NY Times: Homes at Risk, and No Help From Lawyers

[marmar]

Homes at Risk, and No Help From Lawyers
By DAVID STREITFELD

Published: December 20, 2010


In California, where foreclosures are more abundant than in any other state, homeowners trying to win a loan modification have always had a tough time.

Now they face yet another obstacle: hiring a lawyer.

Sharon Bell, a retiree who lives in Laguna Niguel, southeast of Los Angeles, needs a modification to keep her home. She says she is scared of her bank and its plentiful resources, so much so that she cannot even open its certified letters inquiring where her mortgage payments may be. Yet the half-dozen lawyers she has called have refused to represent her.

“They said they couldn’t help,” said Ms. Bell, 63. “But I’ve got to find help, because I’m dying every day.”

Lawyers throughout California say they have no choice but to reject clients like Ms. Bell because of a new state law that sharply restricts how they can be paid. Under the measure, passed overwhelmingly by the State Legislature and backed by the state bar association, lawyers who work on loan modifications cannot receive any money until the work is complete. The bar association says that under the law, clients cannot put retainers in trust accounts. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/21/business/21foreclosure.html?_r=1&hp

[WolverineDG]

1. Can't say that I blame them

I'm still waiting to be paid for 3 cases I worked my butt off on & finished back in October. I have friends who do criminal defense work at the federal level & it often takes up to 6 months (!!!!) for them to get paid, after they've already spent 6 months to a year working the case.

dg

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. As Anatole France said....

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread. (Le Lys Rouge)

Anatole France

[dkf]

3. Well I guess this protects people from greedy lawyers...

Oh the irony.

[WingDinger]

4. This is the real purpose of tort reform.