CLASS ACTION DEFENSE BLOG
Welcome to Michael J. Hassen's Blog. Here you will find over 2,000 articles related to class actions.
As a resource for class action defense attorneys who defend against RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) class actions, we provide the text of Regulation X. Congress gave authority to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to promulgate regulations for RESPA, and the regulations are set forth in 24 CFR § 3500.1 et seq. The regulations provide for coverage of RESPA in § 3500.5, which provides:
§ 3500.5. Coverage of RESPA
(a) Applicability. RESPA and this part apply to all federally related mortgage loans, except for the exemptions provided in paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) Exemptions. (1) A loan on property of 25 acres or more.
(2) Business purpose loans. An extension of credit primarily for a business, commercial, or agricultural purpose, as defined by Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.3(a)(1). Persons may rely on Regulation Z in determining whether the exemption applies.
(3) Temporary financing. Temporary financing, such as a construction loan. The exemption for temporary financing does not apply to a loan made to finance construction of 1- to 4-family residential property if the loan is used as, or may be converted to, permanent financing by the same lender or is used to finance transfer of title to the first user. If a lender issues a commitment for permanent financing, with or without conditions, the loan is covered by this part. Any construction loan for new or rehabilitated 1- to 4-family residential property, other than a loan to a bona fide builder (a person who regularly constructs 1- to 4-family residential structures for sale or lease), is subject to this part if its term is for two years or more. A “bridge loan” or “swing loan” in which a lender takes a security interest in otherwise covered 1- to 4-family residential property is not covered by RESPA and this part.
Statutes & Rules Uncategorized
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Judicial Panel Grants Unopposed Request for Pretrial Coordination Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 but Agrees with Defense Attorneys and Non-Moving Plaintiffs that Class Actions Should be Centralized in Southern District of California Six class action lawsuits were filed against Morgan Stanley in Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Texas federal courts alleging violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by misclassifying certain employees as exempt from overtime pay and/or by assessing improper deductions against employee compensation.
Class Action Court Decisions Multidistrict Litigation Uncategorized
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Whether Lender Violated TILA, RESPA or State’s Consumer Loan Act Irrelevant to Determination of Class Certification Motion because Plaintiffs Adequately Alleged such Violations Washington Federal Court Holds
Plaintiffs filed a class action against their lender NovaStar Mortgage for violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA) alleging that it failed to disclose it paid mortgage brokers a yield spread premium (YSP) in connection with their loans; the class action complaint was premised on NovaStar’s purported failure to provide written disclosures required by the federal Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Washington’s Consumer Loan Act (CLA), and the plaintiffs’ deeds. Pierce v. NovaStar Mortgage, Inc., 238 F.R.D. 624, 625 (W.D. Wash. 2006). In response to plaintiffs’ first motion to certify the lawsuit as a class action, the district court agreed with defense attorneys that plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate numerosity or typicality as required by Rule 23(a) and also failed to establish the predominance and superiority elements required by Rule 23(b); it therefore denied the motion, but did so without prejudice. Id. On plaintiffs’ renewed motion for class certification, the court rejected defense objections and granted the motion.
By way of background, to establish a violation of the CPA one must prove “(1) an unfair or deceptive act or practice; (2) occurring in trade or commerce; (3) that impacts the public interest; (4) and causes injury to the plaintiff in his or her business or property; and (5) such injury is causally linked to the unfair or deceptive act.” Pierce, at 626 (citation omitted). A plaintiff may satisfy the first two elements by proving that the act in question is a per se unfair trade practice: “A per se unfair trade practice exists when, by statute, the Legislature declares an unfair or *627 deceptive act in trade or commerce and the statute has been violated.” Id., at 626-27 (citations omitted). Under Washington law, “[a] violation of the CLA . . . is explicitly deemed a violation of the first and second elements of the CPA,” id., at 627 (citation omitted). In denying the first motion for class certification, the district court believed that “verbal disclosures and independent knowledge of the YSP were relevant to determining whether NovaStar violated the CPA.” Id., at 626. Plaintiffs’ lawyers disagreed, arguing in the renewed motion that “verbal disclosures are irrelevant to class certification because they seek to establish a per se violation of the Consumer Protection Act by proving that NovaStar violation the Consumer Loan Act.” Id.
Certification of Class Actions Class Action Court Decisions RESPA/TILA Class Actions Uncategorized
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Plaintiffs in Securities Fraud Class were on Inquiry Notice of Claims Against Company thus Rendering Class Action Complaint Barred by Statute of Limitations New York Court Holds
Several securities fraud class action lawsuits were filed in federal courts against MBIA and various individual defendants alleging that certain financial statements contained materially misleading statements in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5. The actions were consolidated in the Southern District of New York, and defense attorneys moved to dismiss on the grounds that claims were time barred and that the allegations in the class action complaints failed to satisfy the heightened pleading requirements for securities fraud cases. In re MBIA Inc. Securities Litig., ___ F.Supp.2d ___, 2007 WL 473708 (S.D.N.Y. February 13, 2007) [Slip Opn., at 1-2]. The district court concluded that the class action claims were barred by the applicable statute of limitations and dismissed the complaint.
The class action complaint alleges that in 1998 MBIA – which is in the “primary business [of] selling financial guarantee insurance to public finance and structured finance clients” – entered into retroactive reinsurance agreements to protect itself against an anticipated $170 million loss in order to avoid a downgrade of its AAA rating. MBIA, at 3-4. According to the complaint, MBIA entered into a series of side agreements with the reinsurance companies that were not publicly disclosed for the purpose of inducing the reinsurers to cover the $170 million loss; under these side agreements, “MBIA promised to transfer insurance policies on the highest rated bonds in its portfolio, along with the associated premiums, to the Reinsurers over a period of six years.” Id., at 4-5. The complaint also alleged that MBIA improperly booked these premiums as income rather than as loans. MBIA’s disclosures of these transactions painted a positive picture for the company, see id., at 5-6; however, in the months following MBIA’s disclosures, several published reports explained the trade-offs realized through the deals, some viewing the strategy as “the bond insurance equivalent to Houdini” and others viewing it as “innovative,” id., at 6-7. And in 2002, a 66-page research report by Gotham Partners on MBIA detailed credit concerns involving the company’s guarantee portfolio, which MBIA immediately criticized in a press release that “contained no factual discussion of the transactions related by the [research] report.” Id., at 8-10.
Class Action Court Decisions PSLRA/SLUSA Class Actions Uncategorized
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In Multifaceted Action Against Several Defendants, Illinois Court Grants Ernst & Young’s Defense Motion to Dismiss, Grants Timmis Law Firm/Lawyers Defense Motion to Compel Arbitration, and Grants Deutsche Bank Defense Motion for Stay
Plaintiffs filed a putative class action in Illinois state court against various lawyers, accountants, and bankers with whom they had consulted in connection with minimizing tax liability arising from the sale of their respective companies because the IRS subsequently determined that the tax saving strategy recommended to plaintiffs was “illegal” and they “ended up losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in the transactions.” Olson v. Jenkens & Gilchrist, 461 F.Supp.2d 710, 714 (N.D. Ill. 2006). Defense attorneys removed the action to federal court. Certain defendants then moved to dismiss the class action complaint, and other defendants moved to compel arbitration under a clause governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), and still other defendants moved for a stay of proceedings, id. The district court granted the defense motions.
The tax strategy recommended to plaintiffs involved digital option contracts, sometimes called Currency Options Bring Reward Alternatives (COBRA). Olson, at 714-15. We do not summarize here the convoluted and complicated fact pattern underlying the class action complaint. Suffice it to say that plaintiffs were persuaded by some of the law firm defendants to use digital options as a tax shelter in connection with the sale of their companies, the IRS subsequently determined such tax shelters to be illegal, and that plaintiffs suffered substantial damages as a result. The law firm defendants also allegedly advised plaintiffs not to participate in an IRS amnesty program and, even after the IRS determination, defendants failed to “retract, modify, or qualify their advice that the tax strategy was legal.” Id., at 716.
Ernst & Young moved to dismiss the 10 claims against it, which included claims for fraud, violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (Illinois Consumer Fraud Act), conspiracy, declaratory relief, and breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. The district court granted the motion finding that the class action complaint alleged only that Ernst & Young was involved “in the initial creation of the COBRA tax strategy in 1999”: plaintiffs “[did] not allege that [Ernst & Young] provided any professional services to Plaintiffs; received any fees from Plaintiffs directly or as a result of any transaction Plaintiffs engaged in; communicated with Plaintiffs in any way; or had any relationship with Plaintiffs whatsoever. While the Complaint does allege that [Ernst & Young] had a relationship with Jenkens and Deutsche Bank, Plaintiffs do not allege that relationship led to any damages to Plaintiffs.” Olson, at 718. Accordingly, the district court dismissed the class action claims against Ernst & Young, but did so without prejudice. Id.
Arbitration Class Action Court Decisions Uncategorized
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California Court Surprisingly Holds that Under Certain Circumstances Plaintiffs need not be Members of Class to Serve as Class Representatives and that, as Matter of First Impression, Rescission Under TILA (Truth-in-Lending Act) is a Personal Remedy Unsuitable for Class Action Treatment
Plaintiffs filed a putative class-action lawsuit against their lender alleging inter alia violations of the federal Truth In Lending Act (TILA) arising from the lender’s failure to disclose certain closing fees charged in connection with refinance loans. LaLiberte v. Pacific Merc. Bank, 147 Cal.App.4th 1. 53 Cal.Rptr.3d 745, 746 (Cal.App. 2007). Defense attorneys demurred to the class-action complaint on the ground that the class allegations failed to establish commonality; the trial court agreed but granted plaintiffs leave to amend. After extensive motion practice, plaintiffs filed a third amended class-action complaint seeking to represent a single class of borrowers who obtained loans after November 20, 2002. Id., at 746-47. Defense attorneys again demurred, this time on the ground that because the putative class representatives secured their loans in April 2002, they were not members of the class they sought to represent. Id., at 747. The trial court agreed, and sustained the demurred to the class action allegations without leave to amend. Id. as a matter of first impression, the California appellate court affirmed the trial court’s order, holding that rescission under TILA was not suitable for class action treatment.
Under California law, “An order sustaining demurs to class action allegations ‘is appealable to the extent that it prevents further proceedings as a class action.’” LaLiberte, at 747 (citation omitted). In this case, two standards of review apply on appeal. The first involves the independent judgment exercised by an appellate court in reviewing an order sustaining a demurrer; the second involves whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying leave to amend. Id., at 747-48 (citations omitted). The trial court had relied upon Payne v. United California Bank, 23 Cal.App.3d 850 (Cal.App. 1972), in support of its conclusion that plaintiffs lacked standing to sue on behalf of the proposed class because they were never members of that class. See id., at 748. The Court of Appeal disagreed, holding that La Sala v. American Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 5 Cal.3d 864 (Cal. 1971), was more on point. Id.
Certification of Class Actions Class Action Court Decisions RESPA/TILA Class Actions Uncategorized
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For class action defense attorneys who defend against RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) class actions, we provide the text of Regulation X. Congress gave authority to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to promulgate regulations for RESPA, and the regulations are set forth in 24 CFR § 3500.1 et seq. The regulations provide for rules, regulations and interpretations by HUD in § 3500.4, which provides:
§ 3500.4. Reliance upon rule, regulation or interpretation by HUD
(a) Rule, regulation or interpretation.–(1) For purposes of sections 19(a) and (b) of RESPA (12 U.S.C. 2617(a) and (b)) only the following constitute a rule, regulation or interpretation of the Secretary:
(i) All provisions, including appendices, of this part. Any other document referred to in this part is not incorporated in this part unless it is specifically set out in this part;
(ii) Any other document that is published in the FEDERAL REGISTER by the Secretary and states that it is an “interpretation,” “interpretive rule,” “commentary,” or a “statement of policy” for purposes of section 19(a) of RESPA. Such documents will be prepared by HUD staff and counsel. Such documents may be revoked or amended by a subsequent document published in the FEDERAL REGISTER by the Secretary.
Statutes & Rules Uncategorized
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Defense attorneys in California are facing another wave of public accommodation/ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) class action cases, together with a surprising number of class action lawsuits alleging violations of the federal Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Act (FACTA). The surge in class action cases falling within these two categories this past week coincide with a dramatic drop in employment law class action claims. In an effort to assist class action defense attorneys in anticipating the claims against which they may have to defend, we provide weekly, unofficial summaries of the legal categories for new class actions filed in California state and federal courts in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Oakland/Alameda and Orange County areas.
Class Actions In The News Uncategorized
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As a resource for class action defense attorneys who defend against RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) class actions, we provide the text of Regulation X. Congress gave authority to the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to promulgate regulations for RESPA, and the regulations are set forth in 24 CFR § 3500.1 et seq. The regulations concerning questions or suggestions from public and copies of public guidance documents are set forth in § 3500.
Statutes & Rules Uncategorized
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Judicial Panel Grants Request, Unopposed by Defense, for Pretrial Coordination of Class Action Lawsuits Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407 but Rejects Plaintiff’s Request to Transfer Class Actions to District of Delaware Three federal securities class action lawsuits (two in Delaware and one in Illinois) were filed against JP Morgan Chase alleging fraudulent misrepresentations relating to its merger in 2004 with Bank One Corp. In re JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Class Action Court Decisions Multidistrict Litigation Uncategorized
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