Borrower Class Prevails over Tribal Lending Operation’s (former?) Partner in Virginia Federal Court

Here are the materials in Williams v. Big Picture Loans LLC (E.D. Va.):

Prior posts here.

Mass. Federal Court Quashes Subpoena of Former Tribal Lending Affiliate [tribal sovereign immunity]

Here are the materials in In re Subpoena of Kenney (D. Mass.):

3 Motion to Quash Subpoena

13 Response

18 Reply

39 Magistrate Order

Fourth Circuit Affirms Certification of Class Action against Tribal Payday Lending Operation [that’s kinda what this case is now, kinda]

Here is the opinion in Williams v. Martorello.

An excerpt:

This class-action proceeding relates to a lending scheme allegedly designed to circumvent state usury laws. Matt Martorello appeals from three district court rulings that (1) reconsidered prior factual findings based on a new finding that Martorello made misrepresentations that substantially impacted the litigation, (2) found that the plaintiffs- appellees—Virginia citizens who took out loans (the “Borrowers”)—did not waive their right to participate in a class-action suit against him, and (3) granted class certification.
In particular, Martorello argues that the district court violated the mandate rule by making factual findings related to the misrepresentations that contradicted this Court’s holding in the prior appeal and then relying on those factual findings when granting class certification. He also contends that the Borrowers entered into enforceable loan agreements with lending entities in which they waived their right to bring class claims against him. In addition, he asserts that common issues do not predominate so as to permit class treatment in this case.
As explained below, we disagree with Martorello. We conclude that the district court did not violate the mandate rule and that the Borrowers did not waive the right to pursue the resolution of their dispute against him in a class-action proceeding. Finally, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in granting class certification because common issues predominate. Accordingly, we affirm the rulings of the district court.

Briefs here.

Lower court materials here.

Fourth Circuit Briefs in Williams v. Martorello [Tribal Lending]

Here:

Lower court materials here.

Federal Court Certifies Class in Williams v. Big Picture Loans

Here are the materials in Williams v. Big Picture Loans LLC (E.D. Va.) (this case is on remand from the Fourth Circuit):

960 DCT Order re Motion for Protective Order

968 Motion to Certify Class

1007 Opposition to 968

1055 Reply in Support of 968

1090 DCT Order Denying Motion for Stay Pending Appeal

1106 DCT on Motion to Certify Class

1110 Memorandum Opinion

Prior post here.

Federal Court in Oregon Declines to Dismiss Suit against Big Picture Loans-Affiliated Individual

Here are the materials so far in Smith v. Martorello (D. Or.):

100 Amended Complaint

106 Motion to Dismiss

120 Opposition

123 Reply

146 Magistrate Report

148 Objections

149 Rule 19 Motion

150 Response to 148

152 Response to 149

155 Reply in Support of 149

156 DCT Order

Federal Court Finds Factual Misrepresentations Made to Fourth Circuit in Williams v. Big Picture Loans LLC

Here are the materials in Williams v. Big Picture Loans LLC (E.D. Va.) (this case is on remand from the Fourth Circuit):

599 DCT Order

601 DCT Order

613 Martorello Statement of Position

624 Williams Response to 613

784 Williams Statement of Position

910 Williams Supplemental Memorandum

944 DCT Order

Excerpts: Continue reading

Fourth Circuit Briefs in Williams v. Big Picture Loans

Here:

appellant brief

williams appellee brief

center for responsible lending amicus brief

conference of tribal lending commissioners amicus brief

States Brief

ncai amicus brief

Redacted Reply Brief

Lower court materials here.