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Litigation and Regulatory Contingencies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Litigation and Regulatory Contingencies
Litigation and Regulatory Contingencies

We have been named in various lawsuits. Also, we may from time to time be subject to audit or investigation by governmental agencies. Currently, governmental agencies are auditing or investigating certain of our operations.

With respect to matters where we have determined that a loss is both probable and reasonably estimable, we have recorded a liability representing our best estimate of the financial exposure based on known facts. While the ultimate disposition of each such audit, investigation or lawsuit is not yet determinable, we do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, we do not believe there is a reasonable possibility that a material loss exceeding amounts already accrued may have been incurred. The ability to predict the ultimate outcome of such matters involves judgments, estimates and inherent uncertainties. The actual outcome of such matters could differ materially from management’s estimates. We record expenses for legal fees as incurred.

FDIC

On May 9, 2011, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), as Receiver of Washington Mutual Bank (“WaMu”), filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Central District of California (the “Court”) against CoreLogic Valuation Services, LLC (“CVS”), as successor to eAppraiseIT, LLC (“eAppraiseIT”) and several of its current and former affiliates.

The FDIC complaint alleged that eAppraiseIT was grossly negligent and breached its contract with WaMu in the provision of appraisal services in 2006 and 2007 relating to 194 residential mortgage loans. On November 14, 2011, the Court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the FDIC's gross negligence, alter ego, single business enterprise and joint venture claims, and a portion of the breach of contract claim. On November 30, 2011, the FDIC filed its first amended complaint, alleging only breach of contract claims and naming only CVS and its parent CoreLogic Real Estate Solutions, LLC f/k/a First American Real Estate Solutions, LLC as defendants. The amended complaint sought to recover losses of at least $129.0 million that the FDIC alleges WaMu suffered on loans allegedly related to these appraisal services. On February 6, 2012, the Court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss the FDIC's $16.0 million breach of contract claim related to 26 appraisal services allegedly provided before the effective date of the WaMu - eAppraiseIT Agreement. On February 16, 2012, the FDIC filed a second amended complaint reasserting that claim. On April 25, 2012, the court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss that $16.0 million claim with prejudice. On December 4, 2012, the FDIC filed its third amended complaint further reducing the total number of transactions at issue to 160 and reducing the amount of its purported losses to at least $108.0 million. On June 20, 2013, the court dismissed 14 additional transactions with prejudice pursuant to a stipulation between the parties. As a result, the number of transactions at issue was reduced to 146 and the amount of the FDIC's purported losses was reduced to at least $98.9 million. On May 28, 2014 the parties settled the case with the defendants agreeing to pay a total of $12.0 million; which was recorded within loss from discontinued operations, net of tax for the three months ended June 30, 2014. Following payment of the settlement amount on July 2, 2014, the case was dismissed with prejudice on July 7, 2014.

RESPA Class Action

On February 8, 2008, a purported class action was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, against WaMu and eAppraiseIT alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and violations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), the California Unfair Competition Law and the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act. The complaint alleged a conspiracy between WaMu and eAppraiseIT to allow WaMu to direct appraisers to artificially inflate appraisals in order to qualify higher value loans that WaMu could then sell in the secondary market. Plaintiffs subsequently voluntarily dismissed WaMu on March 9, 2009. On August 30, 2009, the court dismissed all claims against eAppraiseIT except the RESPA claim.

On July 2, 2010, the court denied plaintiff's first motion for class certification. On November 19, 2010, the plaintiffs filed a renewed motion for class certification. On April 25, 2012, the court granted plaintiffs' renewed motion and certified a nationwide class of all persons who, on or after June 1, 2006, received home loans from WaMu in connection with appraisals that were obtained through eAppraiseIT. On July 12, 2012, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to review the class certification order. Following discovery, on July 1, 2014 the defendant filed motions for summary judgment and to decertify the class.

CVS, as the successor to eAppraiseIT, is defending against this claim vigorously; however, predicting the outcome of litigation is inherently difficult. While at this time we cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this claim, nor estimate the range of reasonably possible loss were liability to be established, we do not believe that a material adverse outcome is likely.

Separation

Following the spin-off of our financial services businesses into a new, publicly-traded, New York Stock Exchange-listed company called First American Financial Corporation (“FAFC”) in June 2010 (the “Separation”), we are responsible for a portion of FAFC's contingent and other corporate liabilities. In the Separation and Distribution Agreement we entered into in connection with the Separation, we agreed with FAFC to share equally in the cost of resolution of a small number of corporate-level lawsuits, including certain consolidated securities litigation matters from which we have since been dropped. There were no liabilities incurred in connection with the consolidated securities matters. Responsibility to manage each case has been assigned to either FAFC or us, with the managing party required to update the other party regularly and consult with the other party prior to certain important decisions, such as settlement. The managing party will also have primary responsibility for determining the ultimate total liability, if any, related to the applicable case. We will record our share of any such liability when the responsible party determines a reserve is necessary. At June 30, 2014, no reserves were considered necessary.

In addition, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides for cross-indemnities principally designed to place financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of our predecessor, The First American Corporation's ("FAC") financial services business with FAFC and financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of FAC's information solutions business with us. Specifically, each party will, and will cause its subsidiaries and affiliates to, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party, its respective affiliates and subsidiaries and each of its respective officers, directors, employees and agents for any losses arising out of or otherwise in connection with the liabilities each such party assumed or retained pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement; and any breach by such party of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.