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IN THE MATTER OF: EAST COAST MORTGAGE CORP. ("Respondent")
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NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION TEMPORARY ORDER TO NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO HEARING |
I. LEGAL AUTHORITY AND JURISDICTION
The Banking Commissioner (“Commissioner”) is charged with the administration of Part I of Chapter 668, Sections 36a-485 to 36a-534c, inclusive, of the Connecticut General Statutes, “Mortgage Lenders, Correspondent Lenders, Brokers and Loan Originators”.
Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 36a-17 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Commissioner, through the Consumer Credit Division (“Division”) of the Department of Banking, has investigated the activities of Respondent to determine if it has violated, is violating or is about to violate the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner.
Section 36a-17(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides that:
The commissioner, in the commissioner’s discretion, may make such public or private investigations or examinations within or outside this state, concerning any person subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner, as the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the duties of the commissioner.
Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 36a-51 of the Connecticut General Statutes provide, in pertinent part, that:
(a) The commissioner may . . . revoke . . . any license issued by the commissioner under any provision of the general statutes by sending a notice to the licensee by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any express delivery carrier that provides a dated delivery receipt. The notice shall be deemed received by the licensee on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or seven days after mailing or sending. Any such notice shall include: (1) A statement of the time, place, and nature of the hearing; (2) a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held; (3) a reference to the particular sections of the general statutes . . . involved; (4) a short and plain statement of the matters asserted; and (5) a statement indicating that the licensee may file a written request for a hearing on the matters asserted within fourteen days of receipt of the notice. . . .
(b) If a hearing is requested within the time specified in the notice, the commissioner shall hold a hearing upon the matters asserted in the notice unless the licensee fails to appear at the hearing. After the hearing, the commissioner shall . . . revoke . . . the license for any reason set forth in the applicable licensing provisions of the general statutes if the commissioner finds sufficient grounds exist for such . . . revocation . . . . If the licensee does not request a hearing within the time specified in the notice or fails to appear at the hearing, the commissioner shall . . . revoke . . . the license. No such license shall be . . . revoked except in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
Section 36a-52 of the Connecticut General Statutes provides, in pertinent part, that:
(a) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that any person has violated, is violating or is about to violate any provision of the general statutes within the jurisdiction of the commissioner, . . . the commissioner may send a notice to such person by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any express delivery carrier that provides a dated delivery receipt. The notice shall be deemed received by the person on the earlier of the date of actual receipt, or seven days after mailing or sending. Any such notice shall include: (1) A statement of the time, place, and nature of the hearing; (2) a statement of the legal authority and jurisdiction under which the hearing is to be held; (3) a reference to the particular sections of the general statutes . . . alleged to have been violated; (4) a short and plain statement of the matters asserted; and (5) a statement indicating that such person may file a written request for a hearing on the matters asserted within fourteen days of receipt of the notice. If a hearing is requested within the time specified in the notice, the commissioner shall hold a hearing upon the matters asserted in the notice, unless the person fails to appear at the hearing. After the hearing, the commissioner shall determine whether an order to cease and desist should be issued against the person named in the notice. If the person does not request a hearing within the time specified in the notice or fails to appear at the hearing, the commissioner shall issue an order to cease and desist against the person. No such order shall be issued except in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.
(b) If the commissioner finds that the public welfare requires immediate action, the commissioner may incorporate a finding to that effect in the notice sent in accordance with subsection (a) of this section and issue a temporary order requiring the person to cease and desist from the activity which constitutes such alleged violation and to take or refrain from taking such action as in the opinion of the commissioner will effectuate the purposes of this section. Such temporary order shall become effective on receipt and, unless set aside or modified by a court, shall remain in effect until the effective date of a permanent order or dismissal of the matters asserted in the notice.
Section 36a-492 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended by Public Act 11-216, provides, in pertinent part, that:
(a) (1) Each licensed mortgage lender . . . shall file with the commissioner a single surety bond, written by a surety authorized to write such bonds in this state, covering its main office and file an addendum to such bond to cover any branch office, in a penal sum determined in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, provided the penal sum of the bond for licensed mortgage lenders . . . shall be not less than one hundred thousand dollars and the penal sum of the bond . . . shall be not less than fifty thousand dollars. The bond shall cover all mortgage loan originators sponsored by such licensee.
(2) Each mortgage loan originator licensee shall be covered by a surety bond with a penal sum in an amount that reflects the dollar amount of loans originated by such mortgage loan originator in accordance with subsection (d) of this section, provided such coverage shall be provided through a single surety bond filed with the commissioner by the person who sponsors such mortgage loan originator.
(b) . . . The bond shall run concurrently with the period of the license for the main office and the aggregate liability under the bond shall not exceed the penal sum of the bond. . . .
(c) The surety company shall have the right to cancel the bond at any time by a written notice to the principal stating the date cancellation shall take effect. Such notice shall be sent by certified mail to the principal at least thirty days prior to the date of cancellation. A surety bond shall not be cancelled unless the surety company notifies the commissioner in writing not less than thirty days prior to the effective date of cancellation. After receipt of such notification from the surety company, the commissioner shall give written notice to the principal of the date such bond cancellation shall take effect and such notice shall be deemed notice to each mortgage loan originator licensee sponsored by such principal. The commissioner shall automatically suspend the licenses of a mortgage lender . . . on such date and inactivate the licenses of the mortgage loan originators sponsored by such lender . . . .
Section 4-182(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides that:
No revocation, suspension, annulment or withdrawal of any license is lawful unless, prior to the institution of agency proceedings, the agency gave notice by mail to the licensee of facts or conduct which warrant the intended action, and the licensee was given an opportunity to show compliance with all lawful requirements for the retention of the license.
II. MATTERS ASSERTED
| 1. |
Respondent is a New Jersey corporation with an office at 100 Morris Avenue, Suite 300, Springfield, New Jersey (“Springfield Office”). |
| 2. |
On December 30, 2010, Respondent filed an application for the renewal of its mortgage lender license for the Springfield Office on the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry for the January 1 through December 31, 2011 licensing period. Such license was renewed on March 8, 2011. |
| 3. |
On July 14, 2011, the Commissioner received notice from Hartford Fire Insurance Company that surety bond number 83BSBEC7281 issued on behalf of Respondent with respect to its mortgage lender license for the Springfield Office would be cancelled, effective on September 19, 2011. |
| 4. |
On August 19, 2011, pursuant to Section 4-182(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Division sent a letter to Respondent giving Respondent an opportunity to show compliance with all lawful requirements for retention of its mortgage lender license in Connecticut.
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| 5. |
To date, Respondent has failed to file with the Commissioner a letter of reinstatement of the bond from the surety company or a new bond and has not surrendered its license. |
| 6. |
The Commissioner automatically suspended Respondent’s mortgage lender license in Connecticut for the Springfield Office effective on September 19, 2011.
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III. STATUTORY BASIS FOR REVOCATION OF MORTGAGE
LENDER LICENSE AND ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST
Section 36a-494 of the Connecticut the General Statutes, provides, in pertinent part, that:
(a)(1) The commissioner may . . . revoke . . . any mortgage lender . . . license or take any other action, in accordance with the provisions of section 36a-51, for any reason which would be sufficient grounds for the commissioner to deny an application for such license under sections 36a-485 to 36a-498f, inclusive, 36a-534a and 36a-534b, or if the commissioner finds that the licensee, any control person of the licensee, the qualified individual or branch manager with supervisory authority, trustee, employee or agent of such licensee has done any of the following: . . . (C) violated any of the provisions of this title . . . .
(b) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that any person has violated, is violating or is about to violate any of the provisions of sections 36a-485 to 36a-498f, inclusive, 36a-534a and 36a-534b, . . . the commissioner may take action against such person or licensee in accordance with sections 36a-50 and 36a-52.
Section 36a-489(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes provides, in pertinent part, that:
(1) The commissioner shall not issue an initial license for a mortgage lender . . . unless the commissioner, at a minimum, finds that: . . . (D) the applicant has met the surety bond requirement under section 36a-492 . . . . If the commissioner fails to make such findings, the commissioner shall not issue a license, and shall notify the applicant of the denial and the reasons for such denial.
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Respondent’s failure to maintain a surety bond that runs concurrently with the period of its mortgage lender license, as more fully described in paragraphs 2 through 6, inclusive, of the Matters Asserted, constitutes sufficient grounds for the Commissioner to deny an application for such license under Section 36a-489(a)(1)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes and constitutes a violation of Section 36a-492 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, both of which constitute grounds for the Commissioner to revoke Respondent’s license to engage in the business of a mortgage lender in Connecticut from the Springfield Office pursuant to Sections 36a-494(a)(1) and 36a-494(a)(1)(C) and subsections (a) and (b) of Section 36a-51 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Such violation also forms a basis to issue an order to cease and desist against Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-494(b) and 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
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IV. FINDING AND STATUTORY BASIS FOR
TEMPORARY ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST
The Commissioner finds that public welfare requires immediate action to issue a temporary order requiring Respondent to cease and desist from violating Section 36a-492 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, pursuant to Section 36a-52(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, in that due to Respondent’s failure to maintain its surety bond, any borrower or prospective borrower who may be damaged by the failure of Respondent or any mortgage loan originator who may be covered by such bond to perform any written agreements or commitments, or by the wrongful conversion of funds paid by a borrower or prospective borrower to Respondent or any mortgage loan originator who may be covered by such bond, will not be able to proceed on such surety bond to recover damages.
V. NOTICE OF AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION, TEMPORARY ORDER TO CEASE
AND DESIST, NOTICE OF INTENT TO REVOKE MORTGAGE LENDER LICENSE,
NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE ORDER TO CEASE AND DESIST
AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO HEARING
WHEREAS, the Commissioner has reason to believe that Respondent has engaged in acts or conduct which constitutes sufficient grounds for the Commissioner to revoke its license to engage in the business of a mortgage lender in Connecticut from the Springfield Office pursuant to Sections 36a-494(a)(1) and 36a-494(a)(1)(C) and subsections (a) and (b) of Section 36a-51 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and forms a basis to issue an order to cease and desist against Respondent pursuant to Sections 36a-494(b) and 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes;
AND WHEREAS, the Commissioner has made the finding required under Section 36a-52(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes.
NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority granted in Section 36a-492(c) of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, the Commissioner gives NOTICE that on September 19, 2011, the license of East Coast Mortgage Corp. d/b/a Green Brook Mortgage to engage in the business of a mortgage lender in Connecticut from 100 Morris Avenue, Suite 300, Springfield, New Jersey, was AUTOMATICALLY SUSPENDED pending proceedings for revocation.
THE COMMISSIONER ORDERS, pursuant to the authority granted in Section 36a-52(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes, that East Coast Mortgage Corp. d/b/a Green Brook Mortgage immediately CEASE AND DESIST from violating Section 36a-492 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended. This Temporary Order shall become effective upon receipt by East Coast Mortgage Corp. d/b/a Green Brook Mortgage, and, unless set aside or modified by a court, shall remain in effect until the effective date of a permanent order or dismissal of the matters asserted in this Temporary Order.
FURTHER, notice is hereby given to Respondent that the Commissioner intends to REVOKE Respondent’s license to engage in the business of a mortgage lender in Connecticut from the Springfield Office and issue an order requiring Respondent to CEASE AND DESIST from violating Section 36a-492 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, subject to Respondent’s right to a hearing on the allegation set forth above.
A hearing will be granted to Respondent if a written request for a hearing is received by the Department of Banking, Consumer Credit Division, 260 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, Connecticut 06103-1800 within fourteen (14) days following its receipt of this Notice of Automatic Suspension, Temporary Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Revoke Mortgage Lender License, Notice of Intent to Issue Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Right to Hearing as set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 36a-51 and Section 36a-52(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes. This Notice of Automatic Suspension, Temporary Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Revoke Mortgage Lender License, Notice of Intent to Issue Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Right to Hearing shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt, or seven days after mailing or sending. The enclosed Appearance and Request for Hearing Form must be completed and mailed to the above address. If Respondent will not be represented by an attorney at the hearing, please complete the Appearance and Request for Hearing Form as “pro se”. Once a written request for hearing is received, the Commissioner may issue a notification of hearing and designation of hearing officer that acknowledges receipt of a request for a hearing, designates a hearing officer and sets the date of the hearing in accordance with Section 4-177 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 36a-1-21 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. If a hearing is requested, the hearing will be held on December 2, 2011, at 10 a.m., at the Department of Banking, 260 Constitution Plaza, Hartford, Connecticut.
The hearing will be held in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 54 of the Connecticut General Statutes, unless Respondent fails to appear at the requested hearing. At such hearing, Respondent will have the right to appear and present evidence, rebuttal evidence and argument on all issues of fact and law to be considered by the Commissioner.
If Respondent does not request a hearing within the time prescribed, the Commissioner will issue an order revoking Respondent’s license to engage in the business of a mortgage lender in Connecticut from 100 Morris Avenue, Suite 300, Springfield, New Jersey, and issue an order that Respondent cease and desist from violating Section 36a-492 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended.
So ordered at Hartford, Connecticut
this 12th of October 2011. ________/s/_________
Howard F. Pitkin
Banking Commissioner
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that on this 13th day of October 2011, the foregoing Notice of Automatic Suspension, Temporary Order to Cease and Desist, Notice of Intent to Revoke Mortgage Lender License, Notice of Intent to Issue Order to Cease and Desist and Notice of Right to Hearing was sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to East Coast Mortgage Corp. d/b/a Green Brook Mortgage, Attention: Avelino Figueira, President, 100 Morris Avenue, Suite 300, Springfield, New Jersey 07081, registered mail no. RA878574057US.
________/s/_________
Doniel Kitt
Prosecuting Attorney