Watson v. Citimortgage, Inc.

814 F. Supp. 2d 726, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113540, 2011 WL 4526980
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Texas
DecidedSeptember 30, 2011
DocketCase No. 4:10-cv-707
StatusPublished
Cited by26 cases

This text of 814 F. Supp. 2d 726 (Watson v. Citimortgage, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Watson v. Citimortgage, Inc., 814 F. Supp. 2d 726, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113540, 2011 WL 4526980 (E.D. Tex. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS

RICHARD A. SCHELL, District Judge.

Pending before the court are Defendant’s “Motion to Dismiss and Brief in Support” (Dkt. # 6); Plaintiffs’ “Response and Brief in Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, or in the Alternative, Motion for More Definite Statement” (Dkt. # 9); and Defendant’s “Reply Brief in Support of Its Motion to Dismiss” (Dkt. # 10). Having considered Defendant’s motion, the responsive briefing, and the relevant legal principles, Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.

[730]*730I. BACKGROUND

This case arises out of a Note and Deed of Trust between Plaintiffs Phillip and Janine Watson (“Plaintiffs”) and Defendant Citimortgage, Inc. (“Defendant”) executed on July 15, 2005. In June 2009, Plaintiffs fell behind on their Note payments. Plaintiffs filed for bankruptcy in October 2009, and were discharged in January 2010. After the bankruptcy discharge, Plaintiffs began discussions with Defendant from February to November 2010 regarding workout options, including loan modifications, to cure their default. Upon Defendant’s request, Plaintiffs applied for the government Home Affordable Modification Program (“HAMP”), but did not qualify for the program. Plaintiffs filled out additional loan applications, submitted financial documents, and continued communication with Defendant during these months in pursuit of a loan modification. On October 2, 2010, Defendant sent Plaintiffs notice of acceleration of the Note and notice of a substitute trustee’s sale set for November 2, 2010. Shortly thereafter, however, Plaintiffs received an email from Defendant on October 7, 2010, stating that Plaintiffs’ mortgage assistance request had been approved and that Defendant would deliver a mortgage solution package within the next five to seven business days. Plaintiffs did not receive documentation regarding the mortgage solution package and, upon further inquiry, learned that completion of the paperwork would take longer than anticipated.

On October 20, 2010, Plaintiffs received a letter from Defendant stating that the foreclosure sale was rescheduled for December 7, 2010. During a phone call from Plaintiffs on October 25, 2010, Defendant informed Plaintiffs that it had approved a three-month trial payment plan and that the first payment was due November 1, 2010. Plaintiffs allege, however, that they never received documentation regarding the three-month trial payment plan. When Plaintiffs inquired about the trial payment plan documents, a representative of Defendant could not confirm whether Plaintiffs would receive the requisite documentation and requested immediate payment over the phone. Plaintiffs do not allege that they made any of the trial payments. Rather, anticipating a foreclosure sale, Plaintiffs filed their Original Petition (Dkt. # 3) on December 1, 2010. And pursuant to a Temporary Restraining Order (Dkt. # 1, Exh. 2, at 24-26) issued by the state district court, the foreclosure sale was cancelled. In their Original Petition, Plaintiffs seek damages from the Defendant for alleged breach of contract, anticipatory breach of contract, unreasonable debt collection efforts, negligent misrepresentation, and violation of the Texas Debt Collection Practices Act, the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and the Texas Property Code. These claims are based generally on allegations that Defendant led Plaintiffs to believe their Note terms were being modified to cure their default while Defendant nevertheless assessed penalties, accelerated the loan, and attempted foreclosure. Plaintiffs also seek an order for accounting of all transactions on their mortgage loan, as well as declaratory judgment that Defendant waived its right to accelerate and foreclose.

On December 23, 2010, Defendant filed a Notice of Removal (Dkt. # 1) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1332(a) and 1441(a). Defendant then filed its Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. # 6) on January 7, 2011, requesting that the court dismiss Plaintiffs’ claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (Fed. R.Civ.P.) 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted or, in the alternative, order Plaintiffs to file a more definite statement pursuant to Fed. R.Civ.P. 12(e).

[731]*731II. DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

A. LEGAL STANDARD

In resolving a Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) motion, a court must accept all of the plaintiffs allegations as true. Ballard v. Wall, 413 F.3d 510, 514 (5th Cir.2005). A claim will survive an attack under Rule 12(b)(6) if it “may be supported by showing any set of facts consistent with the allegations in the complaint.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 563, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). In other words, a claim may not be dismissed based solely on a court’s supposition that the pleader is unlikely “to find evidentiary support for his allegations or prove his claim to the satisfaction of the factfinder.” Id. at 563 n. 8, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Although detailed factual allegations are not required, a plaintiff must provide the grounds of its entitlement to relief beyond mere “labels and conclusions” and “a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Id. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955. The complaint must be factually suggestive, so as to “raise a right to relief above the speculative level,” id. at 555, 127 S.Ct. 1955, and into the “realm of plausible liability.” Id. at 557 n. 5, 127 S.Ct. 1955. Facial plausibility is achieved “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). “Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice.” Id.

B. BREACH OF CONTRACT

Plaintiffs’ first cause of action is for breach of contract, wherein Plaintiffs base their claim on three theories: Defendant breached an implied duty of good faith and fair dealing; Defendant breached the Note and Deed of Trust by accelerating the Note without first providing Plaintiffs with the opportunity to reinstate the Note or cure their default; and Defendant breached a unilateral contract by promising to refrain from foreclosure during loan modification then nevertheless accelerating the note and attempting foreclosure. Additionally, Plaintiffs allege that Defendant should be estopped from accelerating and foreclosing on the property.

1. Breach of Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

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Bluebook (online)
814 F. Supp. 2d 726, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113540, 2011 WL 4526980, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/watson-v-citimortgage-inc-txed-2011.