PAUL A. ENGELMAYER, District Judge.

Susan Marie Gray, Susan Marie Gray, Attorney at Law, Rocky River, OH, for Appellants.

Jessica Arett, Jordan Aaron Wishnew, Norman S. Rosenbaum, Morrison & Foerster LLP, New York, NY, for Appellee.

OPINION & ORDER

PAUL A. ENGELMAYER, District Judge.

This decision resolves claims against a bankruptcy estate first made by a homeowner, Patricia J. McNerney, as counterclaims to a foreclosure action brought against her by the bankruptcy debtor after she failed to repay a $108,000 home mortgage refinance loan for her Ohio house. In a February 29, 2016 decision, the United States Bankruptcy Court in this District (Hon. Martin Glenn) disallowed, for failure to state a claim, McNerney's claims against the estate, as well as the claims for attorney's fees made by McNerney's lawyer, Susan M. Gray, and sustained the objection to those claims made by the ResCap Borrower Claims Trust (the "Trust"). Dkt. 1, at *4–36 ("Decision"). For the reasons that follow, the Court agrees with the bankruptcy court's well-reasoned decision, and affirms.

I. Background

A. Procedural Background

On May 14, 2012, the debtors, including Residential Capital, LLC ("ResCap"), filed a voluntary petition in the bankruptcy court in this District for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. On November 14, 2012, McNerney and Gray filed proofs of claim against debtors Homecomings Financial LLC ("Homecomings") and GMAC Mortgage ("GMACM"). Both debtors are entities for which the Trust, established pursuant to the December 11, 2013, chapter 11 plan, effective December 17, 2013, is the successor in interest with respect to borrower claims. McNerney sought $600,000 against each of Homecomings and GMACM, and Gray sought $122,481.59 in attorneys' fees from each arising out of her representation of McNerney.

On October 23, 2015, the Trust filed an objection to these claims in bankruptcy court, for failure to state a claim. On November 16, 2015, McNerney filed an opposition, and, on December 9, 2015, the Trust filed a reply. On December 16, 2015, the bankruptcy court held a hearing on the objection. Its February 29, 2016 Decision sustained the Trust's objection. See Decision at 2–8.

On March 16, 2016, McNerney filed a notice of appeal in this Court. Dkt. 1. On May 4, 2016, she filed an opening appellate brief, Dkt. 8 ("McNerney Br."); on June 6, 2016, the Trust filed an opposition, Dkt. 9; and, on July 11, 2016, McNerney filed a reply, Dkt. 17 ("McNerney Reply Br."). On August 30, 2016, the Court heard argument.

B. Factual Background

McNerney's claims were made as counterclaims in a foreclosure proceeding against her after she failed to repay a $108,000 home mortgage refinance loan from Homecomings made in connection with her Lakewood, Ohio house (the "Property"). McNerney had obtained the loan, secured by a mortgage on the Property, on December 27, 2002. Homecomings serviced the loan until January 1, 2003, at which time servicing was transferred to GMACM. See Servicing Transfer Letter, Lathrop Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–2, Ex. E, at 1–2. GMACM serviced the loan until February 16, 2013.

The loan was a refinance of an earlier loan McNerney and her husband had with Household Realty Corporation, which carried a 13% interest rate and required a $1,245.81 monthly payment. See Ohio District Court Counterclaims, Declaration of David Wallace ("Wallace Decl."), Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–4, Ex. I, ("District Court Counterclaims"), at ¶ 66 (monthly payment of $985, escrow payment for insurance of $30, and property tax liability payment of $230.81). When McNerney divorced, the divorce decree required her to refinance the earlier loan. See Ohio State Court Trial Transcript, November 10, 2008, Wallace Decl., Ex. A, at 227–28. McNerney retained a local mortgage broker, Ohio Mortgage Company ("OMC"), to obtain the loan on her behalf. See id. at 196–97. Under a broker agreement between OMC and Homecomings, OMC served as an independent contractor for Homecomings, except that, when it delivered notices, it served as Homecomings' agent. See Broker/Lender Agreement, Lathrop Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–2, Ex. G, at ¶ 1. OMC submitted the application to Homecomings, which assessed the application using an automated underwriting program. It calculated McNerney's loan to income ratio (34%) and debt to income ratio (46%) as within approved limits. See Lathrop Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–2, at ¶ 8 & Ex. H. At the closing, Homecomings gave McNerney a Truth in Lending Statement, a Notice of the Right to Cancel, a HUD–1 Settlement Statement, a First Payment Notice, and a disclosure regarding private mortgage insurance. See Exs. I, J, K, L, and M, respectively, Lathrop Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–2. Each document was dated December 27, 2002 and signed by McNerney. See id. ; see generally Decision at 2–4.

The loan's proceeds were used to pay off the $98,349.94 balance of the prior loan, past due taxes of $5,847.18, and $4,533.16 of credit card debt. See HUD–1 Settlement Statement, Lathrop Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–2, Ex. K, at ¶¶ 1303–09. The new loan required McNerney to make a $1,232.28 monthly payment, which reflected principal and interest payments totaling $792.47, based on an interest rate of 8%, see Note, Lathrop Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–2, Ex. B, at 1, with the balance reflecting other costs, such as escrow payments for real estate taxes, property insurance, and private mortgage insurance, see District Court Counterclaims ¶ 66.

McNerney defaulted on the loan almost immediately—failing to make a first payment. In November 2003, MERS brought a foreclosure action against McNerney in Ohio state court, and McNerney brought statutory and tort counterclaims. However, in September 2009, after years of litigation, MERS's state-court action was dismissed without prejudice for lack of standing.

On October 14, 2009, Homecomings filed a new foreclosure action—the one relevant here—in federal district court in the Northern District of Ohio. See 09–cv–2383–LW (N.D. Ohio). On January 18, 2010, McNerney moved to dismiss. On September 24, 2010, the court denied that motion. On January 23, 2011, McNerney filed an answer and statutory and tort-law counterclaims (the "District Court Counterclaims"). Homecomings moved for judgment on the pleadings and summary judgment, which McNerney opposed. These motions were pending when, on August 7, 2012, Homecomings, which had filed for bankruptcy on May 4, 2012, filed a notice of bankruptcy in the District Court. The following day, August 8, 2012, the district court stayed the case pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(a), the bankruptcy code's automatic stay provision.

The underlying foreclosure claims against McNerney were dismissed in August 2013, essentially due to McNerney's abandonment of the Property. As to McNerney and Gray's counterclaims against the debtors, on November 14, 2012, they each filed proofs of claim in the bankruptcy court against Homecomings and GMACM. McNerney's claims (numbers 4762 and 4764), based on the 12 District Court Counterclaims , were each for $600,000; Gray's (numbers 4757 and 4758), for legal fees, were each for $122,481.59. See Claims, Designated Record Tab 2.

As noted, on February 29, 2016, the bankruptcy court disallowed McNerney's claims. The Court reviews the bankruptcy court's reasoning, as relevant, in the course of addressing each claim. Relevant here, McNerney pursues only six of her 12 counterclaims in this appeal. The six claims she pursues assert: (1) violations of the Truth in Lending Act ("TILA"); (2) negligence and improvident lending; (3) intentional and negligent misrepresentation; (4) civil conspiracy; (5) violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act ("CSPA"); and (6) breach of privacy. Id. In addition to reviewing these claims, the Court also considers McNerney's November 16, 2015, motion in the bankruptcy court to strike the declaration of Sara Lathrop, Bnkr. Dkt. 9334, which the bankruptcy court did not rule on and which McNerney's treats as having been denied by implication.

II. Discussion

A. Jurisdiction and Standard of Review

The district court has jurisdiction to hear appeals from rulings of the bankruptcy court, including to disallow claims against the bankruptcy estate. 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). Final orders of the bankruptcy court, including orders such as that here disallowing claims, are appealable to the district court. Id. ; see Morse v. Rescap Borrower Claims Tr. , No. 14 Civ. 5800 (GHW), 2015 WL 353931, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 26, 2015).

In reviewing such judgments by the bankruptcy court, the district court functions as an appellate court. See In re CBI Holding Co., Inc. , 529 F.3d 432, 448–49 (2d Cir. 2008). Thus, the district court reviews the bankruptcy court's findings of fact for clear error and its conclusions of law de novo. In re Ionosphere Clubs, Inc. , 922 F.2d 984, 988 (2d Cir. 1990) ; see also Fed. R. Bankr. P. 8013 (advisory committee note); Fed. R. Civ. P. 52(a)(6). Clear error exists when "the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed." In re CBI Holding Co., Inc. , 529 F.3d at 449 (quoting United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co. , 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948) ). Harmless error, meaning an error not inconsistent with substantial justice or that does not affect the parties' substantial rights, is not grounds for reversal. In re Cavalry Const., Inc. , 428 B.R. 25, 41–42 (S.D.N.Y. 2010) (citation omitted); In re Adler, Coleman Clearing Corp. , 204 B.R. 99, 106 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1997) (quotation and citation omitted); see also Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9005 ; Fed. R. Civ. P. 61. The district court may affirm "on any ground that finds support in the record, and need not limit its review to the bases raised or relied upon in the decisions below," Freeman v. Journal Register Co. , 452 B.R. 367, 369 (S.D.N.Y. 2010), but it may not consider evidence outside of the bankruptcy court record. See In re Bear Stearns High–Grade Structured Credit Strategies Master Fund, Ltd. , 389 B.R. 325, 339 (S.D.N.Y. 2008). Arguments not raised in the bankruptcy court are considered waived and, unless waiver would result in manifest injustice, are not to be considered by the district court. See In re Lionel Corp. , 29 F.3d 88, 92 (2d Cir. 1994).

B. Standards Applicable to Proofs of Claim and Objections

In a bankruptcy proceeding, a creditor may assert a right to payment from the debtor by filing a proof of claim. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3001 ; 11 U.S.C. § 501. A "claim" is a right to payment or to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such a breach provides a right to payment, "whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured."See 11 U.S.C. § 101(5). Relevant here, a "creditor" is an "entity that has a claim against the debtor that arose at the time of or before the order for relief concerning the debtor." 11 U.S.C. § 101(10)(A).

A properly filed proof of claim is deemed allowed against the estate unless a party in interest objects. 11 U.S.C. § 502(a). An objection triggers a burden-shifting framework to determine whether to allow a claim. A properly filed and executed proof of claim constitutes prima facie evidence of the validity and amount of the claim. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3001(f). "To overcome this prima facie evidence, the objecting party must come forth with evidence which, if believed, would refute at least one of the allegations essential to the claim." Sherman v. Novak (In re Reilly ), 245 B.R. 768, 773 (2d Cir. BAP 2000). When the burden is then shifted back to the claimant, the claimant must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the claim should be allowed under applicable law. Rozier v. Rescap Borrower Claims Trust (In re Residential Capital, LLC, et al. ), 15 Civ. 3248 (KPF), 2016 WL 796860, at *9 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 22, 2016) (citation omitted).

If an objection to a claim is made, the bankruptcy court, following notice and a hearing, shall allow the claim and determine its amount unless "such claim is unenforceable against the debtor and property of the debtor, under any agreement or applicable law for a reason other than because such claim is contingent or unmatured." 11 U.S.C. § 502(b)(1). To determine whether a claim is unenforceable "under any agreement or applicable law," id. , the bankruptcy courts apply the applicable non-bankruptcy law. See Raleigh v. Illinois Dept. of Revenue , 530 U.S. 15, 20, 120 S.Ct. 1951, 147 L.Ed.2d 13 (2000). This follows from the "basic federal rule" in bankruptcy that state law governs the substance of claims—as if the parties were not involved in a bankruptcy proceeding—unless some federal interest requires a different result. Id. (quoting Butner v. United States , 440 U.S. 48, 57, 99 S.Ct. 914, 59 L.Ed.2d 136 (1979) ); see also Butner , 440 U.S. at 54–55, 99 S.Ct. 914 ("Congress has generally left the determination of property rights in the assets of a bankrupt's estate to state law," such that, "[u]nless some federal interest requires a different result, there is no reason why such interests should be analyzed differently simply because an interested party is involved in a bankruptcy proceeding.").

Accordingly, federal pleading rules also apply in assessing a proof of claim's validity. See Morse , 2015 WL 353931, at *4 (citing In re DJK Residential LLC , 416 B.R. 100, 106 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2009) ); see also In re 20/20 Sport, Inc. , 200 B.R. 972, 978 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1996) ("In bankruptcy cases, courts have traditionally analogized a creditor's claim to a civil complaint, a trustee's objection to an answer and an adversarial proceeding to a counterclaim.") (citing, inter alia , Nortex Trading Corp. v. Newfield , 311 F.2d 163, 164 (2d Cir. 1962) ).Here, because the bankruptcy court dismissed McNerney's claims as facially defective, the Court's analysis of her challenges to the disallowance of six of her claims is guided by the familiar standards applicable to a motion to dismiss. A complaint must plead "enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly , 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). "A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Ashcroft v. Iqbal , 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009). "Where a complaint pleads facts that are ‘merely consistent with’ a defendant's liability, it ‘stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of entitlement to relief.’ " Id. (quoting Twombly , 550 U.S. at 557, 127 S.Ct. 1955 ). A district court must "accept[ ] all factual claims in the complaint as true, and draw[ ] all reasonable inferences in the plaintiff's favor." Lotes Co. v. Hon Hai Precision Indus. Co. , 753 F.3d 395, 403 (2d Cir. 2014) (quoting Famous Horse Inc. v. 5th Ave. Photo Inc. , 624 F.3d 106, 108 (2d Cir. 2010) ). This tenet is "inapplicable to legal conclusions." Iqbal , 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. "Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory, do not suffice." Id. "[R]ather, the complaint's ‘[factual] allegations must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level,’ i.e. , enough to make the claim ‘plausible.’ " Arista Records, LLC v. Doe 3 , 604 F.3d 110, 120 (2d Cir. 2010) (quoting Twombly , 500 U.S. at 555, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955). A complaint is properly dismissed when, as a matter of law, "the allegations in [the] complaint, however true, could not raise a claim of entitlement to relief. Twombly , 550 U.S. at 558, 127 S.Ct. 1955.

III. Discussion

As noted, McNerney challenges on appeal the disallowance of six claims. The Court discusses these in turn, and then addresses her motion to strike the declaration of Sara Lathrop.

A. TILA

McNerney originally alleged that Homecomings violated TILA, entitling her to damages, in two ways: by failing to provide required disclosures to McNerney at the time of the loan's origination and by failing to rescind. McNerney, however, has foregone the first claim. See McNerney Reply Br. at 1, 4. Her remaining TILA claim, for failure to rescind, asserts that Homecomings failed to rescind the loan after McNerney, on July 16, 2004, exercised her statutory right to rescind by filing counterclaims in the first foreclosure action in state court. See State Court Counterclaims ¶ 35; District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 131, 143–51. The bankruptcy court held that this TILA claim is barred by the statute of limitations. Decision at 22–23.

The relevant limitations periods under TILA are as follows. A TILA claim for actual or statutory damages must be brought within one year of the date of the occurrence of the violation. 15 U.S.C. § 1640(e). As to rescission, the borrower ordinarily has until midnight of the third business day after the consummation of the transaction to seek rescission of the loan, 15 U.S.C. § 1635(a), but where the lender has made deficient disclosures at the time of the transaction, the borrower's right to rescind is extended until three years after the transaction's consummation. See 15 U.S.C. § 1635(f) ; 12 C.F.R. § 226.15(a)(3) ; Barrett v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. , 445 F.3d 874, 875–76 (6th Cir. 2006). A lender presented with a timely notice of rescission from the borrower must rescind the transaction with 20 days of receipt of that notice, barring a court order to the contrary. 15 U.S.C. § 1635(b). A failure to rescind as required is a separate TILA violation, giving rise to claims for damages. Jenkins v. Mercantile Mortg. Co. , 231 F.Supp.2d 737, 745 (N.D. Ill. 2002) (citation omitted); Mount v. LaSalle Bank Lake View , 886 F.Supp. 650, 651 (N.D. Ill. 1995). Section 1640(e)'s one-year limitations period governing damages claims begins to run upon the lender's failure to rescind as required. See 15 U.S.C. § 1640(e) ; see also Smith v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co. , 898 F.2d 896, 902–03 (3d Cir. 1990) (damages claim from failure to rescind was timely filed five months after lender's refusal, after timely notice from borrower, to rescind).

In disallowing McNerney's claim based on failure to rescind, the bankruptcy court did not determine whether the disclosures provided to her at the loan's origination were inadequate, finding her rescission claim time-barred even if they were. The Court here similarly assumes arguendo that McNerney remained within the period when she could timely exercise her right to rescind on June 16, 2004, when she purported to do so in her State Court Counterclaims. See District Court Counterclaims ¶ 131. The bankruptcy court held, however, that McNerney's damages claim from Homecomings's failure to rescind the loan fell outside § 1640(e)'s one-year limitations period.

That ruling was clearly correct. Assuming that McNerney had a right to rescind within three years of the loan transaction, her rescission request in her State Court Counterclaims on June 16, 2004 was timely. Homecomings then had 20 days—until July 6, 2004—to rescind. Its failure to do so would then give McNerney a cause of action, the one-year statute of limitations for which began to run on that date. McNerney thus had until one year later, July 6, 2005, to claim damages from Homecomings's failure to rescind. McNerney, however, did not bring a TILA claim for failure to rescind until she filed her Amended State Court Counterclaims on November 6, 2006, some 16 months after the limitations period had run. See Amended State Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 91–99; see also State Court Docket, Wallace Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–4, Ex. E., at 11. Her damages claim based on Homecomings' failure to rescind is, therefore, time-barred.

McNerney makes two arguments to the contrary, each unpersuasive. First, she argues that her June 16, 2004 state court counterclaims did bring such an action. See McNerney Reply Br. at 5. But that argument fails for two reasons. First, such a claim, if made, would not have been ripe, because Homecomings, having as of then not previously been asked to rescind, could not yet have been in breach of a duty to rescind, and indeed, by statute, had 20 days to rescind following McNerney's June 16, 2004 notice. Second, the aspects of McNerney's state-court counterclaims to which she points (paragraphs 36 and aspects of the prayer for relief) cannot, in fact, be plausibly read to assert a claim based on Homecomings' failure to rescind, and nor can any other part of that filing. The cited portions instead merely seek damages for Homecomings' alleged failures of disclosure. See State Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 31–37 (detailing alleged disclosure lapses). Paragraph 36's general reference to Homecomings's "failure to comply with the Truth in Lending Act," cannot, without more, be fairly read to claim a failure to rescind. Instead, it is referring only to failure to provide the required disclosures; no factual content regarding Homecomings future failure to rescind is alleged. See id. at ¶ 36. The prayer for relief, while demanding rescission, similarly does not allege a claim for an extant failure to rescind. Instead, it requests that the transaction be rescinded and mentions specific aspects of the rescission, such as the termination of Homecomings's security interest in McNerney's property. Id. at ¶ 41.

Accordingly, the Court affirms the bankruptcy court's disallowance of McNerney's claim for damages based on from Homecomings's failure to rescind the loan.

B. Negligence and Improvident Lending

McNerney separately brought state-law claims for negligence by Homecomings for failing to exercise reasonable care in processing the loan to McNerney and for improvident lending. See District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 160–67, 180–87. The bankruptcy court properly disallowed these claims because Homecomings did not owe McNerney a duty of care in the loan transaction under Ohio law, and because Ohio law does not recognize a cause of action for improvident lending. See Decision at 15–16.

Under Ohio law, to establish negligence, a plaintiff must show the existence of a legal duty, the defendant's breach of that duty, and an injury proximately caused by the breach. Wallace v. Ohio Dept. of Commerce , 96 Ohio St.3d 266, 773 N.E.2d 1018, 1025–26 (2002) (citation omitted). The duty element "refers to the relationship between the plaintiff and the defendant from which arises an obligation on the part of the defendant to exercise due care toward the plaintiff." Id. Whether a particular legal duty exists is "a question of law for the court to determine." Id.

No such duty existed here. In Ohio, " ‘the relationship of debtor and creditor, without more, is not a fiduciary relationship,’ and ‘a bank and its customers stand at arm's length in negotiating terms and conditions of a loan.’ " 425 Beecher, L.L.C. v. Unizan Bank, Natl. Assn. , 186 Ohio App.3d 214, 927 N.E.2d 46, 59 (2010) (quoting Blon v. Bank One, Akron, N.A. , 35 Ohio St.3d 98, 519 N.E.2d 363, 367–68 (1988) ). Ohio statutory law similarly creates an arms-length relationship between lenders and borrowers. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1109.15(E) ("Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, the relationship between a bank and its obligor, with respect to any extension of credit, is that of a creditor and debtor, and creates no fiduciary or other relationship between the parties."). A lender negotiating a loan agreement thus does not owe a borrower a duty of care. Provident Bank v. Adriatic, Inc. , No. CA2004–12–108, 2005 WL 2840741, at *4 (Ohio Ct. App. Oct. 31, 2005) (citing Floor Craft Floor Covering, Inc. v. Parma Cmty. Gen. Hosp. Ass'n , 54 Ohio St.3d 1, 560 N.E.2d 206, 211 (1990) ).

In light of this doctrine, McNerney's negligence claim fails, because it presupposes a legal duty that does not exist. She alleges that Homecomings failed to exercise reasonable care when it processed McNerney's loan application and loaned to her. District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 180–87. But as the bankruptcy court recognized, Homecomings did not owe McNerney, as a borrower, a duty of care. McNerney counters that she "paid for correct underwriting," McNerney Br. at 24–25, but that allegation, while potentially supporting a contract claim, did not give rise to a duty of care. McNerney separately notes that it was foreseeable to Homecomings that a borrower would expect such services, id. but that claim, while potentially addressing the element of causation, also does not give rise to a legal duty. The bankruptcy court was therefore right to disallow the negligence claim.

As for McNerney's claim of improvident lending, it similarly claims that Homecomings did not exercise reasonable care in lending to McNerney, in that the terms of the loan made her default more likely. District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 160–67. But Ohio does not recognize improvident lending as a distinct cause of action. See Price v. EquiFirst Corp. , No. 09–CV–1960, 2009 WL 917950, at *8 (N.D. Ohio Apr. 1, 2009) (improvident lending "not recognized under Ohio law"). The one case construing such a claim to be actionable recast it as a claim of substantive unconscionability based on the borrower's limited disability income. See City Fin. Serv. v. Smith , No. 97 CVF 00679, 2000 WL 288469, at *2 (Ohio Mun. Ct. Jan. 4, 2000). No similar claim is made here, and McNerney has renounced any unconscionability claims in this appeal. McNerney Br. at 7 n.1. The Court accordingly affirms the disallowance of McNerney's improvident lending claim.

C. Intentional and Negligent Misrepresentation

McNerney also brought state-law claims for negligent and intentional misrepresentation. See District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 188–203. These claims are based on allegations that OMC (as an agent for Homecomings) misrepresented to McNerney that she qualified for the loan and its monthly payments. The bankruptcy court disallowed these claims for failure to state a claim, for multiple reasons. First, they do not adequately plead an agency relationship between OMC, which dealt with McNerney, and Homecomings. Second, Homecomings and McNerney were not in a special relationship giving rise to a legal duty. Third, on the facts pled, Homecomings had no contact with McNerney prior to the loan and was not responsible for any misrepresentations to her that led to the loan.

On this point, too, the bankruptcy court's reasoning was persuasive. Under Ohio law, a claim of intentional misrepresentation requires "(1) a representation, (2) which is material to the transaction at hand, (3) made falsely, with knowledge of its falsity, or with such utter disregard and recklessness as to whether it is true or false that knowledge may be inferred, (4) with the intent of misleading another into relying upon it, (5) justifiable reliance upon the representation or concealment, and (6) a resulting injury proximately caused by the reliance." Brewer v. Brothers , 82 Ohio App.3d 148, 611 N.E.2d 492, 495 (1992) (citation omitted). A claim of negligent misrepresentation, in turn, requires that a person, in the course of a transaction in which he had a pecuniary interest, have "supplie[d] false information for the guidance of others in their business transactions" without exercising "reasonable care or competence in obtaining or communicating the information," and on which information the recipient "justifiabl[y] relied," causing pecuniary loss. Delman v. City of Cleveland Heights , 41 Ohio St.3d 1, 534 N.E.2d 835, 838 (1989) (citation omitted). A "core requirement" in a negligent misrepresentation claim is "a special relationship under which the defendant supplied information to the plaintiff for the latter's guidance in its business transaction." Ford v. New Century Mortg. Corp. , 797 F.Supp.2d 862, 872 (N.D. Ohio 2011) (quotation omitted). "[A] bank and its customers stand at arm's length in negotiating terms and conditions of a loan.... This sort of relationship does not, by itself, give rise to the existence of a duty necessary to maintain a negligent misrepresentation claim." Id.

Applying these standards of Ohio law, the bankruptcy court correctly determined that OMC and Homecomings were not in an agency relationship, thereby defeating the intentional misrepresentation claim insofar as it was based on alleged acts by OMC. See Decision at 11–13. And on appeal, McNerney appears appear to abandon a claim of agency liability, now claiming that "[t]he negligence was the negligence of Homecomings in failing to fulfill its own obligation as a lender." McNerney Br. at 22; see also McNerney Reply Br at 8–9. And because McNerney did not allege any direct misrepresentations from Homecomings to her—indeed, she did not allege any contact with Homecomings prior to the loan's closing—no claim of intentional misrepresentation could lie. McNerney seeks to re-focus the inquiry on what McNerney was told by others such as OMC, McNerney Br. at 24, but absent conduct by Homecomings or for which it is legally accountable, no claim of intentional misrepresentation can lie.

For the same reasons, the bankruptcy court also properly disallowed McNerney's negligent misrepresentation claim. Moreover, there was no pleading of facts giving rise to a special relationship between McNerney and Homecomings, who instead had the arms-length relationship of debtor and creditor.

D. Civil Conspiracy

McNerney next asserts three civil conspiracy claims. The first two are based upon an alleged conspiracy between OMC and Homecomings in the origination of the loan, see District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 207–12, 288–92; the third is based on the filing of various documents in the first foreclosure action by the debtors, see id. at ¶¶ 303–16. The bankruptcy court held that the first two claims failed as a matter of law because McNerney failed adequately to allege facts supporting the claim that Homecomings had agreed with OMC to participate in OMC's alleged wrongdoing, and that the third claim failed under the witness immunity doctrine, which provides immunity from civil suits for statements made in the course of a judicial proceeding.

Under Ohio law, the tort of civil conspiracy applies to "a malicious combination of two or more persons to injure another in person or property, in a way not competent for one alone, resulting in actual damages." Williams v. Aetna Fin. Co. , 83 Ohio St.3d 464, 700 N.E.2d 859, 868 (1998) (quotation omitted). "An underlying unlawful act is required before a civil conspiracy claim can succeed." Id. (citation omitted). The malice required is when a person "does a wrongful act purposely, without a reasonable or lawful excuse, to the injury of another." Id. (quotation omitted). The malicious combination element does not require a showing of express agreement between the defendants. A common understanding or design, even tacit, to commit an unlawful act suffices. Aetna Cas. and Sur. Co. v. Leahey Const. Co. , 219 F.3d 519, 538 (6th Cir. 2000) (citing Gosden v. Louis , 116 Ohio App.3d 195, 687 N.E.2d 481, 496 (1996) ).

McNerney's first two civil conspiracy claims fail as a matter of law because McNerney's pleadings failed to adequately allege the malicious combination element. McNerney's first such claim, for misrepresentation, see District Court Counterclaims ¶ 209, and the second, for violation of fiduciary duties owed to McNerney, see id. at ¶ 290, center on actions by OMC, but only conclusorily do they allege concerted action between OMC and Homecomings. As the bankruptcy court recognized, McNerney's claims that Homecomings and OMC "acted in concert," see id. at ¶¶ 208, 290, or that OMC acted "with Homecomings ['s] participation and knowledge," id. at ¶ 209, lack the factual content and concreteness to survive a motion to dismiss. Bare allegations of a meeting of the minds are inadequate to support a combination between the alleged conspirators. See In re Nat'l Century Fin. Enters., Inc. , 504 F.Supp.2d 287, 329–30 (S.D. Ohio 2007) (complaint's failure to indicate relationship the parties had with each other or how they reached a common understanding held insufficient to plead malicious combination).

The bankruptcy court also properly disallowed the third civil conspiracy claim of allegedly fraudulent conduct by the debtors in their filings in the first foreclosure action in state court. See District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 303–16. This claim alleged that "the fraud perpetrated upon the court ... could not have been done without all of the parties, including Homecomings, GMAC and MERS acting in concert," id. at ¶ 304, and the "participation of each in the form of fraudulent assignments, fraudulent affidavits, fraudulent appearances as ‘plaintiff’ in the prior foreclosure proceeding, perpetrated a long and expensive fraud upon Ms. McNerney and the court," id. at ¶ 305. But, as the bankruptcy court rightly noted, the witness immunity doctrine bars a claim based on such allegations. "[J]udges, counsel, parties, and witnesses are absolutely immune from civil suits for remarks made during the course of and relevant to a judicial proceeding." DeBrosse v. Jamison , No. 91–CA–26, 1992 WL 5851, at *2 (Ohio Ct. App. Jan. 14, 1992) (citing Willitzer v. McCloud , 6 Ohio St.3d 447, 453 N.E.2d 693 (1983) ). "[T]he statements of witnesses are privileged and cannot be a basis for a subsequent civil action," and "a witness is immune from civil liability for giving false testimony." Id. (citations omitted).

Attempting to salvage this claim, McNerney relies on inapposite cases. Glazer v. Chase Home Fin. LLC , 704 F.3d 453 (6th Cir. 2013) (" Glazer I "), does not, as McNerney claims, allow conduct by a foreclosing creditor in a foreclosure lawsuit to form the basis for a fraud claim in another lawsuit. See McNerney Reply Br. at 10. Glazer I held that, under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act ("FDCPA"), 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq. , mortgage foreclosure does qualify as debt collection, and that lawyers can meet the general definition of debt collectors under the act when regularly and principally engaged in mortgage foreclosure. See Glazer I , 704 F.3d at 464. Glazer I did not speak to the issue of whether litigation activity by a foreclosing creditor could support a fraud claim.

For these reasons, the bankruptcy court properly disallowed McNerney's civil conspiracy claims.

E. Violations of the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act ("CSPA")

McNerney assert three sets of CSPA violations. The first is based on alleged unfair and deceptive practices by OMC, Homecomings's alleged agent, in originating the loan. See District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 280–87. The second and third are based on Homecomings's and GMACM's actions related to the foreclosure action: McNerney asserts that they filed an action without undertaking any loss mitigation, used "false front entities," and harassed McNerney and her family in their house, and that Homecomings's demand for attorney's fees in the second foreclosure action violated the CSPA. See id. at ¶¶ 308–16, 328–30.

The CSPA proscribes unfair, deceptive, or unconscionable acts or practices by suppliers in connection with a "consumer transaction." Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §§ 1345.02(A), 1345.03(A). Claims under it are subject to a two-year limitations period, running from after the occurrence of the subject violation. Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1345.10(C). Significant here, the issuing of a mortgage is a pure real estate transaction that falls outside the CSPA's scope. See Hanlin v. Ohio Builders and Remodelers, Inc. , 212 F.Supp.2d 752, 757 (S.D. Ohio 2002) (granting summary judgment to a lender on ground that issuance of a loan for home improvements in exchange for a mortgage in the house was a pure real estate transaction, outside the CSPA's scope). Mortgage servicing, and the pursuit of foreclosure, fall outside the CSPA. Anderson v. Barclay's Capital Real Estate, Inc. , 136 Ohio St.3d 31, 989 N.E.2d 997, 999–1002 (2013). These are instead "collateral services that are solely associated with the sale of real estate and are necessary to effectuate a ‘pure’ real estate transaction." Id. at 1000 (quotation omitted). The CSPA does not cover allegations of misrepresentations or other purportedly improper conduct made in the course of pursuing foreclosure. See Glazer II , 2013 WL 7869273, at *10–11.

The bankruptcy court here dismissed McNerney's first CSPA claim as barred by the CSPA's statute of limitations. As the bankruptcy court recognized, McNerney's allegations arise from the loan's origination on December 27, 2002: For example, McNerney alleged harm from "the making of a loan for which she could not qualify under responsible underwriting standards." District Court Counterclaims ¶ 286. But McNerney did not bring this claim until 2011. As such, it is time-barred.

McNerney's remaining two CSPA claims were also properly disallowed, because they fell outside the CSPA, insofar as they involved collateral services associated with a pure real estate transaction. McNerney counters that violations of the federal debt collection statute, the FDCPA, may be covered under the CSPA. She argues that Homecomings became liable under the FDCPA when the defaulted loan was assigned back to Homecomings from GMACM in 2008, thereby making Homecomings a debt collector under the FDCPA. See McNerney Br. at 16–17. That argument fails. Whether or not a viable claim against Homecomings could have been brought under the FDCPA, McNerney did not bring such a claim. And it is incorrect that the CSPA and the FDCPA are coextensive: "[A] violation of the FDCPA does not automatically mean a violation of the [CSPA]," Glazer II , 2013 WL 7869273, at *10. On the contrary, as the court in Glazer noted, the CSPA does not apply to a "pure" real estate transaction, such that a defendant liable under the FDCPA for debt-collection activity arising out of such a transaction would not be liable under the CSPA. Id. at *10–11.

McNerney separately argues that hers was a "mixed" transaction, involving real estate and consumer goods, because McNerney used the loan to pay of $4,533.16 of credit card debt. As she notes, under Brown v. Liberty Clubs , 45 Ohio St.3d 191, 543 N.E.2d 783, 786 (1989), the CSPA "is applicable to the personal property or services portion of a mixed transaction involving both the transfer of personal property or services, and the transfer of real property." But Brown is far afield. There, the defendant was solicited to visit a subdivision with the promise of receiving a gift of a free set of steak knives. Id. at 785. The court held that the solicitation and transfer of steak knives constituted a consumer transaction and was deceptive, such that portion of the transaction violated the CSPA. Id. at 785–86. Here, in contrast, every portion of the transaction related to real estate—the transaction involved re-finance of a mortgage on McNerney's house. That McNerney used the proceeds to pay off, among other debts, a credit card debt, does not change the essential character of the mortgage loan transaction. As to this point, Hanlin is instructive. There, the mortgage was issued exclusively to enable the mortgagor to undertake home repairs. See Hanlin , 212 F.Supp.2d at 753–54. Yet despite this purpose, the court held the transaction to be purely real estate, so as to fall outside the CSPA's scope. Id. at 757.

The bankruptcy court therefore properly disallowed McNerney's CSPA claims as time-barred and as falling outside the scope of the CSPA.

F. Breach of Privacy Claim

Finally, McNerney brought a claim for breach of privacy. District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 317–21. For example, she alleged that Homecomings violated her privacy by "sending people to [her] home to harass and intimidate her and her family in the presence and hearing of neighbors, without [her] authorization or consent." Id. at ¶ 318. (The genesis of this claim appears to be that, as the debtors admit, after the loan was in default, they hired third party contractors to inspect and photograph the Property, usually monthly, to determine whether the Property was vacant. Appellees' Objection, Bnkr. Dkt. 9280, at ¶ 22; see also List of Property Inspections, Lathrop Decl., Bnkr. Dkt. 9280–2, Ex. N.) McNerney alleged that, during and after the first foreclosure proceeding, "agents of Homecomings came to the home of Ms. McNerney and publically humiliated her and her children," "came by in cars to take pictures," and "got out of the car and came onto the Property and called out to the family and heckled them while the family was visiting together on their front balcony, calling out in loud voices that the family should stand up and wave and smile for the cameras," District Court Counterclaims ¶¶ 104–06.

To state a claim under Ohio law for invasion of privacy, a plaintiff must plead one of three theories: (1) "the unwarranted appropriation or exploitation of one's personality;" (2) "the publicizing of one's private affairs with which the public has no legitimate concern;" or (3) "the wrongful intrusion into one's private activities in such a manner as to outrage or cause mental suffering, shame or humiliation to a person of ordinary sensibilities." Sustin v. Fee , 69 Ohio St.2d 143, 431 N.E.2d 992, 993 (1982) ; see also Welling v. Weinfeld , 113 Ohio St.3d 464, 866 N.E.2d 1051, 1053 (2007). The first theory is not implicated here—there has been no claim of misappropriation of anyone's personality.

To state a claim under the second, the publication of private facts, the plaintiff must allege five elements: (1) "[t]here must be publicity"—"communicating the matter to the public at large, or to so many persons that the matter must be regarded as substantially certain to become one of public knowledge," not just "publication" as it is understood in the context of the defamation tort; (2) "the facts disclosed must be those concerning the public life of an individual, not his public life;" (3) "the matter publicized must be one which would be highly offensive and objectionable to a reasonable person of ordinary sensibilities;" (4) "the publication must have been made intentionally, not negligently;" (5) "the matter publicized must not be a legitimate concern to the public." Quintile v. Medina Cnty. , No. 1:07CV2413, 2008 WL 2484173, at *9–10 (N.D. Ohio June 17, 2008) (quoting Killilea v. Sears, Roebuck & Co. , 27 Ohio App.3d 163, 499 N.E.2d 1291, 1294–95 (1985) ). To state a claim under the third theory, wrongful intrusion into privacy, the plaintiff must show that the defendant "has intruded into a private place, or has otherwise invaded a private seclusion." Jackson v. Playboy Enters., Inc. , 574 F.Supp. 10, 13–14 (S.D. Ohio 1983). The intrusion must be wrongful, meaning "of such a character as would shock the ordinary person to the point of emotional distress[,]" "as well as done in a manner as to outrage or cause mental suffering, shame or humiliation to a person of ordinary sensibilities." Roe ex rel. Roe v. Heap , No. 03AP–586, 2004 WL 1109849, at *18 (Ohio Ct. App. May 11, 2004) (citations omitted). The intrusion, physical or otherwise, must be "highly offensive to a reasonable person." Id. (quotation omitted).

The bankruptcy court disallowed appellants' breach of privacy claim. The Court agrees with and adopts the bankruptcy court's analysis and conclusions in its thoughtful decision. See Decision at 28–31. In brief, as to the second theory, McNerney failed to allege both the disclosure of any private information and disclosure to the "public at large"; instead, she alleged only that the inspectors harassed her "in the presence and hearing of neighbors," District Court Counterclaims ¶ 318. As to the third theory, wrongful intrusion into privacy, McNerney failed to allege intrusion into a private space, as the alleged intrusion occurred while McNerney and her family were on her front porch, which is not a private place under Ohio law. See York v. Gen. Elec. Co. , 144 Ohio App.3d 191, 759 N.E.2d 865, 868 (2001) (no wrongful intrusion occurred from unauthorized video recordings taken of plaintiff while he was on his front porch and in his yard, places that were "outside and in public view").

In this appeal, McNerney argues that the bankruptcy court improperly applied the wrong standard by failing to credit her factual allegations as true and to view all inferences in the light most favorable to her. The Court holds otherwise. A fair review of the bankruptcy court's decision is that it carefully scrutinized the allegations and properly determined that the fairly pled allegations did not allege facts that sufficient to meet the requirements of the breach of privacy tort. McNerney separately argues that her porch is a private space, such that an intrusion into it can constitute a wrongful intrusion into privacy. But the cases on which McNerney relies, which involve the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, see McNerney Reply Br. at 11 (citing, for example, Florida v. Jardines , ––– U.S. ––––, 133 S.Ct. 1409, 185 L.Ed.2d 495 (2013) ), are inapposite. They do not speak to the scope of this Ohio cause of action.

For the reasons given by bankruptcy court, the Court therefore affirms the disallowance of McNerney's breach of privacy claims.

G. The Motion to Strike the Lathrop Declaration

On November 16, 2015, McNerney moved in the bankruptcy court to strike the declaration of Sara Lathrop, see Bnkr. Dkt. 9334, which included information and various exhibits relevant to her claims. The bankruptcy court did not rule on the motion, and indeed cited certain information in the declaration and its exhibits in recounting the factual and procedural history of McNerney's claims, thereby impliedly denying the motion by implication. McNerney appeals the bankruptcy court's failure to strike the declaration, a decision the Court reviews for an abuse of discretion. See In re Residential Capital, LLC, et al. , 2016 WL 796860, at *14.

The Court finds no error. Lathrop's declaration supplied background information useful to reconstruct the long and complex history of the preceding state and federal-court litigation. It usefully reconstructed those litigation events. To the limited extent that Lathrop's declaration addressed the merits of McNerney's claims, Lathrop's factual representations of course would not have been properly considered on a motion to dismiss. But a fair review of the bankruptcy court's decision reveals that the bankruptcy did not rely on those factual representations. In any event, this Court, in resolving the instant appeal, has not done so. The Court instead evaluated McNerney's various claims without any consideration given to the Lathrop Declaration. The Court's determination here that the various claims as to which McNerney appeals were all properly disallowed was reached entirely independent of the Lathrop Declaration. Having not relied on the Lathrop Declaration, and having affirmed the bankruptcy court's disallowance of McNerney's claims, the Court accordingly has no occasion to rule on whether it was error not to strike that declaration.

H. Attorney's Fees

Gray, McNerney's attorney, seeks attorney's fees. Several statutes under which McNerney sought relief allow attorney's fees to be awarded to a prevailing party. See, e.g. , 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(3) (TILA) ; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 1345.09(F) (CSPA). McNerney, however, has not prevailed on these claims, which the Court has disallowed. The Court, therefore, disallows Gray's claim for fees.

CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons, the Court affirms the bankruptcy court's order disallowing McNerney's various claims. The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to close this case.

SO ORDERED.