Embattled homeowner has seven days to vacate foreclosed residence

Rosemary Williams has vowed not to leave the South Minneapolis home where she’s lived for 26 years, even after falling into foreclosure. But Hennepin County District Court Judge Lloyd Zimmerman has ordered that she vacate the premises within seven days, the Star Tribune reports.

Social justice activists have rallied behind the embattled homeowner’s cause, arguing that she is a victim of pernicious lending practices. According to Williams, she fell behind on monthly payments after her adjustable-rate mortgage increased from $1,200 to $2,200. MnIndy interviewed Williams and some of her supporters back in March.

Last month the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization and 17 of Williams’ neighbors filed a lawsuit seeking to stop her eviction, arguing that it would lead to neighborhood blight. But Judge Zimmerman ruled today that her mortgage company, GMAC Mortgage, had done nothing wrong in foreclosing on Williams and dismissed the lawsuit.

“Were the court to create a new legal principle based upon the argument of Ms. Williams and her supporters, no bank or mortgage company would ever lend to people living in economically distressed neighborhoods because financial institutions could not rely on courts to honor contracts freely entered into between consenting adults,” Zimmerman wrote in his order, as reported by the Strib.

Williams lost her home in a foreclosure sale in September. When she failed to vacate the premises by March 30, GMAC went to court to have her evicted. Settlement talks continue in that legal action.