Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_08-cv-08125/USCOURTS-azd-3_08-cv-08125-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 480
Nature of Suit: Consumer Credit
Cause of Action: 15:1681 Fair Credit Reporting Act

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

John R. Piccini, an individual,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Wells Fargo Auto Finance, Inc., a

California corporation; and Transunion

LLC, a business entity domiciled in

Delaware, 

Defendants. 

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No. CV-08-8125-PCT-DGC

ORDER

Defendant Wells Fargo Auto Finance, Inc. has filed a motion for attorney’s fees and

costs. Dkt. #28. The motion has been fully briefed. Dkt. ##30, 32. The Court will deny the

motion.

Plaintiff’s complaint asserts claims for violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15

U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., and defamation. Dkt. #1. Plaintiff claims that Defendants published

false credit information about him after he entered a truck lease agreement with Wells Fargo.

Id. Wells Fargo invoked an arbitration clause in the lease agreement to prevail on its motion

to compel arbitration. Dkt. ##21, 25. Wells Fargo now moves for attorney’s fees and costs

incurred in enforcing its right to arbitration. 

Under Arizona law, “[i]n any contested action arising out of a contract, express or

implied, the court may award the successful party reasonable attorney fees.” A.R.S. § 12-

Case 3:08-cv-08125-DGC Document 33 Filed 04/06/09 Page 1 of 2
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341.01(A). “This statute allows attorney’s fees only in the case of breach of contract, express

or implied.” Ford v. Revlon, Inc., 734 P.2d 580, 587-88 (Ariz. 1987). Plaintiff’s complaint

does not allege a breach of contract, nor can it be said that the statutory and tort claims

alleged in the complaint would not have arisen but for breach of the lease agreement. Wells

Fargo argues that its arbitration motion (Dkt. #21) was based on the lease agreement, but that

is not the test under A.R.S. § 12-341.01(A). The question is whether the claims in this

lawsuit arose out of contract. Because they did not, attorney’s fees are not available under

the statute.

IT IS ORDERED that Defendant Wells Fargo’s motion for attorney’s fees (Dkt. #28)

is denied.

DATED this 6th day of April, 2009.

Case 3:08-cv-08125-DGC Document 33 Filed 04/06/09 Page 2 of 2