Precatory

Bank of Am., N.A. v Tornheim, LLC, 2011 NY Slip Op 02614 (App. Div., 2nd 2011)

On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Helping Families Act (see Pub L 111-22, Div A 123 US Stat 1632). "The Helping Families Act led to a variety of new measures designed to reduce foreclosures, preserve home ownership, and fight the contraction of the real estate market" (Robinson v Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 2010 WL 2534192 *5 [D Ariz 2010]).

Contrary to the defendants' contention, the Helping Families Act did not create a moratorium on mortgage foreclosure actions. The "Sense of the Congress on foreclosure" provision relied on by the defendants to support their argument (see Pub L 111-22, Div A, § 401) is merely precatory and does not create an enforceable right (see Lyng v Northwest Indian Cemetery Protective Assn., 485 US 439, 455; Monahan v Dorchester Counseling Center, Inc., 961 F2d 987, 994-995; Jian Li v Chertoff, 2007 WL 4326784, 2007 US Dist LEXIS 90472, *19 [ED NY 2007]).