Troutman Sanders wins four-day jury trial on fraud and wrongful foreclosure claim
The Financial Services Litigation Group of Troutman Sanders prevailed again last week. After a four-day jury trial in Georgia state court, John Lynch and Teah Glenn won a complete defense verdict for defendants GMAC Mortgage and MERS in Krause v. MERS, et al.
Plaintiff had claims for fraud, wrongful foreclosure and breach of contract, which included significant demands for compensatory and punitive damages plus attorneys’ fees and costs. The trial included sympathetic testimony from the family of the deceased borrower and opinion testimony from competing foreclosure experts, an appraiser expert and a probate expert.
After plaintiff rested, the court granted MERS and GMAC’s motion for directed verdict on fraud and struck plaintiff’s claims for punitive damages. After defendants rested, the court struck plaintiff’s demand for attorneys’ fees and costs. After deliberation, the jury of 12 returned a defense verdict for GMAC and MERS, marking a total victory for GMAC and MERS and the trial team of John Lynch and Teah Glenn.