Notice and Cure Provisions in Home Mortgages – What do you do before you sue?

By Attorney Peter Francis Geraci, J.D.

It depends. Individuals may consider bringing claims against their mortgage lenders under federal statutes such as the Truth in Lending Act, or the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and state statutes such as the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.

But, before you sue, what do you do? Read the mortgage! Many have provisions that have to be followed, or your lawsuit will be dismissed. Examples are “notice and cure”, and “mandatory arbitration”.

In Wortman v. Rushmore Loan Mgmt. Servs. LLC, No 19C2860,(N.D.Ill. Oct 16, 2019) plaintiff’s case against their mortgage service for sending them collection notices after bankruptcy discharge was dismissed. Why? Their personal obligation on the mortgage was discharged in Chapter 13, but only the personal obligation to pay the debt, not their obligation to comply with the terms of the mortgage.

In other words, a mortgage does not disappear because of a bankruptcy discharge. A mortgage servicer can send letters about filing a foreclosure suit to take the property back, and file a foreclosure suit.  All that a bankruptcy discharge does is eliminate the obligation of the discharged debtor to pay anything on the debt. It does not eliminate the other rights of a secured creditor, such as foreclosing on real estate, or repossessing a vehicle.

Not only do “liens”, or interests in property, survive discharge, but so do clauses in such lien documents and notes. That means that, if after discharge, a person wants to file a lawsuit against a creditor who still has a lien, they have to comply with those clauses.

What is a “notice and cure” provision? It says “a party who is in default is entitled to notice of the default, and a period of time to cure the default, before the other party may accelerate the contract and demand full payment, or foreclose or repossess”.

What is an “arbitration clause”? It says “if the borrower wants to make any claims against the lender it must do outside of court, in a proceeding involving appointed “arbitrators”.

Some cases hold that these clauses prohibit a lawsuit, unless the borrower first complies with them. Some cases hold that these clauses are not effective in a consumer protection lawsuit. In the Wortman case, the judge dismissed plaintiff’s case under FDCPA because the mortgage survived, and so did the “notice and cure” provision that required the borrower to give notice to the mortgage company before borrower filed suit.

So, what do you do before you sue? Read the document that established the relationship between you and who you want to sue. It may require you to arbitrate instead of go to court, or to give notice of your intent to sue. Those clauses may or may not prevent a suit, depending on what your claim is. But one thing is for sure: liens pass through bankruptcy, and so do the documents creating them, and so does the fine print in them. Bankruptcy only discharges the borrower’s obligation to make payments. If they don’t, the creditor can take action to get their property back.

This can work against mortgage lenders and car owners, but it can work in their favor also. After a discharge in either Chapter 7 or 13, a debtor can file a Chapter 13 to cure a mortgage default, even if the personal liability to pay has been discharged. The U.S. Supreme Court, Johnson v. Home State Bank, 501 U.S. 78 (1991) rule that, after discharge in bankruptcy, a debtor can file a Chapter 13 to cure a mortgage default, even if their personal liability on the mortgage was discharged.

This ability to file a Chapter 13 to cure mortgage default also works for people who are not on title to the property, but only have an inheritance interest. If mom dies without a will, an heir can file a Chapter 13 case to cure mortgage arrears, force the mortgage company to accept payments, and prevent foreclosure.