Summary
In Tribeca Lending Corp. v. McCormick, No. 12-0150, 2013 WL 3155990 (W. Va. June 18, 2013), the West Virginia Supreme Court was asked to determine when the statute of limitations began to run when a homeowner defaulted on his mortgage and the loan was accelerated, with all sums being immediately due and payable.
Summary of this case from Kennedy v. Bac Home Loans Servicing, LPOpinion
No. 12–0150.
2013-06-18
TRIBECA LENDING CORPORATION, Petitioner v. James E. McCORMICK, Respondent.
Christopher R. Arthur, Esq., Lora A. Dyer, Esq., Lesley A. Wheeler–Hoops, Esq., Samuel I. White, P.C., Charleston, WV, for Petitioner. Thomas A. Heywood, Esq., Sandra M. Murphy, Esq., Stuart A. McMillan, Esq., Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP, Charleston, WV, for Amici Curiae, West Virginia Bankers Association, Inc., and Community Bankers of West Virginia, Inc.
Syllabus by the Court
1. “The appellate standard of review of questions of law answered and certified by a circuit court is de novo.” Syllabus Point 1, Gallapoo v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 197 W.Va. 172, 475 S.E.2d 172 (1996).
2. “Interpreting a statute or an administrative rule or regulation presents a purely legal question subject to de novo review.” Syllabus Point 1, Appalachian Power Co. v. State Tax Dept. of West Virginia, 195 W.Va. 573, 466 S.E.2d 424 (1995).
3. “Where the language of a statute is clear and without ambiguity the plain meaning is to be accepted without resorting to the rules of interpretation.” Syllabus Point 2, State v. Elder, 152 W.Va. 571, 165 S.E.2d 108 (1968).
4. The one-year statute of limitation provided by W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a [2006] governs only an “action or proceeding to set aside a trustee's sale due to the failure to follow any notice, service, process or other procedural requirement relating to a sale of property under a trust deed.” Challenges to a trustee's sale that do not pertain to the procedural requirements of the sale are not subject to the limitation period set forth in W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a.
5. “Where a consumer is sued for the balance due on a consumer transaction, any asserted defense, setoff, or counterclaim available under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, W.Va.Code, 46A–2–101, et seq. , may be asserted without regard to any limitation of actions under W.Va.Code, 46A–5–102 (1974).” Syllabus Point 6, Chrysler Credit Corp. v. Copley, 189 W.Va. 90, 428 S.E.2d 313 (1993).
6. Under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) [1996], which provides that an action under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act involving certain “regulated consumer loans” must be brought within one year after the “due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement,” the statute of limitation begins to run on the date under the parties' agreement providing for the final periodic payment of the debt. However, if the periodic payments are accelerated under the terms of the agreement, causing all payments to become immediately due and payable by the consumer, then the statute of limitation begins to run on the date when the accelerated payment is due.
Christopher R. Arthur, Esq., Lora A. Dyer, Esq., Lesley A. Wheeler–Hoops, Esq., Samuel I. White, P.C., Charleston, WV, for Petitioner. Thomas A. Heywood, Esq., Sandra M. Murphy, Esq., Stuart A. McMillan, Esq., Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP, Charleston, WV, for Amici Curiae, West Virginia Bankers Association, Inc., and Community Bankers of West Virginia, Inc.
Sara Bird, Esq., Mountain State Justice, Inc., Clarksburg, WV, Daniel F. Hedges, Esq., Bren J. Pomponio, Esq., Mountain State Justice, Inc., Charleston, WV, for Respondent.
KETCHUM, Justice:
The petitioner, Tribeca Lending Corporation (“Tribeca”), received a deed to a house as a result of a foreclosure action. Tribeca filed an unlawful detainer action against the occupant of the house, respondent James E. McCormick, because Mr. McCormick refused to vacate the house. In response, Mr. McCormick asserted various counterclaims against Tribeca alleging violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, W.Va.Code § 46A–1–101 to –8–102 [1974].
The Circuit Court of Kanawha County has certified two questions for this Court's consideration regarding whether Mr. McCormick timely asserted his counterclaims. We determine that Mr. McCormick's counterclaims were not timely.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The facts are not disputed by the parties. On September 30, 2005, Mr. McCormick refinanced the mortgage on his home in Saint Albans, West Virginia, with a loan he obtained from Tribeca. The loan agreement provided that Mr. McCormick would repay the $116,900.00 loan to Tribeca, over the course of thirty years, by making monthly payments of $1,112.38. Tribeca's loan was secured by a deed of trust, also dated September 30, 2005, which similarly required Mr. McCormick to make payments of the loan's principal and interest in accordance with the loan's repayment schedule.
Mr. McCormick avers that Tribeca solicited him to refinance his existing home mortgage and did not accurately disclose the loan's interest rate.
In addition to the loan repayment provisions, the deed of trust stated that if Mr. McCormick failed to make his scheduled payments, or otherwise defaulted on the terms of the loan agreement or deed of trust, Tribeca would give notice to Mr. McCormick and provide him an opportunity to cure his default. If Mr. McCormick then failed to cure his default, the documents allowed Tribeca to accelerate the loan's payments, saying “upon acceleration all sums ... and accrued interest thereon shall at once become due and payable.” The documents signed by Mr. McCormick permitted Tribeca to ultimately institute a foreclosure sale.
This description of the parties' underlying loan agreement is based upon the circuit court's order and representations in the parties' briefs. Neither the loan agreement nor the deed of trust is included in the parties' joint appendix.
Thereafter, Mr. McCormick failed to make his monthly loan payments in accordance with the parties' agreement. Consequently, on July 26, 2007, Tribeca sent Mr. McCormick a notice that he was in default and that he had a right to cure. Mr. McCormick failed to cure his default. Accordingly, Tribeca accelerated the loan's payments causing the balance of the loan to become immediately due and payable, and also invoked its right to initiate a foreclosure sale of the Saint Albans house.
The trustee sent Mr. McCormick a notice of the trustee's sale on November 8, 2007, again requesting Mr. McCormick to repay the balance of his loan.
The foreclosure sale was held at a public auction on December 19, 2007. The property was sold to Tribeca. On January 8, 2008, a trustee's deed was recorded conveying ownership of the property to Tribeca.
Later in 2008, Tribeca—as owner of the Saint Albans house—filed an unlawful detainer action against Mr. McCormick in the Magistrate Court of Kanawha County, alleging that he was unlawfully occupying its property. Mr. McCormick removed Tribeca's action from magistrate court to the Circuit Court of Kanawha County and asserted defenses and counterclaims to Tribeca's action (and which are similar to those he later asserted in the instant case). On September 25, 2009, the circuit court dismissed Tribeca's action because there “ha[d] been no activity in this action for a period of more than one (1) year[.]”
W.Va.Code § 55–3–1 [1923] permits the bringing of an unlawful detainer action:
If any forcible or unlawful entry be made upon any land, building, structure, or any part thereof, or if, when the entry is lawful or peaceable, the tenant shall detain the possession of any land, building, structure, or any part thereof after his right has expired, without the consent of him who is entitled to the possession, the party so turned out of possession, no matter what right or title he had thereto, or the party against whom such possession is unlawfully detained, may, within three years after such forcible or unlawful entry, or such unlawful detainer, sue out of the clerk's office of the circuit court, or of any court of record empowered to try common-law actions, of the county in which the land, building, structure, or some part thereof may be, a summons against the defendant to answer the complaint of the plaintiff that the defendant is in the possession of, and unlawfully withholds from the plaintiff, the premises in question (describing the same with convenient certainty), to the damage of the plaintiff in such sum as the plaintiff shall state; and no other declaration shall be required.
An action for unlawful detainer may be brought in magistrate court. See W.Va.Code § 50–4–5 [1992]. However, the defendant to such a proceeding may remove the case to circuit court where the amount in controversy exceeds $2,500. See W.Va.Code § 50–4–8 [2008] (“At any time before trial in a civil action involving two thousand five hundred dollars or more, any party may, upon payment of the circuit court filing fee, cause such action to be removed to the circuit court.”)
On June 2, 2011, Tribeca filed a new unlawful detainer action against Mr. McCormick based upon his failure to vacate the Saint Albans home. The action was filed in magistrate court.
Mr. McCormick answered the complaint, and also asserted numerous counterclaims against Tribeca alleging violations of the Consumer Credit and Protection Act, W.Va.Code § 46A–1–101 to –8–102. Specifically, Mr. McCormick asserted counterclaims against Tribeca alleging unconscionable contract (Count I); fraud (Count II); fraudulent appraisal (Count III); and unlawful debt collection (Count IV). Again, Mr. McCormick removed Tribeca's unlawful detainer action to the Circuit Court of Kanawha County. Tribeca then moved to dismiss Mr. McCormick's counterclaims as untimely.
By order entered November 18, 2011, the circuit court conditionally granted Tribeca's motion to dismiss Mr. McCormick's counterclaims. The circuit court additionally certified the following two questions to this Court, which it answered as follows:
1. Is W.Va.Code § 38–1–[4a], which gives a borrower one year to challenge the validity of a foreclosure sale, and provides in applicable part that “no action or proceeding to set aside a trustee's sale ... shall be filed or commenced more than one year from the date of the sale” applicable when counter-claims are asserted challenging the enforceability of the underlying mortgage loan agreement in response to an unlawful detainer action?
[Answer:] Yes.
2. Under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101[1] , which provides in applicable part that “[w]ith respect to violations arising from other consumer credit sales or consumer loans, no action pursuant to this subsection may be brought more than one year after the due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement. ” (emphasis added) When does the statute of limitations begin to run: the date the applicable Loan was accelerated and all amounts became due and payable; or, the projected date of the final installment payment of the executed loan agreement?
The second question as written by the circuit court referenced W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101( a ). We presume the circuit court intended to refer to W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101( 1 ) [1996], insofar as this statute does not contain a subsection (a) and subsection (1) is the first subsection of the statute.
[Answer:] The date the applicable Loan was accelerated and all amounts became due.
(Emphasis in original). From this order of certification, the parties now seek this Court's answers to the questions posed.
In addition to the named parties, we also acknowledge the appearance of Amici Curiae, the West Virginia Bankers Association, Inc., and the Community Bankers of West Virginia, Inc., in the instant proceedings. We will consider their contributions in conjunction with the parties' arguments.
II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The case sub judice presents two certified questions. We review anew a circuit court's answers certified to this Court. “The appellate standard of review of questions of law answered and certified by a circuit court is de novo.” Syllabus Point 1, Gallapoo v. Wal–Mart Stores, Inc., 197 W.Va. 172, 475 S.E.2d 172 (1996). Moreover, the circuit court's answers to the two certified questions in this case required the circuit court to interpret statutory law. With respect to a circuit court's rulings on matters of statutory construction, we have held that “[i]nterpreting a statute or an administrative rule or regulation presents a purely legal question subject to de novo review.” Syllabus Point 1, Appalachian Power Co. v. State Tax Dept. of West Virginia, 195 W.Va. 573, 466 S.E.2d 424 (1995). Accord, Syllabus Point 1, Chrystal R.M. v. Charlie A.L., 194 W.Va. 138, 459 S.E.2d 415 (1995) ( “Where the issue on an appeal from the circuit court is clearly a question of law or involving an interpretation of a statute, we apply a de novo standard of review.”). Accordingly, we will accord a plenary review to the circuit court's certified questions as well as to the circuit court's answers thereto.
III.
ANALYSIS
This Court is asked to answer two certified questions concerning the timeliness of the counterclaims that Mr. McCormick asserted in response to Tribeca's action for unlawful detainer. We will consider each question in turn.
A. First Certified Question
The first question certified by the circuit court, rephrased to remove typographic errors, asks:
Is W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a, which gives a borrower one year to challenge the validity of a foreclosure sale, and provides in applicable part that “no action or proceeding to set aside a trustee's sale ... shall be filed or commenced more than one year from the date of the sale” applicable when counterclaims are asserted challenging the enforceability of the underlying mortgage loan agreement in response to an unlawful detainer action?
The circuit court answered this question, “Yes.”
The statute interpreted by the circuit court, W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a [2006], imposes a one-year statute of limitation on certain actions to set aside a deed issued after a trustee's foreclosure sale:
Provided the grantor on the deed of trust or the agent or personal representative of the grantor is provided notice as required by section four of this article, no action or proceeding to set aside a trustee's sale due to the failure to follow any notice, service, process or other procedural requirement relating to a sale of property under a trust deed shall be filed or commenced more than one year from the date of the sale.
The parties dispute the meaning of this statute, and whether it applies to bar the counterclaims Mr. McCormick has asserted against Tribeca.
Tribeca argues that the circuit court correctly answered the first certified question in the affirmative. Tribeca asserts that any challenges that Mr. McCormick had to the trustee's December 2007 sale were required to be brought within one year from the date of the sale. Because nearly three and one-half years passed before Mr. McCormick sought to challenge the trustee's sale by asserting the instant counterclaims against Tribeca, Tribeca contends that Mr. McCormick's counterclaims are barred by the one-year statute of limitation set forth in W.Va.Code 38–1–4a.
By contrast, Mr. McCormick contends that the circuit court's answer to the first certified question was erroneous. He contends that W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a applies only to procedural challenges to a trustee's sale and not to the counterclaims he has asserted under the Consumer Credit and Protection Act. Because he has not challenged the procedural posture of the trustee's sale, Mr. McCormick argues that the statute of limitation provided by W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a does not operate to bar his counterclaims against Tribeca. Upon our review of the language of the statute, we agree with Mr. McCormick's interpretation of W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a.
When interpreting a statute, we look first to the language of the enactment to ascertain the Legislature's intent in promulgating the legislation and to determine the meaning of the provision. “The primary object in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the legislature.” Syllabus Point 1, Smith v. State Workmen's Comp. Comm'r, 159 W.Va. 108, 219 S.E.2d 361 (1975). In ascertaining legislative intent, we also look to the language of the statute. If the statutory language is plain and does not lend itself to multiple constructions, the statute's plain language must be applied as it is written. Plain statutory language does not need to be construed. In other words, “[w]here the language of a statute is clear and without ambiguity the plain meaning is to be accepted without resorting to the rules of interpretation.” Syllabus Point 2, State v. Elder, 152 W.Va. 571, 165 S.E.2d 108 (1968). Accord Appalachian Power Co., 195 W.Va. at 587, 466 S.E.2d at 438 (“We look first to the statute's language. If the text, given its plain meaning, answers the interpretive question, the language must prevail and further inquiry is foreclosed.”).
W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a sets forth the time period within which a challenge to a trustee's sale must be asserted: no “more than one year from the date of the sale.” However, the statute further specifies the precise types of challenges that are subject to this limitation period: an “action or proceeding to set aside a trustee's sale due to the failure to follow any notice, service, process or other procedural requirement relating to a sale of property under a trust deed.” W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a (emphasis added). We find this language to be plain in its specification that the only types of challenges to a trustee's sale governed by W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a are those that pertain to the procedural requirements of the trustee's sale. With the Legislature's express definition of the scope of this statute, it is apparent that the Legislature did not intend any other types of actions related to a trustee's sale to be governed by this one-year limitation period. See State ex rel. Roy Allen S. v. Stone, 196 W.Va. 624, 630 n. 11, 474 S.E.2d 554, 560 n. 11 (1996) (“ ‘ Inclusio unius est exclusion alterius,’ the expression that ‘one is the exclusion of the others,’ has force in this case. This doctrine informs courts to exclude from operation those items not included in the list of elements that are given effect expressly by statutory language.”).
Accordingly, we hold that the one-year statute of limitation provided by W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a [2006] governs only an “action or proceeding to set aside a trustee's sale due to the failure to follow any notice, service, process or other procedural requirement relating to a sale of property under a trust deed.” Challenges to a trustee's sale that do not pertain to the procedural requirements of the sale are not subject to the limitation period set forth in W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a.
Applying this holding to the facts of the case presently before us, we find that the statute of limitation provided by W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a does not operate to bar Mr. McCormick's counterclaims. The counterclaims that Mr. McCormick asserted in response to Tribeca's unlawful detainer action allege that Tribeca has violated various provisions of the Consumer Credit and Protection Act by allegedly committing the following acts: issuing Mr. McCormick an unconscionable loan; intentionally misrepresenting the amount of the loan's monthly payments and its escalating interest rate; relying on a fraudulent appraisal that misrepresented the market value of the Saint Albans house; and assessing illegal charges in its attempt to collect a debt from Mr. McCormick. None of Mr. McCormick's counterclaims challenge the procedural posture of the trustee's sale nor do his counterclaims allege a failure to comply with the procedural requirements of a trustee's sale. W.Va.Code § 38–1–4a does not apply to bar Mr. McCormick's counterclaims in this case.
Accordingly, we answer the first certified question in the negative.
B. Second Certified Question
The circuit court's second certified question, rephrased to remove typographic errors, asks:
Under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1), which provides in applicable part that, “With respect to violations arising from other consumer credit sales or consumer loans, no action pursuant to this subsection may be brought more than one year after the due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement. ” When does the statute of limitations begin to run: the date the applicable Loan was accelerated and all amounts became due and payable; or, the projected date of the final installment payment of the executed loan agreement?
(Emphasis in original). The circuit court answered this question, “The date the applicable Loan was accelerated and all amounts became due.”
W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) [1996] establishes the time periods within which a consumer may file a cause of action against a creditor who has allegedly violated the provisions of the Consumer Credit and Protection Act. The first subsection of W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101, upon which the second certified question is based, provides that:
(1) If a creditor has violated the provisions of this chapter applying to collection of excess charges, security in sales and leases, disclosure with respect to consumer leases, receipts, statements of account and evidences of payment, limitations on default charges, assignment of earnings, authorizations to confess judgment, illegal, fraudulent or unconscionable conduct, any prohibited debt collection practice, or restrictions on interest in land as security, assignment of earnings to regulated consumer lender, security agreement on household goods for benefit of regulated consumer lender, and renegotiation by regulated consumer lender of loan discharged in bankruptcy, the consumer has a cause of action to recover actual damages and in addition a right in an action to recover from the person violating this chapter a penalty in an amount determined by the court not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars. With respect to violations arising from consumer credit sales or consumer loans made pursuant to revolving charge accounts or revolving loan accounts, or from sales as defined in article six of this chapter, no action pursuant to this subsection may be brought more than four years after the violations occurred. With respect to violations arising from other consumer credit sales or consumer loans, no action pursuant to this subsection may be brought more than one year after the due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement.
(Emphasis added).
Tribeca argues that the circuit court correctly answered the certified question because Mr. McCormick's counterclaims are time-barred under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1), which establishes a one-year statute of limitation. Tribeca asserts that the limitation period began to run on the date that the loan's payments had been accelerated by the lender. Tribeca points out it accelerated Mr. McCormick's loan in 2007, but Mr. McCormick did not assert his instant counterclaims until 2011. Tribeca therefore contends that Mr. McCormick's counterclaims are untimely and barred.
Mr. McCormick argues that a different statute should control the resolution of this case because he has asserted his claims in the form of counterclaims. Mr. McCormick cites to W.Va.Code § 46A–5–102 [1974], which states that if a “consumer” is sued on a consumer loan, then the consumer may assert a counterclaim at any time. The statute states in full:
Rights granted by this chapter may be asserted as a defense, setoff or counterclaim to an action against a consumer without regard to any limitation of actions.
W.Va.Code § 46A–5–102. We interpreted this statute in Syllabus Point 6 of Chrysler Credit Corp. v. Copley, 189 W.Va. 90, 428 S.E.2d 313 (1993), where we held:
Where a consumer is sued for the balance due on a consumer transaction, any asserted defense, setoff, or counterclaim available under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, W.Va.Code, 46A–2–101, et seq. , may be asserted without regard to any limitation of actions under W.Va.Code, 46A–5–102 (1974).
Thus, Mr. McCormick argues that the circuit court was required to permit him to assert his counterclaims because, under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–102, a consumer's counterclaims are not subject to a statute of limitation. We disagree with Mr. McCormick, and while he is correct in his interpretation of the law, we find that W.Va.Code § 46A–5–102 has no application in this case.
As we observed earlier, we are bound to consider the language employed by the Legislature in the statutory schemes that it enacts. See Appalachian Power Co., 195 W.Va. at 587, 466 S.E.2d at 438. In W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1), the Legislature specified the statutes of limitation for a “consumer” who chooses to bring a “cause of action.” Similarly, in W.Va.Code § 46A–5–102, the Legislature has stated that a “consumer” may assert a counterclaim under the Consumer Credit and Protection Act at any time. The obvious question, then, is whether Mr. McCormick was a “consumer” as defined by the Act.
See, e.g., Syllabus Point 6, Dunlap v. Friedman's, Inc., 213 W.Va. 394, 582 S.E.2d 841 (2003) (“West Virginia Code § 46A–5–101(1) (1996) (Repl.Vol.1998) is a remedial statute to be liberally construed to protect consumers from unfair, illegal, or deceptive acts. In face of the ambiguity found in that statute, a consumer who is party to a closed-ended credit transaction, resulting from a sale as defined in West Virginia Code § 46A–6–102(d), may bring any necessary action within either the four-year period commencing with the date of the transaction or within one year of the due date of the last payment, whichever is later.”). See also, Syllabus Point 7, Barr v. NCB Management Services, Inc., 227 W.Va. 507, 711 S.E.2d 577 (2011) (“W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006) allows a consumer to assert a private cause of action against a professional debt collector who has engaged in debt collection practices that are prohibited by the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, W.Va.Code § 46A–1–101 et seq.”).
The Legislature adopted the following definition of a “consumer” under the Consumer Credit and Protection Act:
“Consumer” means a natural person who incurs debt pursuant to a consumer credit sale or a consumer loan , or debt or other obligations pursuant to a consumer lease.
W.Va.Code § 46A–1–102(12) [1996]. As we understand Mr. McCormick's argument, he assumes that he is a “consumer” simply because he incurred a debt in 2005 pursuant to a consumer loan by Tribeca that was secured by the Saint Albans house. We disagree.
W.Va.Code § 46A–1–102(15) [1996] provides the following definition of a “consumer loan:”
“Consumer loan” is a loan made by a person regularly engaged in the business of making loans in which:
(a) The debtor is a person other than an organization;
(b) The debt is incurred primarily for a personal, family, household or agricultural purpose;
(c) Either the debt is payable in installments or a loan finance charge is made; and
(d) Either the principal does not exceed forty-five thousand dollars or the debt is secured by an interest in land or a factory-built home as defined in section two, article fifteen, chapter thirty-seven of this code.
In the instant case, Tribeca is not pursuing any claims against Mr. McCormick on any consumer loan. Tribeca is pursuing its unlawful detainer action against Mr. McCormick because it alleges that he is wrongfully possessing land owned by Tribeca. It did not sue for any balance due on the 2005 loan or any loan deficiency from the 2007 trust deed sale. The unlawful detainer action was simply an action to recover possession of property Tribeca owned that was allegedly wrongfully possessed by another. “The remedy by unlawful detainer is a summary proceeding designed to protect the actual possession, whether rightful or wrongful, against unlawful invasion and afford speedy restitution.” Duff v. Good, 24 W.Va. 682, 685 (1884). An unlawful detainer action “relates only to possession, and determines only the right to possession. It does not settle or adjudicate title.” Feder v. Hager, 64 W.Va. 452, 454, 63 S.E. 285, 286 (1908). As we said in Wiles v. Walker, 88 W.Va. 147, 150, 106 S.E. 423, 424 (1921):
The action of forcible entry and detainer is solely possessory in nature. By it the one instituting the proceedings seeks merely to regain possession of land which he claims another is wrongfully withholding from him. The action does not permit or sanction a binding investigation or finding as to the true title or ownership of the property in dispute.
Tribeca asserts that it owns the Saint Albans house because it purchased the deed to the house at a foreclosure sale in December 2007. Hence, it has filed the instant unlawful detainer action to recover possession of the house from Mr. McCormick. Tribeca claims Mr. McCormick is wrongfully withholding its house. Tribeca has not asserted any claims against Mr. McCormick relating to the 2005 loan, mortgage, or any other consumer debt. It has not asserted any claim for money, damages, or any balance that may be due on the 2005 debt. Tribeca's claim is based solely on its ownership of a house that it claims Mr. McCormick is unlawfully possessing.
On this record, Mr. McCormick is not being sued by Tribeca as a “consumer” under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act. See W.Va.Code § 46A–1–102(12); Michelle L. Evans, Who Is A “ Consumer” Entitled to Protection of State Deceptive Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Acts, 63 A.L.R.5th 1, § 2[a] (1998) (“In order to impose liability under a state deceptive-trade-practice and consumer-protection act, it is necessary that the injured party be a consumer entitled to protection under the act.”). See generally, Anthony Paul Dunbar, Consumer Protection: The Practical Effectiveness of State Deceptive Trade Practices Legislation, 59 TulaneL.Rev. 427, 458 (1984). Because Tribeca has not brought “an action against a consumer,” Mr. McCormick is not entitled to assert any “defense, setoff or counterclaim ... without regard to any limitationof actions” under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–102. Accordingly, any claims asserted by Mr. McCormick are subject to the one-year limitation period set forth in W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1).
If Tribeca were to assert claims arising under the loan agreement or mortgage, then Mr. McCormick would be within his rights to assert his counterclaims under the Consumer Credit and Protection Act at any time.
The second question posed by the circuit court necessitates that we determine when the one-year limitation period begins to run under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1). The statute states that the limitation period begins to run on the “due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement.”
Mr. McCormick contends that the phrase “scheduled payment” means only one thing: the periodic payments scheduled by the loan, with the last such payment occurring on the date of maturity. Mr. McCormick's counsel asserts that the mortgage loan from Tribeca was scheduled for 360 monthly payments to begin in 2005, with a scheduled maturity in 2035. Mr. McCormick therefore argues that the one-year statute of limitation on any action under the Consumer Credit and Protection Act would not begin to run until 2035.
Tribeca, however, contends that the “due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement” can (if the agreement so provides) include the date that a loan was accelerated and all amounts became due. The Consumer Credit and Protection Act defines an “agreement” as “the bargain of the parties in fact as found in their language or by implication from other circumstances including course of dealing or usage of trade or course of performance.” W.Va.Code § 46A–1–102(2). Tribeca argues that the 2005 loan agreement and mortgage papers stated that once Mr. McCormick defaulted on his loan agreement, the scheduled monthly payments ceased, the loan was accelerated, and the full amount was due in one final payment. In 2007, Tribeca notified Mr. McCormick that he was in default and his loan payments accelerated. Tribeca therefore asserts that the one-year statute of limitation began to run on that date, expired in 2008, and that Mr. McCormick's 2011 claims were untimely. We agree.
This Court has consistently held that, “[i]f the language of an enactment is clear and within the constitutional authority of the law-making body which passed it, courts must read the relevant law according to its unvarnished meaning, without any judicial embroidery.” Syllabus Point 4, West Virginia Health Care Cost Review Authority v. Boone Memorial Hosp., 196 W.Va. 326, 472 S.E.2d 411 (1996). When the language of a statute is unambiguous, we must apply the plain meaning of the words that the Legislature has employed. Syllabus Point 1, State v. Elder, supra.
We believe that the language of W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) is unambiguous because the phrase at issue, “the date due of the last scheduled payment of the agreement,” plainly refers to the last date under the parties' agreement providing for payment of a specified loan amount. The agreement of the parties specified that Mr. McCormick agreed to make loan payments to Tribeca on a monthly basis for 30 years, but if he defaulted on his agreement, Tribeca could then accelerate the payments and make them immediately due and payable. When Mr. McCormick defaulted, Tribeca was within its rights to demand full payment on the loan in 2007 and to later sell the house at a public auction. Conversely, Mr. McCormick would have been fully within his rights to have defended against Tribeca's demand by asserting his claims under the Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
Two federal courts reviewing this same question have reached the same result. Judge Goodwin, in Delebreau v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, 770 F.Supp.2d 813 (S.D.W.Va.2011), concluded that if a loan agreement had a clause requiring a creditor to “accelerate the debt—and thereby make the last payment due immediately” upon the default of the consumer, then the only reasonable conclusion was that the one-year statute of limitation under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) was triggered by the acceleration. 770 F.Supp.2d at 821. The federal court specifically rejected the consumer's argumentthat the statute of limitation would not be triggered until the last scheduled payment was due decades in the future:
Under the plaintiffs' reading, an action against a creditor could be brought as many as fifty years after a violation of the WVCCPA occurred—even if the plaintiff paid the entire balance of the loan on the first payment—provided that the loan's maturity date, and thus the “last scheduled payment,” was fifty years in the future. I sincerely doubt that the West Virginia legislature meant to allow plaintiffs a half-century in which to bring claims under the WVCCPA. Additionally, the plaintiffs' reading leads to the absurd conclusion that a consumer plaintiff may bring a cause of action for statutory violations that occurred decades beforehand. In fact, under the plaintiffs' reading, a plaintiff could bring a cause of action within one year of the maturity date of a loan, even if the borrower paid off the entire loan in the second year of the agreement. Likewise, if the borrower defaulted in year three of a thirty-year loan, he could sit on his WVCCPA claims until some twenty-eight years later. This interpretation is particularly troubling in light of the fact that modern home loans regularly have a maturity date that is ten, twenty, or even fifty, years in the future.
770 F.Supp.2d at 821. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, reviewing the same case, affirmed the district court and reached the same conclusion. Delebreau v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, 680 F.3d 412, 415 (4th Cir.2012).
We conclude that under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1), which provides that an action under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act involving certain “regulated consumer loans” must be brought within one year after the “due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement,” the statute of limitation begins to run on the date under the parties' agreement providing for the final periodic payment of the debt. However, if the periodic payments are accelerated under the terms of the agreement, causing all payments to become immediately due and payable by the consumer, then the statute of limitation begins to run on the date when the accelerated payment is due.
The second question certified by the circuit court asks:
Under W.Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1), which provides in applicable part that, “With respect to violations arising from other consumer credit sales or consumer loans, no action pursuant to this subsection may be brought more than one year after the due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement. ” When does the statute of limitations begin to run: the date the applicable Loan was accelerated and all amounts became due and payable; or, the projected date of the final installment payment of the executed loan agreement?
We determine that the circuit court correctly answered that when Mr. McCormick's loan with Tribeca was accelerated, the statute of limitation began to run on the date when the accelerated payment was due.
Certified Questions Answered Justice DAVIS concurs, in part, and dissents, in part, and reserves the right to file a separate opinion.
DAVIS, Justice, concurring, in part, and dissenting, in part:
I agree wholeheartedly with the majority's resolution of the first certified question. The majority is correct in concluding that the statute of limitations provided by W. Va.Code § 38–1–4a (2006) (Repl.Vol.2011) simply does not apply to the facts of this case. However, I part ways with my brethren with respect to the majority's disposition of the second certified question. I absolutely cannot agree with the majority's determination that the counterclaims asserted by Mr. McCormick in response to Tribeca's first and second unlawful detainer actions were untimely.
In this case, Tribeca filed an unlawful detainer action against Mr. McCormick shortly after it obtained title to the subject property through the foreclosure sale thereon. Mr. McCormick responded and asserted counterclaims similar to those at issue in the instant proceeding. Tribeca then failed to prosecute its case, and, as a result, the circuit court dismissed Tribeca's first unlawful detainer action due to inactivity. Under the majority's holding in new Syllabus point 6, it would seem that Mr. McCormick would have been permitted to assert his consumer counterclaims in response to Tribeca's first unlawful detainer action without fearing the wrath of the stringent temporal requirements of W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006). Unfortunately for Mr. McCormick, his saga does not end here.
Although it continued to sit on its laurels for another few years, Tribeca resurrected its unlawful detainer action like a proverbial phoenix in 2011, nearly three and one-half years after it obtained title to the subject property and nearly two years after it allowed its first unlawful detainer action to be dismissed because it failed to see it through to its fruition. To add insult to injury, when Tribeca filed its second unlawful detainer action in 2011, it added an attachment to this Court's standard form for unlawful detainer complaints, stating:
Insofar as this complaint may be interpreted by a Court of competent jurisdiction that the undersigned is attempting to collect a debt on behalf of the Plaintiff [Tribeca], you are informed that any information given by you to the undersigned is information which may be passed on to the Plaintiff and may be used for the purpose of collecting a debt. You are further advised that the undersigned may be considered a debt collector under the law.
Now, Tribeca, who added this language of its own accord, has the audacity to claim that Mr. McCormick should be precluded from asserting the same counterclaims in response to Tribeca's same unlawful detainer claims because now, after the passage of so much time, such counterclaims are untimely. Given that the inclusion of Tribeca's additional language in its complaint sufficiently placed Mr. McCormick on notice of the existence of a debt collection action and in light of the protections afforded to consumers in such proceedings, I vehemently dissent to the majority's disposition of the second certified question to bar Mr. McCormick's consumer counterclaims. Rather, Mr. McCormick's counterclaims are governed by W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102 (1974) (Repl.Vol.2006), which provides:
Rights granted by this chapter may be asserted as a defense, setoff or counterclaim to an action against a consumer without regard to any limitation of actions.
(Emphasis added). Accord Syl. pt. 6, Chrysler Credit Corp. v. Copley, 189 W.Va. 90, 428 S.E.2d 313 (1993) (“Where a consumer is sued for the balance due on a consumer transaction, any asserted defense, setoff, or counterclaim available under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, W. Va.Code, 46A–2–101, et seq. , may be asserted without regard to any limitation of actions under W. Va.Code, 46A–5–102 (1974).”). Under the statute of limitations grace period provided by W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102, it is clear that Mr. McCormick timely asserted his consumer counterclaims in response to Tribeca's second unlawful detainer action.
A. Notice Pleading
The plain language of W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102 requires an action be filed against a consumer before the counterclaims statute of limitations grace becomes effective. Be that as it may, this statute does not limit or specify the exact type of action in response to which the consumer may assert his/her counterclaims. Thus, it is apparent that any “action against a consumer,” W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102, would be sufficient to activate the statute of limitations grace provided by that statute. Here, by its own inclusion of words extraneous to this Court's form complaint for unlawful detainer actions, Tribeca has indicated its intention (1) to sue Mr. McCormick for unlawful detainer and (2) to construe such action also as a debt collection action. To the extent those are the claims that Tribeca, itself, has asserted in its complaint, the Court is not at liberty to pick and choose which portions of the plaintiff's complaint will be enforced and to arbitrarily disregard those portions that appear to be incongruous. This jurisdiction subscribes to the concept of notice pleading, and, to the extent that Tribeca has included debt collection language in its complaint, the inclusion of this language effectively puts Mr. McCormick on notice that Tribeca considers it to have an unresolved debt collection claim against him. See Forshey v. Jackson, 222 W.Va. 743, 750, 671 S.E.2d 748, 755 (2008) (“ ‘ “Complaints are to be read liberally as required by the notice pleading theory underlying the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure.’ ” State ex rel. Smith v. Kermit Lumber & Pressure Treating Co., 200 W.Va. 221, 488 S.E.2d 901 (1997) (quoting State ex rel. McGraw v. Scott Runyan Pontiac–Buick, Inc., 194 W.Va. [770], 776, 461 S.E.2d [516], 522 [ (1995) ] ).”). Accord Whorton v. Malone, 209 W.Va. 384, 390 n. 6, 549 S.E.2d 57, 63 n. 6 (2001). See also Bowers v. Wurzburg, 205 W.Va. 450, 462, 519 S.E.2d 148, 160 (1999) (commenting that, “[g]enerally, the allegations contained in a complaint are to consist of ‘a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,’ W. Va. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(1), in order to place a potential defendant on notice as to the nature of the claim(s) asserted against him/her” and noting that, “[i]n construing the adequacy of a complaint, the allegations contained therein are viewed liberally in favor of the plaintiff” (citations omitted)). Simply stated, the Court should not ignore those words that Tribeca, itself, has included in its complaint even if such words are not customarily used in the assertion of an unlawful detainer action.
B. Timely Assertion of Consumer Counterclaims
Moreover, the statute of limitations relied upon by the circuit court, W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006) does not govern Mr. McCormick's counterclaims because it presupposes that he initiated his claims in the first instance. As the majority duly has noted, Mr. McCormick has not instituted any proceedings against Tribeca in the first instance. Instead, Mr. McCormick merely has asserted the subject counterclaims in response to the unlawful detainer/debt collection action filed by Tribeca. As such, W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102 (1974) (Repl.Vol.2006) provides the statute of limitations that is applicable to the facts of this case.
In its opinion, the majority has recognized that W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006) provides the time periods for a consumer to file a cause of action against a creditor to assert violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act. The first subsection of W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101, which forms the basis for the second certified question, directs:
(1) If a creditor has violated the provisions of this chapter applying to collection of excess charges, security in sales and leases, disclosure with respect to consumer leases, receipts, statements of account and evidences of payment, limitations on default charges, assignment of earnings, authorizations to confess judgment, illegal, fraudulent or unconscionable conduct, any prohibited debt collection practice, or restrictions on interest in land as security, assignment of earnings to regulated consumer lender, security agreement on household goods for benefit of regulated consumer lender, and renegotiation by regulated consumer lender of loan discharged in bankruptcy, the consumer has a cause of action to recover actual damages and in addition a right in an action to recover from the person violating this chapter a penalty in an amount determined by the court not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars. With respect to violations arising from consumer credit sales or consumer loans made pursuant to revolving charge accounts or revolving loan accounts, or from sales as defined in article six of this chapter, no action pursuant to this subsection may be brought more than four years after the violations occurred. With respect to violations arising from other consumer credit sales or consumer loans, no action pursuant to this subsection may be brought more than one year after the due date of the last scheduled payment of the agreement.
(Emphasis added).
W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1) does not, however, address the facts of the case sub judice to define the time period within which a consumer is required to bring a counterclaim asserting his/her rights under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, and, in fact, a more specific statute, W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102 (1974) (Repl.Vol.2006), supplies such information. See generally Syl. pt. 1, UMWA by Trumka v. Kingdon, 174 W.Va. 330, 325 S.E.2d 120 (1984) (“The general rule of statutory construction requires that a specific statute be given precedence over a general statute relating to the same subject matter where the two cannot be reconciled.”).
Pursuant to W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102, a consumer may assert counterclaims arising under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act at any time: “Rights granted by this chapter may be asserted as a defense, setoff or counterclaim to an action against a consumer without regard to any limitation of actions.” (Emphasis added). This Court has interpreted this language as meaning that a consumer's counterclaims asserting such rights are not barred by statutes of limitations that might otherwise be applicable to such claims but for the operation of W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102:
Where a consumer is sued for the balance due on a consumer transaction, any asserted defense, setoff, or counterclaim available under the Consumer Credit Protection Act, W. Va.Code, 46A–2–101, et seq. , may be asserted without regard to any limitation of actions under W. Va.Code, 46A–5–102 (1974).
Syl. pt. 6, Chrysler Credit Corp. v. Copley, 189 W.Va. 90, 428 S.E.2d 313 (1993).
Based upon its reference to W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1), the second question certified to this Court presupposes that Mr. McCormick has filed a cause of action against Tribeca in the first instance. However, those are not the facts of the instant proceeding. Rather, Tribeca filed its unlawful detainer action against Mr. McCormick, and Mr. McCormick asserted his counterclaims against Tribeca, alleging that Tribeca had violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, in response to Tribeca's lawsuit. Mr. McCormick is the defendant in these proceedings; he is not a plaintiff consumer who has filed a lawsuit as contemplated by W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101(1).
The procedural posture of the case sub judice is a bit unusual because Mr. McCormick has asserted his consumer counterclaims in response to Tribeca's unlawful detainer action. Ordinarily, an unlawful detainer action is simply that—an action to recover possession of the property that has been unlawfully detained. SeeW. Va.Code § 55–3–1 (1923) (Repl.Vol.2008) (describing nature of unlawful detainer action as proceeding to recover possession of property that has been unlawfully detained or withheld from plaintiff); Duff v. Good, 24 W.Va. 682, 685 (1884) (“The remedy by unlawful detainer is a summary proceeding designed to protect the actual possession, whether rightful or wrongful, against unlawful invasion and afford speedy restitution.”). See also Syl. pt. 2, in part, Wiles v. Walker, 88 W.Va. 147, 106 S.E. 423 (1921) ( “[A]n action of forcible entry and detainer relates only to possession and does not settle or adjudicate title[.]”); Feder v. Hager, 64 W.Va. 452, 454, 63 S.E. 285, 286 (1908) (observing that unlawful detainer action “relates only to possession, and determines only the right to possession. It does not settle or adjudicate title.”). See generally Ratino v. Hart, 188 W.Va. 408, 424 S.E.2d 753 (1992) (per curiam) (compiling and discussing West Virginia unlawful detainer cases).
In the instant proceeding, however, Tribeca added an attachment to its unlawful detainer complaint in which it stated:
Insofar as this complaint may be interpreted by a Court of competent jurisdiction that the undersigned is attempting to collect a debt on behalf of the Plaintiff, you are informed that any information given by you to the undersigned is information which may be passed on to the Plaintiff and may be used for the purpose of collecting a debt. You are further advised that the undersigned may be considered a debt collector under the law.
To the extent that Tribeca has incorporated this debt collection language in its complaint, Tribeca's complaint may be construed as also attempting to collect a debt from Mr. McCormick. See, e.g.,W. Va.Code § 46A–1–103(1) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006) (noting that West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act regulates consumer loans and establishes remedies for violations of such provisions); W. Va.Code § 46A–5–101 (enumerating claims consumer may assert against lender or debt collector alleging violations of West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act). Thus, Tribeca, as it has acknowledged in the attachment to its complaint, is a debt collector in these proceedings, and Mr. McCormick is a consumer. SeeW. Va.Code § 46A–2–122(d) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006) (defining “debt collector” as “any person or organization engaging directly or indirectly in debt collection”); W. Va.Code § 46A–2–122(c) (further defining “debt collection” as “any action, conduct or practice of soliciting claims for collection or in the collection of claims owed or due or alleged to be owed or due by a consumer”). See alsoW. Va.Code § 46A–1–102(12) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006) (explaining that “consumer” “means a natural person who incurs debt pursuant to ... a consumer loan”); W. Va.Code § 46A–2–122(a) (construing “consumer” to mean “any natural person obligated or allegedly obligated to pay any debt”). Therefore, as a consumer, against whom an action has been brought, Mr. McCormick asserted his counterclaims in response to Tribeca's complaint, and he alleged that Tribeca has violated the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act.
I wish to reiterate that the posture of the case sub judice is extraordinarily unusual because Tribeca, by words of its own choosing, has incorporated debt collection language into its complaint alleging unlawful detainer. Ordinarily, a defendant to an unlawful detainer proceeding would not be permitted to invoke the statute of limitations grace period provided by W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102 for the assertion of a consumer's counterclaims because, by its very nature, an unlawful detainer action is a suit for the recovery of possession of property and not a proceeding against a consumer regarding a consumer transaction. CompareW. Va.Code § 55–3–1 (1923) (Repl.Vol.2008) (describing nature of unlawful detainer action as proceeding to recover possession of property that has been unlawfully detained or withheld from plaintiff) and Duff v. Good, 24 W.Va. 682, 685 (1884) (“The remedy by unlawful detainer is a summary proceeding designed to protect the actual possession, whether rightful or wrongful, against unlawful invasion and afford speedy restitution.”) withW. Va.Code § 46A–1–103(1) (1996) (Repl.Vol.2006) (noting that West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act regulates consumer loans and establishes remedies for violations of such provisions); Chevy Chase Bank v. McCamant, 204 W.Va. 295, 302, 512 S.E.2d 217, 224 (1998) (per curiam) (“It appears obvious to this Court that the purpose of the WVCCPA [West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act] is to protect consumers from unfair, unconscionable, fraudulent, and abusive practices of debt collectors.”); and Syl. pt. 2, U.S. Life Credit Corp. v. Wilson, 171 W.Va. 538, 301 S.E.2d 169 (1982) (“The legislature in enacting the West Virginia Consumers [sic] Credit and Protection Act, W. Va.Code, 46A–1–101, et seq. , in 1974, sought to eliminate the practice of including unconscionable terms in consumer agreements covered by the Act. To further this purpose the legislature, by the express language of W. Va.Code, 46A–5–101(1), created a cause of action for consumers and imposed civil liability on creditors who include unconscionable terms that violate W. Va.Code, 46A–2–121 in consumer agreements.”).
The pivotal question remains, however, as to whether Mr. McCormick timely asserted these counterclaims against Tribeca. Therefore, I would propose reformulating the second certified question to more accurately reflect the law and the facts that are presently before the Court.
When a certified question is not framed so that this Court is able to fully address the law which is involved in the question, then this Court retains the power to reformulate questions certified to it under both the Uniform Certification of Questions of Law Act found in W. Va.Code, 51–1A–1, et seq. and W. Va.Code, 58–5–2 [1967], the statute relating to certified questions from a circuit court of this State to this Court.
Syl. pt. 3, Kincaid v. Mangum, 189 W.Va. 404, 432 S.E.2d 74 (1993). See alsoW. Va.Code § 51–1A–4 (1996) (Repl.Vol.2008) (“The supreme court of appeals of West Virginia may reformulate a question certified to it.”). Accordingly, I would rephrase the second certified question as follows:
What is the limitations period within which counterclaims may be asserted alleging violations of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act, W. Va.Code § 46A–1–101 et seq. , in response to an unlawful detainer action in which the plaintiff has stated that it also is attempting to collect a debt from the defendant?
Pursuant to the plain language of W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102 and our prior decision in Copley interpreting this statute, it is apparent that, as a consumer against whom an action had been brought, Mr. McCormick was permitted to assert any counterclaims arising under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act “without regard to any limitation of actions.” W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102. In other words, Mr. McCormick's consumer counterclaims are not barred by any statute of limitations by virtue of the operation of W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102. Thus, I would answer the second certified question as follows: W. Va.Code § 46A–5–102 (1974) (Repl.Vol.2006) permits a consumer to assert counterclaims arising under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act “without regard to any limitation of actions.” Accord Syl. pt. 6, Chrysler Credit Corp. v. Copley, 189 W.Va. 90, 428 S.E.2d 313 (1993). As such, the Court should have determined that Mr. McCormick timely asserted his consumer counterclaims in response to Tribeca's unlawful detainer/debt collection action.
I would be remiss if I did not also address the case upon which Tribeca and the majority rely as support for their resolution of the second certified question: Delebreau v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, 770 F.Supp.2d 813 (S.D.W.Va.2011), aff'd, 680 F.3d 412 (4th Cir.2012). Despite the majority's steadfast allegiance to this opinion as providing guidance regarding the statute of limitations that is applicable to Mr. McCormick's claims in this case, a simple review of the Delebreau decision demonstrates that it is both distinguishable from and inapplicable to the facts of the case sub judice. Delebreau involved plaintiff consumers who had filed the subject lawsuit against their mortgage loan servicer and had asserted claims arising under the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act. Unlike the consumers in Delebreau, the consumer in the instant proceeding, Mr. McCormick, did not file a lawsuit and is not a party plaintiff herein. Rather, Tribeca sued Mr. McCormick, and he responded by filing counterclaims, not his own, independent, cause of action. As such, the underpinnings of Delebreau are completely different from the factual and procedural history shaping the instant controversy.
In light of the foregoing, I respectfully concur with the majority's resolution of the first certified question in this case. However, I strongly dissent from the majority's disposition of the second certified question.