Below are summaries of the noteworthy decisions, laws and requirements impacting the commercial lending industry which occurred or took effect in 2018. Please feel free to contact us for additional information or details on any of the items listed below and/or to discuss whether updates to your loan documents may be needed to address the same.

1. New, Improved Rules for High Volatility Real Estate Loans

In re Brandywine Towhouses, Inc., 524 B.R. 889 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 2014) –

In re Cook, 481 B.R. 265 (Bankr. N.D.N.Y. 2012) –

Rhiel v. Central Mortgage Co. (In re Kebe), 469 B.R . 778 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 2012) –

Earlier this month, in Davis v. Carrington Mortgage Services, LLC, et al., the United States District Court for the District of Nevada held that consumer reporting agencies are not obligated to determine the legal status of debts. The Court also reinforced the plausible pleading standard for Fair Credit Reporting Act cases, while providing an overview of CRAs’ obligations under the act.

Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1322(b)(2), a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan cannot modify the rights of a secured creditor whose claim is only secured by an “interest in real property that is the debtor’s principal residence.” On December 6, the Eleventh Circuit held that this provision prevents the discharge of a mortgage in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, regardless of whether the plan “provided for” the mortgage or whether the mortgagee filed a proof of claim.

In re Betchan, 524 B.R. 830 (Bankr. E.D. Wash. 2015) –

A mortgagee was the highest bidder at a foreclosure sale that took place shortly before the debtor filed bankruptcy.  The lender requested relief from the automatic stay in order to evict the debtor on the basis that transfer of the property was completed prepetition so that it was not part of the debtor’s bankruptcy estate.

Trauner v. State Bank & Trust Co. (In re Solid Rock Development Corp.), 481 B.R. 221 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 2012) –

Senior Transeastern Lenders v. Official Comm. of Unsecured Creditors (In re TOUSA, Inc.), 680 Fed 3rd 1298 (11th Cir. 2012) –

On March 27, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz clarified that Executive Order 20-20, which directed Minnesota residents to stay at home, applies to debt collection professionals. Due to ongoing coronavirus (“COVID-19”) concerns, Executive Order 20-20, which will remain in effect until April 10, 2020, orders all persons living in the State of Minnesota to stay at home except to engage in exempted activities and critical sector work.