Shaw v. Citimortgage, Inc. (201 F. Supp. 3d 1222, 2016)

ORDER

LARRY R. HICKS, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

This is a breach of contract action arising from an alleged residential loan modification agreement between plaintiff Leslie J. Shaw (“Shaw”) and defendant CitiMort-gage, Inc. (“CMI”).. Shaw alleges that in mid-2011, the parties executed a loan modification agreement on his residential home loan, but CMI breached the agreement prompting Shaw to stop making payments on his modified loan. Shaw then fell into default and CMI initiated non-judicial foreclosure proceedings in early 2013.

On July 26, 2013, Shaw filed a complaint against CMI and defendant Northwest Trustee Services, Inc. (“NTS”), the trustee identified on the recorded notice of default. ECF No. 1, Exhibit A, p. 8-19. On April 3, 2014, Shaw filed an amended complaint adding defendant Bank of New York Mellon (“BNY”), as trustee for SASCO Fund 2003-37A, as a defendant to this action. ECF No. 52. Subsequently, on August 25, 2014, Shaw filed a second amended complaint against defendants alleging eight causes of action: (1) declaratory relief against defendant BNY; (2) declaratory relief against defendant CMI; (3) breach of contract; (4) breach of the implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing; (5) fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment; (6) negligent misrepresentation; (7) interference with prospective economic advantage; and (8) violation of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RES-PA”). ECF No. 109.

On January 14, 2015, the court granted defendant NTS’ motion to dismiss (ECF No. 110) and dismissed NTS as a defendant in this action. ECF No. 124. Three weeks later, on February 5, 2015, the court granted defendants BNY and CMI’s motion to dismiss (ECF No. 113). ECF No. 128. In that order, the court dismissed BNY as a defendant and dismissed Shaw’s fifth cause of action for fraudulent misrepresentation and sixth cause of action for negligent misrepresentation. Id.

A bench trial was held on Shaw’s remaining claims against sole-remaining defendant CMI from May 3 through May 5, 2016. See ECF Nos. 203-05. The court, having heard the testimony of all witnesses at trial and having considered all exhibits accepted into evidence, renders the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

I.Findings of Fact

1. Plaintiff Shaw is a resident of the State of Nevada. Shaw is also an attorney duly licensed to practice law in the States of Nevada and California. Shaw practices primarily in the areas of family and divorce law and during the relevant time period had a practice at Lake Tahoe that moved to Reno, Nevada.

2. In 2001, Shaw purchased a vacant lot located in Zephyr Cove, Nevada, and built a single-family residence commonly known as 251 McFaul Court (“the McFaul Court property”), the underlying residential property at issue in this action.

3. On October 8, 2003, Shaw executed a promissory note for a residential home loan on the McFaul Court property in favor of non-party Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB (“Lehman Brothers”), a federal savings bank, in the amount of $875,000.00 with an adjustable interest rate starting at 5.125%. The residential loan was secured by a first deed of trust recorded against the McFaul Court property on October 14, 2003, in the official records of Douglas County, Nevada (Doc. No. 0593479). Def. Trial Ex. 501-B, CMI000001-22.

4. Immediately following the execution of the residential home loan, non-party Aurora Loan Services (“Aurora”), a servicing branch of Lehman Brothers, began servicing Shaw’s residential loan.and accepted all mortgage payments on behalf of non-party Lehman Brothers. In June 2005, Aurora ceased servicing the loan and transferred the servicing rights to CMI.

5. At some point prior to the relevant time period,- Lehman Brothers sold Shaw’s residential home loan as part ■of an investment mortgage package to an unknown party.

6. Defendant CMI, a foreign corporation duly qualified to conduct business in the State of Nevada, is a mortgage servicing company. CMI is owned by non-party CitiBank and is part of the Citi Group corporate organization. Since June 2005, CMI has been servicing Shaw’s ’ residential home loan and has collected all payments on behalf of the various owners of the loan. On June 20, 2012, CMI became the beneficiary under the first deed of trust pursuant to an assignment of deed of trust recorded in the official records of Douglas County, Nevada (Doc. No. 0804389). Def. Trial Ex. 504-B, CMI000038-39.

7. Each mortgage account serviced by CMI is assigned an electronic account file. The electronic account file, identified by a specific numerical identifier (the mortgage account number), is accessible to CMI employees and contains information about each particular account ineluding payment information, loan terms, account notes, and other relevant account information. As part of its servicing of Shaw’s residential home loan, CMI maintained such an electronic account file for Shaw’s loan. It is in this electronic account that CMI booked the terms of Shaw’s residential loan and all payments made under that agreement.

8. In August 2006, Shaw and his then wife, non-party Janice Shaw, separated. As part of their eventual divorce — as evidenced by the divorce decree issued in July 2007 — Shaw was awarded the McFaul Court property as his sole and separate property-

9. On or about January 19, 2007, Shaw obtained a loan from non-party Katherine Barkley in the amount of $225,000.00 at an annual interest rate of 10%. This loan was secured by a second deed of trust recorded against the McFaul Court property on January 23, 2007, in the official records of Douglas County, Nevada (Doc. No. 0693296). Def. Trial Ex. 502-B, CMI000023-27.

10. On September 20, 2007, a third deed of trust was recorded in the amount of $77,123.50 against the McFaul Court property in favor of non-party Janice Shaw, Shaw’s ex-wife, in the official records of Douglas County, Nevada (Doc. No. 0709512). Def. Trial Ex. 503-B, CMI000028-37.

11. In 2010, Shaw began experiencing financial difficulties. On or about the fall of 2010, while still current on his monthly mortgage payments, Shaw contacted CMI to request a modification of his residential mortgage loan. At that time, Shaw’s monthly-mortgage obligation was approximately $4,300.00.

12. During the relevant time period, CMI had a company policy that it would not consider any application for the modification of an existing loan unless a borrower was at least three (3) months in arrears on the borrower’s monthly mortgage obligations. This policy was communicated to Shaw during one of the telephonic conversations in the fall of 2010.

13. Beginning October 2010, and continuing through December 2010, Shaw withheld his monthly mortgage payments from CMI. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000067. Shaw then contacted CMI and received a loan modification application. Shaw completed and submitted the application to CMI in early December 2010.

14. CMI reported Shaw’s mortgage account as delinquent to the various credit reporting agencies for the months that Shaw withheld payment on his account: October, November, and December 2010.

15. At the time he submitted his loan modification application Shaw had never, in memory, been denied an application for credit and was current on all credit obligations except for his mortgage account.

16. On December 24, 2010, Shaw received an e-mail from CMI. PI. Trial Ex. 1, P00001. The e-mail advised Shaw that his “mortgage assistance request [had] been approved” and he could expect a “mortgage solution package within the next 5-7 business days.” Id.

17. On December 28, 2010, four days after receiving CMI’s approval email, Shaw received a letter from CMI denying his request for a loan modification. PI. Trial Ex. 2, P00002-5. The letter specifically stated that CMI could not “approve a mortgage modification under the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (“HAMP”)” and that Shaw’s “mortgage terms [would] remain unchanged.” Id. at P00002. At the time Shaw received this letter from CMI, he had not applied for a specific HAMP loan . modification. Rather, Shaw had only applied for a general loan modification with, defendant CMI.

18. Commencing on or about December 28, 2010, and continuing through February 2011, Shaw began near daily telephonic efforts with CMI to resolve the inconsistent and contradictory written communications of December 24 and December 28, 2010. Despite repeated phone calls with CMI employees in various departments, including Loss Mitigation, Shaw never received an explanation as to why he received two separate communications from CMI about his loan modification application, or why he had been denied a modification after already receiving notification that his application had been approved. Further, Shaw did not receive an answer from CMI as to which of the two communications constituted CMI’s final determination of his loan modification application.

19. Shaw did not make either of his monthly mortgage payments for January or February 2011. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000067. Subsequently, CMI reported Shaw’s mortgage account as delinquent to the various credit reporting agencies for those months.

20. Between December 28, 2010, and early February 2011, Shaw did not receive any written communication from CMI concerning his loan modification application.

21. On February 15, 2011, Shaw received another e-mail from CMI. PL Trial Ex. 3, P00006. This e-mail again ad- ■ vised Shaw that his “mortgage assistance request [had] been approved” and that he could expect a “mortgage solution package within the next 5-7 business days.” Id.

22. On or about February 16, 2011, after receiving CMI’s second approval email, Shaw received another letter from CMI again denying his request for a loan modification. PL Trial Ex. 4, P00Ó07-10. The letter specifically stated that CMI could not “approve a mortgage modification under the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (“HAMP”)” and that Shaw’s “mortgage terms [would] remain unchanged.” Id. at P00007.

23. Commencing February 16, 2011, Shaw again contacted CMI to resolve the inconsistent and contradictory written communications concerning his loan modification application. Despite repeated calls with CMI employees, Shaw never received an explanation why he had received new communications regarding his application, or why he had once again been denied mortgage assistance after receiving notification that his loan modification application had been approved. Further, Shaw did not receive an answer from CMI as to which of the four communications constituted CMI’s final determination of his loan modification application.

24. On or about February 23, 2011, Shaw received a mortgage solution package from CMI. Def. Trial Ex. 505-A, CMI000051-56. The mortgage solution package advised Shaw that he had been “approved to enter into a trial period plan” modifying his residential loan for a period of ninety (90) days. Id. at CMI000051. The package further advised Shaw that in order to qualify for a permanent modification, Shaw must comply with two requirements. First, Shaw was required to timely make three modified monthly mortgage payments of $3,079.30 starting March 2011. Id. Second, Shaw was required to submit various documents to CMI. Id. If Shaw complied with both requirements, CMI advised Shaw that his residential home loan would be “permanently modified” and it would send him “a modification agreement detailing the terms of the modified loan.” Id. at CMI000052.

25. Shaw timely made all three required trial payments of $3,079.30 under the trial period plan for the months of March, April, and May 2011. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000067.

26. CMI reported Shaw delinquent on his mortgage account to the various credit reporting agencies for the months of March, April, and May 2011, despite granting Shaw a trial modification plan and having received all three modified payments in a timely manner. By this time, Shaw had been reported delinquent on his mortgage account for eight months.

27. During the time period after submitting his loan modification application through the time of the trial modification plan, Shaw received various collection calls from CMI seeking payment on his delinquent account. Approximately April 2011, Shaw registered for CMI’s no-call list, thereby precluding CMI from initiating telephonic contact with Shaw. Since that time, Shaw has received no telephonic attempts to collect on his mortgage account.

28. On May 11, 2011, having submitted all trial plan payments, Shaw received an e-mail from CMI advising him that his “mortgage assistance documents [had] been sent” the previous day, May 10, 2011. PI. Trial Ex. 5, P00011. The e-mail further directed Shaw to “review and sign the documents as instructed.” Id.

29. On May 18, 2011, Shaw received a letter from CMI authored by CMI employee Kim Vukovich (“Vuko-vich”). PI. Trial Ex. 6, P00014-20. The letter advised Shaw that he was “eligible for a Citi Affordable Modification” and directed him to complete and return the enclosed modification agreement (also prepared by Vukovich) no later than May 20, 2011. Id. at P00014. The enclosed proposed modification agreement, titled “Citi Affordable Modification Agreement” (“May 2011 Modification Agreement”), outlined the various terms of the proposed loan modification. Id. at P00016-20. Those terms included, in relevant part to this action, that: (1) permanent modified payments in the amount of $3,079.30 would commence starting June 1, 2011; (2) the new principal .balance under the modified loan would be set at $910,110.34 and include all past due amounts, including the difference between the original monthly payment amount (approximately $4,300) and the payment amount made under the three months of the trial modification plan ($3,079.30); (3) $85,777.89 of the new principal balance was deferred from interest charges during the life of the modification and would be due as a balloon payment; (4) the effective date of the properly executed agreement would be May 1, 2011; and (5) the maturity date under the modified loan would be November 1, 2033. Id.

30. Also on May 18, 2011, Shaw promptly executed, by notarized signature, the May 2011 Modification Agreement and submitted the signed agreement to CMI via an enclosed Next Day Air envelope. PI. Trial Ex. 6, P00013; Def. Trial Ex. 506-A, CMI000061.

31. On May 19, 2011, CMI received the executed May 2011 Modification Agreement. PI. Trial Ex. 7, P00021.

32. On May 23, 2011, CMI entered and booked the terms of the May 2011 Modification Agreement into Shaw’s electronic mortgage account. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000066. At the time CMl booked the terms of the modification, .CMI misentered the length of the loan, extending the ■ loan from three hundred and sixty (360) months to four hundred and eighty (480) months. Id. This administrative booking error extended the loan maturity date and subsequent due date of the $85,777.89 balloon payment from November 1, 2033, to November 1, 2045.

33. Shaw timely made his modified mortgage payments of $3,079.30 for the months of June and July 2011. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000066.

34. On June 30, 2011, Larry Bauman, Vice-President for CMI, executed, by notarized signature, the May 2011 Modification Agreement. Def. Trial Ex. 506-A, CMI000061; PI. Trial Ex. 18, P00055-56.

35. From May 20, 2011, through mid-July 2011, Shaw did not receive any communication from CMI concerning the May 2011 Modification Agreement and was not informed that the agreement had been executed by CMI.

36. Prior to July 2011, Shaw maintained, in good standing, a Diners Club Charge Card credit account and had sufficient credit to qualify as a cosigner on his daughter’s student loans obtained through non-party Wells Fargo Bank. At that time, Shaw was also at the tail end of a thirty-six (36) month lease agreement with non-party Audi Financial Services on a 2008 Audi A-4 automobile.

37. Approximately early-July 2011, Loss Mitigation reviewed Shaw’s mortgage account and unilaterally determined that there was an issue with the modified terms of his residential loan booked pursuant to the May 2011 Modification Agreement documents. Loss Mitigation then, without consultation or communication with Shaw, unbooked the May 2011 Modification Agreement from Shaw’s electronic mortgage account. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000065-66. This action automatically unbooked Shaw’s timely made modified mortgage payments under both the trial and permanent modification periods, and placed his account in default. Id. As Shaw’s account then showed that no payment had been made on his account for the months of June and July 2011, CMI reported Shaw’s account as delinquent to the various credit reporting agencies for those months.

38. On July 15, 2011, non-party BMO Financial Group sent Shaw a letter advising him that his Diners Club Charge Card account, a credit account with Citicorp Credit Services, Inc., was going to be closed effective July 20, 2011. PI. Trial Ex. 50, P00022.

39. On July 16, 2011, non-party U.S. Bank, National Association sent Shaw a letter advising him that his credit application for an auto loan to purchase his leased 2008 Audi A-4 automobile had been denied. PI. Trial Ex. 51, P00023.

40. On July 18, 2011, CMI sent Shaw a letter advising him that his mortgage account was in default and that monthly mortgage payments had not been made as required under his residential home loan. PI. Trial Ex. 10, P00035-36. In that letter, CMI further demanded Shaw pay, in full, the past due amount of $31,684.34 by August 18, 2011, or the McFaul Court property could be sold in accordance with the terms of the first deed of trust. Id. at P00035.

41.On July 19, 2011, CMI sent Shaw a letter authored by CMI employee Juan Mayorga (“Mayorga”). PI. Trial Ex. 9, P00025-33. This letter again advised Shaw that he was “eligible for a Citi Affordable Modification” and directed him to complete and return the new “corrected” modification agreement (separately prepared by Mayorga) no later than August 2, 2011. Id. at P00025. The enclosed “corrected” modification agreement, again titled “Citi Affordable Modification Agreement” (“July 2011 Modification Agreement”), outlined the various terms and provisions of the new agreement. Id. at P00027-33. The majority of the terms in the July 2011 Modification Agreement were similar, or even identical, to the terms and provisions of the May 2011 Modification Agreement, including that: (1) permanent modified payments of $3,079.30 would commence starting June 1, 2011; (2) the modified principal balance was set at $910,110.34; (3) $85,777.89 of the principal balance was deferred from interest charges and would be due as a balloon payment; (4) the effective date of the properly executed agreement would be May 1, 2011; and (5) the maturity date under the modified residential loan would be November 1, 2033. Id. However, the July 2011 Modification Agreement also included specific language establishing the due date of the deferred principal balloon payment that was not in the May 2011 Modification Agreement. Compare PI. Trial Ex. 6 at P00018 (no date) with PI. Trial Ex. 9 at P00028 (establishing the maturity date of the modified loan (November 1, 2033) as the due date). Further, the “corrected” agreement contained several additional provisions that were not in the May 2011 Modification Agreement, including Section 5(G). Id. at P00032. Section 5(G) required, in pertinent part, that under the July 2011 Modification Agreement Shaw would be required to execute any and all other documents requested by CMI or forfeit all his rights under the modified agreement. Id. (“If I elect not to sign any such corrected documentation, the terms of the original Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect, such terms will not be modified by this Agreement, and I will not be eligible for a modification _”).

42.On July 20, 2011, Shaw received an e-mail from CMI advising him that “mortgage assistance documents” had been sent on July 19, 2011. PI. Trial Ex. 8, P00024. The communication further directed Shaw to “review and sign the documents as instructed.” Id. On the - same day, Shaw received CMI’s communications dated July 18 and July 19, 2011. Shaw immediately contacted CMI, including a conversation with Mayorga, but was never provided an explanation why .his mortgage account was placed in default, or why a new modification agreement had been sent only two months after he • executed and submitted the May 2011 Modification Agreement. Instead, Shaw was directed to review and sign the July 2011 Modification Agreement.

43. On July 21, 2011, Shaw sent a letter to Mayorga objecting to CMI’s handling of his mortgage ■ account, including CMI’s unilateral decision to unbook the May 2011 Modification Agreement and place his mortgage account in default, as well as the additional material terms in the July 2011 Modification Agreement not present in the May 2011 Modification Agreement; PI. Trial Ex. 13, P00040.

44. Shaw did not execute the July 2011 Modification Agreement.

45. On July 22, 2011, Shaw received a letter from CMI dated July 20, 2011, advising him that CMI had reviewed his loan modification application and could not approve a modification at that time. PL Trial Ex. 11, P00037-38. CMI sent the letter to Shaw even though it had already executed the May 2011 Modification Agreement and sent the separate July 2011 Modification Agreement.

46. Also on July 22, 2011, Shaw received an e-mail from CMI advising Shaw that his “mortgage assistance documents [had] been received by [CMI.] ” PI. Trial Ex. 12, P00039. However, Shaw had not submitted any mortgage assistance documents to CMI and had refused to execute the July 2011 Modification Agreement.

47. Commencing late July 2011, Shaw again contacted CMI to resolve the inconsistent and contradictory communications received during the previous weeks including why he had received a loan modification denial letter after having just received the July 2011 Modification Agreement. Once again, Shaw did not receive any explanation from CMI for these contradictory communications.

48. Approximately July 2011, in response to Shaw’s near daily communications with CMI, CMI deemed Shaw’s mortgage account an Escalated Case and turned his account over to the Executive Response Unit, a CMI department dedicated to addressing customer account issues. Shaw’s account was placed with Chris Gabbert (“Gabbert”), a Homeowner Support Specialist in the Executive Response Unit. Shaw contacted Gabbert to outline and discuss his ongoing mortgage and modification issues. At that time, Gabbert advised Shaw that the July 2011 Modification Agreement was the only modification agreement that CMI would accept, directed him to execute the agreement, and informed him that there was not a prior modification of his residential loan under the May 2011 Modification Agreement.

49. As a result of CMI’s repeated inconsistent communications and complete lack of any explanation for CMI’s conduct in handling his mortgage account and loan modification, Shaw experienced increasing confusion, frustration, stress, and a general feeling of worthlessness over not being able to resolve his issues with CMI. This frustration and stress caused Shaw to suffer occasional sleeplessness during this time. Further, Shaw spent significant amounts of time and energy, sometimes as much as eight (8) hours in a single day, contacting CMI and dealing with various CMI employees that were unable to address his concerns or help with his mortgage and modification issues.

50. Due to Shaw’s ongoing frustration in dealing with CMI, Shaw sought the identity of the owner/beneficiary of his loan in the hopes of resolving his problems directly with the loan’s owner.

51. Between July 25 and July 28, 2011, Shaw contacted Gabbert several times. In those telephonic conversations, Shaw requested information about the current owner of his loan. Gabbert advised Shaw that the current owner of his loan was Lehman Brothers through Structured Asset Security Corporation (“SASCO”) Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates.

52. On July 31, 2011, Shaw again emailed Gabbert. PI. Trial Ex. 15, P00044-45. In that e-mail, Shaw specifically requested information related to the owner of his loan, as Shaw had determined on his own that Lehman Brothers had previously gone bankrupt and the SASCO Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates that included his residential loan had been transferred to a new, unknown owner. Id.

53. Shaw requested contact information for the current owner of his loan in order to seek a modification directly from the owner and to make sure that he was receiving credit from the owner for payments made on the mortgage.

54. Shaw timely made a modified mortgage payment in the amount of $3,079.30 for the month of August 2011. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000065. CMI did not book Shaw’s payment into his electronic mortgage account.

55. Approximately August 2011, Shaw applied for and was denied credit with non-party Audi Financial Services to purchase his Audi automobile which he had been leasing from Audi for approximately four (4) years.

56. On August 2, 2011, CMI sent Shaw another letter again advising Shaw that his mortgage account was in default and demanded Shaw pay, in full, the past due amount of $31,697.84 by September 2, 2011, or ■the McFaul Court property could be sold in accordance with the terms of the first deed of trust. PI. Trial Ex. 16, P00046-47.

57. On August 9, 2011, CMI sent Shaw a letter from the Document Processing Modification Unit that included a copy of the completed and executed May 2011 Modification Agreement signed by CMI Vice-President Bau-man. PI. Trial Ex. 18, P00049-56. The letter advised Shaw that the copy of the agreement executed by both parties was solely for his records and that “no further action [was] necessary.” Id.

58. Upon receiving his copy of the executed May 2011 Modification Agreement, Shaw immediately contacted Gabbert who initiated the involvement of Dana Ross (“Ross”), Assistant General Counsel of CMI, to resolve Shaw’s mortgage account and loan modification.

59. On August 12, 2011, after reviewing Shaw’s account and. the May 2011 Modification Agreement, Ross ad- . vised Shaw that he would be receiving a letter outlining CMI’s resolution of Shaw’s mortgage account and loan modification. PI. Trial Ex. 22, P00061.

60. On August 15, CMI rebooked the terms of the May 2011 Modification Agreement into Shaw’s electronic mortgage account. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000064. As of that date, Shaw’s account reflected all of the modification terms outlined in the May 2011 Modification Agreement, including principal amount, deferred principal amount, and modified payment amounts. See PI. Trial Ex. 19, P00057-58. CMI also rebooked all payments Shaw made under the trial period plan and the May 2011 Modification Agreement to date. These actions brought Shaw’s mortgage account current and removed his account from default.

61. On August 23, 2011, Ross sent Shaw an e-mail advising him that CMI had resolved the issues on his. account and directed him to access a document on his online mortgage account constituting CMI’s resolution. PI. Trial Ex. 20, P00059. The aforementioned document was a letter signed by Gabbert explaining the actions CMI took on Shaw’s mortgage account in July 2011, and outlining CMI’s resolution of his account and modification. PL Trial Ex. 21, P00060. The resolution document advised Shaw that although the May 2011 Modification Agreement did not have clear balloon payment language (as no due date was specifically mentioned in that provision), the agreement correctly identified the appropriate maturity date for the loan (November 1, 2033), and thus, “there [was] nothing legally deficient with the [May 2011 Modification Agreement.]” Id. Further, the resolution document advised Shaw that CMI had already rebooked the May 2011 Modification Agreement and that his account was permanently modified under that agreement going forward. Id.

62. Shaw believed that he had a binding loan modification with CMI and that all his account issues had been resolved. Thereafter, Shaw timely made all modified monthly payments of $3,079.30 pursuant to the May 2011 Modification Agreement through December 2011. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000063-64.

63. Beginning in September and continuing through December 2011, Shaw received sporadic written collection notices from CMI that consisted of formal collection notices and informal door hangers left in plain view at the McFaul Court property, demanding payment on past due amounts. Whenever he received a collection notice, Shaw contacted the telephone number on that notice. However, Shaw was repeatedly told by various CMI employees that because Shaw’s account had been transferred to the Executive Response Unit, only his dedicated Homeowner Support Specialist was allowed to deal with, discuss, and handle his account issues. Shaw would then contact and advise Gabbert that he was still receiving collection notices from CMI despite the rebooking of the May 2011 Modification Agreement and the inclusion of all past due amounts into his new principal balance.

64. Sometime in the fall of 2011, Shaw applied for and was denied credit as a cosigner on his daughter’s student loans through non-party Wells Fargo Bank for the 2011-12 school year.

65. Throughout the fall of 2011, Shaw repeatedly sought the identity and contact information for the owner of his residential home loan from CMI. Shaw’s efforts consisted of various telephonic and written requests to Gabbert. In response to these requests, Gabbert advised Shaw of different owners at different times. Lehman Brothers through SASCO Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates was identified, non-party Aurora Loan Services was identified, and even CMI itself was identified as the owner.

66. On December 5, 2011, Shaw attempted to e-mail Gabbert requesting specific information about his loan — including copies of the original note, deed of trust, and any assignment of rights — as well as contact information for the current owner of his loan as Shaw had previously received such inconsistent information about the owner from CMI. See Def. Trial Ex. 512-A. At that time, Shaw was informed that Gabbert was no longer employed with CMI. Shaw then forwarded the email directly to Ross, CMI’s Assistant General Counsel. Def. Trial Ex. 512-A.

67. On December 8, 2011, CMI sent Shaw a letter advising him that his account had been transferred to a new Homeowner Support Specialist in the Executive Response Unit, Jennifer Butler (“Butler”). PI. Trial Ex. 28, P00062-68. Shaw contacted Butler to outline his account history and discuss CMI’s ongoing collection efforts despite his resolved loan modification. Butler informed Shaw that Shaw did not have any loan modification with CMI because he had not yet signed the July 2011 Modification Agreement. Shaw provided Butler all prior communications allegedly resolving his modification, but was then informed that CMI’s Loss Mitigation and underwriting departments had confirmed that Shaw did not have a loan modification with CMI at that time, and would not have any modification with CMI unless and until he executed and submitted the July 2011 Modification Agreement.

68. Upon now being informed that he did not have a binding loan modification with CMI under the May 2011 Modification Agreement, Shaw did not make his modified mortgage payment of $3079.30 for the month of January 2012. Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMIÓ00063. Since January 2012, Shaw has not made any payments on his mortgage account. See Def. Trial Ex. 510-B, CMI000062-63; Def. Trial Ex. 511-B.

69. On January 3, 2012, Shaw again emailed Ross, CMI’s Assistant General Counsel, requesting information related to his loan and informing Ross that he was withholding all mortgage payments until CMI officially and finally resolved his account under the May 2011 Modification Agreement. PI. Trial Ex. 24, P00064-65. Ross responded and informed Shaw that she had reached out to CMI Senior Management for the information Shaw had requested. Id.

70. On January 9, 2012, CMI sent Shaw a letter in response to his recent request advising him that non-party Aurora was the owner of his mortgage. PL Trial Ex. 25, P00066. Shaw then contacted Aurora and was informed by Aurora that it was not the owner of his mortgages and had no involvement in either his mortgage account or his loan modification since transferring the servicing rights to CMI. See PI. Trial Ex. 26, P00067-69.

71. On January 20,2012, Shaw sent Ross a formal letter outlining the information obtained from Aurora that it was not the owner of his residential home loan and requested correct ownership information, as well as all documents related to his mortgage account. PI. Trial Ex. 26, P00067-69.

72. Approximately ■ February 2012, Shaw’s mortgage account was placed in default.

73. On February 13, 2012, CMI sent Shaw another letter again identifying the owner of his loan as non-party Aurora. PL Trial Ex. 31, P00099.

74; On February 23, 2012, Shaw emailed Butler after receiving another collection notice requesting she contact him to resolve his loan modification issues. PL Trial Ex. 26, P00070.

75. On March 12, 2012, Shaw received an e-mail from Butler outlining CMI’s final position concerning his loan modification. Pl. Trial Ex. 27, P00068. The e-mail informed Shaw that he did not have a loan modification with CMI under the May 2011 Modification Agreement and would not have any modification of his residential loan unless and until Shaw executed the July 2011 Modification Agreement. Id. Butler then sent Shaw another copy of the July 2011 Modification Agreement. PL Trial Ex. 29, P00074-85.

76. On March 16, 2012, Shaw e-mailed Butler requesting confirmation that it was CMI’s final position that the May 2011 Modification Agreement executed by both parties was not in force. PI. Trial Ex. 30, P00086. Butler responded and confirmed that CMI was not recognizing the May 2011 Modification Agreement and was not changing its position that Shaw had to sign the July 2011 Modification Agreement. Id. at P00088. Further, Butler advised Shaw that because he refused to sign the July 2011 Modification Agreement, his Escalated Case file with the Executive Response Unit was closed and she would no longer communicate with Shaw about his mortgage account. Id. at P00088; P00093. At that point, Shaw’s Escalated Case with the Executive Response unit was closed and he received no further communication from Butler.

77. Two months later, on May 30, 2012, CMI sent Shaw a letter advising him that his mortgage account had again been deemed an Escalated Case and had been transferred to a new Homeowner Support Specialist in the Executive Response Unit, Robert Orcutt (“Orcutt”). PI. Trial Ex. 33, P00101-02. Shaw contacted Or-cutt and outlined the history of his mortgage account and CMI’s inconsistent positions on his loan modification. Orcutt advised Shaw that he would review Shaw’s mortgage account and contact him to resolve his account issues.

78. On June 13, 2012, Orcutt sent Shaw an e-mail outlining a proposed reinstatement of Shaw’s mortgage account. PL Trial Ex. 36, P00104-06. The reinstatement offer provided that if Shaw paid a past due amount of $18,534.34 by June 30, 2012, CMI would reinstate Shaw’s mortgage account and remove his account from default. Id. at P00105. However, the reinstatement offer made no mention of any loan modification or the terms of Shaw’s loan going forward after reinstatement. Shaw contacted Or-cutt and asked whether CMI would recognize the May 2011 Modification Agreement if he made the reinstatement payment but was not given any assurance that CMI would rebook the modification agreement or not require him to execute the July 2011 Modification Agreement documents at some time in the future. Shaw refused the reinstatement offer and did not make any reinstatement payment.

79. On June 20, 2012, Shaw e-mailed Orcutt and requested contact information for the representative or trustee of the SASCO 2003-37A Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, the bundled mortgage investment that included Shaw’s residential home loan. Pl. Trial Ex. 36, P00107. In response, Orcutt provided Shaw with the e-mail contact of non-party Deborah Lenhart, a representative of the bondholders of the SASCO Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates 2003-37A.

80. On June 21, 2012, Shaw sent an email to Deborah Lenhart at the contact information provided by Orcutt, but the e-mail was returned as undeliverable. PL Trial Ex. 37, P00110-111.

81. On June 22, 2012, Shaw again contacted Orcutt to request correct contact information for Lenhart, or another representative, as the information Orcutt provided was incorrect. Pl. Trial Ex. 37, P00112-114. Orcutt informed Shaw that he did not have any other contact information for Lenhart. Pl. Trial Ex. 37, P00115. .

82. On June 26, 2012, Shaw received an e-mail from CMI stating that his online account had been suspended and. that he would no longer be able to receive online statements or access his online account. Pl. Trial Ex. 37, P00117.

83. In August 2012, Shaw moved out of the McFaul Court property.

84. At the end of 2012, CMI began foreclosure proceedings on the McFaul Court property. In response, Shaw placed the McFaul Court property up for sale as a short sale with non-party Pinnacle Realty.

85. On January 3, 2013, dismissed defendant NTS recorded a Notice of Default and Election to Sell Under Deed of 'Trust in the official records of Douglas County, Nevada (Doc. No. 0815587). Def. Trial Ex. 505-B, CMI000042-47.

86. On January 29, 2013, Shaw sent a letter to CMI objecting to the pending foreclosure of the McFaul Court property and again requesting information and documents pertaining to his residential loan. Pl. Trial Ex. 38, P00120-22.

87. On February 5, 2013, Shaw received an e-mail from attorney Joseph E. Bleeker on behalf of both CMI and dismissed defendant NTS. Pl. Trial Ex. 39, P00123-24. The e-mail informed Shaw that attorney Bleeker was in receipt of Shaw’s January 29, 2013 letter and was treating that letter as a “Qualified Written Request” pursuant to RE SPA. Id. Attorney Bleeker then advised Shaw that CMI would respond to his letter within sixty days as required under RESPA. Id.

88. On February 8, 2013, Shaw received and accepted an offer on the McFaul Court property from non-parties Jeff and Cathy Knapp (“the Knapps”). Pl. Trial Ex. 40, P00125-135. The offer was a contingent short sale offer with a purchase price of $857,000.00 (“the Knapp Offer”).

89. At the time of the Knapp Offer, Shaw owed approximately $900,000.00 to CMI on the residential loan and approximately $250,000.00 on the two junior liens for a total liability on the McFaul Court Property of approximately $1,150,000.

90. On February 14, 2013, Shaw forwarded, to CMI,'through his real estate agent, the accepted Knapp Offer. Pl. Trial Ex. 44, P00202.

91. On February 25, 2013, Shaw received a letter from CMI advising him that pursuant to the terms of the May 2011 Modification Agreement, . Shaw’s modified payments would be increasing from $3079.30 to $3,539.22 starting June 1, 2013. Pl. Trial Ex. 42, P00138. Shaw received this letter despite CMI repeatedly informing Shaw as early as December 2011, that he did not have a loan modification with CMI under the May 2011 Modification Agreement.

92. On March 6, 2013, Shaw received a package from Kristin Dennis, a Default Research Specialist at CMI, in response to Shaw’s January 29, 2013 “Qualified Written Request.” Pl. Trial Ex. 43, P00139-87. The package included copies of Shaw’s account history with CMI from February 2006 through March 2013 (Id. at P00140-49); CMI’s transaction codes for its electronic mortgage accounts (Id. at P00150-51); Shaw’s adjustable rate note dated October 8, 2013 (Id. at P00152-60); the recorded first deed of trust (Id. at P00161-82); and the June 20, 2012 assignment of deed of trust to CMI (Id. at P00183-87). The letter further advised Shaw that CMI had determined that Shaw had been eligible for a modification of his residential loan, but that his application was closed for lack of documentation because he did not sign and return the July 2011 Modification Agreement. Id. at P00139.

93. On or about March 19, 2013, Maria Mejia (“Mejia”), an employee in CMI’s Homeowner Assistance Department, was assigned as the short sale advisor to review the Knapp Offer. Def. Trial Ex. 26.

94. On March 26, 2013, Mejia contacted Shaw’s real estate agent and advised Shaw, through his real estate agent, that in order for CMI to review the Knapp Offer, Shaw had to submit several documents including: (1) a hardship letter; (2) a signed purchase agreement (as the original offer had expired in late February 2013); (3) Shaw’s tax returns for the tax years 2011 and 2012; (4) all payoffs for the junior liens on the property within the last sixty days, if any; or, (6) if the junior liens still needed to be paid off, then approval letters of the short sale by each junior lien holder and releases of their junior liens; (6) the 2011 real estate tax bill for the McFaul Court property; and (7) a hazard insurance policy on the property. Def. Trial Ex. 525-A.

95. In mid-March 2013, Shaw and the Knapps signed an agreement to extend the Knapp Offer for an additional thirty (30) days.

96. On April 3, 2013, an appraisal of the McFaul Court property was conducted at the request of CMI as part of the evaluation of the Knapp Offer. PI. Trial Ex. 49, P00283. At that time, the McFaul Court property was appraised at a value of $1,082,000.00. Id.

97. In mid-April 2013, after no response to the Knapp Offer by CMI, Shaw and the Knapps executed a second thirty (30) days extension on the Knapp Offer.

98. On May 6, 2013, dismissed defendant NTS recorded a Notice of Trustee’s Sale on the McFaul Court property in the official records of Douglas County, Nevada (Doc. No. 0823028) setting the trustee’s sale for June 5, 2013. Def. Trial Ex. 507-B, CMI000049-50.

99. On May 16, 2013, Shaw received an e-mail from Mejia informing him that CMI had not received all required documentation for CMI to review and consider the Knapp Offer. Shaw resubmitted most of the documentation but did not provide, at any point during the relevant time period, payoff information on the junior liens or a release of liens from the junior lien holders.

100. On May 23, 2013, CMI denied the short sale of the McFaul Court property under the Knapp Offer for lack of documentation related to the junior lien holders. However, by that point, the Knapp Offer had already expired under the terms of the second extension.

101. On June 5, 2013, dismissed defendant NTS sent Shaw a letter advis-mg him that the trustee’s sale set for June 5, 2013, was postponed until August 7, 2013. PI. Trial Ex. 45 P00204.

102. In July 2013, Shaw and the Knapps revived the Knapp Offer to purchase the McFaul Court property as a short sale for the purchase price, of $857,000.00. Shaw submitted the revived Knapp Offer to CMI. Along with the revived Knapp Offer, Shaw submitted all documents originally requested by CMI for consideration of the short sale except for releases from the junior lien holders.

103. On July 26, 2013, Shaw filed his initial complaint against CMI initiating the present action. ECF No. 1, Exhibit 1, p.8-19.

104. In mid-August 2013, after no response to the revived Knapp Offer by CMI, Shaw and the Knapps executed a thirty (30) day extension on the offer.

105. In mid-September 2013, again after no response to the revived Knapp Offer by CMI, Shaw and the Knapps executed a second thirty (30) day extension on the offer.

106. In October 2013, Shaw applied for and was denied credit as a cosigner for his son on a thirty-six (36) month lease of a Kia automobile.

107. In mid-October 2013, after still no response to the revived Knapp Offer by CMI, Shaw and the Knapps executed a third and final thirty (30) day extension on the offer.

108. In mid-November 2013, the revived Knapp Offer expired under the terms of the last extension. At that point, Shaw ended his listing agreement with non-party Pinnacle Realty and the McFaul Court property was no longer listed for sale.

109. On December 11, 2013, and in response to developments in the litigation, dismissed defendant NTS recorded a rescission of the notice of default in the official records of Douglas County, Nevada (Doc. No. 0835262). Def. Trial Ex. 508-B.

110. During the infancy of the litigation, defendant CMI was represented by Attorney Colt Dodrill (“Attorney Dodrill”). While the litigation was proceeding, Shaw contacted and met with Attorney Dodrill several times. In December 2013, after a court hearing, Attorney Dodrill and Shaw had a discussion about the possible short sale of the McFaul Court property. As part of that conversation, Attorney Dodrill advised Shaw that if he was to re-list the property for sale and accept any short sale offers, those offers should be submitted directly to Attorney Dodrill as counsel of record for CMI, rather than to CMI’s Homeowner’s Assistance department.

111. After the discussion with Attorney Dodrill, Shaw listed the McFaul Court property as a short sale with non-party Chase International Realty, at a listing price of $1,082,000.00, the appraised value of the property in April 2013.

112. On April 3, 2014, Shaw filed an amended complaint in this litigation. ECF No. 52. '

113. On April 8, 2014, Shaw received a short sale offer on the McFaul Court property from non-parties Darin and Lisette Smith (“the Smiths”) to purchase the property for $785,000.00. PI. Trial Ex. 48A.

114. On April 11, 2014, Shaw submitted a counter-offer to the Smiths for the same purchase price which they accepted (“the first Smith Offer”). PL Trial Ex. 48A. The terms of the accepted counter-offer included that: (1) CMI had until April 30, 2014, to approve the short sale; (2) Katherine Barkley and Janice Shaw, the second and third junior lien holders, would be paid in full on their junior liens from the sale proceeds of the McFaul Court property; (3) Shaw would receive $75,000.00 from the sale proceeds of the property; and (4) CMI would receive the remaining sale proceeds as full and final satisfaction of Shaw’s residential loan and the first deed of trust. Id.

115. On April 14, 2014, Shaw forwarded the first Smith Offer to Attorney Dodrill and demanded a response on the offer by April 28, 2014. PL Trial Ex. 48A.

116. On April 30, 2014, the first Smith Offer lapsed pursuant to its terms without any action by CMI on the short sale offer.

117. On June 2, 2014, CMI denied the first Smith Offer. However, by that point, the offer had already expired under its terms more than a month earlier.

118. On July 11, 2014, Shaw received another short sale offer from the Smiths to purchase the McFaul Court property for $825,000.00 (“the second Smith Offer”). PL Trial Ex. 48B. The terms of the second Smith Offer included: (1) approval of the short sale by CMI within 5 business days of acceptance by Shaw; (2) Katherine Barkley and Janice Shaw, the second and third junior lien holders, would be paid in full on their jpnior liens from the sale proceeds; (3) Shaw would receive $75,000.00 from the sale proceeds; and (4) CMI would receive the remaining proceeds as full and final satisfaction of Shaw’s residential loan and the first deed of trust. Id. Shaw accepted and forwarded the second Smith Offer to Attorney Andrew Bao (“Attorney Bao”), CMI’s new counsel of record in the litigation. Pl. Trial Ex. 48B. Attorney Bao advised Shaw that the second Smith Offer had been submitted to CMI and that if any further information was required to consider the offer he would contact Shaw. Id.

119. On July 19, 2014, the second Smith Offer lapsed without any action by CMI.

120. During Shaw’s attempts to sell the property in 2013 and 2014, junior lien holder Katherine Barkley did not have any conversations with Shaw regarding the various short sale offers on the McFaul Court property, had not agreed to any short sale offers on the property, and had not agreed to release her junior lien.

121. Similarly, junior lien holder Janice Shaw did not have any conversations with Shaw regarding the various short sale offers on the McFaul Court property, had not agreed to any short sale offer on the property, and had not agreed to release her junior lien.

122. On August 25, 2014, Shaw filed his second amended complaint in this action. ECF No. 109. The second amended complaint is the operative complaint in this litigation.

12B. By the time trial began in May 2016, Shaw’s mortgage account with CMI showed a total amount due of $1,162,304.95. PI. Trial Ex. 57. This amount was calculated as the combination of the remaining principal balance of $891,467.07; $221,350.69 in accrued interest; $43,110.45 in advanced escrow charges; $186.90 in fees; and $7963.83 in past-due fees and late charges. Id.

124. Throughout the history of this action, Shaw sought contact information from CMI for the current owner of his residential loan. However, prior to trial in June of 2016, CMI never provided contact information for, or identified the actual current owner of Shaw’s residential loan.

125. Throughout the history of this action Shaw suffered a loss of personal and business reputation as a direct consequence of CMI’s' conduct, collection activities, and eventual initiation of foreclosure proceedings on the McFaul Court property.

11. Conclusions of Law

In his second amended complaint, Shaw has alleged five causes of action against CMI that are currently before the court: declaratory relief, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenants of good faith and. fair dealing, interference with prospective economic advantage, and violation of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. ECF No. 109. Shaw has the burden of proof on all his claims and must prove each claim by a preponderance of the evidence. See, e.g., Cal. State Bd. of Equalization v. Renovizor’s Inc., 282 F.3d 1233 (9th Cir.2002) (stating the basic premise that civil claims must be proven by a preponderance of the evidence). Along with contract and tort damages, Shaw also seeks punitive damages for CMI’s conduct in this action. See ECF No. 109. In order to be eligible for an award of punitive damages, Shaw must prove by clear and convincing evidence that CMI engaged in oppression, fraud, or malice. See NRS § 42.005(1). The court addresses each of Shaw’s remaining causes of action below.

A. Declaratory Relief

Pursuant to Section 2201 of the Declaratory Judgment Act, “any court of the United States ... may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration.” 28 U.S.C. § 2201. Further “[a]ny such declaration shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree and shall be renewable as such.”'M In his claim for declaratory relief, Shaw seeks a declaration from the court that the May 2011 Modification Agreement was a fully executed, valid, and binding loan modification agreement between the parties and that such agreement was, pursuant to its terms, effective May 1, 2011. See ECF No. 109. Shaw also seeks an order from the court declaring the parties’ obligations and financial relationship under that agreement. Id.

The existence of a contract is a question of law. May v. Anderson, 121 Nev. 668,119 P.3d 1254,1257 (2005); Kabil Developments Corp. v. Mignot, 279 Or. 151, 566 P.2d 505, 577 (1977). “Formation of a valid contract requires that there be a meeting of the minds as evidenced by a manifestation of mutual intent to contract.” Ridenour v. Bank of Am., N.A., 23 F.Supp.3d 1201, 1208 (DJdaho 2014). This manifestation can take the form of an offer by one party and acceptance by the other. Id.) see also Erection Co. v. W &W Steel, LLC, 2011 WL 5008325, at *7-8, 2011 U.S. Dist LEXIS 121581, at *19 (D.Or.2011) (citing Ken Hood Construction Co. v. Pacific Coast Construction, Inc., 201 Or.App. 568, 120 P.3d 6 (2005) (“Manifestation of mutual assent ordinarily occurs through an offer or proposal by one party followed by acceptance of the other party.”); Integrated Storage Consulting Sens. v. NetApp, Inc., 2013 WL 3974537, at *6, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 107705, at *19 (N.D.Cal.2013) (“The formation of a contract is properly shown through evidence of an offer and acceptance of definite terms”). The party asserting the existence of a contract has the burden to establish the contract’s existence and its terms. Erection Co., 2011 WL 5008325, at *8, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 121581, at *20.

Here, the undisputed evidence presented at trial establishes that defendant CMI offered to modify Shaw’s residential home loan in May 2011. CMI sent Shaw a letter written by CMI employee Kim Vu-kovich along with a copy of the May 2011 Modification Agreement. CMI’s letter specifically advised Shaw that he was eligible for a loan modification as outlined by the terms of the enclosed agreement. The letter further advised Shaw that if he accepted the terms of that agreement, he should execute and submit the agreement to CMI. Shaw properly executed, by notarized signature, the May 2011 Modification Agreement and submitted the agreement to CMI on May 18, 2011, pursuant to CMI’s instructions. CMI then accepted the executed May 2011 Modification Agreement by booking the terms of the modification into Shaw’s electronic mortgage account on May 23, 2011. After that date, Shaw’s mortgage account showed that his residential loan had been modified pursuant to the terms of the May 2011 Modification Agreement.

Additionally, on June 30, 2011, after having already booked the May 2011 Modification Agreement into Shaw’s mortgage account and having accepted Shaw’s first timely made modified payment under the agreement, CMI Vice-President Larry Bauman separately executed, by notarized signature, the May 2011 Modification Agreement on behalf of CMI. CMI then sent a copy of the completed May 2011 Modification Agreement, executed by both parties, to Shaw on August 9, 2011. Moreover, CMI, through its Assistant General Counsel, Dana Ross, and Homeowner Support Specialist Chris Gabbert, recognized both the validity and the legality of the May 2011 Modification Agreement in a separate letter to Shaw sent on August 23, 2011. Finally, it is undisputed that CMI accepted Shaw’s timely made modified monthly payments of $3079.30 from June through December 2011.

The court finds that this record of activity is sufficient to establish an offer of a modification by CMI and acceptance of that offer by Shaw. Such conduct establishes the formation of a contract as a matter of law. See Erection Co., 2011 WL 5008325, at *7-8, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 121581, at *19. Further, this record of activity unequivocally established “a manifestation of mutual intent” between the parties to modify Shaw’s residential home loan. Ridenour, 23 F.Supp.3d at 1208. Therefore, the court finds that the undisputed evidence in this action establishes that the parties executed a valid and binding loan modification agreement known as the May 2011 Modification Agreement that defines the financial relationship, duties, and obligations between Shaw and CMI, the terms of which are outlined in the agreement. See PL Trial Ex. 6, P00016-20. The court makes this finding concerning the formation and validity of the May 2011 Modification Agreement nunc pro tunc.

As the court has found that the May-2011 Modification Agreement is a valid contract between the parties, the court finds that due to the long history of this action it is necessary to define the obligations and financial relationship of the parties under the May 2011 Modification Agreement and going forward from this order. In that regard, the court makes these additional findings. First, .the modification of Shaw’s residential loan pursuant to the May 2011 Modification Agreement became effective May 1, 2011. See PI. Trial Ex. 6, P00017, Section 4. Second, pursuant to the contract, Shaw’s modified monthly payments for the first two years of the agreement were set at $8,079,30, with the first payment having been due on June 1, 2011. Id. at P00018, Section 4(C). It is undisputed that Shaw timely made modified monthly payments under the May 2011 Modification Agreement from June through December 2011, for a total of seven (7) modified payments. As addressed in depth below when analyzing Shaw’s breach of contract claim, the court finds that Shaw’s breach of the May 2011 Modification Agreement — by withholding his modified monthly mortgage payments beginning in January 2012 — was reasonable and excused because of CMI’s anticipatory repudiation of the May 2011 Modification Agreement in December 2011. See Infra Section II(B)(ii). Accordingly, the court considers the time period from January 2012, through the date of this order tolled and excluded under the agreement. The court finds that this tolling of the modification agreement is equitable based on CMI’s continued refusal to recognize the existence of the May 2011 Modification Agreement until the filing of the pretrial order in late 2015, four-and-a-half years after the May 2011 Modification Agreement was executed by both parties. Therefore, going forward from this order, Shaw’s modified monthly payment under the May 2011 Modification Agreement remains $3,079.30 for the next seventeen (17) months, after which the monthly payment will increase pursuant to the staggered payment plan outlined in the agreement with the date the staggered payments begin commencing from the date of this order and excluding the tolled period. See PL Trial Ex. 6, P00018, Section 4(C). Similarly, the maturity date of Shaw's modified loan is extended from November 1, 2033, until approximately August 1, 2038, to account for the time tolled in this action.

Third, as specified in the May 2011 Modification Agreement, Shaw’s principal balance on the loan was set at $910,110.34, $85,777.89 of which was deferred from interest charges and is due as a balloon payment at the end of Shaw’s loan. See PI. Trial Ex. 6, P00017-18, Section 4(B) & 4(C). Since that time, Shaw made seven modified payments of $3,079.30 under the agreement and reduced the principal balance on his residential loan. According to Shaw’s April 2016 mortgage statement admitted at trial, his current remaining principal balance under his loan is $891,467.07. PI. Trial Ex. 57. Thus, going forward, the court finds that the remaining principal balance on Shaw’s loan is $891,467.07, and that' Shaw’s mortgage account with CMI should reflect this amount.

Fourth, the court recognizes that beginning in January 2012, CMI advanced $43,100.45 in escrow funds to Shaw’s mortgage account in order to protect its security interest in the McFaul Court property during the parties’ dispute and this litigation. See PI. Trial Ex. 57; Def. Trial Ex. 513-B. These advanced escrow funds included quarterly property tax payments on the McFaul Court property, monthly Homeowner’s Insurance premiums, and other escrow expenses for which Shaw was responsible under the terms of his original residential loan, first deed of trust, and the May 2011 Modification Agreement. CMI made all escrow payments on Shaw’s account since January 2012, even though Shaw’s escrow account had insufficient funds to make these payments. Though it was in CMI’s interest to advance these funds in order to protect its security interest in the McFaul Court property, Shaw directly benefited from CMI’s conduct as no property tax liens were recorded on the McFaul Court property during the parties’ dispute and his Homeowner’s Insurance policy did not lapse. Accordingly, the court finds that in the interest of equity between the parties, Shaw is liable for, and CMI is entitled to recover from Shaw, the $43,100.45 in advanced escrow charges. Therefore, going forwa