# BASIRA NA'IMAH BEY EXPRESS TRUST AND OTHERS v. CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC

> District Court, M.D. North Carolina · July 31, 2023

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10653680

## Case

- **Court:** District Court, M.D. North Carolina
- **Decided:** July 31, 2023
- **Opinion:** 100trialcourt
- **Cited by:** 0 later opinions in the Frix Law Library

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## Opinion text

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

BASIRA NA’IMAH BEY EXPRESS TRUST )
AND OTHERS, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) 1:22CV1020
)
CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, )
LLC, et al., )
)
Defendants. )

ORDER, MEMORANDUM OPINION AND RECOMMENDATION
OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

This matter is before the Court on a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure by Defendants Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC
(“Carrington”) and Bruce Rose (“Mr. Rose”) in his capacity as President of Carrington.
(Docket Entry 6.) Natasha Renee Collins “(Ms. Collins”), on behalf of Plaintiff Basira
Na’Imah Bey Express Trust (“Plaintiff Trust”), filed a document which the Court construes
as an opposition brief. (See Docket Entry 10.) Defendants then filed a reply (Docket Entry
11) and Ms. Collins on behalf of Plaintiff Trust filed a document which the Court construes
as a surreply. (Docket Entry 12.) Defendants have moved to strike the surreply. (Docket
Entry 13.) For the reasons stated herein, the undersigned recommends that Defendants’
motion to dismiss be granted and the undersigned will deny as moot Defendants’ motion to
strike.
I. BACKGROUND
Ms. Collins, who appears to be a trustee or “settlor/trust protector” for Plaintiff Trust
filed a Complaint in North Carolina state court asserting what purports to be a breach of

contract claim against Carrington and Mr. Rose. (See generally Complaint, Docket Entry 4.)
Ms. Collins, appearing a non-attorney, signed the Complaint and attempts to represent
Plaintiff Trust in the instant action. (Id. at 4.)1 Although unclear, as best the Court can glean,
Plaintiff Trust alleges some dispute in a mortgage loan obtained by Ms. Collins as the borrower
of said loan,2 and believes the mortgage loan should have been paid in full by writing “accord
& satisfaction,” “under duress,” and “full payment” on checks that were applied to the loan.

(Id. at 3, 6, 7.) The Complaint alleges that Plaintiff Trust is the “true beneficial owner” of the
real property associated with Ms. Collins’s mortgage loan via quitclaim deed. (Id. at 3.)
Although still unclear, Plaintiff Trust purports to assert breach of contract and accord and
satisfaction claims against Carrington who appears to be the current loan servicer, and perhaps
still demands Ms. Collins pay back the loan in its entirety. (See id. at 3-4.)3 Defendants removed
this action to this Court and filed the instant motion to dismiss. (Docket Entries 1, 6.)

1 Unless otherwise noted, all citations herein refer to the page numbers at the bottom right-
hand corner of the documents as they appear in the Court’s CM/ECF system.

2 Defendants have attached the Deed of Trust (Docket Entry 7-1), which the Court finds is
an integral part of the Complaint and considers it in reviewing the sufficiency of the pleadings. See
Goines v. Valley Cmty. Servs. Bd., 822 F.3d 159, 166 (4th Cir. 2016) (documents integral to the complaint
and its authenticity otherwise undisputed may be considered on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion).

3 Plaintiff Trust appears to tie its claims to some purported violation of the National Bank Act
of 1863, specifically section 33. (See Compl. at 3.)
II. DISCUSSION
Defendants contend that the Complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be
granted. (Docket Entry 6.) A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) tests the sufficiency

of the complaint. Edwards v. City of Goldsboro, 178 F.3d 231, 243 (4th Cir. 1999). A complaint
that does not “contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that
is plausible on its face’” must be dismissed. Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting
Bell Atlantic v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (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.” Id.; see also Simmons v. United Mortg. and Loan Inv., LLC,

634 F.3d 754, 768 (4th Cir. 2011) (“On a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, a complaint must be dismissed
if it does not allege enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.”) (citations
and quotations omitted). The “court accepts all well-pled facts as true and construes these
facts in the light most favorable to the plaintiff,” but does not consider “legal conclusions,
elements of a cause of action, and bare assertions devoid of factual enhancement[,] . . .
unwarranted inferences, unreasonable conclusions, or arguments.” Nemet Chevrolet, Ltd. v.

Consumeraffairs.com, Inc., 591 F.3d 250, 255 (4th Cir. 2009) (citations omitted). In other words,
the standard requires a plaintiff to articulate facts, that, when accepted as true, demonstrate
the plaintiff has stated a claim that makes it plausible he is entitled to relief. Francis v. Giacomelli,
588 F.3d 186, 193 (4th Cir. 2009) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, and Twombly, 550 U.S. at
557).
Pro se complaints are to be liberally construed in assessing sufficiency under the Federal

Rules of Civil Procedure. Erickson v. Pardus, 551 U.S. 89, 94 (2007). However, even under this
liberal construction, “generosity is not fantasy,” and the court is not expected to plead a
plaintiff’s claim for him or her. Pender v. Suburban Hosp., Inc., 159 F.3d 186, 192 (4th Cir. 1998).
A motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) must be read in conjunction with Federal

Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2). Rule 8(a)(2) requires only “a short and plain statement of the
claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief,” so as to “give the defendant fair notice of
what the . . . claim is and the grounds upon which it rests . . . .” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555
(quoting Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 47 (1957). Rule 8 does not, however, unlock the doors
of discovery for a plaintiff armed with nothing more than conclusions. Fair notice is provided
by setting forth enough facts for the complaint to be “plausible on its face” and “raise a right

to relief above the speculative level on the assumption that all the allegations in the complaint
are true (even if doubtful in fact) . . . .” Id. at 555 (internal citations omitted). “Rule 12(b)(6)
does not countenance . . . . dismissals based on a judge’s disbelief of a complaint’s factual
allegations.” Id. at 556 (quoting Scheuer v. Rhodes, 416 U.S. 232, 236 (1974)).
Here, at the outset the Court notes that Plaintiff Trust appears to be an entity, not a
person, and therefore is not permitted to proceed without representation of counsel. Ballentine

v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., No. 1:19-CV-589, 2019 WL 13215672, at *2 (M.D.N.C. Aug. 21,
2019) (unpublished) (“LB International Express Trust appears to be an entity, not a person.
It therefore cannot proceed pro se and must be represented by an attorney.”); Peterson v. City of
Hickory, No. 5:07CV74, 2008 WL 2980096, at *2 (W.D.N.C. July 30, 2008) (unpublished) (“In
federal court, a trustee appearing in a solely representative capacity requires a lawyer.”); LR
11.1(a) (“A corporation or other entity may appear only through an attorney.”). Ms. Collins

does not appear to be an attorney, and thus cannot represent nor submit filings on behalf of
Plaintiff Trust.4 See Carter v. Cap. One, No. 320CV00684FDWDSC, 2021 WL 3376829, at *5
(W.D.N.C. Aug. 3, 2021) (unpublished) (“Plaintiff is litigating on behalf of another party not
present and—by virtue of not being a licensed attorney—she endangers the rights of the Trust

and its beneficiaries whom she represents.”). Thus, “by representing [Plaintiff] Trust in a claim
against Defendant[s], [Ms. Collins] has failed to state a claim.” Id.
Beyond that, Plaintiff Trust fails to set forth allegations sufficient to state a claim for
breach of contract that survives the Rule 12(b)(6) standard. To state a breach of contract claim
under North Carolina law, Plaintiff Trust must allege “(1) [the] existence of a valid contract
and (2) breach of the terms of that contract.” Poor v. Hill, 138 N.C. App. 19, 26 (2000). The

Complaint alleges a dispute regarding a loan agreement which Ms. Collins executed, and
Carrington obtained; Plaintiff Trust does not assert that it is a party to the loan transaction,
nor does it assert a contractual relationship of any kind between it, Carrington, and Mr. Rose.
See Am. Oil Co., Inc. v. AAN Real Estate, LLC, 232 N.C. App. 524, 526-527 (2014) (“In order
for a breach of contract claim to withstand a 12(b)(6) motion based on a lack of standing, the
plaintiff’s allegations must ‘either show it was in privity of contract, or it is a direct beneficiary

of the contract’”). Nor has Plaintiff Trust alleged a valid assignment of the loan agreement to
Carrington, which again appears to be the loan servicer. See VERONICA THOMAS, Plaintiff,
v. OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC, et al, Defendants. Additional Party Names: Shellpoint
Mortg. Servicing, LLC, No. 2:19CV170, 2020 WL 2744127, at *4 (E.D. Va. Mar. 9, 2020)

4 Ms. Collins’ use of the designation “trust protector” does not alter this conclusion; she is still
prohibited from proceeding on behalf of the entity. See Bertran v. Compton, No. 4:16-CV-00022-SLG,
2017 WL 1051185, at *1 n.2 & 4 (D. Alaska Mar. 20, 2017) (unpublished) (dismissing individual who
appeared in capacity as trustee and “trust protector”).
(unpublished) (“Plaintiff has not alleged facts sufficient to show that (i) there is a contractual
relationship between Plaintiff and the loan servicers . . . or [a valid assignment]. Without such
a showing, Plaintiff cannot state a breach of contract claim against [the loan servicers] upon

which relief may be granted.”); Brown v. Loancare, LLC, No. 320CV00280FDWDSC, 2020 WL
7389407, at *6 (W.D.N.C. Dec. 16, 2020) (unpublished) (“An allegation that a defendant
services or subservices a mortgage loan agreement is not, without more, sufficient to bind the
servicer to the terms of the agreement.”). Moreover, Plaintiff Trust does not allege that
Defendants were in breach of any agreement. And to the extent Plaintiff Trust alleges that
Ms. Collins’ remittance of installment checks with notations of “accord & satisfaction,” “under

duress,” and “full payment” constituted accord and satisfaction, and satisfied the full amount
owed on the loan, these allegations are insufficient.
First, the Court notes that “[i]n North Carolina, the doctrine of accord and satisfaction
is an affirmative defense to a breach of contract claim, not a cause of action.” Jones v. Nationwide
Advantage Mortg. Co., No. 1:17CV189, 2018 WL 1569835, at *3 (M.D.N.C. Mar. 27, 2018)
(unpublished) (citations omitted). Thus, any purported claim for accord and satisfaction fails.

Even if the doctrine of accord and satisfaction could be a viable cause of action, it is
inapplicable here. Codified in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 25-3-311, the doctrine of accord and
satisfaction provides that a claim may be discharged if:
a person against whom a claim is asserted proves that (i) that
person in good faith tendered an instrument to the claimant as
full satisfaction of the claim, (ii) the amount of the claim was
unliquidated or subject to a bona fide dispute, and (iii) the
claimant obtained payment of the instrument. . . .
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 25-3-311(a). Thus, “[w]hen there is some indication on a check that it is
tendered in full payment of a disputed claim, the cashing of the check is held to be an accord
and satisfaction as a matter of law.” Sanyo Elec., Inc. v. Albright Distrib. Co., 76 N.C. App. 115,

117, 331 S.E.2d 738, 740 (1985) (emphasis added).
However, where there is ‘no evidence or allegation of
communication between plaintiff and defendant concerning a
dispute over the account,’ nor ‘evidence or allegation of
negotiation or agreement between plaintiff and defendant
concerning payment or acceptance of less than the full amount of the
account,’ a party’s notation on a check stating that the check is to
be in full payment of the debt owed does not constitute an accord
and satisfaction.

Jones, 2018 WL 1569835, at *4 (citing Fruit & Produce Packaging Co., Div. of Inland Container Corp.
v. Stepp, 15 N.C. App. 64, 68, 189 S.E.2d 536, 538 (1972) (emphasis in original)). Here, Plaintiff
Trust does not sufficiently allege a dispute existed between Ms. Collins and Defendants. In
cursory fashion, the Complaint alleges that Defendants were served with a “Bona Fide Dispute
on May 23, 2022,” but the Complaint also admits there was no response. (See Compl. at 3
(“The executive office of the defendant failed to provide a correspondence.”).)5 Even
considering that, there are no allegations of communications between Ms. Collins and
Defendants regarding an agreement that Defendants would accept less than the full amount
owed on the loan. Therefore, “[t]he fact that a remittance by check purporting to be ‘in full’
is accepted and used does not result in an accord and satisfaction if the claim involved is

5 The Complaint indicates that the “Bona Fide Dispute” served on Defendants on May 23,
2022, is attached as Exhibit “A,” however no such document exists. (See Docket Entry 4.) This may
be the same document attached to Plaintiff’s sur-reply which is dated May 23, 2022, (see Docket Entry
12-1). In any event, as stated above, there was no response from Defendants regarding said
correspondence.
liquidated and undisputed.” In re Five Oaks Recreational Ass’n, Inc., 219 N.C. App. 320, 327, 724
S.E.2d 98, 102 (2012) (internal quotations and citation omitted); Bromhal v. Stott, 116 N.C. App.
250, 254, 447 S.E.2d 481, 484 (1994) (“In order for accord and satisfaction to be a successful

defense, there must have been a negotiation or agreement between the parties concerning
payment or acceptance of less than the full amount owed.”), aff’d, 341 N.C. 702, 462 S.E.2d
219 (1995) (citation omitted). Ultimately, Plaintiff Trust’s allegations of accord and
satisfaction are insufficient and thus fail. See Jones, 2018 WL 1569835, at *4 (“There are no
allegations, however, that [defendant] and Plaintiff agreed that [defendant’s] receipt of
payment in an amount less than the full balance due on the account would satisfy Plaintiff’s

payment obligations under the Note.”).
For these reasons, Defendants’ motion to dismiss should be granted.6 Plaintiff Trust’s
document entitled “Affidavit of Denial: Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff’s Complaint,” which the
Court construes as a response to Defendants’ motion, fails to refute any specific arguments
made in Defendants’ motion, or otherwise point to factual allegations in the Complaint to
support the sufficiency of any claim. (See Docket Entry 10.) Further, Plaintiff Trust has filed

a second response (Docket Entry 12) which the undersigned construes as a sur-reply.
“Generally, parties do not have the right to file a sur-reply and may only do so [w]hen fairness
dictates, such as when new arguments are raised in the reply brief.” Yang v. Lai, No. 1:22CV5,

6 Plaintiff Trust also appears to name CT Corporation System as a defendant, but only in its
capacity as the registered agent for Carrington and Mr. Rose. (See Compl. at 1.) Plaintiff Trust has
not asserted specific allegations against this entity and liability here cannot be imposed against the
entity solely in its role as the registered agent. See Park v. Carson Min. Hot Springs LLC, No. C09-5433
RJB, 2010 WL 11685124, at *3 (W.D. Wash. Aug. 26, 2010) (unpublished) (“[L]iability cannot be
imposed upon Defendant Lee simply on the grounds that he is the registered agent of Defendant
Carson Mineral Hot Springs LLC.”).
2022 WL 2440834, at *3 (M.D.N.C. July 5, 2022) (unpublished) (internal quotations and
citation omitted). Here, no new arguments were raised in Defendants’ reply brief warranting
the filing of a sur-reply. Nevertheless, upon review of the sur-reply and attachments thereto,

the undersigned finds that it contains no additional arguments or facts that would affect the
analysis herein, including the undersigned’s conclusion that Defendants’ motion to dismiss
should be granted. Thus, Defendants’ motion to strike Plaintiff’s sur-reply will be denied as
moot.
III. CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated herein, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion
to Strike Plaintiff’s Sur-reply (Docket Entry 13) is DENIED AS MOOT.
IT IS RECOMMENDED that Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Rule
12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Docket Entry 6) be GRANTED, and
Plaintiff’s Complaint be dismissed with prejudice.

/s/ Joe L. Webster
United States Magistrate Judge

July 31, 2023
Durham, North Carolina

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/cases/10653680. Public record. Not legal advice.