Foreclosure Fraud Rising in Florida
Abuses of the Florida foreclosure process by so-called “foreclosure mill” law firms has led the Florida Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division to expand its inquiry into the actions of several more law firms in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Plantation.
An article in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune recently outlined several examples of how the flood of foreclosure filings in Florida has led to abuses throughout the system, with many properties being unjustly taken:
A Pasco County homeowner’s attorney discovered that a court document giving possession of the mortgage to Wells Fargo had apparently been backdated, leading the judge to throw out the case and ruling that the law firm involved engaged in “an intentional effort to mislead the defendant and the court.”
Two law firms representing two different banks filed for foreclosure on the same property in Palm Beach County using the same mortgage note.
Attorneys for homeowners in Palm Beach County found numerous instances where two of the law firms being investigated by the Attorney General’s office had signed mortgage assignments that pre-dated the start of the notary’s commission, making them clearly fraudulent.
Many Florida foreclosure defense attorneys have similar stories, which is why it is important for homeowners facing foreclosure to go to court to protect their rights. For more information, contact our Jacksonville Florida foreclosure defense law firm.
Greg Gilbert
Keith Maynard
