Woman sues CitiMortgage for illegal debt collection

CHARLESTON -- A woman is suing CitiMortgage for illegal debt collection.

Belva P. Stallard had a loan with the defendant's predecessor in interest in the amount of $55,920, according to a complaint filed May 25 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Stallard claims when her husband died she sought a modification in order to afford the payments, but that the defendant only lowered her payments for three months, which she paid on a timely basis.

On March 4, Stallard sent a letter to the defendant instructing them to direct all further communication to her counsel and requesting a statement of her account, according to the suit.

The defendant continued to contact Stallard in an attempt to collect a debt throughout March at least 15 times, according to the suit.

Stallard is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, appropriate equitable relief, that the Court enjoin the defendant from taking possession of her home, and that the Court declare the defendant breached its duty of good faith. She is being represented by Daniel F. Hedges.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-938