Royal Park Invs. SA/NV v. U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n

356 F. Supp. 3d 287
District Court, S.D. Illinois·Decided November 30, 2018·No. 14 Civ. 2590 (VM)·Published·Cited by 11 cases

Opinion

VICTOR MARRERO, United States District Judge

In 2014, plaintiff Royal Park Investments SA/NV ("Royal Park") sued defendant U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank"), alleging that U.S. Bank breached its contractual and common law duties in its role as trustee for numerous residential mortgage-backed securities ("RMBS") trusts. (See Dkt. No. 2 ¶¶ 2-24.) That case continues before this Court (the "Underlying Suit").

Three years later, Royal Park sued U.S. Bank again in this Court. On this occasion, Royal Park challenged U.S. Bank's practice of billing to the RMBS trusts the legal fees and expenses U.S. Bank incurred in defending the Underlying Suit. Royal Park alleges that U.S. Bank is not permitted to bill those fees to the trusts and seeks damages, declaratory judgment, and injunctive relief. (See"Fees Complaint," 17 Civ. 6778, Dkt. No. 1.) This separate suit, originally bearing case number 17 Civ. 6778, (the "Fees Suit") has been consolidated with the Underlying Suit and discovery is currently stayed regarding the Fees Complaint. (See Dkt. Nos. 342, 369.)

Before the Court are two requests related to the Fees Complaint. First, National *291Credit Union Administration Board ("NCUA") seeks to file a motion to intervene in this action as it relates to the Fees Complaint. (See"NCUA Dec. 18 Letter," Dkt. No. 350.) Second, U.S. Bank seeks to file a motion either to dismiss the Fees Complaint or to stay these proceedings pending the resolution of the Underlying Suit. (See"U.S. Bank Nov. 13 Letter," 17 Civ. 6778, Dkt. No. 12; "U.S. Bank Nov. 22 Letter," Dkt. No. 343.) For the reasons discussed below, the Court construes both requests as motions and (1) DENIES NCUA's request to intervene in the suit; and (2) STAYS proceedings regarding the Fees Complaint pending the resolution of the Underlying Suit.

I. BACKGROUND

On September 6, 2017, Royal Park sued U.S. Bank seeking damages, declaratory relief, and injunctive relief to stop U.S. Bank from billing litigation fees and costs to the trusts at issue in the Underlying Suit. (See Fees Complaint.)

In light of the case's long history before this Court, the Court assumes familiarity with the extensive factual and procedural developments in the Underlying Suit and addresses the relevant background only briefly. As stated in further detail in this Court's order denying class certification, Royal Park asserts that trustee U.S. Bank breached its contractual obligations by failing to protect trust assets in twenty-one RMBS trusts under certain contractual agreements (the "Governing Agreements"). See Royal Park Invs. SA/NV v. U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n, 324 F.Supp.3d 387, 392 (S.D.N.Y. 2018). Under the Governing Agreements, U.S. Bank has the right, on behalf and for the benefit of the trusts, to enforce various transferors' representations and warranties about the credit quality and characteristics of the underlying loans and the accuracy of the data conveyed about the loans. See id. According to Royal Park, in certain circumstances, U.S. Bank failed to take required remedial action. See id. As an investor in the trusts, Royal Park alleges it was harmed by U.S. Bank's actions. See id. The parties continue to litigate the Underlying Suit, with discovery currently scheduled to continue through September 2019. (See Dkt. No. 415.)

In the Fees Complaint, Royal Park alleges that U.S. Bank has been charging "its legal fees and costs incurred in its defense" of the Underlying Suit to the trusts at issue in that action. (Fees Complaint ¶ 2.) Royal Park alleges that, under the Governing Agreements, U.S. Bank is not permitted to reimburse itself for those fees and costs in this manner. (See id. ¶ 3.) Royal Park brings this putative class action for breach of contract and related claims1 to recover those fees and costs and prevent U.S. Bank from continuing to bill those litigation fees and costs to the trusts. The Court consolidated the Underlying Suit and the Fees Complaint in November 2017. (See Dkt. No. 342.)

On November 13, 2017, U.S. Bank wrote to Royal Park pursuant to the Court's Individual Practices, outlining its arguments in support of a motion to dismiss or, in the alternative, a motion to stay the proceedings. (See U.S. Bank Nov. 13 Letter.) Royal Park responded on November 20, 2017 (see"Royal Park Nov. 20 Letter," Dkt. No. 345), and U.S. Bank, by letter dated November 22, 2017, seeks a pre-motion conference for further guidance on *292possible motion practice (see U.S. Bank Nov. 22 Letter).

Separately, by a pre-motion letter dated December 19, 2017, NCUA requests leave to file a motion to intervene under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24 (" Rule 24"). (See NCUA Dec. 18 Letter) U.S. Bank opposes NCUA's request, (see"U.S. Bank Dec. 22 Letter," Dkt. No. 355), and Royal Park submitted a letter stating that it takes no position on NCUA's application (see Dkt. No. 354).

In February 2018, Magistrate Judge Robert Lehrburger, to whom this action was referred for pretrial supervision, stayed discovery regarding the Fees Complaint pending resolution of the motion to dismiss after U.S. Bank sought guidance on its pre-motion letter request and how to proceed with discovery. (See"U.S. Bank Feb. 8 Letter," Dkt. No. 364; "U.S. Bank Feb. 13 Letter," Dkt. No. 365; Dkt. No. 369.)

II. DISCUSSION

A. NCUA'S INTERVENTION REQUEST

Acting in its capacity as a liquidating agent, NCUA is a federal agency that holds numerous RMBS certificates, including certificates in two of the twenty-one trusts that Royal Park lists in the Fees Complaint: GPMF 2007-AR1 and WAMU 2007-OA2 (the "Overlapping Trusts"). (See NCUA Dec. 18 Letter at 2.) NCUA also "holds certificates or has beneficial interests in [twenty four] other trusts from the same securitization shelves at issue here" but would limit its proposed complaint to allegations concerning the Overlapping Trusts. (Id. at 2-3.) NCUA asserts that it meets the requirements under Rule 24 to intervene as of right in the dispute. (Id. at 1.) Alternatively, it seeks the Court's leave to intervene in the action permissively. (See id. ) After intervention, NCUA aims to "develop the record on the fact that investor trust beneficiaries enter contracts with the trustee ... reinforcing the conclusion" that case law requires dismissal. (Id. at 3.)

The Court now construes NCUA's letter as a motion for intervention either as of right or with permission, pursuant to Rule 24.

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Royal Park Invs. SA/NV v. U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n, 356 F. Supp. 3d 287 (S.D. Ill. 2018).

356 F. Supp. 3d 287 (Royal Park Invs. SA/NV v. U.S. Bank Nat'l Ass'n) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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