DocketNumber： Nos. 98-1024, 98-1595
Judges： King, Luttig, Murnaghan
Filed Date： 4/5/1999
Status： Precedential
Modified Date： 11/4/2024
Affirmed by published opinion. Judge MURNAGHAN wrote the opinion, in which Judge LUTTIG and Judge KING joined.
OPINION
Plaintiffs, Mohammad and Diana Chau-dhry, filed the present action against Defendants .Michael Gallerizzo and his law firm, Gebhardt & Smith, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, alleging various violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”), 15 U.S.CA. § 1692a, et seq. (West 1998). The district court granted a motion for judgment as a matter of law in favor of Defendants on all counts. In addition, the district court levied sanctions against Plaintiffs and their attorney for filing frivolous claims. We affirm.
I.
NationsBank, N.A. is a national banking association which maintains an office in Bethesda, Maryland. NationsBanc Mortgage Corporation (“NMC”) is a national mortgage provider and is an affiliate of NationsBank, N.A. NMC’s principal office is located in Dallas, Texas. NationsBank, N.A. and NMC are collectively referred to as “NationsBank.”
In 1994, the Chaudhrys decided to move from their home on •' Barnwood Lane (“Barnwood Home”) to a home they planned to build on Inglewood Drive in Potomac, Maryland (the “Inglewood
When the Chaudhrys defaulted on the Construction Loan by, among other things, failing to pay the required monthly payments of interest, NationsBank transferred all of the Chaudhrys’ personal and business loans to Special Assets, a division of NationsBank, N.A. that deals with problem loans. Special Assets retained Galler-izzo and Gebhardt & Smith to represent the interests of NationsBank in connection with the Chaudhrys’ loan.
After Special Assets assumed' responsibility, the Chaudhrys’ attorney, James Ki-ley, scheduled a meeting for December 21, 1995. The Chaudhrys, Kiley, Michael Fo-del, a supervisor in Special Assets, and Gallerizzo met at the Virginia offices of NationsBank, N.A. Unknown to Galleriz-zo or Fodel, Kiley taperecorded the meeting. Throughout the course of the meeting, Gallerizzo emphasized that no oral agreements could be made at the meeting and that NationsBank would not agree to anything unless the parties signed a written agreement containing a release of any claims the Chaudhrys believed they had against the bank. The Chaudhrys refused to agree to such a release. Gallerizzo also indicated that NationsBank might require the Chaudhrys to pay the full balance of the Construction Loan if no agreement were reached.
After the December 21st meeting, Fodel instructed Gallerizzo to demand payment from the Chaudhrys. On December 22, 1995, Gallerizzo drafted a demand letter requiring the Chaudhrys to pay the amounts owed under the Construction Loan Documents within thirty days (the “Demand Letter”). The letter set forth the amount owed by the Chaudhrys for principal, interest and inspection fees. In addition, Gallerizzo advised the Chaudhrys that they were also obligated to reimburse the bank for all costs, expenses and attorneys fees which the bank incurred in connection with the matter. Gallerizzo did not demand payment of the attorneys fees or set forth a particular amount of attorneys fees.
On January 4, 1996, Kiley wrote to Gal-lerizzo, disputing the amounts that Nati-onsBank claimed were due. Pursuant to the FDCPA, he requested that Gallerizzo verify the amounts claimed in .the Demand Letter. After receiving Kiley’s January 4th letter, Gallerizzo telephoned Jeffrey Richman, another bank representative in Special Assets, and requested that he confirm the sums that were owed for principal, interest and inspection fees. By letter dated January 18, 1996, Gallerizzo sent Kiley a verification of the indebtedness and assured Kiley that the Chaudhrys did, in fact, owe the verified sums. The next day, Gallerizzo again wrote to Kiley and set forth the amounts necessary to pay off the Construction Loan. Subsequently, in a telephone conversation, Gallerizzo asked Kiley whether he had the information he requested. Kiley responded that he had received everything he needed except for verification of the attorneys’ fees. Galler-izzo discussed with Richman the amount that NMC would accept from the Chau-dhrys in payment of NMC’s attorneys’ fees. On or about January 19, 1996, Rich-man instructed Gallerizzo to accept from the Chaudhrys $8,600, an amount less than
In the course of investigating allegations set forth in- Kiley’s January 4th letter, Gallerizzo identified an issue which he believed could potentially result in liability for NMC. Because NationsBank, N.A. was acting as the servicing agent for NMC and because the Chaudhrys had threatened to sue NMC as the agent of Nations-Bank, N.A., Gallerizzo believed that any potential claim against NationsBank, N.A. could result in a claim against NMC. In order to advise NMC, Gallerizzo instructed an associate of Gebhardt & Smith to research the issue and prepare a research memorandum regarding his findings (the “Research Memorandum”). A redacted portion of the Research Memorandum was admitted into evidence. Gallerizzo billed NMC for the fees incurred in researching the Chaudhrys’ potential defense, and sent the bills to Richman at the offices of Nati-onsBank, N.A.
On January 22, 1996, Kiley wrote to Gallerizzo and indicated that he still needed verification of the- attorneys’ fees. Relying on this letter and his earlier telephone conversation with Kiley, Gallerizzo forwarded copies of the legal bills of Ge-bhardt & Smith but did not forward any additional information regarding the inspection fees. Believing the legal bills contained privileged information, Galleriz-zo used a black marker to redact portions of several time entries on the bills.
Also on January 22, 1996, the Chau-dhrys’ settlement attorney, Diane Fox, forwarded a request to NationsBank for a payoff figure on the Construction Loan, claiming that a meeting to refinance the loan was scheduled on January 25, 1996. At the request of NationsBank, Gallerizzo forwarded to Fox a payoff letter dated January 24,1996.
The Chaudhrys filed the present action on April 8, Í996, alleging violations of the FDCPA and common law fraud claims.
District Judge Marvin J. Garbis reviewed in camera the unredacted legal bills and the Research Memorandum.
A split bench and jury trial commenced on October 27, 1997. At trial, the Chau-dhrys, in part, argued that Gallerizzo had misled-them at the December 21st meeting by indicating that he would provide them with the amount of interest due which, if paid, would cure the loan default. They
II.
A. TJnredacted Legal Bills and Research Memorandum
The Chaudhrys first claim that the district court erred in refusing to grant their motions to compel Defendants to produce unredacted legal bills and the entire Research Memorandum. Appellants insist that Defendants improperly prevented the discovery of certain relevant information by asserting attorney-client and work product privileges, without establishing any factual basis proving the asserted privileges. We review the district court’s decision that certain documents are subject to privilege de novo, since it involves a mixed question of law and fact. See In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 38 F.3d 342,353 (4th Cir.1994).
Under the attorney-client privilege, confidential communications made between a client and an attorney in an effort to obtain legal services are protected from disclosure. Typically, the attorney-client privilege does not extend to billing records and expense reports. See id. at 353-54. In Clarke v. American Commerce National Bank, 974 F.2d 127 (9th Cir.1992), however, the Ninth Circuit distinguished between privileged and discoverable information contained in an attorney’s billing records:
[T]he identity of the client, the amount of the fee, the identification of payment by case file name, and the general purpose of the work performed are usually not protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege. However, correspondence, bills, ledgers, statements, and time records which also reveal the motive of the client in seeking representation, litigation strategy, or the specific nature of the services provided, such as researching particular areas of law, fall within the privilege. Id. at 129 (citations omitted).
In Clarke, the court concluded that the billing records were discoverable because of the general nature of the information provided therein, e.g., information on the identity of the client, the case name for which payment was made, and the amount of the fee. Id. at 130. The attorney’s bills in Clarke, unlike Gallerizzo’s bills, contained “nothing [that] ... reveal[ed] specific research or litigation strategy which would be entitled to protection from disclosure.” Id. at 130; see also In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 33 F.3d at 354 (intimating that the determination as to whether attorney billing statements are privileged
Furthermore, the work product doctrine prohibits the disclosure of the Research Memorandum. Under the work product rule, codified in Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(b)(8), “an attorney is not required to divulge, by discovery or otherwise, facts developed by his efforts in preparation of the case or opinions he has formed about any phase of the litigation.” In re Doe, 662 F.2d 1073, 1077 (4th Cir.1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 1000, 102 S.Ct. 1632, 71 L.Ed.2d 867 (1982). Fact work product is discoverable only “upon a showing of both a substantial need and an inability to secure the substantial equivalent of the materials by alternate means without undue hardship.” In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 33 F.3d at 348. Opinion work product is even more carefully protected, since it represents the thoughts and impressions of the attorney. See id. at 348. As we explained in In re Doe, “ ‘[a]n attorney’s thoughts are inviolate, ... and courts should proceed cautiously when requested to adopt a rule that would have an inhibi-tive effect on an attorney’s freedom to express and record his mental impressions and opinions without fear of having these impressions and opinions used against the client.’ ” 662 F.2d at 1080. As a result, “opinion work product enjoys a nearly absolute immunity and can be discovered only in very rare and extraordinary circumstances.” In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 33 F.3d at 348; see also In re Doe, 662 F.2d at 1079, 1080.
The materials sought by Appellants relate to legal research conducted in connection with collection of the Construction Loan and detail the mental impressions, conclusions, and legal theories of NMC’s attorneys. As opinion work product, the materials are entitled to substantially greater protection than fact work product. Yet, Appellants fail to establish even the minimal required showing of a substantial need for the materials and undue hardship in obtaining their equivalent. Indeed, they advance no compelling arguments toward that end. Under the circumstances, we cannot conclude that the facts of the instant case constitute the “very rare and extraordinary” situation justifying disclosure of opinion work product. The materials, therefore, are not subject to discovery.
Appellants maintain that, even if the attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine apply, the exception for crimes, frauds, and torts also applies here. The exception provides that a confidential communication between attorney and client “will not be privileged if made for the purpose of committing or furthering a crime or fraud.” In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 33 F.3d at 348; see also In re Doe, 662 F.2d at 1079. Appellants allege that the redacted legal bills indicate that Defendants were attempting to collect amounts billed to NationsBank for the other disputes the Chaudhrys have with the bank, which are not collectible under the Construction Loan. Appellants maintain that they are entitled to copies of the unredacted legal bills and the Research Memorandum for use at trial because they evidence wrongdoing under the FDCPA.
Appellants, as the party asserting the crime/fraud exception, must make a prima facie showing that the privileged communications fall within the exception. Appellants must prove that “(1) the client was engaged in or planning a criminal or fraudulent scheme when he sought the advice of counsel to further the scheme and (2) the documents containing [the privileged materials] ... bear a close relationship to the client’s existing or future scheme to commit a crime or fraud.” In re Murphy, 560 F.2d 326, 338 (8th Cir.1977); see also In re Grand Jury Proceed
Under the circumstances, the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying Appellants’ motion to compel production of the unredacted legal bills and the Research Memorandum. See In re Grand Jury Proceedings, 33 F.3d at 348 (noting that “[a] district court’s determination of whether the government satisfied [the] standard [for the crime-fraud exception] will not be reversed absent a clear showing of abuse of discretion”).
B. Amended Complaint
Appellants also claim that the district court erred in refusing to allow them to amend their complaint for a third time. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a) governs the circumstances under which parties who have already pleaded in a case will be permitted to amend their pleadings. Fed.R.Civ.P. 15(a). Rule 15(a) provides that “a party may amend the party’s pleading once as a matter of course at anytime before a responsive pleading is served .... Otherwise a party may amend the party’s pleading only by leave of court or by written consent of the adverse party; and leave shall be freely given when justice so requires.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 15(a). We have determined that “a motion to amend may be denied when it has been unduly delayed and when allowing the motion would prejudice the non-movant.” Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. v. Alpha of Virginia, Inc., 43 F.3d 922, 941 (4th Cir.1995). The trial court is generally in a better position to make such a determination. See In re Jeffrey Bigelow Design Group, Inc., 956 F.2d 479, 483 (4th Cir.1992). We, therefore, review the court’s decision for abuse of discretion. See Lone Star Steakhouse, 43 F.3d at 940.
Appellants argue that justice required the lower court to allow the amendments, especially where Defendants would have suffered no prejudice. As support for their contention, Appellants cite Foman v. Davis, 371 U.S. 178, 83 S.Ct. 227, 9 L.Ed.2d 222 (1962). In Foman, the Supreme Court observed that “[i]f the underlying facts or circumstances relied upon by a plaintiff may be a proper subject of relief, he ought to be afforded an opportunity to test his claim on the merits.” Id. at 182, 83 S.Ct. 227. The Court also suggested, however, that leave to amend should be freely given only “[i]n the absence of any apparent or declared reason—such as undue delay, ... repeated failure to cure deficiencies by amendments previously allowed, [and] undue prejudice to the opposing party.” Id.
An amendment of the pleadings only two weeks before trial would have improperly allowed Plaintiffs to alter their case to the unfair prejudice of Gallerizzo. The district court previously permitted the Chaudhrys to file a second amended complaint. At that time, Plaintiffs could have included the claims they later tried to add. Given the broad discretion afforded the district court in determining the appropriateness of allowing amendments to pleadings, the fact that Plaintiffs had been allowed to amend their complaint previously and the close proximity of the third request to the commencement of trial, we find no error in the court’s decision to deny the request.
C. Judgment as a Matter of Law
The Chaudhrys also maintain that the district court erred in denying their motion for judgment as a matter of law and in granting Defendants’ motion for the same. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 50(a) provides that, in actions tried by a jury, the district court may grant a motion for judgment as a matter of law if “a party has been fully heard ... and there is no legally sufficient evidentiary basis for a reasonable jury to find for that party.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 50(a)(1). We review the grant or denial of a Rule 50(a) motion de novo, see Malone v. Microdyne Corp.,
1. Gallerizzo’s Alleged Failure to Disclose Amount of Debt in Fair Debt Letter
Appellants allege that Gallerizzo failed to disclose in the December 22nd Demand Letter the precise amount owed by them for legal fees,in violation of § 1692g(a) of the FDCPA.
Relying on Black’s Law Dictionary (6th ed.1990), Appellants urge that while “[p]ayable may ... signify an obligation to pay at a future time, ... when used without qualification, [the] term means that the debt is payable at once.” Appellants thus conclude that attorneys’ fees become a legally enforceable debt as soon as the legal services are rendered, making the district court’s legal conclusion that they “were not due and payable at the time the notices were sent” erroneous.
We believe, however, that the law of Maryland dictates otherwise. Under state law, loan documents may require that a debtor pay to a creditor the costs incurred by the creditor in collecting a debt, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. See Mortgage Investors of Washington v. Citizens Bank and Trust Co. of Maryland, 29 Md.App. 591, 349 A.2d 647, 650, aff'd, 278 Md. 505, 366 A.2d 47 (1976). As Appellants suggest, attorneys’ fees due under a promissory note “are payable upon performance of the services contemplated.” Id. at 653. At the time the Demand Letter was sent, however, the legal services had not yet been fully rendered. The fees continued to mount. Furthermore, it was not clear that any legal fees would be owed, since NMC had discretion as to whether to impose legal fees at all and, if so, in what amount. Indeed, when contacted by Gallerizzo to obtain the amount of attorneys’ fees to charge the Chau-dhrys, NMC only required the Chaudhrys to pay $8,600, an amount less than the fees actually billed to NMC. Therefore, Galler-izzo, through the Demand Letter, was merely advising the Chaudhrys that they may also be liable to NMC for attorneys’ fees, as was provided in the Construction Loan. Under the circumstances, we find no error in the district court’s grant of judgment as a matter of law in favor of Appellees.
2. Gallerizzo’s Failure to Cease Collection Effoits on Allegedly Unverified Inspection Fees and Legal Fees
Appellants allege that Defendants violated § 1692g(b)
With respect to Count II, the district court determined that Appellants’ counsel, in a telephone conversation with Gallerizzo where he stated that the verification that was needed related to legal fees, “waived whatever claim that the Chaudhrys might make in regard to the alleged failure to verify the inspection fees.” Assuming that there had been no waiver, however, the court determined that “Gallerizzo adequately verified the amount of inspection fees” and “then sent the Chaudhrys’ counsel a letter ... including written verification of these fees.” The court found no duty for Gallerizzo to have assembled supporting documentation.
Contrary to Appellants’ contention, verification of a debt involves nothing more than the debt collector confirming in writing that the amount being demanded is what the creditor is claiming is owed; the debt collector is not required to keep detailed files of the alleged debt. See Azar v. Hayter, 874 F.Supp. 1314, 1317 (N.D.Fla.), aff'd, 66 F.3d 342 (11th Cir.1995), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 1048, 116 S.Ct. 712, 133 L.Ed.2d 666 (1996). Consistent with the legislative history, verification is only intended to “eliminate the ... problem of debt collectors dunning the wrong person or attempting to collect debts which the consumer has already paid.” S.Rep. No. 95-382, at 4 (1977), reprinted in 1977 U.S.C.C.A.N. 1695, 1699. There is no concomitant obligation to forward copies of bills or other detailed evidence of the debt.
In the present case, Gallerizzo, after receiving assurances from NationsBank that the sums were owed, verified the debt amounts in his January 18th letter to Plaintiffs’ counsel and forwarded a copy of the bank’s computerized summary of the Chaudhrys’ loan transactions. The summary included a running account of the debt amount, a description of every transaction, and the date on which the transaction occurred. See Graziano v. Harrison, 950 F.2d 107, 113 (3d Cir.1991) (holding that computer printouts which confirmed amounts of debts, the services provided, and the dates on which the debts were incurred constituted sufficient verification). Thereafter, in a January 19th letter to counsel, Gallerizzo restated the amount of the inspection fees and indicated that the amounts were correct. Nothing more is required.
On Count III, the district court held that Gallerizzo was not “required to provide the degree of detail that was contained in the time sheets” and that Defendants’ actions in redacting the legal fees was proper. The court ruled that “[v]erifi-cation only requires a debt collector to confirm with his client that a particular amount is actually being claimed, not to vouch for the validity of the underlying debt.” For the same reasons stated above in support of the court’s ruling on Count II, we agree with the court’s determination on Count III.
Moreover, Gallerizzo cannot be liable for having redacted privileged information contained in the bills. Otherwise, a consumer would be able to prevent the legitimate collection of a debt by simply demanding the release of time entries from an attorney, serving as a collector, who has an ethical obligation to protect privileged information. Surely, the FDCPA does not require an attorney to violate that obligation.
In sum, we find no error with respect to the district court’s conclusion that Defendants did not violate § 1692g(b).
3. Gallerizzo’s Alleged Failure to Mail Verification of Debt Directly to Chaudhrys
The FDCPA mandates that when a consumer disputes a debt in writing, “the debt collector obtains verification of the debt and a copy of such verification is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.” 15 U.S.C.A. § 1692g(b) (emphasis added). Appellants argue that Gallerizzo never mailed any verification of the debt to them directly. Rather, he mailed the relevant correspondence and documentation to their attorney, allegedly in violation of § 1692g(b).
Appellants, however, disregard § 1692c(a)(2), which prohibits communications between the debt collector and a debtor who is represented by an attorney.
4. Jury Verdict that Gallerizzo Knowingly Attempted to Collect Legal Fees in Excess of Amount Properly Chargeable to Plaintiffs
Appellants maintain that the jury verdict that Gallerizzo knowingly and intentionally attempted to collect legal fees in excess of the amount properly chargeable to them, in violation of § 1692e of the FDCPA,
Appellants further insist that the jury’s verdict is supported by references in the redacted Research Memorandum to an increase in a “consumer credit line” from NationsBank. The references, Appellants argue, demonstrate that Defendants were researching issues pertaining to Appellants’ Private Home Equity Line of Credit, a consumer credit line with NationsBank unrelated to the Chaudhrys’ debt under the Construction Loan that Gallerizzo was attempting to collect. To the contrary, Gallerizzo testified that the Chaudhrys’ request for additional funding to finish construction of the Inglewood Home was reviewed under both the Home Equity Line and the Construction Loan. The use of the term “consumer credit line” related to the request for funds for the construction of the home and not solely to the Home Equity Line. Thus, the research was chargeable under the Construction Loan. As the trial court noted, Plaintiffs offered no evidence to rebut Gallerizzo’s testimony. There was, therefore, no basis for the jury to find that the request to increase the consumer credit line was not related to the construction of the home. We find no error with the district court’s grant of judgment as a matter of law in favor of Defendants.
5. Jury Verdict that Gallerizzo’s Representations at the December 21, 1995 Meeting Were Not False, Deceptive, or Misleading
The Chaudhrys allege that Gallerizzo violated 15 U.S.C.A. § 1692e by promising, at the December 21st meeting, to provide them with the past due interest owed on the loan and that NMC would be willing to accept that amount in order to cure the defaults existing under the loan. The jury found that Gallerizzo did not deceive the Chaudhrys during the December 21st meeting, and the district court entered judgment in favor of Gallerizzo.
Appellants first charge that the district court improperly instructed the jury. In determining whether a debt collectors’ act or communication constitutes a false, deceptive, or misleading practice under the FDCPA, Appellants urge that a court must assess the impact that the act or communication would have on the least sophisticated debtor. See United States v. National Financial Services, Inc., 98 F.3d 131, 135-36 (4th Cir.1996) (applying “least sophisticated debtor” standard to alleged violation of § 1692e). The court instructed the jury as follows:
When I refer to a person unsophisticated in matters of law or finance, I am referring to a person of reasonable intelligence who has a basic understanding and has a willingness to listen to what is being said with care. I am not referring to a person who places an unrealistic or irrational interpretation upon what was said.
Appellants insist that the language does not comport with the “least sophisticated debtor” standard.
We review challenges to jury instructions for abuse of discretion. See Nelson v. Green Ford, Inc., 788 F.2d 205, 208-09 (4th Cir.1986). The test of the adequacy of jury instructions is whether the jury charge, construed as a whole, adequately states the controlling legal principle without misleading or confusing the jury. See Spell v. McDaniel, 824 F.2d 1380, 1395 (4th Cir.1987). With this in mind, we believe that the court’s instruction is consistent with the “least sophisti
Appellants also allege that, at the December 21st meeting, Gallerizzo refused to provide them with information about the interest arrearage, which if paid arguably would have prevented their default on the loan. Appellants maintain that Gallerizzo instructed them to put their request for the information in writing and that the bank would take no action until after responding to their proposal. Appellants insist that Gallerizzo never intended to provide the requested amount of interest arrearage. Rather, they argue, he acted solely to deceive them into delaying making the required interest payment so that he could accelerate the Construction Loan the following day.
Appellants’ attorney tape-recorded the December 21st meeting, and, contrary to Appellants’ assertions, the transcript of the recording contains no evidence of false or misleading representations by Galleriz-zo. Throughout the meeting, Gallerizzo advised Appellants that he had no authority to bind the bank. He also stated that there could be no agreement unless the Chaudhrys provided a release of the alleged claims that they were making against the bank, which they refused to do. Given the content of the recording and the fact that the Chaudhrys had no right under the Construction Loan to cure the default simply by paying the interest ar-rearage, there is clearly sufficient evidence for the jury to conclude that Defendants did not violate § 1692e. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to reverse the jury’s decision. ■ ■■
Appellants finally argue that the district court improperly refused to permit the Chaudhrys to use the unredacted version of the January 4, 1997 letter written by Appellants’ counsel. . Appellants contend the court’s refusal contributed substantially to the jury’s verdict. The January 4th letter contains numerous allegations against NationsBank not at issue in the instant case, but the .subject ,of a separate state action. The state allegations are not only of questionable relevance but also may have unfairly prejudiced Defendants. The district court’s decision to disallow an unredacted version of the letter is well within the discretion afforded the district court with respect to evidentiary matters.
6. Gallerizzo’s Alleged Failure to Include Mandatory Language Required by § 1692e(ll) in. Letter to Plaintiffs’ Settlement Attorney
Appellants allege a violation of § 1692e(ll), which requires disclosure, in all communications to the consumer, “that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose.” 15 U.S.C.A. § 1692e(ll); see Carroll v. Wolpoff & Abramson, 961 F.2d 459, 461, (4th Cir.) (determining that the debt collection notification must be included in all correspondence), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 905, 113 S.Ct. 298, 121 L.Ed.2d 222 (1992). Galler-izzo sent a letter dated January 24, 1996 to the Chaudhrys’ settlement attorney Diane
D. Sanctions
The district court, citing Count VII,
In Cooter & Gell v. Hartmarx Corp., the Supreme Court noted that “Rule 11 imposes a duty on attorneys to certify that they have conducted a reasonable inquiry and have determined that any papers filed with the court are well grounded in fact, legally tenable, and ‘not interposed for any improper purpose.’ ” Id. at 393, 110 S.Ct. 2447. “A complaint containing allegations unsupported by any information obtained prior to filing, or allegations based on information which minimal factual inquiry would disprove, will
The Chaudhrys claim that, at the December 21, 1995 meeting, Gallerizzo promised that they could simply pay the interest arrearage to prevent default on the loan. The trial court, relying on the tape-recorded transcript of the December 21st meeting, determined that no “... rational person could have interpreted '«'■hat was said at the meeting to be the promise that Plaintiffs and their counsel contend was made by Mr. Gallerizzo.” We agree. We see nothing in the record that evidences such a promise. In fact, Gallerizzo’s repeated admonitions that he was not authorized to commit the bank to any agreement and that the bank would not negotiate further without a signed release suggest just the opposite. Furthermore, Gallerizzo indicated at the meeting that the bank could require payment of the loan in full. Appellants’ claim that Gallerizzo made a representation that was false, misleading, and deceptive is utterly without factual foundation. Given the substantial justification for its finding, the district court did not abuse its discretion by imposing what we believe to be appropriate and reasonable sanctions against Appellants and their attorney. By so ruling, we in no way intend to discourage the legitimate pursuit of FDCPA litigation but, rather, hope to deter groundless claims like the one advanced here.
For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the district couid’s ruling in totum.
AFFIRMED.
. The Construction Loan contained various loan documents, including a Residential Construction Loan Agreement, a Construction Loan Rider, an Adjustable Rale Note and an Adjustable Rate Rider.
. Under the Construction Loan, the Chau-dhrys had no right to cure the default by simply paying past due interest. Moreover, the Construction Loan required that if the Inglewood Home was not completed by December 31, 1995, the Chaudhrys would have to pay all sums due by such date.
. On the same date, the Chaudhrys initiated a lawsuit against NMC, NationsBank, N.A., various NationsBank loan officers, Gallerizzo and Gebhardt & Smith in the Circuit Court of Maryland for Montgomery County, Case No. 150185 (the "State Action”), in which the Chaudhrys alleged numerous lender liability claims. Gallerizzo and Gebhardt & Smith were dismissed with prejudice by the state trial court prior to the commencement of trial in the instant case.
. The materials previously had been reviewed by another district court judge who subsequently recused himself.
. Section 1692g(a), in pertinent part, states:
(a) Notice of debt; contents
Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing—
(1) the amount of the debt; * * *
15 U.S.C.A. § 1692g(a).
. Section 1692g(b) provides as follows:
[I]f the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within [30 days of the initial notice] that the debt, or any portion thereof,*406 is disputed, ... the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until verification is mailed to the consumer.
15 U.S.C.A. § 1692g(b).
. Moreover, at the end of the December 21st meeting, Appellants' counsel specifically requested that all communications be directed to him.
. Section 1692c(a)(2) permits communications between the debt collector and a consumer represented by counsel where "the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable period of time to a communication from the debt collector or ... consents to direct communication with the consumer." 15 U.S.C.A. § 1692c(a)(2).
. Under § 1692e, "[a] debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with collection of any debt.” 15 U.S.C.A. § 1692e.
. Appellants also allege that the district court committed other supposedly prejudicial errors. The allegations are utterly without merit, however, so we decline to discuss them at length here. For example, Appellants object to the wording of certain questions to the jury, yet Appellants expressly accepted the language at trial. . It seems inappropriate now to allow Appellants to argue that the questions should have been phrased differently.
. In Count VII, the Chaudhrys claim that, at the meeting of December 21, 1995, Gallerizzo made false, deceptive, and misleading statements to them in violation of § 1692e of the FDCPA.
. Rule 11 provides as follows:
(b) Representations to Court. By presenting to the court (whether by ’signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating) a pleading, written motion, or other paper, an attorney or unrepresented party is certifying that to the best of the person's knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances,—
(1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation;
(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions therein are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law;
(3) the allegations and other factual contentions have evidentiary support or,’ if specifically so identified, are likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and
(4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonable based on a lack of information or belief.
(c) Sanctions. If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the court determines that subdivision (b) has been violated, the court may, subject to the conditions stated below, impose an appropriate sanction upon the attorneys, law firms, or parties that have violated subdivision (b) or are responsible for the violation.
Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(b), (c).
. Section 1927 provides that an attorney "who so multiplies the proceedings in any case unreasonably and vexatiously may be required by the court to satisfy personally the excess costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees reasonably incurred because of such conduct.” 28 U.S.C.A. 1927 (West 1998).
. While distinct from Rule 11, section 1927 also requires “a finding of counsel’s bad faith as a precondition to the imposition of fees.” Brubaker v. City of Richmond, 943 F.2d 1363, 1382 n. 25 (4th Cir.1991).