Note 13 - Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2019

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies

We are routinely involved in a number of legal actions and proceedings, including litigation and other disputes arising in the ordinary course of our business. The legal and regulatory matters discussed below and in our 2018 Form 10-K could result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, injunctions, restitutions or other relief that could require significant expenditures or have other effects on our business. Management believes, based on current knowledge and after consultation with counsel, that the outcome of such actions will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition. However, the outcome of litigation and other legal and regulatory matters and proceedings is inherently uncertain, and it is possible that one or more of the matters currently pending or threatened could have an unanticipated adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition or results of operations for any particular period.

On December 22, 2016, Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC and Homeward Residential, Inc. (collectively, “Ocwen”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Radian Guaranty alleging breach of contract and bad faith claims and seeking monetary damages and declaratory relief. Ocwen has also initiated similar legal proceedings against several other mortgage insurers. On December 17, 2016, Ocwen separately filed a parallel arbitration petition against Radian Guaranty before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) asserting substantially the same allegations (the “Arbitration”). Ocwen’s filings together listed 9,420 mortgage insurance certificates issued under multiple insurance policies, including Pool Insurance policies, as subject to the dispute. On June 5, 2017, Ocwen filed an amended complaint and an amended petition (collectively, the “Amended Filings”) with both the court and the AAA, respectively, together listing 8,870 certificates as subject to the dispute. On April 11, 2018, the parties entered into a confidential agreement with respect to all certificates subject to the dispute. The confidential agreement resolved certain categories of claims involved in the dispute and, on April 12, 2018, the parties filed a stipulation of voluntary dismissal of the federal court proceeding and the trial judge issued an Order dismissing all claims and counterclaims subject to the parties’ agreement. Radian Guaranty was not required to make any payment in connection with this confidential agreement. Pursuant to the confidential agreement, the

parties: (1) dismissed the federal court proceeding; (2) narrowed the scope of the dispute to Ocwen’s breach of contract claims seeking payment of insurance benefits on approximately 2,500 certificates that Ocwen was previously pursuing through the Amended Filings; and (3) agreed to resolve the remaining dispute through the Arbitration. Radian Guaranty believes that Ocwen’s allegations and claims in the legal proceedings described above are without merit and legally deficient, and plans to defend these claims vigorously. We are not able to estimate a reasonably possible loss, if any, or range of loss in this matter because of the current stage of the Arbitration.

On August 31, 2018, Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Mr. Cooper (“Nationstar”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Radian Guaranty (the “Complaint”) alleging breach of contract, bad faith, unjust enrichment and conversion claims and seeking monetary damages and declaratory relief. The Complaint lists 3,014 mortgage insurance certificates issued under multiple insurance policies as subject to disputes involving insurance coverage decisions. The Complaint further lists 2,231 mortgage insurance certificates issued under multiple insurance policies as subject to disputes involving premium refund requests. Radian Guaranty believes that Nationstar’s allegations and claims in the legal proceedings described above are without merit and legally deficient, and plans to defend these claims vigorously. In December 2018, Radian Guaranty filed a motion to dismiss the Complaint. In March 2019, the trial judge issued an Order granting in part, and denying in part, our motion to dismiss, and dismissed Nationstar’s unjust enrichment and conversion claims. In May 2019, Radian Guaranty filed an answer, with affirmative defenses and counterclaims, in response to the Complaint. We are not able to estimate a reasonably possible loss, if any, or range of loss in this matter because of the preliminary stage of the litigation.

We also are periodically subject to reviews and audits, as well as inquiries, information-gathering requests and investigations. In connection with these matters, from time to time we receive requests and subpoenas seeking information and documents related to aspects of our business.

Our Master Policies establish the timeline within which any suit or action arising from any right of an insured under the policy generally must be commenced. In general, any suit or action arising from any right of an insured under the policy must be commenced within two years after such right first arose for primary insurance and within three years for certain other policies, including certain Pool Insurance policies. Although we believe that our Loss Mitigation Activities are justified under our policies, from time to time we face challenges from certain lender and servicer customers regarding our Loss Mitigation Activities, which have resulted in some reversals of our decisions regarding Rescissions, Claim Denials or Claim Curtailments. We are currently in discussions with these customers regarding our Loss Mitigation Activities and claim payment practices, which if not resolved, could result in arbitration or judicial proceedings and we may need to reassume the risk on, and increase loss reserves for, the associated policies or pay additional claims. See Note 10 for additional information.

See Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2018 Form 10-K for further information regarding our commitments and contingencies and our accounting policies for contingencies.