Questions Surrounding Applicability Of State Consumer Protection Law To Mortgage Servicer Activities To Be Decided By Ohio Supreme Court

From the Supreme Court of the State of Ohio:

MOTION AND PROCEDURAL RULING

Certified Question of State Law, United States District Court, Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Case Nos. 3:10-cv-02537-JZ and 1:10-cv-02709-JZ. On review of preliminary memoranda pursuant to S.Ct.Prac.R. 18.6. The court will answer the following questions:

1. "Does the servicing of a borrower's residential mortgage loan constitute a `consumer transaction' as defined in the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act., R.C. 1345.01(A)?"

2. "Does the prosecution of a foreclosure action by a mortgage servicer constitute a `consumer transaction' as defined in the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act., R.C. 1345.01(A)?"

3. "Is an entity that services a residential mortgage loan, and prosecutes a foreclosure action, a `supplier . . . engaged in the business of effecting or soliciting consumer transactions' as defined in the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act., R.C. 1345.01(C)?'"

O'Donnell, J., dissents.

Source: 08/24/2011 Case Announcements, 2011-Ohio-4217 (State ex rel. DeWine v. GMAC Mtge. L.L.C.).