Opinion ID: 1304770
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: HUD-1 Statement

Text: Petitioners argue that the court of appeals erred in holding that the trial court did not convert the 12(b)(6) motion into a summary judgment motion in considering the HUD-1 Statement which was not attached to the complaint. We disagree. In the complaint, Petitioners alleged that Respondent had not paid the amount due under the sales contract as set forth upon the HUD-1 Settlement Statement attached to and incorporated herein by reference. Although Petitioners failed to actually attach the HUD-1 Statement to the complaint, Respondent's counsel attached a copy of it to their memorandum in support of the motion to dismiss the remedy of rescission. The trial court specifically referenced the HUD-1 statement in its order and considered the document in making the ruling. A copy of a document which is an exhibit to a pleading is a part of the pleading for all purposes if a copy is attached to such a pleading. Rule 10(c), SCRCP. In considering a 12(b)(6) motion, the trial court must base its ruling solely upon the allegations set forth on the face of the complaint. However, on a 12(b)(6) motion, if matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by a court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56, SCRCP, and all parties shall be given reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent to such a motion by Rule 56. See Rule 12(b), SCRCP. We hold that the trial court did not convert the 12(b)(6) motion into a motion for summary judgment by considering the HUD-1 Statement in making his ruling. Petitioners explicitly stated that the Statement was attached and incorporated by reference into the complaint. Thus, they brought the HUD-1 Statement to the attention of trial court and were on notice of any information contained in it. In our view, allowing a trial court to consider documents that are incorporated by reference in the complaint but not actually attached thereto prevents a plaintiff from benefiting from his own oversight or from surviving a motion to dismiss by intentionally omitting documents upon which their claims are based. Accordingly, we hold that the trial court did not convert the 12(b)(6) motion into a motion for summary judgment by considering the HUD-1 Statement.