Archive for December, 2018

Massachusetts AG Obtains $4 Million in Settlement Over Subprime Mortgage Modifications

On December 21, 2018, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (“Mass. AG”) announced that it had reached a settlement with a national mortgage servicer, resolving allegations that the company mishandled mortgage loans in violation of the Massachusetts Act Preventing Unlawful and Unnecessary Foreclosures, a 2012 law designed to protect borrowers from foreclosure caused by unfair terms on subprime mortgages….

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Reverse Mortgage Servicer Settles Alleged FCA Violations with DOJ for $4.25 Million

On December 21, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement with a mortgage servic​er for $4.25 million, resolving allegations of unlawful reverse mortgage servicing practices. According to the DOJ, the company violated the False Claims Act with respect to its servicing of reverse mortgages, or Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM)…

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Florida AG and FTC Obtain $23 Million Judgment in Robocall Enforcement Action

On December 14, the Florida Attorney General (AG) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a $23 million federal district court judgment against the owner of an Orlando-based “robocall” operation.  The massive robocall operation tricked consumers into paying upfront fees of $500 to $1500 for false credit card interest-rate-reduction and debt-elimination services,…

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DOJ Announces $14.5 Million Settlement in False Claims Act Suit Against FHA Lender

On December 12, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a $14.5 million settlement of a whistleblower suit alleging False Claims Act violations against a lender who endorsed loans for insurance by the Federal Housing Administration (“FHA”).  The settlement resolves an investigation triggered by a qui tam lawsuit filed by a former employee of the…

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FTC Settles with Operators of Student Loan Relief Companies for $1.3 Million

On December 7, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced settlements with the operators of two Florida-based student loan debt relief companies and their principals in connection with its coordinated federal-state enforcement initiative to target deceptive student loan debt relief scams, called “Operation Game of Loans.” In September and October…

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FTC Settlements Ban Student Loan Debt Relief Operators

FTC

On December 7, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida had entered stipulated orders banning the operators of two Florida-based student loan debt relief providers from the debt relief business, the latest actions from the Operation Game of Loans enforcement initiative targeting…

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CFPB Enters Consent Order with Federal Savings Association Over Alleged Credit Reporting Violations

On December 6, 2018, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (“CFPB”) announced that it had entered into a consent order with a federal savings association headquartered in Bloomington, Ill.  According to the consent order, the CFPB alleged that the savings association violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.,…

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District of Minnesota Rejects Marks, Grants Defendant Summary Judgment in TCPA Case

On November 13, 2018, the District of Minnesota rejected the Ninth Circuit’s expansive interpretation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act’s (TCPA’s) automatic telephone dialing system (ATDS) provision in Marks v. Crunch San Diego, LLC.  In Roark v. Credit One Bank, N.A., No. 16-cv-00173 (D. Minn. Nov. 13, 2018), the court…

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