News By Edition

While everyone hopes it won’t happen to them, chances are you need to prepare for when, not if, you become the victim of cybertheft. During the National Settlement Services Summit (NS3), two experts shared their insight on what steps to take if it happens to you.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence issued a pair of advisories to assist U.S. individuals and businesses in efforts to combat ransomware scams and attacks, which continue to increase in size and scope. Read on for more details.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published an assessment of the TRID integrated disclosure rule, finding that the TRID rule made progress toward several of its goals. Read on for insights from the report.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has extended until Nov. 3, 2020, the executive order authorizing notarizations to be performed utilizing audio-video technology. Read on for more details.

The Maryland Insurance Administration issued a bulletin notifying all non-resident insurance producers of changes to the law pertaining to the administration’s authority to cancel a non-resident producer license for failure to maintain a home state license. Read on for more details.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a complaint against a lender for allegedly forging certifications and using unqualified underwriters to approve Federal Housing Administration insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgages. Read on for more details.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced the appointment of an interim commissioner of the state’s insurance department following the retirement of former commissioner Todd Kiser. Read on for more details.

The foreclosed upon owner of property in Nevada filed suit against the holder of the promissory note, questioning whether the holder had actual or constructive possession of all the loan documents. Read on for more details.

Owners of property adjacent to a railway corridor owned by King County, Wash., filed suit against the county, disputing the width and ownership interest of the portions of the corridor that cross their property. Read on for more details.

A Pennsylvania couple sued their mortgage servicer, alleging violations of federal and state laws relating to their attempt to satisfy the mortgage on their property. Read on for more details.

The California General Assembly has passed legislation amending the state’s foreclosure sale law. The bill awaits the governor’s signature.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation that extends the period of time to cancel contracts, including property contracts, if a party to the contract is a senior citizen. Read on for more details.

A real estate developer and attorney pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester, Mass., in connection with a $2.3 million fraud scheme relating to the redevelopment of a multi-family property in Worcester. Read on for more details.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 12 bills to protect consumers from financial predators and abusive practices, including a law that establishes the state’s department of financial protection and innovation. Read on for more details.

After the Pope County, Ark., tax collector refused to accept payment of real estate taxes from a real estate closer on behalf of the seller of property without also paying the delinquent personal property taxes of the pre-foreclosure owner of the property, the real estate closer sued the tax assessor. The case ended up before the Court of Appeals of Arkansas. Read on for more details.

A seller sued a title company for defamation regarding a dispute between himself and the title company regarding whether the property he sold was encumbered by a mortgage at the time it was sold. The seller claimed that the letter requesting he indemnify the company against losses or expenses associated with the mortgage defamed him by accusing him of committing a crime by fraudulently conveying the property while stating the property was free of encumbrances. Read on for more details.

In one of three civil cases on the subject, investors in a lending enterprise sued, among others, the title company that held funds in escrow on behalf of applicants in a loan program. Two people had pled guilty in criminal cases connected to the lending enterprise. Read on for more details.

As of Oct. 1, Prometric will begin providing pre-licensing education and insurance licensing examinations to Maryland insurance professionals. Read on for more details.

A former attorney was sentenced in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for attempting to defraud and defrauding clients, investment firms and commercial lenders. Read on for more details.