Title ROBERT RAY
Judge
Frederick Motz
Entered
Case Number
JFM-02-275
Summary

This is an appeal by CitiFinancial, Inc., from an order of the Bankruptcy Court rescinding CitiFinancial’s lien on the debtor’s home without conditioning the rescission upon the debtor tendering to CitiFinancial its “legal due.” I find that the Bankruptcy Court erred in its analysis of the legal issues in certain respects and that the errors led the court to an inadequate consideration of the factors that should have guided the exercise of its discretion in determining the relief to afford the debtor. I further find, however, that, contrary to the position advanced by CitiFinancial, the Bankruptcy Court does have authority under section 1635(b) of the Truth in Lending Act (“TILA”), 15 U.S.C. § 1635(b), to order rescission of a lien without conditioning the rescission upon return to the creditor of the net balance due on the loan secured by the lien. Accordingly, I will reverse the Bankruptcy Court’s order and remand the case to the Bankruptcy Court for further proceedings.

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