A Petition for Review is Submitted to the Eleventh Circuit to Address Whiteout Opinions with So Many Lies
The Judicial Council has an opportunity to correct not only a manifest injustice, but perversion of justice. It should do so and reverse the Chief Judges’ erroneous order and proceed with a special committee investigation.
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Petition for Review: Judicial Misconduct Complaint No. 11-20- 90113
4 MARCH 2021 : RE JUDGE KENNETH A. MARRA, S.D. FL.
We, John and Joanna Burke hereby petition the judicial council for review of the erroneous order of dismissal. First, we address the template- driven, standard “merits-based” dismissal of our judicial complaint utilized by this court, which omits our evidence and actual facts:
“Any allegation that calls into question the correctness of an official decision or procedural ruling of a judge – without more – is merits-related.” – Eleventh Cir. Response dismissing complaint by Chief Judge William Pryor (“CJ”).
Relying upon ‘textualism’, e.g. the textual wording and meaning of the word “more” we can confirm – without hesitation – in our responses there has always been “more”1.
However, the CJ inexcusably excludes (“more”) all references we made in respect of the Greens, who were in litigation in the same federal courthouse as ourselves in S.D. Tex., Houston Division.
The “more” in this complaint – our detailed facts and irrefutable evidence including written legal conclusions by Judge Marra in written order(s) have been snubbed by the CJ:
“The Greens obtaining access to documents denied to the Burkes is most certainly defined as – ‘more’. Additionally, it is evidence of judicial bias and as such, a qualifying complaint per the ‘Breyer Report’2.”
As stated repeatedly in our complaint and in our appeal before this court, the Greens obtained evidence from the exact same case which we motioned to intervene, namely the CFPB v. Ocwen lawsuit in S.D. Fl. court.
Yet, despite our hard-to-miss evidence and facts, in his parting and curt dismissal of our judicial complaint the CJ states:
“Apart from the decisions or procedural rulings that Complainants challenge, they provide no credible facts or evidence in support of their claims that the Subject Judge lied, was biased against them, colluded with others, or otherwise engaged in misconduct.”
This is fictitious. It is irrefutable
(i) Judge Marra wrote his clearly worded order denying the Burkes intervention when the facts and the law proved otherwise (Greens case)
(ii) the Burkes were correct to conclude in their judicial complaint… “As such, the Burkes hold Judge Marra’s assertions to be false, untruthful and for the purposes of this judicial complaint, personal and pervasive bias against these pro se elderly citizens from Texas.”…
(iii) it is clear from the filings into the Houston docket (the Greens case) and submitted on appeal to this court, that Greens lawyer provided counsel for Ocwen in Texas the contact information for Ocwen’s counsel in the Florida case in order to expedite the release of documents to the Greens.
“A copy of the CFPB Complaint, Docket sheet, and contact information for Ocwen’s counsel in the CFPB litigation has been provided to Mr. Curran3, Ocwen’s counsel in this adversary proceeding.”4
Yet, these dishonest lawyers and law firm failed to disclose this crucial evidence to us at any time from that date (Jan. 1, 2019) forward and egregiously maintained a position where they committed perjury in the lower court5 and on appeal and
(iv) considering the court, judge and counsel – for both sides (e.g. including the CFPB lawyers) – were fully aware of Greens case. It is undeniable, only we were left in the dark and only became aware of the Greens case in Houston while preparing for the appeal (briefing).
Contrary to the CJ’s assertions, this is ‘credible evidence’ of collusion and conspiracy by all named herein and warranted further investigation per the Breyer Report.
The CJ’s dismissal does not indicate – at any point – there was further inquiry into any of our allegations, which is exactly what the Breyer Report demands.
In this case the CJ has failed to follow the guidelines as critiqued as a failure in several similar case examples to our own in this detailed and well-reasoned audit report, the Breyer Report.
It is without question, our legal right to intervene has been consciously and maliciously denied, when considering the facts of the Greens case and in conjunction with the timing and wording of the order by Judge Kenneth Marra – asserting we could not intervene for the purposes of obtaining documents and information for another case when the Greens had already received documents for ‘other litigation’ – e.g. their own case – in the same federal court as the Burkes were litigating in Texas.
Quoted verbatim, again, below:
“In addition to the grounds stated in the Court’s Order Denying Intervention (ECF No. 375), the Court notes that intervention is not permitted to allow a party to seek or obtain evidence for other litigation as asserted by the proposed Intervenors. (See ECF No. 408 at 4).” – Judge Kenneth A. Marra.
This incriminating statement by Senior United States District Judge Marra, a seasoned federal judge, is sufficient credible evidence he lied, was bias against the Burkes, colluded and conspired with others (e.g. ex parte communications) and it is cognizable judicial misconduct.
Judge Marra’s wording is clear and concise (when left untouched and not removed by white out in appellate court opinions and again here in the CJ’s dismissal of our judicial complaint).
As such, we would categorize it as “more”. It certainly reaches the standard of the Breyer Report6 to investigate the Burkes complaint further, which was erroneously denied by the CJ.
Below indicates the type of inappropriate and unethical responses from opposing counsel which continued from the lower court into the appeal.
“Ocwen and the CFPB jointly opposed the Burkes’ motion, which the district court denied. On appeal, the Burkes repeat many of the same conspiracy theories and unsupported attacks on Ocwen and the CFPB that they alleged below, while failing to articulate any comprehensible, legally-supported rationale for why their intervention in this case is warranted. The Court should ignore the Burkes’ baseless and irrelevant attacks on the parties and affirm the district court’s well- reasoned decision.”
That aside, it is patently obvious – from a very small case docket pertaining to our motion to intervene – Ocwen continued to commit perjury from inception to the wrongful conclusion of our case and appeal.
There is irrefutable and documented evidence of conspiracy, perjury, collusion, fraud, elder abuse and many other legal and ethical violations by these dishonest, rogue lawyers and their employer. It is an unconscionable scheme.7
Counsel for Ocwen had a legal duty and ethical responsibility to disclose this information to us and they knowingly failed to do so. As a result, their lawless acts sabotaged our rights to intervention and most likely our lawsuits in Texas, both fully briefed at the Fifth Circuit. As this court is aware, we are under an order of [wrongful] foreclosure and these reprehensible acts have and will continue to injure us financially, physically and emotionally.
“Private citizens do not have the right to bring a private action under a federal criminal statute.” and “They cannot enforce federal criminal statutes in a civil action.” – “However, the Court does note that “[s]hould a federal judge develop a reasonable basis for believing that the criminal act of perjury has occurred, then the judge is to refer the matter to the United States Attorney for handling by the executive branch of government.””8
Returning to this petition for review and considering the answer by this court dismissing the judicial complaint we acknowledge the experience of this [chief] judge, one who has been a federal judge at the Eleventh Circuit for just shy of 16 years (appointed June 10, 2005)9.
However, despite his resume and considerable judicial tenure, in the CJ’s order of dismissal he knowingly fails to address or even mention our key arguments, supported by orders of the court(s) and documents aplenty.
We suggest, in our personal opinion, the only reason the CJ would issue this order of dismissal is to support the 8 circuit judges’10 denial of intervention in case no. 19-13015 (in an unpublished ‘whiteout’ opinion, dated 2 Nov. 2020). We are aware the CJ is responsible for overseeing judicial assignments and circuit cases in his current position.11
We are confident this dismissal of our complaint can be decisively categorized as a gross perversion of justice. To support this accusation, we refer to the following case discussing perjury in the criminal setting and where the CJ authored the opinion for the panel;
“The Guidelines provide a two-level enhancement if “the defendant willfully obstructed … the administration of justice.” This enhancement applies when a defendant commits perjury. Perjury is “false testimony concerning a material matter with the willful intent to provide false testimony, rather than as a result of confusion, mistake, or faulty memory.” United States v. Singh, 291 F.3d 756, 763 (11th Cir.2002) “Although it is preferable that the district court make specific findings by identifying the materially false statements individually, it is sufficient if the court makes a general finding of obstruction encompassing all the factual predicates of perjury.” United States v. Diaz, 190 F.3d 1247, 1256 (11th Cir.1999). – United States v. Duperval, 777 F.3d 1324, 1337 (11th Cir. 2015);
And sitting on the en banc panel, discussing signing under the penalty of perjury, calling it “cover-up perjury” and “a plaintiff who failed to disclose a civil lawsuit in bankruptcy filings intended to make a mockery of the judicial system”:
“People who have defrauded others through misleading bankruptcy schedules, which are signed under penalty of perjury, have committed a crime. It is a small step from original perjury to cover-up perjury.” Slater v. U.S. Steel Corp., 871 F.3d 1174 (11th Cir. 2017).
In our case, Ocwen’s lawyers signed motions and briefs at the lower court and on appeal12 arguing we had no right to any documents for our case, period.
This is perjury.13
The lawyers were fully aware of the truth and the Greens, but they knowingly and willfully pursued – committing “cover-up perjury” – in the hopes that the Burkes would not uncover the truth. They were caught red-handed, lying, colluding and conspiring against the Burkes.
Dismissal of our judicial complaint is a wanton abuse of the CJ’s power. Why? The CJ should not have considered, let alone dismiss the complaint, when there is a glaring conflict of interest.
The CJ should have transferred our complaint out of circuit14 as the facts of the underlying lower court case and subsequent appeal to the Eleventh Circuit took a very bizarre and extraordinary set of events as detailed in case no. 19-13015.
In particular, our petition for rehearing and reconsideration of our appeal, after judges number 6 (Newsom), 7 (Grant) and 8 (Lagoa) issued their whiteout opinion for the court.
That’s correct, 8 active circuit judges were assigned to the Burkes pro se appeal. We could not find a similar circuit case where the original 3-panel of judges would be discarded, without notice, and ending up with 8 over the course of an appeal.
We scoured the archives at this court and other circuit courts nationwide but to no avail. The closest we found was the Fifth Circuit case en banc rehearing where so many judges recused, there was no quorum left.15
Here, the judges did not recuse or failed to admit they had recused by refusing to address a pending recusal motion we had before the court (Judge Jill Pryor – a renewed recusal after she unlawfully sealed our initial recusal motion in violation of the United States Constitution).
In conclusion, our petition for review confirms the CJ excluded so much from our complaint it has become a tainted opinion. A detailed review shows he intentionally excluded our evidence and facts and his conclusions are outrageous. The CJ failed to follow the Breyer Report standards of review to allow the CJ to abuse his powers and dismiss our valid complaint.
We have been subjected to debased ‘wordsmithing and whiteouts’ of opinions, motions and orders in S.D. Florida District Court and this court.
We will continue to stand for democracy, access to justice and a fair and impartial judiciary.16
Here, this Judicial Council has an opportunity to correct not only a manifest injustice, but perversion of justice. It should do so and reverse the Chief Judges’ erroneous order and proceed with a special committee investigation.
Respectfully,
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Appellate Judges
The Eleventh Circuit Issues Another Glossed Opinion to Dismiss a Pro Se Lawyer’s Appeal
All motions under Rule 60(b) OTHER THAN those based on Rule 60(b)(4) must be made within a reasonable time.
Henry v. City of Mount Dora, No. 21-14120 (11th Cir. Sep. 16, 2022)
REPUBLISHED BY LIT: SEP 17, 2022
Before LUCK, LAGOA, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:
Marie Henry, proceeding pro se, appeals the district court’s denial of her Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(4), (d)(3) motion seeking relief from the court’s order dismissing her federal claims raised pursuant to several federal statutes, and remanding to state court her state law claims raised pursuant to Florida state law.
After filing an ethics complaint against one of the defendants and a pro se motion to disqualify a judge in a predatory lending case, Henry was referred to a Florida Bar grievance committee on two counts of misconduct and, after disciplinary proceedings that she challenged as defective, she was suspended for 6 months.
She originally filed her complaint in Florida state court, but the Florida Bar removed her case to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
On appeal, she argues, first, that the district court erred by denying her Rule 60 motion as untimely.
Second, she contends that the court abridged her due process right to an impartial tribunal, notice, and an opportunity to be heard by dismissing her federal claims where the defendants did not unanimously consent to removal, the court judicially noticed facts without a hearing, and the judge was a member of an adverse party.
Third, she asserts that the court erred by failing to analyze fraud on the court.
Finally, she argues that the court’s denial of an extension to file objections to a magistrate judge’s report and recommendation violated 28 U.S.C. § 2072.
I.
A Federal Notice of Appeal is Not Limited to 30 Days, that’s a Judicial Rule Subordinate to Statute https://t.co/gyXvQ7Ha1Z
— lawsinusa (@lawsinusa) September 17, 2022
We review de novo the denial of a motion to set aside a judg-ment for voidness under Rule 60(b)(4).
Stansell v. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colom., 771 F.3d 713, 736 (11th Cir. 2014).
Motions pursuant to Rule 60(b)(4) are not subject to a reasonable timeliness requirement or a typical laches analysis.
Id. at 737-38.
But “Rule 60(b)(4) does not provide a license for litigants to sleep on their rights.”
United Student Aid Funds, Inc. v. Espinosa, 559 U.S. 260, 275 (2010).
When considering whether a movant slept on her rights, we have noted that subject matter jurisdiction cannot be waived and have addressed the merits of the movant’s jurisdictional argument.
See Stansell, 771 F.3d at 737
(holding that movant waived “his right to object to any defects in the service of process or to any denial of his right to be heard” because he “sat on his rights for nine months” but addressing alleged jurisdiction issues).
We may affirm for any reason supported by the record.
Bircoll v. Miami-Dade Cnty., 480 F.3d 1072, 1088 n.21 (11th Cir. 2007).
Here, the district court applied a reasonable time requirement to Henry’s Rule 60(b)(4) motion, but that requirement was inappropriate.
See Stansell, 771 F.3d at 737.
However, Henry sat on her rights by waiting more than 2 years to file her Rule 60(b)(4) motion.
See id. at 737-38.
Thus, we affirm the district court as to any issues raised by Henry that do not relate to subject matter jurisdiction because she slept on her rights for over two years.
Bircoll, 480 F.3d at 1088 n.21.
Like in Stansell, however, we next consider Henry’s arguments that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction.
See Stansell, 771 F.3d at 737.
II.
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 60(b)(4) provides relief from a final judgment or order if the judgment is void.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 60(b)(4).
A judgment is not void under Rule 60(b)(4) merely because it was erroneous.
Espinosa, 559 U.S. at 270.
Generally, it is void solely if it is premised on a jurisdictional error depriving the court of even arguable jurisdiction or on a due process violation that deprived a party of notice or the opportunity to be heard.
See id. at 271.
Federal courts always have jurisdiction to determine their own jurisdiction.
In re Nica Holdings, Inc., 810 F.3d 781, 789 (11th Cir. 2015).
The Rooker-Feldman1 doctrine is a narrow jurisdictional doctrine concerning a court’s subject matter jurisdiction that bars parties who lose a case in state court from appealing their loss in a federal district court.
Behr v. Campbell, 8 F.4th 1206, 1208 (11th Cir. 2021);
Alvarez v. Att’y Gen for Fla., 679 F.3d 1257, 1264 (11th Cir. 2012).
Neither res judicata nor the requirement that all defendants consent to removal is jurisdictional.
See Narey v. Dean, 32 F.3d 1521, 1524-25 (11th Cir. 1994);
In re Bethesda Mem’l Hosp., Inc., 123 F.3d 1407, 1410 n.2 (11th Cir. 1997).
An appellant abandons any argument not briefed before us, made in passing, or raised briefly without supporting arguments or authority.
Access Now, Inc. v. Sw. Airlines Co., 385 F.3d 1324, 1330 (11th Cir. 2004);
Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co., 739 F.3d 678, 681 (11th Cir. 2014).
We can consider sua sponte an abandoned issue if a forfeiture exception applies and extraordinary circumstances warrant review.
United States v. Campbell, 26 F.4th 860, 873 (11th Cir. 2022) (en banc), petition for cert. filed (U.S. May 17, 2022) (No. 21-1468).
Here, Henry was not entitled to relief pursuant to her Rule 60(b)(4) motion because she did not identify any jurisdictional defect depriving the district court of arguable jurisdiction.
See Espinosa, 559 U.S. at 271.
The requirement that all defendants consent to removal is not jurisdictional.
See In re Bethesda Mem’l Hosp., Inc., 123 F.3d at 1410 n.2.
Res judicata is not jurisdictional either.
Narey, 32 F.3d at 1524–25.
Moreover, to the extent Henry argues that the district court erred by concluding the Rooker-Feldman doctrine applied, that is an argument over which the court had jurisdiction because a court always has jurisdiction to determine its own jurisdiction.
See In re Nica Holdings, Inc., 810 F.3d at 789.
Moreover, Henry points to no error in the district court’s application of the doctrine, nor to any other possible jurisdictional problem that might have deprived the district court of arguable jurisdiction.
Thus, we affirm the district court’s denial of Henry’s Rule 60(b)(4) motion.
Hey Congress,
When y’all gonna pass the Judicial Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act, to bring these Outlaws in Dirty Black Robes, called judges, back into line? Judges are replacing democracy with tyranny, and they have no respect for Congress. https://t.co/L5fbbwJz27 pic.twitter.com/WDFC3oFGN6
— lawsinusa (@lawsinusa) September 16, 2022
III.
We review a district court’s denial of a Rule 60(d)(3) motion for relief from a judgment due to the opposing party’s fraud on the court for abuse of discretion.
See Cox Nuclear Pharm., Inc. v. CTI, Inc., 478 F.3d 1303, 1314 (11th Cir. 2007) (Rule 60(b)(3) motion).
Rule 60 does not limit a court’s power to set aside a judgment for fraud on the court.
Fed. R. Civ. P 60(d)(3).
A movant must prove fraud on the court with clear and convincing evidence.
See Booker v. Dugger, 825 F.2d 281, 283-84 (11th Cir. 1987)
(appealing denial of Rule 60(b) motion after denial of § 2254 petition).
Fraud on the court is limited to exceptional conduct like bribery or evidence falsification involving an attorney.
Rozier v. Ford Motor Co., 573 F.2d 1332, 1338 (5th Cir. 1978) (prior version of Rule 60).
We have held that, in independent actions challenging a judgment for fraud on the court, the alleged fraud must not have been raised in the original litigation, and it must not have been possible for the complaining party to raise the issue through reasonable diligence.
See Travelers Indem. Co. v. Gore, 761 F.2d 1549, 1552 (11th Cir. 1985).
Here, the district court addressed fraud on the court, and it correctly found that Henry failed to show sufficiently egregious conduct.
The conduct Henry points to on appeal, even if true, does not fall within the category of egregious conduct that can constitute fraud on the court, but instead amounts to, at most, arguably erroneous legal arguments, or conduct that occurred before she filed her complaint, neither of which come close to the necessary showing of fraud on the court.
See Rozier, 573 F.2d at 1338.
Furthermore, she does not challenge any conduct that was not raised before her Rule 60 motion or that she could not have raised through reasonable diligence.
See Travelers Indem. Co., 761 F.2d at 1552;
Bircoll, 480 F.3d at 1088 n.21.
Thus, we affirm the denial of her Rule 60(d)(3) motion.
IV.
We review a district court’s denial of a motion for extension of time for abuse of discretion.
See Lizarazo v. Miami-Dade Corr. & Rehab. Dep’t, 878 F.3d 1008, 1010-11 (11th Cir. 2017)
(extension of time to file motion for substitution).
A request for an extension should be granted if good cause is shown. Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b).
Here, Henry arguably has shown good cause for an extension in her motion for an extension to file objections to the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation concerning her Rule 60 motion because she asserted that she did not receive the report and recommendation until after the time for her to file objections had passed and she had been occupied caring for a family member.
We assume arguendo that she showed good cause for an extension.
However, the consequence for failing to object to the magistrate’s report and recommendation is waiver of the right to challenge those issues on appeal.
11th Cir. R. 3-1.
Because we have reviewed Henry’s arguments as if she had not waived them for failing to object, we affirm the denial of her motion for the reasons discussed above.
See R. 3-1; Fed. R. Civ. P. 6(b).
AFFIRMED.
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Thank you for your trust, belief and support in our conviction to help Floridian residents and citizens nationwide take back their freedom. Your Donations and your Voice are so important.
Appellate Circuit
Constance Daniels, Student of Hard Knocks, Admonished Florida Lawyer and Friend of The Eleventh Circuit
LIF cannot comprehend how the People of Florida and the United States of America are so accepting of Brazen Corruption.
LIF UPDATE
JUL 28, 2024
The case settles on remand from the 11th Circuit and Daniels signs a loan modification agreement with a commencement date of Jun 20, 2023 for a sum of $329k and a period of 144 months with a balloon payment of $267k due on maturity. Her property at 3927 Dunaire Dr, Valrico, FL 33596 is valued today at appx. $457k.
As an aside, admonished Florida lawyer Constance Daniels had around $400k worth of IRS Tax Liens released between 2023 and 2024 ($383k).
LIF UPDATE
OCT 26, 2022
Five months after the 11th Circuit saved a colleague and lawyer from foreclosure, the mandate issued (without en banc hearing) and as instructed (reversed and remanded) the lower court has reopened the case.
LIT will be tracking this case closely, stay tuned.
LIF COMMENTARY
The article below starts with Constance Daniels failure to pay for her law school tuition loan issued in 2003. She defaulted in 2005 per the complaint. The USA won a judgment of $164k+ in 2011.
In 2010, Wells Fargo commenced foreclosure proceedings in state court, Hillsborough County.
While all this was going on, Ms Daniels, a Republican, was attempting to become a State judge in 2014, which failed.
In late November of 2017 a settlement was reached, dismissing the Wells Fargo foreclosure complaint.
In 2017-2018, lawyer Daniels was failing to look after her client(s). Many moons later, in 2021, that would result in a slap on the wrist by the referee, Hon. Daniel D. Diskey for Fl. Bar.
Then we move onto the June 2018 complaint, filed by Daniels against the mortgage servicer. It was removed to the lower court in Middle District of Florida Federal Court.
The court, via one of the Moody clan of judges, sided with Select Portfolio Servicing, LLC and this formed the appeal which was decided this week by the 11th Circuit.
In Nov. 2020, Wells Fargo filed a renewed foreclosure complaint against Daniels and her homestead in State court. In Sept 2021, Wells Fargo voluntarily dismissed the case and terminated the lis pendens ‘due to loan modification’.
The issue for LIF in this case is quite clear. Who the 11th Circuit has chosen to upend it’s prior stance that mortgage servicers can do no wrong under the FDCPA, despite irrefutable facts confirming otherwise.
For example, LIF refers to the case we highlighted regarding a deficiency judgment (State case, March 2022):
“Florida Lawyer Stephanie Schneider Appeals a Mortgage Foreclosure Deficiency Judgment”
In that case, LIF investigated beyond the court opinions to discover the wife is a Florida Lawyer and her husband, Laurence Schneider is owner of S&A Capital, Inc., a mortgage investment company, has built a national portfolio of performing mortgages that have been written off by other financial institutions.
Our angst is clear. Lawyers are being treated preferentially by the courts over regular citizens and homeowners.
In the case of Daniels, whilst she may have legitimate arguments, there have been many citizens who have failed before her by the wordsmithing by the Federal and Appellate Court(s), which has refused to apply the correct legal interpretation of the FDCPA, or clarify the question(s) with the federal consumer agency, the CFPB.
Whilst LIF is unhappy with the anti-consumer watchdog, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) which is a revolving door for staff to leave the Bureau and go work for a creditor rights law firm without any restriction or time limit (non-compete), the Daniels case should have been referred to the CFPB for interpretation about the matters of ‘first impression’.
The Second Circuit recently did so for a RESPA question in Naimoli v Ocwen and we highlighted the case on our sister website, LawsInTexas.com (Laws In Texas). Instead of doing so in Daniels, there is a dissenting opinion by Judge Lagoa, who’s father in law is a senior judge in SD Florida (Paul C. Huck) and her hubby is a Jones Day Partner and apparently the leader of the Miami Chapter of the Federalist Society. Lagoa herself is a former Florida Supreme Court justice appointed by Gov DeSantis who ‘ensured he puts conservatives on the bench so that anyone coming to court knows how the court will rule’.
LIF anticipates the Daniels case will be subject to a rehearing petition and presented to the full en banc court for reconsideration. The opinion here is similar to the recent Newsom FDCPA opinion, which was too negative towards Wall St and the financial banking services community. As such, it was vacated by the en banc panel while they reconsider. The courts’ decision is currently pending.
In this case, there is still time for the 11th Circuit to correctly ask the CFPB to provide its opinion on the underlying facts raised on appeal and decided by the 3-panel.
However, what the judiciary won’t do is apply this retroactively to the thousands of cases which have been incorrectly tossed in the last 14 years, resulting in homeowners losing their homes to wrongful foreclosures.
United States v. Daniels (2011)
(8:11-cv-01058)
District Court, M.D. Florida
MAY 13, 2011 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: MAY 26, 2022
USA Motion for Summary Judgment with Exhibits, Doc. 13, Aug 17, 2011
ORDER granting Motion for summary judgment in favor of the Plaintiff and against the defendant in the amount of $109,813.74,
together with accrued interest in the amount of $54,097.10 as of February 28, 2011,
plus interested at the rate of 8.25 percent per annum and a daily rate of $24.80, until the date of judgment;
for post-judgment interest, at the legal rate, from the entry of final judgment until the date of payment;
and for such other costs of litigation otherwise allowed by law.
The Clerk of Court is directed to close the case.
Signed by Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich on 9/22/2011.
(SN) (Entered: 09/22/2011)
U.S. District Court
Middle District of Florida (Tampa)
CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 8:11-cv-01058-EAK-AEP
USA v. Daniels Assigned to: Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich Referred to: Magistrate Judge Anthony E. Porcelli Demand: $164,000 Cause: 28:1345 Default of Student Loan |
Date Filed: 05/13/2011 Date Terminated: 09/22/2011 Jury Demand: None Nature of Suit: 152 Contract: Recovery Student Loan Jurisdiction: U.S. Government Plaintiff |
Plaintiff | ||
USA | represented by | I. Randall Gold US Attorney’s Office – FLM Suite 3200 400 N Tampa St Tampa, FL 33602-4798 813/274-6026 Fax: 813/274-6247 Email: FLUDocket.Mailbox@usdoj.gov LEAD ATTORNEY ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED |
V. | ||
Defendant | ||
Constance Daniels | represented by | Constance Daniels PO Box 6219 Brandon, FL 33608 PRO SE |
Order GRANTING Summary Judgment for $164k Student Loan Debt, Doc. 15, Sep 22, 2011
Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc.
LIF’s Post Reverse and Remand from CA11 Update, July 28, 2024
The case would settle.
(8:18-cv-01652)
District Court, M.D. Florida
NOTICE of settlement Pending by Constance Daniels (Diamond, Kaelyn)
(Entered: 05/10/2023)
60-DAY ORDER OF DISMISSAL re 52 Notice of Pending Resolution. All pending motions, if any, are DENIED as moot. The Clerk is directed to close the file. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 5/10/2023. (SMB)
(Entered: 05/10/2023)
CLOSED,MEDIATION |
U.S. District Court
Middle District of Florida (Tampa)
CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 8:18-cv-01652-JSM-CPT
Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. Assigned to: Judge James S. Moody, Jr Referred to: Magistrate Judge Christopher P. Tuite
Cause: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract |
Date Filed: 07/11/2018 Date Terminated: 05/10/2023 Jury Demand: Plaintiff Nature of Suit: 190 Contract: Other Jurisdiction: Diversity |
Date Filed | # | Docket Text |
---|---|---|
05/24/2022 | 32 | USCAS OPINION issued by court as to Appellant Constance Daniels. Decision: REVERSED and REMANDED as to 29 Notice of Appeal. EOD: 05/24/22; Mandate to issue at a later date. USCA number: 19-10204-GG. (AG) (Entered: 05/26/2022) |
08/31/2022 | 33 | USCA ORDER: Appellant’s motion for appellate attorney’s fees is TRANSFERRED to the district court for its consideration of whether Appellant is entitled to appellate attorney’s fees and the amount of appellate attorney’s fees to which Appellant is entitled, if any, as too 29 Notice of Appeal filed by Constance Daniels. EOD: 08/29/2022; USCA number: 19-10204-GG. (AG) (Entered: 08/31/2022) |
08/31/2022 | 34 | MOTION for Attorney Fees by Constance Daniels. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Exhibits 1-4 to Declaration, # 4 Exhibit)(AG) (Filed in the 11th Circuit on 8/29/2022) Modified on 8/31/2022 (AG). (Entered: 08/31/2022) |
09/01/2022 | 35 | ENDORSED ORDER denying without prejudice 34 Motion for Attorney’s Fees. The record reflects that the Mandate from the Eleventh Circuit has not been issued. The Motion for Attorney’s Fees may be refiled after the mandate is issued and docketed. The Motion shall also be modified to comply with the Court’s local rules. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr on 9/1/2022. (JG) (Entered: 09/01/2022) |
10/26/2022 | 36 | MANDATE of USCA: REVERSED AND REMANDED as to 29 Notice of Appeal filed by Constance Daniels. Issued as Mandate: 10/26/22. USCA number: 19-10204-GG. (Attachments: # 1 Bill of Costs, # 2 USCA memo)(JNB) (Entered: 10/26/2022) |
10/26/2022 | 37 | ENDORSED ORDER: The Clerk is directed to reopen the case. The parties shall file a joint status report within fourteen days as to how they wish to proceed in light of the Eleventh Circuit’s Opinion. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 10/26/2022. (SMB) (Entered: 10/26/2022) |
11/03/2022 | 38 | NOTICE of Appearance by Gabriela N. Timis on behalf of Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. (Timis, Gabriela) (Entered: 11/03/2022) |
11/09/2022 | 39 | STATUS report by Constance Daniels. (Diamond, Kaelyn) (Entered: 11/09/2022) |
11/09/2022 | 40 | CASE MANAGEMENT REPORT. (Diamond, Kaelyn) (Entered: 11/09/2022) |
11/09/2022 | 41 | MOTION for Attorney Fees as to Entitlement to Appellate Fees and Costs Only by Constance Daniels. (Diamond, Kaelyn) (Entered: 11/09/2022) |
11/09/2022 | 42 | ENDORSED ORDER: Defendant shall file its answer on or before November 18, 2022. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 11/9/2022. (SMB) (Entered: 11/09/2022) |
11/14/2022 | 43 | CASE MANAGEMENT AND SCHEDULING ORDER: Discovery due by 5/26/2023; Dispositive motions due by 6/30/2023; Pretrial Conference set for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023, at 9:00 A.M. in Tampa Courtroom 17 before Judge James S. Moody Jr. Jury Trial set on the JANUARY 2024 trial term in Tampa Courtroom 17 before Judge James S. Moody Jr. Conduct mediation hearing by 6/16/2023. Lead counsel to coordinate dates. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 11/14/2022. (SMB) (Entered: 11/14/2022) |
11/18/2022 | 44 | ANSWER and affirmative defenses to 23 Amended Complaint by Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc.(Kohn, Joseph) Modified text on 11/21/2022 (MCB). (Entered: 11/18/2022) |
11/23/2022 | 45 | RESPONSE in Opposition re 41 MOTION for Attorney Fees as to Entitlement to Appellate Fees and Costs Only filed by Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. (Kohn, Joseph) Modified text on 11/28/2022 (SET). (Entered: 11/23/2022) |
12/12/2022 | 46 | ENDORSED ORDER denying without prejudice as premature 41 Motion for Attorney Fees for the reasons stated in the Response 45. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr on 12/12/2022. (JG) (Entered: 12/12/2022) |
01/04/2023 | 47 | NOTICE of mediation conference/hearing to be held on June 14, 2023 at 1:30 P.M. before Gregory Holder. (Diamond, Kaelyn) (Entered: 01/04/2023) |
01/04/2023 | 48 | ORDER appointing Gregory P. Holder, Esq. as mediator in this action. Mediation is scheduled for June 14, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 1/4/2023. (SMB) (Entered: 01/04/2023) |
03/30/2023 | 49 | STIPULATION /Joint Motion to Extend Case Management Deadlines and Incorporated Memorandum of Law by Constance Daniels. (Diamond, Kaelyn) (Entered: 03/30/2023) |
03/31/2023 | 50 | ENDORSED ORDER granting in part 49 Joint Motion to Extend Case Management Deadlines filed by Constance Daniels. The pretrial conference and trial dates remain unchanged. No further extensions of time will be granted absent a showing of good cause. The Court will enter an amended scheduling order separately. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 3/31/2023. (SMB) (Entered: 03/31/2023) |
03/31/2023 | 51 | CASE MANAGEMENT AND SCHEDULING ORDER: Discovery due by 7/25/2023; Dispositive motions due by 8/29/2023; Pretrial Conference set for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023, at 9:00 A.M. in Tampa Courtroom 17 before Judge James S. Moody Jr. JURY TRIAL is set on the JANUARY 2024 trial term in Tampa Courtroom 17 before Judge James S. Moody Jr. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 3/31/2023. (SMB) (Entered: 03/31/2023) |
05/10/2023 | 52 | NOTICE of settlement Pending by Constance Daniels (Diamond, Kaelyn) (Entered: 05/10/2023) |
05/10/2023 | 53 | 60-DAY ORDER OF DISMISSAL re 52 Notice of Pending Resolution. All pending motions, if any, are DENIED as moot. The Clerk is directed to close the file. Signed by Judge James S. Moody, Jr. on 5/10/2023. (SMB) (Entered: 05/10/2023) |
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JUDGE ESKRIDGE
“ORDER re: By email to the Case Manager, the parties have provided notice of settlement of their dispute.”FIFTH CIRCUIT
“By informing the court that the case had settled, the plaintiff did not “instigate dismissal.” https://t.co/zq7t3oR77E pic.twitter.com/t5p1Tb5p80— lawsinusa (@lawsinusa) July 24, 2024
Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc.
(2018-Present)
(8:18-cv-01652)
District Court, M.D. Florida
ORDER
THIS CAUSE comes before the Court upon Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Dkt. 24) and Plaintiff’s Response in Opposition (Dkt. 27).
The Court, having reviewed the motion, response, and being otherwise advised in the premises, concludes that Defendant’s motion should be granted.
Specifically, Plaintiff’s second amended complaint will be dismissed with prejudice because any further amendment is futile.
BACKGROUND
As the Court explained in its prior Order granting Defendant’s motion to dismiss, (see Dkt. 22), Plaintiff Constance Daniels initially filed suit in Florida state court against Defendant Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. (“SPS”) alleging three Florida claims, which included a claim under Florida’s civil Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) Act.
On July 10, 2018, SPS removed the case to this Court based on diversity jurisdiction.
On August 6, 2018, SPS moved to dismiss the entire complaint.
In relevant part, SPS argued that the complaint failed to allege any of the elements of a RICO claim.
On August 27, 2018, Daniels filed an amended complaint, which mooted SPS’s motion to dismiss.
Daniels’ amended complaint alleged two claims: a claim under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) and a claim under the Florida Consumer Collections Practices Act (“FCCPA”).
Both claims relied on the same allegations.
To summarize, Daniels alleged that SPS had “improperly servic[ed]” her mortgage loan “in reckless disregard” of her consumer rights. (Dkt. 12).
The amended complaint did not attach any mortgage statements.
SPS moved to dismiss Daniels’ amended complaint based on her failure to allege that SPS ever attempted to collect the mortgage balance.
The Court granted SPS’s motion.
The Court noted that the amended complaint did not identify or attach any communication from SPS to Daniels.
The Court also surmised that the dispute was more akin to a dispute about an improper accounting of Daniels’ mortgage.
The Court dismissed the FDCPA and FCCPA claims and provided Daniels a final opportunity to amend her complaint.
Daniels filed a second amended complaint.
The allegations are largely unchanged.
But, significantly, Daniels attaches multiple monthly mortgage statements that SPS sent to her.
She now claims that these mortgage statements constitute debt collection activity under the FDCPA and FCCPA.
SPS’s motion to dismiss argues that the monthly mortgage statements comply with Regulation Z of the Truth in Lending Act (the “TILA”)—they were not communications in connection with the collection of a debt—and therefore do not constitute debt collection activity under the FDCPA and FCCPA.
As explained further below, the Court agrees with SPS’s position based on the Court’s detailed review of the monthly mortgage statements.
Therefore, the second amended complaint will be dismissed with prejudice.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) allows a court to dismiss a complaint when it fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
When reviewing a motion to dismiss, a court must accept all factual allegations contained in the complaint as true.
Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007) (internal citation omitted).
It must also construe those factual allegations in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.
Hunt v. Aimco Properties, L.P., 814 F.3d 1213, 1221 (11th Cir. 2016) (internal citation omitted).
To withstand a motion to dismiss, the complaint must include “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”
Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007).
A claim has facial plausibility “when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.”
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009).
Pleadings that offer only “labels and conclusions,” or a “formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action,” will not do.
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555.
DISCUSSION
The FDCPA and FCCPA prohibit debt collectors from using a “false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt.”
See e.g. 15 U.S.C. § 1692e (emphasis added);
Fla. Stat. § 559.72 (“In collecting debts, no person shall . . .”) (emphasis added).
It is axiomatic then that the “challenged conduct is related to debt collection” to state a claim under either statute.
Reese v. Ellis, Painter, Ratterree & Adams, LLP, 678 F.3d 1211, 1216 (11th Cir. 2012);
see also Garrison v. Caliber Home Loans, Inc., 233 F. Supp. 3d 1282, 1286 (M.D. Fla. 2017) (“the FCCPA is a Florida state analogue to the federal FDCPA.”) (internal citations omitted).
“[T]he Eleventh Circuit has not established a bright-line rule” as to what qualifies as “in connection with the collection of any debt.”
Dyer v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., 108 F. Supp. 3d 1278, 1280 (M.D. Fla. 2015).
“As a general principle, the absence of a demand for payment is not dispositive,” and courts should “instead consider whether the overall communication was intended to induce the debtor to settle the debt.”
Wood v. Citibank, N.A., No. 8:14-cv-2819-T-27EAJ, 2015 WL 3561494, at *3 (M.D. Fla. June 5, 2015) (citations omitted).
The second amended complaint attaches multiple monthly mortgage statements.1
Because the communications at issue here are all monthly mortgage statements, a discussion of the TILA is necessary.
The TILA requires SPS, a servicer, to send monthly mortgage statements.
12 C.F.R. § 1026.41. Specifically, 12 C.F.R. § 1026.41(d) requires that servicers provide debtors with detailed monthly mortgage statements containing, among other things: the “amounts due;” the “payment due date;” “the amount of any late payment fee, and the date that fee will be imposed if payment has not been received;” “an explanation of amount due, including a breakdown showing how much, if any, will be applied to principal, interest, and escrow and, if a mortgage loan has multiple payment options, a breakdown of each of the payment options;” “any payment amount past due;” a breakdown of “the total of all payments received since the last statement” and “since the beginning of the current calendar year;” “a list of all transaction activity that occurred since the last statement;” “partial payment information;” “contact information;” and detailed “account information” and “delinquency information.”
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the “CFPB”) has issued a bulletin providing that a
“servicer acting as a debt collector would not be liable under the FDCPA for complying with [monthly mortgage statement] requirements.”
Implementation Guidance for Certain Mortgage Servicing Rules, 10152013 CFPB GUIDANCE, 2013 WL 9001249 (C.F.P.B. Oct. 15, 2013).
Courts have largely followed this guidance.
See, e.g., Jones v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., No. 18-cv-20389, 2018 WL 2316636, at *3 (S.D. Fla. May 2, 2018) (citing 12 C.F.R. § 1026.41(d));
Brown v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., No. 16-62999-CIV, 2017 WL 1157253 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 24, 2017) (noting the guidance and finding that monthly mortgage statements in compliance with the TILA were not debt collection).
The monthly mortgage statements at issue here were in conformity with the TILA requirements.
Moreover, the subject statements were substantially similar to model form H-30(B) provided by Appendix X to Part 1026 of TILA Regulation Z.
See also Jones, 2018 WL 2316636, at *4 (noting the similarities between a monthly mortgage statement and the model form in concluding no debt collection).
Although the monthly mortgage statements may not be identical to model form H-30(B), the differences are not significant deviations.
Notably, the plaintiff in Brown brought a nearly identical lawsuit against SPS.
The court explained in detail why the plaintiff was unable to state a claim under the FDCPA and FCCPA because the monthly mortgage statement was required to be sent pursuant to the TILA.
The complaint in Brown was dismissed with prejudice because “amendment would be futile” given that the basis for the claims was a monthly mortgage statement that was not actionable as a matter of law.
See 2017 WL 1157253, at *2-*4.
Also, the Jones court discussed in detail the numerous prior decisions addressing this issue, including multiple cases from this district that have held that monthly mortgage statements
“are almost categorically not debt collection communications under the FDCPA.”
2018 WL 2316636, at *5 (citing cases).
The particular monthly mortgage statements before the court in Jones were also sent by SPS and were substantively identical to the statements at issue in this case and in Brown.
Most recently, in Mills v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc., No. 18-cv-61012- BLOOM/Valle, 2018 WL 5113001 (S.D. Fla. Oct. 19, 2018), the court “agree[d] with the reasoning in Jones and [concluded] that the Mortgage Statements at issue [were] not communications in connection with a collection of a debt.” Id. at *2.
In conclusion, the substance of the monthly mortgage statements at issue in this case is substantially similar to model form H-30(B).
Any minor discrepancies in the language—when taken in the context of the document as an otherwise carbon copy of form H-30(B)—do not take the statements out of the realm of a monthly mortgage statement and into the realm of debt collection communications.
It is therefore ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that:
1. Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint (Dkt.
24) is granted.
2. Plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint is dismissed with prejudice.
3. The Clerk of Court is directed to close this case and terminate any pending motions as moot.
DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida on December 18, 2018.
Copies furnished to: Counsel/Parties of Record
Judge Bert Jordan’s “Reputation” Warning to New Florida Lawyers
Constance Daniels Admonished by the Florida Bar (2021)
Constance Daniels, P.O. Box 6219, Brandon, admonishment in writing and directed to attend Ethics School effective immediately following a November 24 court order.
(Admitted to practice: 1995)
Daniels failed to act with reasonable diligence and failed to communicate with her client in connection with a dissolution of marriage action.
Daniels also failed to timely respond to the Bar’s formal complaint.
Constance Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. (2022)
11th Cir., Published Opinion
(19-10204, May 24, 2022)
“A matter of first impression” 14 Years after the great recession and greatest theft of citizens homes in the history of the United States.
It’s quite incredulous how the 11th Circuit selects a Sanctioned Fl. Republican Lawyer, a failed judicial candidate and one who is facing foreclosure, for this ‘landmark’ published opinion in 2022.
Panel Author, Judge Bert Jordan, joined by Judge Brasher with a dissenting opinion by Judge Babs Lagoa
Selective Justice = Ochlocracy and Corruption.
WHY IS THERE NO CHARGES FOR LAWYERS STEALIN’ MILLIONS? https://t.co/gkMkVMboYZ@USAO_NJ @USAO_MDFL @SDFLnews @CityBocaRaton @AGAshleyMoody @flcourts @TheFlaBar @FLBarPresident @SWFLCourts @WSJ @nytimes @reason @MotherJones @ABC— lawsinusa (@lawsinusa) May 26, 2022
11th Circuit revives FDCPA lawsuit over mortgage statement language
How Westlaw is Summarizing the Latest Eleventh Circuit Opinion
(May 26, 2022)
Resolving an issue of first impression, a divided federal appeals panel has held that mortgage servicers can be liable under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act for inaccuracies in monthly mortgage statements that contain additional debt-collection language.
Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servicing Inc., No. 19-10204, (11th Cir. May 24, 2022).
In a 2-1 decision, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on May 24 reinstated Constance Daniels’ lawsuit against Select Portfolio Servicing Inc., in which she alleges the company used faulty mortgage statements to try to collect payments she did not owe.
Writing for the panel majority, U.S. Circuit Judge Adalberto J. Jordan acknowledged that Select Portfolio was required to issue the mortgage statements under the Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 1638.
However, the mortgage statements fell within the scope of the FDCPA’s prohibition on false or misleading representations, 15 U.S.C.A. § 1692e, because they included additional debt-collection language — “this is an attempt to collect a debt” — the opinion said.
Judge Jordan reasoned that “in determining whether a communication is in connection with the collection of a debt, what could be more relevant than a statement in the communication than ‘this is an attempt to collect a debt’?”
U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagao dissented, saying the majority treated the language like “magic words” that could convert an otherwise routine mortgage statement into a communication covered by the FDCPA.
Judge Lagoa also argued that the decision created a circuit split, although the panel majority insisted that the facts of Daniels’ case distinguished it from others in which federal circuit courts seemed to reach a contrary result.
District Court tosses FDCPA claims
Daniels sued Select Portfolio in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in July 2018.
According to the suit, Daniels had prevailed in a state court foreclosure action brought by lender Wells Fargo in 2015, with the judge sanctioning Wells Fargo and enforcing an earlier loan modification agreement between the parties.
But Daniels’ mortgage servicer, Select Portfolio, later issued several monthly mortgage statements misstating the principal balance and amount due, and falsely claiming that her loan was in arrears, the suit says.
At least three of the mortgage statements included the sentence, “This is an attempt to collect a debt,” according to the suit.
Daniels accuses Select Portfolio of using false or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, in violation of the FDCA and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act, Fla. Stat. Ann. § 559.72.
Select Portfolio moved to dismiss, saying Daniels was attempting hold it liable for issuing mortgage statements that are required under the Truth in Lending Act.
U.S. District Judge James S. Moody Jr. agreed and dismissed the suit in December 2018. Daniels v. Select Portfolio Servs. Inc., No. 18-cv-1652, (M.D. Fla. Dec. 18, 2018).
Judge Moody said that any discrepancies in language between Select Portfolio’s monthly statements and what is required under TILA “do not take the statements out of the realm of a monthly mortgage statement and into the realm of debt collection communications.”
On appeal, Daniels argued that compliance with TILA does not make a mortgage servicer immune from suit under the FDCPA and, even if it did, the monthly statements at issue included language beyond what is necessary under TILA.
Kaelyn S. Diamond and Michael A. Ziegler of the Law Office of Michael A. Ziegler represented Daniels.
Benjamin B. Brown and Joseph T. Kohn of Quarles & Brady LLP represented Select Portfolio.
By Dave Embree
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Appellate Circuit
Deutsche Bank and Nationstar Watch as 11th Circuit Discharge the Shotgun Despite Hunt’s Pleadings
There can be no doubt that this is a frivolous appeal and we would not hesitate to order sanctions if appellant had been represented by counsel.
Hunt v. Nationstar Mortg., No. 21-10398
(11th Cir. May 27, 2022)
MAY 27, 2022 | REPUBLISHED BY LIT: MAY 30, 2022
Before ROSENBAUM, GRANT, and MARCUS, Circuit Judges. PER CURIAM:
Christopher M. Hunt, Sr., proceeding pro se, appeals following the district court’s dismissal of his civil complaint arising out of his 2006 purchase of residential property located in Atlanta, Georgia (the “Property”).
Hunt purchased the Property using proceeds from a loan that he eventually defaulted on, which prompted Nationstar Mortgage, LLC (“Nationstar”), then servicer of the loan, to seek a non-judicial foreclosure on the Property.
After filing or being named in a variety of related lawsuits,1 Hunt filed the instant pro se complaint in Georgia state court in June 2020 and named as defendants Nationstar, the Deutsche Bank National Trust
Companies (“Deutsche Bank”), and Jay Bray, the CEO of Nationstar.
He alleged that they had committed, inter alia, mortgage fraud and wrongful foreclosure in violation of federal laws, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Act.2
The district court denied a variety of preliminary motions filed by Hunt;
dismissed, without prejudice, the complaint as to defendant Bray for failure to effect proper service;
and
dismissed, with prejudice, the complaint as to Deutsche Bank and Nationstar, because it was a “shotgun” pleading, was barred by res judicata, and failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.3
After thorough review, we affirm.
I.
Whether a court has subject-matter jurisdiction, including removal jurisdiction, is a question of law that we review de novo.
See McGee v. Sentinel Offender Servs., LLC, 719 F.3d 1236, 1241 (11th Cir. 2013).
We also review de novo a denial of a motion to
remand to state court. Conn.
State Dental Ass’n v. Anthem Health Plans, 591 F.3d 1337, 1343 (11th Cir. 2009).
A district court’s decision regarding the indispensability of a party is reviewed for abuse of discretion.
United States v. Rigel Ships Agencies, Inc., 432 F.3d 1282, 1291 (11th Cir. 2005).
We will disturb a district court’s refusal to change venue only for a clear abuse of discretion.
Robinson v. Giarmarco & Bill, P.C., 74 F.3d 253, 255 (11th Cir. 1996).
We also review the district court’s denial of a motion for recusal for abuse of discretion.
Jenkins v. Anton, 922 F.3d 1257, 1271 (11th Cir. 2019).
We review a district court’s grant of a motion to dismiss for insufficient service of process, under Rule 12(b)(5), by applying a de novo standard to questions of law, and a clear error standard to the court’s findings of fact.
Albra v. Advan, Inc., 490 F.3d 826, 829 (11th Cir. 2007).
But when a party fails to object to a magistrate judge’s findings or recommendations in a report and recommendation, he “waives the right to challenge on appeal the district court’s order based on unobjected-to factual and legal conclusions.” 11th Cir. R. 3-1.
Under the circumstances, we review a claim on appeal only “for plain error,” if “necessary in the interests of justice.” Id.
We review the dismissal of a “shotgun” pleading under Rule 8 for abuse of discretion.
Vibe Micro, Inc. v. Shabanets, 878 F.3d 1291, 1294 (11th Cir. 2018).
When appropriate, we will review a district court’s dismissal for failure to state a claim under Rule 12(b)(6) de novo.
Am. United Life Ins. Co. v. Martinez, 480 F.3d 1043, 1056–57 (11th Cir. 2007).
We will also review a dismissal
REWIND 2022-2008 IS STILL HAPPENIN’ – FREQUENTLY – THE GREATEST THEFT OF HOMES IN HISTORY
Deutsche Bank /PHH Ocwen case frozen in time after LIT article was published, highlighting the homeowner’s plea to jurisdiction. https://t.co/IsKUrHZ84n @dwnews @ewarren @RandPaul #txlege— lawsinusa (@lawsinusa) May 29, 2022
based on res judicata de novo.
Jang v. United Techs. Corp., 206 F.3d 1147, 1149 (11th Cir. 2000).
We review de novo a district court’s conclusions on collateral estoppel, but review its legal conclusion that an issue was actually litigated in a prior action for clear error.
Richardson v. Miller, 101 F.3d 665, 667–68 (11th Cir. 1996).
While pro se pleadings are liberally construed, issues not briefed on appeal are normally forfeited and we will generally not consider them.
Timson v. Sampson, 518 F.3d 870, 874 (11th Cir. 2008).
An appellant can abandon a claim by:
(1) making only passing reference to it;
(2) raising it in a perfunctory manner without supporting arguments and authority;
(3) referring to it only in the “statement of the case” or “summary of the argument”;
or
(4) referring to the issue as mere background to the appellant’s main arguments.
Sapuppo v. Allstate Floridian Ins. Co., 739 F.3d 678, 681– 82 (11th Cir. 2014).
In addition, if a district court’s order rested on two or more independent, alternative grounds, the appellant must challenge all of the grounds to succeed on appeal.
See id. at 680.
When an appellant fails to challenge on appeal one of the grounds on which the district court based its judgment, he is deemed to have abandoned any challenge of that ground, and it follows that the judgment is due to be affirmed.
See id.
II.
Liberally construed, Hunt’s brief on appeal seeks to challenge the district court’s decisions:
(1) denying remand of his case to state court
and
denying his request to file an amended complaint adding another defendant, Albertelli Law;
(2) denying his request
to transfer the case;
(3) denying his request to disqualify the judge;
(4) dismissing, without prejudice, his complaint as to defendant Bray for failure to effect proper service;
and
(5) dismissing his complaint, with prejudice, as to Deutsche Bank and Nationstar.
To be sure, Hunt’s arguments about these decisions by the district court are not clearly stated.
But even if we were to assume that he has preserved his arguments on appeal, they fail on the merits.
First, we are unpersuaded by Hunt’s arguments that the district court should have allowed him to file an amended complaint to add another party to the suit, which would have deprived the federal court of jurisdiction, and should have remanded the case to state court.
Federal courts have diversity-of-citizenship jurisdiction when the parties are citizens of different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1).
A corporation is a citizen of every state where it was incorporated and the one state in which it has its principal place of business.
Daimler AG v. Bauman, 571 U.S. 117, 133, 137 (2014); 28 U.S.C. § 1332(c)(1).
A defendant may remove any civil action brought in a state court to a federal district court that has original jurisdiction over the action.
28 U.S.C. § 1441(a).
The removing party bears the burden of proving that removal jurisdiction exists.
McGee, 719 F.3d at 1241.
Here, the district court did not err in denying Hunt’s motion to remand. As we’ve held in a previous appeal, his motion was based on his belated and fraudulent attempts to join Albertelli Law, in an effort to defeat the district court’s diversity jurisdiction.
See Hunt I, 684 F. App’x. at 942-44.
However, Hunt asserted federal
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— LawsInTexas (@lawsintexasusa) January 29, 2022
claims in his complaint, so the district court had jurisdiction in any event.
28 U.S.C. § 1441(a).
Accordingly, the district court correctly denied Hunt’s requests to remand the case and acted within its discretion to deny joinder.
Rigel Ships Agencies, Inc., 432 F.3d at 1291.
We also find no merit to Hunt’s claims that the district court should have transferred venue of his lawsuit.
A district court may transfer a civil action to any other district or division where it may have been brought “for the convenience of the parties and witnesses, and in the interest of justice.”
Robinson, 74 F.3d at 260 (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a)).
But in this case, the district court did not err because Hunt did not provide any cognizable reason for a transfer.
It appears that Hunt’s transfer request was based on his belief that case law in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia would be more favorable to him – which is not a legitimate reason for transfer.
See 28 U.S.C. § 1404(a).
Similarly, we reject Hunt’s argument that the district court judge should have recused himself.
A judge must sua sponte recuse himself “in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned” or “
28 U.S.C. § 455(a), (b)(1).
“The test is whether an objective, disinterested, lay observer fully informed of the facts underlying the grounds on which recusal was sought would entertain a significant doubt about the judge’s impartiality.”
Parker v. Connors Steel Co., 855 F.2d 1510, 1524 (11th Cir. 1988).
“Ordinarily, a judge’s rulings in the same or a related case may not serve as
the basis for a recusal motion.”
McWhorter v. City of Birmingham, 906 F.2d 674, 678 (11th Cir. 1990).
“The judge’s bias must be personal and extrajudicial; it must derive from something other than that which the judge learned by participating in the case.”
Id.
“The exception to this rule is when a judge’s remarks in a judicial context demonstrate such pervasive bias and prejudice that it constitutes bias against a party. Mere friction . . . however, is not enough to demonstrate pervasive bias.”
Thomas v. Tenneco Packaging Co., 293 F.3d 1306, 1329 (11th Cir. 2002) (quotation marks omitted).
As the record before us makes clear, no “objective, disinterested, lay observer fully informed of the facts underlying” these circumstances “would entertain a significant doubt about the judge’s impartiality.”
Parker, 855 F.2d at 1524.
Accordingly, the district court did not abuse its discretion in denying Hunt’s request for recusal or disqualification.
Nor do we find any merit to Hunt’s argument that the district court erred in dismissing the complaint against defendant Bray for lack of proper service.
When a federal court is considering the sufficiency of process after removal, it does so by looking to the state law governing process.
See Usatorres v. Marina Mercante Nicaraguenses, S.A., 768 F.2d 1285, 1286 n.1 (11th Cir. 1985).
Georgia law provides that service made “outside the state” of Georgia is to be done “in the same manner as service is made within the state.”
O.C.G.A. § 9-10-94.
Under Georgia law, service on natural persons is to be made “personally, or by leaving copies thereof at the defendant’s dwelling house or usual place of abode with some
person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein, or by delivering a copy of the summons and complaint to an agent authorized . . . to receive service of process.”
O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(e)(7).
Notably, Hunt does not dispute these proposed findings set forth by the magistrate judge’s Report and Recommendation (“R&R”), that Hunt:
(1) mailed service to Bray;
and
(2) completed “corporate service” on Deutsche Bank, which Hunt asserted was also effective to serve Bray.
11th Cir. R. 3-1.
But, as the district court determined, Georgia law applied here and required personal service in these circumstances.
Albra, 490 F.3d at 829; O.C.G.A. § 9-11-4(e)(7).
Bray therefore was not properly served under Georgia law, and, for that reason, the district court did not err in dis- missing Hunt’s suit without prejudice as to Bray.
Finally, we find no error in the district court’s denial of injunctive relief and its dismissal of Hunt’s complaint against the two remaining defendants, Nationstar and Deutsche Bank.
A district court has the inherent authority to control its docket and ensure the prompt resolution of lawsuits, which includes the ability to dismiss a complaint on “shotgun” pleading grounds.
Shabanets, 878 F.3d at 1295.
We have described four types of “shotgun” com- plaints:
(1) those containing multiple counts where each count adopts all allegations of all preceding counts;
(2) those replete with conclusory, vague, and immaterial facts not obviously connected to any particular cause of action;
(3) those that do not separate each cause of action or claim for relief into different counts;
and
(4) those asserting multiple claims against multiple defendants without
specifying which of the defendants are responsible for which acts or omissions, or which of the defendants the claim is brought against.
Weiland v. Palm Beach Cnty. Sheriff’s Off., 792 F.3d 1313, 1321–23 (11th Cir. 2015).
“Shotgun” pleadings violate Rule 8, which requires “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), by failing to, in one degree or another, give the defendants adequate notice of the claims against them and the grounds upon which each claim rests.
Shabanets, 878 F.3d at 1294–96.
We generally require district courts to allow a litigant at least one chance to remedy any deficiencies before dismissing the complaint with prejudice, where a more carefully drafted complaint might state a claim.
See id.; Silberman v. Miami Dade Transit, 927 F.3d 1123, 1132 (11th Cir. 2019).
But it need not grant leave to amend the complaint when further amendment would be futile.
Silberman, 927 F.3d at 1133.
Under federal law, res judicata, or claim preclusion, bars a subsequent action if
“(1) the prior decision was rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(2) there was a final judgment on the merits;
(3) the parties were identical in both suits;
and
(4) the prior and present causes of action are the same.”
Jang, 206 F.3d at 1148– 49 & n.1 (quotation marks omitted).
We have held that “if a case arises out of the same nucleus of operative facts, or is based upon the same factual predicate, as a former action, the two cases are really the same ‘claim’ or ‘cause of action’ for purposes of res judicata.”
Baloco v. Drummond Co., Inc., 767 F.3d 1229, 1247 (11th
Cir. 2014) (quotation marks omitted and alterations adopted).
“In addition, res judicata applies not only to the precise legal theory presented in the prior case, but to all legal theories and claims arising out of the nucleus of operative fact” that could have been raised in the prior case.
Id. (quotation marks omitted and alterations adopted).
Collateral estoppel, or issue preclusion, “refers to the effect of a judgment in foreclosing relitigation of a matter that has been litigated and decided.”
Migra v. Warren City Sch. Dist. Bd. of Educ., 465 U.S. 75, 77 n.1 (1984).
Thus, “collateral estoppel is appropriate only when the identical issue has been fully litigated in a prior case.”
In re McWhorter, 887 F.2d 1564, 1567 (11th Cir. 1989) (quotation marks omitted).
“The party seeking to invoke collateral estoppel bears the burden of proving that the necessary elements have been satisfied.”
Id. at 1566.
“[C]hanges in the law after a final judgment [generally] do not prevent the application of res judicata and collateral estoppel, even though the grounds on which the decision was based [may be] subsequently overruled.”
Precision Air Parts, Inc. v. Avco Corp., 736 F.2d 1499, 1503 (11th Cir. 1984).
To safeguard investors in public companies and restore trust in the financial markets, Congress enacted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 116 Stat. 745.
See S. Rep. No. 107-146, pp. 2–11 (2002).
The Act contains several provisions, including a whistleblower protection provision which prohibits a publicly traded company or its officers from discharging an “employee” for providing information to a supervisory authority about conduct that the employee
“reasonably believes” constitutes a violation of federal laws against mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud, any SEC rule or regulation, or any provision of federal law relating to fraud against shareholders.
See 18 U.S.C. § 1514A(a)(1).
The Dodd-Frank Act whistleblower provision provides protection to individuals who provide “information relating to a violation of the securities laws to the” Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
15 U.S.C. § 78u-6(a)(6).
Thus, “[t]o sue under Dodd-Frank’s anti-retaliation provision, a person must first provide information relating to a violation of the securities laws to the [SEC].”
Dig. Realty Trust, Inc. v. Somers, 138 S. Ct. 767, 772–73 (2018) (quotation marks omitted and alterations adopted).
In his brief on appeal, Hunt does not expressly address the lower court’s “shotgun” pleading determination, and, as a result, the district court’s dismissal of the complaint is due to be affirmed.
Sapuppo, 739 F.3d at 681–82.
But in any event, the district court did not err in finding that his complaint was a “shotgun” pleading.
As the record reflects, the complaint consisted of three numbered paragraphs that spanned paragraphs and pages; failed to isolate claims by defendants;
and largely failed to discuss any facts — thereby falling into several of our identified categories of prohibited “shotgun” pleadings.
Weiland, 792 F.3d at 1321-23.
The district court also was correct that amendment would have been futile.
For one, res judicata and collateral estoppel barred Hunt’s claims for breach of contract and fraud, since Hunt sued the same parties for the same alleged breach of contract and fraud in several prior cases.
See, e.g., Hunt I, 684 F. App’x at 944.4
These decisions were final judgments and were “rendered by a court of competent jurisdiction,” “on the merits,” against the same parties, and “the prior and present causes of action [were] the same.”
Jang, 206 F.3d at 1149.
Moreover, even if some of Hunt’s claims had not been explicitly presented in any of his prior cases, they would still be barred by res judicata because every claim arose from the same facts as each of his prior cases, and he could have raised them in any of the prior proceedings.
Baloco, 767 F.3d at 1247.
Also, despite Hunt’s arguments, there have been no “changes in the law” that would “prevent the application of res judicata and collateral estoppel” in this case.
Precision Air Parts, 736 F.2d at 1503.
In addition, Hunt’s claims under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Dodd-Frank Act were futile because they fail to state a claim upon which relief could be granted.
As the record reflects, Hunt did not allege that he was an “employee” under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, nor that he “provide[d] information relating to a violation of the securities laws to the [SEC]” as required under the Dodd-Frank Act.
Somers, 138 S. Ct. at 772–74.
Accordingly, Hunt did not state a cause of action under these statutes, and we affirm.
AFFIRMED.5
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