On Wednesday a local judge sanctioned Bank of America for $300,000 for violating a mortgage settlement agreement with a Beaumont woman.
As the Southeast Texas Record previously reported, Trudie Crutchfield filed a lawsuit May 7 in Jefferson County District Court against Bank of America Corp., formerly known as Countrywide Home Loans.
Crutchfield alleges the bank entered into a settlement agreement with her, promising to write off the remaining balance owed on her mortgage.
That settlement came after Bank of America breached an earlier settlement agreement with Crutchfield, according to the complaint.
Court records show that on June 21 Crutchfield filed a motion for sanctions, asserting that the bank was purposefully harassing her by violating the agreements, causing her to suffer many sleepless nights.
On June 27 Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court, made a verbal ruling on the motion, sanctioning the bank for $300,000.
A court official told the Southeast Texas Record that Wortham was not commenting on the ruling and referring all media to the Crutchfield's attorney, Wyatt D. Snider. Snider did not return Record phone calls.
The suit alleges the bank breached two settlement agreements.
"This action is especially contemptible because defendants waited until the agreed judgment became final and then notified plaintiff Trudie Crutchfield that, in spite of the promises made, defendants were foreclosing on her property located at 10456 Church Road, Beaumont, Texas," the suit states.
Attorney Dwayne Danner of the Dallas law firm McGlinchey Stafford represents the bank.
Case No. E192-419