James King v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Case: 12-10880 Document: 00512214452 Page: 1 Date Filed: 04/19/2013
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
FILED
April 19, 2013
No. 12-10880 Lyle W. Cayce
Summary Calendar Clerk
JAMES KING, GAYLE KING, and TRECIA DeJEAN,
Plaintiffs-Appellants,
v.
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Successor by Merger to Wells Fargo Bank
Southwest, N.A., formerly known as Wachovia Mortgage F.S.B., formerly
known as World Savings Bank F.S.B.,
Defendant-Appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
U.S.D.C. No. 3:11-cv-00945-m
Before STEWART, Chief Judge, and OWEN, and GRAVES, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
In 2005, Plaintiff-Appellant James King executed an adjustable rate note
(“the Note”)1 in favor of Defendant-Appellee, Wells Fargo (previously, World
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not
be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR.
R. 47.5.4.
1
The Note was executed by James King only. For the purposes of these proceedings,
however, James King’s wife, Gayle King, and their daughter, Trecia DeJean, are also named
Plaintiffs-Appellants. According to Appellants, Ms. DeJean moved in with the Kings
subsequent to Mr. King’s execution of the Note and began assuming responsibility for ensuring
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No. 12-10880
Savings Bank, FSB), which was also accompanied by a Deed of Trust, executed
by James and Gayle King (hereinafter referred to as “Appellants”). The property
subject to the Note was located at 6537 Talbot Parkway, Dallas, Texas, 75232
(“the Property”). In 2010, after Appellants defaulted on the mortgage payments,
they contacted Wells Fargo and attempted, unsuccessfully, to apply for a loan
modification. Appellants then “decided to bring the account current.” In
response, Wells Fargo accelerated the Note for the total amount due and
ultimately foreclosed on the Property due to Appellants’ default on the Note.
In 2011, Appellants filed suit2 against Wells Fargo alleging claims for
breach of contract, anticipatory breach of contract, unreasonable collection
efforts, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation, and violations of the
Texas Debt Collection Practices Act. See Tex. Fin. Code § 392.001-396.353
(2006). Appellants also filed requests for an equitable remedy of accounting and
for declaratory relief enjoining Wells Fargo from foreclosing on the Property.3
In response to Appellants’ third and final amended complaint, Wells Fargo filed
a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief could
be granted, which was granted by the district judge. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
Appellants filed a motion for reconsideration and to vacate the final judgment
dismissing their claims, which was denied by the district judge.
Wells Fargo then filed a motion for attorney fees and expenses which was
granted in part and denied in part by the district judge. In that motion, Wells
Fargo moved for $32,970.60 in attorney fees and $2,430.91 in expenses. After
that the monthly payments were made, with the permission of Mr. King.
2
Appellants initially filed in Texas state court, and Wells Fargo removed to the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, on grounds of
diversity jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332.
3
In 2011, the State court granted a temporary restraining order which subsequently
expired. This Court denied Appellants’ motion for stay or injunction pending appeal in 2012.
2
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No. 12-10880
a detailed and thorough analysis in accordance with the applicable law of this
circuit, the court ultimately granted $20,000 in attorney fees and no expenses.
Appellants subsequently filed a motion for reconsideration of that judgment
which was also denied by the district judge.4
Appellants now appeal the district court judgment granting Wells Fargo’s
12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, as well as the portion of the judgment partially
granting Wells Fargo’s motion for attorney fees and expenses.
After reviewing the record, including the terms of the Note and the Deed
of Trust, this court’s jurisprudence, and all applicable state and federal law, we
conclude that Appellants have failed to provide any persuasive argument or
authority showing that the district court erred in granting Wells Fargo’s 12(b)(6)
motion to dismiss. Appellants have also failed to show that the district court
erred in partially granting Wells Fargo’s motion for attorney fees and expenses.
Accordingly, we AFFIRM the district court’s summary judgment and adopt its
analysis in full.5
4
Wells Fargo does not appeal the portion of the district court judgment denying in part
its motion for attorney fees and expenses.
5
Appellants argue for the first time on appeal that their default was excused by
impossibility and frustration of purpose. Arguments raised for the first time on appeal will
not be considered. Lofton v. McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharms., 672 F.3d 372, 380-81 (5th
Cir. Feb. 22, 2012).
3