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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently released its Guide to Completing TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Forms. The guide provides instructions for completing the Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure and also highlights common situations that may arise when completing the forms. It may also be helpful to settlement service providers, software providers and other firms that serve as business partners to creditors. The 96-page report goes through each disclosure page-by-page, explaining each section of the forms. The guide is a companion to the Small Entity Compliance Guide it released.

For changing long, complicated forms that help people when they are shopping for home loans into shorter, more easily understood forms, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CPFB) Loan Estimate Form was honored with the Center for Plain Language's Grand ClearMark Award as the best example of clear, concise communication. The award was presented at the Center for Plain Language's fifth annual national ClearMark Awards, April 22, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Graves Fowler Creative and its partner Kleimann Communication Group won top honors in the 2014 ClearMark Award Program for their work on the integrated loan estimate form for the CFPB. The Grand ClearMark is the top recognition given by an international panel of judges.

A federal jury has convicted two men for their roles in an extensive mortgage fraud scheme arising from the fraudulent purchases of more than 40 properties in New Haven, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, District of New Jersey, announced. Andrew Constantinou, of Unionville, Conn., and Jacques Kelly, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., were convicted on April 18, of all counts charged in the indictment following a three-week trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Janet Hall. The jury found both men guilty of conspiracy to commit mail, wire and bank fraud. The jury also found Kelly guilty of one count of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a financial institution.

An insured became entangled in a series of lawsuits regarding a piece of property in California. While working through those court cases, the insured sought defense or indemnification from its title insurer. The title insurer denied its claim and the insured sued the title insurer over its failure to provide a defense or indemnification in the various cases.

After being assigned a note and mortgage in default after the failure of the original bank, the assignee sought coverage under the title policy. The title insurer denied coverage and the bank filed suit for breach of contract. The title insurer countersued for declaratory judgment.

The Louisiana State Legislature is considering a bill that would prohibit the required use of settlement service providers in residential real estate transactions. This would expand RESPA’s required use prohibition in the state. The bill, SB 426, was introduced by Sen. Eric LaFleaur, D-Ville Platte. The proposed law would provide that no contract to sell or purchase residential real estate executed in Louisiana could contain any provision requiring the purchaser, as a condition of sale, to use a specific provider of settlement services.

RP Family Inc., brought action against its title insurer, claiming breach of contract and other state law claims arising out of the insurer’s alleged failure to satisfy its obligations under RP Family’s title insurance company. The insurer brought a third-party complaint against the title agent and others, seeking indemnification. Each party now seeks summary judgment in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

A former attorney practicing in Boston was sentenced for his involvement in a mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in more than $2.5 million in losses. Charles R. Sammon, 37, of West Pittston, Pa., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns to 33 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release and $977,042 in restitution to defrauded lenders. In November 2013, Sammon pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud and unlawful monetary transactions.

After discovering it lost $7 million on loans secured under a fraudulent property flipping scheme, a bank went after several parties, including the title agents who closed the transactions and the title insurer. The bank sued, asserting claims against the agents for breach of closing instructions and claims against the title insurer for breach of the closing protection letter. The bank eventually appealed the case to the Court of Appeals of Michigan on a trial court’s dismissal of one of the agents and the title insurer.

The mortgage closing process will be the subject of a public forum this week at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event will feature remarks from Director Richard Cordray, as well as a discussion with consumer groups, industry representatives and members of the public. The forum is scheduled for April 23 at 2:30 p.m. EDT. The Legal Description will provide live coverage from the event, as well as insights from industry insiders.