FI L ED

U.S. COURT OF APPEAL S

EL EVENTH CI RCUI T

AUGUST 17, 2009

THOMAS K. KAH

N

CL ERK [ D O N O T P U B L I S H ]

I N T H E U N I T E D S T A T E S C O U R T O F A P P E A L S

F O R T H E E L E V E N T H C I R C U I T

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 8

- 1 4 4 1 3

N o n

- A r g u m e n t C a l e n d a r

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 6

- 0 2 0 7 3

- C V

- T

- 2 4

- T B M

A N D R Z E J M A D U R A

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P l a i n t i f f

,

A N N A D O L I N S K A

- M A D U R A

,

P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l a n t

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v e r s u s

C O U N T R Y W I D E H O M E L O A N S

, I N C

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F U L L S P E C T R U M L E N D I N G

, I N C

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D e f e n d a n t s

- A p p e l l e e s

._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

N o

. 0 8

- 1 4 7 9 3

N o n

- A r g u m e n t C a l e n d a r

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

D

. C

. D o c k e t N o

. 0 6

- 0 2 0 7 3

- C V

- T

- 2 4 T B M

A N D R Z E J M A D U R A

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P l a i n t i f f

- A p p e l l a n t

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A N N A D O L I N S K A

- M A D U R A

,

P l a i n t i f f

,

v e r s u s

C O U N T R Y W I D E H O M E L O A N S

, I N C

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F U L L S P E C T R U M L E N D I N G I N C

. ,

D e f e n d a n t s

- A p p e l l e e s

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

A p p e a l s f

r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s D i s t r i c t C o u r t

f o r t h e M i d d l e D i s t r i c t o f F l o r i d a

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

( A u g u s t 1 7

, 2 0 0 9 )

B e f o r e T J O F L A T a n d E D M O N D S O N

, * C i r c u i t J u d g e s

.

P E R C U R I A M :

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ * This opinion is issued as a quor um as J udg e Hull did not participate . See 28 U.S.C. §

46(d).

2A n d r z e j M a d u r a ( “ M r

. M a d u r a ” ) a n d h i s w i f e

, A n n a D o l i n s k a

- M a d u r a

( “ M r s

. M a d u r a ” )

, f

i l e d a p r o s e c o m p l a i n t a g a i n s t C o u n t r y w i d e H o m e L o a n s

, I n c

.

( “ C o u n t r y w i d e ” ) a n d F u l l S p e c t r u m L e n d i n g

, I n c

. ( “ F u l l S p e c t r u m ” )

, a l l e g i n g

v i o l a t i o n s o f F l o r i d a l a w a n d f e d e r a l s t a t u t e s g o v e r n i n g c o n s u m e r c r e d i t p r o t e c t i o n

.

T h i s a c t i o n a r i s e s o u t o f a h o m e l o a n t h e M a d u r a s o b t a i n e d f r o m F u l l S p e c t r u m

t h a t F u l l S p e c t r u m t h e n s o l d t o C o u n t r y w i d e

. I n a n u t s h e l l

, t h e M a d u r a s c l a i m t h a t

t h e d e f e n d a n t s f o r g e d l o a n d o c u m e n t s a n d f r a u d u l e n t l y c h a r g e d a p r e p a y m e n t

p e n a l t y

. M r

. M a d u r a a p p e a l s p r o s e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s o r d e r d i s m i s s i n g h i s c l a i m s

b a s e d o n a n a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t i n t h e l o a n d o c u m e n t s

. M r s

. M a d u r a a p p e a l s p r o

s e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s o r d e r g r a n t i n g s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t t o t h e d e f e n d a n t s o n h e r

c l a i m s b e c a u s e

, i n t e r a l i a

, s h e e i t h e r a l r e a d y h a d o r c o u l d h a v e l i t i g a t e d t h e m i n a n

e a r l i e r F l o r i d a s t a t e c o u r t a c t i o n

. A f t e r r e v i e w

, w e a f

f i r m

.

I

. B A C K G R O U N D F A C T S

A

. F e d e r a l C o m p l a i n t

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e M a d u r a s ’ c o m p l a i n t

, i n J u l y 2 0 0 0

, F u l l S p e c t r u m s e n t t h e

M a d u r a s l o a n d o c u m e n t s

, w h i c h t h e y s i g n e d a n d s e n t b a c k

. O n J u l y 2 6

, 2 0 0 0

, t h e

M a d u r a s a n d F u l l S p e c t r u m c l o s e d t h e l o a n

. U n d e r t h e t e r m s o f t h e l o a n

a g r e e m e n t

, t h e M a d u r a s b o r r o w e d $ 8 7

, 7 5 0 a t a n a d j u s t a b l e i n t e r e s t r a t e o f 1 4

. 3 7 5

3p e r c e n t

, s e c u r e d b y t h e i r p r i n c i p a l r e s i d e n c e

. 1

O n J u l y 3 1

, 2 0 0 0

, C o u n t r y w i d e p u r c h a s e d t h e l o a n f r o m F u l l S p e c t r u m

. I n

M a r c h 2 0 0 1

, t h e M a d u r a s c a l l e d C o u n t r y w i d e a n d r e q u e s t e d t o r e p a y t h e i r l o a n i n

f u l l

. C o u n t r y w i d e i n f

o r m e d t h e m t h a t a p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y a p p l i e d a n d l a t e r s e n t

t h e m a p a y o f

f d e m a n d s t a t e m e n t t h a t i n c l u d e d a $ 5

, 0 3 6

. 8 4 p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y

.

T h e M a d u r a s a l l e g e t h a t t h e l o a n d o c u m e n t s t h e y s i g n e d d i d n o t i n c l u d e a

p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y

. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e M a d u r a s

, F u l l S p e c t r u m a n d C o u n t r y w i d e

d e s t r o y e d t h o s e d o c u m e n t s

, c r e a t e d f r a u d u l e n t c o p i e s o f c e r t a i n d o c u m e n t s

,

i n c l u d i n g a T r u t h I n L e n d i n g A c t ( “ T I L A ” ) d i s c l o s u r e s t a t e m e n t a n d t h e a d j u s t a b l e

r a t e n o t e

, a n d f

o r g e d t h e i r s i g n a t u r e s o n t h e s e f r a u d u l e n t d o c u m e n t s

. A c c o r d i n g t o

t h e M a d u r a s

, t h e f

o r g e d d o c u m e n t s c o n t a i n e d c o n d i t i o n s t o w h i c h t h e y n e v e r

a g r e e d

, i n c l u d i n g a p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y

.

I n s u b s e q u e n t c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

, t h e d e f e n d a n t s r e f

u s e d t o p r o v i d e t h e

M a d u r a s w i t h c o p i e s o f t h e a l l e g e d l y f o r g e d d o c u m e n t s

. T h e M a d u r a s s e n t a

n o t i c e t o C o u n t r y w i d e d e m a n d i n g a n i m m e d i a t e r e s c i s s i o n o f t h e l o a n a g r e e m e n t

.

T h e M a d u r a s h i r e d a f

o r e n s i c d o c u m e n t e x a m i n e r

, w h o f o u n d t h a t t h e i r s i g n a t u r e s

o n t h e T I L A d i s c l o s u r e s t a t e m e n t a n d M r

. M a d u r a ’ s i n i t i a l s o n t h e a d j u s t a b l e r a t e

Although the fede ral c omplaint alleg es that both Mr. and Mr s. Madura wer e borr ower s, 1

the def endants dispute this alleg ation. The de fenda nts contend that only

Mr. Madura

signe d the

loan documents a

nd that Mrs. Madura ’s sig nature appea red only on documents re leasing her

marital and home stead intere st in the property

.

4n o t e w e r e f o r g e d

. T h e M a d u r a s s e n t t h i s r e p o r t t o C o u n t r y w i d e

. I n J u l y 2 0 0 1

,

C o u n t r y w i d e r e f

u s e d t o r e s c i n d t h e l o a n a g r e e m e n t

, c l a i m i n g t h a t M r

. M a d u r a ’ s

i n i t i a l s o n t h e p r o m i s s o r y n o t e w e r e n o t f o r g e d a n d t h a t a l l d i s c l o s u r e s h a d b e e n

p r o v i d e d

. N o n e t h e l e s s

, C o u n t r y w i d e a g r e e d t o w a i v e t h e p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y

.

T h e M a d u r a s a l s o a l l e g e d t h a t t h e y h a d f i l e d a c o m p l a i n t i n t h e M a n a t e e

C o u n t y C i r c u i t C o u r t i n F l o r i d a ( “ t h e s t a t e c o u r t a c t i o n ” ) a g a i n s t F u l l S p e c t r u m

a n d C o u n t r y w i d e s e e k i n g r e s c i s s i o n o f t h e l o a n a g r e e m e n t

. T h e M a d u r a s a t t a c h e d

t o t h e i r f e d e r a l c o m p l a i n t c o p i e s o f : ( 1 ) t h e i r s t a t e c o u r t c o m p l a i n t

, w h i c h r a i s e d

s t a t e l a w c l a i m s o f f

o r g e r y

, u t t e r i n g a f

o r g e d i n s t r u m e n t

, u s u r y

, c o n s p i r a c y a n d

r a c k e t e e r i n g ; ( 2 ) a n a m e n d e d s t a t e c o u r t c o m p l a i n t

, f i l e d b y M r s

. M a d u r a

, w h i c h

a l l e g e d s t a t e l a w c l a i m s o f f r a u d a n d f

r a u d i n t h e i n d u c e m e n t a n d f e d e r a l T I L A

c l a i m s ; a n d ( 3 ) t h e f

o r e n s i c d o c u m e n t e x a m i n e r ’ s r e p o r t

. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e

M a d u r a s ’ f

e d e r a l c o m p l a i n t

, t h e s t a t e c o u r t c o m p e l l e d M r

. M a d u r a t o a r b i t r a t e h i s

c l a i m s

.

T h e M a d u r a s ’ f

e d e r a l c o m p l a i n t c o n t a i n e d n i n e t e e n c o u n t s b a s e d o n

e s s e n t i a l l y t h e s a m e f

a c t s a s t h e s t a t e c o u r t a c t i o n

. I n e l e v e n c o u n t s

, t h e M a d u r a s

s o u g h t r e s c i s s i o n o f t h e l o a n a g r e e m e n t a n d s t a t u t o r y d a m a g e s f o r a l l e g e d T I L A

v i o l a t i o n s

. I n e i g h t c o u n t s

, t h e M a d u r a s s o u g h t r e s c i s s i o n a n d d a m a g e s f o r s t a t e

l a w c l a i m s o f f

a i l u r e t o c o n t r a c t

, f

o r g e r y

, f r a u d

, f r a u d i n t h e i n d u c e m e n t

, u s u r y

,

5u t t e r i n g f

o r g e d b i l l s a n d v i o l a t i n g t h e F l o r i d a C o m m u n i c a t i o n s F r a u d A c t

( “ F C F A ” )

.

B

. M o t i o n t o D i s m i s s a n d / o r C o m p e l A r b i t r a t i o n

C o u n t r y w i d e a n d F u l l S p e c t r u m m o v e d t o d i s m i s s t h e f e d e r a l c o m p l a i n t f

o r

l a c k o f s u b

j e c t m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n u n d e r t h e R o o k e r

- F e l d m a n d o c t r i n e

.

A l t e r n a t i v e l y

, t h e d e f

e n d a n t s a r g u e d t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d o r d e r M r

.

M a d u r a t o a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s p u r s u a n t t o t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t i n t h e l o a n

d o c u m e n t s

.

M r

. M a d u r a o p p o s e d a r b i t r a t i o n

, a r g u i n g t h a t h e w a s n o t b o u n d b y t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

. M r

. M a d u r a ’ s a r g u m e n t h i n g e d o n t h e t h e o r y t h a t t h e r e

w e r e t w o c o n t r a c t s

. T h e “ f i r s t c o n t r a c t ” c o n s i s t e d o f t h e l o a n d o c u m e n t s h e s i g n e d

p r i o r t o a n d d u r i n g t h e c l o s i n g

, a n d t h e “ s e c o n d c o n t r a c t ” c o n s i s t e d o f t h e

d o c u m e n t s w i t h t h e p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y a l l e g e d l y f o r g e d a f t e r t h e c l o s i n g

.

A l t h o u g h s o m e w h a t d i f f i c u l t t o f o l l o w

, i t a p p e a r s M r

. M a d u r a a r g u e d t h a t t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t h e a d m i t t e d l y s i g n e d r e l a t e d t o o n l y t h e “ f i r s t c o n t r a c t ” a n d

n o t t h e “ s e c o n d c o n t r a c t

. ” T h u s

, a c c o r d i n g t o M r

. M a d u r a

, h e c o u l d n o t b e f o r c e d

t o a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s r e l a t i n g t o t h i s “ s e c o n d c o n t r a c t

. ”

A s t o t h e i r R o o k e r

- F e l d m a n a r g u m e n t

, t h e d e f e n d a n t s s u b m i t t e d d o c u m e n t s

f r o m t h e s t a t e c o u r t a c t i o n i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e s t a t e c o u r t : ( 1 ) f o u n d t h a t M r

.

6M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s w e r e s u b j e c t t o t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t ; a n d ( 2 ) g r a n t e d

s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t t o C o u n t r y w i d e a n d F u l l S p e c t r u m o n M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s

.

T h e s t a t e c o u r t f

o u n d t h a t : ( 1 ) M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s T I L A c l a i m s w e r e b a r r e d b y t h e o n e

y e a r s t a t u t e o f l i m i t a t i o n s i n 1 5 U

. S

. C

. § 1 6 4 0 ( e ) ; ( 2 ) M r s

. M a d u r a w a s n o t a

“ b o r r o w e r ” u n d e r t h e l o a n a g r e e m e n t a n d

, t h u s

, d i d n o t h a v e s t a n d i n g t o b r i n g a

u s u r y c l a i m ; a n d ( 3 ) M r s

. M a d u r a c o u l d n o t s h o w d a m a g e s f o r h e r f r a u d c l a i m s

b e c a u s e i t w a s u n d i s p u t e d t h a t t h e d e f e n d a n t s h a d w a i v e d t h e p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y

. 2

I n t h i s f e d e r a l a c t i o n

, a m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e i s s u e d a r e p o r t ( “ R & R ” )

r e c o m m e n d i n g t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n y t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’ m o t i o n t o d i s m i s s f o r

l a c k o f s u b

j e c t m a t t e r j u r i s d i c t i o n

, b u t g r a n t t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’ m o t i o n t o c o m p e l M r

.

M a d u r a t o a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s

. T h e R & R c o n c l u d e d t h a t M r

. M a d u r a w a s b o u n d

b y t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

, w h i c h h e d i d n o t d i s p u t e h e h a d s i g n e d

, a n d t h a t t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t c o v e r e d a l l o f h i s c l a i m s

. O v e r M r

. M a d u r a ’ s o b j e c t i o n s

, t h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t a d o p t e d t h e R & R

, c o m p e l l e d M r

. M a d u r a t o a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s

, a n d

d i s m i s s e d h i s c l a i m s i n f a v o r o f a r b i t r a t i o n

. I n d o i n g s o

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t r e j e c t e d

M r

. M a d u r a ’ s t w o

- c o n t r a c t t h e o r y a n d f o u n d t h a t a l l o f M r

. M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s a r o s e

o u t o f t h e s i n g l e l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n a n d w e r e e n c o m p a s s e d b y t h e a r b i t r a t i o n

The F lorida Second D istrict Court of Appea l affir med the ar

bitration and summary 2

judgme nt rulings. The United States Supreme Court denie d Mr. Madura ’s subsequent pe tition

for a writ of ce rtiorar i.

7a g r e e m e n t

.

C

. M o t i o n f

o r L e a v e t o F i l e A m e n d e d C o m p l a i n t s

A f t e r t h e a r b i t r a t i o n r u l i n g

, t h e M a d u r a s m o v e d f o r l e a v e t o a m e n d t h e i r

f e d e r a l c o m p l a i n t t o a d d c l a i m s r e l a t i n g t o t h e “ s e c o n d c o n t r a c t

, ” i

. e

. , t h e a l l e g e d l y

f o r g e d d o c u m e n t s

, w i t h C o u n t r y w i d e a n d F u l l S p e c t r u m

. A s t o M r

. M a d u r a

, t h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n a s m o o t b e c a u s e h e h a d b e e n o r d e r e d t o a r b i t r a t e

h i s c l a i m s

. A s t o M r s

. M a d u r a

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n a s f u t i l e

. T h e

d i s t r i c t c o u r t r e i t e r a t e d t h a t a l l o f t h e M a d u r a s ’ c l a i m s a r o s e o u t o f t h e s a m e l o a n

t r a n s a c t i o n a n d t h a t t h e i r a t t e m p t t o d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n a f i r s t a n d s e c o n d c o n t r a c t

w a s u n p e r s u a s i v e

.

T h e r e a f t e r

, t h e M a d u r a s m o v e d a g a i n f o r l e a v e t o a m e n d t h e i r f e d e r a l

c o m p l a i n t

. T h e y r e

- a l l e g e d p o r t i o n s o f t h e i r o r i g i n a l c o m p l a i n t a n d i n c l u d e d t h e s e

a d d i t i o n a l c l a i m s : ( 1 ) s p o l i a t i o n o f e v i d e n c e ; ( 2 ) r e s c i s s i o n o f t h e a r b i t r a t i o n

a g r e e m e n t b a s e d o n f

r a u d i n t h e i n d u c e m e n t ; ( 3 ) T I L A v i o l a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g a

c o u r i e r c h a r g e ; ( 4 ) a s t a t e R I C O c l a i m ; ( 5 ) a v i o l a t i o n o f t h e F C F A ; a n d ( 6 ) a c l a i m

t h a t t h e d e f

e n d a n t s r u i n e d t h e i r c r e d i t

. A s t o M r

. M a d u r a

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d

t h e m o t i o n b e c a u s e h e w a s r e q u i r e d t o a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s a n d h a d d e l a y e d i n

a s s e r t i n g h i s f

r a u d c l a i m

. A s t o M r s

. M a d u r a

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d e n i e d t h e m o t i o n

3

The district cour

t noted that Mr. Madura

was see king to a dd this claim over seve n y ear s 3

afte r he sig ned the a

rbitration ag ree ment and af ter the sc heduling order

had bee n enter ed,

8b e c a u s e

, i n t e r a l i a : ( 1 ) r e s j u d i c a t a b a r r e d h e r c l a i m s b a s e d o n t h e l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n ;

( 2 ) h e r r u i n e d c r e d i t a n d F C F A c l a i m s w e r e f u t i l e ; ( 3 ) a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e s o f

l i m i t a t i o n s b a r r e d h e r r e s c i s s i o n a n d T I L A c l a i m s ; a n d ( 4 ) s h e u n d u l y d e l a y e d i n

a s s e r t i n g h e r s t a t e R I C O

, u t t e r i n g a n d p u n i t i v e d a m a g e s c l a i m s

.

D

. M o t i o n f

o r S u m m a r y J u d g m e n t

A f t e r M r

. M a d u r a w a s c o m p e l l e d t o a r b i t r a t e

, C o u n t r y w i d e a n d F u l l

S p e c t r u m m o v e d f

o r s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t o n a l l o f M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s

, a r g u i n g

,

i n t e r a l i a

, t h a t s h e w a s r e l i t i g a t i n g t h e i s s u e s a r o u n d t h e J u l y 2 0 0 0 l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n

a n d t h a t h e r c l a i m s w e r e b a r r e d b y i s s u e a n d c l a i m p r e c l u s i o n b a s e d o n t h e s t a t e

c o u r t a c t i o n

. T h e d e f

e n d a n t s a l t e r n a t i v e l y a r g u e d t h a t M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s w e r e

t i m e

- b a r r e d a n d m o o t a n d t h a t s h e l a c k e d s t a n d i n g

.

T h e m a g i s t r a t e j u d g e ’ s R & R r e c o m m e n d e d g r a n t i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’

s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t m o t i o n

. T h e R & R c o n c l u d e d t h a t : ( 1 ) M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s

w e r e b a r r e d b y i s s u e a n d c l a i m p r e c l u s i o n b a s e d o n t h e s t a t e c o u r t ’ s f i n a l j u d g m e n t

a g a i n s t h e r ; a n d ( 2 ) a l t e r n a t i v e l y

, h e r T I L A

, f r a u d a n d u s u r y c l a i m s w e r e t i m e

b a r r e d b y a p p l i c a b l e s t a t u t e s o f l i m i t a t i o n s a n d F l o r i d a ’ s c r i m i n a l

- u t t e r i n g s t a t u t e

d i d n o t p r o v i d e a p r i v a t e r i g h t o f a c t i o n

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a d o p t e d t h e R & R o v e r

discovery conclude d, and the district cour t had ruled tha t Mr. Madura ’s claims had to be

arbitra ted pursuant to the a rbitration ag ree ment. The district cour t stated that it appea

red Mr

. Madura was “ attempting to g et ar ound this Court’s ruling by amending his complaint.”

9M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s o b j e c t i o n s a n d e n t e r e d s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t i n f a v o r o f t h e

d e f e n d a n t s

. T h e M a d u r a s f i l e d t h i s c o n s o l i d a t e d a p p e a l

.

I I

. D I S C U S S I O N

A

. M o t i o n t o C o m p e l A r b i t r a t i o n o f M r

. M a d u r a ’ s C l a i m s

U n d e r t h e F e d e r a l A r b i t r a t i o n A c t ( “ F A A ” )

, i f o n e p a r t y t o a n a r b i t r a t i o n

a g r e e m e n t r e f

u s e s t o a r b i t r a t e

, t h e a g g r i e v e d p a r t y m a y p e t i t i o n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t t o

c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n

. 9 U

. S

. C

. § 4

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t w i l l g r a n t t h e p e t i t i o n “ u p o n

b e i n g s a t i s f

i e d t h a t t h e m a k i n g o f t h e a g r e e m e n t f o r a r b i t r a t i o n o r t h e f

a i l u r e t o

c o m p l y t h e r e w i t h i s n o t i n i s s u e

. ” I d

. H o w e v e r

, t h e F A A p r o h i b i t s e n f o r c e m e n t o f

t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t i f i t i s i n v a l i d “ u p o n s u c h g r o u n d s a s e x i s t a t l a w o r i n

e q u i t y f o r t h e r e v o c a t i o n o f a n y c o n t r a c t

. ” I d

. § 2

. 4

A t t a c h e d t o t h e d e f

e n d a n t s ’ m o t i o n t o c o m p e l a r b i t r a t i o n w a s a c o p y o f t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t M r

. M a d u r a s i g n e d o n J u l y 1 1

, 2 0 0 0

, a l o n g w i t h o t h e r l o a n

d o c u m e n t s

. T h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t p r o v i d e d t h a t c l a i m s r e l a t i n g t o t h e c r e d i t

5

t r a n s a c t i o n ( i

. e

. , t h e h o m e l o a n ) w o u l d b e r e s o l v e d i n a r b i t r a t i o n w i t h t h e N a t i o n a l

A r b i t r a t i o n F o r u m ( “ N A F ” )

.

T h e p a r t i e s d o n o t d i s p u t e t h a t t h e J u l y 2 0 0 0 l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n i s a t r a n s a c t i o n

We review de novo a district c ourt’s dec ision to compel arbitration. Caley v. Gulfstrea

m 4

Aer ospace Corp., 428 F.3d 1359, 1368 n.6 ( 11th Cir. 2005).

The de fenda

nts also attache d a sec ond copy of the a rbitration ag ree ment Mr. Madura 5

signe d on J uly

26, 2000, the date of

the closing

.

10i n v o l v i n g c o m m e r c e u n d e r t h e F A A

, t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t i s g o v e r n e d b y t h e

F A A a n d M r

. M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s r e l a t i n g t o t h e J u l y 2 0 0 0 l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n f a l l w i t h i n

t h e s c o p e o f t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

. I n s t e a d

, t h e p a r t i e s d i s p u t e w h e t h e r

, 6

p u r s u a n t t o § 2 o f t h e F A A

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s h o u l d h a v e d e c l i n e d t o e n f o r c e t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t b e c a u s e i t i s i n v a l i d

. M r

. M a d u r a o f f e r s t w o g r o u n d s f

o r

f i n d i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t u n e n f o r c e a b l e u n d e r § 2 o f t h e F A A : ( 1 ) h e w a s

f r a u d u l e n t l y i n d u c e d t o e n t e r i n t o t h e l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n ; a n d ( 2 ) a r b i t r a t i o n w o u l d b e

p r o h i b i t i v e l y e x p e n s i v e

.

1

. F r a u d i n t h e I n d u c e m e n t

I n i n t e r p r e t i n g § 2 o f F A A

, c o u r t s h a v e d r a w n a d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n “ c l a i m s

t h a t c h a l l e n g e t h e c o n t r a c t g e n e r a l l y a n d c l a i m s t h a t c h a l l e n g e t h e a r b i t r a t i o n

p r o v i s i o n i t s e l f

. ” J e n k i n s v

. F i r s t A m

. C a s h A d v a n c e o f G a

. , L L C

, 4 0 0 F

. 3 d 8 6 8

,

8 7 6 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 5 ) ( c i t i n g P r i m a P a i n t C o r p

. v

. F l o o d & C o n k l i n M f g

. C o

. , 3 8 8

U

. S

. 3 9 5

, 4 0 3

, 8 7 S

. C t

. 1 8 0 1

, 1 8 0 6 ( 1 9 6 7 ) )

. T h u s

, w h i l e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t m a y

d e c i d e a l l e g a t i o n s o f f

r a u d i n t h e i n d u c e m e n t t h a t p e r t a i n s p e c i f i c a l l y t o t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

, c l a i m s o f f r a u d i n t h e i n d u c e m e n t a s t o t h e c o n t r a c t a s a

w h o l e m u s t b e r e s o l v e d i n a r b i t r a t i o n

. I d

. a t 8 7 6

- 7 7

.

We rejec t Mr. Madura ’s ar g ument that he asse rted c laims of uttering based on the 6

defe ndants’ submission of the alleg edly forg ed loan doc uments in the Florida sta te cour ts and the

U.S. Supreme Court that fall outside the a rbitration ag ree ment. As the district court c oncluded,

these c laims are not in the Ma duras’ complaint.

11M r

. M a d u r a d o e s n o t d i s p u t e t h a t h e s i g n e d t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

.

A l t h o u g h M r

. M a d u r a c l a i m s t h a t F u l l S p e c t r u m f o r g e d h i s s i g n a t u r e o n t h e

a d j u s t a b l e r a t e n o t e a n d T I L A d i s c l o s u r e s t a t e m e n t

, h e d o e s n o t c o n t e n d t h a t F u l l

S p e c t r u m f

o r g e d h i s s i g n a t u r e o n t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

. C f

. C h a s t a i n v

.

R o b i n s o n

- H u m p h r e y C o

. , I n c

. , 9 5 7 F

. 2 d 8 5 1

, 8 5 4 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 2 ) ( e x p l a i n i n g

t h a t

, w h e n a p a r t y c o n t e n d s h e d i d n o t s i g n o r a s s e n t t o a n a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

,

a n d t h u s c h a l l e n g e s t h e v e r y e x i s t e n c e o f s u c h a n a g r e e m e n t

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

,

b e f o r e s e n d i n g t h e c l a i m s t o a r b i t r a t i o n

, “ m u s t f i r s t d e c i d e w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e n o n

s i g n i n g p a r t y c a n n o n e t h e l e s s b e b o u n d b y t h e c o n t r a c t u a l l a n g u a g e ” )

. 7

I n s t e a d

, M r

. M a d u r a r a i s e s a d e f e n s e o f f r a u d u l e n t i n d u c e m e n t

. H e c l a i m s

t h a t F u l l S p e c t r u m t r i c k e d h i m i n t o s i g n i n g t h e l o a n d o c u m e n t s

, i n c l u d i n g t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

, b y p r o v i d i n g h i m w i t h l o a n d o c u m e n t s t h a t d i d n o t c o n t a i n

t h e p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y a n d

, a f t e r c l o s i n g

, d e s t r o y i n g t h o s e l o a n d o c u m e n t s a n d

r e p l a c i n g t h e m w i t h f

o r g e d d o c u m e n t s t h a t c o n t a i n e d t h e p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y

. 8

Even if Mr. Ma dura ha d arg ued in re sponse to the motion to compel arbitration that his 7

signa ture on the a

rbitration ag ree ment was for g ed, he c ould not prevail bec ause he failed to

provide a ny evidenc e to support such a claim. See Chastain, 957 F .2d at 854-55 (sta ting that “ [a]

party cannot plac e the making of the a rbitration ag ree ment in issue simpl y by opining that no

ag ree ment exis ts’ and that in addition to “an une quivocal denia l that the ag ree ment had bee n

made . . . some e vidence should [ be] produced to substantiate the denial” ( quotation marks

omitted)).

Mr. Madura ’s appe al brief states that a F ull Spectrum repr esenta tive assure d Mr. Madura 8

over the phone and at the closing that the ar bitration ag ree ment perta ined to the loan docume nts

Mr. Madura

signe d. I n support, the appe al brief cites to Mr. Madur a’s a ffidavit filed in the

district court. Howe ver, Mr . Madura ’s af fidavit does not contain this fac tual alleg ation.

12M r

. M a d u r a c o n t e n d s t h a t b e c a u s e t h e d e f e n d a n t s f o r g e d h i s s i g n a t u r e o n t h e

a d j u s t a b l e r a t e n o t e a n d T I L A d i s c l o s u r e s t a t e m e n t

, t h e e n t i r e l o a n a g r e e m e n t

,

i n c l u d i n g t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

, i s v o i d a b i n i t i o

.

M r

. M a d u r a ’ s a r g u m e n t i s a c h a l l e n g e “ t o t h e v a l i d i t y o f t h e c o n t r a c t a s a

w h o l e

, ” a n d n o t s p e c i f

i c a l l y t o t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

. S e e B u c k e y e C h e c k

C a s h i n g

, I n c

. v

. C a r d e g n a

, 5 4 6 U

. S

. 4 4 0

, 4 4 8

- 4 9

, 1 2 6 S

. C t

. 1 2 0 4

, 1 2 1 0 ( 2 0 0 6 )

( c o n c l u d i n g t h a t a c l a i m t h a t t h e e n t i r e c o n t r a c t i s i l l e g a l a n d v o i d a b i n i t i o u n d e r

s t a t e l a w m u s t b e a r b i t r a t e d ) ; P r i m a P a i n t

, 3 8 8 U

. S

. a t 4 0 3

- 0 4

, 8 7 S

. C t

. a t 1 8 0 6

( c o n c l u d i n g t h a t a c l a i m o f f r a u d i n t h e i n d u c e m e n t o f t h e e n t i r e c o n t r a c t m u s t b e

a r b i t r a t e d ) ; J e n k i n s

, 4 0 0 F

. 3 d a t 8 7 6

- 7 7 ( c o n c l u d i n g t h a t a c l a i m t h a t t h e e n t i r e

c o n t r a c t i s a n a d h e s i o n c o n t r a c t m u s t b e a r b i t r a t e d )

. T h u s

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t

e r r i n o r d e r i n g M r

. M a d u r a t o a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s

.

2

. A c c e s s i b i l i t y o f A r b i t r a l F o r u m

M r

. M a d u r a a r g u e s t h a t t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t i s u n e n f o r c e a b l e b e c a u s e

h e c a n n o t a f

f o r d t o p a y t h e a r b i t r a t i o n f e e s a n d t h u s c a n n o t v i n d i c a t e h i s r i g h t s i n

a r b i t r a t i o n

. A p a r t y w h o s e e k s t o i n v a l i d a t e a n a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t o n t h e b a s i s

t h a t a r b i t r a t i o n w o u l d b e p r o h i b i t i v e l y e x p e n s i v e “ b e a r s t h e b u r d e n o f s h o w i n g t h e

l i k e l i h o o d o f i n c u r r i n g s u c h c o s t s

. ” G r e e n T r e e F i n

. C o r p

. - A l a b a m a v

. R a n d o l p h

,

5 3 1 U

. S

. 7 9

, 9 0

- 9 2

, 1 2 1 S

. C t

. 5 1 3

, 5 2 2

- 2 3 ( 2 0 0 0 ) ; s e e a l s o A n d e r s v

. H o m e t o w n

13M o r t g a g e S e r v s

. , I n c

. , 3 4 6 F

. 3 d 1 0 2 4

, 1 0 2 8 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 2 0 0 3 )

.

I n G r e e n T r e e

, t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t w a s s i l e n t o n t h e a r b i t r a t o r ’ s

i d e n t i t y o r c o s t s

. 5 3 1 U

. S

. a t 9 0

, 1 2 1 S

. C t

. a t 5 2 2

. T h e p a r t y o p p o s i n g a r b i t r a t i o n

s u b m i t t e d i n f

o r m a t i o n a l m a t e r i a l f

r o m t h e A m e r i c a n A r b i t r a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n t h a t

d i d n o t d i s c u s s f

e e s a n d a n a r t i c l e “ c o n t a i n [ i n g ] a s t r a y s t a t e m e n t ” t h a t t h e a v e r a g e

c o s t o f a r b i t r a t i o n w a s $ 7 0 0 p e r d a y

. I d

. a t 9 0 n

. 6

, 1 2 1 S

. C t

. a t 5 2 2 n

. 6

. T h e

S u p r e m e C o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h i s e v i d e n c e w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o s h o w t h a t t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n c o s t s w o u l d p r e c l u d e t h e l i t i g a n t f r o m e f f e c t i v e l y v i n d i c a t i n g r i g h t s i n

a r b i t r a t i o n

. I d

. a t 9 0

- 9 1

, 1 2 1 S

. C t

. a t 5 2 1

- 2 3

. T h e S u p r e m e C o u r t e x p l a i n e d t h a t

t h e m e r e r i s k o f p r o h i b i t i v e c o s t s “ i s t o o s p e c u l a t i v e t o j u s t i f y t h e i n v a l i d a t i o n o f

a n a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

. ” I d

. a t 9 1

, 1 2 1 S

. C t

. a t 5 2 2

.

I n A n d e r s

, t h i s C o u r t s u b s e q u e n t l y c o n c l u d e d t h a t a p l a i n t i f f ’ s a f f i d a v i t

o u t l i n i n g h i s f

i n a n c i a l c o n d i t i o n w a s i n s u f f i c i e n t t o m e e t h i s b u r d e n

. 3 4 6 F

. 3 d a t

1 0 2 8

- 2 9

. T h i s C o u r t r e a s o n e d t h a t t h e a p p l i c a b l e r u l e s o f a r b i t r a t i o n p r o v i d e d f o r

d e f e r r e d o r r e d u c e d f

e e s i n c a s e s o f e x t r e m e h a r d s h i p a n d t h e d e f e n d a n t ’ s c o u n s e l

s t i p u l a t e d t h a t t h e d e f

e n d a n t w o u l d b e a r t h e p l a i n t i f f ’ s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e c o s t s o f

i n s t i t u t i n g a r b i t r a t i o n

. I d

.

H e r e

, t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t c o n t a i n s a p r o v i s i o n d i v i d i n g c o s t s i n t h i s

m a n n e r : ( 1 ) “ T h e p a r t y m a k i n g d e m a n d u p o n t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r f o r a r b i t r a t i o n

14s h a l l p a y $ 1 2 5

. 0 0 t o t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r w h e n t h e d e m a n d i s m a d e ” ; ( 2 ) F u l l

S p e c t r u m “ w i l l p a y t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r a l l o t h e r c o s t s f o r t h e a r b i t r a t i o n p r o c e e d i n g

u p t o a m a x i m u m o f o n e d a y ( s i x h o u r ) o f h e a r i n g s ” ; ( 3 ) “ A l l c o s t s o f t h e

a r b i t r a t i o n p r o c e e d i n g t h a t e x c e e d o n e d a y o f h e a r i n g s w i l l b e p a i d b y t h e n o n

p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y ” ; a n d ( 4 ) “ E a c h p a r t y s h a l l p a y h i s / h e r o w n a t t o r n e y

, e x p e r t

, a n d

w i t n e s s f e e s a n d e x p e n s e s

. H o w e v e r

, t h e a r b i t r a t o r m a y

, i n h i s o r h e r d i s c r e t i o n

,

p e r m i t t h e p r e v a i l i n g p a r t y t o r e c o v e r f e e s a n d c o s t s t o t h e e x t e n t p e r m i t t e d b y

a p p l i c a b l e l a w

. ”

I n a d d i t i o n

, t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t d e s i g n a t e s t h e N A F a s t h e

a d m i n i s t r a t o r o f t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a n d p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e a r b i t r a t i o n w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d

i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e N A F ’ s C o d e o f P r o c e d u r e

. U n d e r R u l e 4 4 o f t h e N A F ’ s

C o d e o f P r o c e d u r e

, u n l e s s t h e p a r t i e s a g r e e d o t h e r w i s e

, a l l f i l i n g f e e s m u s t b e p a i d

a t t h e t i m e a r e q u e s t o r o b j e c t i o n i s f

i l e d a n d a l l h e a r i n g f

e e s m u s t b e p a i d w h e n t h e

h e a r i n g i s s e l e c t e d

. H o w e v e r

, u n d e r R u l e 4 4 6

, a c o n s u m e r “ w h o a s s e r t s t h a t

a r b i t r a t i o n f

e e s p r e v e n t [ h i m ] f

r o m e f f e c t i v e l y v i n d i c a t i n g [ h i s ] c a s e i n a r b i t r a t i o n

m a y

, a t t h e t i m e o f f

i l i n g o f [ h i s ] I n i t i a l C l a i m o r [ h i s ] R e s p o n s e t o a L a r g e C l a i m

a n d p r i o r t o p a y i n g a n y f i l i n g f e e

, f i l e a R e q u e s t t h a t a n o t h e r P a r t y o r P a r t i e s p a y

a l l o r p a r t o f t h e a r b i t r a t i o n f e e s o r t h a t t h e a r b i t r a t i o n p r o v i s i o n b e d e c l a r e d

u n e n f o r c e a b l e

, p e r m i t t i n g [ h i m ] t o l i t i g a t e t h e c a s e i n s t e a d o f a r b i t r a t i n g t h e c a s e

. ”

15I n a d d i t i o n

, R u l e 4 5 c o n t a i n s a f e e w a i v e r p r o v i s i o n t h a t a l l o w s a c o n s u m e r t o

r e q u e s t a f

u l l o r p a r t i a l w a i v e r o f a p a r t i c u l a r f e e i f h e s u b m i t s a n a f

f i d a v i t o f

p o v e r t y t h a t s h o w s h e i s u n a b l e t o p a y t h e f e e

.

M r

. M a d u r a o p p o s e d a r b i t r a t i o n

, i n p a r t

, b e c a u s e i t w o u l d c o s t $ 3

, 1 0 0 t o

i n i t i a t e a r b i t r a t i o n a n d a d d i t i o n a l f e e s f o r e a c h r e q u e s t o r o b

j e c t i o n h e f

i l e d

. M r

.

M a d u r a s u b m i t t e d t h e N A F ’ s f e e s c h e d u l e t o t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, w h i c h i n d i c a t e d

t h a t

, f o r a c l a i m i n v o l v i n g $ 7 5

, 5 0 0 t o $ 1 2 5

, 0 0 0

, t h e f i l i n g f e e w a s $ 3 0 0

, t h e

c o m m e n c e m e n t f

e e w a s $ 3 0 0

, t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f e e w a s $ 1

, 0 0 0 a n d t h e

p a r t i c i p a t o r y h e a r i n g s e s s i o n f e e w a s $ 1

, 5 0 0

. T h e f

e e s c h e d u l e a l s o l i s t e d f e e s p e r

r e q u e s t o r o b

j e c t i o n r a n g i n g f

r o m $ 7 5 t o $ 7 5 0

. B a s e d o n t h e 8 7 m o t i o n s a n d 9

o b j e c t i o n s h e s a i d h e h a d f i l e d t o d a t e i n t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t

, M r

. M a d u r a e s t i m a t e d

t h a t i t w o u l d c o s t h i m a p p r o x i m a t e l y $ 2 0

, 0 0 0 t o a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s

. 1 0

U n d e r t h e t o t a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h i s c a s e

, w e c o n c l u d e t h a t M r

. M a d u r a d i d

n o t m e e t h i s b u r d e n t o s h o w t h a t h e l i k e l y w o u l d i n c u r p r o h i b i t i v e l y l a r g e

For example, the fee for a

reque st for a subpoe na is $75, for a reque st for a non- 9

dispositi ve orde r is $250 and for a re quest for a

dispositi ve or discove ry

order is $500. And, the

fee for a n objection to eac h of these r equests is $100, $250 and $500, re spectively

.

On appe al, Mr. Madur a stresse s that he wa s g iven in forma pa uperis (“ I FP”) status in 1 0

the district court whe n he orig inally filed his complaint. Howeve r, we note that the district cour t

denied Mr. Ma dura’ s reque st to procee d I FP on appe al on the g round that he w as no long er a

pauper . And, af

ter c omparingMr. Madura ’s assets a nd liabiliti es, this Court denied Mr.

Madura ’s re newe d reque st for I FP status on appea l, finding his alleg ations of pover ty wer e

untrue.

16a r b i t r a t i o n c o s t s

. F i r s t

, p u r s u a n t t o t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t

, M r

. M a d u r a w i l l

h a v e t o p a y o n l y $ 1 2 5

. 0 0 t o i n i t i a t e t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a n d t h e n F u l l S p e c t r u m w i l l p a y

a l l c o s t s u p t o t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f s i x h o u r s o f h e a r i n g s

. T h u s

, u n d e r t h e a r b i t r a t i o n

a g r e e m e n t

, M r

. M a d u r a m a y n o t b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l

, o r p e r h a p s a n y

, o f h i s f i l i n g

a n d h e a r i n g f

e e s

. S e c o n d

, a l t h o u g h t h e N A F ’ s r u l e s g e n e r a l l y r e q u i r e t h e p a r t i e s t o

p a y a s t h e y g o

, t h e y a l s o p r o v i d e f o r c o s t

- s h i f

t i n g i n c a s e s o f e x t r e m e h a r d s h i p a n d

f o r t h e f u l l o r p a r t i a l w a i v e r o f f e e s i f a c o n s u m e r i s u n a b l e t o p a y t h e m

. M r

.

M a d u r a h a s n o t s h o w n t h a t h e w o u l d b e d e n i e d e i t h e r o f t h e s e f o r m s o f r e l i e f

.

T h i r d

, M r

. M a d u r a ’ s e s t i m a t e d a r b i t r a t i o n c o s t s o f $ 2 0

, 0 0 0 i s p u r e l y s p e c u l a t i v e

.

A l t h o u g h M r

. M a d u r a f i l e d n u m e r o u s m o t i o n s a n d o b j e c t i o n s d u r i n g t h e d i s t r i c t

c o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s

, m a n y o f t h e m w e r e u n n e c e s s a r y

. I n f a c t

, t h e c o u r t c a u t i o n e d

h i m a t l e a s t o n c e a b o u t f i l i n g u n n e c e s s a r y m o t i o n s

. A c c o r d i n g l y

, M r

. M a d u r a ’ s 1 1

a r g u m e n t s t h a t t h e a r b i t r a t i o n a g r e e m e n t i s u n e n f o r c e a b l e a r e w i t h o u t m e r i t

, a n d

t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t p r o p e r l y c o n c l u d e d t h a t h e s h o u l d a r b i t r a t e h i s c l a i m s

.

B

. M o t i o n f

o r S u m m a r y J u d g m e n t a s t o M r s

. M a d u r a

M r s

. M a d u r a a r g u e s t h a t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t e r r e d i n g r a n t i n g s u m m a r y

j u d g m e n t t o t h e d e f

e n d a n t s b a s e d o n i s s u e a n d c l a i m p r e c l u s i o n a s a r e s u l t o f h e r

I n a May 24, 2007 status confe renc e, the mag istrate judg e expressed disappr oval of Mr. 1 1

Madura ’s “tit-for -tat motion practice ” and a dvised him that not every motion filed by

the

defe ndants requir ed him to respond with his own motion.

17p r i o r s t a t e c o u r t a c t i o n

. 1 2

I n c o n s i d e r i n g w h e t h e r t o g i v e p r e c l u s i v e e f f e c t t o a s t a t e c o u r t j u d g m e n t

u n d e r c l a i m p r e c l u s i o n ( o r r e s j u d i c a t a ) o r i s s u e p r e c l u s i o n ( o r c o l l a t e r a l e s t o p p e l )

,

w e a p p l y t h e l a w o f t h e s t a t e w h o s e c o u r t r e n d e r e d t h e j u d g m e n t

. A g r i p o s t

, I n c

. v

.

M i a m i

- D a d e C o u n t y

, e x r e l

. M a n a g e r

, 1 9 5 F

. 3 d 1 2 2 5

, 1 2 2 9 n

. 7 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 9 )

.

U n d e r F l o r i d a ’ s d o c t r i n e o f r e s j u d i c a t a

, “ [ a ] j u d g m e n t o n t h e m e r i t s r e n d e r e d i n a

f o r m e r s u i t b e t w e e n t h e s a m e p a r t i e s o r t h e i r p r i v i e s

, u p o n t h e s a m e c a u s e o f

a c t i o n

, b y a c o u r t o f c o m p e t e n t j u r i s d i c t i o n

, i s c o n c l u s i v e n o t o n l y a s t o e v e r y

m a t t e r w h i c h w a s o f

f e r e d a n d r e c e i v e d t o s u s t a i n a n d d e f e a t t h e c l a i m

, b u t a s t o

e v e r y o t h e r m a t t e r w h i c h m i g h t w i t h p r o p r i e t y h a v e b e e n l i t i g a t e d a n d d e t e r m i n e d

i n t h a t a c t i o n

. ” F l a

. D e p ’ t o f T r a n s p

. v

. J u l i a n o

, 8 0 1 S o

. 2 d 1 0 1

, 1 0 5 ( F l a

. 2 0 0 1 )

( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s a n d e m p h a s i s o m i t t e d )

. C l a i m s a r e c o n s i d e r e d t h e “ s a m e c a u s e

o f a c t i o n ” i f t h e f

a c t s e s s e n t i a l t o t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f b o t h a c t i o n s a r e t h e s a m e

, t h a t

i s

, i f t h e e v i d e n c e i n b o t h c a s e s i s i n e s s e n c e t h e s a m e

. S e e G o r d o n v

. G o r d o n

, 5 9

S o

. 2 d 4 0

, 4 4 ( F l a

. 1 9 5 2 ) ; s e e a l s o C i t i b a n k

, N

. A

. v

. D a t a L e a s e F i n

. C o r p

. , 9 0 4

F

. 2 d 1 4 9 8

, 1 5 0 3 ( 1 1 t h C i r

. 1 9 9 0 ) ( “ [ I ] f a c a s e a r i s e s o u t o f t h e s a m e n u c l e u s o f

We review“de novo a

district court’s g rant of summar y judgme nt, apply ing the same 1 2

leg al standar ds as the district cour t.” Chapman v. AI

Transp., 229 F .3d 1012, 1023 (11th Cir.

2000). A district cour

t shall gr ant summary

judgme nt when the e vidence befor e it shows “that

there is no ge nuine issue as to any materia l fac t and that the movant is entitled to judgme nt as a

matter of la

w.” F ed. R. Civ. P. 56(c). We revie w de novo a district court’s de termination of re s

judicata. Rag sdale v. Rubber maid, I nc., 193 F .3d 1235, 1238 (11th Cir. 1999).

18o p e r a t i v e f a c t

, o r i s b a s e d u p o n t h e s a m e f a c t u a l p r e d i c a t e

, a s a f

o r m e r a c t i o n

, t h e

t w o c a s e s a r e r e a l l y t h e s a m e ‘ c l a i m ’ o r ‘ c a u s e o f a c t i o n ’ f o r p u r p o s e s o f r e s

j u d i c a t a

. ” ( q u o t a t i o n m a r k s o m i t t e d ) )

.

F l o r i d a ’ s d o c t r i n e o f c o l l a t e r a l e s t o p p e l b a r s “ i d e n t i c a l p a r t i e s f r o m

r e l i t i g a t i n g i s s u e s t h a t h a v e p r e v i o u s l y b e e n d e c i d e d b e t w e e n t h e m

. ” M o b i l O i l

C o r p

. v

. S h e v i n

, 3 5 4 S o

. 2 d 3 7 2

, 3 7 4 ( F l a

. 1 9 7 7 )

. “ T h e e s s e n t i a l e l e m e n t s o f t h e

d o c t r i n e a r e t h a t t h e p a r t i e s a n d i s s u e s b e i d e n t i c a l

, a n d t h a t t h e p a r t i c u l a r m a t t e r b e

f u l l y l i t i g a t e d a n d d e t e r m i n e d i n a c o n t e s t w h i c h r e s u l t s i n a f i n a l d e c i s i o n o f a

c o u r t o f c o m p e t e n t j u r i s d i c t i o n

. ” I d

. C o l l a t e r a l e s t o p p e l i s d i s t i n c t f r o m r e s

j u d i c a t a i n t h a t i t a p p l i e s w h e n t h e t w o c a u s e s o f a c t i o n a r e d i f f e r e n t a n d e s t o p s t h e

p a r t i e s f r o m l i t i g a t i n g i n t h e s e c o n d s u i t o n l y t h e p o i n t s a n d q u e s t i o n s c o m m o n t o

b o t h c a u s e s o f a c t i o n

. G o r d o n

, 5 9 S o

. 2 d a t 4 4

.

H e r e

, M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s a c t i o n i n t h e s t a t e c o u r t : ( 1 ) r e s u l t e d i n a f i n a l

j u d g m e n t o n t h e m e r i t s ; ( 2 ) b y a c o u r t o f c o m p e t e n t j u r i s d i c t i o n : a n d ( 3 ) w a s

b e t w e e n t h e s a m e p a r t i e s a s t h i s f e d e r a l a c t i o n

. M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s f e d e r a l a c t i o n r a i s e s

e s s e n t i a l l y t h e s a m e u s u r y

, f r a u d a n d T I L A c l a i m s a s h e r s t a t e c o u r t a c t i o n

. T h e

s t a t e c o u r t c o n c l u d e d t h a t M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s T I L A c l a i m s w e r e t i m e

- b a r r e d

, t h a t s h e

d i d n o t h a v e s t a n d i n g t o b r i n g h e r u s u r y c l a i m b e c a u s e s h e w a s n o t a “ b o r r o w e r ”

a n d t h a t h e r f

r a u d c l a i m s s h o u l d b e d i s m i s s e d b e c a u s e s h e c o u l d n o t p r o v e

19d a m a g e s g i v e n t h a t t h e p r e p a y m e n t p e n a l t y h a d b e e n w a i v e d

. T h u s

, t h e s t a t e 1 3

c o u r t ’ s j u d g m e n t p r e c l u d e d M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s f e d e r a l c o u r t c l a i m s o f u s u r y

, f r a u d a n d

T I L A v i o l a t i o n s

.

T o t h e e x t e n t M r s

. M a d u r a r a i s e s s l i g h t v a r i a t i o n s o f f r a u d

, u s u r y a n d T I L A

v i o l a t i o n s

, s h e c o u l d h a v e

, b u t d i d n o t

, r a i s e t h e s e i s s u e s i n t h e s t a t e c o u r t

l i t i g a t i o n

. T h e s e c l a i m s i n v o l v e d t h e “ s a m e c a u s e o f a c t i o n

, ” t h a t i s

, t h e s a m e

e s s e n t i a l f

a c t s u n d e r p i n n i n g t h e s t a t e c o u r t c l a i m s

, n a m e l y t h e f r a u d a n d f

o r g e r y

d u r i n g t h e J u l y 2 0 0 0 l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n

. T h u s

, t h e s e c l a i m s a r e a l s o b a r r e d b y t h e

d o c t r i n e o f r e s j u d i c a t a

. B e c a u s e p r e c l u s i o n p r i n c i p l e s b a r a l l o f M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s 1 4

c l a i m s

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t e r r i n g r a n t i n g t h e d e f e n d a n t s ’ s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t

m o t i o n

. 1 5

We rejec t Mrs. Madura ’s claim that the state court’s dismissal of her usury claims for 1 3

lack of standing is not a judgme nt on the merits for r es judicata purposes. See Wage r v. City of

Gre en Cove Spring s, 261 So. 2d 827, 829 (Fla. 1972) (conc luding that dismissal for lac k of

standing was re s judicata in subseque nt action on issue of standing ).

Mrs. Madura ’s fe dera l complaint also asserte d an F CFA c laim, a claim she did not 1 4

asser t in her state c ourt complaint. Howe ver, the FCF A is a cr iminal statute, see F la. Stat. §

817.034, and Mrs. Madur a cites no a uthority indicating that the FCF A provides f or a pr ivate

rig ht of ac tion. Nonetheless, we ag ree with the district court that, eve n if such a pr ivate rig ht of

action exists, s he is prec luded from r aising an F CFA c laim in the fede ral a ction beca use it is

based on he r alleg ations of fra ud in executing the July

2000 loan transa ction and should have

been r aised in her

state cour

t action.

Be cause we a ffirm the district c ourt’s conc lusion that the doctrines of c ollatera l 1 5

estoppel and r es judicata

barr ed Mrs. Madur a’s c laims, we do not addre ss its alternative holding

that Mrs. Madura ’s usury , fra ud and TI L A claims we re time-ba rre d and that Mrs. Madur a did

not have a

private r ight of

action under

Florida ’s cr iminal-uttering statute.

20C

. M o t i o n s t o A m e n d C o m p l a i n t

T h e M a d u r a s a p p e a l t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ’ s d e n i a l o f t h e i r f i r s t a n d s e c o n d

m o t i o n s t o a m e n d t h e c o m p l a i n t

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o u n d

, a n d w e a g r e e

, t h a t t h e 1 6

M a d u r a s ’ a r g u m e n t s d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b e t w e e n a “ f i r s t ” s i g n e d c o n t r a c t a n d “ s e c o n d ”

f o r g e d c o n t r a c t a r e w i t h o u t m e r i t

. T h e c l a i m s t h e M a d u r a s s o u g h t t o a d d a r o s e o u t

o f t h e s a m e J u l y 2 0 0 0 l o a n t r a n s a c t i o n

. A s s u c h

, M r

. M a d u r a w a s r e q u i r e d t o

a r b i t r a t e t h o s e c l a i m s

. A n d

, M r s

. M a d u r a w a s b a r r e d b y p r e c l u s i o n p r i n c i p l e s f r o m

b r i n g i n g t h o s e c l a i m s i n f e d e r a l c o u r t

.

I I I

. C O N C L U S I O N

I n s u m

, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t d i d n o t e r r i n c o m p e l l i n g M r

. M a d u r a t o a r b i t r a t e

h i s c l a i m s a g a i n s t t h e d e f e n d a n t s

. T h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a l s o d i d n o t e r r i n g r a n t i n g

s u m m a r y j u d g m e n t t o t h e d e f e n d a n t s o n M r s

. M a d u r a ’ s c l a i m s o r i n d e n y i n g h e r

t w o m o t i o n s t o a m e n d h e r c o m p l a i n t

.

A F F I R M E D

.

Ordinar ily , we r eview a

district court’s de nial of a motion to amend a complaint for 1 6

abuse of discretion. F ree man v. Fir st Union Nat’l, 329 F.3d 1231, 1234 ( 11th Cir. 2003).

Howeve r, whe n the basis for the denial is futility , we r eview de novo beca use the district cour

t

has conc luded as a

matter of la

w that the ame ndment would fail. I d.

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