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HUD Announces Another Mortgage False Claims Act Settlement
On May 10, HUD and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced the settlement of a lawsuit alleging violation of the False Claims Act by a mortgage originator and affiliated entities. The government alleged that, for nearly a decade, MortgageIT, Inc. certified falsely that the mortgages it originated complied with HUD rules. MortgageIT and its affiliates agreed to pay $202.3 million to resolve the suit. After the Bank of America and Countrywide FCA claims settled in February, this marks the third mortgage-FCA lawsuit settled to date. A fourth case remains pending in the Southern District of New York.
Freddie Mac Appoints New CEO, OCC Names Senior Deputy Comptroller
On May 10, Freddie Mac announced that Donald Layton will serve as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Layton will join the firm on May 21, 2012. Mr. Layton has served as chairman & CEO of E*TRADE Financial and worked for nearly 30 years at JP Morgan Chase and its predecessors.
On May 7, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency announced the hiring of Paul Nash to succeed John Walsh as Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief of Staff. Mr. Nash comes from the FDIC, where he served for two years as the Deputy to the Chairman for External Affairs.
Fannie Mae Announces Changes to Pricing Terms
On May 1, Fannie Mae updated terms pertaining to its ability to change the pricing applicable to lenders’ deliveries of mortgage loans under the standard Selling Guide provisions, as well as under existing Master Agreements and related MBS contracts. In Announcement SEL-2012-03, Fannie Mae stated that it may change the base guarantee fee, loan-level pricing adjustments, and/or guaranty fee adjustments for MBS Express or rapid payment method remittance cycles applicable to mortgages delivered under MBS contracts or as whole loans. Under the change (i) Fannie Mae reserves the right to change the pricing one or more times during the term of a Master Agreement or related MBS contract, (ii) Fannie Mae will provide the lender with written notice of the pricing change prior to it taking effect, and (iii) either party can cancel the affected contract or agreement if the parties are unable to come to terms on the new pricing. The effective date of the changes will be no later than October 1, 2012.
Buckley Sandler Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of Industry Groups in Tenth Circuit TILA Case
On May 3, BuckleySandler filed an amicus brief on behalf of three industry trade groups in a Tenth Circuit case addressing the right to rescind a mortgage under the Truth in Lending Act. The CFPB previously filed an amicus brief in Rosenfield v. HSBC Bank, No. 10-1442 (10th Cir.), in which it argued that borrowers who do not receive certain TILA-required disclosures should be permitted to rescind so long as they notify their lenders within three years—even if they did not file suit within TILA’s three-year repose period. The industry amicus brief, filed on behalf of the American Bankers Association, Consumer Bankers Association, and Consumer Mortgage Coalition, urges the Tenth Circuit to hold that TILA’s statute of repose requires that any right of rescission expire three years after origination even if the consumer previously notified the lender. The industry amicus brief argues that holding otherwise contravenes the purpose of TILA's statute of repose and creates unnecessary uncertainty that will negatively affect the industry and consumers alike.
Federal Court Holds Fannie Mae Is Not a Government Entity
On April 30, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held in an employment case that Fannie Mae is not a government entity and therefore the plaintiff could not sustain her Bivens claim. Herron v. Fannie Mae, No. 10-943, 2012 WL 1476051 (D.D.C. Apr. 30, 2012). The plaintiff, a former Fannie Mae employee and outside contractor to the institution, claimed that Fannie Mae is a government actor and improperly terminated her employment. She asserted a First Amendment claim under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388 (1971), and, in the alternative, brought claims against Fannie Mae as a private employer. Fannie Mae and its government conservator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which was granted intervenor status, moved to dismiss the Bivens claim on the grounds that Fannie Mae is not a government actor. The district court dismissed the Bivens claim, holding that the imposition of FHFA conservatorship did not transform Fannie Mae into a government actor. Instead, Fannie Mae was a private entity before conservatorship; FHFA stepped into that private role when it became conservator.
FDIC Issues Statement Regarding Applicability of CFPB Mortgage Compensation Rules
On April 17, the FDIC issued Financial Institution Letter 2012-02 to apply the recent CFPB guidance on compensation for mortgage originators to FDIC-regulated institutions. The statement directs covered institutions to ensure that their policies and practices are consistent with the compensation rules as interpreted by the CFPB.
Fannie Mae Alters Policies for Preforeclosure Sale Process, Delinquency Management, Default Prevention
On April 25, Fannie Mae issued Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2012-06, which sets new policies and clarifies several delinquency management and default prevention requirements related to (i) electronic submission of borrower response package documents, (ii) income documentation for employed borrowers, (iii) determining monthly gross income, (iv) modifications of loans secured by leasehold estates, (v) property valuation, and (vi) executing and recording modification agreements. The majority of the changes are effective immediately. The new requirements for determining income are effective for loans evaluated on or after July 1, 2012.
On the same date, Fannie Mae also published Announcement SVC-2012-07 to establish new policies to expedite the preforeclosure sale process. For all conventional mortgage loans held in Fannie Mae's portfolio, those purchased for Fannie Mae's portfolio but subsequently securitized into Fannie Mae MBS pools, and those originally delivered as part of an MBS pool, the policies (i) establish maximum required response times for preforeclosure sale offers submitted for consideration, (ii) require servicers to provide borrowers with status updates during the evaluation process, and (iii) allow servicers to respond to unsolicited preforeclosure sale offers without first requiring an evaluation for a HAMP modification. Servicers are encouraged to adopt these policies immediately, but must do so no later than June 25, 2012. The Announcement reminds servicers that Fannie Mae may pursue any of its available remedies for failure to comply with these new policies.
Freddie Mac Adjusts Residential Loan Mitigation Options
On April 23, Freddie Mac issued Servicer Guide Bulletin 2012-10, which expands and adjusts certain loss mitigation options to offer additional assistance to struggling borrowers. With regard to state housing finance agency borrower assistance programs, the Bulletin provides requirements for servicer participation in programs funded by the Hardest Hit Fund, and consolidates all requirements related to participation in such programs. Among other things, the Bulletin also implements a previously announced extension of the HAMP and HAFA programs through December 2013, and revises HAMP eligibility requirements for permanent modifications.
State Law Update: Vermont and Nebraska Address Mortgage Licensing
Vermont Adjusts Mortgage Licensing Law. On April 20, Vermont enacted H 565, which, in relevant part, amends definitions and exceptions related to the licensing of mortgage loan originators, mortgage brokers, and other consumer lenders to (i) permit owner financing without obtaining a license, (ii) expand the types of properties that can be sold and financed by the owner without having to obtain a license, and (iii) expand exceptions applicable to practicing attorneys.
Nebraska Issues Interpretation of Mortgage Originator, Processor, and Underwriter Licensing Rules. Recently, the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance issued several interpretive opinions relating to mortgage loan originator, processor, and underwriter licensing. For mortgage loan originator licensing, one opinion provides examples of activities or situations that would and would not require licensure as a mortgage loan originator. A separate opinion identifies the factors and documentation the Department will consider when evaluating the “financial responsibility” of a person seeking a mortgage loan originator license. Additional separate guidance (i) clarifies the licensing responsibilities of clerical employees of licensed or registered mortgage bankers or installment loan companies, (ii) asserts that loan processing and underwriting activities are essential to origination and therefore entities performing those services must register as mortgage bankers, and (iii) establishes requirements pertaining to the use of the NMLS unique identifier on solicitations and advertisements. All of the interpretive opinions took effect April 16, 2012.
SEC Announces $28 Million RMBS Settlement
On April 24, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it filed and simultaneously settled a suit alleging that an H&R Block subsidiary engaged in the fraudulent sale of subprime residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). The complaint alleges that during a short period at the beginning of 2007, Option One Mortgage, now known as Sand Canyon Corporation, sponsored over $4 billion of RMBS and represented to investors that it would repurchase or replace any pooled mortgage for which there was a breach of a representation or warranty. The SEC alleges that at the time it sponsored the RMBS at issue, Option One was experiencing financial difficulties related to the broader decline of the subprime mortgage market and faced substantial margin calls from its creditors. As such, Option Ones condition would have prevented the company from meeting its obligations to repurchase faulty loans. Further, according to the SEC, (i) Option One failed to disclosure that it was reliant on a line of credit from its parent, (ii) H&R Block was under no obligation to provide that funding, and (iii) Option Ones losses threatened H&R Blocks credit rating at a time when the parent was negotiating the sale of Option One. The SEC did not immediately make the settlement available, but it announced that without admitting or denying the allegations Option One agreed to (i) disgorge over $14 million, (ii) pay prejudgment interest of nearly $4 million, and (iii) pay a $10 million penalty. The SEC touts this latest action as part of financial crisis-related enforcement efforts that collectively have obtained more than $1.98 billion in penalties, disgorgement, and other monetary relief. Though the investigation likely precedes the state-federal Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group and appears to have been conducted by the SEC alone, the SEC notes its role as co-chair of that group, which seeks to leverage resources to pursue alleged misconduct in the RMBS market. This settlement, comments from the SEC, and the still developing efforts of the RMBS Working Group indicate that institutions should expect continued aggressive pursuit of alleged wrongdoing in the RMBS market. This was made clear by comments from Kenneth Lench, Chief of the SEC Division of Enforcements Structured and New Products Unit that the SEC intends to "take action against those who fail to disclose or downplay important facts that make an investment riskier, even if those risks do not materialize. We remain committed to uncovering misconduct involving complex financial instruments including RMBS. Also of note, the SEC has shown a continued willingness to employ so-called "no-admit" settlements, notwithstanding a challenge to that long-standing practice issued last year by Judge Rakoff of the Southern District of New York. Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an interim decision staying Judge Rakoff's order that denied a significant no-admit settlement and required the SEC to pursue its claims at trial. In doing so, the circuit court stated that it had a significant problem with the district court's decision to dictate policy to an executive administrative agency. Instead, the Second Circuit stated, courts should defer to the agency's judgment on discretionary policy. A final decision on the district court's ruling is still pending with the Second Circuit.