FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
JERRY A. FUNK, Bankruptcy Judge.
This proceeding came before the Court upon an amended complaint filed by Evelyn R. Robertson (“Plaintiff’) alleging Darlene Strickland (“Defendant”) violated the chapter 7 discharge injunction, the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) (15 U.S.C. § 1601
et seq.),
the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 and the Florida usury law. The Court conducted a trial on April 19, 2005. In lieu of oral argument, the Court direct
ed the parties to submit memoranda in support of their respective positions. Upon the evidence and the arguments of the parties, the Court makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Plaintiffs mortgagee obtained a final judgment of foreclosure and set the sale of Plaintiffs home for October 6, 2003. Plaintiff contacted Ronald Evans (“Mr.Evans”), a mortgage broker, to assist her with refinancing her home. Mr. Evans could not obtain refinancing for Plaintiff by means of a conventional loan before the foreclosure date. Mr. Evans asked Defendant, the owner of Premier Title Group, Inc., to provide a private loan to Plaintiff. Premier Title Group primarily provides title services, closing services, and title insurance for those seeking or providing mortgages. Defendant was not in the business of extending loans and in fact had not extended a private loan before extending the loan to Plaintiff.
On October 3, 2003 Mr. Evans and Plaintiff went to Defendant’s office to complete the transaction. Defendant did not attend the closing because of a prior engagement but she was represented. In preparation for the closing Defendant signed a Private Investor Disbursement dated October 3, 2003 and Plaintiff signed a Borrower Signature Authorization dated September 16, 2003. During the closing Plaintiff signed over her home to Defendant by signing a General Warranty Deed (“deed”) in favor of Defendant. Plaintiff signed the deed in exchange for a loan of $20,000.00 from Defendant. Defendant did not disclose to Plaintiff credit terms or rescission terms as required by the Truth and Lending Act (“TILA”) or the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (“HOEPA”) before or during the closing.
Defendant’s representative tendered Mr. Evans a check for $18,798.37. Mr. Evans promptly sent the check to Plaintiffs mortgage company and Plaintiff remained in possession of her home. The loan terms required Plaintiff to pay Defendant $20,000.00 within sixty days. Upon payment of the loan, Defendant would tender the deed to Plaintiff.
On October 7, 2003 Plaintiff signed a Mortgage Broker Contract, a Good Faith Estimate and a Residential Loan Application. The Good Faith Estimate lists the transaction costs for the loan as follows: 1) $300.00 for a loan discount; 2) $500.00 for the mortgage broker fee; 3) $266.63 for the closing or escrow fee; 4) $25.00 for recording fees; 5) $70.00 for the mortgage note stamps; and 6) $40.00 for the intangible tax. The transaction costs for the loan totaled $1,201.63. After the closing, Plaintiff paid the $500.00 brokerage fee directly to Mr. Evans without notifying Defendant, thereby reducing the debt Plaintiff owes Defendant to $19,500.00.
Mr. Evans intended to refinance Plaintiffs home in a relative’s name before the sixty days expired. However, the refinancing never occurred. On February 29, 2004 (the “Petition Date”) Plaintiff filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. Plaintiff listed the $20,000.00 debt owed to Defendant as an unsecured claim. As of the Petition Date, the deed remained unrecorded in Defendant’s possession. Defendant did not participate in Plaintiffs chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding even though she knew Plaintiff filed for bankruptcy and knew she was listed as an unsecured creditor. On June 16, 2004 Plaintiff received her discharge.
In the months following the loan transaction, Defendant demanded Plaintiff repay the loan. Plaintiff did not repay the loan. In fact Plaintiff did not tender any payments to Defendant. On August 19, 2004 Defendant recorded the deed to Plaintiffs home and instructed Plaintiff to vacate the home. On August 24, 2004 Plaintiff filed a complaint commencing this adversary proceeding.
On September 9, 2004 Plaintiff filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy relief. On December 30, 2004 Defendant filed a secured claim in Plaintiffs Chapter 13 case, which the clerk’s office designated as Claim 5. On February 15, 2005 Plaintiff filed an Objection to Claim 5. On February 18, 2005 Defendant filed a response. Based upon the similarity of issues, the Court combined the adversary proceeding with Plaintiffs Objection to Claim 5 in the Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. On August 25, 2005 the Court dismissed Plaintiffs Chapter 13 bankruptcy case based on Plaintiffs failure to make interim payments. Plaintiffs Objection to Claim 5 is therefore moot.
Plaintiff alleged in the amended complaint that Defendant’s actions: 1) violated the chapter 7 discharge injunction pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 524 and 727; 2) violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act because Defendant engaged in equity skimming; 3) violated TILA by failing to disclose specific terms of the loan as required by 15 U.S.C. § 1638; 4) violated HOEPA by failing to disclose specific terms of the loan as required by 15 U.S.C. § 1639; 5) extended her right to rescind the transaction pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1635; and 6) resulted in criminal usury pursuant to Florida Statute § 687.071.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Count I
— Violation
of the Discharge Injunction
Plaintiff concedes in her Post Trial Memorandum that Defendant holds a mortgage on her home. The parties agree the mortgage qualifies as a secured debt and the lien survives the chapter 7 discharge. Accordingly, the Court will enter judgment in favor of Defendant as to Count I of the amended complaint.
Count II
— Florida
Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act Violation
The Court found insufficient evidence to support count II of Plaintiffs amended complaint after hearing the evidence presented at trial. Therefore, the Court will enter judgment in favor of Defendant as to Count II of the amended complaint.
Count III
— TILA
Disclosure Violations
In 1968 Congress enacted TILA in order to “assure a meaningful disclosure of credit terms so that the consumer will be able to compare more readily the various credit terms available to him and avoid the uninformed use of credit.” 15 U.S.C.
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FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
JERRY A. FUNK, Bankruptcy Judge.
This proceeding came before the Court upon an amended complaint filed by Evelyn R. Robertson (“Plaintiff’) alleging Darlene Strickland (“Defendant”) violated the chapter 7 discharge injunction, the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”) (15 U.S.C. § 1601
et seq.),
the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 and the Florida usury law. The Court conducted a trial on April 19, 2005. In lieu of oral argument, the Court direct
ed the parties to submit memoranda in support of their respective positions. Upon the evidence and the arguments of the parties, the Court makes the following Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Plaintiffs mortgagee obtained a final judgment of foreclosure and set the sale of Plaintiffs home for October 6, 2003. Plaintiff contacted Ronald Evans (“Mr.Evans”), a mortgage broker, to assist her with refinancing her home. Mr. Evans could not obtain refinancing for Plaintiff by means of a conventional loan before the foreclosure date. Mr. Evans asked Defendant, the owner of Premier Title Group, Inc., to provide a private loan to Plaintiff. Premier Title Group primarily provides title services, closing services, and title insurance for those seeking or providing mortgages. Defendant was not in the business of extending loans and in fact had not extended a private loan before extending the loan to Plaintiff.
On October 3, 2003 Mr. Evans and Plaintiff went to Defendant’s office to complete the transaction. Defendant did not attend the closing because of a prior engagement but she was represented. In preparation for the closing Defendant signed a Private Investor Disbursement dated October 3, 2003 and Plaintiff signed a Borrower Signature Authorization dated September 16, 2003. During the closing Plaintiff signed over her home to Defendant by signing a General Warranty Deed (“deed”) in favor of Defendant. Plaintiff signed the deed in exchange for a loan of $20,000.00 from Defendant. Defendant did not disclose to Plaintiff credit terms or rescission terms as required by the Truth and Lending Act (“TILA”) or the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 (“HOEPA”) before or during the closing.
Defendant’s representative tendered Mr. Evans a check for $18,798.37. Mr. Evans promptly sent the check to Plaintiffs mortgage company and Plaintiff remained in possession of her home. The loan terms required Plaintiff to pay Defendant $20,000.00 within sixty days. Upon payment of the loan, Defendant would tender the deed to Plaintiff.
On October 7, 2003 Plaintiff signed a Mortgage Broker Contract, a Good Faith Estimate and a Residential Loan Application. The Good Faith Estimate lists the transaction costs for the loan as follows: 1) $300.00 for a loan discount; 2) $500.00 for the mortgage broker fee; 3) $266.63 for the closing or escrow fee; 4) $25.00 for recording fees; 5) $70.00 for the mortgage note stamps; and 6) $40.00 for the intangible tax. The transaction costs for the loan totaled $1,201.63. After the closing, Plaintiff paid the $500.00 brokerage fee directly to Mr. Evans without notifying Defendant, thereby reducing the debt Plaintiff owes Defendant to $19,500.00.
Mr. Evans intended to refinance Plaintiffs home in a relative’s name before the sixty days expired. However, the refinancing never occurred. On February 29, 2004 (the “Petition Date”) Plaintiff filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. Plaintiff listed the $20,000.00 debt owed to Defendant as an unsecured claim. As of the Petition Date, the deed remained unrecorded in Defendant’s possession. Defendant did not participate in Plaintiffs chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding even though she knew Plaintiff filed for bankruptcy and knew she was listed as an unsecured creditor. On June 16, 2004 Plaintiff received her discharge.
In the months following the loan transaction, Defendant demanded Plaintiff repay the loan. Plaintiff did not repay the loan. In fact Plaintiff did not tender any payments to Defendant. On August 19, 2004 Defendant recorded the deed to Plaintiffs home and instructed Plaintiff to vacate the home. On August 24, 2004 Plaintiff filed a complaint commencing this adversary proceeding.
On September 9, 2004 Plaintiff filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy relief. On December 30, 2004 Defendant filed a secured claim in Plaintiffs Chapter 13 case, which the clerk’s office designated as Claim 5. On February 15, 2005 Plaintiff filed an Objection to Claim 5. On February 18, 2005 Defendant filed a response. Based upon the similarity of issues, the Court combined the adversary proceeding with Plaintiffs Objection to Claim 5 in the Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. On August 25, 2005 the Court dismissed Plaintiffs Chapter 13 bankruptcy case based on Plaintiffs failure to make interim payments. Plaintiffs Objection to Claim 5 is therefore moot.
Plaintiff alleged in the amended complaint that Defendant’s actions: 1) violated the chapter 7 discharge injunction pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 524 and 727; 2) violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act because Defendant engaged in equity skimming; 3) violated TILA by failing to disclose specific terms of the loan as required by 15 U.S.C. § 1638; 4) violated HOEPA by failing to disclose specific terms of the loan as required by 15 U.S.C. § 1639; 5) extended her right to rescind the transaction pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1635; and 6) resulted in criminal usury pursuant to Florida Statute § 687.071.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Count I
— Violation
of the Discharge Injunction
Plaintiff concedes in her Post Trial Memorandum that Defendant holds a mortgage on her home. The parties agree the mortgage qualifies as a secured debt and the lien survives the chapter 7 discharge. Accordingly, the Court will enter judgment in favor of Defendant as to Count I of the amended complaint.
Count II
— Florida
Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act Violation
The Court found insufficient evidence to support count II of Plaintiffs amended complaint after hearing the evidence presented at trial. Therefore, the Court will enter judgment in favor of Defendant as to Count II of the amended complaint.
Count III
— TILA
Disclosure Violations
In 1968 Congress enacted TILA in order to “assure a meaningful disclosure of credit terms so that the consumer will be able to compare more readily the various credit terms available to him and avoid the uninformed use of credit.” 15 U.S.C. § 1601;
see also Cooper v. First Gov’t Mortgage & Investors Corp.,
238 F.Supp.2d 50, 54 (D.D.C.2002) (citations omitted). Under TILA lenders are required to disclose credit terms clearly and conspicuously so that borrowers can fully understand the terms and costs of the transaction. 12 C.F.R. § 226.17(a)(1).
Plaintiff alleges in count III of the amended complaint that Defendant failed to disclose to Plaintiff the required credit terms pursuant to TILA.
Preliminarily, the Court must determine whether Defendant qualifies as a creditor for purposes of TILA.
Mr. Evans’ classification as a mortgage broker is not disputed. Mr. Evans brokered the loan transaction between Plaintiff and Defendant. Therefore, Defendant qualifies as a creditor for purposes of TILA.
TILA governs a transaction by a creditor when four conditions are met: (1) the credit is extended to consumers; (2) the extension of credit is done regularly; (3) the credit is subject to a finance charge; and (4) the credit is for personal, family or household purposes. 12 C.F.R. § 226.1(c)(1).
The transaction between Defendant and Plaintiff meets all four conditions. Plaintiff qualifies as a consumer, which is a person to whom consumer credit is offered or extended. 12 C.F.R. § 226.2(a)(11).
The Court has already identified Defendant as a person who regularly extends consumer credit. At a minimum the $500.00 brokerage fee paid by Plaintiff constitutes a finance charge. 12 C.F.R. § 226.4(a)(3).
Finally, Plaintiff
needed the loan for a personal, family or household purpose.
The transaction between Defendant and Plaintiff qualifies as a closed-end transaction because Defendant did not anticipate repeated transactions with Plaintiff. 15 U.S.C. § 1602(i).
TILA requires a creditor to provide the credit disclosures to a borrower for a closed-end transaction before the credit is extended. 15 U.S.C. § 1638(b)(1); 12 C.F.R. § 226.17(b). Plaintiff did not sign any documents with the required TILA disclosures before the closing. 15 U.S.C. § 1638.
Plaintiff signed a Borrower Signature Authorization before the closing and Plaintiff signed the deed over to Defendant during the closing. Because none of the documents signed by Plaintiff before the closing included the required disclosures, Defendant violated 15 U.S.C. § 1638 of TILA.
Count V
— HOEPA
Disclosure Violations
In 1994 Congress enacted HOEPA as an amendment to TILA.
Cooper v. First Gov’t Mortgage and Investors Corp.,
238 F.Supp.2d 50, 54 (D.D.C.2002) (citing Pub.L. 103-325 (amending TILA at 15 U.S.C. §§ 1601-02, 1604, 1610, 1639-41, 1648)). Congress intended for HOEPA to address “abusive practices in home mortgage lending” and to “provide borrowers with additional disclosures, in conspicuous type size, with respect to certain home mortgages.”
Cooper,
238 F.Supp.2d at 54 (citing 15 U.S.C. § 1639(a)(1)).
Defendant also meets the definition of a creditor for purposes of HOE-PA. A lender can qualify as a creditor under HOEPA by originating one or more mortgages referred to in section 1602(aa)
through a mortgage broker. 15 U.S.C. § 1602(f); 12 C.F.R. § 226.2(a)(17)(i). The transaction between Plaintiff and Defendant qualifies as a mortgage covered by HOEPA because Plaintiff secured the loan with her home for a purpose other than to finance the acquisition or initial construction of a dwelling and the annual percentage rate of the loan “exceeds by more than 10 percentage points the yield on Treasury securities having comparable periods of maturity on the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the application for the extension of credit [was] received by the creditor.” 15 U.S.C. §§ 1602(aa)(1)(A) and 1602(w). The parties stipulated that the HOEPA trigger was 10.91%. Defendant concedes in her Post Trial Memorandum that transaction charges of over $341.00 calculated as interest, would trigger the application of HOE-PA. The Court finds that at least $341.00 of the charges were disguised interest.
HOEPA requires a creditor to make certain disclosures in addition to those required by TILA. 15 U.S.C. § 1639(a).
The disclosures must be made three business days prior to the consummation of the transaction. 15 U.S.C. § 1639(b)(1). Because none of the documents signed by Plaintiff before the closing included the 15 U.S.C § 1639(a) disclosures, Plaintiff violated HOEPA.
Damages Pursuant to TILA and HOEPA
Plaintiff requests the Court award damages for the TILA violations pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(2)(A)(iii).
The Court was impressed by Defendant’s testimony. The Court finds that Defendant did not intend to take advantage of Plaintiff by failing to inform Plaintiff of the disclosures mandated by TILA. The Court finds that Defendant’s violation of TILA was unintentional. Defendant and Plaintiff intended for Plaintiffs home to be refinanced in a relative’s name within sixty days which would have enabled Plaintiff to repay Defendant timely. Mr. Evans, Plaintiff and Defendant acted quickly in order to save Plaintiffs home. Furthermore, the evidence established that Plain
tiff knew the transaction constituted a mortgage and Plaintiff agreed to the mortgage in good faith. Therefore, the Court finds it appropriate to award Plaintiff $200.00 in damages.
Plaintiff requests the Court award damages for the HOEPA violation pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(4).
Under HOEPA Plaintiff is merely entitled to actual damages. Plaintiffs actual damages amount to the $500.00 brokerage fee paid to Mr. Evans.
Attorney’s Fees pursuant to TILA
Additionally, Plaintiff requests approximately $6,000.00 in attorney’s fees pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(3) as a further consequence for Defendant’s violation of TILA. The Court can exercise discretion when awarding attorney’s fees and costs for a TILA disclosure violation.
Leathers v. Toyota-Volvo,
824 F.Supp. 155, 159 (C.D.Ill.1993). An award of attorney’s fees “which greatly exceeds the amount of damages at stake ‘requires strong support from the circumstances of the particular case.’ ”
Id.
(quoting
In re Pine,
705 F.2d 936, 938-39 (7th Cir.1983)) (citing and distinguishing
Mirabal v. Gen. Motors Acceptance Corp.
576 F.2d 729 (7th Cir.1978)(per curiam),
cert. denied,
439 U.S. 1039, 99 S.Ct. 642, 58 L.Ed.2d 699 (1978);
see also Earl v. Beaulieu,
620 F.2d 101, 103 (5th Cir.1980) (awarding attorney’s fees equal to the damage award)). The Court finds that the circumstances of this case do not support an award of attorney’s fees which greatly exceeds the amount of damages. The Court finds it appropriate to award Plaintiff $1,000.00 for attorney’s fees.
Counts TV and V-Rescission Pursuant to TILA and HOEPA
Plaintiff alleges in Count IV and V of the amended complaint that she has the right to rescind the transaction pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1635.
Section
1635 mandates that a lender provide a borrower with notice of the borrower’s right to rescind the transaction.
Id.
If the notice is properly tendered to the borrower, the borrower can notify the lender of his intent to rescind until midnight of the third business day following the consummation of the transaction.
Id.
If, as in this case, the borrower does not receive proper notice of the right to rescind the transaction, the borrower can timely notify the lender of his intent to rescind within three years of the date of consummation of the transaction. 15 U.S.C. § 1635(f). Plaintiff timely notified Defendant of her intent to rescind the transaction in the amended complaint, which was filed within three years of the consummation of the transaction.
Defendant’s actions in this case do not offend the Court’s conscience. Therefore, an equitable solution must be reached when implementing Plaintiffs rescission of the transaction.
See Quenzer v. Advanta Mortgage Corp. USA,
288 B.R. 884, 888 (D.Kan.2003) (citing
Rachbach v. Cogswell,
547 F.2d 502, 505 (10th Cir.1976)). In
Quenzer,
the Court found that “[e]ven though the defendant violated TILA, automatically relegating its entire claim to unsecured status under these circumstances would be completely inequitable and would exact a penalty entirely disproportionate to its offense.”
Id.
at 889. The same principle applies to Plaintiffs rescission of the transaction with Defendant. The Court’s discretion permits it to require Plaintiff to repay the principal of the loan to Defendant in exchange for Defendant tendering the deed to Plaintiff.
See id.; Williams v. Gelt Fin. Corp.,
237 B.R. 590, 599 (E.D.Pa.1999); 15 U.S.C. § 1635(b).
Defendant will have a lien against Plaintiffs property, as described hereafter, for $17,098.37. The Court calculated this figure by reducing $18,798.37,
the principal amount of the loan, by: 1) $200.00 in damages for the TILA disclosure violation; 2) the $500.00 brokerage fee paid to Mr. Evans; and 3) $1,000.00 for attorney’s fees.
Count VI
— Criminal
Usury
Finally, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant committed criminal usury because she charged an interest rate of at least 33.66%. Section 687.071 of the Florida Statutes provides a statutory remedy to a borrower against a lender who has made a criminally usurious loan. Criminal usury is the willful and knowing charge or receipt of interest in excess of 25% per an-num. FLA. STAT. § 687.071(2). The civil penalty for a violation of the statute is the forfeiture of the entire principal amount. FLA. STAT. § 687.071(7). Assuming ar-guendo that Plaintiff charged Defendant an interest rate in excess of 25%, the Court must determine whether Plaintiff did so willfully and knowingly. “[U]sury is largely a matter of intent, and is not fully determined by the fact that the lender
actually receives more than law permits, but is determined by existence of a corrupt purpose in the lender’s mind to get more than legal interest for the money lent.”
Dixon v. Sharp,
276 So.2d 817, 820 (Fla. 1973) (citations omitted). Additionally, “the question of intent is to be gathered from the circumstances surrounding the entire transaction.”
Id.
at 821.
The Plaintiff did not prove Defendant exhibited corrupt intent when extending the loan to Plaintiff. In fact, the Court finds Defendant exhibited quite the opposite intent. Defendant extended the loan to prevent Plaintiffs mortgagee from foreclosing on Plaintiffs home. The Court does not find that Defendant willfully and knowingly charged Plaintiff an unlawful interest rate. Defendant did not commit criminal usury when extending the loan to Plaintiff.
CONCLUSION
The Defendant did not violate Plaintiffs discharge injunction. The parties agree that Defendant’s loan to Plaintiff qualifies as a secured debt. Plaintiff did not provide sufficient evidence to prove Defendant violated the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Defendant committed disclosure violations pursuant to TILA and HOEPA. The Court will permit Plaintiff to rescind the transaction pursuant to TILA and HOEPA. However, Defendant will retain her lien against Plaintiffs home located at 278 North Wateredge Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32211 and more particularly described as:
LOT 2, BLOCK2, EXCEPT THE PART DESCRIBED IN ORDER OF TAKING RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS VOLUME 2436, PAGE 1130, RIVIERA TERRACE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 25, PAGES 79 AND 79A, OF THE CURRENT PUBLIC RECORDS OF DU-VAL COUNTY, FLORIDA.
The final judgment issued by this Court based on these Findings and Conclusions of Law will constitute a lien on the aforementioned property effective October 3, 2003, the date Plaintiff delivered the deed to Defendant. Finally, the Court finds Defendant lacked the corrupt intent necessary to commit criminal usury pursuant to the Florida Statutes. The Court will enter a separate judgment consistent with these Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
JUDGMENT
This proceeding came before the Court upon a complaint filed by Plaintiff, Evelyn R. Robertson, alleging Defendant, Darlene Strickland, violated the chapter 7 discharge injunction, the Truth in Lending Act, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994 and the Florida usury law. Upon Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law separately entered, it is
ADJUDGED:
1. Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant, Darlene Strickland, and against Plaintiff, Evelyn R. Robertson, as to Count I.
2. Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant, Darlene Strickland, and against Plaintiff, Evelyn R. Robertson, as to Count II.
3. Judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff, Evelyn R. Robertson, and against Defendant, Darlene Strickland, as to Count III. The Court awards Plaintiff $200.00 in damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(2)(A)(iii) and $1,000.00 in attorney’s fees pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(3).
4. Judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff, Evelyn R. Robertson, and against
Defendant, Darlene Strickland, as to that portion of Count V which relates to HOE-PA disclosure violations. The Court awards Plaintiff $500.00 in damages pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1640(a)(4).
5. Judgment is entered in favor of Plaintiff, Evelyn R. Robertson, and against Defendant, Darlene Strickland, as to Count IV and that portion of Count V, which relates to rescission. Upon recordation of this judgment the deed recorded in Book: 11997; page: 1533 is null and void and has no force and effect. Defendant will retain her lien in the amount of $17,098.37 against the home located at 278 North Wateredge Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32211 and more particularly described as:
LOT 2, BLOCK2, EXCEPT THE PART DESCRIBED IN ORDER OF TAKING RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS VOLUME 2436, PAGE 1130, RIVIERA TERRACE, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF AS RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK 25, PAGES 79 AND 79A, OF THE CURRENT PUBLIC RECORDS OF DU-VAL COUNTY, FLORIDA.
The lien created by this judgment is in full force and effect until the lien is paid in full and the balance will accrue interest at 3.90%. Such lien became effective October 3, 2003, the date Plaintiff delivered the warranty deed to Defendant.
6. Judgment is entered in favor of Defendant, Darlene Strickland, and against Plaintiff, Evelyn R. Robertson, as to Count VI.