Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB v. Business Law Group, P.A.

319 F.R.D. 386, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99330, 2017 WL 1034198
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Florida
DecidedFebruary 22, 2017
DocketCase No: 8:15-cv-2831-T-36TGW
StatusPublished

This text of 319 F.R.D. 386 (Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB v. Business Law Group, P.A.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB v. Business Law Group, P.A., 319 F.R.D. 386, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99330, 2017 WL 1034198 (M.D. Fla. 2017).

Opinion

ORDER

Charlene Edwards Honeywell, United States District Judge

This matter comes before the Court upon Plaintiff Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB’s (“Wilmington”), individually and on behalf of all those similarly situated, Motion for Class Certification1 (Doc. 32) to which Defendants Business Law Group, P.A. (“BLG”), LM Funding, LLC (“LMF”), and Bruce Rodgers (collectively “the Defendants”) filed a Response in Opposition (Doc. 39). In the motion, Plaintiff contends that class certification should be granted because the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 have been met. The Court, having considered oral arguments, the parties’ submissions, and being fully advised in the premises will deny the motion.

I. BACKGROUND

This case centers on Defendants’ alleged practice of sending deceptive estoppel certificates that charge amounts in excess of the “safe harbor” limitations2 in violation of Florida law.

The following background is taken from the Complaint (Doc. 2) and/or the Motion for Certification (Doc, 32).

Defendants and their Alleged Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices

LMF contracts with Associations who have unpaid assessments due from their unit owners. See Doc. 2 ¶ 7. In exchange for payment, the Association assigns its right to pursue collection efforts against the delinquent owner and subsequent owners to LMF and authorizes LMF to retain BLG, a law firm, to conduct the debt collection. See id. ¶¶ 7, 40-41. Defendants routinely misrepresent in their estoppel certificates to first mortgagees that they are responsible for all of the previous unit owner’s unpaid assessments, interest, and late charges, plus the Association’s (i.e., BLG’s) costs and attorneys’ fees in collecting these amounts in disregard of the safe harbor provisions. See id ¶¶ 44, 62-63.

Plaintiffs Business and its Alleged Interactions with Defendants

Solaire Unitl308

Plaintiff purchases distressed properties either in default or foreclosure. See Doc. 2 ¶ 67; Doc. 32-11 at ¶ 8. On August 28, 2014, Wilmington obtained a Final Judgment of Foreclosure against numerous defendants, including Solaire at the Plaza Condominium Association, Inc. (“Solaire”), an LMF client. See Doc. 2 ¶¶69 and 74; Doc. 32-1 at ¶10. The original mortgage debt on the foreclosed unit was $226,500. See Doc. 2 ¶¶ 69 and 74; Doc. 32-1 at ¶ 11. The unit’s unpaid assessments that became due during the 12 months [393]*393before the foreclosure were $4,262.88. See Doc. 2 at ¶ 73; Doc. 32-1 at ¶ 12. Wilmington’s liability to Solaire was only $2,266. See Doc. 2 at ¶ 74; Doc. 32-1 at ¶ 13. On November 19, 2014, BLG sent Plaintiff an estop-pel certifícate demanding payment of $31,131,55 for unpaid assessments, finance charges, late fees, legal fees, lien costs, underwriting, prior attorneys’ fees, accelerated assessments, and other costs. See Doc. 2 at ¶ 75; Doc. 32-1 at ¶¶ 14-15. In response, after Plaintiffs multiple requests for a lawful estoppel certificate with the correct “safe harbor” amount, on January 17, 2015, BLG sent another estoppel certificate demanding $32,623.98, again in excess of the “safe harbor.” See Doc. 2 at ¶ 77; Doc. 32-1 at ¶ 16. Plaintiff again requested a proper estoppel certificate, but BLG sent an estoppel certificate seeking amounts greater that the “safe harbor.” See Doc. 2 at ¶78; Doc. 32-1 at ¶ 17. On September 16,2015, BLG demanded $4,981.90, which amount Plaintiff paid on September 29, 2015. See Doc. 2 at ¶ 81; Doc. 32-1 at ¶ 18.

Bermuda Dunes Unit 1111

Plaintiff obtained a Pinal Judgment of Foreclosure on another property against multiple defendants including Bermuda Dunes Private Residences Condominium Association, Inc. (“Bermuda Dunes”). See Doc. 32-1 at ¶ 19. On August 21, 2015, Plaintiff obtained a Certificate of Title, which was also furnished to Bermuda Dunes through its counsel, BLG. See id. at ¶ 20. On August 25, 2015, BLG, on behalf of Bermuda Dunes, sent an estoppel certificate to Plaintiffs agent seeking $33,912.58, which included accelerated assessments, interest, late fees, legal costs, “other association costs of collection,” and a title search. See id. at ¶ 21. Plaintiff requested a proper estoppel certificate recognizing its right to the “safe harbor.” See id. at ¶ 22. On September 29, 2015, BLG sent an updated estoppel certificate to Plaintiff stating that $4,307.33 is due and included charges for assessments, interest, late fees, legal fees, prorated assessments, and the safe harbor amount. See id. at ¶ 23. On October 30, 2015, Wilmington paid BLG $4,307.33. See id. at ¶ 24.

The Class

Plaintiff seeks to certify the following Class under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(2):3

All first mortgagees and their successors or assignees who joined an LMF Association client in a foreclosure action in Florida, obtained title to the property at issue through a foreclosure judgment or deed in lieu of foreclosure, and to whom BLG, on behalf [of] an LMF Association client, provided an estoppel certificate that included charges other than (a) the lesser of the property’s unpaid assessments which came due during the 12 months immediately preceding the acquisition of title or one percent of the original mortgage debt, (b) an estoppel preparation fee, and (c) assessments which came due after the first mortgagee’s acquisition of title to the property, on or after October 28, 2011 (the “Class”).4

[394]*394Plaintiff also seeks to certify the following Damages Subclass under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(3):

All Class members who paid BLG more than the sum of (a) the lesser of the property’s unpaid assessments which came due during the 12 months immediately preceding the acquisition of title or one percent of the original mortgage debt, (b) an estoppel preparation fee, and (c) assessments which came due after the first mortgagee’s acquisition of title to the property, in response to an estoppel certificate sent by BLG on or after October 28, 2011 (the “Damages Subclass”).

II. Legal Standard

A district court has broad discretion in determining whether to certify a class. Washington v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 959 F.2d 1566, 1569 (11th Cir. 1992); Griffin v. Carlin, 755 F.2d 1516, 1531 (11th Cir. 1985). For a district court to certify a class, “the named plaintiffs must have standing, and the putative class must meet each of the requirements specified in Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(a), as well as at least one of the requirements set forth in [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

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Bluebook (online)
319 F.R.D. 386, 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99330, 2017 WL 1034198, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wilmington-savings-fund-society-fsb-v-business-law-group-pa-flmd-2017.