Case 2:14-Cv-03740-JHS Document 82 Filed 06/06/17 Page 1 of 22
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Case 2:14-cv-03740-JHS Document 82 Filed 06/06/17 Page 1 of 22 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA ROBERT D. SAYRE, Plaintiff, CIVIL ACTION v. NO. 14-3740 CUSTOMERS BANK, Defendant. OPINION Slomsky, J. June 6, 2017 I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Plaintiff Robert D. Sayre was employed by ISN Bank (“ISN”), the predecessor of Defendant Customers Bank (“Customers”), as Vice President and Counsel from June 20, 2005 through March 31, 2010. (Sayre Tr., 37:20, 38:10-19, Sept. 19, 2016.) During his employment, Plaintiff received a home equity mortgage loan from ISN. (Exs. J-2, J-3.) While Plaintiff was making timely monthly payments on the mortgage, he was terminated as an employee and did not receive what he believed to be a previously negotiated severance package. (Sayre Tr., 48:11- 14, Sept. 19, 2016.) As a result, Plaintiff felt that he had the right to set-off against his mortgage obligation the amount of the severance package that was owed to him.1 Defendant refused to 1 Set-offs are often used when attempting to end a financial obligation. A set-off has been described as follows: A [s]et-off signifies the subtraction or taking away of one demand from another opposite or cross demand, so as to distinguish the smaller demand and reduce the greater by the amount of the less; or, if the opposite demands are equal, to extinguish both. It was also, formerly, sometimes called stoppage, because the amount to be set-off was stopped or deducted from the cross demand. Set-off, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY (10th ed. 2014). 1 Case 2:14-cv-03740-JHS Document 82 Filed 06/06/17 Page 2 of 22 treat the transaction this way and the mortgage went into default for non-payment. (Id. at 48:23- 25; 49:1-3.) Defendant then notified Plaintiff that the mortgage was in default and that if he did not make the mortgage current, foreclosure proceedings would be instituted against him and he would be liable for Defendant’s attorney’s fees.2 (Ex. J-8.) The Notice provided that “[i]f the lender refers your case to its attorneys, but you cure the delinquency before the lender begins legal proceedings against you, you will still be required to pay the reasonable attorney’s fees that were actually incurred, up to $50.” (Id. at 5.) Plaintiff brought the mortgage current, and legal proceedings were never instituted against him. (Sayre Tr., 51:24-25; 52:1-12, Sept. 19, 2016.) Later, after a period when he made timely monthly mortgage payments, he attempted to sell the property. At that time, in order to do so, Defendant charged him (1) $2,934 in attorney’s fees and (2) $535 in appraisal costs. Defendant was forced to pay these costs at closing when the property was sold. (Ex. J-11.) After protracted Motions practice in this case, the only remaining claim is set forth in Count II, which alleges a violation of the Pennsylvania’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. The parties contest whether Plaintiff was deceived by the Notice he received after the Mortgage went into default. Plaintiff maintains that he believed only $50 in attorney’s fees would be incurred because he paid the delinquency and thereafter made timely payments on 2 This initial communication is known as an Act 6/91 Notice (or the “Notice”) and is required to be sent under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Foreclosure Prevention Act, 35 PA. CONST. STAT. ANN. § 1680.401c, which was enacted to establish procedures designed to assist Pennsylvania residents in avoiding foreclosure. An “Act 6/91 Notice” is a Notice that a mortgagee must send to a mortgagor at least thirty days before initiating foreclosure proceedings. The notice informs the mortgagor of the mortgagee’s intention to foreclose, and advises the mortgagor of the ability to cure the default through the Pennsylvania Homeowner’s Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program. See 35 PA. CONS. STAT. § 1680.403c; 41 PA. CONS. STAT. § 403. 2 Case 2:14-cv-03740-JHS Document 82 Filed 06/06/17 Page 3 of 22 the Mortgage. Defendant contends that there was no deception because the terms of the Note and the Mortgage allowed it to charge the fees after Plaintiffs’ loan went into default. On September 20, 2016, a one-day bench trial was held before this Court. (Doc. No. 78.) Thereafter, Plaintiff and Defendant submitted proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. (Doc. Nos. 79, 80.) Pursuant to Rule 52(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Court will now “find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a)(1). II. FINDINGS OF FACT A. The Parties 1. Plaintiff, Robert D. Sayre is a fifty-five year-old attorney currently residing in Riverton, New Jersey. (Sayre Tr., 37:20, Sept. 19, 2016.) From June 20, 2005 to March 31, 2010, Plaintiff served as Vice President and Counsel of ISN Bank (“ISN”). (Id. at 38:10-19.) 2. Defendant, Customers Bank (“Customers”) is the successor organization to ISN. (Doc. No. 22 at ¶ 2.) Customers is a Pennsylvania state chartered bank and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Customers Bancorp. Inc.3 (Id.) B. The Procurement and Terms of the Mortgage 3. On August 27, 2007, while employed with ISN, Plaintiff purchased a residential property located at 2219 Gaul Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (the “Property”). (Sayre Tr., 40:5-10, Sept. 19, 2016.) 4. On September 19, 2007, in connection with the purchase of the Property, Plaintiff obtained a home equity loan from ISN. 3 Customers Bancorp Inc. is a Pennsylvania corporation with an office located at 1501 N. Broad Street, Suite 201, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19122. (Doc. No. 22 at ¶ 2.) 3 Case 2:14-cv-03740-JHS Document 82 Filed 06/06/17 Page 4 of 22 5. He signed a promissory note (the “Note”). (Exs. J-2; J-3.) The Note was secured by a Mortgage (the “Mortgage”) placed on the Property. 6. The Note and the Mortgage had definitions of when the loan was in default and when expenses by the lender could be collected from the borrower. (Ex. J-2 at 1.) 7. The Note defined “default” as Plaintiff “fail[ing] to make any payment when due under this Note.” In relevant part, the Note provided: Attorneys’ Fees; Expenses. Lender may hire or pay someone else to help collect this Note if I do not pay. I will pay lender that amount. This includes, subject to any limits under applicable law, Lender’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and Lender’s legal expenses, whether or not there is a lawsuit, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, expenses for bankruptcy proceedings (including efforts to modify or vacate any automatic stay or injunction), and any appeals. If not prohibited by applicable law, I will also pay court costs, in addition to all other sums provided. (Ex. J-2 at 2.) 8. Similarly, the Mortgage defined “default” as when the “[g]rantor fails to make any payment when due under the indebtedness.” (Ex. J-3 at 8.) Under the “Rights and Remedies on Default” section, the Mortgage provided: Attorneys’ Fees; Expenses. If Lender institutes any suit or action to enforce any of the terms of this Mortgage, Lender shall be entitled to recover such sum as the court may adjudge reasonable attorneys’ fees at trial and upon appeal. Whether or not any court action is involved, and to the extent not prohibited by law, all reasonable expenses Lender incurs that in Lender’s opinion are necessary at any time for the protection of its interest or the enforcement of its rights shall become a part of the Indebtedness payable on demand and shall bear interest at the Note rate from the date of the expenditure until repaid. Expenses covered by this paragraph include, without limitation, however subject to any limits under applicable law, Lender’s reasonable attorneys’ and Lender’s legal expenses, whether or not there is a lawsuit, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses for bankruptcy proceedings (including efforts to modify or vacate any automatic stay or injunction), appeals, and any anticipated post-judgment collection services, the 4 Case 2:14-cv-03740-JHS Document 82 Filed 06/06/17 Page 5 of 22 cost of searching records, obtaining title reports (including foreclosure reports), surveyors’ reports, and appraisal fees and title insurance, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Grantor also will pay any court costs, in addition to all other sums provided by law. (Ex. J-3 at 11.) 9. Neither the Note nor the Mortgage has language stating that the default continues after a payment is missed and the Mortgage is brought current. (White Tr., 130:10-25, Sept. 19, 2016.) C. Plaintiff’s Attempted Set-off and the Act 6/91 Notice 10. On March 30, 2010, Plaintiff was terminated from his position at ISN without cause. (Sayre Tr., 48:11-14, Sept. 19, 2016.) 11. After his termination, Plaintiff did not receive severance pay from ISN that had been previously negotiated. (Id. at 48:23-25.) 12. Plaintiff then attempted to use funds from the severance package he expected to receive to set-off his mortgage payments. (Id. at 48:23-25; 49:1-3.) 13. Plaintiff did not make any payments on the Note and the Mortgage from June 2010 to December 2011. (Id. at 48:23-25; 49:1-3.) 14. In either May or June 2011, Defendant acquired Plaintiff’s loan from ISN through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.