Obligations reduced to a promissory note are often accompanied by a written guaranty. The law treats the guaranty as an independent obligation. A case recently decided by California’s First District Court of Appeal —...more
In a case litigated in the New York Supreme Court, the Court recently ruled that a private equity firm that acquired a mortgage loan made on the Maxwell Hotel in New York does not have the authority necessary to convert...more
Borrower / Guarantor Liability Recourse – The borrower (or guarantor) is personally liable for the full amount of the loan, including any debt remaining after the collateral is foreclosed upon and sold. To satisfy the...more
In In Re: Bay Circle Properties, LLC., No. 1812536, 2020 WL 1696303 (Ala. April 8, 2020), the Eleventh Circuit dismissed an appeal by a guarantor alleging a wrongful foreclosure, because the guarantor did not own the...more
Many commercial real estate loans are “non-recourse,” which means in general terms that foreclosing on the real estate securing the loan is the lender’s sole remedy for a borrower’s failure to repay the loan. The lender is...more
Late last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held in Regions Bank v. Legal Outsource PA, No. 17-11736, 2019 WL 4051703 (11th Cir. Aug 28, 2019), that a loan guarantor does not qualify as an “applicant”...more
Below is an overview of the key terms and provisions in intercreditor/subordination agreements governing the relationship between a senior secured lender (the “Senior Lender”) and a mezzanine lender (the “Mezz Lender”)....more
In Godoy v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., a bank sued a guarantor to recover on a deficiency following a foreclosure sale. No. 18-0071, 2019 Tex. LEXIS 443 (Tex. May 10, 2019)....more
Real Property Update - Restrictive Covenants: trial court erred by failing to provide injunctive relief in favor of homeowner as it related to trees planted in common area in violation of restrictive covenants - McIntosh...more
California's anti-deficiency statutes limit a lender's right to recover a deficiency judgment against the borrower after a non-judicial foreclosure sale, but such protections generally do not extend to guarantors. A number of...more
A Q&A guide to real estate finance law for borrowers and lenders in Massachusetts. This Q&A addresses state laws relating to security instruments, usury laws, limitations on personal liability, recording requirements and...more
Over the last few months there have been several significant commercial law cases in Arizona. These have included four Court of Appeals and three Supreme Court cases, each addressing common loan document provisions and...more
On April 17, 2017, the Supreme Court of Georgia made yet another critical decision in a line of cases which together, create the framework for a guarantor’s liability for a deficiency after a foreclosure has been conducted....more
In last March’s edition of this newsletter, we discussed the Supreme Court of Georgia’s decision in PNC Bank, National Association v. Smith, in which the Court held that compliance with O.C.G.A. § 44-14-161 “is a condition...more
There has been much recent California case law regarding the sham guaranty defense and for good reason – success for a guarantor on this defense can eliminate a lender’s recovery of a deficiency against a guarantor of a...more
At times, lenders lose the promissory notes on defaulted loans. Lost notes are problematic because, in order to have standing to foreclose, a lender may be required in many states, including in New York, to possess the...more
In a decision issued on February 22, 2016, the Supreme Court of Georgia ruled that a guarantor can waive by contract the requirement for a lender to obtain confirmation of a foreclosure sale before pursuing the guarantor for...more
The following information accompany a presentation Mike gave to members of the Arizona Commercial Mortgage Lenders Association (ACMLA) on March 8, 2016. A summary of legislative amendments enacted during the most recent...more
Yes. On Monday, February 22, 2015, in a case closely watched by commercial real estate lenders, borrowers and guarantors, the Supreme Court of Georgia issued its opinion in PNC Bank, N.A. v. Smith, et al., S15Q1445. ...more
So, What can a Lender Count on from a Guarantor? - In 1933, the North Carolina legislature in reaction to the Great Depression enacted certain defenses against alleged abuses by lenders exercising remedies under...more
Inverse Condemnation: Nies v. Town of Emerald Isle, COA15-169 (November 17, 2015). The Town of Emerald Isle established a beach nourishment project extending the mean high water mark seaward, and regulating vehicles...more
A vexing issue for some creditors arises when an individual who is typically a guarantor or co-debtor of his wholly-owned company’s debt files bankruptcy under chapter 7, 11 or 13 and then takes the position that the...more
In the recently published case of Tucker v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2015-185, the Tax Court held that a taxpayer was not entitled to a loss deduction for real property subject to a recourse mortgage unless and until a...more
The North Carolina Supreme Court recently handed down the final word in a dispute over whether guarantors get the benefit of the state’s anti-deficiency statute after the lender bids on and buys the real property at a...more
In This Issue: - Another Perspective - James C. Cherry, Chief Executive Officer, Park Sterling Bank: With more than three decades of experience in banking in North Carolina and Virginia, Park Sterling's CEO James C....more