In this case, two debtors applied for and closed on a mortgage with American General Finance, Inc. (hereinafter “American General”). The debtors represented to American General that they only had one mortgage on their residence. American General intended to grant the debtors a loan secured by a second mortgage; American General obtained a title search […]

Right of Rescission: Michigan Court Ruled Each Borrower Must Receive Two Notices of Right to Cancel. The Michigan Court of Appeals has held that a mortgagor who is entitled to a notice of the right to rescind is in fact entitled to two copies of that notice for each borrower. In this case, each borrower […]

Question: Are credit union Home Equity and/or Second Mortgages subject to modification by a debtor’s Chapter 13 Plan? Answer: Yes. In the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts located within the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and applicable to the Federal Bankruptcy Courts located within the State of Michigan, this issue is currently governed by the rulings in the case […]

In this case, the debtor filed successive Chapter 13 petitions for the apparent purpose of frustrating the debtor’s mortgage company from foreclosing on debtor’s real estate. The Court held that the successive bankruptcy filings were in bad faith and in violation of the Bankruptcy Code requirement that all filings must be in good faith. Costs […]

In this case, the Colorado Court of Appeals held that the credit union’s lien on a borrower’s mobile home was superior to a mortgage held on the real estate upon which the mobile home was permanently built. Here, ENT Federal Credit Union (hereinafter “ENT”) granted a loan to Alice Ripley secured by her mobile home. The […]

In the case of David Scoggin vs. Listerhill Employees Credit Union, the Alabama Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of the credit union. Here, the credit union repossessed a member’s Dodge Dynasty and sold the vehicle at auction for the highest bid of $5,000. The vehicle’s odometer displayed mileage of 18,334 miles, […]

Bankrupt Debtor may only redeem collateral in one payment. Redemption installment payments prohibited if debtor elects to retain vehicle.     Here, debtor sought to redeem Ford Motor Credit collateral by paying installment payments for the value of the vehicle, instead of one lump-sum redemption payment. Section 722 of the Bankruptcy Code provides, in pertinent part: An individual debtor may, whether or not the […]

False Credit Union Loan Application results in nondischargeable debt for Credit Union. Here, debtor applied for several loans at the Credit Union, and on all but the last application, the debtor listed a mortgage debt on her residence. Each of the loan applications were denied due to an unacceptable debt to income ratio, except for the […]

Following the Credit Union’s purchase of the house, two occupants residing in the house at the time of the purchase were given notice that if they did not voluntarily move from the premises, they would be evicted.   Here, the residents did not move out, and a complaint for eviction was filed with the court.   The court […]

Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union held a mortgage on debtors’ real estate.  The loan was in default and the credit union sought to foreclose and obtain possession of the property. The credit union initiated foreclosure proceedings and sent a Notice of Foreclosure Sale to debtors. The foreclosure notice, however, erroneously stated that the members did […]