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This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
UPDATE 2: On Oct. 10, 2020, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving checks in the mail from the Countrywide class action settlement worth as much as $127. Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!
UPDATE: The Countrywide Appraisal Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on July 16, 2020. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
A $250 million Countrywide appraisal class action settlement has been reached to resolve claims that consumers were charged fees for fake appraisals.
The settlement benefits individuals who filed a Countrywide loan application between Jan. 1, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2008 and had a LandSafe appraisal done. Class Members will identified using the defendant’s records.
Plaintiff Barbara Waldrup filed her Countrywide appraisal class action lawsuit in November 2013. In June 2016, plaintiffs Elizabeth Williams, Beckie Reaster and Rebecca Murphy filed a similar class action lawsuit. All of the plaintiffs reportedly applied for mortgage loans from Countrywide and paid appraisal fees to have appraisals done by LandSafe Appraisal Services.
According to the Countrywide appraisal class action lawsuits, the appraisals were unlawful because they failed to comply with standards such as the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).
Under the USPAP, appraisals must be conducted in an independent and competent manner. Similarly, the standards require that appraisal results be reported in a truthful and non-misleading manner.
The defendant allegedly violated these standards by charging significant fees, ranging between $300 and $500, to loan applicants but never actually completed the appraisals in question.
This scheme reportedly ensured that Countrywide could close as many loans as possible while still maintaining “heavy profit margins.”
“Because the legally-mandated USPAP appraisal had the potential to delay or terminate a prospective loan transaction and, thus, limit Countrywide’s ability to securitize and sell such loans to Wall Street, Countrywide opted for a different course of action,” claimed the Countrywide appraisal class action lawsuit.
“Countrywide and LandSafe agreed to knowingly, fraudulently, systematically and uniformly produce phony so-called USPAP ‘appraisals’ on home loans originated by Countrywide which were not performed in accordance with required USPAP standards.”
A Class of similarly affected consumers was certified by the court in the consolidated class action lawsuits. Shortly after, the plaintiffs and defendants reportedly started settlement negotiation – resulting in a settlement of $250 million.
The defendants have not admitted to any wrongdoing by agreeing to the Countrywide appraisal class action settlement. Instead, the deal allows all parties to resolve the claims and secure compensation while also avoiding the cost of continued litigation.
Under the settlement, Class Members will be given an estimated 22 percent reimbursement of the Countrywide appraisal fees they paid. For example, if a Class Member paid $500 in fees, they will receive a payment of $110 if the estimated percentage of 22 percent is used. The actual percentage used may be higher or lower, according to the settlement documents.
If there isn’t enough information about the appraisal fee charged to a consumer, the Countrywide appraisal settlement payment will be $25.
The settlement will also provide up to $62.5 million – or 25 percent of the settlement fund – for class counsel’s attorneys’ fees. Each named plaintiff will receive up to $15,000 in service awards for the work they did. Settlement administration costs will take up to $2.5 million from the settlement fund.
No claim form is required for Class Members to benefit from the settlement. Instead, eligible consumers have the option to exclude themselves or object to the settlement by June 15, 2020. Excluding oneself will reject any payment from the settlement, but Class Members will be able to retain their legal rights to take similar action against Countrywide. Objecting to the settlement allows Class Members to voice any problems they have with the settlement terms.
The Countrywide appraisal class action settlement has a final approval hearing scheduled for July 13, 2020. During this hearing, the court will review any objections and make a final ruling about the settlement’s fairness.
Who’s Eligible
Individuals who filed a Countrywide loan application between Jan. 1, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2008 and had a LandSafe appraisal done.
Potential Award
An estimated 22 percent reimbursement of the Countrywide appraisal fees they paid.
For example, if a Class Member paid $500 in fees, they will receive a payment of $110 if the estimated percentage of 22 percent is used. The actual percentage used may be higher or lower, according to the settlement documents.
If there isn’t enough information about the appraisal fee charged to a consumer, the Countrywide appraisal settlement payment will be $25.
Proof of Purchase
N/A
Claim Form
There is no Claim Form for this settlement. Class Members with further questions can click here for more information.
If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.
Exclusion Deadline
6/15/2020
Case Name
Barbara Waldrup v. Countrywide Financial Corporation, Case No. 2:13-cv-08833-CAS-AGR, and Beckie Reaster, et al. v. Countrywide Financial Corporation, Case No. 2:16-cv-04166-CAS-AGR, both in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
Final Hearing
7/13/2020
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Waldrup v. Countrywide Settlement
c/o Epiq
P.O. Box 3727
Portland, OR 97208-3727
1-877-835-0768
Class Counsel
Daniel Alberstone
Roland Tellis
Mark Pifko
Evan Zucker
BARON & BUDD PC
Steve W. Berman
Christoper Pitoun
HAGENS BERMAN SOBOL SHAPIRO LLP
Defense Counsel
Thomas M. Hefferon
Brooks R. Brown
GOODWIN PROCTER LLP
Douglas A. Thompson
BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER LLP
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168 thoughts onCountrywide Appraisal Class Action Settlement
I received my check today on 10- 14- 3020.
Yet again, my name was on a class action where it did not belong.
I have the receipt. I paid $400 for the appraisal. I did not get it from Landsafe. I asked Epiq Global to remove my name, but they refused. My personal details are forever tied to yet another class action, and I was never a customer of he defendant.
I never asked Epiq Global for an “Exclusion”, yet they “Excluded” myself and my former spouse rather than removing me as I had requested. They never reached out to my former spouse so she was never able to claim her settlement, “exclude” herself or whatever. I accuse Epiq Global of gross negligence in handling the case. There my be thousands of victims. In my humble opinion, most class actions are poorly handled. Very often the class member list contains the wrong names. I know this because I received more than a dozen class notices over the last two years, and was only a legitimate class member in four of them. In my case the administrators get it right less than 1/3 of the time.
My husband rwcieved his check on 10-21-2020. Thank you
Received our check $91.71 .. Thank you
I received my check today. They should have been ordered to pay more.
I received my check for $81. Thank you.
I received a check for $110. Thank you
Are the amount of checks issued based on how many appraisals were done during that period or one check per claimant?
I received my check thank you
It is now October 14th and I still haven’t received any check!