Monthly Archives: October 2010

TAMPA- Suspect uncovered as driver that hit Kayoko Ishizuka, a recent biochemistry graduate.

Ishizuka was killed in a hit-and-run accident heading home from the University of South Florida’s department of molecular medicine. The crash happened on Saturday, September 25 at Bruce B. Downs and University Drive.

Shawn Lee Burton, 29, was arrested and has been charged with leaving the scene of the accident with death as a result. Burton, did not make any statements regarding the incident when he was arrested Tuesday night. He is currently being held without bond

According to ABA Journal and the St. Pete Times lawyers are finding it much easier now-a-days to grab dirt and evidence for invesitgations in cases.

Not too long ago lawyers spent time, money and effort to glean juicy morsels for their cases. But with the Internet and growing trend in social media sites, obtaining access to such information has become a whole lot easier.

Just Open browser. Click. Gasp. Print.

The obessions and trend in posting everything we do on social media has brought a wave of fortune for lawyers. Attorneys involved in divorce, family, and criminal law cases especially find social media a resource not to be overlooked.

Claims of insufficient or even inaccurate documentation filed with foreclosure courts have hit lenders hard. But it’s also taking a toll on real estate practitioners who turned to bank-owned home sales as a strong source of revenue in tough economic times. Now, large portions of their listings have been frozen.

Dealing in real estate-owned sales, or REOs, is different from traditional home sales as agents are typically responsible for rehabilitation and regular upkeep of foreclosed homes, adding financial liabilities that means a payday and reimbursement could take months.

Survival, however, depends on diversification, and a little optimism that the holds on foreclosure listings by the banks won’t last long, and inventory can move again.

Read more: Foreclosure freeze creates waiting game for Realtors – Tampa Bay Business Journal

The Miami Herald posted an article regarding continued investigation in foreclosure by 49 states. Attorney General Bill McCollum says Florida will have a lead role in search.

In those 49 states, each attorney general will jointly investigate allegations that mortgage companies mishandled documents and broke laws in foreclosing on hundreds of thousands of homeowners.

Also involved in investigation will be the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Alabama is said to be only state not involved.

Bank of America is halting foreclosure sales in all 50 states due to investigations in flawed processing, the company announced Friday.

As the nation’s largest bank it recently announced freezing foreclosures in 23 states wherein foreclosures must be approved by the courts.

The investigation review is said to last a few weeks and will continue the process of foreclosures on delinquent borrowers but will not proceed to judgement or a foreclosure sale.

This news as well as JPMorgan Chase announced its halt on foreclosure proceedings due to reveiling evidence that their employees approved foreclosures without personally reviewing loan files.