See Judge Long’s Decision – Make sure you shepardize 384283_Ibanez Larace motion to vacate memorandum Oct2009Misc 384283 and Misc 3867551
when a foreclosure is noticed and conducted for one party
by another, the name of the principal must be disclosed in the notice.
the plaintiffs themselves recognized that they needed assignments in recordable form explicitly to them (not in blank) prior to their initiation of the mortgage foreclosure process, that the plaintiffs’ “authorized agent” argument fails both on its facts and as a matter of law
Editor’s Note: We’ve reported on this case before. And as a caution, there is report that the case was overturned on appeal but I don’t see it. Either way, the reasoning of the case is extremely persuasive and the only basis for reversal would be on procedural grounds, not substance.
Here is the essence of the pretender lender tactic. Their argument is basically that they have the right to foreclose whether or not they are the real party in interest, whether or not they are the holder in due course and especially whether or not they are the creditor in the “loan” transaction with the homeowner(s).
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR FORECLOSURE DEFENSE LAWYERS: If you engage the “enemy” on their terms you will most likely lose. After all they created a narration that they think they can win. So YOUR strategy should be to change the narrative to YOUR points that can win.
In this case, it was simple. The Judge simply saw that the creditor was not involved in the foreclosure process and that the sale was therefore invalid. Implicitly the Judge was protecting both the real creditor and the homeowner from financial double (or multiple jeopardy).
So the Judge helped out the homeowner here by giving the homeowner the correct narrative. to wit: even if the party seeking to initiate the collection on the note or the foreclosure of the mortgage is an authorized agent (by virtue of possession or holding the note, etc.) the principal MUST BE DISCLOSED. How else can the court or the homeowner or the principal know the matter is subject to disposition through sale or judgment?
In a recent case in Arizona a pro se litigant finally penetrated the fog of Chauncery (see Dickens, BLEAK HOUSE), and the Judge who denied all homeowner motions before the weekend, finally got it and asked the attorney for the pretender lender what was going on (in another case in Ohio the Judge said “what are you trying to pull here?”).
Those cases are now proceeding through discovery (which we all know will never be completed) in which the identity of the creditor and a full accounting of ALL money transacted in connection with the subject loan is fully disclosed.
While there are cases we are tracking in which the homeowner is being bounced on his/her rear end, the tide is turning. The fact that there was federal bailout money and insurance proceeds paid in connection with these loans, is extremely relevant to the amount due and the identity of the current creditor.
This in turn is extremely relevant to the homeowner and the “lender” complying with federal mandate for modifications or state mandate for mediation. If the creditor is unknown how can the court or anyone else know that the “agent” is authorized?
At first the Judge’s knee jerk reaction is “What are you talking about, who else would make payments on this loan.?” But upon hearing the answer that the U.S. Treasury (TARP, TALF etc.), Federal reserve, and counter-parties in credit default swap insurance have made billions of dollars in payments and have not thus far accounted for their use of the money, the Judge may not believe you will succeed in your case but he will agree that you have a right to inquire. And THAT is all you need. because once you make the inquiry, the pretender lender will be on the defensive from that point on, disclosing itself as an impostor and a fabricator.
Filed under: bubble, CDO, CORRUPTION, currency, Eviction, foreclosure, GTC | Honor, Investor, Mortgage, securities fraud | Tagged: accounting, agent, ARIZONA, authorized agent, creditor, disclosure, discovery, financial double jeopardy, foreclosure defense, HOLDER, holder in due course, Ibanez, Judge Long, Larace, Massachusetts, mediation, modification, Ohio, pretender lender, principal, right to inquire, rules of engagement, third party payments, vacate | 5 Comments »