The punitive damages awarded by the bankruptcy court were unconstitutionally excessive where they were seven times greater than actual damages and the bankruptcy court increased the damages on remand because it found the lender’s success at the BAP level would eliminate a substantial disincentive to engage in the conduct establishing the automatic stay violation. Rushmore Loan Mgmt Serv., LLC v. Moon, No. 22-1126 (D. Nev. Feb. 6, 2023). Read More
Tag Archive: punitive damages
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Punitive Damages for Stay Violation Were Excessive
Posted by NCBRC - March 24th, 2023
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Circuit Court Upholds Punitive Damages Eight Times Compensatory
Posted by NCBRC - April 3rd, 2017
There was sufficient evidence of the mortgage servicer’s reckless indifference to the mortgagor’s rights to support a punitive damage award eight times the compensatory damage award for invasion of privacy. May v. Nationstar Mortgage, No. 16-1285, 16-1307 (8th Cir. March 29, 2017).
While in chapter 13 bankruptcy, Jeannie May entered into an agreement with her mortgagee to pay down her mortgage and arrears. After she was discharged from bankruptcy, the mortgage servicer, Nationstar, sent her a mortgage statement in which it misstated a $51 credit as a $5,162 debit. Nationstar also damaged Ms. May’s credit score by incorrectly reporting a delinquent debt. Ms. May spent the next two years trying to get Nationstar to correct the admitted error. Instead of correcting the problem, however, Nationstar commenced aggressive collection efforts including threatening of foreclosure, conducting periodic property inspections, and making numerous mocking and sarcastic phone calls to her. Ms. May sued Nationstar alleging invasion of privacy under state law, and federal claims under RESPA, FDCPA and FCRA. The jury awarded compensatory damages of $50,000 for the invasion of privacy, and $50,000 for the violation of the FCRA. It also awarded $400,000 in punitive damages for the invasion of privacy. Read More
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Expert Testimony by NCLC Results in Debtor Victory Against Mortgage Servicer
Posted by NCBRC - July 26th, 2012
In a victory for consumer debtors, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky disallowed Ocwen’s proof of claim for late fees and charges, and awarded judgment, including punitive damages in the amount of $25,000.00, in favor of the debtor due to Ocwen’s “gross reckless[ness]” in accounting and servicing her mortgage. In re Tolliver, No. 09-21742, Adv. Proc. No. 09-2076 (Bankr. E.D. Ky. July 19, 2012).
In reaching its decision, the court held Ocwen’s feet to the fire demanding adequate explanation of Ocwen’s convoluted and contradictory accounting records. After finding Ocwen’s explanations just as slippery and unreliable as the records themselves, the court turned to the expert testimony of Margot Saunders from the National Consumer Rights Center. She sifted through the dust heap and offered the only reliable evidence as to the history of the loan, revealing a litany of mismanagement including collecting “unsubstantiated interest arrearage balance,” and “systematically assessing late charges, fees and costs in complete disregard of the terms of the [loan documents.]” Ocwen’s attempt to justify the charges with evidence of forbearance agreements was roundly rejected. The court found the debtor had been “bullied” into signing those agreements by repeated false representations that the debtor was in default and that foreclosure was imminent even though she had completely paid off the underlying loan. Ocwen’s outrageous conduct was found to violate state common laws including breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fraud.
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