In Pfeiffer v. Countrywide Home Loans, --- Cal.Rptr.3d ----,
2012 WL 6216039 (Dec. 13, 2012), mortgage borrowers filed a damages
claim against a trustee for violating the federal Fair Debt
Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA") and an injunction
claim against a lender to halt a foreclosure they claimed was
wrongful. The trial court sustained the defendants' demurrer to
both claims without leave to amend. The California Court of Appeal
affirmed as to the first claim, but reversed as to the
second.
As to the first claim, the California Court joined others in
holding that foreclosure activities are not "debt
collection" within the meaning of the FCDPA. In particular,
the issuance of foreclosure sales notices in compliance with
California non-judicial closure law did not constitute debt
collection. Thus, the borrowers could not state an FDCPA claim even
if the foreclosure was otherwise allegedly wrongful.
As to the second claim, the Court held that the lender could be enjoined from foreclosing. The loan here was insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Thus, the foreclosure was subject to servicing regulations of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD"). These regulations required the lender to conduct a face-to-face interview prior to initiating foreclosure. The borrowers alleged this never happened. The Court held that even though the HUD regulations did not create a private right of action, failure to follow the regulations could nevertheless support an injunction based on a common law claim of wrongful foreclosure. Because the borrowers were seeking to halt the foreclosure before it concluded, rather than unwind or set aside a foreclosure that had already occurred, the Court held that the borrowers need not tender the loan proceeds to obtain the injunction.
Of course, nothing would prevent the lender from conducting the face-to-face interview and then starting the foreclosure process all over again.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
