Case ID: f3d_229/html/0466-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Joe R. STRINGER; Desiree H. Stringer, Plaintiffs-Appellants, v. CENDANT MORTGAGE CORPORATION, doing business as PHH Mortgage Services Corporation, Defendant-Appellee.
    No. 99-40100.
    United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
    Sept. 27, 2000.
    Rehearing Denied Nov. 9, 2000.
    Ralph E. Allen (argued), Tyler, TX, for Plaintiffs-Appellants.
    Elizabeth Grace Smith (argued), Davis & Opper, San Antonio, TX, for DefendanL-Appellee.
    Before HIGGINBOTHAM and SMITH, Circuit Judges, and DUPLANTIER , District Judge.
    
      
       District Judge of the Eastern District of Louisiana, sitting by designation.
    
   PER CURIAM:

On December 22, 1999, we certified the controlling question in this case to the Texas Supreme Court. 199 F.3d 190 (5th Cir.1999). The question certified was:

Under the Texas Constitution, may a home equity lender require the borrower to pay off third-party debt that is not secured by the homestead with the proceeds of the loan?

The Texas Supreme Court answered the question in the affirmative in a unanimous opinion filed June 8, 2000, in turn filed with this court on June 12, 2000. The Texas Supreme Court by order of August 24, 2000, denied a motion for rehearing. That order was filed in this court on August 28, 2000. The posed question having been answered by a final decision of the Texas Supreme Court, the judgment of the United States District Court dismissing the case is AFFIRMED.