After it won a court case against a couple which was required to deed it the entirety of the 1,300 acres they had mortgaged under a bankruptcy settlement, the mortgage holder sought compensation for the cost of attorneys’ fees, including the fees incurred after the litigation concluded. The title insurer paid the fees incurred during the litigation only and filed suit for declaration that it was not liable for any additional payments. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment. Read on for more details.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin signed legislation that describes the requisite “full name” for a grantor and grantee when recording a deed to real property and directs that the record is still notice and admissible as evidence if the instrument is not in compliance with the provisions set out in the bill. Read on for more details.

A former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agent pleaded guilty to devising a wire fraud scheme that defrauded SunTrust Mortgage and Freddie Mac of more than $40,000. Read on to learn more.

The California General Assembly is considering a ban on private transfer fees that do not provide a direct benefit to the encumbered property. The topic of private transfer fees was a hot button topic a few years ago, with numerous states taking action and eventually the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Congress taking up the issue. Read on for more insight into the bill.

The National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) comes home to the Midwest for the 14th year of the annual conference that brings all parties of the real estate transaction together in one place. The conference is slated for June 6-8 in Detroit at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. One thing that remains the same, though, is the ability for attendees to learn from top executives and companies representing the industry, with panels scheduled featuring leading underwriters, lenders and regulators. Read on for more about the top-quality speakers set to pass along their insights in June.

On April 11 and 12, Mick Mulvaney, acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, appeared before Congress to give his first semi-annual report for the bureau. During his appearances before the House and the Senate, he provided more insight into his new direction, and asked Congress to take specific legislative actions. Read on for more details.

A Louisiana woman filed suit against the United States and others, alleging that the government improperly acquired a warranty easement deed over a portion of her property. The settlement agent she claimed conducted the transaction filed a motion for summary judgment of the claims against her. Read on for more details.

Several industry associations, including the American Land Title Association, American Escrow Association, Mortgage Bankers Association and Real Estate Services Providers Council, wrote a letter to members of Congress, voicing their support for H.R. 5266, the Financial Product Safety Commission Act of 2018, which would establish a five-person, bipartisan commission to replace the current sole director governance structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Read on for more details.

A Rocklin, Calif., man was sentenced to time in prison for wire fraud involving financial institutions. Read on for more details.