Flagstar Bank FLG Restitution and prejudgment interest

Flagstar Bank is pursuing an appeal of a trial court’s decision that it had violated California Civil Code section 2954.8(a), which requires financial institutions to pay at least 2% interest annually on escrow accounts associated with mortgage loans. Plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit, asserting that Flagstar's refusal to pay interest on California mortgage escrow accounts was an unlawful business act or practice under California law. In response, Flagstar argued that applicable California law was preempted by the NBA because it significantly interfered with Flagstar’s exercise of its federal powers. The district court certified a class of California borrowers, rejected Flagstar’s preemption argument, and granted Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment on liability, holding Flagstar liable for failing to pay interest on escrowed funds. The court later enjoined Flagstar to pay interest going forward, and awarded the class $9.3 million in restitution and prejudgment interest. Flagstar then posted a bond with the trial court to stay enforcement of the judgment while Flagstar appealed. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s preemption holding, based on Lusnak v. Bank of America, N.A., 883 F.3d 1185 (9th Cir. 2018), wherein the Court ruled that the NBA did not preempt California’s interest on escrow statute as applied to another national bank.