Once again, the misinformation about bankruptcy permeates the world wide inter-webs like a smelly fart on a school bus in the summery humid weather like we’re having here today in Boston. But since analyzing this “information” is almost like shooting fish in a barrel, I’m able to take some time and again grade this really bad article entitled: “How Do I Qualify for Bankruptcy?”
Posts Tagged ‘US Trustee’
When Bankruptcy Attorneys do a Wicked Bad Job
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
I’ve been doing a lot of research lately on attorney malpractice… specifically, bankruptcy attorney malpractice. More and more attorneys are popping into bankruptcy practice because they think it’s the new growth area. And sadly, some are doing a god-awful job at it – and in some cases, they are hurting debtors. So in my research, I came across this case that came down last Friday out of the Northern District of California.
What caught my eye about it was the opening sentence: “[t]he schedules filed in this Chapter 7 case by [debtors’] attorney …contained horrific omissions, including a furniture store filled with furniture, a $13,000.00 bank account, a 2008 Mercedes automobile, and real property.” [emphasis added]. As I read the decision, I learned that the term “horrific” was justified, and then I wondered to myself…’how many other lawyers are out there doing the exact same thing as this guy?’
Bankruptcy Court Shuts Down Predator
Sunday, March 15th, 2009
When people are in foreclosure, they can fall victim to a host of scammers and scams. Unfortunately, by the time many of these folks are scammed, they are worse-off than they were before they stumbled into foreclosure. So when I come across a scammer who preys on people who need real help, you’ll read about here. Here’s the story behind David Coleman and his bogus outfit: Mortgage Finders of New England.
In April 2008, a Virginia couple contacted Coleman’s firm about an upcoming foreclosure on investment property in Newbury, MA. Coleman told the couple he could help them by filing a bankruptcy petition on their behalf. He also told the couple that he was experienced in filing bankruptcy cases, although at no time did he mention that he wasn’t a lawyer and that by law, he could not give legal advice. Only after the case was filed did the couple learn for the first time that Coleman wasn’t a lawyer at all.
Coleman waited for the debtor (the wife only) in the lobby of the Tip O’Neill building where he collected a $1,000 cash “fee” and had her sign a skeletal bankruptcy petition he prepared. But he did not properly complete the portion of the petition acknowledging that he was a petition preparer. In fact, in an effort to presumably fly below the radar and to keep his scam going, he left it blank. The case was dismissed on May 5, 2008 because no other documents were filed.
On May 21, 2008, a New Bedford woman was contacted by Coleman after he obtained information about a looming foreclosure from a local paper. Coleman told the woman that he could stop the foreclosure and it would cost $1,000 cash to retain his services. The next day, he met the woman in the lobby of the Tip O’Neill building where he collected his $1,000 cash fee, filed a chapter 13 petition, but did nothing more. When the clerk asked Coleman if he was representing the woman, he said he was only assisting her. It was at that time that the woman learned that Coleman wasn’t a lawyer. The woman’s friend demanded that he return the money, but Coleman refused.
On May 6, 2008, a Roxbury man filed a chapter 13 case after being contacted by Coleman, who learned of a foreclosure in the local paper. Again, he met the man for the first time in the lobby of the Tip O’Neill building in Boston and collected the $1,000 case. Again, the filing was deficient. And in this case was dismissed because required documents were not filed. Again, the forms were not completed correctly. Again, the people were not properly advised.
There are many more cases. There are many more violations. There are many more victims.
Who is he?
David Coleman is a predator. He operated Mortgage Finders of New England at 70 Worcester Street in Methuen. He’s not a lawyer. He has no formal education. He has no training with regard to the bankruptcy process or how to properly and fully prepare bankruptcy documents. Yet despite this, he contacts distressed homeowners, convinces them that he can help them, takes their money (and I’m willing to bet, money they cannot afford to lose), files a bare bones petition and does nothing more. Since April 2008, when he started this operation, he has collected money and prepared bankruptcy documents for over thirty people.
He advertises in the Verizon Yellow Pages and by distributing cards and flyers. He makes calls to people, using “411″ to get a homeowner’s name after getting personal information from a foreclosure notice or other public record. He tells his victims to meet him in at the Bankruptcy Court in Worcester or Boston. He downloads forms on line, completes them in his own handwriting, and files them. He doesn’t tell his victims that he is not an attorney and that he may not give legal advice. He does not disclose to the court that he is a petition preparer. He does not even give copies of the documents he files to his victims. And then he does nothing more – ultimately letting their cases fail because other necessary documents are never filed.
He holds himself out as a bankruptcy expert. Folks, David Coleman is no expert.
And it gets worse.
In July 2008, US Bankruptcy Judge Hillman issued an injunction requiring that Coleman comply with the Code and properly disclose on cases that he is a petition preparer as defined by Section 110 and his fees. Even with this order, Coleman continued this unlawful and illegal scam. He continued to file documents without disclosing who he was and what he was doing. He continued to rip people off. He continued to hurt people.
In an order dated February 18, 2009, the US Bankruptcy Court issued an order finding that Coleman had violated Section 110(b)(1) of the Code. He was fined a total of $34,500 for violation of the code, and among other things was ordered to disgorge (return) the fees he unlawfully received.
It was also found that he was engaging in the illegal practice of law, and therefore, he has been barred as “(1) acting as a bankruptcy petitioner; (2) soliciting, assisting, advising, providing legal guidance, advice, assistant or consultation of any king to any person in connection with the filing or prosecution of any bankruptcy case or any document in any bankruptcy case, whether for a fee or for free” in Massachusetts. The order includes not only Coleman but also includes “any person or entity acting in concert with him.”
When it comes to helping people keep their homes out of foreclosure, Coleman serves no legitimate purpose. He preys on people who are probably feeling as if they are at the lowest point in their lives. What people facing foreclosure need is sound counsel given by people who are trained in and who study the law and know what they are doing. That’s not Coleman, and it never was. He’s only taking money and selling false hope. He’s the lowest of the low.
If you’re facing foreclosure, talk to an attorney. Don’t be scammed by Coleman, or anyone else.
Read the Court decision here: US v. Coleman, 08-04132 (2/18/2009).
US Trustee and Capital One Reach Settlement
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
From the US Trustee Program press office:
The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP or Program) announced today that it has entered into a settlement agreement with Capital One Bank (USA) N.A. (Capital One) that, if approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, will resolve USTP allegations that Capital One sought to collect debts that had been discharged in prior bankruptcy cases.
Under the settlement, an independent auditor will examine approximately 650,000 Capital One customer accounts to ensure that any monies improperly received by Capital One have been or are immediately returned to debtors or their bankruptcy estates. The auditor will also approve reimbursement to debtors and trustees for actual out-of-pocket costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees incurred to contest erroneous claims. Capital One filed approximately 5,600 proofs of claim seeking payment of debts that had been discharged in prior bankruptcy cases.
Though the agreement is binding on Capital One and offices of the United States Trustee across the country, it does not bind or prejudice the rights and claims of third parties.
For more information, go here.
Where Did It All Go?
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
Keeping good financial records is always a good idea and if you’re filing bankruptcy, having good records on hand will help your case go smoothly. As married debtors in the Western District of Pennsylvania recently learned, not having them can lead to a denial of the Chapter 7 discharge.
The debtor, who was described as a “vintage automobile enthusiast who restored such vehicles and sold them to third parties,” was also the sole shareholder and president of a start-up company. The company borrowed (and he and his wife personally guaranteed) about $1.4 million. To obtain the loans, the debtor and his wife prepared financial statements.
According to the financial statements prepared in 2003 (which were signed with the acknowledgment that false statements could lead to criminal prosecution), the debtors stated that they had personal assets that totaled $2,185,000 and that their liabilities totaled only $328,000. The assets include a homestead worth $550,000, household goods and furnishings that were worth $75,000 and automobiles and automobile parts that totaled $750,000. The business failed and closed its doors before it ever started operating.
By the time the debtors filed bankruptcy, they had already lost their home in foreclosure. But according to their schedules, their assets had diminished to about $32,000 while their liabilities totaled about $1.5 million. Their household goods, which were worth $75,000 were now worth only $3,026. The automobiles, which were declared on the financial statements as being worth $300,000, were now worth only $3,140. The auto parts, which were previously disclosed as being worth $450,000 were now worth only $3,200. The schedules and statements also showed other discrepancies and raised other questions, but they are too numerous to list here. Needless to say, the US Trustee and some creditors had one very important question they wanted answered.
US Trustee Sues Countrywide
Monday, March 3rd, 2008
The United States Trustee has filed suit in the US Bankruptcy Court in Atlanta seeking sanctions against Countrywide Home Loans. From the New York Times:
“Countrywide’s failure to ensure the accuracy of its pleadings and accounts in this case is not an isolated incident,” Donald F. Walton, the trustee for the Atlanta region, wrote in a brief. “In recent years, Countrywide and its representatives have been sanctioned for filing inaccurate pleadings and other similar abuses within the bankruptcy system.”
In addition to a litany of other abuses, it is alleged that Countrywide accepted payments on a mortgage that had already been paid in full (the mortgage company had issued a “satisfaction of mortgage” acknowledgment).
I recall Countrywide commercials where some delightful spokesperson would proclaim: “Countrywide says YES!.” According to a statement from Countrywide, they are not commenting on the pending litigation.
News of the suit is also reported in The Sydney Morning Herald.
You may have missed…
Is Countrywide Fabricating Evidence?
The US Trustee v. Countrywide
Injunction Issued against Massachusetts Petition Preparer
Thursday, December 15th, 2005
This morning, while I was waiting for my case to be called, the US Bankruptcy Court in Boston issued a preliminary injunction against Bryon Martinez d/b/a Homestead Financial Corporation of Lynn, Massachusetts. The case is an Adversary Proceeding – a lawsuit filed in the bankruptcy court (Morse v. Martinez, Docket no. 05-1471) . The injunction prohibits him and his company from “preparing any bankruptcy documents for any person in any United States Bankruptcy Court in the District of Massachusetts …and from soliciting payment or receiving payment for providing any bankruptcy services or preparing any bankruptcy documents for any person in any [Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court].” The preliminary injunction is in effect until a full trial takes place.
According to the Complaint filed by the US Trustee, Martinez is a bankruptcy petition preparer (although not an attorney) who found his “clients” by combing through public records searching for folks who were facing foreclosure. He filed bankruptcy petitions on behalf of bankruptcy debtors, but did not disclose his status as a bankruptcy petition preparer (which is required by the US Bankruptcy Code). He would then tell his clients he would attempt to obtain refinancing of their homes, once the bankruptcy petition was filed.
