Cromwell v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.

483 B.R. 36, 2012 WL 4127910, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134796
CourtDistrict Court, D. Massachusetts
DecidedSeptember 20, 2012
DocketCivil Action No. 11-12054-WGY
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 483 B.R. 36 (Cromwell v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cromwell v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., 483 B.R. 36, 2012 WL 4127910, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134796 (D. Mass. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM & ORDER

YOUNG, District Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

The defendants, Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., and Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (collectively “Countrywide”) appeal from several rulings by the Bankruptcy Court in an adversary proceeding. The plaintiffs (and debtors), Douglas and Mary Cromwell, cross-appeal on one issue.

A. Procedural Posture

Douglas and Mary Cromwell (the “Cromwells”) brought an adversary proceeding in their Chapter 13 Bankruptcy proceeding to rescind a consumer credit mortgage on their property at 27 Irving Street in Winchester, Massachusetts. In re Cromwell, 461 B.R. 99, 103-04 (Bankr. D.Mass.2011) (Hillman, Bankr.J.). The Cromwells allege violations of the Massachusetts Consumer Credit Cost Disclosure Act (the “MCCCDA”), Massachusetts General Laws chapter 140D. section 1 et seq., the corollary of the federal Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1635, et seq. In re Cromwell, 461 B.R. at 103-04.

The Cromwells claim that the violations of the MCCCDA enabled them to rescind the mortgage granted them by the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (“MERS”), a nominee for Countrywide Home Loans, Inc., and sought a declaration of rescission by the Bankruptcy Court. Id. at 104. Further, the Cromwells argue that a rescission makes the mortgage void and that they have no tender obligation to effectuate the rescission. Id. As a result, CountryWide’s claim (the mortgage loan) would be unsecured and lose priority for purposes of their Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. Id.

The Bankruptcy Court denied motions for summary judgment on these claims1 and conducted a trial on the adversary proceeding on May 17, 2011. Id. at 107-OS. The parties presented five witnesses at trial and introduced thirty-eight exhibits in evidence. Id. The court took the matter under advisement and requested post-trial briefs. Id. at 111. In a carefully reasoned opinion, the Bankruptcy Court ruled for the Cromwells on both Counts I and II. Id. at 138.

B. Facts

The Bankruptcy Judge found the following facts after a trial:2

The Cromwells own real property at 27 Irving Street in Winchester, Massachusetts (“the Property”) that has been their principal residence since they inherited it in 1985. In re Cromwell, 461 B.R. at 104. The Cromwells have executed thirteen [39]*39mortgages with respect to the Property. Id. At the time of the bankruptcy petition, the Cromwells disclosed two mortgages, a first mortgage held by MERS as nominee for Countrywide, and a second mortgage held by American General Finance. Id. at 104-05. The Cromwells executed the note in favor of Countrywide with an original principal of $300,000 and granted the first mortgage to MERS as nominee on December 23, 2005. Id. at 105. The purpose of this mortgage was to discharge an existing mortgage on the property. Id. The Cromwells used $246,960.08 of the loan from Countrywide to pay off the balance on their existing mortgage and used the balance to pay other debts “incurred primarily for personal, household, or family purposes, and to make repairs to the Property.” Id.

Unable to make their payments to Countrywide, the Cromwells entered into two loan modification agreements that ultimately increased their principal balance to $334,295.15. Id. On August 8, 2008, the Cromwells filed a joint Chapter 13 petition. Id. They listed the Property as having a current value of $388,600, subject to secured claims in the amount of $350,117.45. Id. The Cromwells disclosed secured claims in the amount of $334,200.15 and $13,866.69 owed to Countrywide and American General Finance, respectively, on Schedule D. Id. Schedule D also reflected secured claims held by the Town of Winchester for unpaid property taxes in the amount of $1,052.25 and water and sewer charges in the amount of $998.36. Id. On their original Schedule C-Property Claimed as Exempt (“Schedule C”), the Cromwells claimed an exemption in the Property pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws chapter 188, section 1 in the amount of $39,534.80 (the “Homestead Exemption”), which appears to be the approximate amount of equity that remained in the Property as of the petition date. Id. at 105-06. The Cromwells also listed a priority federal tax claim in the amount of $318.80 and general unsecured claims totaling $68,887.71. Id.

After a creditors meeting, Countrywide filed a proof of claim indicating that the total amount of the secured claim was $359,110.65 with a prepetition arrearage of $25,431.01. Id. The Cromwells sought to cure the arrearage through their Chapter 13 plan while maintaining regular post-petition payments, but after Countrywide started the foreclosure process, the Crom-wells changed their mind. Id.

On January 21, 2009, the Cromwells, through counsel, sent written notification to the Defendants’ counsel of their election to rescind the Countrywide refinancing transaction. Id. On the same date, the Cromwells filed an Objection to CountryWide’s secured Claim, contending that, in light of their purported rescission, Countrywide held only an unsecured claim. Id. Countrywide and MERS disputed the validity of the rescission, and as of the bankruptcy opinion, had not taken any action to terminate the security interest or return any money or property to the Cromwells. Id. As a result, the Cromwells commenced the present adversary proceeding on February 20, 2009, asserting that they can rescind the Countrywide refinancing transaction because they were not provided with the correct number of copies of the Notice of Right to Cancel under the MCCCDA (“Count I”), and that the notice provided to them at the closing did not adequately disclose their rescission rights because it used the wrong statutory form (“Count II”). Ultimately, the Objection to Claim was consolidated with this adversary proceeding. Id.

C. Federal Jurisdiction

This Court has original jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases and all civil proceedings [40]*40“arising under title 11, or arising in or related to cases under title 11.” 28 U.S.C. § 1334(a). The legal and factual issues on appeal arise in and are related to a bankruptcy filed by the Cromwells. The Court has jurisdiction to hear the appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). The parties elected to proceed to District Court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158(c).

II. DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

On appeal from a judgment in an adversary proceeding, a district court reviews conclusions of law de novo, but ought accept the bankruptcy judge’s finding of fact unless they were clearly erroneous. In re Callahan, 442 B.R. 1, 5 (D.Mass.2010).

The Supreme Court explained the plain error or clearly erroneous standard:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Tera XTal Tech v. GT Adv Tech.
2017 DNH 024 (D. New Hampshire, 2017)
Pfenning v. Brewer et al.
2016 DNH 078 (D. New Hampshire, 2016)
Perkins v. Massachusetts Department of Revenue
507 B.R. 45 (D. Massachusetts, 2014)
In re Cromwell
483 B.R. 276 (D. Massachusetts, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
483 B.R. 36, 2012 WL 4127910, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134796, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cromwell-v-countrywide-home-loans-inc-mad-2012.