Filed Date: Dec. 21, 2011
Closed Date: Dec. 30, 2016
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case, brought by the United States in December 2011 against Countrywide Financial Corporation, resulted in the largest residential fair lending settlement in U.S. history. $335 million was paid to compensate more than 200,000 African-American and Hispanic borrowers who were allegedly charged higher fees and interest rates because of their race or national origin. The United States also claimed that Countrywide and its subsidiaries ("the Countrywide Defendants") steered thousands of African-American and Hispanic borrowers into subprime mortgages when non-Hispanic white borrowers with similar credit profiles received prime loans.
Prior to entry of the Consent Decree, the Countrywide defendants had stopped originating residential loans. In addition to the monetary relief, the consent decree contained remedial provisions to become effective in the event the Countywide defendants ever reentered this business. These included implementation of policies and practices to prevent and detect potential fair lending violations not only on the basis of race or national origin, but also on the basis of marital status. Regarding monetary relief, the court required that the defendants deposit $335 million to compensate allegedly aggrieved persons for monetary and other damages they may have suffered as a result of the defendants' alleged violations of the FHA and the ECOA. Each party bore its own costs and attorneys' fees.
The Consent Decree had a four-year term, beginning December 21, 2011.
On January 25, 2016, the Court (Philip S. Gutierrez) entered an amended Consent Decree which extended provisions of the settlement to December 30, 2016. The amended decree required the defendants to present a proposal to the court for the distribution of all money remaining in the Settlement Fund by October 14, 2016.
On April 5, 2016, the court granted am April 4 disbursement order, which granted, among sums to other organizations: (a) The National Urban League $1,000,000.00; (b) National Council of La Raza $1,500,000.00; (c) Habitat for Humanity $1,000,000.00; (d) d. Self−Help Ventures Fund $1,500,000.00; (e) Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership $1,000,000; (f) Opportunity Resource Fund $1,000,000.00; (g) Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago $1,500,000.00; (h) NHS of Los Angeles County $2,000,000.00.
On October 27, 2016, the court approved the defendant's second disbursement plan.
The was no further docket activity after this order and the case is now closed.
Summary Authors
Gregory Pitt (7/16/2012)
Asma Husain (2/14/2016)
Raul Noguera-McElroy (4/19/2019)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4147962/parties/united-states-v-countrywide-financial-corporation/
Gutierrez, Philip S. (California)
Dougherty, Burtis M (California)
Mosteller, Daniel P (California)
O'Beirne, Patricia L (California)
Albert, Lenore L (California)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4147962/united-states-v-countrywide-financial-corporation/
Last updated Dec. 18, 2024, 7:11 p.m.
Docket sheet not available via the Clearinghouse.State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Fair Housing/Lending/Insurance
Special Collection(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 21, 2011
Closing Date: Dec. 30, 2016
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
United States
Attorney Organizations:
U.S. Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Countrywide Financial Corporation, Private Entity/Person
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Fair Housing Act/Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), 15 U.S.C. § 1691
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff
Nature of Relief:
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Amount Defendant Pays: 335 million
Order Duration: 2011 - 2017
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):
Affected Race(s):