Tuesday, March 09, 2010

BofA Again In Spotlight For Allegedly Reckless Conduct; Illegally Seized Borrower's Home, Says Lawsuit

In Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports:
  • A Hampton woman is suing Bank of America, saying one of its contractors wrongly repossessed her home, padlocked the doors, shut off the utilities, damaged the furniture and confiscated a pet parrot, though her mortgage payments were on time. Angela M. Iannelli, 46, suffered "severe emotional distress, embarrassment and ridicule" as a result of the company's "de facto foreclosure process and seizure proceedings," attorney Michael Rosenzweig wrote in the suit, filed Monday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.

  • The suit accuses Bank of America and its contractor, Ebensburg-based Snyder Property Services, of trespass, unfair business practices, defamation, libel and other offenses during the October foreclosure of Ms. Iannelli's home [...]. She is seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages.

  • Bank of America instructed Snyder Property Services to "enter, seize, padlock, 'winterize' and take possession" of Ms. Iannelli's house, the lawsuit said, cutting water lines and electrical wiring, pouring anti-freeze down her drains and "stealing" her pet parrot, Luke.

For more, see Woman says Bank of America wrongly repossessed home.

See also WTAE-TV Channel 4: Bank Sued Over 'Invasion' Of Wrong House, Pet Theft, Damages (Angela Iannelli Says Bank Of America Mistakenly Targeted Home For Foreclosure).