Source: http://ca.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20120910_0001334.SCA.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2017-05-26 19:22:02
Document Index: 534202404

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2923', '§ 2923', '§ 2923', '§ 2923', '§ 2923', '§ 2923']

| Lenn M. Haffeman, and Beverly A. Haffeman v. Wells Fargo Bank
Lenn M. Haffeman, and Beverly A. Haffeman v. Wells Fargo Bank
LENN M. HAFFEMAN, AND BEVERLY A. HAFFEMAN, PLAINTIFFS,v.WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., ET AL.,DEFENDANTS.
MOTION TO DISMISS AND ORDER RE DEFENDANTS' PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE A FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
Pending before the Court are Defendant Wells Fargo's motion to dismiss the original complaint (Doc. 3) and Plaintiffs' motion for leave to file a First Amended Complaint ("FAC") (Doc. 7). For the reasons set forth herein, the Court GRANTS Defendants' motion to dismiss the original complaint and GRANTS IN PART and DENIES IN PART Plaintiffs' motion for leave to file an FAC.
Plaintiffs' original complaint in this action contained two causes of action: Violation of California Civil Code § 2923.5 and Declaratory Relief/Injunctive Relief. On January 23, 2012, Defendant Wells Fargo ("Defendant" or "Wells Fargo") moved to dismiss the case. The motion to dismiss was set for hearing on April 6, 2012.
On February 28, 2012, Plaintiffs made two motions: an ex parte motion for a temporary restraining order preventing Defendants from executing a foreclosure sale, and the currently-pending motion for leave to file a FAC, which was also set for hearing on April 6, 2012. The proposed FAC, attached as an exhibit to Plaintiffs' motion, re-alleges word-for-word Plaintiffs' claims for violation of § 2923.5 and declaratory/injunctive relief, and adds claims for trespass and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
On March 9, 2012, the Court denied Plaintiffs' ex parte motion for a TRO, reasoning that Plaintiffs were not likely to prevail on any of their claims and that the balance of equities did not tip in their favor. See Doc. 10. Specifically, the Court reasoned that Plaintiffs could not rely on § 2923.5 because, under the plain terms of the deed of trust, the property at issue (the "Property") was not Plaintiffs' primary residence. The Court further reasoned that any defects in the foreclosure process were not likely to entitle Plaintiffs to any declaratory or injunctive relief, since Plaintiffs had failed to establish prejudice. Lastly, the Court noted that Plaintiffs have been in arrears on the loan since August 2010, and that they did not occupy the Property (i.e. they would not experience great hardship resulting from foreclosure), so the balance of equities did not tip in their favor.
On March 14, 2012, Wells Fargo filed a response (Doc. 11) to the motion for leave to file an FAC. On March 17, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a paper (Doc. 12) that both opposed the motion to dismiss and replied in support of the motion for leave to file an FAC. On March 19, 2012, Wells Fargo filed a reply in support of the motion to dismiss (Doc. 13). The Court considers all these papers together.
As a threshold issue, Plaintiffs argue that their motion for leave to file an FAC moots the motion to dismiss. The Court disagrees. First, Plaintiffs moved for leave to file an FAC 37 days after Wells Fargo filed and served its motion to dismiss--well beyond the 21-day period allotted by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(1)(B) for amending as a matter of course in response to a motion to dismiss. Thus, Plaintiffs are not entitled to amend as a matter of course. Second, two of the four claims presented in the proposed FAC (Doc. 7-1, Ex. A (Proposed FAC)) mirror the two claims in the original complaint, and Wells Fargo has opposed the motion for leave to amend on the ground that amendment would be futile. The Court therefore finds that judicial economy would be served by resolving the motion to dismiss the two claims in Plaintiffs' original complaint in conjunction with Defendants' futility challenge to the motion for leave to file an amended FAC.
Plaintiffs' original complaint contains two causes of action. Plaintiffs have voluntarily dismissed their first cause of action, violation of § 2923.5. (Doc. 12 at 6.) Since the plain language of the Deed of Trust states that the Property is not Plaintiffs' primary residence, § 2923.5 is not applicable in this case, and the Court dismisses Plaintiffs' § 2923.5 cause of action with prejudice.
In Plaintiffs' second cause of action (for declaratory and injunctive relief), Plaintiffs "seek a declaration that the Notice of Default and Notice of Sale are void and of no effect . . . . [and] an order enjoining Defendants from proceeding with the foreclosure sale[.]" (Doc. 1-1 at 8 of 39.) Plaintiffs support their claim that the Notice of Default was void on the grounds that First American, the party that recorded the Notice of Default, was not authorized to do so, and that the Notice of Default was filed in violation of the thirty-day notice requirement in the Deed of Trust.
As stated in the Court's March 9, 2012 Order, Plaintiffs have failed to allege that First American was not authorized to record the Notice of Default. See Doc. 10 at 5. That Order also explained that Plaintiff failed to allege prejudice resulting from the failure to comply with the thirty-day notice provision, and thus, the failure to comply did not render the notice of default legally deficient. See Knapp v. Doherty, 123 Cal. App. 4th 76, 94 (6th Dist. 2004) (premature notice of sale in violation of statute did not invalidate sale because borrower suffered no prejudice). Lastly, the March 9, 2012 Order noted that Plaintiffs have been unable to make any loan payments since August 2010, and have not alleged any tender of the amount owed in arrears. See Doc. 10 at 7-8 (citing FPCI RE-HAB 01 v. E&G Investments, Ltd., 207 Cal. App. 3d 1018, 1022 (2d Dist. 1989) ("[I[f plaintiffs could not have redeemed the property had the ...