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The National Registry of Exonerations just announced that 2013 was a record-breaking year for exonerations in the United States. At least 87 people were exonerated and granted their freedom in connection with crimes they did not commit, the highest number since researchers began keeping track of exonerations more than 20 […]

The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently initiated “administrative proceedings” against New Jersey based mortgage insurance company PHH Corporation and its corporate subsidiaries. The CFPB has alleged that an investigation revealed a quid pro quo kickback scheme where PHH would lend, or “originate” a mortgage, and then refer that mortgagor […]

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on February 4, 2014 that JPMorgan Chase will pay $614 million for violating the federal False Claims Act by knowingly originating and underwriting non-compliant mortgage loans submitted for insurance coverage and guarantees by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federal Housing Administration […]

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, on February 3, 2014, announced a multi-state and federal settlement with a medical device manufacturer that engaged in improper marketing and the payment of illegal kickbacks. CareFusion will pay $40.1 million to resolve allegations it improperly promoted and marketed its surgical preparation solution Chloraprep […]

The United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) is seeking $2.1 billion in fines from Bank of America (“B of A”) related to mortgage fraud on the part of Countrywide Financial. The case involves mortgages sold in 2007 and 2008 to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-backed mortgage finance […]

This week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) published a consumer advisory to help consumers protect themselves in instances of data breach. The advisory follows recent news of breaches with respect to consumer payment card and other data. Payment cards such as credit, debit, and prepaid cards are among the […]

In late December 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), together with authorities in 49 states and the District of Columbia, filed a proposed order requiring the nation’s largest nonbank mortgage loan servicer, Ocwen Financial Corporation, and its subsidiary, Ocwen Loan Servicing, to provide $2 billion in principal reduction to […]

On January 10, 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) announced appointments to a newly-created National Commission on Forensic Science (“Commission”). Members of the Commission are charged with working to improve the practice of forensic science by developing […]

In late December 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered American Express to refund an estimated $59.5 million to 335,000 consumers for illegal credit card practices. The practices included unfair billing tactics and deceptive marketing with respect to credit card add-on products such as payment protection and credit monitoring. […]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed its first lawsuit against an online loan servicer, CashCall, its owner, a subsidiary, and an affiliate, for collecting money that consumers did not owe. The CFPB charges that the defendants engaged in unfair trade practices, including unlawfully debiting consumer checking accounts for loans […]