Technology is booming and financial technology (“fintech”) is advancing society in new and innovative ways. In 2021 alone, North Carolina has been the target for some very high-profile technology announcements, including Google’s plans to open a cloud engineering hub in Durham and Apple’s new campus in Research Triangle Park. Given the upward trajectory of this
Mississippi Joins the Anti-Preemption Parade
The Mississippi Supreme Court recently rejected federal preemption arguments relating to federally owned student loans. This follows other preemption rulings, as we’ve discussed here and here.
Mississippi’s attorney general filed the action on behalf of the state against Navient Corporation, bringing claims under the Mississippi Consumer Protections Act and for unjust enrichment for Navient’s
Florida Homestead Exemption Applies Only to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
A bankruptcy judge in the Middle District of Florida recently sustained a Chapter 7 trustee’s objection to a non-Florida resident debtor’s attempted claim of the Florida homestead exemption. Although the debtor had lived in her Florida home for more than 20 years, she was not a United States citizen or a permanent resident with a
New Amendments to the WVCCPA to Provide Additional Certainty for Businesses
In a development that provides some measure of relief to businesses operating in West Virginia, particularly within the financial services industry, Gov. Jim Justice signed into law on March 29, 2021, amendments to the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act (WVCCPA). These amendments appear to provide clarity on certain attorneys’ fees provisions in the
New York Clarifies Mortgage Loan Acceleration and De-Acceleration: Starting and Stopping the Limitations Clock
On February 18, 2021, the New York Court of Appeals’ consolidated resolution of four cases that answered two critical questions concerning the application of the statute of limitations in New York mortgage foreclosure actions: What constitutes a valid acceleration such that the six-year “clock” is started and what actions constitute a valid “de-acceleration” of a
Illinois Caps Consumer Loans at 36% Rate, Limiting Consumers’ Access to Credit
Last week, Illinois enacted the “Predatory Loan Prevention Act” (SB 1792), which would place a 36% rate cap on nearly all non-bank consumer loans. This act will essentially outlaw small-dollar loans in Illinois and may make ancillary products on auto loans, such as GAP insurance, unavailable for a large number of consumers. The act
Bill to Overhaul SC Tax Sale Procedure Would Expand Notice to Mortgagees
A bill pending before the South Carolina General Assembly, SB 102, would rewrite the procedure most commonly used to collect unpaid property taxes through the sale of real estate and mobile homes. Among other important changes, if enacted, the law would significantly expand the opportunities for mortgagees to receive notice of pending and completed
New Cyber Insurance Risk Framework Provides Best Practices for the Insurance Industry
The cyber insurance market size is currently valued in the billions, and this does not include insurance policies that do not explicitly mention cyber incidents but may nevertheless cover them. With this in mind, policyholders and insurance carriers should be aware of the recently released Cyber Insurance Framework (the “Framework”) issued by the New York
Will Oregon Mandate Closing Services and Title Insurance for Cannabis Transactions?
A proposal pending in the Oregon Legislative Assembly would limit title insurers’ potential grounds for refusing to insure certain real property transactions involving cannabis. Specifically, HB 2806, presented by Reps. David Brock Smith and Gary Leif, would prohibit title insurers and their affiliates from refusing to close or insure real estate transactions solely because
Florida Supreme Court Rules Borrowers Can Recover Reciprocal Attorneys’ Fees Under Section 57.105
The Florida Supreme Court rang in the New Year by casting a blow to lenders and loan servicers in Florida seeking to avoid the entry of attorneys’ fees judgments in borrowers’ favors where the borrowers successfully argued the plaintiff lacked standing to foreclose. On December 31, 2020, the court issued its opinion in Page v.