For Californians, the CA Supreme Court’s decision in Brace upended our understanding of joint tenancy and community property. For decades, we “knew” that a property couldn’t be both joint tenancy and community property . Siberell. And for those of us in the 9th Circuit, we “knew” that when married folks acquired property with title taken […]
Between the 1st and the 15th: Is Mortgage Current?
The no man’s land between the mortgage due date and late payment is a persistent trouble spot for Chapter 13 practitioners: Are there arrears when the case is filed during the grace period and the payment made before it was late? In Borre, Judge Ronald Sargis of ED CA said no. He held that the […]
Rule 3002.1 And The Tangled Web of HOA Assessments
The Hadfeg decision was delivered to me in response to a standing search for bankruptcy decisions involving FRBP 3002.1. But multi strands of legal theories run through this one. The questions, answered and unanswered, are tantalizing. The facts are thus: Prepetition HOA dues scheduled for $5000, while HOA later claimed it was $33,000. No proof […]
Bankruptcy as Means to Keep the House
There’s nothing like a foreclosure to get homeowners to see a bankruptcy lawyer. They are often not sure just how bankruptcy will accomplish this, but they are resolute that keeping the house is the centerpiece of their bankruptcy. A capable lawyer can tell the client how that might be done through bankruptcy; a standout bankruptcy […]
Mortgage Servicing Under the Microscope
The judge looked closely at the creditor’s accounting records and found the usual fright. Having looked, the court held secured creditor USDA in contempt of the automatic stay and the confirmation order for its loan servicing blunders. Two years after the debtor’s discharge, after an evidentiary hearing and a written opinion, the debtor still didn’t […]
Homeowners Face Down The Mortgage Servicer Over Their Request For Information
The homeowners beat the bank in the first round of RESPA/FDCPA litigation, upholding the private right of action under Reg. X. The case is Rios v. Rushmore, from the Southern District of Florida. The homeowners alleged that Rushmore Loan Management Services failed to adequately respond to their Notice of Error pursuant to 12 U.S.C. […]
Unfair Loan Modification Practices Rejected By 9th Circuit
Promising a loan modification and failing to deliver, after pocketing trial mod payments, isn’t fair, said the 9th Circuit in Oskoui. And if it isn’t fair, it can be actionable under California’s Unfair Competition Law (B&P 17200). Not to mention constituting a breach of contract. Thus, there do seem to be some limits on […]
