Showing posts with label Ohio Foreclosure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ohio Foreclosure. Show all posts

Monday, August 29, 2011

U.S. Bank National Assoc. v. Antoine Duvall on NPR Radio

TO:                        SUPREME COURT JUSTICES of the STATE of OHIO
FROM:                                      ALL OHIO HOMEOWNERS
RE:              U.S. Bank National Assoc. v. Antoine Duvall et al.
                                                     CASE Number 2011-0218       

THE QUESTION:  
To have STANDING, as a plaintiff, in a mortgage foreclosure action, must a party show that it owned the NOTE and the MORTGAGE when the complaint was filed?


PREVIOUS ANSWER:   YES - Plaintiff must own the NOTE and MORTGAGE
WHY for the 4th time - in this case - is the same question before the court ?

Although this question has been repeatedly asked and answered - somehow - you have allowed the big banks to reintroduce the question, and have yet another opportunity to twist the law - in your court (surely you can't be bought......can you?).
Will you honor your oath of office and do the right thing? Will you uphold the LAW?
Will you allow a "Wall Street" destruction to Ohio Land, Title, & Property ownership?

Latest media coverage via NPR Award Winning Journalist & Reporter MHARI SAITO**

OH Supreme Court to Decide ‘What Documents Banks Need to Foreclose?

Attorney Gary Cook and Antoine Duvall
 Photo appears courtesy of Ohio Public Radio Station WCPN 90.3, Mhari Saito, NPR (ideastream)

Brief Case History of U.S. Bank v. Duvall:
Both a Cuyahogo County Civil Court (Cleveland) followed by an Ohio District Appellate court (8th) dismissed the case against Duvall because US Bank (as trustee) didn’t prove it owned the note and mortgage BEFORE it filed the foreclosure. A third attempt was made by asking the Supreme Court to reconsider the Appellate Courts decision. That too was declined. In a final desperate attempt to change existing law, the Predator Drone Foreclosure Mill law firm found some Pro-Se defended cases that had misinterpreted or misapplied Ohio Law. US Bank used these poorly decided cases to request the Supreme Court of Ohio to certify a conflict in Ohio Law.

But the FRAUD would be exposed in this case in seeing the transfer & assignment of mortgage ...or worse, to have the court see..... that the NOTE was never properly or legally transferred to the TRUST. So the easiest and best solution - pay it off and cover up the fraud. Then simply ask the court to dismiss this case .... See this ploy - below - from our previous post:  

Ohio FRAUDclosure blogger brief to Supreme Court of Ohio
In an effort to "Blindfold Lady Justice" and twist the legal arm of the state's highest court US Bank NA "PAID IN FULL" (satisfied) the Duvall's underlying Mortgage balance in an attempt to force Defendant homeowner counsel, along with plaintiff (Predator Drone Law Firm) to both suggest: The case, decision, and underlying question....are now.... MOOT

Supreme Court of Ohio - If you need any help with American Property Law:
Read MASSACHUSETTS  HIGH COURTS decision with the EXACT same parties:

US Bank National Assoc. v. Ibanez, 458 Mass. 637 - Mass: Supreme Judicial Court 2011

...... [I]n September and October of 2008, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo EACH brought separate actions in the Land Court..EACH asserted in its complaint that it had become the holder of the respective mortgage through an assignment made after the foreclosure {action}.....[W]e agree with the judge that the plaintiffs, who were not the original mortgagees, failed to make the required showing that they were the holders of the mortgages at the time of foreclosure. As a result, they did not demonstrate that the foreclosure sales were valid to convey title to the subject properties... and  their requests for a declaration of clear title were properly denied.

The case decision ends with....Judgments affirmed, and Judge J Cordy further adds....
I concur fully in the opinion of the court, and write separately only to underscore that what is surprising about these cases is.... the utter carelessness with which the plaintiff banks documented the titles to their assets. There is no dispute that the mortgagors of the properties in question had defaulted on their obligations, and that the mortgaged properties were subject to foreclosure. Before commencing such an action, however, the holder of an assigned mortgage needs to take care to ensure that his legal paperwork is in order. Foreclosure is a powerful act with significant consequences, and Massachusetts law has always required that it proceed strictly in accord with the statutes that govern it.

The type of sophisticated transactions leading up to the accumulation of the notes and mortgages in question in these cases and their securitization, and, ultimately the sale of mortgaged-backed securities, are not barred nor even burdened by the requirements of Massachusetts law. The plaintiff banks, who brought these cases..  have simply failed to prove that the underlying assignments of the mortgages that they allege (and would have) entitled them to foreclose ever existed in any legally cognizable form.

ORIGINAL POST (April 2011):
OHIO SUPREME COURT - to make landmark decision

Additional Commentary posted at: Home Equity Theft Reporter linked below:
Ohio Supremes To Decide Whether Foreclosing Party Must Own Both Note, Mortgage At The Time Complaint Is Filed

** Mhari Saito is an Award winning journalist and reporter currently based at public radio station WCPN in Cleveland, Ohio.  Mhari's awards include a NATIONAL HEADLINER AWARD for her “Toxic Loan” series. Additional she has received Ohio Associated Press Awards in 2010 and 2011 for investigative reporting and  continuing coverage categories for her series of reports including “How Cleveland’s Most Toxic Loans Ended Up in the Goldman Sachs’ Controversy” and for “Toxic Assets.” She has covered everything from Ohio's foreclosure crisis to the kids' band, "The Wiggles." Mhari started her radio career as a stringer for NPR in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in late 1997. Then in Philadelphia at WHYY, Mhari received the prestigious Edward R. Murrow regional award for a series she produced on urban blight. Her work is heard on the NPR network and through OHIO’s ideastream and WCPN 90.3 a Cleveland Public Radio station.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Ohio FRAUDclosure blogger brief to Supreme Court of Ohio

OHIO FRAUDclosure, an Internet "Blog Site," has submitted an Amicus Curiae (Brief) on behalf of ALL OHIO Homeowners in a landmark case US BANK NA v. DUVALL

This case and decision currently in front of the Supreme Court of Ohio - turn on the Question:

 To have STANDING, as a plaintiff, in a mortgage foreclosure action, must a party show that it owned the NOTE and the MORTGAGE when the complaint was filed?

OHIO FRAUDclosure blog and Ohio's 88 Civil Courts have repeatedly addressed this issue (linked below) and have answered the above question "in the affirmative" (Yes !).  However, US Bank NA, seems intent on spending millions in an attempt to get a second chance to change standing law in Ohio.

In an effort to "Blindfold Lady Justice" and twist the legal arm of the state's highest court US Bank NA "PAID IN FULL" the underlying Mortgage (Duvall) in an attempt to force Defendant homeowner counsel, along with plaintiff (Predator Drone Law Firm) to both suggest:
The case, the decision, and underlying question.....are now.... MOOT!

There are many more shocking developments we've uncovered- still to come !!

We will be updating the blog on this case (HERE) and will share interviews with attorneys and past defendants (in conflict cases) along with opinions from other "legal minds" weighing in on this landmark issue!

Our Amicus Brief (Linked below) was filed with the court on Mon. 8-15-11.  The brief was brilliantly crafted by Mahoning County based Attorney: BRUCE BROYLES.
(Right CLICK on LINK below to Read Amicus Curiae brief)
 Brief of Amicus Curiae filed by Ohiofraudclosure.blogspt.com in support of Appellee

Definition of Amicus Curiae
Latin term meaning "friend of the court".  The name for a brief filed with the court by someone who is not a party to the case, and who has no relevance to any particular side in a case. Instead, they volunteer information regarding a point of law or something else relevant to the case that they feel may help the court in deciding a matter of great public importance.

"... a phrase that literally means "friend of the court" -- someone who is not a party to the litigation, but who believes that the court's decision may affect its interest."  William H. Rehnquist

ORIGINAL POST (April 2011):

OHIO SUPREME COURT - to make landmark decision

Additional Commentary posted at: Home Equity Theft Reporter linked below:
Ohio Supremes To Decide Whether Foreclosing Party Must Own Both Note, Mortgage At The Time Complaint Is Filed

Friday, June 24, 2011

OHIO says enough !! - 9 Indicted from ARGENT MORTGAGE

UPDATE (6) (latest) New charges filed against some (HERE)
Others may be "singing" in an attempt to negotiate settlements !
NEXT court date: Trial scheduled for Monday 1-09-2012


UPDATE (5) discovery delays & legal Jiu Jitsu delay 10-13-11
trial (re-scheduled to 11-14-11) be continued until January 9, 2012
UPDATE (4)  Pre Trial continued until Thursday 10-13-11
UPDATE (3)  Pre Trial continued until Thursday 9-15-11
UPDATE (1)  13 Arraigned in Cleveland Ohio 7/7/2011 - (CLICK HERE)
Bill Mason*
"[This is] the first time in Ohio and...few instances nationwide that a mortgage fraud investigation has led to CRIMINAL CHARGES against [Argent Mortgage] employees {and} of a sub prime lender. The securitization and selling of these fraudulent, sub prime loans to Wall Street typified the rampant greed of the industry that ultimately led to the financial crisis " said Cuyahoga County prosecutor, Bill Mason.

The City of Cleveland, through prosecutor Bill Mason and the Cuyahoga County Mortgage Fraud Task Force, handed down 9 indictments to former employees of the now defunct lender. Three (3) Argent "Account Executives" helped coach independent Mortgage Brokers (Dale Adams, Nick Myles, and James Sims) located in Northeast Ohio with creating mortgage applications that would be approved by 2 Supervisors and 4 Underwriters all working in concert from Argent's Rolling Meadows office located in Chicago.

The following defendants were employed by Argent Mortgage Company:
Denise (O'Brock) Kobus - Argent Account Manager
Michael Scola - Argent Account Manager
Angela Pasternak - Argent Account Manager
Terry Forbes - Argent Supervisor
Gerald Steinkuehler - Argent Supervisor
Dee Anne Shaw - Argent Underwriter
Kirk Porter - Argent Underwriter
David Mongriotis - Argent Underwriter
Erin Foley-Ottaviano - Argent Underwriter
Linda Warner and Gerald Spuzzillo - Ohio Appraisers, were indicted for falsifying appraisals on real estate deals submitted to both Argent and Long Beach Mortgage

ARGENT MORTGAGE came out of nowhere and quickly became Cleveland's #1 lender (2004) while originating over 10,000 loans in just a three year span (2002-2005)
This Orange County California headquartered mortgage company made BILLIONS in profits created from high-risk and sub-prime loans which they peddled to inner city Cleveland homeowners. Now - seven years after ARGENT MORTGAGE became #1 lender in Cleveland - street after street of local neighborhoods are lined with blighted and abandoned homes. Entire communities have been wiped out!

The high-profile mortgage company sponsored Indy Car driver - Danica Patrick.

        

WE WERE WARNED !! Yet...No one did a thing!!!

SHOCKING, STUNNING, and ACCURATE predictions are quotes from a now almost 3 year old (2008) article (linked below):

"We called it early... Nobody listened,"There was blood on the streets of Cuyahoga County. But it wasn't until there was blood on the streets of Wall Street that anyone cared."
(Jim Rokakis - Cuyahogo County Treasure)

'This is going to become an epidemic,' and they sat on their hands. For whatever reason, they didn't act. But if you were looking, the handwriting was on the wall. If you were looking, it was obvious something was wrong."
(Tony Stevenson, a staff attorney with Housing Advocates Inc. in Cleveland)

"Regulators allowed loose lending to keep the economy going. All the regulators knew what was going on."
(Raj Aggarwal, dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Akron)

For years the city of Cleveland had been WARNING the "asleep-at-the-wheel" State and Federal regulators of what was to come.  Home prices become so outrageous in value, that during a 6 year period, median home prices (in Cleveland) rose 56%, according to county real estate records, while the city's population dropped 4% ...during this same period. It didn't make sense!

*The case involves 100 properties in Cuyahoga and Summit counties that were financed with nearly $13 million in Argent loans and sold by Uri Gofman, the owner of Cleveland-based Real Asset Fund, one of his companies. The new investigation grew out of a Cuyahoga County case being prosecuted against Uri Gofman, who was indicted in August 2008, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, for his role in what was then said to be one of the biggest mortgage fraud schemes in U.S. history. It is said to involve 453 homes purchased with $44 Million in FRAUDulent loans and $31million in siphoned profits.



Related Links:

As Decade Dawned signs of Crisis:   9-28-2008 - Roger Mezger

*Former Employees of Sub-Prime Lender Indicted:  6-23-2011 - Mark Gillispie


Sunday, June 19, 2011

Golfing Ohio leaders "out of touch" with main street

Two OHIO leaders spend day golfing & drinking beer with PRESIDENT
 President with OHIO's Governor (John Kasich) & US House Speaker (John Boehner) 
The two OHIO leaders spent hours golfing at the Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility course located in suburban Maryland. After a relaxing day, they retired to the patio of the luxurious clubhouse where they enjoyed beers while watching coverage of the U.S. Open being played at the nearby Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
A Republican consultant and former Boehner aide, Terry Holt, claimed the House speaker was having fun while being “very relaxed and easy-going.”  

Meanwhile in OHIO thousands spend day homeless as FORECLOSURES ravage Kasich and Boehner's communities
A new report by National People’s Action shows that nearly 1 of every 20 housing units in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus have been lost in foreclosure and became bank-owned properties in the last 3 years.
OHIO is ground zero and one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic of foreclosure and joblessness caused by Wall Street. It is a state where unions have been under attack, and where hard-won labor rights that built the middle class have been stripped away from teachers and public sector workers.  Big banks (like Columbus-based JP Morgan Chase) are destroying neighborhoods across the state with record foreclosures. 

More than 280,000 homes are expected to go into foreclosure in Ohio by the end of next year, putting even more families out on the streets and depleting the tax base further. JP Morgan Chase had rejected 354,822 families from the Obama Administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) almost as many as Bank of America and Wells Fargo combined. 
Photos: courtesy of  Washington Times and AP Photographer Charles Dharapa, and The DailyCaller

Thursday, June 2, 2011

John Boehner - US House speaker - sheds no tears for American Homeowners especially in home state of OHIO

Yes, by now, we have all seen, one of the tug-at-your-heart, emotional - crying episodes from
                  US HOUSE speaker - OHIO republican John Boehner
Courtesy of Huffington Post

Boehner claims he is a typical American and one of us, and that he'd spent his whole life "chasing the American Dream." It's hard not to get emotional - when listening to him - tell the story of what he and his working class family have accomplished. One of the families crowning jewel accomplishments - buying and owning a home - in the great state of OHIO.

Only 7 months ago (election night - Nov 2) and just after he learned the GOP had taken majority control of the House of Representatives, Boehner, in an emotionally charged speech - addressed the crowd. He said....
"....Listen, I hold these {American} values dear because I've lived them. I've spent my whole life chasing the American Dream.... I started out mopping floors, waiting tables, and tending bar at my dad's tavern. I put myself through school working every rotten job there was and night shift{s}, [A]nd I poured my heart and soul into running a small business." Boehner continued, his voice trembling. "And when I saw how out-of-touch Washington had become with the core values of this great nation,... I put my name forward and ran for office."

Boehner consistently voted with Wall Street on major policy issues.
In 2008 Boehner voted in favor of giving billions in bailouts to the Banks and Wall Street firms. But, in 2009 and 2010 he strongly opposed any oversight legislation that would have led to some financial reform. In his new job as House Speaker, Boehner is tasked with leading the GOP's Congressional agenda and heading up the corporate fundraising efforts.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, late last year, John Boehner made a public pitch and open challenge to James Dimon, the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of J.P.Morgan Chase, at a Capitol Hill restaurant. The challenge - GIVE US MORE MONEY!!! Mr. Boehner was alleged to have told Mr. Dimon that congressional Republicans had stood up to President Obamas' efforts to curb Wall Street pay and to impose new regulations. Apparently Boehner voiced his disappointment that many of the Wall Street Banks and investment firms continued to donate money to Democrats, while the Republicans were doing all the political "heavy lifting."  J.P. Morgan declined to comment to the Wall Street Journal for the article.


Boehner: you see all these little kids running around….(sniffle- sniffle)…I can’t talk about it
Leslie Stahl: Why? (can’t you talk about the kids without crying?)
Boehner: ...making sure these kids… have a shot at the American Dream….. Like I did.

It took only 6 months...to forget the American Dream ...after becoming Speaker.

"Crying - all the Way to the Bank"
As foreclosures have steadily ravaged his eighth district, Boehner has raked in millions of dollars of campaign cash from his friends working in the financial sector. Boehner has raised a staggering $4.25 MILLION dollars during his public career from the finance, real estate and insurance industries (according to the Center for Responsive Politics) Then, in just the first four months since becoming Speaker of the House, Boehner raised an additional $638,000 from this same sector - for his political action committees (PAC) and the Republican Party (according to Paul Blumenthal of the Sunlight Foundation)

For more on Boehner, please read the excellent (below linked) piece by Zach Carter (Huffington Post)

And a special thanks to a FRAUDclosure fighter -  Lisa E of (Foreclosure Hamlet)

Friday, May 13, 2011

Update - Showdown in OHIO - Update

                JP MORGAN CHASE & CO 
Clergy, Homeowners, Workers travel to Columbus for 
                        - Showdown in Ohio -
When:  Tuesday May 17th - 2011
Where: Columbus, OHIO – Corporate Headquarters
 1111 Polaris Parkway, Columbus, OHIO (Google Map Link)

Time:  10:30AM - until..... JP Morgan CHASE "listens to Americans"
Event:   Shareholder Meeting
Who’s invited: Public Shareholders of  JP Morgan Chase (JPM)
Why OHIO?
OHIO is ground zero and proof positive of the success in which JP Morgan Chase has had with Foreclosure as a Business Model. The cost of JP Morgan Chase foreclosures to the State of Ohio taxpayers is estimated at $5.4 billion.
Ohio is one of the states hardest hit by the epidemic of foreclosure and joblessness caused by Wall Street.  It is a state where unions have been under attack, and where hard-won labor rights that built the middle class have been stripped away from teachers and public sector workers.  Big banks like JP Morgan Chase are destroying neighborhoods across the state with record foreclosures.  More than 280,000 homes are expected to go into foreclosure in Ohio by the end of next year, putting even more families out on the streets and depleting the tax base further. JP Morgan Chase had rejected 354,822 families from the Obama Administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) almost as many as Bank of America and Wells Fargo combined. 

Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative spokeswomen Sybil West:
    "[They've]...had a devastating effect on Ohio and America’s economy, and they need to start being part of the solution. Chase needs to modify mortgages to keep people in their homes and needs to start lending to small businesses to create jobs and rebuild the economy.”

Since the financial industry bailout, Chase reduced small business lending in Ohio 75%, resulting in increased unemployment and a diminished tax base.  Protesters will draw the connection between Wall Street abuses and Ohio’s revenue crisis. This action comes as the Attorneys General and the big banks are negotiating whether the banks will be required to offer principal reductions to homeowners - the single most important tool that would help resolve the foreclosure crisis. The protest in front of JP Morgan Chase shows, homeowners around the country will not accept a settlement agreement that does not include principal reductions or lets the banks off the hook!

A new report by National People’s Action shows that nearly 1 out of every 20 housing units in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus have been lost in foreclosure and have become bank-owned property during the last 3 years.

According to SEIU, JP Morgan made $125 million in savings and checking fees in Ohio in 2010 with $.33 per $1 going to compensation and bonuses. That means JP Morgan Chase took $41 million out of Ohioans’ bank accounts in 2010 and gave it directly to fund big bonuses.

Attendees:  1,000 clergy, homeowners, unions, and members of National People’s Action and Ohio Organizing Collaborative. Speakers include the SEIU President Mary Kay Henry. 

Ohio Governor: Newly elected Ohio Gov. Kasich has long relied upon Wall Street to fund his political career.  Between 1990 and 2000, when Gov. Kasich served in the U.S. House, he raised $320,646 from the securities & investment industry, and 3 of his top 5 corporate patrons were banks! Among them Bank One – a company he used to lobby for -- which gave him a total of $47,500 (now owned by JP Morgan Chase) JP Morgan also contributed $10,000 to Kasich’s inaugural [governor] committee.

Why JP Morgan Chase: Despite being bailed out with public tax dollars after almost destroying the global economy with their recklessness, JP Morgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon are back to making record profits by any means necessary.  In Ohio, JP Morgan Chase is gouging state and local governments with toxic interest rate swaps that siphon tens of millions of public dollars from Ohio to Wall Street, cheat counties out of mortgage recording fees, destroy communities through foreclosures, ship jobs out of Ohio, cut off lending to small businesses, and charge Ohioans millions in fees.  Instead of lending to small business to create jobs and keeping families in their homes, JP Morgan Chase is blaming the middle class for the sins of Wall Street.
As of June 2010, JP Morgan Chase had $19.5 billion worth of foreclosed homes on its books—more than any other bank in the country.  Another $54.5 billion of mortgages that the bank services for other lenders were also in foreclosure.  Despite large incentives from taxpayers, as of January 2011.

Visuals:  10’ puppets, huge banners and signs

Read BOTH of the below linked stories, and then ask yourself..
Can I really sit back ...and continue....to do nothing!
Stories are well written and courtesy of Martin Andelman blog "Mandelman Matters"

INSIDE CHASE and the perfect foreclosure:

"JPMorgan CHASE is in the foreclosure business, not the modification business’."  That, according to Jerad Bausch, who until quite recently was an employee of CHASE’s mortgage servicing division working in the foreclosure department.....Bonuses were based .......on how quickly you were able to foreclosure on someone,” Jerad says. ... It was all about being able to show that foreclosures were being processed as efficiently as possible.”

HOMEOWNER suffers horrific injustice at the hands of JP MORGAN CHASE
As a warning… this story is not for the squeamish.  If you’re pregnant, or have heart disease, or just want to go on pretending that your country is still a place of which you’re proud… it’s better that you click off now… because this one is NOT going to make you laugh.....by M. Andelman 
P.S. Hey bloggers… Facebookers….. please help me get the word out on this… post, re post, tweet, re-tweet.  We can’t save everybody, so let’s save one at a time. I’m hoping Chase sees this and stops the eviction… otherwise this couple could be fighting this from a homeless shelter.  





Thursday, May 5, 2011

U.S. Government to Prosecute mortgage Fraud?


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
VS
Deutsche Bank AG and MortgageIT Inc.

United States Court: Southern District of New York
Case: 2011 CV 2976   Jury Trial Demanded


            
  Explosive News……. or ….........Flash Bang ….........you decide

The name of this blog is OHIO FRAUDclosure, so we want to stay on target topic. However, this appears to be such a major news story and seems directly related to the on-going investigations of FRAUD in foreclosures. That – we simply have to report on it.
I’ll present the information, and then you decide. Is this major and EXPLOSIVE NEWS...or …maybe….just a "Flash Bomb." First, I’m going to try to give it what it needs….a little intrigue and mystery…so you'll have to wait.....for our report.
This is much bigger than the State of OHIO and it is proof positive of our U.S. Government taking action! This is clearly a follow-up from all the information gleaned from the congressional hearings (held last fall) and must somehow be tied-in with the investigations currently being conducted by ALL 50 State Attorney Generals. This is the big one! This is the mortgage investigation and news we’ve all been waiting for. Certainly by now, you’ve read about it, if not having first been texted, tweeted (Twitter) or alerted via the Internet, or another blog. If you Google or Bing (Search) the case file number or named criminal Bank…..it’s a HEADLINE Story. Unfortunately, you will probably get the exact same copied story (UPI reported) and headline everywhere. At least it got some coverage…shortly after being filed in a N. Y. Federal Court on Tuesday morning. But, it "apparently" got lost as being "big news" in New York, since major media and news coverage was focused on the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Darn - What bad timing….you know….for a FRAUD and Foreclosure story of this magnitude.  It got more mainstream coverage on Wednesday – some of it - making the first few pages of major newspapers. The most detailed coverage was through bloggers nontraditional & Internet news outlets (Bloomberg and MSN).  Unfortunately, there are a few folks out there that believe the timing of the lawsuit….well....let’s just say…..was untimely ….and this EXPLOSIVE HEADLINE …well ......may in fact.....simply be.........a headline.
MAJOR Explosion, MAJOR News, MAJOR Headline,.... to be posted here - soon

Thursday, April 28, 2011

OHIO SUPREME COURT - to make landmark decision

OHIO SUPREME COURT
Justices to soon make landmark decision
Affecting ALL Ohio Homeowners in foreclosure  
The Ohio Supreme Court recently agreed to review a request (from US BANK NA) to resolve what "appears" to be conflicting appellate court decisions in OHIO foreclosure case law. At the heart of this so called conflict is an issue that Plaintiff banks, pretend lenders, and phony Trustees have continuously slipped past our "asleep-at-the-wheel" judges. A similar and deep sleep was exhibited by our U.S. Government (SEC, OCC, OTS) and the rating agencies (Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, Fitch), for years while the Banks went wild! Now, the Ohio Supreme Court is going to attempt a judicial "closing of the barn door"…years after the "criminals"…got away.
Here in Ohio, the plaintiff’s Foreclosure Mill Attorneys and Law Firms try to fast track the process and get a quick default judgment by using or submitting phony, fraudulent, or  robo-signed  mortgage assignments (executed by MERS & LPS employees)  The documents, 90% of the time, result in a plaintiff victory. The rare knowledgeable and awake foreclosure judge or an even rarer appearance by legal counsel on behalf of defendant homeowner (only in 8% of cases) requires Plaintiff - to have STANDING - in order to invoke the jurisdiction of the court. Inevitably the question and legal hurdle for the plaintiff, in almost every defended OHIO FRAUDclosure and foreclosure case becomes: 
            To have standing, as a plaintiff, in a mortgage foreclosure action, must a party show  that it owned the NOTE and the MORTGAGE when the complaint was filed?
The decision by the Ohio Supreme Court to Certify A Conflict is very troubling, and was hidden in a April 6th, 2011 15-page Ohio Supreme Court Case Announcement (pg 5 case: US BANK v Duvall) This is a travesty and should not have been allowed to get this far. STANDING through ownership (of NOTE & MORTGAGE) has been repeatedly determined in Ohio case law.
Unfortunately, two (2) bad and even slightly off-topic appellate court cases were used
U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Marcino, 181 Ohio App.3d 328, 2009-Ohio-1178 (7th Dist.),
U.S. Bank, N.A. v. Bayless, Del. App. No. 09 CAE 01 004, 2009-Ohio-6115 (5th Dist.),
to certify the conflict. These poorly decided cases are being incorrectly used as a side-door entrance and distraction to get in front of the great SUPREME COURT of OHIO …and possibly …change or re-determine… existing foreclosure law
So where is all the scrutiny? Where is the publicity? Where are the consumer activists?  What is going on here? Where is the outrage? Why did the Supreme Court allow the Bank’s weak claim for a new chance to change existing OHIO law? The simultaneous ownership of the Note and Mortgage, at the time of filing, has repeatedly been asked, answered, and decided in previous OHIO cases.
YES - Plaintiff must OWN BOTH the NOTE and the MORTGAGE, at the TIME OF FILING - PERIOD
OHIO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES - Please get it right – Don’t sell out to the big banks.  JP Morgan Chase has Ohio Headquarters inconspicuously in your “back yard”.  Hopefully their money can’t buy a decision to create- STANDING – and allow for legal FRAUDclosures or worse… a change to existing law.
NO successor-in-interest, NO back-dating of mortgage assignments, NO endorsement-in- blank, NO successor trustee to empty MBS, NO "Robo-Signed" by LPS or MERS employees (signing as Vice President of the Bank)  NO "created" owner status by allowing back-dating of  documents showing an "effective date" even further back (Mortgage Assignment - "Time Travel") Coined by Lisa Epstein of Foreclosure Hamlet - Link HERE to her post, and HERE (Ocwen time travel)  
All you good Ohio Foreclosure Defense attorneys – now is your chance to step up and shine, Lets have a few Amicus Briefs (send us a copy) You have a right to submit one to the OHIO SUPREME COURT (on behalf of the OHIO homeowner). Lets Go - Legal Aid Offices - Lets hear something from all your fine attorneys and staff. This case needs legal attention - the big banks will throw tons of money and a lot of attorneys at this rare - second bite - on this mortgage apple.
OHIO Supreme Court  Prac.-R. 6.6. Brief of Amicus  Curiae: 
(A) An amicus curiae may file a brief urging affirmance or reversal, and leave to file an amicus brief is not required. The brief shall conform to the requirements of this rule, except that an amicus filing a brief in support of an appellant need not include the appendix required by S.Ct. Prac. R. 6.2(B)(5).
(B) The cover of an amicus brief shall identify the party on whose behalf the brief is being submitted or indicate that the brief does not expressly support the position of any parties to the appeal. If the amicus brief is in support of an appellant, the brief shall be filed within the time for filing allowed to the appellant to file a merit brief, and the amicus curiae may file a reply brief within the time allowed to the appellant to file a reply brief. If the amicus brief is in support of an appellee or does not expressly support the position of any party, the brief shall be filed within the time for filing allowed to the appellee to file a merit brief. The Clerk shall refuse to file an amicus brief that is not submitted timely.
Hundreds of thousands of lives and foreclosure cases will turn on this decision.
Stand up-be heard & Help the OHIO Supreme Court - Get it Right

UPDATE: 9/22/11
Ohio Supreme Court's Shocking Decision in Landmark Case