STERLING MORTENSEN v. MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS INC (2016)

MEMORANDUM*

Sterling J. Mortensen appeals pro se from the district court's judgment dismissing his action alleging federal and state law claims related to the foreclosure of his real property. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We review de novo a dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). Cervantes v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 656 F.3d 1034, 1040 (9th Cir. 2011). We affirm.

The district court properly dismissed Mortensen's claim for damages under the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) because it is barred by the statute of limitations and Mortensen failed to plead facts demonstrating equitable tolling should apply. See 15 U.S.C. § 1640(e) (an action for damages under TILA must be brought within one year of the alleged violation).

The district court properly dismissed Mortensen's Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act claim because Mortensen did not allege facts sufficient to show that his inquiries required a response under the Act. See 12 U.S.C. § 2605(e) (identifying service related inquires that require a loan servicer to respond).

The district court properly dismissed Mortensen's claims predicated on the alleged improper use of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”) because those claims are foreclosed by state law. See Edwards v. Mortg. Elec. Registration Sys., Inc., 300 P.3d 43, 49 (Idaho 2013) (“[H]aving MERS the named beneficiary as nominee for the lender conforms to the requirements of a deed of trust under Idaho law.”); see also Diaz v. Kubler Corp., 785 F.3d 1326, 1329 (9th Cir. 2015) (“When interpreting state law, we are bound to follow the decisions of the state's highest court ․” (internal quotation marks omitted)).

The district court properly dismissed Mortensen's claim for breach of fiduciary duties against Silver State Mortgage because mortgage lenders generally do not owe borrowers a fiduciary duty, and Mortensen failed to allege facts sufficient to show that his relationship with Silver State differed from that of a lender-borrower. See Black Canyon Racquetball Club, Inc. v. Idaho First Nat'l Bank, N.A., 804 P.2d 900, 905 (Idaho 1991) (“[T]he relationship in a lender-borrower situation is a debtor-creditor relationship, and not a fiduciary relationship.”).

We do not consider arguments raised for the first time on appeal or matters not specifically and distinctly raised and argued in the opening brief. See Padgett v. Wright, 587 F.3d 983, 985 n.2 (9th Cir. 2009).

AFFIRMED.