Law and legal issues

The mortgage REIT's external manager responded by filing a new lawsuit against it, calling the move "baseless and retaliatory."

Moody's says anchor stores like J.C. Penney and Neiman Marcus represent only a small portion of CMBS retail exposure, but their deteriorating fortunes will hasten the decline in credit quality of CMBS-held loans backed by Class "B" and "C" malls.

Mortgages taken out to fund business operations can now be modified in bankruptcy. That’s a relief to borrowers — particularly with business failures expected to increase as the pandemic drags on — but a possible headache for banks and investors that hold the loans.

The agency sought to provide certainty that most actions from the past eight years remain in effect despite the ruling that the bureau's leadership structure is unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court threw out a key statutory provision concerning the agency’s leadership structure, but the presidential election and possible legislative reforms could bring about more changes to the embattled bureau.

With just 13 decisions remaining on the docket this session, the high court's highly anticipated ruling in a case challenging the agency's leadership structure could come as early as next Monday.

A bankruptcy judge will be asked to sign off on the sale of BHF's Shoreline portfolio in Chicago and will hold an initial Chapter 11 hearing on another portfolio.

A lawsuit filed Tuesday argues that the bureau's establishment of the panel looking into regulatory changes violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

A $740 million jury verdict against Amrock was thrown out by a Texas appeals court that said tech firm HouseCanary failed to prove the big title insurer stole its trade secrets to build a competing real estate analysis tool.

Real estate crowdfunding company Sharestates launched a program Wednesday offering liquidity to private lenders and loan aggregators contending with margin calls as a result of market volatility related to the coronavirus outbreak.

The company disclosed that an internal review of a now-discontinued loan program found that employees engaged in misconduct tied to income verification and requirements, among other things.

The agency's effort to engage with lawmakers on a whistleblower award program is one of three initiatives the bureau announced to advance its strategy of preventing consumer harm.

Wells Fargo & Co. is poised to pay roughly $3 billion to settle federal investigations into a range of consumer abuses that were rampant at the bank for years, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter.

Democratic lawmakers, state attorneys general and others filed briefs with the Supreme Court rebutting claims that the agency’s leadership structure is unconstitutional.

Citibank is on the hook for just under $18 million in flood insurance violations, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The Supreme Court appointed Paul Clement to represent the agency after the bureau’s current director questioned its constitutionality.

A bankruptcy court judge denied a lender's motion to foreclose on properties controlled by an Austin real estate investor. But the judge then issued a warning, saying an exit plan better be ready by Feb. 2.

In a case highlighting a fraud risk for mortgage companies and other financial institutions, two Garden State residents were sentenced for using fake money orders attempting to fraudulently discharge debts.

The owners of the former 3M corporate campus filed under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, which cancelled a scheduled foreclosure auction of the Austin property.

Elizabeth Warren rolled out a plan to restore bankruptcy protections repealed in a 2005 law championed by Joe Biden, including those that involve mortgage lending.