Law Firm’s Robo-Signers Defrauded Thousands, Class Action Charges

Suit says Virginia law firm illegally foreclosed on “potentially thousands” of Maryland homes

A federal class action claims that thousands of Maryland homeowners lost their homes because of the illegal robo-signing operation of the Shapiro & Burson law firm, with offices in Baltimore, Md., and Fairfax, Va., and six of its attorneys.  The suit also charges the firm charged excessive fees.

The suit notes that the State’s Attorney in Prince George’s County, Md., has opened a criminal inquiry into the firm’s practices and has received statements from a former employee who said he was told to sign thousands of affidavits without seeing any evidence that the statements in the affidavits were true.

The plaintiffs, Charles Smalley and Pamela Ball, lost their homes in foreclosure actions involving the Shapiro & Burson firm, even though the firm allegedly did not have possession of the documents necessary to justify the actions.

Ms. Ball said that she lost her home in Bowie, Md., which she had purchased in November 2006 with an adjustable rate mortgage for $355,700. She lost her home in a foreclosure action little more than a year later, even though none of the defendants had possession of the note, although they swore in affidavits that they did, the suit alleges.

“Defendants sold Ms. Ball’s home without ever seeing the promissory note,” the suit alleges.

Check out the rest here…

Full complaint below…

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4closureFraud.org

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Smalley v Shapiro & Burson LLP et al


Full Affidavit of Jose Portillo of Shapiro & Burson