COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION v. LAKE SHORE ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD. (May 11, 2011)
In the fallout of recent commercial mortgage-backed securities defaults, mortgage servicers have increasingly used receivership sales for commercial real estate assets, including last month’s sale of the Davis Building in downtown Dallas.
A recently proposed rule by the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation would systemically impose significant bank holding companies and nonbank financial companies to submit annual resolution plans and quarterly credit exposure reports.
Prior to the 1984 Amendments to the Bankruptcy Code1 (BAFJA), there was a split as to whether a transfer of title to real estate by virtue of a mortgage foreclosure constituted a transfer as defined in §101 of the Bankruptcy Code.2, 3 However, BAFJA made it clear that a “transfer” included “the foreclosure of a debtor’s equity of redemption.”4 This change in definition has a significant impact on the application of both §547 (preference) and §548 (fraudulent transfer).
The second priority lien held by a junior lien holder is a property interest sufficient to trigger the protection of the automatic stay.In re Three Strokes L.P., 379 B.R. 804 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2008). Inasmuch as a senior lien holder’s foreclosure proceedings would have the effect of extinguishing the debtor’s second lien interest, a court may only lift the stay and permit the foreclosure to proceed upon such senior lien holder’s showing of adequate protection.
The Seventh Circuit recently decided that a mortgage that assigns future rental income to the mortgagee creates a security interest that takes priority over a federal tax lien. Bloomfield State Bank v. United States, No.
On June 7th, Bloomberg reported that the FDIC, as receiver for Downey Savings & Loan Association, has sued Amerifund Financial Inc., a mortgage broker. The FDIC alleges that Amerifund altered or misstated borrowers' financial information while processing mortgage applications for Downey. Lawsuit.
On June 7th, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the entry of summary judgment dismissing Chapter 13 debtors' claims against Wells Fargo, which holds debtors' mortgages. Debtors alleged that Wells Fargo violated the Bankruptcy Code's automatic stay provisions by recording in its internal records the fees it incurred to file its proof of claim. The Eleventh Circuit held that Wells Fargo did not violate the automatic stay because it had not collected or attempt to collect those fees. Similarly, a claim based on Wells Fargo's failure to disclose the fees was not yet ripe for action.
Basic Capital Management, Inc. v. Dynex Commercial, Inc., 2011 WL 12067376 (Tex. Sup. Ct. J. Apr. 1, 2011)
CASE SNAPSHOT
Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank New York Branch, f.k.a. Calyon New York Branch v. American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc. (In re American Home Mortgage Holdings, Inc.), No. 09- 4295, 2011 WL 522945 (3d Cir. February 16, 2011)
CASE SNAPSHOT