Jurewitz v. Bank of America, N.A.

938 F. Supp. 2d 994, 2013 WL 1457739, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51787
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. California
DecidedApril 10, 2013
DocketCase No. 12cv2940-WQH-WVG
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 938 F. Supp. 2d 994 (Jurewitz v. Bank of America, N.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Jurewitz v. Bank of America, N.A., 938 F. Supp. 2d 994, 2013 WL 1457739, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51787 (S.D. Cal. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER

HAYES, District Judge.

The matter before the Court is the Motion to Dismiss Plaintiffs Complaint, filed by Defendant Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”). (ECF No. 3).

I. Background

On November 8, 2012, Plaintiff filed a Complaint in San Diego County Superior Court. (ECF No. 1-1). The Complaint states: “This action arises out of Defendant Bank of America’s unlawful foreclosure proceedings against Plaintiffs property in violation of the Consent Judgment signed by Bank of America with Federal and State governments.” Id. ¶ 1. The Complaint alleges that Defendant services Plaintiffs loan, and Plaintiff has applied for a loan modification. Id. ¶¶ 5, 7. The Complaint alleges that Defendant “is ‘dual tracking,’ meaning Bank of America continues foreclosure efforts at the same time [Plaintiff] is in review for a. foreclosure-preventing option or appealing a denial of a modification request.” Id. ¶ 12. The Complaint alleges that, in April of 2012, Defendant entered into a Consent Judgment with the United States and 49 state attorneys general, which prohibits Defendant from dual tracking. Id. ¶¶ 14, 16. The Complaint alleges causes of action for “breach of written contract: Consent Judgment,” negligence by breaching a duty to exercise care in complying with the Consent Judgment, and unlawful and unfair acts in violation of California Business & Professions Code § 17200. Id. at 13.

On December 10, 2012, Defendant removed the action to this Court alleging federal question and diversity jurisdiction. (ECF No. 1). On December 17, 2012, Defendant filed the Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 3). On January 11, 2013, Plaintiff filed an opposition to the Motion to Dismiss. (ECF No. 4). On January 18, 2012, Defendant filed a reply. (ECF No. 5).

II. Standard of Review

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) permits dismissal for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” Fed.R.Civ.P.. 12(b)(6). “A pleading that states a claim for relief must contain ... a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2). Dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) is appropriate where the complaint lacks a cognizable legal theory or sufficient facts to support a cognizable legal theory. See Balistreri v. Pac. Police Depot, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir.1988).

“[A] plaintiffs obligation tó provide the ‘grounds’ of his ‘entitle[ment] to relief requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2)). When considering a motion to .dismiss, a court must accept as true all “well-pleaded factual allegations.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). However, a court is not “required to accept as true allegations that are merely conclusory, unwarranted deductions of fact, or unreasonable inferences.” Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir.2001). “In sum, for a complaint to survive a motion to dismiss, the non-conclusory factual content, and reasonable inferences from that content, must be plausibly suggestive of a claim entitling the plaintiff to relief.” Moss v. U.S. Secret Serv., 572 F.3d 962, 969 (9th Cir.2009) (quotations omitted).

[997]*997III. Contentions of the Parties

Defendant contends that the first cause of action for breach of the Consent Judgment should be dismissed on the grounds that Plaintiff lacks standing to enforce the Consent Judgment, and the Consent Judgment by its own terms may only be enforced in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Defendant contends that the second cause of action for negligence should be dismissed because it is based on the Consent Judgment that Plaintiff lacks standing to enforce, and because Plaintiff has not alleged facts demonstrating each of the elements of a negligence cause of action. Defendant contends that the third cause of action for unlawful and unfair acts and practices should be dismissed because it is based on the Consent Judgment that Plaintiff lacks standing to enforce, Plaintiff lacks standing to sue under California Business & Professions Code § 17200, and Plaintiff has not alleged that Defendant has engaged in any conduct that is unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent.

Plaintiff contends that the Complaint adequately alleges a claim for breach of contract because she is an intended third-party beneficiary of the Consent Judgment and has standing to enforce the terms of the Consent Judgment in this Court. Plaintiff contends that the Complaint adequately alleges a claim for negligence because Defendant owed Plaintiff a duty of care in reviewing Plaintiffs loan modification application, and Defendant failed to comply with its duty. Plaintiff contends that the Complaint adequately alleges a claim for unlawful and/or unfair business acts in violation of California Business & Professions Code § 17200. Plaintiff requests leave to amend if the Motion to Dismiss is granted.

IV. Discussion

A. Breach of Contract

Plaintiff contends that she is an intended third-party beneficiary of the Consent Judgment and has standing to enforce the terms of the Consent Judgment in this Court. The Consent Judgment, which is attached to the Complaint, was ordered by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and was agreed to by Bank of America, the United States and 49 state attorneys general. (ECF No. 1-1 at 18).

“[C]onsent decrees are construed as contracts for purposes of enforcement.” United States v. FMC Corp., 531 F.3d 813, 819 (9th Cir.2008) (quotation omitted); see United States v. Asarco Inc., 430 F.3d 972, 980 (9th Cir.2005) (“Without question courts treat consent decrees as contracts for enforcement purposes. A consent decree, like a contract, must be discerned within its four corners, extrinsic evidence being relevant only to resolve ambiguity in the decree.”). “Federal law governs the interpretation of contracts entered into pursuant to federal law where the government is a party.” O’Neill v. United States, 50 F.3d 677, 682 (9th Cir.1995) (citation omitted).

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938 F. Supp. 2d 994, 2013 WL 1457739, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 51787, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jurewitz-v-bank-of-america-na-casd-2013.