Lansdown v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC

1 2 3 4 5 6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 MELISSA LANSDOWN, Case No. 22-cv-00763-TSH 10 Plaintiff, ORDER RE: MOTIONS TO DISMISS 11 v. Re: Dkt. Nos. 59, 63 12 BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, et al., 13 Defendants. 14 15 I. INTRODUCTION 16 Melissa Lansdown brings this breach of contract case against Bayview Loan Servicing, 17 LLC, Newrez, LLC dba Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, LLC, Bank of America, N.A. (“BANA”), 18 and the Bank of New York Mellon related to the financing of real property located at 1670 19 Chiquita Road, Healdsburg, California 95448 (the “Property”). Pending before the Court are a 20 Motion to Dismiss filed by BANA (ECF No. 59, “BANA Mot.”) and a Motion to Dismiss filed by 21 Bayview, Shellpoint and the Bank of New York Mellon (ECF No. 63, “Bayview Mot.”), both 22 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). The Court finds these matters suitable for 23 disposition without oral argument and VACATES the April 13, 2023 hearing. For the reasons 24 stated below, the Court GRANTS IN PART AND DENIES IN PART Bayview, Shellpoint and 25 the Bank of New York Mellon’s motion and GRANTS BANA’s motion.1 26 27 1 The parties have consented to magistrate judge jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636 (c). ECF 1 II. BACKGROUND 2 A. Factual Background 3 On April 25, 2001, Lansdown and Ellis Greenberg executed a Deed of Trust securing a 4 Note for $375,000 on the Property. Third Am. Compl. (“TAC”) ¶¶ 4, 20, ECF No. 58; id., Ex. 1 5 (Deed of Trust). In 2003 Greenberg executed a Quit-Claim Deed of his interest to Lansdown. Id. 6 ¶ 20 & Ex. 2 (Quit-Claim Deed). 7 On November 1, 2009, Lansdown fell behind on her mortgage payments “due to [BANA] 8 falsely inducing her to skip mortgage payments in order to qualify for a loan modification,” telling 9 her “she had to be three months’ behind in mortgage payments to qualify for a loan modification.” 10 Id. ¶¶ 23-24 . On February 18, 2010, a Notice of Default was recorded against the Property with 11 the Bank of New York Mellon named as the creditor. Id. ¶ 26 . “At some point in the future,” 12 BANA transferred the servicing rights to Bayview. Id. Bayview continued to attempt to foreclose 13 on the real property for several years. Id. ¶ 27 . 14 On March 1, 2016, Lansdown filed a lawsuit in Sonoma County Superior Court against 15 Bayview and BANA. Id. ¶ 27 . The three parties subsequently signed a Memorandum of 16 Understanding Re Settlement (“MOU”) on December 19, 2018. Id. & Ex. 3 (MOU). The parties 17 agreed that payments of principal and interest on the Property would be $2,328.79. MOU ¶ 1. 18 On January 28, 2019, Bayview sent Lansdown a Confidential Settlement Agreement and 19 Loan Modification Agreement. Id. ¶ 28 & Ex. 4. Lansdown alleges the Settlement Agreement 20 was “substantively unconscionable, because they included amounts of money that were not owed 21 – overcharging principal, foreclosure charges, property tax that were capitalized into the principal, 22 so that Plaintiff was paying interest on money not owed. $19,000 of real property taxes.” Id. ¶ 29 . 23 She further alleges what she had already paid “had not been credited to her,” it “required 24 Greenberg’s signature, which had not been previously agreed upon,” and “[t]he proposed 25 agreement involved surprise as the terms were changed afterward, and because of complex 26 provisions with technical jargon. Those terms were also deceptive as they stated the interest rate 27 was 4.79%, when it was 9.7%.” Id. 1 $2,328.73. Id. ¶ 30 . When her objections to the proposed settlement agreement were “rejected 2 and made futile,” she signed the Settlement Agreement on April 3 and made the April payment in 3 the amount of $2,898.79. Id. ¶ 31 & Ex. 6 (Settlement Agreement). However, on April 25 4 Bayview’s attorney sent Lansdown’s attorney an email stating that Bayview was in receipt of “a 5 very long past-due” monthly payment, but it was untimely and insufficient to bring the account 6 current “under both the original loan terms and the proposed modified terms.” Id. ¶ 32 & Ex. 7. 7 Bayview gave Lansdown six days to return the fully executed Loan Modification Agreement and 8 submit all past-due monthly payments under that agreement. Lansdown signed the Loan 9 Modification Agreement on May 13 and sent payments in the amount of $11,864 for the months 10 of February through May. Id. ¶ 33 & Ex. 8 (Loan Modification Agreement). Between February 11 2019 and August 2019, Lansdown made seven payments towards the Property. Id. ¶¶ 33-34 . 12 However, Bayview refused some of Lansdown’s payments and attempted to foreclose on the 13 Property. Id. ¶ 35 . 14 Lansdown subsequently filed another case in Sonoma County and, on January 8, 2020, 15 obtained a Temporary Restraining Order which prevented foreclosure on the Property. Id. ¶ 36 & 16 Ex. 11 (TRO). However, Bayview continued to schedule a Trustees Sale of the Property on 17 January 9. Id. ¶ 39 . 18 On January 23, 2020, Bayview transferred servicing of Lansdown’s loan to Shellpoint, 19 after which “Bayview and Shellpoint” continued to reschedule a Trustees Sale of the Property 20 February 6, April 16, July 9, and September 16. Id. ¶ 37, 39 . On July 29, 2020, the Sonoma 21 County Superior Court granted Lansdown’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction. Id. ¶ 38 & Ex. 13. 22 On September 21 Bayview’s attorney got the foreclosure sale cancelled. Id. ¶ 40 . 23 B. Procedural Background 24 1. Original Complaint and First Amended Complaint 25 On February 6, 2022, Lansdown filed the instant action against Bayview, Shellpoint, and 26 DOES 1-10. ECF No. 1. On April 25 she filed a First Amended Complaint. ECF No. 17. On 27 May 13 Lansdown filed another First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) naming Defendants Bayview, 1 following causes of action: 1) violation of Federal Debt Collection Protection Act (against 2 Bayview); 2) violation of California’s Rosenthal Act (against Bayview); 3) intentional infliction of 3 emotional distress (“IIED”) (against Bayview); 4) breach of contract (against Bayview); 5) 4 violation of the Federal Debt Collection Protection Act (against Shellpoint); 6) violation of the 5 Rosenthal Act (against Shellpoint); 7) IIED (against Shellpoint); 8) breach of contract (against 6 Shellpoint); and 9) rescission (against all defendants). ECF No. 21. 7 On May 9, 2022, Bayview and Shellpoint filed a motion to dismiss. ECF No. 18. On June 8 6 BANA also filed a motion to dismiss. ECF No. 31. On September 13 the Court issued an order 9 granting Bayview and Shellpoint’s motion as to the causes of action for violation of the Fair Debt 10 Collection Protection Act, the Rosenthal Act, and IIED, with leave to amend. ECF No. 39; 11 Lansdown v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, 2022 WL 4227245 , at *1 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 13, 2022). 12 The Court denied their motion as to Lansdown’s claims for breach of contract and recission. The 13 Court also granted BANA’s motion to dismiss Lansdown’s recission claim against it. 14 2. Second Amended Complaint 15 On October 12, 2022, Lansdown filed a Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) naming 16 Defendants Bayview, Shellpoint, BANA, and the Bank of New York Mellon. ECF No. 41. The 17 SAC alleged the following causes of action: 1) IIED (against Bayview and BANA); 2) breach of 18 contract (against Bayview and BANA); 3) IIED (against Shellpoint); and 4) breach of contract 19 (against Shellpoint). 20 On October 26 Bayview, Shellpoint, and the Bank of New York Mellon filed a motion to 21 dismiss. ECF No. 43. On December 9 BANA also filed a motion to dismiss. ECF No. 49. 22 On December 20 Lansdown filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal of the Bank of New 23 York Mellon. ECF No. 51. 24 On January 25, 2023, the Court 1) granted Bayview and Shellpoint’s motion as to 25 Lansdown’s IIED claims without leave to amend, 2) granted the motion as to Lansdown’s breach 26 of contract claim against Bayview as to the Settlement Agreement and the Loan Modification 27 agreement with leave and denied the motion as to the MOU and Deed of Trust, 3) granted 1 motion as to Lansdown’s breach of contract claim with leave to amend in the event she “has facts 2 alleging that BANA, in particular, breached the Deed of Trust, Settlement Agreement, or 3 Memorandum of Understanding.” ECF No. 56 (SAC Order); Lansdown v. Bayview Loan 4 Servicing, LLC, 2023 WL 411348 , at *4 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 25, 2023) (“Lansdown II”). 5 3. Third Amended Complaint 6 On February 23, 2023, Lansdown filed the operative TAC, alleging two causes of action: 7 1) breach of contract against Bayview and BANA; and 2) breach of contract against Shellpoint. 8 a. Allegations Against Bayview 9 Lansdown alleges Bayview breached the Loan Modification Agreement by initiating a 10 foreclosure action and by overcharging her interest, late fees and foreclosure costs when she was 11 not in default under the provisions of the deed of trust. TAC ¶ 42. She further alleges “Bayview 12 repudiated the Confidential Settlement Agreement and Release by refusing to sign it and initiating 13 another foreclosure action.” Id. ¶ 43 . 14 Lansdown alleges Bayview is attempting to foreclose on the basis of the Deed of Trust, but 15 that she is not in default of her legal obligations because she tendered payment in 2010 and 2019. 16 Id. ¶ 49 . She maintains that Bayview “chose not to honor the settlement by refusing plaintiffs [sic] 17 tender but remain bound by the terms of the deed which can’t be enforced because they refuse to 18 cure their material failure to perform.” Id. As such, “Bayview’s conduct precludes them from 19 enforcing the contract because it placed them in default of their legal obligations.” Id. 20 As to the MOU, Lansdown alleges that “[w]hen Bayview refused Plaintiff’s offer to cure 21 the alleged missed payments that was a material breach and they lost whatever protection it 22 afforded them,” and that “[d]ue to Bayview’s material failure to perform there is no authority to 23 enforce the contract so the scheduled trustee sales were a wrongful foreclosure.” Id. ¶¶ 51-52 . 24 b. Allegations Against BANA 25 Lansdown notes the Settlement Agreement reflects that “BANA was the former servicer of 26 the loan.” Id. ¶ 1 . She alleges BANA breached the Deed of Trust by initiating the foreclosure 27 action and noticing a Trustees sale for February 18, 2010 and October 03, 2019. Id. ¶ 44 . BANA 1 Shellpoint who over charged plaintiff interest, late fees and other foreclosure related costs when 2 she was not in default.” Id. Lansdown also alleges BANA breached the MOU “by refusing 3 plaintiffs [sic] tender of performance and noticing a Trustees sale for October 03,2019. BANA 4 also breached the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding through the actions of its 5 agents Bayview and Shellpoint who over charged plaintiff interest, late fees and other foreclosure 6 related costs when she was not in default.” Id. ¶ 45 . Lansdown claims BANA “repudiated the 7 Confidential Settlement Agreement” because it refused to sign the document and “initiating 8 another foreclosure action” without specifying a date or time of the alleged foreclosure action. Id. 9 ¶ 46. 10 c. Allegations Against Shellpoint 11 Lansdown alleges Shellpoint breached the Loan Modification Agreement “by initiating a 12 foreclosure action by overcharging plaintiff interest, late fees and foreclosure costs when she was 13 not in default under the provisions of the deed of trust.” Id. ¶ 58 . She further alleges Shellpoint 14 “repudiated the Confidential Settlement Agreement and Release by refusing to sign it and 15 initiating another foreclosure so there is no enforceable agreement.” Id. ¶ 59 . She maintains 16 Shellpoint “has been overcharging principal, interest and late fees and other foreclosure costs, 17 which it has no right to enforce,” and “Shellpoint’s conduct precludes it from enforcing the 18 contract, because it placed it in default of its legal obligations.” Id. ¶ 60 . 19 4. Present Motions 20 On March 9, 2023, Bayview, Shellpoint and the Bank of New York Mellon filed their 21 motion to dismiss, arguing the TAC should be dismissed as to Lansdown’s claims based on the 22 MOU, Settlement Agreement, and Loan Modification Agreement, as well as to any claims brought 23 against the Bank of New York Mellon. They do not seek dismissal of Lansdown’s breach of 24 contract claim against Bayview and Shellpoint under the Deed of Trust. Lansdown filed an 25 opposition (ECF No. 65, “Bayview Opp’n”) and Bayview, Shellpoint and the Bank of New York 26 Mellon filed a reply (ECF No. 68).2 27 1 On the same day, BANA filed its motion, arguing Lansdown’s breach of contract claim 2 against it must be dismissed in its entirety. Lansdown filed an opposition (ECF No. 66, “BANA 3 Opp’n”) and BANA filed a reply (ECF No. 67). 4 III. LEGAL STANDARD 5 A motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) “tests the legal 6 sufficiency of a claim. A claim may be dismissed only if it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff 7 can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Cook v. 8 Brewer, 637 F.3d 1002, 1004 (9th Cir. 2011) (citation and quotation marks omitted). Rule 8 9 provides that a complaint must contain a “short and plain statement of the claim showing that the 10 pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Thus, a complaint must plead “enough facts 11 to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 , 12 570 (2007). Plausibility does not mean probability, but it requires “more than a sheer possibility 13 that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 687 (2009). A complaint 14 must therefore provide a defendant with “fair notice” of the claims against it and the grounds for 15 relief. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (quotations and citation omitted). 16 In considering a motion to dismiss, the court accepts factual allegations in the complaint as 17 true and construes the pleadings in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. Manzarek v. 18 St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 519 F.3d 1025, 1031 (9th Cir. 2008); Erickson v. Pardus, 551 19 U.S. 89, 93-94 (2007). However, “the tenet that a court must accept a complaint’s allegations as 20 true is inapplicable to threadbare recitals of a cause of action’s elements, supported by mere 21 conclusory statements.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 . 22 If a Rule 12(b)(6) motion is granted, the “court should grant leave to amend even if no 23 request to amend the pleading was made, unless it determines that the pleading could not possibly 24 be cured by the allegation of other facts.” Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000) (en 25 banc) (citations and quotations omitted). However, a court “may exercise its discretion to deny 26 leave to amend due to ‘undue delay, bad faith or dilatory motive on part of the movant, repeated 27 1 failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, undue prejudice to the opposing 2 party . . ., [and] futility of amendment.’” Carvalho v. Equifax Info. Servs., LLC, 629 F.3d 876 , 3 892–93 (9th Cir. 2010) (alterations in original) (quoting Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178 , 182 4 (1962)). 5 IV. BAYVIEW, SHELLPOINT, & BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON’S MOTION 6 A. Claims Against The Bank of New York Mellon 7 The Bank of New York Mellon moves to dismiss Lansdown’s claims, if any, against it. 8 Bayview Mot. at 7. Lansdown originally substituted the Bank of New York Mellon as a party in 9 place of Doe 2, but she subsequently filed a notice of voluntary dismissal on December 20, 2022. 10 See ECF No. 51 (“I voluntarily dismiss: (1) Defendant, New York Bank Mellon ONLY.”). As the 11 TAC again names it as a defendant, the Bank of New York Mellon requests the Court dismiss any 12 claims against it. Bayview Mot. at 7. Lansdown fails to address Bank of New York Mellon’s 13 argument in her opposition and, as the Court indicated in its previous order dismissing the SAC, a 14 failure to respond in an opposition to an argument constitutes waiver or abandonment, and thus 15 “concedes the argument.” Lansdown II, 2023 WL 411348 , at *4 (citing Linder v. Golden Gate 16 Bridge, Highway & Transportation Dist., 2015 WL 4623710 , at *4 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2015) 17 (“[F]ailure to respond in an opposition brief to an argument put forward in an opening brief 18 constitutes waiver or abandonment . . . .”). Further, Lansdown previously dismissed the Bank of 19 New York Mellon and she included no allegations specific to it in her TAC. Accordingly, the 20 Court GRANTS the motion as to any claims brought against the Bank of New York Mellon. 21 B. Breach of Contract Claims Against Bayview and Shellpoint 22 Bayview and Shellpoint argue Lansdown’s breach of contract claim fails against them for 23 several reasons: 1) she fails to plead facts alleging Shellpoint assumed obligations under the 24 alleged contracts; 2) she has not sufficiently plead breach of the MOU; 3) she fails to plead 25 Bayview was a party to the Settlement Agreement and, even if she did, the claims fail because she 26 admits it was unenforceable; 4) she fails to plead Bayview was a party to the Loan Modification 27 Agreement and, even if she did, the claims fails because she admits it was unenforceable; and 5) 1 condition precedent to the agreement. 2 The elements of a cause of action for breach of contract are: 1) the existence of the 3 contract; 2) performance by the plaintiff or excuse for nonperformance; 3) breach by the 4 defendant; and 4) damages. First Commercial Mortg. Co. v. Reece, 89 Cal. App. 4th 731 , 745 5 (2001). 6 1. Shellpoint’s Assumption of Obligations Under the Alleged Contracts 7 In its SAC Order, the Court noted Lansdown did not allege that Shellpoint is a party to a 8 contract but instead that Shellpoint assumed the servicing of her loan. Lansdown II, 2023 WL 9 411348, at *4. The Court also noted Lansdown did not make clear which contracts or obligations 10 Shellpoint allegedly succeeded. Id. As such, the Court found the breach of contract claim was 11 insufficiently pled and granted Lansdown leave to amend “to the extent she may plead facts 12 alleging Shellpoint became successor to the contracts at issue.” Id. 13 In her TAC, Lansdown included the following new allegations: 14 Shellpoint is the successor to Bayview in servicing the loan and has correspondingly assumed Bayview’ [sic.] contractual obligations. 15 Shellpoint succeeded to the following contractual obligation: collection of payments pursuant to the provisions of the deed of trust 16 and enforcement of the deed of trust. Shellpoint was the agent of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., because it conducted loan servicing for 17 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. 18 TAC ¶ 6. Bayview and Shellpoint argue this “serves as a conclusory allegation of succession with 19 no factual support as relates to any of the four potential contracts at issue.” Bayview Mot. at 8. 20 They further argue: “At best, the allegations made by Plaintiff allege only that Shellpoint was 21 successor to Bayview’s interest in the DOT as the DOT is the only alleged contract included in 22 Plaintiff’s assertion.” Id. at 9 . 23 A breach of contract claim requires “privity of contract between the plaintiff and the 24 defendant.” Simoni v. Am. Media, Inc., 2014 WL 12597640 , at *3 (C.D. Cal. July 22, 2014), aff’d, 25 673 F. App’x 782 (9th Cir. 2017) (striking a breach of contract claim where the plaintiff had not 26 met his burden of demonstrating privity between himself and the defendant). Here, as before, 27 Lansdown does not allege that Shellpoint was a party to any of the alleged contracts. None of the 1 of Trust) were signed by Shellpoint or referenced Shellpoint in any manner. 2 However, it is possible for Shellpoint to be held liable as the successor to Bayview in 3 servicing the loan, thereby assuming Bayview’s contractual obligations. See, e.g., Randell v. 4 Flagstar Bank FSB, 2015 WL 2159595 , at *7-8 (E.D. Cal. May 7, 2015) (finding plaintiff could 5 bring a claim against the new loan servicer for breach of the loan modification agreement entered 6 into by the prior loan servicer); Rampp v. Ocwen Fin. Corp., 2012 WL 2995066 , at *3 (S.D. Cal. 7 July 23, 2012) (“Although Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC, did not itself sign the modification 8 agreement, it presumably is bound by modification agreements entered into [by] . . . the prior 9 servicer.”); Lewis v. Bank of America, N.A., 2013 WL 7118066 , at *3-4 (C.D. Cal. Dec.18, 2013) 10 (finding claims for declaratory relief and violation of California’s Unfair Competition law 11 permissible based on allegations that the successor servicer acquired a promissory note attached to 12 the subject property). As Lansdown’s allegations are similar, the Court finds she can bring a 13 claim against Shellpoint for breach of contract based on its position as a successor servicer. 14 Accordingly, the Court DENIES the motion as to Lansdown’s claim that Shellpoint assumed 15 obligations under the alleged contracts. 16 2. Breach of the Memorandum of Understanding 17 Bayview and Shellpoint argue any breach of contract claim related to the MOU fails 18 because it includes a condition precedent that requires the parties to participate in a conference call 19 with mediator Robert Pohls prior to filing any legal action. Bayview Mot. at 12 (citing MOU ¶ 17 20 (“In the event the parties have a dispute regarding the terms of this Settlement Agreement, Robert 21 Pohls has agreed to assist the parties by way of a conference call to resolve the same. The parties 22 agree to utilize such services as a condition precedent to any court action.”). However, in the SAC 23 Order, the Court determined the SAC “sufficiently alleges performance of the Memorandum of 24 Understanding. The SAC states that Lansdown ‘has performed all conditions, covenants, and 25 promises required,’ ‘has been performing the Memorandum of Understanding,’ and ‘is not in 26 default under legal obligations.’” Lansdown II, 2023 WL 411348 , at *5. As the TAC includes 27 these same allegations, see TAC ¶¶ 1, 41, the Court again finds Lansdown’s allegations suffice at 1 allegation that incident occurred “while the policy was in full force and effect” sufficient to plead 2 plaintiff satisfied conditions precedent)); Archer Western Contractors, Ltd. v. Liberty Mutual Ins. 3 Co., 2014 WL 12607699 , at *4 (C.D. Cal. Aug. 13, 2014) (“[U]nder Rule 9(c)’s liberal pleading 4 standard, AWC’s allegation that it ‘performed all covenants and conditions required of it under the 5 National Union Policy’ is sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss.”); Textainer Equip. Mgmt. 6 (U.S.) Ltd. v. TRS Inc., 2007 WL 1795695 , at *2 (N.D. Cal. June 20, 2007) (“[P]laintiff pleads that 7 it ‘has performed all obligations under the Lease Agreement due and owing to defendants and/or 8 Lessee, except for those which Plaintiff was prevented or excused from performing’ . . . . 9 [Plaintiff] has pleaded all the necessary elements . . . . More detail is not necessary at this time.”). 10 The Court therefore DENIES Bayview and Shellpoint’s motion as to Lansdown's breach of 11 contract claim as to the MOU. 12 3. Breach of the Settlement Agreement 13 In its previous order, the Court found it was unclear whether Lansdown alleged a claim for 14 breach of contract based on the Settlement Agreement and therefore granted leave to clarify these 15 allegations. Lansdown II, 2023 WL 411348 , at *5-6, 9 (“Lansdown does not contend that 16 Bayview is bound by the Settlement Agreement or even make clear that the breach of contract 17 claim includes breach of the Settlement Agreement.”). Bayview and Shellpoint now move to 18 dismiss on the basis that Lansdown failed to cure this deficiency. Bayview Mot. at 13-14. 19 The first element required for breach of contract is the existence of a contract. Reece, 89 20 Cal. App. 4th at 745. “An essential element of any contract is the consent of the parties, or mutual 21 assent.” Donovan v. RRL Corp., 26 Cal. 4th 261, 271 (2001) (citing Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1550 (2), 22 1565(2)). “[W]here the existence . . . of a contract or the terms thereof is the point in issue, and 23 the evidence is conflicting or admits of more than one inference, it is for the . . . trier of the facts to 24 determine whether the contract did in fact exist.” Vita Planning & Landscape Architecture, Inc. v. 25 HKS Architects, Inc., 240 Cal. App. 4th 763, 771 (2015), review denied (Jan. 13, 2016) (alteration 26 in original) (quotation and citation omitted). 27 The Court finds Lansdown has not sufficiently alleged that the Settlement Agreement is a 1 necessarily mean it was not a contract. See J. A. Jones Const. Co. v. Plumbers & Pipefitters Loc. 2 598, 568 F.2d 1292, 1294-95 (9th Cir. 1978) (“[F]ailure of one of the parties to sign the agreement 3 does not necessarily prevent the nonsigning party from being bound by the agreement.”). At the 4 same time, however, Lansdown’s own TAC specifically alleges that the Settlement Agreement is 5 unenforceable. TAC ¶ 28 (“The Confidential Settlement Agreement and proposed Loan 6 Modification were different in significant respects from the Memorandum of Understanding, so 7 they are not enforceable.”). She repeats this in her opposition. Bayview Opp’n at 5 (“The 8 Confidential Settlement Agreement and proposed Loan Modification were different in significant 9 respects from the Memorandum of Understanding, so they are not enforceable.”). Thus, 10 Lansdown concedes that the contract she contends was breached is itself an unenforceable 11 agreement. As such, she fails to plead the existence of a contract between herself and Bayview 12 and/or Shellpoint when it comes to the Settlement Agreement. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS 13 the motion as to any breach of contract claim based upon the Settlement Agreement. 14 4. Breach of the Loan Modification Agreement 15 In its previous order, the Court found it was unclear whether Lansdown “even intends to 16 plead breach of contract based on the Loan Modification Agreement” and therefore granted leave 17 to clarify her allegations as to any claim based on it. Lansdown II, 2023 WL 411348 , at *6. 18 Bayview and Shellpoint now argue she has failed to do so, and ay claim based on the Loan 19 Modification Agreement must therefore be dismissed. Bayview Mot. at 14-16. 20 The Court finds Lansdown has not sufficiently alleged that the Loan Modification 21 Agreement is a contract. As with the Settlement Agreement, there is no dispute that Bayview did 22 not sign the agreement. Further, Lansdown’s own TAC specifically alleges that the Loan 23 Modification Agreement is unenforceable. TAC ¶ 28 (“The Confidential Settlement Agreement 24 and proposed Loan Modification were different in significant respects from the Memorandum of 25 Understanding, so they are not enforceable.”). She repeats this in her opposition. Bayview Opp’n 26 at 5 (“The Confidential Settlement Agreement and proposed Loan Modification were different in 27 significant respects from the Memorandum of Understanding, so they are not enforceable.”). 1 unenforceable agreement. As such, she fails to plead the existence of a contract between herself 2 and Bayview and/or Shellpoint when it comes to the Loan Modification Agreement. Accordingly, 3 the Court GRANTS the motion as to any breach of contract claim based upon the Loan 4 Modification Agreement. 5 5. Summary 6 In summary, the Court GRANTS the motion as to any claims brought against Bank of 7 New York Mellon. The Court DENIES the motion as to Lansdown’s claim that Shellpoint 8 assumed obligations under the alleged contracts. The Court GRANTS the motion as to any 9 causes of action against Bayview and Shellpoint related to the Settlement Agreement and Loan 10 Modification Agreement, but DENIES the motion as to any cause of action related to the MOU. 11 V. BANA’S MOTION 12 BANA raises several arguments regarding Lansdown’s breach of contract claim: 1) 13 Lansdown cannot hold it liable for the alleged conduct of Bayview and Shellpoint because the 14 TAC does not establish an agency relationship between BANA and Bayview and/or Shellpoint; 2) 15 Lansdown has failed to allege the MOU, the Settlement Agreement, or the Loan Modification 16 Agreement are valid contracts; 3) the statute of limitations bars Lansdown’s breach of contract 17 claim; 4) Lansdown fails to allege how BANA breached any specific provision of the alleged 18 contracts; and 5) the MOU and Settlement Agreement contain general releases of all claims. 19 A. Lansdown’s Failure to Respond to BANA’s Arguments 20 As a preliminary matter, Lansdown largely fails to address any of BANA’s arguments in 21 her opposition, focusing instead on restating the facts as alleged in her TAC. Lansdown thus 22 concedes these arguments. Linder, 2015 WL 4623710 , at *4 (“[F]ailure to respond in an 23 opposition brief to an argument put forward in an opening brief constitutes waiver or 24 abandonment . . . .”). Despite this, the Court shall consider BANA’s arguments in turn. 25 B. Agency Relationship 26 BANA argues Lansdown fails to establish any elements of agency, as she does not allege 27 BANA could legally control Bayview or Shellpoint. BANA Mot. at 6. 1 of another. See Akins v. Seterus, Inc., 2019 WL 4243221 , at *4 (E.D. Cal. Sept. 6, 2019) (citing 2 Republic of Nicaragua v. Standard Fruit Co., 937 F.2d 469, 480 (9th Cir. 1991); E. & J. Gallo 3 Winery v. EnCana Energy Servs., Inc., 2008 WL 2220396 , at *6 (E.D. Cal. May 27, 2008)). An 4 agency relationship can be created by agreement between one party (“the principal”) and another 5 party (“the agent”), or it can be founded on “ostensible authority.” Cal. Civ. Code §§ 2295 , 22986 2300; Deutsch v. Masonic Homes of Cal., Inc., 164 Cal. App. 4th 748, 781 (2008). An agency is 7 ostensible when a principal causes a third party to believe they employ another party as the 8 principal’s agent; however, the principal does not actually employ the purported agent. Van 9 Maanen v. Youth With A Mission-Bishop, 852 F. Supp. 2d 1232, 1250 (E.D. Cal. 2012) (citing Cal. 10 Civ. Code § 2300). 11 The essential characteristics of an agency relationship are “(1) An agent or apparent agent 12 holds a power to alter the legal relations between the principal and third persons and between the 13 principal and himself; (2) an agent is a fiduciary with respect to matters within the scope of the 14 agency; and (3) a principal has the right to control the conduct of the agent with respect to matters 15 entrusted to him.” Garlock Sealing Techs., LLC v. NAK Sealing Techs. Corp., 148 Cal. App. 4th 16 937, 964 (2007) (internal quotation omitted). Applying this analysis, “the primary test” of an 17 agency relationship is the principal’s legal right to control the agent’s actions. Cox v. Kaufman, 77 18 Cal. App. 2d 449, 452 (1946). “Whether a person performing work for another is an agent . . . 19 depends primarily upon whether the one for whom the work is done has the legal right to control 20 the activities of the alleged agent.” Malloy v. Fong, 37 Cal. 2d 356, 370 (1951). “To sufficiently 21 plead the existence of an agency relationship, a plaintiff must allege facts demonstrating the 22 principal’s control over its agent.” Akins, 2019 WL 4243221 , at *4 (citing Mazal Group, LLC v. 23 Espana, 2017 WL 6001721 , at *3 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 4, 2017)). 24 Lansdown alleges Bayview was the agent of BANA “because Bayview conducted loan 25 servicing for BANA.” TAC ¶ 5. She explains loan servicers and loan servicing, and she alleges 26 Bayview succeeded BANA’s contractual obligations pursuant to the Deed of Trust. Id. Turning 27 to Shellpoint, Lansdown alleges that because Shellpoint is the successor to Bayview and assumed 1 “conducted loan servicing for BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.” Id. 2 The Court acknowledges that the existence of an agency relationship is a question of fact. 3 See Akins, 2019 WL 4243221 , at *4. However, the Court can decide whether the allegations in the 4 TAC are sufficient to plead an agency relationship without making the ultimate factual 5 determination of whether the agency relationship actually exists. Id. “Moreover, a court may 6 make a legal determination about the existence of an agency relationship when the evidence 7 conclusively shows an agency relationship either exists or not.” See id. (citing Olney v. Job.com, 8 2014 WL 1747674 , at *9 (E.D. Cal. May 1, 2014); Pistone v. Superior Court, 228 Cal. App. 3d 9 672, 679 (1991) (“The existence or absence of agency ordinarily poses a question of fact. Unless 10 the evidence permits only one inference, the question is one for the trier of fact.”); Markow v. 11 Rosner, 3 Cal. App. 5th 1027, 1039 (2016) (“Although the existence of an agency relationship is 12 usually a question of fact, it ‘becomes a question of law when the facts can be viewed in only one 13 way.’”). 14 Here, Lansdown’s allegations fail to establish any elements of agency, express or implied, 15 let alone the “primary test,” as she at no point alleges BANA could legally control Bayview or 16 Shellpoint. See Garlock Sealing Techs., 148 Cal. App. 4th at 964; Malloy, 37 Cal. 2d at 370 . The 17 TAC pleads no facts indicating any agency relationship between Bayview and BANA beyond 18 boilerplate language. TAC ¶ 17 (“[E]ach Defendant sued herein in relation to the Real Property 19 they claim an interest in was the agent and/or employee of each of the remaining Defendants 20 thereof, and at all times was acting within the purpose and scope of such agency and/or 21 employment. All Defendants have joint and several liability.”). This language does not plausibly 22 allege an agency relationship to make out a breach of contract claim against BANA. See Church 23 Mut. Ins. Co., S.I. v. GuideOne Specialty Mut. Ins. Co., 72 Cal. App. 5th 1042 , 1061-62 (2021), as 24 modified on denial of reh’g (Jan. 11, 2022) (listing the elements to establish agency in California); 25 Mazal Grp., LLC, 2017 WL 6001721 , at *3 (dismissing a breach of contract claim premised on an 26 agency relationship where the complaint alleged “each Defendant was an agent of the other 27 Defendant and was acting in the course of their agency at all relevant times.”). Indeed, allegations 1 support an agency relationship. See Akins, 2019 WL 4243221 , at *5 (finding no agency 2 relationship between BANA and defendant when no facts establishing express or implied 3 connection were alleged “beyond Defendant’s purchase of Plaintiffs’ loan in December 2013 from 4 BANA.”). 5 Instead of responding to BANA’s arguments, Lansdown’s opposition argues that BANA is 6 liable for Bayview’s conduct because “Bayview repeatedly ratified the conduct of Bank of 7 America” and that her tender “stopped defendants claims for interest, late charges, and foreclosing 8 costs.” BANA Opp’n at 7-8. The opposition does not indicate the TAC establishes the necessary 9 elements for an agency relationship. As Lansdown alleges that BANA is liable through a theory 10 of agency relationship for Bayview’s and/or Shellpoint’s conduct, she must establish an agency 11 relationship between them, and she has failed to do so. As such, BANA cannot be liable for 12 Bayview’s and/or Shellpoint’s conduct. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS BANA’s motion to the 13 extent Lansdown’s breach of contract claim is premised on the alleged breaches of Bayview and 14 Shellpoint. 15 C. Memorandum of Understanding 16 Like Bayview and Shellpoint, BANA argues the MOU is not a valid contract because 17 Lansdown fails to establish she satisfied the condition precedent that she agreed to engage in 18 alternative dispute resolution prior to filing this action. BANA Mot. at 7-8. However, as 19 discussed above, the Court has already determined that Lansdown “sufficiently alleges 20 performance of the Memorandum of Understanding. The SAC states that Lansdown ‘has 21 performed all conditions, covenants, and promises required,’ ‘has been performing the 22 Memorandum of Understanding,’ and ‘is not in default under legal obligations.’” Lansdown II, 23 2023 WL 411348 , at *5. As the TAC includes these same allegations, see TAC ¶¶ 1, 41, the Court 24 again finds Lansdown’s allegations suffice at this stage. See Kiernan, 150 F.3d at 1124; Archer 25 Western Contractors, Ltd., 2014 WL 12607699 , at *4; Textainer Equip. Mgmt. (U.S.) Ltd., 2007 26 WL 1795695 , at *2. Regardless, as to BANA, without any allegations showing an agency 27 relationship, Bayview’s alleged breach of the MOU cannot be attributed to BANA, and there are 1 GRANTS BANA’s motion as to the MOU. 2 D. Settlement Agreement 3 BANA argues the Settlement Agreement is not an enforceable contract as between it and 4 Lansdown because the document is unsigned by BANA, and Lansdown has not alleged mutual 5 assent. BANA Mot. at 9. In the TAC, Lansdown repeatedly states BANA did not sign the 6 Settlement Agreement. TAC ¶ 1 (“Defendants refused to sign the Confidential Settlement 7 agreement.”); id. ¶ 37 (“On or about January 23, 2020, after the settlement documents were 8 negotiated but not signed by all parties . . .”); id. ¶ 46 (“BANA repudiated the Confidential 9 Settlement Agreement and Release prepared by its counsel by refusing to sign it . . .”). 10 Lansdown’s own exhibits establish that BANA (and Bayview and Shellpoint) did not sign the 11 document. Id., Ex. 6. Further, Lansdown fails to address BANA’s argument that the Settlement 12 Agreement is an unenforceable contract, and thus concedes it. See Linder, 2015 WL 4623710 , at 13 *4. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS BANA’s motion as to breach of the Settlement Agreement. 14 E. Loan Modification Agreement 15 BANA argues that it was not a party to the Loan Modification Agreement and therefore 16 cannot be liable for any alleged breach of this agreement. Mot. at 9. Lansdown fails to address 17 BANA’s argument and thus concedes it. See Linder, 2015 WL 4623710 , at *4. Regardless, a 18 cause of action for breach of contract requires privity of contract. Simoni v. Am. Media, Inc., 2014 19 WL 12597640 , at *3 (C.D. Cal. July 22, 2014). Here, BANA is not listed as a party to the Loan 20 Modification Agreement. TAC, Ex. 8. Further, the MOU explicitly states that BANA is not a 21 party. TAC, Ex. 3, ¶ 5 (“The parties acknowledge and understand that Defendant Bank of 22 America, N.A. (‘BANA’) is in no way a party to the Modification.”). Thus, because there is no 23 privity of contract between BANA and Lansdown, any breach of contract claim against BANA 24 based on the Loan Modification Agreement fails. See Kokopelli Cmty. Workshop Corp. v. Select 25 Portfolio Servicing, Inc., 2011 WL 3490136 , at *8 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 10, 2011) (dismissing breach 26 of contract claim against a particular defendant where the contract was not alleged to be between 27 the plaintiff and that defendant). And, as discussed above, a claim of breach based on an agent 1 such a relationship to be plausible. 2 Accordingly, the Court finds Lansdown cannot state a claim against BANA based on the 3 Loan Modification Agreement because BANA was not a party to this agreement. The Court 4 therefore GRANTS BANA’s motion as to Lansdown’s breach of contract claim based on the 5 Loan Modification Agreement. 6 F. Statute of Limitations 7 Even if the Court were to find that Lansdown has stated a plausible claim against BANA 8 based on any of the alleged contracts, BANA also argues her claims are time-barred. BANA Mot. 9 at 10. Under California law, “[t]he ordinary statute of limitations for breach of a written contract 10 is four years.” Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 337 ; Vu v. Prudential Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 26 Cal. 4th 11 1142, 1148 (2001); AGK Sierra De Montserrat, L.P. v. Comerica Bank, 2023 WL 606933 , at *48 12 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 27, 2023). 13 Lansdown alleges BANA breached its contractual duties by initiating a foreclosure action 14 and noticing a trustee’s sale on February 18, 2010.3 TAC ¶¶ 44-45. Nearly 12 years passed from 15 this alleged conduct and the date Lansdown filed the initial complaint on February 6, 2022. As 16 such, it is clear from the face of the pleadings that the allegations attributable solely to BANA are 17 time-barred. See Wolf v. Mason-McDuffie Real Est., Inc., 2022 WL 2342648 , at *2 (N.D. Cal. 18 June 29, 2022) (dismissing contract claims when each of the causes of action asserted were time19 barred). Thus, based on her own allegations, Lansdown cannot plausibly allege that BANA was 20 servicing the Property during the time period in which she could state a breach of contract claim 21 against it within the four-year statute of limitations period. 22 In her opposition, Lansdown does not directly address BANA’s arguments, instead 23 summarizing doctrines without providing analysis relevant to the facts of this case. For instance, 24 Lansdown copies portions of Aryeh v. Canon Bus. Sols., Inc., 55 Cal. 4th 1185, 1197-99 (2013) 25 (without citing Aryeh), explaining the continuing violation and continuous accrual doctrines. 26 3 Lansdown alleges “BANA breached the Deed of Trust by initiating the foreclosure action and 27 noticing a Trustees sale for February 18, 2010 and October 03, 2019.” TAC ¶ 44. However, as to 1 BANA Opp’n at 10-12. Lansdown also quotes language from Ragland v. US Bank Nat’l Assn., 2 209 Cal. App. 4th 182 (2012.), Miller & Starr’s secondary source on California Real Estate, and 3 various civil and commercial codes, see Opp. at 10-12, but she fails to explain how these doctrines 4 apply to the facts of this case, thus failing to rebut BANA’s assertion that the statute of limitations 5 applies to its alleged wrongful conduct. Accordingly, the Court finds the four-year statute of 6 limitations bars Lansdown’s claim against BANA and therefore GRANTS BANA’s motion to 7 dismiss. 8 VI. CONCLUSION 9 For the reasons stated above, the Court ORDERS as follows: 10 1) Bank of New York Mellon’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED. 11 2) Bank of America, N.A.’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED. 12 3) Bayview Loan Servicing and Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing’s motion to dismiss is 13 GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART. The Court DENIES the motion as to 14 Lansdown’s claim that Shellpoint assumed obligations under the alleged contracts. 15 The Court GRANTS the motion as to any causes of action against Bayview and 16 Shellpoint related to the Settlement Agreement and Loan Modification Agreement, but 17 DENIES the motion as to any cause of action related to the Memorandum of 18 Understanding. 19 As the Court has previously granted Lansdown two opportunities to amend her claims, and 20 it appears that further leave would be futile, dismissal is WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. See 21 Ascon Props., Inc. v. Mobil Oil Co., 866 F.2d 1149 , 1160 (9th Cir.1989) (“The district court’s 22 discretion to deny leave to amend is particularly broad where plaintiff has previously amended the 23 complaint.”); Schreiber Distrib. Co. v. Serv-Well Furniture Co., 806 F.2d 1393 , 1401 (9th Cir. 24 1986) (Leave to amend should be denied when the court determines that “allegation[s] of other 25 facts consistent with the challenged pleading could not possibly cure the deficiency.”). 26 Bayview and Shellpoint shall file their answer(s) by April 27, 2023. The Court shall 27 conduct a Case Management Conference on May 11, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. by Zoom video 1 https://cand.uscourts.gov/judges/hixson-thomas-s-tsh/. This conference shall be attended by lead 2 || trial counsel. By May 4, 2023, the parties shall file a Joint Case Management Statement 3 containing the information in the Standing Order for All Judges in the Northern District of 4 || California, available at: http://cand.uscourts.gov/tshorders. The Joint Case Management 5 Statement form may be obtained at: http://cand.uscourts.gov/civilforms. 6 IT IS SO ORDERED. 4 8 || Dated: April 12, 2023 9 TAA. | THOMAS S. HIXSON 10 United States Magistrate Judge 11 12 13 15 16 = 17 Z 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28