CHARLESTON -- An Elkview woman is suing Beneficial West Virginia after she claims it participated in predatory lending practices.
Ralph Guynn, a real-estate appraiser, was also named as a defendant in the suit.
In 2000 Anna S. Jones purchased a house using financing from American General, and in October 2005, she applied to refinance the loan through Beneficial, according to a complaint filed March 14 in Kanawha Circuit Court.
Jones claims Beneficial selected Guynn to perform an appraisal on her property.
Guynn falsely appraised the residence at $105,000, according to the suit.
Jones claims Beneficial colluded with Guynn to have her hme over-appraised.
Beneficial knew or should have known that the appraisal on Jones' property was inflated and that the loan was not supported by the value of the home, according to the suit.
Jones claims the defendants engaged in dishonesty, fraud and/or misrepresentation with the intent to substantially benefit themselves.
Jones is seeking actual and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. She is being represented by John W. Barrett and Jonathan R. Marshall.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Jennifer Bailey.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-417
Elkview woman says Beneficial guilty of predatory lending
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