Which practices are driving the lawsuits in this trend?

Marketing lien-backed HEIs as not loans, no debt, no interest, or no monthly payment products. Failing to give mortgage-credit disclosures, rescission rights, licensing compliance, or rate-cap treatment. Using payoff formulas that can create large balloon obligations tied to home appreciation or contract term. Recording liens that can impair refinancing or force sale/foreclosure when consumers cannot pay the settlement amount. Packaging HEIs into securitizations or investor platforms while regulatory treatment remains unsettled.

HEI Disguised-Loan Litigation

Name: HEI Disguised-Loan Litigation
Creator: Rain Intelligence
Published: 2026-09-04T14:19:15.546Z
License: https://www.rainintelligence.com/terms-conditions

Home Equity Investment Disguised-Loan Litigation

GeneratedSep 4, 2026

129 predicted defendants identified in Rain Intelligence for this trend — companies that have not yet been sued, but are on plaintiffs’ firms’ radar.

Request a Demo

Filings

Cases already on the docket

Under investigation

Names locked

AI forecasts

Likely next defendants — full list in product

Total predictions

Investigations + forecasts

Premium Intelligence

0 predicted defendants are not in this preview

Rain Intelligence customers see the full list of companies under pre-filing investigation by plaintiffs’ firms — plus the AI-forecasted defendants most likely to be sued next, with case theories, evidence summaries, and plaintiff-firm activity. This public preview shows only what is already on the docket.

Book a Demo to Unlock

Pre-filing investigations

AI forecasts

Understanding the trend

What is this trend?

A consumer-finance litigation trend challenging home equity investment, shared-equity, and shared-appreciation agreements as residential mortgage credit rather than true investment or option contracts.

What caused it

The market grew as homeowners looked for liquidity without refinancing into higher rates, while HEI providers marketed upfront cash with no monthly payments, no interest, and low credit/income barriers. The CFPB's 2025 market overview, its Roberts v. Unlock amicus, Massachusetts enforcement against Hometap, Colorado's Unlock settlement, and Unison/Hometap class complaints all supplied plaintiffs with a concrete recharacterization roadmap.

Practices driving the lawsuits

Marketing lien-backed HEIs as not loans, no debt, no interest, or no monthly payment products.
Failing to give mortgage-credit disclosures, rescission rights, licensing compliance, or rate-cap treatment.
Using payoff formulas that can create large balloon obligations tied to home appreciation or contract term.
Recording liens that can impair refinancing or force sale/foreclosure when consumers cannot pay the settlement amount.
Packaging HEIs into securitizations or investor platforms while regulatory treatment remains unsettled.

Filed cases

Public court records · filterable + sortable

72 of 72 filings·129 hiddenBook a Demo

Filed▼	Defendant	Court	Firm	Industry	Theory	Complaint
Sep 1, 2026	Grand Canyon University 26-cv-01153	Southern District of Illinois	CARROLL SHAMBERG LLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 28, 2026	Forrestall CPAs, LLC 2:26-cv-00276	Northern District of Georgia	Milberg, PLLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 28, 2026	Vanguard Products Group, Inc. 8:26-cv-02536	Middle District of Florida	Matulis IP Law, Dority & Manning, P.A.	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 27, 2026	Wellpoint Texas, Inc. 4:26-cv-07185	Southern District of Texas	PLG Damage Attorneys	Telecommunications and media	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 27, 2026	Clayton Properties Group, Inc. 3:26-cv-00409	Eastern District of Tennessee	Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 26, 2026	TSC Franchisor, LLC 7:26-cv-07287	Southern District of New York	Bursor & Fisher, P.A.	Food and beverage	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 26, 2026	Neighborhood Intelligence, Inc. 01C01-2608-PL-000020	Adams County Circuit Court Indiana	CohenMalad, LLP	Consumer products and retail	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 26, 2026	International Business Machines Corporation 1:26-cv-02342	Western District Texas	Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 25, 2026	Bayada Home Health Care, Inc. 1:26-cv-10946	District of New Jersey	Wolf Popper LLP	Healthcare, pharma, and medical devices	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 25, 2026	Orkin, LLC TCN-931746	Los Angeles County California	EMPLAW, LLP	Employment and labor	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 24, 2026	Signature Property Solutions, Inc. 1:26-cv-10168	Northern District of Illinois	Paronich Law, P.C.	Telecommunications and media	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 24, 2026	Tenfold Senior Living LLC 26CV020212	Superior Court of California Sacramento County	LIPELES LAW GROUP, APC	Employment and labor	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 24, 2026	TP-Link Corporation PTE Limited; TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd.; TP-Link Corporation Limited; TP-Link Lianzhou Co., Ltd.; TP-Link Systems, Inc.; Lianzhou International Co., Ltd. 8:26-cv-02368	Central District of California	RUSS AUGUST & KABAT	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 21, 2026	L.E. Jones Operating, Inc. 6:26-cv-00299-JAR	Eastern District of Oklahoma	Brady Smith Law, PLLC	Energy, utilities, and environmental	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 20, 2026	H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center 8:26-cv-02433	Middle District of Florida	Schwartzbaum	Healthcare, pharma, and medical devices	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 20, 2026	Centralus Health, Inc. 3:26-cv-01602	Northern District of New York	DeNittis Osefchen Prince, P.C.	Healthcare, pharma, and medical devices	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 20, 2026	Copper Springs, LLC; Lifepoint Health, Inc. 2:26-cv-05889-MTL	District of Arizona	HKM Employment Attorneys LLP	Employment and labor	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 20, 2026	Maple Pointe Senior Care, LLC TCN-922531	Supreme Court of the State of New York Nassau County	Lawyers for Justice, P.C.	Employment and labor	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 20, 2026	Shore Point Aesthetics and Healing; Erica LoPresti 2:26-cv-10679	District of New Jersey	Higbee & Associates	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	Owen Faricy Motor Company 2026CV32007	El Paso County District Court Colorado	KLCS PC	Employment and labor	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc. 7:26-cv-00330	Western District of Texas	Truelove Law Firm, PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	Sally Beauty Supply LLC 4:26-cv-01104	Eastern District of Texas	SHEA I BEATY PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	The Buckle, Inc. 4:26-cv-01099	Eastern District of Texas	SHEA I BEATY PLLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	Gucci America, Inc. 4:26-cv-01102	Eastern District of Texas	SHEA I BEATY PLLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. 4:26-cv-01098	Eastern District of Texas	Shea Beaty PLLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	Bridgestone Americas, Inc. d/b/a Firestone Complete Auto Care 4:26-cv-01101	Eastern District of Texas	SHEA I BEATY PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 19, 2026	Blueberry Technology Inc 5:26-cv-08626	Northern District of California	BROWN WEGNER LLP	Travel / Hospitality	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 17, 2026	Apple Inc. 1:26-cv-23	Western District of Texas	PARKER, BUNT & AINSWORTH, P.C.	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 14, 2026	Hyland's Inc. 2026-55000	New York Supreme Court Dutchess County	Sheehan & Associates PC	Food and beverage	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 14, 2026	Open Text Corporation; Open Text Inc. 7:26-cv-00316	Western District of Texas	Truelove Law Firm, PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 14, 2026	Viavia Corporation 2:26-cv-09116	Central District of California	Doniger / Burroughs	Consumer Products / Retail	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 14, 2026	Rue Gilt Groupe, Inc.; Gilt Groupe, LP 2:26-cv-04988	Eastern District of New York	Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C.	Consumer Products / Retail	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 13, 2026	HDFC Bank Limited; Sashidhar Jagdishan; Srinivasan Vaidyanathan 1:26-cv-06943	Southern District of New York	Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter LLP	Financial services and banking	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 13, 2026	PDD Holdings Inc. 2:26-cv-00690	Eastern District of Texas	Rabicoff Law LLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 13, 2026	Schedule A Defendants 2:2026cv01706	Western District of Pennsylvania	Flener IP Law, LLC	Consumer Products / Retail	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 13, 2026	Zilliz Inc. 1:26-cv-01035-UNA	District of Delaware	Silverman, McDonald & Friedman	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 12, 2026	Best Buy Co., Inc. 4:26-cv-01062-RWS	Eastern District of Texas	SHEA I BEATY PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 12, 2026	SharkNinja Operating LLC SharkNinja Operating LLC	District of Massachusetts	Bernheim Kelley, LLC, Turnbull, Moak, & Pendergrass, LLC	Consumer Products / Retail	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 11, 2026	Ferguson Enterprises, LLC 2:2026cv00680	Eastern District of Texas	CHERRY JOHNSON SIEGMUND JAMES PC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 8, 2026	Continental Mills Inc. 70395/2026	Westchester County New York	Sheehan & Associates PC	Food and beverage	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 7, 2026	Edible Arrangements, LLC; Edible Brands, LLC 26-cv-02707	Eastern District of California	BURSOR & FISHER, P.A.	Technology and digital platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 7, 2026	Otter Spirit, Inc. 1:26-cv-09467	Northern District of Illinois	Stein Saks, PLLC	Consumer products and retail	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 7, 2026	Grandstream Networks, Inc. 2:26-cv-00660	Eastern District of Texas	FINDLAY CRAFT, P.C.	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 7, 2026	Applied Medical Resources Corporation 8:26-cv-02151	Central District of California	Prince Lobel Tye LLP	Healthcare / Pharma	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 7, 2026	Target Corporation 4:26-cv-01028-RWS	Eastern District of Texas	Shea Beaty PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 7, 2026	Somnigroup International Inc. d/b/a Tempur-Pedic 4:26-cv-01027-RWS	Eastern District of Texas	SHEA BEATY PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 5, 2026	University of Colorado Health 1:26-cv-03562	District of Colorado	McGuire Law, P.C.	Healthcare, pharma, and medical devices	State lending/usury law	View
Aug 5, 2026	Kroll Restructuring Administration LLC 26-cv-06710	Southern District of New York	HAUSFELD LLP	Technology and digital platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 30, 2026	Lusha Systems, Inc. 3:26-cv-07923	Northern District of California	Wilshire Law Firm, PLC	Technology and digital platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 29, 2026	MemorialCare Medical Group TCN-888640	Los Angeles County California	STRANCH, JENNINGS & GARVEY, PLLC	Technology and digital platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 29, 2026	Pfizer, Inc.; Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, LLC; Pharmacia, LLC Pfizer, Inc.; Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, LLC; Pharmacia, LLC	Northern District of Florida	Anapol Weiss	Healthcare / Pharma	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 28, 2026	University of Minnesota Physicians 0:26-cv-03438	District of Minnesota	Hecht Partners LLP	Healthcare	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 28, 2026	BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc. 1:26-cv-08981	Northern District of Illinois	Reese LLP	Healthcare, pharma, and medical devices	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 27, 2026	Zhone Technologies, Inc. 2:26-cv-00621-JRG	Eastern District of Texas	Rabicoff Law LLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 27, 2026	Humax Co., Ltd. 2:26-cv-00618	Eastern District of Texas	Rabicoff Law LLC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 27, 2026	IDT Corporation 2:26-cv-09409	District of New Jersey	Garibian Law Offices, P.C.	Telecommunications / Media	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 24, 2026	Validus Energy II Midcon LLC; ROAN Resources LLC 1:26-cv-03368	District of Colorado	SHARP LAW, LLP	Energy, utilities, and environmental	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 24, 2026	Chick-fil-A, Inc. 1:26-cv-04160-MLB	Northern District of Georgia	Gibson Consumer Law Group, LLC	Consumer products and retail	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 23, 2026	Whole Foods Market Services LLC 4:2026cv00923	Eastern District of Texas	SHEA I BEATY PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 23, 2026	Macy's, Inc. 2:26-cv-00604	Eastern District of Texas	Rozier Hardt McDonough PLLC	Technology / Digital Platforms	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 22, 2026	Hilton Resorts Corporation 6:26-cv-01590	Middle District of Florida	Edelsberg Law, P.A.	Travel, hospitality, and airlines	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 22, 2026	Cisco Systems, Inc. 2:26-cv-00602	Eastern District of Texas	Hecht Partners LLP	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 21, 2026	University of Mississippi Medical Center 3:26-cv-00532-HTW-LGI	Southern District of Mississippi	Shub Johns & Holbrook LLP	Healthcare, pharma, and medical devices	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 21, 2026	Woopla, Inc. 4:26-cv-00489-BJB	Western District of Kentucky	Rhoads & Rhoads PSC	Other	State lending/usury law	View
Jul 2, 2026	Hometap Equity Partners, LLC\|Hometap Investment Partners II, L.P.\|Hometap Investment Partners III SPV, LLC	Hennepin County Minnesota	Hellmuth & Johnson, PLLC \| Bryson Harris Suciu Demay, PLLC	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+3	View
Jun 15, 2026	Unison Agreement Corporation\|Real Estate Equity Exchange, Inc.\|Unison Investment Management, LLC\|Unison Midgard Holdings LLC	District of New Jersey	Flitter Milz, P.C. \| Langer, Grogan & Diver, P.C.	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+3	View
May 11, 2026	Hometap Equity Partners, LLC\|Hometap Holdings II, LLC\|Hometap Investment Partners II, L.P.	Western District of Pennsylvania	Robert Peirce & Associates, PC \| Levin Sedran & Berman	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+2	View
Apr 6, 2026	Unison Agreement Corporation\|Unison Investment Management, LLC\|Real Estate Equity Exchange, Inc.	Colorado District Court	Singleton Schreiber, LLP	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+3	View
Feb 12, 2026	Hometap Equity Partners, Llc \| Hometap Investment Partners Iii Spv	New Jersey District Court	Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.c. \| Robert P. Cocco, P.c.	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+3	View
Nov 14, 2025	Unison agreement corporation \| real estate equity exchange inc \| unison investment management llc \| odin new horizon real estate fund lp \| odin new horizon general partner llc \| does 1-10	San Bernardino superior court state of california	Blood Hurst & O’reardon, Llp	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+3	View
Sep 11, 2025	Unison Agreement Corp. \| Unison Investment Management, LLC \| Real Estate Equity Exchange, Inc.	San Francisco County California	Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC \| Gupta Wessler LLP \| Law Office of Andrew J. Kubik	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+3	View
Aug 8, 2023	Unison Investment Management LLC	New York Eastern District Court	Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC	Consumer finance / mortgage	Mortgage-credit recharacterization+2	View

Want to see who’s next?

0 predicted defendants are waiting in Rain Intelligence.

Be the first attorney to reach the next client in this trend. Rain Intelligence customers get the full list of investigations, AI-forecasted targets, and plaintiff-firm activity — delivered to their inbox before complaints are filed.

Book a Demo

30+

AmLaw 200 firms

$200M+

Attorney fees generated

Enterprise cancellations