California Sues Loan Modification Companies

by Brian Wolfman

I blogged here on Monday about the National Consumer Law Center's recent report on the growing loan modification scam industry. Yesterday, the California Attorney General sued 21 individuals and 14 loan modification companies, alleging that they take desperate homeowners' money but provide them no mortgage relief. Here's the beginning of the AG's press release:

As part of a massive federal-state crackdown on loan modification scams, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. at a press conference today announced the filing of legal action against 21 individuals and 14 companies who ripped off thousands of homeowners desperately seeking mortgage relief. Brown is demanding millions in civil penalties, restitution for victims and permanent injunctions to keep the companies and defendants from offering mortgage-relief services. "The loan modification industry is teeming with confidence men and charlatans, who rip off desperate homeowners facing foreclosure," Brown said. "Despite firm promises and money-back guarantees, these scam artists pocketed thousands of dollars from each victim and didn't provide an ounce of relief."

Read the entire press release here. Thanks to California consumer advocate Ted Mermin for bringing this to my attention.

Comments

[Brian Wolfman]

Hello. After many years at Public Citizen, I have moved to Georgetown law school, where I will be a co-director of the Institute for Public Representation (IPR) and head IPRs Civil Rights Clinic. You can reach me at 202 661 6582 and wolfmanb@law.georgetown.edu.

If you want to contact the Litigation Group, contact Litigation Group Director Allison Zieve at azieve@citizen.org.

Brian Wolfman

reply-3P3ND8VUHUI4_4D5PDH84Q7RF 12/14/09 16:40

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A new comment from Steven K. Kop was received on the post California Sues Loan Modification Companies of the blog CL&P Blog. If you would like to post a reply to this comment you can do so at the following URL:

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Comment:

[Steven K. Kop]

http://loanworkout.org/2009/06/bad-biz-finder-loses-libelslander-lawsuit-and-60451566/

You were warned.

[Lana]

Is Sacramento NAF Loan Modification company is safe to go with a house modification? Thanks.

[Zoltan]

I have a question. Recently I saw in the TV the Parman Law Group advertisement, and I was considering to talk to them. I saw they name here on the list above. So I'm confused. Is anybody did try to do loan modification with them? Are they reliable?

[Unsatisfied Client]

Regarding Brian J. Colombana, Mortgage Relief Law Center, as part of investigations by FTC and Attorney General, there was a cease and decist order issued on July 10, 2009... I'm not sure why this company is still in business?

Here is the link
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2009/07/090715casesummary.pdf

[Steven K. Kop, Attorney at Law]

Brian Wolfman:

Sir, remove the Erin Baldwin blog immediately with all tags, or be prepared, along with Typepad, for service of summons and complaint

[Steven K. Kop, Attorney at Law]

Eric Baldwin? SUSPENDED BY WORDPRESS FOR VIOLATION OF TERMS OF SERVICE

SUCCESSFULLY SUED BY PARSA LEGAL GROUP

SOON TO BE SUCCESSFULLY SUED BY . . .

"Need any details? Check our blog at http://badbizfinder.wordpress.com or send us an email at badbizfinder@aol.com
Posted by: Erin Baldwin | Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 10:15 AM"

click on Erin Baldwin above:

"This blog has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service.
You can create your own free blog on WordPress.com."

[Bob]

Have you heard of the company Star Loan Modification ot of Newport Beach, CA. Please advise

[Account Deleted]

your post is really informative i am waiting for next one thanks for sharing.well i remark that you have good knowledge of loan modification can you give me some feedback about this site http://www.loansstore.com

[Abby]

Brian-how do we get in touch with the advocate Tim Mermin? Have more abuse by attorneys.

[Erin Baldwin]

Brian,

That's fine and dandy - now add these folks to your list and then you'll be making some progress. Every single one of these attorneys has done EXACTLY what you are charging the others and way worse. All the attorneys that ave (by association) next to their name are attorneys that helped hide the loan modification attorney's misconduct and therefore are in collusion with the fraud:

We have 3 groups, here is the first:

ATTORNEY GROUP #1
Pernell B. Agdeppa, Griswold & Agdeppa
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=237064

Alton Burkhalter (By Association)
Burkhalter, Kessler, Goodman & George, LLP
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=119594

Jeffrey A. Cancilla
Solution Law Group / Solution Processing LLC
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=235428

Nicholas Chavarela
America’s Law Group
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=251632

Brian J. Colombana
Mortgage Relief Law Center
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=238272

Joseph D’Agostino (By Association)
Orange County District Attorney
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=115774

Steven L. Dickinson
Dickinson & Associates
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=110475

Christian M. Dillon
Law Offices of Christian M. Dillon
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=89376

Scott J. Drexel (By Association)
Former Chief Trial Counsel of the California State Bar
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=65670

Steven C. Feldman
Feldman Law Center / Federal Loan Modification Center / FED MOD
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=103676

Nathan W. Fransen
Fransen & Molinaro LLP
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=242867

Holly Fujie (By Association)
Buchalter Nemer
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=82034

Eric Goodman (By Association)
Burkhalter, Kessler, Goodman & George, LLP
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=210694

Julia Leah Greenfield
Greenfield Law Offices
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=102713

James E. Griswold
Griswold & Agdeppa
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=207294

Elizabeth A. Henderson (By Association)
Orange County Assistant District Attorney – Major Fraud Unit
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=138968

Daniel J. Kessler (By Association)
Burkhalter, Kessler, Goodman & George, LLP
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=173710

Michael M. Kessler
Law Offices of Michael M. Kessler
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=137204

Steven K. Kop
New Dawn Law / Law Offices of Steve K. Kop
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=91354

John Latini
Attorney at Law
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=127958

Leland L. Moglen
M3 Legal Services / Mend My Mortgage
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=141490

Paul Molinaro
Fransen & Molinaro, LLP
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=242879

Maryam Parman
The Parman Law Group
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=197601

Mitra Parman
The Parman Law Group
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=224838

James M. Parsa
Parsa Law Group/National Loan Modification Center/Modify 123/HomeForeClosureFighter/321 Foreclosure
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=153389

Warren W. Quann
Law Offices of Warren W. Quann
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=140032

Ronald P. Rodis
Rodis Law Group
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=181873

Maryam Rohani (By Association)
Burkhalter, Kessler, Goodman & George, LLP
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=198214

Roya Rohani
Parsa Law Group
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=193175

Sean Alan Rutledge
United Law Group
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=255938

Robert G. Scurrah
Consumer Debt Advocates
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=82766

Richard G. Stinstrom
United Law Group
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=140675

Marc R. Tow
Marc R. Tow & Associates
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=78429

Michael G. Yoder (By Association)
Current President of the Orange County Bar Association
O’Melveny & Myers
See: http://members.calbar.ca.gov/search/member_detail.aspx?x=83059

Need any details? Check our blog at http://badbizfinder.wordpress.com or dend us an email at badbizfinder@aol.com