Lawyers who offer mortgage modification help can be sued for redlining

A recent decision by the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, holds that redlining discrimination actions can apply to parties that purport to provide loan modification assistance.

Typically, redlining is the practice of offering loans to minority borrowers that include terms less desirable than those offered to similarly qualified white borrowers. In People v. Wildermuth, 2016 IL App (1st) 143592, the first district held that those who target minorities with false promises of providing a loan modification for a fee are considered mortgage lenders under the Illinois Human Rights Act ("the Act"). Find out more in the June Illinois Bar Journal.