Miscellaneous

• Do You Know Who "Owns" Your Mortgage

  Bruce Bierhans | February 13, 2009 2:17 PM | 4 CommentsEastern Massachusetts, MA

  I was in court the other day in Boston for oral argument in one of our predatory lending cases. I joked with the defense lawyer and asked if he knew who his client was today. When the case started,...

• The Bank "We Want to Help You" Scam Continues

  Bruce Bierhans | January 31, 2009 3:33 PM | 2 CommentsEastern Massachusetts, MA

  A follow up to my recent comments regarding the banks repeated representations that they want to help homwowners modify their mortgages. Last Sunday in a local newspaper, , there was a letter...

• Lawyers Can Say "No"

  Bruce Bierhans | July 19, 2008 11:07 AM | 2 CommentsCape Cod, MA

  In my home town of Wellfleet, there is an ongoing controversy regarding the construction of what is now knows as the "Blasch" house. The home, referred to as a "McMansion", will be situated in one...

• Protecting Consumers from Binding Arbitration Clauses

  Ken Margolin | July 26, 2007 6:20 PM | 2 CommentsBoston, MA

  Big corporations love binding arbitration clauses. They are hidden in many contracts, requiring the individual to give up his or her right to a jury trial in the case of a dispute with the company. Some clauses attempt to block class actions. When large corporations are safe from class actions, they can cheat large numbers of people in small increments, knowing that paying off the few...

• Are Your Financial Advisers' Investment Recommendations "Suitable"?

  Bruce Bierhans | November 02, 2009 10:19 AM | 1 CommentEastern Massachusetts, MA

  Recently, I concluded a case in which I represented a financial adviser for one of the largest brokerage firms in the country against the firm itself. The firm was attempting to enforce a Non...

• Where to turn for mortgage help - and how to avoid being scammed

  Olivier Kozlowski | March 25, 2009 9:51 AM | 1 CommentEastern Massachusetts, MA

  You're trying to figure out how to make next month's mortgage payment. You heard something on the news about government help, but you don't know what's been passed and if you qualify. Meanwhile, you...

• Dear President Obama/Part II/ What Mortgage Program?

  Bruce Bierhans | March 14, 2009 10:48 AM | 1 CommentCape Cod, MA

  Dear President Obama: I know you didn't read my last letter. But...someone in your office must have. You seem to have covered all my salient points. Reasonable debt/equity ratios, market interest...

• Will you qualify for mortgage help?

  Olivier Kozlowski | February 23, 2009 10:20 AM | 1 CommentEastern Massachusetts, MA

  So, the President has announced his mortgage rescue plan - sort of. More details are expected to be released in early March. Meanwhile, you can check out the fact sheet here. The big question on...

• Loan Modification: Does Your bank Really Want to help You??

  Bruce Bierhans | January 20, 2009 1:14 PM | 1 CommentEastern Massachusetts, MA

  We are told your bank really wants to help you to avoid foreclosure. JP MorganChase recently announced a plan to modify it's own mortgage loans, as well as $1 trillion (yes, that's TRILLION) in...

• Predatory Lending/The Worst "Personal" Injury

  Bruce Bierhans | April 06, 2008 3:19 PM | 1 CommentCape Cod, MA

  What's worse than losing your home? Not much. Unfortunately, we are seeing many people in our office confronting this nightmare scenario. You've all seen the statistics. Foreclosures at record...