J.P. Morgan Chase and the U.S. Department of Justice have reached a tentative $13 billion settlement over the bank’s mortgage practices during the lead-up to the financial crisis. If finalized, it would be a record penalty and would resolve an array of state and federal investigations into the bank’s sale […]
Chase Ordered to Refund $309 Million
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) ordered Chase Bank USA, NA and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, NA to refund roughly $309 million to some 2.1 million customers for illegal credit card practices. CFPB and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) found that Chase engaged in unfair billing […]
CFPB Warns Employers About Use of Payroll Cards
On September 12, 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) published a bulletin reminding employers that they may not require employees to receive wages on a payroll card. The bulletin also explains some of the federal consumer protections that apply to payroll cards, such as fee disclosure, access to account […]
CFPB Finalizes Amendments to Mortgage Rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) recently finalized several amendments and clarifications to the mortgage rules, proposed on June 24, 2013. The key changes include the following: Mortgage Servicing The amendments include a process for servicers to offer short-term forbearance plans to delinquent borrowers, without completing the full loss-mitigation evaluation […]
Confidential Settlement Reached in Wrongful Conviction Case
The City of Council Bluffs, Iowa this week settled a lawsuit brought by two men who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 25 years. The lawsuit, brought by Terry Harrington and Curtis McGhee, was scheduled for retrial this week. The original trial ended in mistrial in December 2012 after jurors […]
Mobile Lab and X-Ray Provider to Pay $17.5 Million for Fraudulent Claims
Diagnostic Laboratories and Radiology (“Diagnostic Labs”) will pay $17.5 million to settle claims that the California-based company violated the federal and California False Claims Acts by paying kickbacks for referral of mobile lab and radiology services that were thereafter billed to Medicare and Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program). Diagnostic Labs reportedly […]
CFPB Resolves Debt Settlement Enforcement Action
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) announced an enforcement action against Meracord, LLC, a debt settlement payment processor, for helping other entities collect millions of dollars in illegal upfront fees from consumers. The CFPB has asked a federal court to approve a consent order that would require Meracord and its […]
Bank of America Goes to Trial on Mortgage Fraud Charges
Jury selection began on October 1, 2013 in the government’s first financial crisis case to go to trial against a major bank over defective mortgages. The case involves claims that Bank of America’s Countrywide unit approved deficient home loans in a process called “Hustle,” defrauding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, […]
Hilton Head Hospital Accused in Medicaid Kickback Scheme
Hilton Head Hospital has been named in a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that the hospital paid kickbacks to a clinic that directed expectant, undocumented mothers living in the United States to the hospital as a way to increase Medicaid revenue. The federal qui tam lawsuit was recently unsealed, meaning that the […]
NC Policy Watch Comments on Recent Pro-Business Supreme Court Decision
NC Policy Watch recently published an article highly critical of the North Carolina Supreme Court’s August 30, 2013 decision in Bumpers v. Community Bank of Northern Virginia. In Bumpers, the North Carolina Supreme Court reversed a summary judgment ruling in favor of a victim of predatory lending practices. In the […]
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“Forest, once again, my family and I thank you for obtaining another settlement on behalf of my Father. It’s almost uncanny that these checks seem to come at very opportune times. This one comes as we are expecting our fourth grandchild. It will provide her some sound footing towards her future college education, plus help Mom and Dad with the medical expenses. Sometimes, I think my Dad is helping you guys with this. Maybe so. Anyway, thank you again for your hard work.”
– Mike
