Appealing a Foreclosure Case

Courtroom

A recent Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision illustrates the importance of properly appealing a foreclosure case.  The Court’s decision reaffirms that a homeowner has one–and only one–opportunity to appeal an unfavorable court decision.

In Eresian v. Merill Lynch Credit Corporation, the Supreme Judicial Court upheld the denial of a homeowner’s attempt to overturn a decision in a foreclosure case from the 1990s. The homeowner attempted to file an appeal of this decision in 2015, years after the 1993 foreclosure case.  The Appeals Court rejected this appeal, and stated that the case was closed.  The homeowner then attempted to petition the Supreme Judicial Court for a subsequent order to review her prior decision.  Here, the Supreme Judicial Court rejected this requested relief, noting that the homeowner had already obtained an appeal of her decision, and there was no reason for the Court to allow her the opportunity for another review of the case.

The Court’s decision in this case reaffirms an important lesson for homeowners fighting foreclosure: there are few, if any, “do overs” in matters of law.  If a homeowner loses their foreclosure case and wishes to appeal, they get one–and only one–chance at appeal. Rarely will a homeowner ever be able to come back later for a second shot.

With this in mind, homeowners should strongly consider consulting an experienced foreclosure defense attorney in appealing a foreclosure case.  The risks of not doing the job right the first time just aren’t worth it.