Kenneth Wivell v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

756 F.3d 609, 2014 WL 2871306, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 11927
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedJune 25, 2014
Docket13-2763
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 756 F.3d 609 (Kenneth Wivell v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kenneth Wivell v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 756 F.3d 609, 2014 WL 2871306, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 11927 (8th Cir. 2014).

Opinion

GRUENDER, Circuit Judge.

Kenneth and Tina Wivell (“the Wivells”) appeal from the district court’s 1 denial of their motion to remand and its dismissal on the merits of their claims against Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”) and Kozeny & McCubbin, L.C. (“Kozeny”). For the following reasons, we affirm.

I. Background

The Wivells purchased a residential property in February 2006 using funds borrowed from Wells Fargo. As part of the borrowing process, the Wivells signed a promissory note secured by a deed of trust. The deed of trust contains a no-oral-modifications clause that provides:

Oral agreements or commitments to loan money, extend credit or to forebear from enforcing repayment of debt including promises to extend or renew such debt are not enforceable. To protect you (Borrower(s)) and us (Creditor) from misunderstanding or disappointment, any agreement we reach covering such matters are contained in this writing, which is the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between us, except as we may later agree in writing to modify it.

Both of the Wivells’ signatures appear on the page bearing this notice.

The Wivells allege that the following events occurred after the loan was in place. In January 2009, the Wivells called Wells Fargo to discuss the possibility of a loan modification. A Wells Fargo representative explained that a loan moratorium, distinct from a loan modification, was possible in the event of a default. The Wivells called back in March 2009 regarding the moratorium program and were informed that they must be ninety days past due to obtain a moratorium. A Wells Fargo representative instructed them to stop making payments, and the Wivells followed this advice. After missing payments, the Wivells called Wells Fargo again. A representative now explained that a moratorium program did not exist and suggested that the Wivells should seek *614 a loan modification instead. From April 2009 until June 2010, the Wivells attempted unsuccessfully to reach a loan modification agreement with Wells Fargo, during which time the Wivells rejected two modification proposals offered by Wells Fargo — one to pay $1,500 per month until the past-due amount was paid in-full and another to pay a one-time $14,000 payment.

On June 12, 2010, Kozeny, the trustee under the deed of trust, notified the Wi-vells that their property was scheduled for a foreclosure sale on June 30. The Wivells faxed another modification packet to Wells Fargo on June 17, and they called Wells Fargo on June 23 to inquire into the status of this latest modification request. They asked whether this latest modification request “would stop all foreclosure processes and were informed by Wells Fargo that it would.” At “various points between April 2010 and June 30, 2010,” the Wivells contacted Kozeny and reported “their frustrations and concerns relating to Wells Fargo.” Kozeny sold the Wivells’ property at a foreclosure sale on June 30, as scheduled. The Wivells do not allege that their June 23 telephone conversation or any other communication with Wells Fargo was ever reduced to a written agreement.

The Wivells, citizens of Missouri for purposes of federal diversity jurisdiction, filed suit in Missouri state court against both Wells Fargo of South Dakota and Kozeny of Missouri. Wells Fargo removed the lawsuit to federal court, arguing that Kozeny — the only nondiverse defendant — was fraudulently joined to defeat federal diversity jurisdiction. The Wivells filed a motion to remand the case to Missouri state court, which the federal district court denied — concluding that Kozeny had been fraudulently joined. After abandoning several of their original claims, the Wivells maintained the following claims at the motion-to-dismiss stage: wrongful foreclosure, fraudulent misrepresentation, violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (“MMPA”), negligence, and negligent misrepresentation against Wells Fargo; and negligence and breach of fiduciary duty against Kozeny. Both Wells Fargo and Kozeny filed motions to dismiss these remaining claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), which the district court granted. This appeal followed.

II. Discussion

A. Denial of Motion to Remand and Dismissal of Claims against Kozeny

The Wivells first challenge the district court’s denial of their motion to remand. 2 Although the Wivells are not diverse from Kozeny, Wells Fargo removed this case to federal court based on the allegedly fraudulent joinder of Kozeny. “The doctrine of fraudulent joinder allows a district court to assume jurisdiction over a facially nondiverse case temporarily and, if there is no reasonable basis for the imposition of liability under state law, dismiss the nondiverse party from the case and retain subject matter jurisdiction over the remaining claims.” Murphy v. Aurora Loan Servs., LLC, 699 F.3d 1027, 1031 (8th Cir.2012). ‘Whether a plaintiff has fraudulently joined a party to defeat diversity jurisdiction is a question of subject matter jurisdiction we review de novo.” Wilkinson v. Shackelford, 478 F.3d 957, 963 (8th Cir.2007). “A party has been fraudulently *615 joined if there is ‘no reasonable basis in fact and law for the claim brought against it.” Murphy, 699 F.3d at 1031 (quoting Filia v. Norfolk S. Ry. Co., 336 F.3d 806, 810 (8th Cir.2003)). “Where applicable state precedent precludes the existence of a cause of action against a defendant, join-der is fraudulent.” Filia, 336 F.3d at 810. The parties agree that Missouri law applies. The Wivells maintain that two of their original claims against Kozeny— namely, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty — are supported by a reasonable basis in fact and law. We disagree.

1. Negligence

Under Missouri law, “the first essential element of a claim of negligence” is “the existence of a duty.” Leeper v. Asmus, — S.W.3d -, 2014 WL 2190966, at *3 (Mo.Ct.App. May 27, 2014). The Wivells allege that “Kozeny, acting as trustee, had assumed a duty and responsibility for overseeing the servicing of [the Wivells’] loan.” However, this particular duty is not enumerated in the deed of trust, which fixes the duties owed by Kozeny as a trustee under Missouri law. See Spires v. Edgar, 513 S.W.2d 372, 378 (Mo. banc 1974) (“The duties and powers of a trustee are fixed by the terms of the contract, namely, the deed of trust.”). The Wivells argue for the first time on appeal that Kozeny also was negligent because it breached its fiduciary duty of neutrality. However, in their complaint, the Wivells’ negligence count does not allege that Koz-eny owed a duty of neutrality. See Campbell v. Davol, Inc., 620 F.3d 887

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756 F.3d 609, 2014 WL 2871306, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 11927, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kenneth-wivell-v-wells-fargo-bank-na-ca8-2014.