I’m reminded of an old Greek aphorism: “Though the boys throw rocks in jest the frogs still die in earnest.”

Tragic for these young, ignorant low level players in these frauds. Tragic. But their actions should be weighed not on their ignorance but on the impact their actions had on others. Fraudulently dispossessing someone of their home, and ALL the stability that represents, has a negative impact that can hardly be over stated.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202476326359&Lenders_Servicers_Scramble_to_Shift_Foreclosure_Cases_to_New_Firms

Quoting from article,

“An attorney for another prominent South Florida law firm who did not want to be identified also expressed an unwillingness to participate. “One, it’s always a mess taking over someone else’s case,” he said. “Two, you have the big issue of who owns the mortgages. It’s a big mess. “‘

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And I can’t wait to hear how this Fannie and Freddie deal works out for Ed Pozzuoli. Per article:

“But one well-respected law firm, Fort-Lauderdale-based Tripp Scott, was one of the nine that signed up with Fannie and Freddie. The firm, which already had been doing “high-end” banking work, was approached by the mortgage companies. Firm managing partner Ed Pozzuoli said he wasn’t told how many cases he is getting, but his firm has been promised it will get primarily the complex, contested cases that pay higher fees. He said he’s confident he can make the economics work without hiring low-paid associates.”We don’t pay our associates $60,000,” he said. “Any case has its risks. But we think it’s a good opportunity, and we will not diminish the quality of our work at all.”

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(Ummm….note to Mr. Pozzuoli: By “complex case,” Fannie and Freddie mean, “we don’t know who the hell owns this sucker“ and by “contested case, “ Fannie and Freddie mean, “the homeowner knows we don‘t know who the hell owns this sucker.“) So good luck with your firm’s new caseload, Ed!

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The article goes on to say that,

 “He {Mr. Pozzuoli} said he’s confident he can make the economics work without hiring low-paid associates.”

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I don’t know, Ed. A lot of your more highly-paid associates might have a problem with that whole “committing perjury/fraud before the court” thing. You might want to go scoop up some of those wet-behind-the-ear $60,000 a year associates who aren’t smart enough to figure out that you’re asking themselves to perjure themselves.

(Note to all of you recently-unemployed David J. Stern associate attorneys and all of you over-worked and low-paid McCalla Raymer associate attorneys–Ed Pozzuoli is paying more for the same work!) Let the hiring frenzy begin!

“If you pick up a starving dog and make him properous, he will not bite you.”

From what I read about “The Law Offices of David Stern” and “Shapiro & Fishman” etc…. it would be a safe assumption to say many of these “Novice Attorneys, Paralegal’s, Legal Assistant’s, Chamber Maids, Sandwhich Makers etc… were the starving dogs.

Now that they have stopped feeding them, it should be interesting to see how this all unfolds.

Sounds like Susan wants a big house, like the mill lawyers she was overseeing. Hopefully, as we learn more about her and her work at Fannie, we’ll find info to land her in an even bigger house than she’s ever dreamed of. It’d be the lap of luxury; all meals are provided (though apparently the food isn’t very good), they even give you clothes (limited selection; same style and color), and her new house-mates can teach her a more honest occupation when she gets to leave (or maybe the FL Bar will readmit her after a multi-year stint, like it did another high-volume FL HOA lawyer).