PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT
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Joseph W. Creed (SBN 232129)
Creed & Elliott, LLP
19200 Von Karman Ave, Suite 600
Irvine, CA 92612
Tel: 800-679-4202
Fax: 714-439-2121
Attorneys for Plaintiff Mimi Ash
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA MIMI ASH and
ROBERT T. ASH,
PLAINTIFFS,
vs.
BANK OF AMERICA CORP. as Successor
in Interest to Countrywide Financial Corp.;
and DOES 1-20, INCLUSIVE,
DEFENDANTS.
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CASE NO: 2:10-cv-02821-FCD-KJN
FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT FOR
DAMAGES WITH DEMAND FOR JURY
TRIAL
(1) TRESPASS;
(2) CONVERSION;
(3) NEGLIGENCE;
(4) NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS;
(5) INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS;
(6) VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTIONS 17200 ET SEQ;
(7)INVASION OF PRIVACY;
(8) FRAUD
(9) BREACH OF CONTRACT;
(10) BREACH OF THE IMPLIED
COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND
FAIR DEALING; AND
(11) UNJUST ENRICHMENT
COMES NOW the Plaintiffs, by and through their attorneys of record, and state and allege
against the above-named Defendants as follows:
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INTRODUCTION
1. Plaintiff, MIMI ASH is the widow and beneficiary of her late husband, Robert L.
Ash's estate. Plaintiff, ROBERT T. ASH is the only son of Robert L. Ash. While he was alive,
both Mr. and Mrs. Ash ran complimentary businesses and owned various pieces of real property
in their individual names. One of those properties was a property at 13405 Ski Slope Way,
Truckee, California. Their properties were all financed with mortgages from Countrywide
Financial Corp., the predecessor in interest to the Defendant, BANK OF AMERICA, CORP.
After Mr. Ash passed away, MRS. ASH stopped paying the mortgage on Ski Slope Way
because it was in Mr. Ash's individual name and was in his probate estate. Within months of Mr.
Ash's death, though, MRS. ASH began to actively work with Countrywide to reach loan
workouts on the mortgages including the Ski Slope Way mortgage. On May 2, 2008, the
Trustee under the Deed of Trust for the Ski Slope Way property wrongfully foreclosed and
conducted a foreclosure sale. Even though MRS. ASH had been in constant contact with
Countrywide, it had failed to give her notice of the foreclosure sale. That foreclosure sale was
later rescinded due to the Trustee's failure to timely communicate with MRS. ASH. Despite this,
in late October or early November 2008, Countrywide unlawfully seized the Ski Slope Way
home, broke into the house, removed the Plaintiffs' personal property which included all of
MRS. ASH's deceased husband's personal items and changed the locks. MRS. ASH was given
absolutely no prior notice and Countrywide performed these activities without any judicial
process. To remedy the damage caused by the Defendants, the Plaintiffs bring this action and
make the following claims: 1) trespass; 2) conversion; 3) negligence; 4) negligent infliction of
emotional distress; 5) intentional infliction of emotional distress; 6) violations of California’s
Business and Professions Code; 7) invasion of privacy; 8) fraud; 9) breach of contract; 10)
breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and, 11) unjust enrichment.
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PARTIES & JURISDICTION
2. The Plaintiff, MIMI ASH is an individual who resides in Granite Bay, California.
Ms. Ash is the beneficiary of her deceased husband's estate which included the real property
located at 13405 Ski Slope Way, Truckee, California. The Plaintiff, ROBERT T. ASH is an
individual who also resides in Granite Bay, California. ROBERT T. ASH is also the beneficiary
of his deceased father's estate which included many of the personal items and property in the
real property located at 13405 Ski Slope Way, Truckee, California.
3. The defendant, BANK OF AMERICA CORP. is the successor-in-interest to
Countrywide Financial Corp. (collectively "Countrywide" and/or "BANK OF AMERICA") and
is a corporation headquartered at Bank of America Corporate Center, 100 North Tryon Street,
Charlotte, North Carolina. This defendant transacts business in the State of California and is
subject to personal jurisdiction in this District.
4. Plaintiff does not know the true names and capacities of the defendants sued
herein as DOES 1 through 20 (“DOE Defendants”), inclusive, and therefore sues said DOE
Defendants by fictitious names. Plaintiff is informed and believes and based on such
information and belief avers that each of the DOE Defendants is contractually, strictly,
negligently, intentionally, vicariously liable and or otherwise legally responsible in some manner
for the acts and omissions described herein. Plaintiff will amend this Complaint to set forth the
true names and capacities of each DOE Defendant when same are ascertained.
5. Plaintiff is informed and believes and based on such information and belief avers
that Defendants BANK OF AMERICA and DOE Defendants 1 through 20, inclusive, and each
of them, are and at all material times have been, the agents, servants or employees of each other,
purporting to act within the scope of said agency, service or employment in performing the acts
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and omitting to act as averred herein.
6. Each of the Defendants named herein are believed to, and are alleged to have
been acting in concert with, as employee, agent, co-conspirator or member of a joint venture of,
each of the other Defendants, and are therefore alleged to be jointly and severally liable for the
claims set forth herein, except as otherwise alleged.
7. This court has jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C.S. '1332(a)(1) as there exists
diversity of all parties and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000. The Defendant has
sufficient minimum contacts with California to subject it to jurisdiction in this judicial district
because it has a substantial number of bank branches in the State, enters into numerous loans
and agreements in California, and the facts and circumstances giving rise to the Plaintiff's
complaint all occurred within the State.
8. Venue is proper because the Defendants do business in this jurisdiction or
otherwise has substantial contacts within this jurisdiction.
FACTS
9. On July 3, 2003, Robert L. Ash executed a Deed of Trust for his home at 13405
Ski Slope Way, Truckee, California. At the time, Mr.Ash was married to the Plaintiff, MIMI
ASH and the property was intended as a second home for the couple and their son, ROBERT T.
ASH.
10. Recontrust Company, N.A. acted as the agent for the Beneficiary under the Deed
of Trust which was Mortgage Electronic Registration System. At all relevant times,
Countrywide claimed to be the servicer of Mr. Ash's note and deed of trust.
11. All payments on the mortgage loan were made to Countrywide as the loan
servicer.
12. While Mr. Ash was alive, both he and MIMI ASH operated complimentary
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businesses in the real estate field and had an ongoing business relationship with Countrywide in
which they wrote other mortgage loans with Countrywide.
13. Mr. Ash died suddenly on August 17, 2005. After his death, MRS. ASH stopped
making payments on the Ski Slope Way mortgage because the property was part of his probate
estate. MRS. ASH had two other mortgages with Countrywide at the time and continued making
payments on those loans.
14. MRS. ASH was appointed executrix of Mr. Ash's estate. Mr. Ash died intestate.
The Plaintiffs were both beneficiaries of the estate.
15. In late 2005 or early 2006, Countrywide contacted the lawyer representing Mr.
Ash's estate and asked whether MRS. ASH would be interested in assuming the loan on the Ski
Slope Way property. MRS. ASH was interested and the estate lawyer petitioned the Probate
Court to allow the real estate to be conveyed to MRS. ASH. The petition was ultimately
allowed.
16. In October 2006, Countrywide represented that the assumption of the mortgage
by MRS. ASH would be in a three step process: first, she would need to bring the loan current;
second, she would need to apply for a loan modification and have it approved; third, assumption
papers would have to be signed by her. The assumption was approved pending the loan being
brought current.
17. In reliance on Countrywide's representations, in October 2006, MRS. ASH sent
Countrywide certified funds to bring the loan current. Countrywide accepted the funds.
18. After receiving the funds, Countrywide gave MRS. ASH a special forbearance
agreement on the Ski Slope Way loan as well as her other two loans that was good through
February 2007. The customer service representative was to contact MRS. ASH after the
forbearance period was up. The representative never did. MRS. ASH continued her efforts to
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reach the representative who was continually unavailable until April 2007.
19. MRS. ASH then completed three separate loan modification applications (one for
Ski Slope Way and one for each other property) and submitted them to Countrywide in October
2006. At the same time, MRS. ASH completed the paperwork for the Ski Slope Way loan
assumption, but retained the original form until the loan modifications were approved.
20. Despite its receipt of the loan modification applications, Countrywide lost all
three of them.
21. What ensued was a four year odyssey for MRS. ASH of endless communications
with Countrywide to resolve her loan modification requests. During the two years following
MRS. ASH's submission of her loan modification applications, she constantly contacted
representatives of Countrywide via telephone and email to try and reach workout solutions for
each of the loans.
22. Despite MRS. ASH's attempts, Countrywide's representatives did not return
desperate phone messages and email communications left by MRS. ASH to try and save the
properties all secured by loans.
23. In particular, even though MRS. ASH was actively in workout negotiations,
Countrywide issued a Notice of Default on the Ski Slope Way loan on April 24, 2007 and
recorded it in the Office of the Recorder for Nevada County. MRS. ASH never received notice
of the Notice of Default because Countrywide had mailed it to the wrong address.
24. After later learning of the Notice of Default, MRS. ASH continued her efforts to
reach a workout of the loan. Representatives of Countrywide gave MRS. ASH assurances that
any foreclosure sale of the Ski Slope Way home were being postponed while the workout was
pending.
25. Despite these assurances, on May 2, 2008, a foreclosure sale was conducted by
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the Trustee of the deed of trust. Proper statutory notice, though, was never given to MRS. ASH
prior to the foreclosure sale and she did not learn about it until sometime after it had happened.
26. At the time of the foreclosure sale, the Ski Slope Way home was fully furnished
and many of the Plaintiffs' personal possessions, including all of MRS. ASH'S deceased
husband's personal possessions, were in the Ski Slope Way home. This included such cherished
items as Mr. Ash's fishing gear and golf clubs and even precious photos and videos of the couple
and the family. Most importantly, an urn containing the ashes of Mr. Ash that the Plaintiffs
intended on taking to Tibet was also in the home.
27. During the summer of 2008, MRS. ASH made numerous visits to the Ski Slope
Way home and during one of those visits she learned of the foreclosure sale that had taken place.
When she learned of the wrongful foreclosure sale, she immediately contacted Countrywide to
have them rectify the mistake. Countrywide representatives assured her that they were working
to rescind the wrongful foreclosure sale.
28. In late October 2008, she visited the home and all was in order as she had last left
it from the prior visit.
29. In or about the last week of October 2008 or the first week of November 2008, an
agent acting for Countrywide unlawfully and forcibly entered the Ski Slope Way home,
removed or auctioned off all of the furnishings and personal belongings, changed the locks on
the doors, and then on or about November 6, 2008 winterized the property.
30. When MRS. ASH returned to the property on January 5, 2009, she discovered
that the locks and deadbolt on her door had been changed and she could not gain access to her
own property. She looked in a nearby window and saw personal items missing and papers
strewn about the house.
31. MRS. ASH called the local police, but she was told that it was a "civil matter."
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She then contacted Countrywide representatives to try and determine why her home had been
invaded and why she was locked out while she was in workout negotiations with Countrywide.
In fact, MRS. ASH has written proof in the form of email communications from the last week of
October 2008 with a Countrywide representative showing that she had been providing them with
documentation that they were requesting to complete the workout arrangements on Ski Slope
Way. MRS. ASH did not receive an answer from Countrywide at this time about why the
property had been seized.
32. During the ensuing month, MRS. ASH continued her efforts to try and speak with
someone at Countrywide about why she had been locked out and why she could not be given
access to her property. No one would provide her with an answer. For example, in an email
communication to Countrywide on February 3, 2009, MRS. ASH again requested an answer
about why she had been wrongfully locked out, why she was not being given access to her
property, and why her workout negotiations remained ongoing. No one from Countrywide
responded.
33. During the month of March, MRS. ASH continued to try and get answers from
Countrywide but none were forthcoming. In another email communication of March 31, 2009,
she demanded information about why she had been locked out and why she continued to be
denied access to her property.
34. Finally, after being given no answers by Countrywide, MRS. ASH employed her
own locksmith and gained entry to her property. When she entered the home she was dismayed
to discover that all the contents of her home, including all of the precious items that belonged to
her deceased husband were missing - this included the urn containing her husband's ashes.
35. In the coming months, MRS. ASH continued to try and find answers from
Countrywide about the travesty. She obtained limited information that Countrywide had
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conducted a foreclosure sale without giving her proper statutory notice and that an auction
company, Green River Auctions had conducted the auction. Beyond this sparse information,
MRS. ASH was not told anything else about why the home had been entered and why her
belongings had been taken without any notice to her - especially given the fact that Countrywide
had been in contact with her and knew how to get in touch with her during the months leading
up to late October and early November 2008.
36. Recognizing that it had wrongfully foreclosed and auctioned off the Ski Slope
Way home, Countrywide executed a Notice of Rescission of the Trustee's Deed of Sale on
March 6, 2009. The Notice was recorded on March 10, 2009.
37. Despite MRS. ASH's ongoing demands to address her losses, Countrywide
continued to ignore her.
FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION FOR
TRESPASS AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
38. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 37, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
39. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees entered the Plaintiffs'
property and house without permission or authorization and without giving any prior notice to
the Plaintiffs.
40. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees were on notice that they
had no right or authority to enter onto the Plaintiffs' property, break into their home, seize their
home and property and remove possessions in the home and on the property.
41. The actions of the Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees were
done intentionally and/or with gross disregard for the Plaintiffs' rights.
42. The Plaintiffs were damaged as a direct and proximate result of the actions of the
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Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees. As a result of the Defendants' fraudulent
conduct, Plaintiffs have suffered compensatory, general and special damages in an amount
according to proof. Additionally, the Defendants acted with malice, fraud and/or oppression
and, thus, Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of punitive damages
SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION
CONVERSION AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
43. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 42, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
44. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees entered the Plaintiffs'
property and house without permission or authorization and without giving any prior notice to
the Plaintiffs.
45. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees removed and disposed
of numerous and valuable personal possessions of the Plaintiffs and their deceased
husband/father.
46. The actions of the Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees were
done intentionally and/or with gross disregard of the Plaintiffs' rights.
47. The Plaintiffs have been damaged as a direct and proximate result of the actions
of the Defendant, its agents, contractors and/or employees. As a result of the Defendants'
fraudulent conduct, Plaintiffs have suffered compensatory, general and special damages in an
amount according to proof. Additionally, the Defendants acted with malice, fraud and/or
oppression and, thus, Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of punitive damages
THIRD CAUSE OF ACTION
NEGLIGENCE AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
48. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 47, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
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49. The Defendants owed a duty to the Plaintiffs to act as a reasonable and prudent
loan servicer, which included the obligation to notify the Plaintiffs of its reasonable reasons to
enter onto the property and seize it and had a duty to notify the Plaintiffs in writing before
entering onto and into the property.
50. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees breached its duty of
care when they wrongfully entered the Plaintiffs' property and house without permission or
authorization, without giving prior written notice with reasonable reasons for entering onto and
into the property, and by failing to reasonably determine whether the property had actually been
abandoned by the Plaintiffs.
51. The Defendants breached the duty they owed to the Plaintiffs by wrongfully
seizing the Plaintiffs' property and by taking the Plaintiffs' possessions.
52. The Plaintiffs were damaged as a direct and proximate result of the actions of the
Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees.
FOURTH CAUSE OF ACTION
NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AGAINST ALL
DEFENDANTS
53. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 52, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
54. The Defendants owed a duty to the Plaintiffs to act as a reasonable and prudent
loan servicer, which included the obligation to notify the Plaintiffs of its reasonable reasons to
enter onto the property and seize it and had a duty to notify the Plaintiffs in writing before
entering onto and into the property.
55. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees entered the Plaintiffs'
property and house without permission or authorization.
56. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees breached its duty of
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care when they wrongfully entered the Plaintiffs' property and house without permission or
authorization, without giving prior written notice with reasonable reasons for entering onto and
into the property, and by failing to reasonably determine whether the property had actually been
abandoned by the Plaintiffs. The Defendants' actions were taken with a gross disregard for the
Plaintiffs' rights and were so severe and outrageous so as to shock the conscience and cause the
Plaintiffs severe emotional distress, embarrassment and ridicule.
57. The Plaintiffs were damaged as a direct and proximate result of the actions of the
Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees. The Plaintiffs' emotional distress includes,
but is not limited to, extreme humiliation, anxiety and a loss of sleep.
FIFTH CAUSE OF ACTION
INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS AGAINST ALL
DEFENDANTS
58. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 57, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
59. The Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees entered the Plaintiffs'
property and house without permission or authorization.
60. The Defendants' acts and/or omissions were done intentionally and/or with gross
indifference to the Plaintiffs' rights.
61. The Plaintiffs were damaged as a direct and proximate result of the actions of the
Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees. The Plaintiffs' emotional distress
includes, but is not limited to, extreme humiliation, anxiety and a loss of sleep. As a result of
the Defendants' fraudulent conduct, Plaintiffs have suffered compensatory, general and special
damages in an amount according to proof. Additionally, the Defendants acted with malice,
fraud and/or oppression and, thus, Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of punitive damages.
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SIXTH CAUSE OF ACTION
VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE SECTIONS
17200 ET SEQ AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
62. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 61, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
63. California Business & Professions Code Section 17200, et seq., prohibits acts of
unfair competition, which means and includes any “fraudulent business act or practice . . .” and
conduct which is “likely to deceive” and is “fraudulent” within the meaning of Section 17200.
64. At all times material herein, the Defendants were conducting trade and commerce
as that term is defined in the Unfair Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act (the Act)
in the State of California
65. The Plaintiffs are persons as that term is defined in the Act.
66. As more fully described above, the Foreclosing Defendants’ acts and practices
are likely to deceive, constituting a fraudulent business act or practice. This conduct is ongoing
and continues to this date.
67. Specifically, the Foreclosing Defendants engage in deceptive business practices
with respect to mortgage loan servicing, assignments of notes and deeds of trust, foreclosure of
residential properties and related matters by
a. Assessing improper or excessive late fees;
b. Improperly characterizing customers’ accounts as being in default or
delinquent status to generate unwarranted fees;
c. Instituting improper or premature foreclosure proceedings to generate
unwarranted fees;
d. Misapplying or failing to apply customer payments;
e. Failing to provide adequate monthly statement information to customers
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regarding the status of their accounts, payments owed, and/or basis for fees
assessed;
f. Seeking to collect, and collecting, various improper fees, costs and charges,
that are either not legally due under the mortgage contract or California law,
or that are in excess of amounts legally due;
g. Mishandling borrowers’ mortgage payments and failing to timely or properly
credit payments received, resulting in late charges, delinquencies or default;
h. Treating borrowers as in default on their loans even though the borrowers
have tendered timely and sufficient payments or have otherwise complied
with mortgage requirements or California law;
i. Failing to disclose the fees, costs and charges allowable under the mortgage
contract;
j. Ignoring grace periods;
k. Executing and recording false and misleading documents; and
l. Acting as beneficiaries and trustees without the legal authority to do so.
68. The Foreclosing Defendants fail to act in good faith as they take fees for services
but do not render them competently and in compliance with applicable law.
69. Moreover, the Foreclosing Defendants engage in a uniform pattern and practice
of unfair and overly-aggressive servicing that result in the assessment of unwarranted and unfair
fees against California consumers, and premature default often resulting in unfair and illegal
foreclosure proceedings. The scheme implemented by the Foreclosing Defendants is designed
to defraud California consumers and enrich the Foreclosing Defendants.
70. The foregoing acts and practices have caused substantial harm to California
consumers.
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71. As the code specifically relates to Plaintiffs, at all times material herein, the
Plaintiffs had a right of privacy in their home and property and a right to possess the property
free from unlawful intrusions by others.
72. After admittedly wrongfully foreclosing on the Plaintiffs' home, the Defendants,
its agents, contractors and/or employees wrongfully broke into and entered into the Plaintiffs'
home without reasonable justification, trespassed on her property and disposed of the Plaintiffs'
possessions that were on the property and in the home. In addition, as part of the invasion of the
Plaintiffs' home by the Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees, said Defendants, its
agents, contractors and/or employees took total possession of the home by changing the locks
and winterizing the property. These acts were all taken to dispossess the Plaintiffs of their
ownership interest and other rights they had in their home and property.
73. The Defendant, Countrywide, violated the terms of its workout arrangements
with the Plaintiffs by wrongfully ordering its agents, contractors and/or employees onto the
property, to seize the property, and to winterize without reasonable reasons, without giving any
notice to the Plaintiffs, and without having reasonable justification.
74. The Defendants' conduct is an unfair and deceptive act and practice that occurred
in the conduct of trade and commerce in the State of California.
75. The actions of the Defendants, its agents, contractors and/or employees were
done with gross disregard for the Plaintiffs' rights and constituted unfair and deceptive acts and
practices in the course of conduct of trade and commerce in violation of the Act.
76. The Defendants’ acts and/or omissions described herein are a matter of sufficient
public interest and pattern of deceptive and/or unfair acts as that phrase is defined by the Act.
77. As a direct and proximate cause of the unlawful, unfair and fraudulent acts and
practices of the Foreclosing Defendants, Plaintiffs and California consumers have suffered and
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will continue to suffer damages in the form of unfair and unwarranted late fees and other
improper fees and charges.
78. By reason of the foregoing, the Foreclosing Defendants have been unjustly
enriched and should be required to disgorge their illicit profits and/or make restitution to
Plaintiffs and other California consumers who have been harmed, and/or be enjoined from
continuing in such practices pursuant to California Business & Professions Code Sections 17203
and 17204. Additionally, Plaintiffs are therefore entitled to injunctive relief and attorney’s fees
as available under California Business and Professions Code Sec. 17200 and related sections.
SEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION
INVASION OF PRIVACY AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
79. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 78, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
80. The Plaintiffs owned the property and home located at 13405 Ski Slope Way,
Truckee, California. The Plaintiffs had the sole possessory interest in the home and property
located at this address. At all times material herein, the Plaintiffs had personal property and
belongings in the house and on the property and never abandoned the home.
81. The Plaintiffs, as the owners of the property had a right to privacy in their
property and house. The Plaintiffs had the right to be free from unlawful intrusion onto their
property and into their home and also from the unauthorized viewing, taking, seizure and
destruction of their personal property within their home and on their property.
82. The Defendants, through its agents, contractors and/or employees entered the
Plaintiffs' property and house without permission or authorization and viewed, took and
destroyed their personal property and possessions. Moreover, the Defendants, through its
agents, contractors and/or employees locked the Plaintiffs out of their own home and denied
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them access for months.
83. The acts of the Defendants, through its agents, contractors and/or employees were
an unreasonable, substantial and/or serious interference with the Plaintiffs' privacy.
84. The actions of the Defendants, through its agents, contractors and/or employees
were done intentionally and/or with gross disregard for the rights of the Plaintiffs and
constituted an invasion of the Plaintiffs' right to privacy.
85. In addition, the Defendants, through its agents, contractors and/or employees held
the Plaintiff, MIMI ASH out to the public in a false light by representing through its words and
actions that she had not paid the mortgage and that her home was subject to foreclosure. All of
these direct or implied representations about the Plaintiff, MIMI ASH, were false and
constituted an invasion of her privacy. These acts were an unreasonable, substantial and/or
serious interference with the Plaintiff's privacy.
86. The Plaintiffs were damaged as a direct and proximate result of the acts and
omissions of the Defendants, through its agents, contractors and/or employees.
EIGHTH CAUSE OF ACTION FOR
FRAUD AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
87. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 86, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
88. The Defendants engaged in a pattern and practice of defrauding Plaintiff, MIMI
ASH, in that, during the life of the mortgage loan, the Defendants failed to properly complete
any of the multiple loan modification agreements they agreed to enter with Plaintiff, MIMI
ASH, while accepting her payments towards those loan modification agreements and foreclosed
on the Subject Property based on Plaintiff’s alleged failure to provide documentation which on
each and every occasion was provided to Defendants by Plaintiff and which the Defendants
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knew to be false.
89. The Defendants had actual knowledge that the Plaintiff, MIMI ASH’s account
was not accurate but that the Defendants could use the inaccuracy to foreclose on the Subject
Property. Plaintiff furnished the required documentation and made required payments under the
loan modification agreements and provided proof of the receipt of documentation and proof of
the payments made based on the improper, inaccurate, and fraudulent representations as to her
account.
90. Additionally, the Defendants concealed material facts known to them but not to
Plaintiff, MIMI ASH, regarding payments, notices, assignments, transfers, late fees and charges
with the intent to defraud Plaintiff.
91. The Defendants made the above-referenced false representations, concealments
and non-disclosures with knowledge of the misrepresentations, intending to induce Plaintiff’s
reliance, which the unsuspecting Plaintiff justifiably relied upon, resulting in damage to her
credit standing, costs and loss of both Plaintiffs property. Plaintiff was unaware of the true facts.
Had Plaintiff known the true facts, Plaintiff, among other things, would not have maintained the
Defendants as her lender, servicer and trustee (and their alleged agents) and/or would have taken
legal action immediately to save her house from being wrongfully foreclosed and protected her
personal property from being wrongfully taken by Defendants, it agents, contractors and/or
employees.
92. As a result of the Defendants' fraudulent conduct, Plaintiff, MIMI ASH, has
suffered compensatory, general and special damages in an amount according to proof.
Additionally, the Defendants acted with malice, fraud and/or oppression and, thus, Plaintiff is
entitled to an award of punitive damages.
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NINTH CAUSE OF ACTION FOR
BREACH OF CONTRACT AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
93. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 92, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
94. Defendants voluntarily entered into a forbearance agreement with Plaintiff, MIMI
ASH, whereby Defendants agreed to accept a sum to bring the Ski Slope Way loan current from
Plaintiff in exchange for not foreclosing on Plaintiff’s home while Defendants worked out a loan
modification with Plaintiff on the note secured by a deed of trust on Plaintiff’s home.
95. The Defendants breached this forbearance agreement with Plaintiff by:
a. Agreeing to modify the loan for Plaintiff, MIMI ASH, on several
occasions and thereafter accepting payments towards this loan modification agreement,
but then failing each time to properly route the requested documentation supplied by
Plaintiff to them; and
b. Failing to honor the forbearance agreement with Plaintiff the result of
which led to the Defendants' admittedly wrongful foreclosure on the Plaintiff’s home
which resulted in the conversion of both Plaintiffs personal property by Defendants, its
agents, contractors and/or employees.
96. As a proximate result of Defendants' breaches, Plaintiffs have suffered
compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial.
TENTH CAUSE OF ACTION FOR
BREACH OF THE IMPLIED COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING
AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
97. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 96, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
98. Every contract imposes upon each party a duty of good faith and fair dealing in
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its performance and its enforcement. This implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing
requires that no party will do anything that will have the effect of impairing, destroying, or
injuring the rights of the other party to receive the benefits of their agreement. The covenant
implies that in all contracts each party will do all things reasonably contemplated by the terms of
the contract to accomplish its purpose. This covenant protects the benefits of the contract that
the parties reasonably contemplated when they entered into the agreement.
99. The Defendants enjoyed substantial discretionary power affecting the rights of
Plaintiff during the events alleged in this Complaint. They were required to exercise such power
in good faith.
100. The Defendants engaged in such conduct as described above to drive Plaintiff
into foreclosure so that they could acquire the Plaintiffs' home and Plaintiffs' valuable contents
at a bargain basement price. These actions were a bad faith breach of the contract between
Plaintiff and the Defendants which shows that Defendants had no intention of performing the
contracts, consisting of the original note and deed of trust and the subsequently executed
forbearance agreement, in good faith.
101. As a result of the Defendants' breaches of this covenant, Plaintiffs have suffered
damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
ELEVENTH CAUSE OF ACTION FOR
UNJUST ENRICHMENT AGAINST ALL DEFENDANTS
102. Plaintiffs incorporate herein by reference the allegations made in paragraphs 1
through 101, inclusive, as though fully set forth herein.
103. By their wrongful acts and omissions, the Defendants have been unjustly
enriched at the expense of Plaintiffs, and thus Plaintiffs have been unjustly deprived.
104. By reason of the foregoing, Plaintiffs seek restitution from the Defendants, and
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an order of this Court disgorging all profits, benefits, and other compensation obtained by the
Defendants from their wrongful conduct.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
Wherefore, Plaintiffs pray for judgment against the Defendants and each of them, jointly
and severally, as follows:
1. For all damages sustained by the Plaintiffs in an amount proven at trial, including
past and future economic and compensatory damages, damage to property, past and future special
and non-economic damages, punitive and/or exemplary damages, and other damages.
2. Interest calculated at the maximum amount allowable by law, including pre- and
post-judgment interest.
3. Reasonable attorney's fee as allowed by law.
4. Pursuant to Business and Professions Code § 17203, that all Defendants, their
successors, agents, representatives, employees, and all persons who act in concert with them be
permanently enjoined from committing any acts of unfair competition in violation of § 17200,
including, but not limited to, the violations alleged herein.
5. For civil penalties pursuant to statute, restitution, injunctive relief and reasonable
attorney's fees according to proof.
6. For reasonable costs of suit and such other and further relief as the Court deems
proper.
DATED: November 16, 2010 CREED & ELLIOTT, LLP
By: /s/ Joseph W. Creed_______________________
Joseph W. Creed
Attorney for Plaintiffs
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And by the following attorneys (via anticipated pro hac vice admission):
Andrew J. Garcia (MA BBO#559084)
Carlin J. Phillips (MA BBO# 561916)
PHILLIPS & GARCIA, P.C.
13 Ventura Drive
N. Dartmouth, MA 02747
(508) 998-0800
(508) 998-0919 (fax)
Joseph F. deMello (MA BBO# 546017)
LAW OFFICE OF
JOSEPH F. deMELLO, P.C.
71 Main Street
Taunton, MA 02747
508-824-9112
508-824-5917 (fax)
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