Another Rally in front of Leslie Parks house, 12/18 @ 4:30pm in Minneapolis

[annm4peace]

Leslie Parks remains in her home…and she plans to stay!
Fighters against foreclosure to gather at home of Leslie Parks

On Friday, Dec. 18, 4:30 pm, the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout and the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign will hold a rally for Leslie Parks, in front of her home at 3947 Park Ave in South Minneapolis. This will be the first public action since the Dec. 8, when IndyMac/One West Bank temporarily locked Leslie out of her home.

Leslie Parks is one of those at the forefront of the battle against unjust foreclosures and evictions. Ms. Parks has inspired thousands across the country with her fight to keep her home in the family.

Since mid-November, there has been a national call-in campaign to IndyMac/One West bank, with callers demanding that they come to the table and accept a deal that Leslie can afford - and we were successful in just that. Around Thanksgiving, IndyMac/One West began the process of actually rescinding the foreclosure and sheriff’s sale. This amazing development was an inspiration to many.

Leslie’s house has been a stand-out on the block for months - it is emblazoned with banners, posters and signs to inspire everyone to resist the foreclosures and evictions that are devastating our communities. At previous rallies at the Parks’ house, there have been countless honks of support from passing cars.

“Leslie Parks is fighter all the way. So many people are being jerked around by these big banks. Leslie shows that if we get out there, stand up and speak out we have a hope for change,” said Deb Konechne, of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout. Lynette Malles, of the Poor People’s Economic Human Campaign, encouraged people to Friday’s rally: “Come hear Leslie’s encouraging words as inspiration to us all in the struggles ahead in 2010.”

[CubFan7125]

1. What About The Malpractice Case?

Your ignoring the issue leads me to think they may not have had a lawyer at their refinancing. Please indulge me while I tell a little story. A buddy's 98 year old dad who was was suffering from dementia and had been in the nursing home for several years. When the kids told him they were selling the family house one of his first questions was what lawyer did they hire to represent them. This man was a bricklayer by trade so it's not like he was a professional man who dealt with lawyers a lot.

I lose a lot of sympathy for people who don't have proper representation. They try to save a few hundred bucks and this is what happens to them. The banks are sleazy and abused a lot of people but these people did sign a legal contract and are not living up to the terms of that contract. I really wish the best for Ms. Parks but only she is responsible for her actions.

[annm4peace]

2. I did respond to you on the previous posting, please read it

MN doesn't use lawyers at closings like some states do. In, fact many states don't. So many people don't even know about having a lawyer for a mortgage and probably think that only really rich people do that.

In the case of your buddy dad's story, that would be a case people might get a lawyer because of inheritance.

and you are really putting your head in the sand if you think that the banks don't need to be held responsible.
Here is what is on the FBI website:

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2008 Mortgage Fraud Report, released today, mortgage fraud Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) referred to law enforcement increased 36 percent to 63,713 during fiscal year (FY) 2008, compared to 46,717 reports in FY 2007. While the total dollar loss attributed to mortgage fraud is unknown, financial institutions reported losses of at least $1.4 billion, an increase of 83.4 percent from FY 2007.

“Mortgage fraud hurts borrowers, financial institutions, and legitimate homeowners,” said Assistant Director Kevin Perkins, FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI, in conjunction with our law enforcement, regulatory, and industry partners, continues to diligently pursue perpetrators of mortgage fraud schemes.”

Other key findings presented in the report include:

* Sixty-three percent (1,035) of all pending FBI mortgage fraud investigations during FY 2008 involved dollar losses totaling more than $1 million.
* More than 3.1 million foreclosure filings were reported on approximately 2.3 million properties nationally during FY 2008, up 81 percent from FY 2007 and 225 percent from FY 2006.
* As of FY 2008, the western region of the United States had the most pending FBI mortgage fraud-related investigations.
* The top 10 mortgage fraud states for 2008 were California, Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, Maryland, Florida, Missouri, and New York.
* Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia were newly identified as having significant mortgage fraud problems.
* Criminals continued using old schemes, including property flipping, builder-bailouts, short sales, and foreclosure rescues. Additionally, in response to tighter lending practices, they facilitated new schemes, such as reverse mortgage fraud, credit enhancements, condo conversion, loan modifications, and pump and pay.

The entire report is available at www.fbi.gov.

[CubFan7125]

3. I Hate To Sound Like A Broken Record

But an attorney would have told them that. You sign a contract, you have to live up to the terms of that contract. My head is not in the sand. All I am saying is that a lot of this wouldn't happen if people properly protected themselves. Unfortunately, the Parks did not protect themselves and they are now paying the price.

[dflprincess]

4. And if your realtor and your lender all tell you you don't need a lawyer

you're apt to believe them. I've talked to friends (most of whom have been in their homes several years - before this bubble burst) and none of them used a lawyer at closing - and none of them are stupid people.

I'm not stupid either and, as I've been toying with the idea of finally buying something, it never crossed my mind to hire a lawyer if I do decide to do that.

People have a tendency to trust "experts". The realator and lender would be the experts here and they have preyed on that trust.

[annm4peace]

5. 2 million people have been foreclosed on

doesn't that mean something?

[CubFan7125]

6. Yes It Does

It means 2 million people did not live up to the terms of a contract they signed. There are many reasons why this happened. Those include death, illness, the loss of a job and unfortunately stupidity. The banks often act in a reprehensible manner and prey on people but at the end of the day no one held a gun to anyones head and forced them sign these contracts. Once you sign your name to that contract you are responsible for the terms. If you don't understand every word in that contract it is your responsibility to find someone to explain it to you. A high school student could see that the realtor and lender have a conflict of interest so you should bring your own person to explain it to you. Who is that person, that is your lawyer. Personal responsibility goes a long way. Just because the banks are sleazy doesn't mean the home owner isn't always at fault.