed a motion for leave to file a FAC and requested leave of Court to add Defendant as a defendant. ECF No. 26. BSI did not oppose Plaintiffs' motion. ECF No. 28. On May 26, 2017, the Court granted Plaintiffs' motion for leave to file a FAC. ECF No. 30.

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Bluebook (online)
282 F. Supp. 3d 1193, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/galindo-v-ocwen-loan-servicing-llc-cand-2017.