States aim to force changes in foreclosure process
Legal Review
If the attorneys general of up to 40 states have their way, mortgage companies will have to revamp the way they handle foreclosures, pay penalties for violations and expand help to homeowners on the verge of foreclosure.
The top law enforcement officials of states around the country are launching a joint investigation into the problems with foreclosure documents that surfaced in recent weeks. They are already weighing the outlines of a potential settlement with the industry, said Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, who will lead the investigation. The inquiry will be announced Wednesday morning.
Miller said one idea being discussed is to create an independent monitor to review whether banks have fixed their problems.
"We want the companies to put in a system such that this will not happen again," Miller said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We want to explore what other remedies might be available, in a way that makes homeowners and the general housing economy better off."
Some banks, such as Wells Fargo & Co. and Citigroup Inc., insist they did nothing wrong. But employees of Bank of America, Ally Financial's GMAC Mortgage unit and JPMorgan Chase have acknowledged in depositions that they signed thousands of foreclosure documents without reading them.
Related listings
-
Justices weigh lawsuits over vaccine side effects
Legal Review 11/02/2010The Supreme Court is trying to sort out whether drug companies can be sued for claims of serious side effects from childhood vaccines without driving vaccine makers from the market and risking a public health crisis. The court heard arguments Tuesday...
-
The Zach Frith Story
Legal Review 11/02/2010Football…..is One of the most popular sports in America…..And It's also the leading cause of sports-related injuries. During the 2005-06 season, high school football players sustained more than half a million injuries nationally. And 14 year old High...
-
Steven L. Herrick is a “Super Lawyer”
Legal Review 11/02/2010Tully Rinckey PLLC is pleased to announce that partner Steven L. Herrick has been selected as a 2010 New York Super Lawyer. Herrick, who also serves as the firm’s Director of Legal Services in Washington, D.C., was recognized for his work in the are...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.