A Cincinnati couple is taking legal action against a mortgage servicing company, accusing it of mishandling their mortgage payments and creating an unwarranted escrow account. On February 24, 2026, Abraham and Mildred Washington filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing and U.S. Bank, N.A., alleging violations of federal laws designed to protect homeowners.
The Washingtons’ lawsuit centers around Shellpoint’s alleged failure to properly apply their mortgage loan payments and its creation of an unauthorized escrow account. The couple claims that despite their efforts to resolve these issues through qualified written requests (QWRs), Shellpoint did not adequately respond or correct the errors. According to the complaint, “Shellpoint failed to adequately respond to The Washingtons’ qualified written requests for information and notice of errors,” which has led to significant financial and emotional distress for the plaintiffs.
The complaint details a series of events beginning with the Washingtons refinancing their home in 1997, followed by a bankruptcy filing in 2000 that discharged their prepetition debts, including the mortgage loan. Over the years, various entities serviced their loan until Shellpoint took over in March 2020. Despite reaching a settlement agreement with Shellpoint in June 2022 that restored their loan status and removed the escrow requirement, Shellpoint allegedly began demanding escrow payments again in June 2025 without prior notice.
In response to these actions, the Washingtons are seeking actual damages, statutory damages under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Truth in Lending Act (TILA), attorney fees, and other costs associated with bringing this case forward. They accuse Shellpoint of violating RESPA by failing to make necessary corrections or provide adequate explanations regarding their account discrepancies. Additionally, they claim U.S. Bank is vicariously liable for these violations as the owner of their loan.
Represented by attorneys Karl W. Snyder and Randy Richardson from Richardson Law Firm based in Dublin, Ohio, the Washingtons have demanded a jury trial to address these grievances. The case is identified as Case No. 1:26-cv-00193-SJD with Judge Susan J. Dlott presiding over proceedings.
Source: 126cv00193_Washington_v_Shellpoint_Mortgage_Servicing_Complaint_Southern_District_Ohio.pdf
