DeHaven v. JP Morgan Chase Bank CA3 ( 2014 )

Filed 6/16/14 DeHaven v. JP Morgan Chase Bank CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Placer)
----
BRADLEY DEHAVEN et al., C072032
Plaintiffs and Appellants, (Super. Ct. No. SCV0030190)
v.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., et al.,
Defendants and Respondents.
In March 2007 plaintiffs Bradley and Lisa DeHaven borrowed $900,000 from
defendant JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (Chase) to refinance their home loan. In early
2009 the DeHavens experienced financial problems, ceased making loan payments, and
applied for a loan modification. Chase foreclosed in 2010 and the DeHavens filed suit
against Chase and The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (Mellon), alleging
numerous causes of action including wrongful foreclosure, intentional misrepresentation,
intentional concealment, promissory estoppel, and breach of fiduciary duty. The
DeHavens believe Chase and Mellon never intended to provide mortgage relief but
1
instead led them on while continuing to enjoy economic advantages as the servicer of a
troubled asset. Chase and Mellon filed a demurrer, which the trial court sustained
without leave to amend. The DeHavens appeal, contending they have sufficiently alleged
facts to support their causes of action. We shall affirm the judgment.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Predefault
The DeHavens purchased their home in 2002. To take advantage of lower interest
rates, they decided to refinance. In 2007 the DeHavens borrowed $900,000 from Chase.
A deed of trust was recorded in March 2007, naming Chase as the lender and
Financial Title Company as trustee. The deed of trust provided that the loan could be
sold. In 2007 Chase pooled the loan into a securitized trust; Mellon was the trustee of the
trust. Chase remained the loan servicer under the trust’s pooling and servicing agreement
(PSA).
The DeHavens made all their mortgage payments until early in 2009, when they
began to experience financial problems. In January 2009 Bradley DeHaven called Chase
to request a payment reduction; he told the Chase representative that they had never
before missed a mortgage payment and wanted to work something out so they could keep
their home.
The Chase representative would not discuss any relief or reduction options with
Bradley DeHaven at that time but told him that if the DeHavens missed three consecutive
months’ payments, “only then could Chase consider or discuss a modification.” The
representative stated, “ ‘we can’t talk about loan modification until you miss three
mortgage payments,’ ” and other Chase employees reiterated that Chase would not
discuss any mortgage payment relief, reduction, or loan modification with the DeHavens
until they defaulted on three mortgage payments. Chase told the DeHavens that as the
loan servicer it had the authority to modify the loan.
2
Postdefault
In February 2009 the DeHavens stopped making loan payments and began
compiling and submitting the information requested by Chase for a loan modification. In
April 2009, after missing three monthly mortgage payments, the DeHavens contacted
Chase to inquire about their loan modification application. Over the next two months, the
DeHavens contacted Chase on numerous occasions, inquiring about the modification
application. Chase confirmed their loan was under review for a modification. Chase also
stated it would not foreclose during the review.
On May 19, 2009, defendant First American Title Insurance Company (First
American), as agent for the current beneficiary, recorded a notice of default. In June
2009 Bradley DeHaven contacted Chase to inquire about the status of their loan
application. Chase told DeHaven that the application was under review and no
foreclosure would take place during the process.
The DeHavens resubmitted documents requested by Chase for the loan
modification in May and June 2009. In June and July 2009 the DeHavens again
contacted Chase to confirm that their loan was being reviewed for modification and that
no foreclosure would occur while the loan was under modification review. In June and
July 2009 the DeHavens again inquired about their modification and Chase stated they
were under review.
First American recorded a notice of trustee’s sale on August 26, 2009, with a sale
date of September 11, 2009. In August 2009 the DeHavens sought the assistance of
Financial Hope for America (Hope), a foreclosure relief service, in obtaining a loan
modification from Chase. With the help of Hope, in September 2009 the DeHavens
again submitted the documents requested by Chase in connection with their loan
modification application. Chase delayed the September foreclosure sale.
3
The following month, Bradley DeHaven informed Chase that he should be
contacted concerning the status of the DeHavens’ loan. Chase agreed to contact the
DeHavens directly regarding the modification application.
In November 2009 Hope contacted Chase, which informed Hope the DeHavens’
loan modification was being reviewed, the process would take an additional 90 to
120 days, and no sale would occur while the modification was under review. In another
conversation, Chase told Hope the DeHavens’ application was under review and no
further information was needed. Hope made numerous follow-up calls on the DeHavens’
application.
Hope contacted Chase in January 2010 and was informed the application was still
under review, no trustee’s sale would occur, and Chase would not foreclose as long as the
loan modification request was under review. The following month, the DeHavens again
submitted all of the documents requested by Chase for the loan modification.
Also in February 2010 the DeHavens began to consider the efficacy of
bankruptcy. They believed filing for bankruptcy would make them better candidates for
loan modification by discharging the junior loan on the property and eliminating other
unsecured debt. The DeHavens informed Chase of their plans.
On March 3, 2010, Hope called Chase and was informed the DeHavens’
application was no longer under review. Chase told Hope it had offered the DeHavens a
loan modification in October 2009, which the DeHavens had refused. Although Hope
left the DeHavens a voice mail message the same day, Hope did not inform them about
the substance of the conversation with Chase.
According to the DeHavens, Chase never offered them a loan modification in
October 2009. Nor did Chase inform them, prior to the trustee’s sale of the property in
April 2010, that their application was no longer under review. Between August 2009 and
April 2010 Bradley DeHaven spoke with Chase several times a month. During these
conversations, Chase confirmed that the foreclosure on the property was suspended and
4
the modification application was still under review. Chase repeatedly stated it would
notify the DeHavens of any change in the status of their loan or their modification
application.
The foreclosure sale of the DeHavens’ property took place on April 14, 2010. On
April 17, 2010, the DeHavens found a notice on their front door informing them that their
home had been sold and Chase was now the owner. On May 4, 2010, Chase sent a letter
to the DeHavens stating their modification was in active review and thanking them for
their patience. The following day, Chase issued a three-day notice to quit and filed an
unlawful detainer action on May 17, 2010.
The DeHavens “began working with Chase again on their own” in July 2010 and
submitted a new modification application. On July 22, 2010, the DeHavens spoke with
Chase representative Sabrina Pipkin, who stated Chase would reverse the foreclosure and
reopen the case.
While Pipkin was on vacation in August 2010, another Chase representative
closed the account. The same day, the DeHavens received a letter from Chase stating
their home loan modification application had been denied for lack of adequate
documentation.
In November 2010, after consulting again with Chase, the DeHavens resubmitted
all the documents required to reverse foreclosure and obtain a loan modification. In
January 2011 Chase informed the DeHavens that their loan no longer existed due to the
sale of the property.
Federal Complaint
In November 2010 the DeHavens filed suit in federal court. In their original
complaint, the DeHavens acknowledged that Chase told them in March 2010 that it had
stopped reviewing their modification application. However, in their first amended
federal complaint, the DeHavens alleged that Hope had instructed them to refrain from
any direct contact with Chase: “Hope . . . told [Bradley DeHaven] not to contact Chase
5
directly as it would hurt their chances for a modification if they said anything contrary to
their negotiations, so [the DeHavens] were completely blindsided by the foreclosure.”
The amended complaint alleged no direct communication with Chase after the DeHavens
retained Hope.
Chase filed a motion to dismiss the first amended complaint, arguing Hope’s
knowledge that Chase had concluded its modification review was imputed to the
DeHavens. The DeHavens filed a second amended complaint, naming Hope as a
defendant on a new breach of fiduciary duty claim. The DeHavens deleted their
allegation that Hope instructed them not to contact Chase. Instead, the second amended
federal complaint alleges: “Although [the DeHavens] authorized . . . Hope . . . to work
on their behalf and discuss the Subject Loan with Chase, [the DeHavens] clearly
communicated to Chase in or around October of 2009 that [the DeHavens] wished to be
contacted directly regarding any changes to or developments concerning the status of the
Subject Loan.” The federal court dismissed the case in October 2011 for lack of subject
matter jurisdiction.
Current Litigation
The DeHavens filed their original complaint in state court in November 2011.
Their first amended complaint, filed in April 2012, alleges causes of action for wrongful
foreclosure, violation of Civil Code section 2934a, intentional misrepresentation and false
promise, intentional concealment, constructive fraud, negligent misrepresentation,
promissory estoppel, violation of Business and Professions Code section 17200, and
breach of fiduciary duty.
The original complaint alleges: “Although [the DeHavens] authorized . . .
Hope . . . to work on their behalf and discuss the Subject Loan with Chase, [the
DeHavens] clearly communicated to Chase in or around October of 2009 that [the
DeHavens] wished to be contacted directly regarding any changes to or developments
concerning the status of the Subject Loan. Plaintiff Bradley DeHaven specifically
6
inquired with the Chase representative he spoke with in or around October of 2009 if
Chase would still keep [the DeHavens] ‘in the loop’ regarding the Subject Loan even
though he was authorizing . . . Hope . . . to communicate with Chase through a power of
attorney. The lady that Plaintiff Bradley DeHaven spoke with assured him that Chase
would still communicate directly with [the DeHavens] regarding the Subject Loan, but
that the power of attorney simply allowed Chase also to talk with . . . Hope . . . about [the
DeHavens’] case.”
Following a demurrer by defendants, the DeHavens filed a first amended
complaint. In their amended complaint, the DeHavens alleged that they themselves
directly contacted Chase from October 2009 through April 2010. Defendants again
demurred. The trial court sustained the demurrer without leave to amend. Following
entry of judgment, the DeHavens filed a timely notice of appeal.
DISCUSSION
Standard of Review
The function of a demurrer is to test the sufficiency of the complaint by raising
questions of law. We give the complaint a reasonable interpretation and read it as a
whole with its parts considered in their context. A general demurrer admits the truth of
all material factual allegations. We are not concerned with the plaintiff’s ability to prove
the allegations or with any possible difficulties in making such proof. We are not bound
by the construction placed by the trial court on the pleadings; instead, we make our own
independent judgment. (Herman v. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation
Authority (1999) 71 Cal. App. 4th 819, 824.)
Where the trial court sustains the demurrer without leave to amend, we must
decide whether there is a reasonable probability the plaintiff can cure the defect with an
amendment. If we find that an amendment could cure the defect, we must find the court
abused its discretion and reverse. If not, the court has not abused its discretion. The
7
plaintiff bears the burden of proving an amendment would cure the defect. (Gomes v.
Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (2011) 192 Cal. App. 4th 1149, 1153 (Gomes).)
In addition, a plaintiff cannot avoid a demurrer by pleading facts or positions in an
amended complaint that contradict facts pleaded in the original complaint, or by
suppressing facts that prove the pleaded facts false. (Cantu v. Resolution Trust Corp.
(1992) 4 Cal. App. 4th 857, 877.) “[W]hen a complaint contains allegations that are fatal
to a cause of action, a plaintiff cannot avoid those defects simply by filing an amended
complaint that omits the problematic facts or pleads facts inconsistent with those alleged
earlier. [Citations.] Absent an explanation for the inconsistency, a court will read the
original defect into the amended complaint, rendering it vulnerable to demurrer again.”
(Banis Restaurant Design, Inc. v. Serrano (2005) 134 Cal. App. 4th 1035, 1044.)
Tender
Chase contends the DeHavens must tender the amount they owed under the deed
of trust in order to state a claim for wrongful foreclosure. The trial court agreed, finding
as to each cause of action that the DeHavens failed to allege the ability to tender and
failed to sufficiently allege an exception to the tender requirement.
As a general rule, a homeowner in default must first tender payment of the
obligation in full to achieve standing to challenge nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings.
(Lona v. Citibank, N.A. (2011) 202 Cal. App. 4th 89, 112 (Lona).) The tender rules are
strictly applied and it is a debtor’s obligation to make an unambiguous tender of the
entire amount of the debt. (Nguyen v. Calhoun (2003) 105 Cal. App. 4th 428, 445-446.)
However, the tender rule does not apply if the sale is void. Since the tender rule is
an equitable doctrine, when a trustee sale is void tender need not be alleged because the
action is not based in equity. (Lona, supra, 202 Cal.App.4th at p. 113.) Therefore, we
must first ascertain whether the sale of the DeHavens’ home was void. If so, tender is not
required.
8
Wrongful Foreclosure
In their first cause of action for wrongful foreclosure, the DeHavens cite Civil
Code section 2924 and allege that neither Chase, nor Mellon, nor First American
possessed the authority to foreclose on their property. Although their argument is
convoluted, they appear to contend that at the time the property was sold, First American
was not the beneficiary under the deed of trust, since the substitution of trustee was not
recorded until over a month after the notice of default was recorded. In addition, the
DeHavens allege that First American attempted to substitute itself as trustee and therefore
was not an authorized agent of the holder of the note or beneficiary under the deed of
trust. Because of these irregularities, the DeHavens assert that the notice of default upon
which the sale proceeded was in violation of section 2924 and therefore void.
Respondents disagree, pointing out that Chase originated the loan and pooled it
into a securitized trust with Mellon as trustee. Chase remained the servicer throughout
the life of the loan and was the trust’s agent pursuant to the trust’s PSA, which authorized
the servicer, on behalf of the trustee, to foreclose on loans in default. As to the
DeHavens’ arguments regarding the failure to timely record the substitution of trustees
and the allegedly improper effort by First American to substitute itself as trustee,
respondents argue the DeHavens mistakenly attempt to apply the recording provisions of
Civil Code section 2932.5 to the deed of trust when the statute only applies to mortgages.
Respondents assert the DeHavens are similarly confused in asserting before the trial court
that the trust had terminated and mistaken about who has the authority to file a notice of
default. Respondents point out that a notice of default may be recorded by the trustee,
beneficiary, or any of their authorized agents and that an agent’s authority to initiate the
foreclosure process is not subject to judicial challenge.
Regrettably, we do not have the benefit of the DeHavens’ response to these legal
arguments as they are not addressed in their reply brief. In any event, the arguments are
compelling.
9
Civil Code sections 2924 through 2924k, which set forth California’s nonjudicial
foreclosure scheme, “ ‘provide a comprehensive framework for the regulation of a
nonjudicial foreclosure sale pursuant to a power of sale contained in a deed of trust.’
[Citation.] ‘These provisions cover every aspect of exercise of the power of sale
contained in a deed of trust.’ [Citation.] ‘The purposes of this comprehensive scheme
are threefold: (1) to provide the creditor/beneficiary with a quick, inexpensive and
efficient remedy against a defaulting debtor/trustor; (2) to protect the debtor/trustor from
wrongful loss of the property; and (3) to ensure that a properly conducted sale is final
between the parties and conclusive as to a bona fide purchaser.’ [Citation.] ‘Because of
the exhaustive nature of this scheme, California appellate courts have refused to read any
additional requirements into the non-judicial foreclosure statute.’ [Citations.]” (Gomes,
supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at p. 1154; see Lane v. Vitek Real Estate Indus. Group (2010)
713 F. Supp. 2d 1092, 1098.)
Addressing defaults, Civil Code section 2924, subdivision (a)(1) provides that the
“trustee, mortgagee, or beneficiary, or any of their authorized agents shall first file for
record, in the office of the recorder of each county wherein the mortgaged or trust
property or some part or parcel thereof is situated, a notice of default.”
Numerous courts have rejected challenges to the propriety of the foreclosure
process by the foreclosed-upon homeowners, holding that the homeowners did not have
standing to challenge a vast array of irregularities in the transfer of rights and obligations
under assignments and substitutions. (Siliga v. Mortgage Electronic Registration
Systems, Inc. (2013) 219 Cal. App. 4th 75, 82; Jenkins v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
(2013) 216 Cal. App. 4th 497, 511 (Jenkins).) “California’s nonjudicial foreclosure
scheme does not ‘provide for a judicial action to determine whether the person initiating
the foreclosure process is indeed authorized.’ Gomes v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.,
192 Cal. App. 4th 1149, 1155, 121 Cal. Rptr. 3d 819 (2011).” (Diunugala v. JP Morgan
Chase Bank, N.A. (S.D. Cal., Oct. 3, 2013, No. 12cv2106-WQH-NLS) 2013 U.S.Dist.
10
Lexis 144326 at p. *20.) In Herrera v. Federal National Mortgage Assn. (2012)
205 Cal. App. 4th 1495, the homeowners alleged a defect in the assignment of the deed of
trust. The homeowners did not claim the lender committed misconduct in foreclosing on
the property and admitted they were in default. The appellate court rejected the
challenge, reasoning: “Because a promissory note is a negotiable instrument, a borrower
must anticipate it can and might be transferred to another creditor. As to plaintiff, an
assignment merely substituted one creditor for another, without changing her obligations
under the note.” (Id. at p. 1507.)
The court in Jenkins, supra, 216 Cal. App. 4th 497 reached a similar result,
rejecting a homeowner’s challenge to a foreclosure based on an improper transfer of the
promissory note. The court found the homeowner’s obligations under the note remained
the same, even if subsequent assignments were invalid. The court reasoned: “California
courts have refused to delay the nonjudicial foreclosure process by allowing trustor-
debtors to pursue preemptive judicial actions to challenge the right, power, and authority
of a foreclosing ‘beneficiary’ or beneficiary’s ‘agent’ to initiate and pursue foreclosure.”
(Id. at p. 511.) In Gomes, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at p. 1155, the court found Civil Code
section 2924, subdivision (a) does not provide for a judicial action to determine whether
the person initiating the foreclosure process is authorized.
Here, the DeHavens acknowledge they had ceased to make their loan payments.
They do not allege that the assignments they complain of interfered with their ability to
repay the loan. Although the DeHavens present a litany of alleged damages, they fail to
connect those damages to the alleged irregularities in the processing of the loan. In
addition, the DeHavens were not excused from failing to allege a tender, and this failure
also dooms their cause of action. The DeHavens’ wrongful foreclosure cause of action
based on alleged defects in the transfer of the underlying note lacks merit and was
properly dismissed without leave to amend.
11
Violation of Civil Code Section 2934a
The DeHavens’ second cause of action alleges that the June 2009 substitution of
trustee was invalid under Civil Code section 2934a since the beneficiary did not sign the
document. However, section 2934a does not prohibit a beneficiary’s agent from
executing the substitution on the beneficiary’s behalf. In Aceves v. U.S. Bank N.A. (2011)
192 Cal. App. 4th 218, 232 (Aceves), the court found section 2934a does not preclude an
attorney-in-fact from signing a substitution of trustee. Therefore, the trial court properly
dismissed the second cause of action without leave to amend.
Intentional Misrepresentation and False Promise
The DeHavens’ third cause of action for intentional misrepresentation alleges
Chase made misrepresentations to induce them to default and made further
misrepresentations following the default. The former refers to Chase’s statements that it
would consider modification if they defaulted on three mortgage payments. The latter
refers to Chase’s statements that it would not foreclose while their loan modification
application was under review.
The elements of fraud that give rise to a cause of action for deceit are (1) the
defendant made a false representation as to a material fact; (2) the defendant knew the
representation was false when made; (3) in making the representation, the defendant
intended to deceive; (4) the plaintiff justifiably relied on the representation; and (5) the
plaintiff suffered resulting damages. (West v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (2013)
214 Cal. App. 4th 780, 792.) Fraud must be pleaded with specificity rather than with
general and conclusory allegations. A plaintiff must allege facts showing how, when,
where, to whom, and by what means the alleged representations were made. In the case
of a corporate defendant, the plaintiff must allege the names of the persons making the
representations, their authority to speak for the corporation, to whom they spoke, the
content of the communication, and when the representation was made. (Id. at p. 793.)
12
Predefault Misrepresentations
The DeHavens allege Chase representatives told them that if they missed three
consecutive mortgage payments, only then could Chase consider or discuss a loan
modification. The court in Roussel v. Wells Fargo Bank (N.D. Cal., Jan. 14, 2013,
No. C 12-04057 CRB) 2013 U.S.Dist. Lexis 5427 (Roussel) rejected an almost identical
claim by a borrower against a lender. The borrower alleged the lender made a false
representation when it instructed the borrower to default on his loan in order to receive
loan assistance. The court found, “[a]s an initial matter, the [second amended complaint]
states only that ‘Wells told Plaintiff that it was unable to offer Plaintiff any loan workout
options because Plaintiff was current on his mortgage payment,[’] [citation], not that
Defendant ‘instructed’ Plaintiff to default, but even so, Plaintiff does not explain what
about the representation/instruction was false. Did Defendant in fact offer loan workout
options to borrowers who were current on their mortgages? Plaintiff does not allege that.
Did Defendant tell Plaintiff that if he defaulted, then he would be given a modification?
Plaintiff does not allege that either. As the Court held . . . , ‘Defendant arguably did
exactly what it told Plaintiff; after Plaintiff became delinquent, Defendant processed
Plaintiff’s loan modification application. Plaintiff’s application was denied, but
Defendant never guaranteed a loan modification in the first place.’ [Citation.]” (Id. at
pp. *18-19.)
We agree with Roussel’s analysis. Chase told the DeHavens they could not
discuss any loan modification options until they had missed three consecutive months’
payments. The DeHavens do not allege Chase instructed them to default or represented
that a modification was feasible. All Chase did was to inform the DeHavens about the
prerequisites necessary to be considered for a modification. The DeHavens fail to
establish that the predefault statements by Chase were false.
13
Postdefault Misrepresentations
Following their default, the DeHavens allege Chase falsely stated that it would not
foreclose on the property while their modification application was under review,
misrepresented that the loan was under review between August 2009 and April 2010, and
misrepresented that Chase would reopen its file for further consideration in July 2010.
Each of these allegations is deficient and the court appropriately sustained Chase’s
demurrer without leave to amend.
Although the DeHavens contend Chase misrepresented that it would not foreclose
while their modification application was under review, their own allegations belie this
claim. The DeHavens’ complaint states that Chase reviewed their multiple applications
for a loan modification for over a year. On March 3, 2010, Chase informed Hope’s Luis
Ibanez, who was representing the DeHavens, that their file was no longer under review.
The foreclosure took place on April 14, 2010.
The DeHavens also allege that Chase falsely informed them their loan was in
review on multiple occasions between August 2009 and April 2010. However, they
provide no specific facts that establish Chase was not reviewing their application prior to
the foreclosure. Nor do they allege they negotiated a modification with Chase. Instead,
the heart of the DeHavens’ misrepresentation claims is their contention that Chase did not
offer them a modification. Chase’s failure to offer a modification does not constitute
fraud. Lenders are not compelled to determine a borrower’s ability to repay a loan, nor
are they required to modify a loan even in the shadow of foreclosure. (Perlas v. GMAC
Mortgage, LLC (2010) 187 Cal. App. 4th 429, 436 (Perlas).)
The trial court duly noted these deficiencies and found the DeHavens failed to
adequately allege facts sufficient to demonstrate deceitful conduct, intent to deceive, or
reliance on any representations made by Chase. In addition, the court commented, “there
are insufficient facts that allege the defendants actively participated and exceeded their
scope ‘beyond the domain of the usual money lender.’ [Citation.]”
14
The DeHavens take issue with this final comment, arguing under Jolley v. Chase
Home Finance, LLC (2013) 213 Cal. App. 4th 872 (Jolley) that courts no longer rely on
the general rule that lending institutions do not owe a duty of care to borrowers. Instead,
the DeHavens argue, Jolley requires the trial court to apply the factors enunciated in
Biakanja v. Irving (1958) 49 Cal. 2d 647 (Biakanja) to cases involving lenders and
borrowers in order to ascertain whether the lender owes a duty of care to the borrower.1
We disagree.
Jolley considered summary judgment against the borrower of a construction loan.
The original lender lost the lender’s documents, made false representations about the
amount of reimbursement under the loan, and failed to make the promised disbursements.
As a result, construction suffered delays. The bank that subsequently took over the
original lender made representations that it was highly probable the borrower’s
construction loan would be modified to stave off foreclosure. The bank also told the
borrower it was likely that when the construction loan was complete, the borrower could
roll the construction loan into a fully amortized conventional loan. The borrower, relying
on the bank’s representations, borrowed heavily to finish the project. However,
construction delays during the loan modification negotiations prevented him from selling
the property before the housing market collapsed. Subsequently, the bank foreclosed
and the borrower filed suit. The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of the
defendants; the appellate court reversed. (Jolley, supra, 213 Cal.App.4th at pp. 878-881,
906.)
1 Jolley sets out the Biakanja factors: “(1) the extent to which the transaction was
intended to affect the plaintiff, (2) the foreseeability of harm to the plaintiff, (3) the
degree of certainty that the plaintiff suffered injury, (4) the closeness of the connection
between the defendant’s conduct and the injury suffered, (5) the moral blame attached to
the defendant’s conduct, and (6) the policy of preventing future harm.” (Jolley, supra,
213 Cal.App.4th at p. 899.)
15
In reversing, the Jolley court found triable issues of fact as to whether the
defendants owed the plaintiff a duty of care. The court acknowledged that, as a general
rule, a financial institution owes no duty of care to borrowers in a loan transaction that
does not exceed the scope of its conventional role as a lender. (Jolley, supra,
213 Cal.App.4th at p. 898.) However, Jolley considered contemporary circumstances and
noted: “We live, however, in a world dramatically rocked in the past few years by
lending practices perhaps too much colored by shortsighted self-interest. We have
experienced not only an alarming surge in the number of bank failures, but the collapse of
the housing market, an avalanche of foreclosures, and related costs borne by all of
society. There is, to be sure, blame enough to go around. And the banks are hardly to be
excluded.” (Id. at p. 902.) The court considered recent legislative and judicial efforts
aimed at mitigating some of the damage done by the housing collapse, including dual
tracking, the practice of promising loan modification while pursuing foreclosure. The
court concluded these measures “indicate that courts should not rely mechanically on the
‘general rule’ that lenders owe no duty of care to their borrowers.” (Id. at p. 903.)
The court in Lueras v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP (2013) 221 Cal. App. 4th 49
distinguished Jolley. The court concluded: “[A] loan modification is the renegotiation of
loan terms, which falls squarely within the scope of a lending institution’s conventional
role as a lender of money. A lender’s obligations to offer, consider, or approve loan
modifications and to explore foreclosure alternatives are created solely by the loan
documents, statutes, regulations, and relevant directives and announcements from the
United States Department of the Treasury, Fannie Mae, and other governmental . . .
agencies. The Biakanja factors do not support imposition of a common law duty to offer
or approve a loan modification. If the modification was necessary due to the borrower’s
inability to repay the loan, the borrower’s harm, suffered from denial of a loan
modification, would not be closely connected to the lender’s conduct. If the lender did
not place the borrower in a position creating a need for a loan modification, then no
16
moral blame would be attached to the lender’s conduct.” (Lueras, supra,
221 Cal.App.4th at p. 67.)
We also find the present case distinguishable. The DeHavens allege Chase
misrepresented that their residential loan modification was under review. They do not
allege the type of misleading, specific representations the court in Jolley found
actionable.
Fraud and Deceit/Intentional Concealment
The DeHavens also allege intentional concealment under Civil Code section 1710,
which includes “[t]he suppression of a fact, by one who is bound to disclose it, or who
gives information of other facts which are likely to mislead for want of communication of
that fact.” The duty to disclose exists “ ‘ “(1) when the defendant is in a fiduciary
relationship with the plaintiff; [fn. omitted] (2) when the defendant had exclusive
knowledge of material facts not known to the plaintiff; (3) when the defendant actively
conceals a material fact from the plaintiff; and (4) when the defendant makes partial
representations but also suppresses some material facts. [Citation.]” [Citation.]’ ” (Bank
of America Corp. v. Superior Court (2011) 198 Cal. App. 4th 862, 870-871.)
The deceitful conduct the DeHavens allege again concerns Chase’s failure to
disclose its intent to sell the property while “lulling them into the belief” that Chase
would not foreclose. They also allege Chase “receives certain economic advantages as
servicer of a troubled loan which kick in at such time as the loan becomes three months
or more in arrears.” Finally, they label as deceitful Chase’s concealment that the
modification was no longer under review because the DeHavens refused a modification
offer in October 2009.
However, none of these allegations provides specific facts that support a cause of
action for fraudulent concealment. The DeHavens knew of the notice of default and sale,
and had not made any payments for more than a year. Chase informed Hope prior to
foreclosure that it had ended its modification review of the DeHavens’ loan. As for
17
Chase’s economic advantages in handling troubled loans, the DeHavens fail to specify
why this amounts to fraudulent concealment or how it damaged them. As discussed
previously, Chase informed Hope in October that the loan was no longer under review.
The amended complaint fails to allege fraudulent concealment.
Constructive Fraud
In support of their cause of action for constructive fraud, the DeHavens simply
reiterate their labyrinth of allegations regarding foreclosure, modification, and Chase’s
“economic advantages” as the servicer of a troubled loan. The trial court found these
allegations insufficient and we agree.
Constructive fraud requires that the defendant have a fiduciary duty to disclose
information to the plaintiff. (Younan v. Equifax Inc. (1980) 111 Cal. App. 3d 498, 516-
517.) The DeHavens do not allege that Chase was in a fiduciary relationship requiring
such disclosure. Indeed, a commercial lender is allowed to pursue its own economic
interests and may assert its contractual rights. Absent special circumstances, a loan
transaction is an arm’s-length transaction and does not constitute a fiduciary relationship
between borrower and lender. (Sierra-Bay Fed. Land Bank Assn. v. Superior Court
(1991) 227 Cal. App. 3d 318, 334-335; Perlas, supra, 187 Cal.App.4th at p. 436.) The
DeHavens fail to provide facts sufficient to support their cause of action for constructive
fraud.
Negligent Misrepresentation
The amended complaint alleges Chase breached its duty of care not to make
representations it had no reasonable ground to believe to be true. The DeHavens argue
they have pleaded facts in support of their cause of action for negligent
misrepresentation.
To establish negligent misrepresentation a plaintiff must allege facts that establish
the defendant owed a duty to communicate accurate information. (Friedman v. Merck &
Co. (2003) 107 Cal. App. 4th 454, 477.) As discussed, ante, a financial institution does
18
not owe a duty of care to a borrower when the actions complained of do not exceed the
scope of its conventional role as a lender of money. The DeHavens have not established
Chase made negligent misrepresentations.
Promissory Estoppel
The DeHavens argue Chase made clear and unambiguous promises to them:
Chase promised it would not foreclose on their home during the modification process and
promised to review the DeHavens’ application for a loan modification in good faith.
According to the DeHavens, under Aceves, supra, 192 Cal. App. 4th 218, they have
adequately pleaded a cause of action for promissory estoppel.
To establish promissory estoppel, the plaintiff must plead an unambiguous
promise, reasonable and foreseeable reliance, and detriment resulting from reliance. (US
Ecology, Inc. v. State of California (2005) 129 Cal. App. 4th 887, 901.) Promissory
estoppel applies when a promise that the defendant should reasonably expect to induce
action or forebearance on the part of the plaintiff does induce action or forebearance, and
would result in an injustice if the promise were not enforced. However, a mere hopeful
expectation cannot be equated with justifiable reliance. (Aceves, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th
at p. 227.) Estoppel cannot be established from preliminary discussions and negotiations.
(Garcia v. World Savings, FSB (2010) 183 Cal. App. 4th 1031, 1044.)
In Aceves, the defendant bank agreed to work with the plaintiff borrower “ ‘on a
mortgage reinstatement and loan modification’ ” if the borrower no longer pursued relief
in bankruptcy court. The appellate court found this constituted a clear and unambiguous
promise: “It indicates that U.S. Bank would not foreclose on Aceves’s home without first
engaging in negotiations with her to reinstate and modify the loan on mutually agreeable
terms.” (Aceves, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at p. 226.) The borrower relied on the bank’s
promise by declining to convert her chapter 7 bankruptcy to a chapter 13 bankruptcy, by
not developing a chapter 13 plan, and by not opposing the bank’s motion to lift the
bankruptcy stay. (Aceves, at p. 227.) The court found the borrower’s reliance on the
19
bank’s promise reasonable, and therefore she had stated a cause of action for promissory
estoppel. (Id. at pp. 227-232.)
No such unambiguous promise or reasonable reliance appears in the present case.
The DeHavens do not allege that Chase offered them a loan modification or discussed
whether or not the couple should pursue a bankruptcy remedy. Instead, the DeHavens
allege they relied on Chase’s promise not to foreclose on their home during the
foreclosure process and promised to review their modification request in good faith. The
court correctly found such allegations did not support a cause of action for promissory
estoppel.
Business and Professions Code Section 17200
Finally, the DeHavens contend they have adequately presented a cause of action
for violation of Business and Professions Code section 17200. The trial court disagreed,
finding the DeHavens failed to sufficiently allege unfair, unlawful, or fraudulent business
practices or activities to support the cause of action.
To state a claim under Business and Professions Code section 17200, a plaintiff
must allege facts demonstrating that a particular practice by the defendant violated a
specific underlying law. (Cel-Tech Communications, Inc. v. Los Angeles Cellular
Telephone Co. (1999) 20 Cal. 4th 163, 180.) In addition, the plaintiff must allege a
financial or property loss as a result of the unlawful acts. “A plaintiff fails to satisfy the
causation prong of the statute if he or she would have suffered ‘the same harm whether or
not a defendant complied with the law.’ [Citation.]” (Jenkins, supra, 216 Cal.App.4th at
p. 522.)
In support of their claim, the DeHavens incorporated all the allegations set forth
elsewhere in their amended complaint. However, we have found none of the causes of
action cited sufficient to survive demurrer. Where a Business and Professions Code
section 17200 claim is based on facts supporting other causes of action that have been
found wanting, it is appropriate to also dismiss the underlying section 17200 claim.
20
(Keen v. American Home Mortgage Servicing, Inc. (E.D.Cal. 2009) 664 F. Supp. 2d 1086,
1102.) Accordingly, the trial court properly dismissed the cause of action for violation of
section 17200.
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed.
RAYE , P. J.
We concur:
BLEASE , J.
HULL , J.
21