In response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, many state governors and legislators have swiftly moved to pass laws—either by executive order (“EO”) or traditional legislative processes—to allow notaries to remotely carry out their duties while maintaining social distancing practices and abiding by stay-at-home orders.
On April 7, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Executive Order 202.14 (“EO 202.14”) which, among other things, authorizes “remote witnessing” for property conveyances under Article 9 of the New York Real Property Law.
In a split decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently held that a company that “buys and profits from consumer debts” can be liable under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (the “FDCPA”) even if it does not directly communicate with any consumers. See McAdory v. M.N.S. & Assocs., LLC, 2020 WL 1128813 (9th Cir. Mar. 9, 2020).
On March 28, 2020, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain financial institutions have committed to provide New Jersey citizens with a 90-day residential mortgage forbearance and other similar financial relief.
The Court of Appeals of Washington recently taught litigants a stern message: you may want to consider a cross-appeal of any adverse ruling even if you are generally satisfied with the judgment of the lower court. See Nationstar Mortg. LLC v. Schultz, 2019 WL 6713614 (Wash. Ct. App. Dec. 10, 2019).
In response to the COVID-19 virus, lawmakers across the country are scrambling to pass a number of measures to blunt the ill effects of the pandemic to allow for real estate and loan closings. Specifically, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has taken steps to enable “remote notarizations” in an effort to maintain social distancing practices.
On March 19, 2020 and in response to COVID-19 concerns, Governor Murphy signed Assembly Bill No. 3859 into law and immediately issued an executive order prohibiting the removal of anyone from a residential property as a result of an eviction or foreclosure proceeding. Under A3859, whenever there is a Public Health Emergency, “the Governor may issue an executive order to declare that a lessee, tenant, homeowner or any other person shall not be removed from a residential property as the result of an eviction or foreclosure proceeding.”
In a split decision, the District Court of Appeal of Florida recently held that the FDIC was barred from bringing a state court action due to the statute of limitations having expired, despite the fact that the FDIC initially timely filed in federal court, but the federal court dismissed the action at defendant’s urging due to the FDIC’s failure to abide by a venue provision. See Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Nationwide Equities Corp., 2020 WL 912944 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. Feb. 26, 2020).
The United States District Court for the District of Nevada recently held that an insured lender was not covered under a title insurance policy for an HOA lien because the lien was recorded after the policy date, regardless of when the HOA recorded its Declarations of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions. See HSBC Bank USA, N.A. as Tr. for Registered Holders of Nomura Home Equity Loan, Inc., Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2006-HE2 v. Fid. Nat’l Title Ins. Co., 2020 WL 886940 (D. Nev. Feb. 20, 2020).
The Indiana Supreme Court recently reversed prior appellate decisions and held that there is no “rule of reasonableness” imposed on actions regarding closed installment contracts, such as promissory notes and mortgages, and that the limitations period is six years and begins running either at a missed payment, acceleration, or the note’s maturity date. See Blair v. EMC Mortg., LLC, 2020 WL 762592 (Ind. Feb. 17, 2020).