Author Archives: Isaac Gradman

Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh Scores Important Early Victory in Pennsylvania Lawsuit

In the first substantive decision handed down in any of the five major lawsuits by the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB) over RMBS losses, the Hon. Stanton Wettick, Jr. of the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania dealt … Continue reading →

Posted in Countrywide, Federal Home Loan Banks, investors, JPMorgan, lawsuits, loan files, misrespresentation, ratings agencies, remand, removability, rep and warranty, repurchase, sole remedy, toxic assets | 8 Comments

Barron’s Article Pulls No Punches in Assessing Bank Putback Liability

If you’re looking for a great primer on the latest developments in the legal saga over who will ultimately bear the losses for the detritus that passed as subprime and Alt-A mortgage loans from 2004 to 2007, check out this … Continue reading →

Posted in allocation of loss, Barron's, Clayton Holdings, Lehman Brothers, loan files, private label MBS, rep and warranty, repurchase, responsibility, stated income, too big to fail, underwriting practices | 2 Comments

Bank of America Fires Off Response to BlackRock and PIMCO Demand Letter, Accuses Lawyer of “Ulterior Agenda”

In a response that can only be described as indignant, Bank of America fired back on November 4 at the group of investors that demanded that Countrywide/BofA repurchase loans in connection with $47 billion worth of private-label mortgage backed securities.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Attorneys General, BlackRock, BofA, Countrywide, Event of Default, Federal Reserve, Freddie Mac, Kathy Patrick, MBS, PIMCO, procedural hurdles, rep and warranty, repurchase, servicers, specificity | Leave a comment

Countrywide Loan Modification Settlement Becomes Issue In Connecticut Senatorial Race

The ramifications of the Mortgage Crisis are being felt on this Election Day 2010, as the issues of foreclosures, loan modifications and MBS-related losses to pensionholders’ portfolios are being brought to the forefront in some key political battles.  As a … Continue reading →

Posted in allocation of loss, Attorneys General, BofA, Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Countrywide, global settlement, Linda McMahon, loan modifications, political ads, Richard Blumenthal, senate races, The Nation | 2 Comments

Full Text of BlackRock, PIMCO Letter to Bank of New York and Bank of America Available

Below, please find the full text of the letter sent by Kathy Patrick and the law firm of Gibbs & Bruns to Bank of New York and BofA/Countrywide on behalf of private label mortgage investors, including BlackRock, PIMCO, MetLife, Freddie … Continue reading →

Posted in Bank of New York, BlackRock, BofA, bondholder actions, Countrywide, Federal Reserve, Freddie Mac, Kathy Patrick, loan modifications, MetLife, PIMCO, private label MBS, procedural hurdles | 6 Comments

PIMCO, BlackRock, New York Fed To Demand That BofA Repuchase Faulty Non-Agency Mortgages

Private label residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS) investors, including BlackRock, PIMCO, and the New York Fed, are expected to join MetLife, Inc. in its efforts to force BofA to repurchase defective subprime and Alt-A mortgage loans originated by Countrywide and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bank of New York, BlackRock, BofA, demand letter, Event of Default, Investor Syndicate, Kathy Patrick, PIMCO, procedural hurdles, rep and warranty, repurchase, RMBS, servicer defaults, Trustees | 7 Comments

Mortgage Mess Causes Bank Stocks To Plummet

Bank stocks have taken a sharp hit this week as awareness regarding potential liabilities for faulty mortgages and foreclosures reaches critical mass. You can’t turn on the TV or open a newspaper these days without seeing reports on the recent … Continue reading →

Posted in BofA, branch hill capital, foreclosure crisis, foreclosure moratorium, improper documentation, JPMorgan, liabilities, loss estimates, rep and warranty, repurchase, robo-signers, true sale | 4 Comments

New York Judge Tosses Greenwich Suit Against Countrywide Over Loan Modifications For Failure To Follow PSA Procedure

In a ruling dated October 7, 2010, New York County Supreme Court Judge Barbara R. Kapnick tossed out Greenwich Financial’s lawsuit against Countrywide.  The suit sought a declaratory judgment that Countrywide had to repurchase any loans that it modified pursuant … Continue reading →

Posted in Bank of New York, BofA, bondholder actions, Countrywide, Greenwich Financial Services, loan modifications, motions to dismiss, procedural hurdles, settlements, William Frey | 6 Comments

Strange Bedfellows: Barney Frank’s Falling Out With Wall Street Leaves Him Aligned With Former Nemesis

I have seen some strange things during my time covering the mortgage crisis, but this one may beat them all. On August 20, 2010, representative Barney Frank (D-MA) sent a letter to Barack Obama, urging the President to appoint a … Continue reading →

Posted in Barack Obama, Barney Frank (D-MA), BofA, campaign finance, FHFA, Greenwich Financial Services, Investor Syndicate, Paul Kanjorski, rep and warranty, repurchase, servicers, William Frey | 2 Comments

Inside Mortgage Finance Sees Private Label Rep and Warranty Claims Increasing

The following story appeared in the September 3, 2010 issue of Inside Nonconforming Markets, a biweekly newsletter focusing on news and data on non-agency mortgages.  This story reflects the growing awareness in the marketplace of the undisclosed mortgage repurchase liabilities … Continue reading →

Posted in Federal Home Loan Banks, FHFA, judicial momentum, liabilities, loan files, private label MBS, rep and warranty, repurchase | 1 Comment