On July 16, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York remanded suits brought by Bayerische Landesbank against Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch to the Supreme Court of the State of New York, where they were originally filed. The lawsuits allege that Defendants knowingly made misrepresentations in RMBS offering materials concerning the underwriting standards used in connection with the underlying mortgage loans. Defendants sought removal to federal court on the ground that the cases were related to bankruptcy proceedings of the originators of some of the underlying mortgages. Judge Kaplan’s remand order indicated that a further written order may be forthcoming. Order. Notice of Removal.
Bayerische Landesbank
German Bank Sues Merrill Lynch In Connection With Sale of $324 Million in RMBS
German bank Bayerische Landesbank (“BayernLB”) filed suit against Merrill Lynch on May 2 in New York Supreme Court, claiming that Merrill Lynch knowingly made misrepresentations in its offering materials relating to $324 million in residential mortgage-backed securities. The complaint alleges that the offering materials falsely claimed that the mortgage loans had been underwritten to strict underwriting standards, and that Merrill Lynch misrepresented that it had conducted due diligence on the underlying loans before purchasing and securitizing them. BayernLB asserts claims for common law fraud, fraudulent inducement, and aiding and abetting fraudulent inducement, and seeks compensatory, rescissory, and punitive damages. Complaint.
Bayernische Landesbank Files $810 Million RMBS Suit Against Deutsche Bank
On April 19, 2012, Bayerische Landesbank (“Bayern”), a German bank, filed an $810 million suit against Deutsche Bank and certain of its affiliates in New York County Supreme Court. Bayern alleges Deutsche Bank fraudulently obtained, securitized, marketed, and sold Bayern RMBS while internally disparaging the quality of the loans underlying the RMBS. Bayern allegedly purchase 22 securitizations and claims that Deutsche Bank and the originators violated the represented originator underwriting guidelines, made material misrepresentations in the offering documents as to the quality of the underlying loans, and knew, as a result of their due diligence, that the underlying loans were destined to fail. The complaint includes claims for fraud, fraudulent inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, and negligent misrepresentation, and seeks compensatory and/or rescissory damages. Complaint.
German Bank Sues JP Morgan Over $2.1 Billion in RMBS
On November 21, 2011, German bank Bayerische Landesbank (“BayernLB”) filed a complaint in New York state court against JPMorgan Chase & Co. and several related entities, including several former Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns entities, seeking approximately $2.1 billion in damages in connection with its purchase of certificates in 57 RMBS offerings. BayernLB asserts causes of action for common law fraud, fraudulent inducement, aiding and abetting fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and successor and vicarious liability, based on allegations that JPMorgan concealed the poor quality of loans underlying those securities and provided misinformation to credit rating agencies. Complaint.