Just a note to let everyone know that defending your foreclosure in the courts does work.  I have talked to several people over the last few days that I suggested they not walk away from their homes but fight and 2 of them told me that their banks have made offers to REDUCE their amount owed and signigicantly!  One was almost 35%.  So you can see that staying in your home and fighting the banks can, and will, work if you have the right attorney and file the proper motions.

Until later, Joe

What happens if a lender fails to comply with the TILA rules? The borrowers are allowed to RESCIND THE LOANS AND VOID THE MORTGAGES ON THEIR HOMES. The mortgage lender is then just another unsecured creditor, who must get in line behind everyone else who may have filed a lien on the property. Who ever files first (Credit card, auto finance, doctors, etc.) has first priority.

That makes the mortgage loan itself unsecuritized -- and worth a lot less -- due to the increased risk of loss of collateral:

Some borrowers drowning in escalating subprime mortgage payments are finding a way out. A growing number are suing lenders over inaccurate disclosure papers, and if they win they get to rescind the loans. While that's good news for individuals, it's a potential problem for investors exposed to subprime mortgages. These investors,  are facing a new kind of risk. The risk that the mortgages supporting some of their investments may not be enforceable because of violations of state and federal consumer protection laws.

It's not clear yet how widespread the problem is, but it appears to be a large percentage of some lenders portfolio. The subprime market has been known for its lax standards in documentation and the proliferation of these loans in recent years is now fueling significantly more complaints. The subprime share of first mortgages rose to 13.4% in the first quarter of 2007 from 10.9% in the first quarter of 2004."

The Act Requires:

(1)  SPECIFIC DISCLOSURES.--In addition to other disclosures required under this title, for each mortgage referred to in section 103(aa), the creditor shall provide the following disclosures in conspicuous type size:
(2)  ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE.--In addition to the disclosures required under paragraph (1), the creditor shall disclose

(A)  in the case of a credit transaction with a fixed rate of interest, the annual percentage rate and the amount of the regular monthly payment; or

(B)  in the case of any other credit transaction, the annual percentage rate of the loan, the amount of the regular monthly payment, a statement that the interest rate and monthly payment may increase, and the amount of the maximum monthly payment, based on the maximum interest rate allowed pursuant to section 1204 of the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987.
(emphasis added)

This seems to be where many of the subprime 2/28 ARMs ran afoul: They failed to meet the disclosure laws regarding actual interest amounts and payments.

Who has gotten tagged with these cases so far? Subprime lender NovaStar Financial Inc. (NFI) in Kansas City settled a class action suit for $5.1 million. And, consumers in Wisconsin recently won a class-action TILA suit (its under appeal). Between 1998 and 2006, approximately 2.2 million (nominal) home owners with subprime loans are expected to lose their homes, according to the Center for Responsible Lending. The consumers in this group who a) could not afford those loans and b) did not receive the proper disclosures are "talking with lawyers in an effort to prevent foreclosures."

You can fight a foreclosure within the time period set by law (usually 20 days after you were personally served with the foreclosure Complaint, 30 days if you were served by mail or other means). Once that time has passed, you are legally in default and your time to answer has expired.

This is not, however, the end of the world. If your time to answer has expired, you will need to get the court's permission to file and serve a late answer. Many courts will allow you to do so if you have a good defense in the case, as well as a good reason why you didn't file an answer in a timely manner. It's also smart to call the bank's lawyer to get their consent, in which case you wouldn't need to get the court's permission at all - but if they don't consent, letting the court know in your request will show that you've done your best to solve the problem on your own.

If you are served with a foreclosure and file for bankruptcy during the time to answer, then that time clock stops running while you're in bankruptcy. So if you're served with the Complaint and then file for bankruptcy on Day Ten, you will still have at least ten days to file an Answer once the bankruptcy ends (or if the bank gets relief from the automatic stay).

After 8 Lawyers turned Her Down ? Jury Awards $1.25 million to Borrower In Suit Against Wells Fargo

September 16, 2008

To all lawyers who dismissed the idea that they could make money representing homeowners in dispute with their lenders, consider this, by way of example, in addition to the 350 people who have officially walked away with clear title to their homes ? many of them acting pro se.

Jury gives woman $1.25M in lawsuit over mortgage
Baltimore Business Journal - by Eli Segall Staff submitted by Mario Kenny
A Baltimore native who defaulted on a subprime loan has been awarded $1.25 million in damages from her lender, Wells Fargo Bank N.A. The case may lead to similar lawsuits nationwide, and also may help Baltimore City's suit against the bank, claiming it targeted minority neighborhoods with subprime loans, legal and banking experts say.
Kimberly L. Thomas was awarded $250,000 in damages and $1 million in punitive damages in Montgomery County Circuit Court July 31. A six-member jury convicted Wells Fargo of fraud, negligence and other charges for inflating Thomas' income and assets on her mortgage application, and locking her into a bigger loan than she had applied for ? one she couldn't afford.
Thomas, 41, said in an interview with the Baltimore Business Journal that her case "destroys the myth" that the subprime mortgage meltdown is fueled by homebuyers taking loans they can't handle.
"They make it seem like it's the person's fault," Thomas said from her Silver Spring townhouse. "But they don't know what's going on behind the scenes."
Brian Maul, her attorney, said Thomas' loan agent pushed through a bigger mortgage to reap a higher commission. Teri Schrettenbrunner, a Wells Fargo spokeswoman, said the bank followed "responsible lending practices" and will appeal the verdict.
Thomas' lawsuit, filed in February 2007, may impact Baltimore City's case; the city alleges that Wells Fargo targeted Baltimore's minority neighborhoods with "unfair, deceptive and discriminatory lending," thus helping fuel a foreclosure crisis. The suit, filed in January in U.S. District Court of Maryland, has not gone to court yet.
Suzanne Sangree, chief solicitor in the city's Department of Law, said the case may not set a legal precedent because it was decided by a jury, without a judge-issued opinion. But the verdict would help nonetheless, as it "supports the allegations of our complaint," she said.
"The fact that a jury looked hard at the loan documents and said Wells Fargo was negligent, that's essentially what we're saying in Baltimore City as well," Sangree said.
Thomas' case dates back to June 2006. At the time she was considering separating from her husband, so Thomas, a mother of two, decided to leave Silver Spring and buy a $505,000 house in Burtonsville. Her sister referred her to a Wells Fargo Home Mortgage office in Westminster, where Thomas applied for a $535,000 loan, with a 7.13 percent interest rate.
Roughly two to three weeks later, her loan agent submitted the application with a string of incorrect information, according to court documents. This included the Social Security number of Thomas' sister, who had a higher credit rating; a monthly income of $14,000, which was nearly double Thomas' actual income; and assets that included $30,000 cash at Constellation Federal Credit Union. According to the suit, Thomas never claimed to have this much money socked away, at Constellation or elsewhere.

Thomas soon learned that her loan was at 10.625 percent interest, with a monthly payment of roughly $4,600, well above the $3,000 she was expecting. She signed the contract anyway, at the urging of her attorney at the time, figuring it was an honest mistake and Wells Fargo would correct it.
But over the next few days, Thomas said, the bank urged her to refinance with another lender. Thomas then realized she couldn't back out of the deal, and within a week of closing on the loan, she put the house back on the market.
She also decided to sue; among other problems, her credit rating was getting clobbered by missed mortgage payments. She feared this would harm her job as a government contractor and impede future big-ticket purchases.
Eight law firms rejected Thomas. She said they worried she didn't have enough money to take on the bank, before Gordon & Simmons LLC, of Frederick, took the case.
"Everybody knows somebody who's been messed over by them," Thomas said of the San Francisco bank. "But you don't see results. You don't actually see people who say that they won."

By Neil Roland

September 17, 2008

The following information pertains to the right to recind an agreement between HSBC and a customer. It is quite lengthy, but very interesting. The information comes from the FTC and OCC, respectively, according to the submitter. Case law is included:

I. TILA & Res Judicata
(Analogous to Mr. Curtis xxxxxx , situation since he had never litigated fully or raised any TILA claims affirmatively or defensively) A rescission action may not be barred by prior or subsequent TIL litigation which did not involve rescission (Smith v. Wells Fargo Credit Corp., 713 F. Supp. 354 (D. Ariz. 1989) (state court action involving, inter alia TIL disclosure violations did not bar a subsequent action based on rescission notice violations in conjunction with same transaction which were not alleged or litigated in prior action) (See also In re Laubach, 77 B.R. 483 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1987) (doctrine of merger bars raising state and federal law claims arising from a transaction on which a previous successful federal TILA action was based; merger does not bar, however, rescission-based on the same transaction)).

The Truth-in-Lending law empower Mr. Curtis xxxxxxx , to exercise his right in writing by notifying creditors of his cancellation by mail to rescind the mortgage loan transactions per (Reg. Z 226.15(a)(2), 226.23(a)(2), Official Staff Commentary 226.23(a)(2)-1) and 15 U.S.C. 1635(b).

2. Security Interest is Void
The statute and regulation specify that the security interest, promissory note or lien arising by operation of law on the property becomes automatically void. (15 U.S.C. 1635(b); Reg. Z 226.15(d)(1), 226.23(d)(1). As noted by the Official Staff Commentary, the creditor's interest in the property is "automatically negated regardless of its status and whether or not it was recorded or perfected." (Official Staff Commentary 226.15(d)(1)-1, 226.23(d)(1)-1.). Also, the security interest is void and of no legal effect irrespective of whether the creditor makes any affirmative response to the notice. Also, strict construction of Regulation Z would dictate that the voiding be considered absolute and not subject to judicial modification. This requires HSBC Mortgage Services to submit canceling documents creating the security interest and filing release or termination statements in the public record. (Official Staff Commentary 226.15(d)(2)-3, 226.23(d)(2)-

3. Extended Right of Rescission
The statute and Regulation Z make it clear that, if Mr. Curtis xxxxxxx , has the extended right and chooses to exercise it, the security interest and obligation to pay charges are automatically voided. (Cf. Semar v. Platte Valley Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 791 F.2d 699, 704-05 (9th Cir. 1986) (courts do not have equitable discretion to alter substantive provisions of TILA, so cases on equitable modification are irrelevant). The statute, section 1635(b) states: "When an obligor exercises his right to cancel, any security interest given by the obligor becomes void upon such rescission". Also, it is clear from the statutory language that the court's modification authority extends only to the procedures specified by section 1625(b).

The voiding of the security interest is not a procedure, in the sense of a step to be followed or an action to be taken. The statute makes no distinction between the right to rescind in three day or extended in three years for federal and four years under Mass. TILA, as neither cases nor statute give courts equitable discretion to alter TILA's substantive provisions. Since the rescission process was intended to be self-enforcing, failure to comply with the rescission obligations subjects Hsbc Mortgage Services Inc. to potential liability

Non-compliance is a violation of the act which gives rise to a claim for actual and statutory damages under 15 USC 1640. TIL rescission does not only cancel a security interest in the property but it also cancels any liability for the Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxx , to pay finance and other charges, including accrued interest, points, broker fees, closing costs and that the lender must refund to Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxx , all finance charges and fees paid.

In case HSBC Mortgage Services Inc. do not respond to this default letter, Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxx, has the option of enforcing the rescission right in the federal, bankruptcy or state court (See S. Rep. No. 368, 96th Cong. 2 Sess. 28 at 32 reprinted in 1980 U.S.C.A.N. 236, 268 ("The bill also makes explicit that a consumer may institute suit under section 130 [15 U.S.C., 1640] to enforce the right of rescission and recover costs and attorney fees").

TIL rescission does not only cancel a security interest in the property but it also cancels any liability for Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxx , to pay finance and other charges, including accrued interest, points, broker fees, closing costs and the lender must refund to Mr. Curtis E Frazier , all finance charges and fees paid. Thus,HSBC Mortgage Services Inc. are obligated to return those charges to Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxx , (Pulphus v. Sullivan, 2003 WL 1964333, at *17 (N.D. Apr. 28, 2003) (citing lender's duty to return consumer's money as reason for allowing rescission of refinanced loan); McIntosh v. Irwing Union Bank & Trust Co., 215 F.R.D. 26 (D. Mass. 2003) (citing borrower's right to be reimbursed for prepayment penalty as reason for allowing rescission of paid-off loan).

4. Step One of Rescission

First, by operation of law, the security interest and promissory note automatically becomes void and the consumer is relieved of any obligation to pay any finance or other charges (15 USC 1635(b); Reg. Z-226.15(d)(1),226.23(d)(1). . See Official Staff Commentary 226.23(d)(2)-1. (See Willis v. Friedman, Clearinghouse No. 54,564 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. May 2, 2002) (Once the right to rescind is exercised, the security interest in the Mr. Curtis E Frazier's property becomes void ab initio). Thus, the security interest is void and of no legal effect irrespective of whether the creditor makes any affirmative response to the notice. (See Family Financial Services v. Spencer, 677 A.2d 479 (Conn. App. 1996) (all that is required is notification of the intent to rescind, and the agreement is automatically rescinded).

It is clear from the statutory language that the court's modification authority extends only to the procedures specified by section 1635(b). The voiding of the security interest is not a procedure, in the sense of a step to be followed or an action to be taken. The statute makes no distinction between the right to rescind in 3-day or extended as neither cases nor statute give courts equitable discretion to alter TILA's substantive provisions. Also, after the security interest is voided, secured creditor becomes unsecured.

5. Step Two of Rescission

Second, since Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxxx has legally rescinded the loans transaction, the mortgage holders (HSBC Mortgage Services Inc.) must return any money, including that which may have been passed on to a third party, such as a broker or an appraiser and to take any action necessary to reflect the termination of the security interest within 20 calendar days of receiving the rescission notice which has expired. The creditor's other task is to take any necessary or appropriate action to reflect the fact that the security interest was automatically terminated by the rescission within 20 days of the creditor's receipt of the rescission notice (15 USC 1635(b); Reg. Z-226.15(d)(2),226.23(d)(2).

6. Step Three of Rescission

Mr. Curtis xxxxxxx was prepared to discuss a tender obligation, should it arise, and satisfactory ways in which to meet this obligation. The termination of the security interest is required before tendering and step 1 and 2 have to be respected by HSBC Mortgage Services Inc.
XIV. Conclusion

When Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxx rescinds within the context of a bankruptcy, courts have held that the rescission effectively voids the security interest, rendering the debt, if any, unsecured (See Exhibit #6). (See in re Perkins, 106 B.R. 863, 874 (Bankr. E.D.Pa. 1989); In re Brown, 134 B.R. 134 (Bankr. E.D.Pa. 1991); In re Moore, 117 B.R. 135 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1990)).

Once the court finds a violation such as not responding to the TILA rescission letter, no matter how technical, it has no discretion with respect to liability (in re Wright, supra. At 708; In re Porter v. Mid-Penn Consumer Discount Co., 961 F,2d 1066, 1078 (3d. Cir. 1992); Smith v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co., Supra. At 898. Any misgivings creditors may have about the technical nature of the requirements should be addressed to Congress or the Federal Reserve Board, not the courts.

Since HSBC Mortgage Services Inc. have not cancelled the security interest and return all monies paid by Mr. Curtis xxxxxxxx within the 20 days of receipt of the letter of rescission of April 4th, 2007, the lenders named above are responsible for actual and statutory damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1640(a).

HSBC Mortgage Services Inc. are to take any necessary or appropriate action to reflect the fact that the security interest was automatically terminated by the rescission (15 USC 1635(b); Reg. Z-226.15(d)(2),226.23(d)(2). This requires canceling documents creating the security interest and filing release or termination statements in the public record of FREE and CLEAR TITLE to Mr. Curtis xxxxxxx .

If a lender fails to respond within twenty days to the notice of
rescission, the ownership of the property vests in the borrowers and they are no longer
required to pay the loan. See 1635(b); Staley v. Americorp Credit Corp., 164 F. Supp.
2d 578, 584 (D. Md. 2001); Gill v. Mid-Penn Consumer Disc. Co., 671 F. Supp. 1021
(E.D. Pa. 1987).

7. Where, as here, if, a Creditors does not respond to a properly served and ignores a duly issued TILA notice of rescission, an Entry of default, is the appropriate and, indeed, just and only recourse. According to The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, "a consumer's right to rescind is not affected by the sequence of the rescission procedures or a court order modifying those procedures in both open and closed-end credit (Comptroller of Currency, OCC Bulletin 2004-19 (May 7, 2004)). Since the Creditors do not appear disposed to follow and to abide by the rule of law of the Federal Truth-In-Lending Law, this Court has as the only avenue available to conclude this matter, the entry of default against Creditors for failure to comply by illegally proceeding with a foreclosure action despite having received the TILA rescission notice that automatically void the security interest as described in 15 USC 1635(b).

8. TILA Achieves its Remedial Goals by A System of Strict Liability To further this congressional policy TILA achieves its remedial goals by a system of strict liability in favor of consumers when mandated disclosures have not been made. 15 U.S.C. 1640(a) (emphasis added). The standard applied is considered "strict liability in the sense that absolute compliance is required and even technical violations will form the basis for liability." Shepeard v. Quality Siding & Window Factory, Inc., supra. at 1299; In re McElvany, 98 B.R. 237, 240 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 1989). This means that "technical or minor violations of TILA, or Reg. Z, as well as major violations impose liability on the creditor and entitle the borrower to rescind [the loan]." Smith v. Wells Fargo Credit Corp., 713 F.Supp. 354, 355 (D.Ariz. 1989); Jackson v. Grant, 890 F.2d. 118, 120 (9th Cir. 1989); Semar v. Platte Valley Fed. S & L Assoc., supra. at 704.

This rule is inviolate and is followed by courts in all jurisdictions. See, e.g., Smith v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co., 989 F.2d 896, 898 (3rd Cir. 1990)(The federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) achieves its remedial goals by a system of strict liability in favor of consumers when mandated disclosures have not been made); Lewis v. Dodge, 620 F.Supp. 135, 138 (D. Conn. 1985); In re Porter, 961 F.2d 1066 (3rd Cir. 1992); Rowland (John M., Carol S.) v. Magna Millikin Bank of Decatur, N.A., 812 F.Supp. 875 (C.D. Ill. 1992) ("even technical violations will form the basis for liability"); New Maine Nat. Bank v. Gendron, 780 F.Supp. 52 (D. Me. 1992); Dixon v. S & S Loan Service of Waycross, Inc., 754 F.Supp. 1567 (S.D. Ga. 1990); Woolfolk v. Van Ru Credit Corp., 783 F.Supp. 724 (D. Conn. 1990) (same with Unfair Debt Collection Practices Act); Morris v. Lomas and Nettleton Co., 708 F.Supp. 1198 (D. Kan. 1989); Jenkins v. Landmark Mortg. Corp. of Virginia, 696 F.Supp. 1089 (W.D. Va. 1988); Laubach v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co., 686 F.Supp. 504 (E.D. Pa. 1988); Searles v. Clarion Mortg. Co., 1987 WL 61932 (E.D. Pa. 1987); "Liability will flow from even minute deviations from requirements of the statute and Regulation Z." Dixon v. S & S Loan Service of Waycross, Inc., 754 F.Supp. 1567, 1570 (S.D. Ga. 1990); Shroder v. Suburban Coastal Corp., supra. at 1380; Charles v. Krauss Co., Ltd., 572 F.2d 544 (5th Cir. 1978).Shroder v. Suburban Coastal Corp., 729 F.2d 1371, 1380 (11th Cir. 1984) ; Goldberg v. Delaware Olds, Inc., 670 F.Supp. 125 (D. Del. 1987); Curry v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co., 656 F.Supp. 1129 (E.D. Pa. 1987); Laubach v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co., 1986 WL 4464 (E.D. Pa. 1986); In re Wright, 133 B.R. 704 (E.D. Pa. 1991); Moore v. Mid-Penn Consumer Discount Co., 1991 WL 146241 (E.D. Pa. 1991); In re Marshall, 121 B.R. 814 (Bankr.C.D. Ill. 1990); In re Steinbrecher, 110 B.R. 155 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1990); Nichols v. Mid-Penn Consumer Discount Co., 1989 WL 46682 (E.D. Pa. 1989); In re McElvany, 98 B.R. 237 (Bankr.W.D. Pa. 1989); In re Johnson-Allen, 67 B.R. 968 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1986); In re Cervantes, 67 B.R. 816 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1986); In re McCausland, 63 B.R. 665, 55 U.S.L.W. 2214, 1 UCC Rep.Serv.2d 1372 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1986); In re Perry, 59 B.R. 947 (Bankr.E.D. Pa. 1986); In re Schultz, 58 B.R. 945 (Bankr,E.D. Pa. 1986); Solis v. Fidelity Consumer Discount Co., 58 B.R. 983 (E.D. Pa. 1986).

Violation of the rule of law, since neither you nor any of the defendants have Standing to pursue foreclosure action because, once TILA notice of rescission is given, the lien or security interest in plaintiff's property becomes void ab initio, even if a court has not yet ruled on the validity of the plaintiff's rescission (Willis v. Friedman, Clearinghouse No. 54,564 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. May 2, 2002)).