Bank sued over 'invasive' repossession

PITTSBURGH, March 9 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania woman is suing her bank, saying her doors were padlocked, her parrot confiscated and home repossessed though her mortgage payments were on time.

Attorney Michael Rosenzweig filed papers Monday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court on behalf of Angela M. Iannelli, 46, saying she's suffered "severe emotional distress, embarrassment and ridicule" as a result of Bank of America's "de facto foreclosure process and seizure proceedings," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Tuesday.

The suit accuses the bank and its contractor, Ebensburg-based Snyder Property Services, of trespass, unfair business practices, defamation, libel and other offenses during the October foreclosure of Iannelli's home.

The lawsuit alleges Bank of America instructed Snyder Property Services to "enter, seize, padlock, 'winterize' and take possession" of Iannelli's house, allegedly pouring anti-freeze down her drains, cutting water lines and electrical wiring, and "stealing" her pet parrot, Luke, along with changing her locks, damaging her carpets and scattering her belongings, the newspaper said.

The suit alleges Bank of America, after initially denying responsibility, told Iannelli it had "made a mistake."

With the exception of one payment, Rosenzweig claims, Iannelli's mortgage payments were made on time and no 60-day notice of deficiency was sent, the Post-Gazette says.

A Bank of America spokeswoman declined to comment.