Michigan Federal Judge Orders Return Of Home By Foreclosure Rescue Operator

This post is a follow up on a prior post dated January 2, 2007 titled Foreclosure Rescue Operator Violates Federal Law, State Usury Law.

In an order and accompanying opinion dated this past Friday (2-9-07), a Michigan Federal judge has officially declared the foreclosure rescue arrangement at issue in the case an equitable mortgage, and has ordered the foreclosure rescue operator to reconvey the title to a house back to the homeowner (the original "rescue" transaction took place in June, 2003). In addition, the judge has ordered that the homeowner is:

• entitled to statutory damages of $2,000 for the rescue operator's failure to comply with the disclosure requirements of the Federal Truth In Lending Act ("TILA"),

• entitled to additional statutory damages of $2,000 for the rescue operator's failure to respond to the homeowner's notice of rescission, in violation of the TILA,

• entitled to a rent credit for $6,700 for rent payments paid to the rescue operator on the leaseback agreement for the period of time immediately after the "rescue" transaction was consummated and the time that the homeowner defaulted on the "leaseback",

• not liable for over $25,000 in "origination fees and other settlement charges" paid on his behalf when the sale leaseback arrangement was consummated.

Implicit in the court order is that the homeowner has obtained the benefit of an interest free loan on the money advanced by the "rescue" operator from the date the initial "foreclosure rescue, sale leaseback" was consummated ( June 11, 2003) until the date of the court order (February 9, 2007), a little over 3 1/2 years.

In addition, the court awarded the operator approximately $6,500 for amounts advanced for property taxes and insurance on behalf of the homeowner, and 7% interest on the equitable mortgage (commencing 2-9-07). The court has given the homeowner 90 days to satisfy the unpaid balance of the court-declared equitable mortgage (approximately $186,000), at which point the "rescue" operator will be free to foreclose on his equitable mortgage.

The amount of attorney's fees that the operator will have to pay to the homeowner's attorney as a result of its losing this case has yet to be determined by the court and, unless the parties reach a settlement on this issue, will be the subject of a future court order.

There is no indication in the record as yet as to whether the operator will appeal this decision.

For the court order and opinion, see

Moore - Summary Judgment Order

Moore - Summary Judgment Opinion

Click here for other Moore v. Cycon court documents in this case. equitable mortgage zebra