WINFIELD — A Putnam County widow is suing a creditor and servicer, alleging fraud, unconscionable inducement and an illegal loan.
Karen Canterbury filed a complaint May 1 in Putnam Circuit Court against Beneficial West Virginia Inc. and Caliber Home Loans Inc., alleging they obtained profit through unfair or deceptive trade or commerce.
According to the complaint, on April 10, 2008, Canterbury, who lives alone, entered a loan with the defendants for $79,797.28 payable over 300 months. Unbeknownst to plaintiff, the suit says, the defendants arranged for an inflated appraisal of $80,000 of her Hurricane property with a high interest rate. The property's actual market value, the lawsuit says, was no higher than $50,000.
After nine years of payment on the loan, the lawsuit states, the balance on the loan is more than $90,000 or $10,000 more than the initial principal balance.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to provide any meaningful assistance on the loan, and misrepresented the market value of the property.
Canterbury seeks trial by jury, declaratory relief, actual damages, civil penalties, attorney fees, costs of litigation, and all other just relief. She is represented by attorney Bren J. Pomponio of Mountain State Justice Inc. in Charleston.
Putnam Circuit Court Case number 17-c-79