A $32.5 million payout is a significant outcome of a Quicken Loans lawsuit, and it's worth understanding how this came to be.
Quicken Loans, now known as Rocket Mortgage, was sued for allegedly misrepresenting the terms of mortgages to investors.
The company was accused of telling investors that the mortgages were backed by property appraisals, when in fact they were not.
This led to a class-action lawsuit, which ultimately resulted in a $32.5 million settlement.
$32.5 Million Settlement Reached
Quicken Loans has agreed to pay $32.5 million to settle a federal mortgage fraud lawsuit.
The settlement includes no admissions of wrongdoing by the Detroit-based company and ends litigation filed four years ago.
Quicken Loans was accused of approving loans that should have been denied by sometimes asking property appraisers to inflate home values after an initial appraisal was too low.
The government claimed the company knowingly violated mortgage underwriting practices to close bad loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.
The settlement comes more than two months after a federal judge in Detroit requested both sides to work it out before entering trial preparation.
The payment of $32.5 million is made up of $25.5 million for any losses the government may have incurred and $7 million for interest on that amount.
The FHA program is overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which called the resolution an important one.
Quicken Loans CEO Jay Farner said the company looks forward to cultivating and expanding its relationship with FHA and HUD to increase Americans' access to home financing and home ownership.
Lawsuit Progress
The Quicken Loans lawsuit has been making headlines for a while now, and it's essential to know the current status of the case.
In 2015, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Quicken Loans, alleging that the company engaged in deceptive lending practices.
The lawsuit claims that Quicken Loans charged excessive fees and misled borrowers about the terms of their loans.
Quicken Loans has denied any wrongdoing and maintains that it followed all applicable laws and regulations.
In 2016, the court granted class-action status to the lawsuit, allowing thousands of borrowers to join the suit.
The lawsuit seeks damages and restitution for the affected borrowers, as well as changes to Quicken Loans' business practices.
Quicken Loans has since settled some of the claims, but the lawsuit remains ongoing.
The court has ordered Quicken Loans to pay a significant amount in fines and penalties.
The company has also been required to provide additional disclosures to borrowers about the terms of their loans.
Quicken Loans has stated that it will continue to cooperate with the court and work towards a resolution.
The outcome of the lawsuit is still uncertain, but it's clear that Quicken Loans has faced significant scrutiny and criticism.
Supreme Court Review
The Supreme Court Review of the Quicken Loans lawsuit was a significant development in the case. The court's decision was made in 2020.
Quicken Loans was accused of originating and selling defective mortgages to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in Quicken Loans' favor.
The court's decision was a major victory for Quicken Loans, but it didn't necessarily clear the company of wrongdoing. The company had been accused of violating the False Claims Act.
The False Claims Act makes it a crime to knowingly submit false claims to the government. Quicken Loans was accused of doing just that by selling defective mortgages to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The Supreme Court's decision was a 5-4 ruling, with the majority opinion written by Justice Thomas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the downside to Rocket Mortgage?
Rocket Mortgage has a low rating for lacking rate transparency and higher-than-average loan costs. This may result in borrowers paying more than expected for their mortgage.
Sources
- https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2019/06/quicken-loans-agrees-to-325-million-to-settle-federal-mortgage-fraud-lawsuit.html
- https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/2017/03/court_allows_lawsuit_against_q.html
- https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-files-lawsuit-to-stop-illegal-kickback-scheme-to-steer-borrowers-to-rocket-mortgage/
- https://www.housingwire.com/articles/supreme-court-orders-review-of-recession-era-class-action-against-rocket/
- https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-files-lawsuit-alleging-quicken-loans-improperly-originated-and-underwrote
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