Judge Robert W. Sweet

Federal Court Dismisses In Part Putback Claims Against Deutsche Bank

On July 23, Judge Robert W. Sweet of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed in part a suit asserting putback claims against Deutsche Bank.  HSBC, as trustee of the securitization at issue, brought suit for (i) alleged breaches of Deutsche Bank’s representations and warranties regarding underlying mortgage loans and (ii) Deutsche Bank’s failure to repurchase the loans upon request by the trustee.  The court held that failure to provide the repurchase remedy is not an “independent” breach of contract.  The court also dismissed HSBC’s declaratory judgment claim for reimbursement of its out-of-pocket expenses as duplicative of HSBC’s breach of contract claims.  The court held, however, that plaintiff had adequately pled claims for breach of contract, including as to mortgages no longer held by the trust, and could pursue money damages allegedly required to make the plaintiff whole, as well as rescissory damages.  Order.