Category Archives: William Frey

Originator Business Models Led Inevitably to Housing Crash

by Steve Ruterman, guest blogger It has been four years since the onset of the epic economic and capital markets fiasco known as the housing crash, and this crisis is far from over.  Because the housing and mortgage finance industries … Continue reading

Posted in AIG, banks, broader credit crisis, causes of the crisis, Complaints, Countrywide, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, guest posts, incentives, interest rates, irresponsible lending, lawsuits, lenders, lending guidelines, MBIA, MBS, mortgage market, private label MBS, research, RMBS, securitization, The Subprime Shakeout, Uncategorized, Way Too Big to Fail, William Frey | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

$8.5 Billion BofA Settlement of Countrywide Trusts Raises Questions for Investors on Sidelines

As more details emerge about Bank of America’s proposed $8.5 billion settlement with Kathy Patrick’s bondholder group and Bank of New York Mellon (“BoNY”) as Trustee, the deal looks even worse for Countrywide RMBS investors.  Now, it is apparent that … Continue reading

Posted in allocation of loss, Bank of New York, banks, BlackRock, BofA, bondholder actions, chain of title, conflicts of interest, contract rights, Countrywide, damages, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Reserve, fiduciary duties, Freddie Mac, global settlement, Goldman Sachs, improper documentation, incentives, investors, irresponsible lending, Kathy Patrick, lawsuits, lenders, lending guidelines, liabilities, litigation, litigation costs, loss causation, loss estimates, MBS, MetLife, PIMCO, pooling agreements, private label MBS, procedural hurdles, putbacks, re-underwriting, rep and warranty, repurchase, responsibility, RMBS, securities, securitization, sellers and sponsors, settlements, standing, subprime, successor liability, The Subprime Shakeout, TIAA-CREF, Trustees, underwriting practices, valuation, waiver of rights to sue, William Frey | 17 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

BofA and Countrywide Appeal Order Allowing MBIA Vicarious Liability Claim To Proceed

In a move that could have dramatic consequences for the financial stability of Bank of America (BofA), a New York state court judge has held that monoline bond insurer MBIA can go forward with claims that BofA be held vicariously … Continue reading

Posted in Attorneys General, BofA, bondholder actions, Countrywide, Greenwich Financial Services, loan files, merger, mortgage insurers, predatory lending, settlements, successor liability, vicarious liability, William Frey | 10 Comments