Posted on 06/17/2011 4:24:22 PM PDT by Chunga85
The Florida Bar is asking for disciplinary action against South Florida attorney David J. Stern for ignoring a Fifth District Court of Appeal’s order in a foreclosure case where his firm represented SunTrust Bank.
A complaint filed with the Florida Supreme Court Friday charges Stern, whose Plantation-based company was once the largest foreclosure firm in the state, with violating rules of professional conduct and disobeying a court obligation.
Read complaint here
Stern’s attorney, Jeff Tew, said Stern was fired by SunTrust in mid Dec. 2010, before the Feb. 16 order was issued. Also, with 10,000 pieces of mail coming into the floundering law firm every day, Tew said it’s possible the notice went unseen.
Most of Stern’s employees were laid off following the loss of foreclosure business from federal mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. They cut ties with Stern when questionable business practices were revealed in a state investigation. Stern closed his foreclosure business March 31.
“David is not guilty of any violation of the Bar rules and we will vigorously defend this complaint,” Tew said.
Florida Bar sanctions range from public admonishment to disbarment.
Foreclosure defense attorneys had lukewarm responses to Friday’s complaint, saying it was a trivial concern considering the other issues Stern faces. Former Stern employees allege in sworn statements that foreclosure documents were regularly forged, back dated, and illegally notarized at the firm.
“In the scope of things that he is accused of, this is such a minor matter,” said defense attorney Tom Ice, of Royal Palm Beach-based Ice Legal. “Given everything that’s come out, the fact that this ends up as a complaint is kind of insulting.”
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.palmbeachpost.com ...
The courts are out of order.
The legislature is out of order.
The Attorney General is out of order.
Too Little. Too late.
Stern should be criminally prosecuted for Fraudulent Representation. Instead he will likely run for Attorney General with the full support of the Florida Bar.
Fail. Epic fail.
If he ignored a court order, a contempt action would seem more appropriate.
This will result in a $999.00 fine and nothing more.. You are correct.
I say make the ‘dead beats’ pay the fine! After all its their fualt isn’t it?
Maybe I was being harsh...a sanction will do the trick. If I were to forge thousands of checks I'm sure I could negotiate with all 50 state AG's. Didn't some kid just get fined 500 bucks for selling lemonade without a license...lol.
No sanctions for the little girl.
Filing a lien against property on the same day as your foreclosure is being heard should raise a few red flags for a Court prompting at least a check of the dates and paperwork trail.....I’m not saying it exactly happened that way but employees alleging fraud should have all the cases affected, reviewed. But alas you can’t sue Courts. Petitioning for redress is iffy since citizens don’t have standing any more except to pay taxes.
Florida seems to be the headquarters for every scam imaginable foisted on the rest of the county, miracle pills being one of the more prevelant.
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