The court ruled that a creditor’s charge off of an account, standing alone, does not mean that the creditor has agreed to waive the right to assess additional interest otherwise permitted by the credit agreement. READ MORE

It has been the longstanding rule in Missouri that a litigant may recover his attorneys’ fees and costs from the losing party if the underlying contract expressly authorizes the award of attorneys’ fees. But Missouri courts take very seriously the requirement that attorneys’ fees be expressly authorized. READ MORE

Occasionally mortgage lenders require only one spouse to sign a deed of trust (or mortgage) and allow the other spouse to sign a separate document consenting to the loan transaction. But, as a Missouri appellate court ruled recently, this practice could leave the lender with an invalid lien if both spouses own the property. READ MORE

If a bank has approved a loan application but later changes its mind, it should promptly advise the loan applicant; otherwise, the bank may face liability for punitive damages. This was the lesson in Bailey v. Hawthorn Bank before the Missouri Court of Appeals Western District. READ MORE

In a recent case, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that the Missouri Credit Agreement Act’s requirements can be satisfied by internal bank documents that indicate that the bank has agreed to make a loan even if the documents are never shared with the loan applicant. READ MORE