Florida Rep. Grayson requests end to foreclosure proceedings involving three fraudulent firms

Florida Rep.  Alan Grayson has requested that the Florida Supreme Court stop all foreclosures involving three firms under investigation for mortgage fraud. In a letter to Chief Justice Charles Canady, dated Sept. 20, 2010, Rep. Grayson highlights the issue of illegal foreclosures. In the letter, Congressman Grayson wrote, “Taking someone’s home should not be done lightly. And it should certainly be done in accordance with the law.” Three "foreclosure mills," the Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson, Shapiro & Freeman, and the Law Offices of David J. Stern—constitute an average of 80 percent of all foreclosure proceedings in Florida. All three are under investigation by the Attorney General of Florida. “I respectfully request that you abate all foreclosures involving these firms until the Attorney General … has finished his investigation of those firms,” Rep. Grayson has requested of Chief Justice Canady. The Congressman’s letter highlights a foreclosure case in Jacksonville, Fla. which a judge dismissed with prejudice. In the ruling, the judge excoriated Chase, Washington Mutual, and Shapiro & Fishman for document fraud on the court. In the case, Chase attempted to foreclose on a home, when it did not actually hold the mortgage note. A recent story in The New York Times exposes the foreclosure mills in Florida, and the high-speed foreclosure process underway in some parts of the state. Several news reports discuss rampant and widespread practices of document fraud and forgery. Members of the Congressman’s staff spoke with multiple foreclosure specialists and attorneys in Florida who confirm the reports. “If the reports I am hearing are true, the illegal foreclosures taking place represent the largest seizure of private property ever attempted by banks and government entities. This is lawlessness,” said Rep. Grayson. For more information, visit http://grayson.house.gov.