On December 6, Judge Mariana Pfaelzer of the United States District Court for the Central District of California dismissed in part claims brought by several insurance companies, including Minnesota Life Insurance Company, in connection with the purchase of $114 million in RMBS issued by Countrywide.  Although the court denied Countrywide’s motion to dismiss the fraud claim against it, the court dismissed plaintiffs’ negligent misrepresentation claim and claims under various Minnesota consumer protection statutes.  The court granted Bank of America’s motion to dismiss in its entirety, holding that plaintiffs had not sufficiently alleged successor liability against Bank of America.  Decision.