Emily LaGrassa
Melissa Sherman
(617) 727-2543

MARTHA COAKLEY

ATTORNEY GENERAL

              "We are in the midst of a foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts—a crisis that is further compounded by many homeowners' inability to retain qualified legal counsel to represent them in foreclosure proceedings and protect their best interests," said Attorney General Martha Coakley.  "I am thrilled that so many members of the private bar, from a broad range of legal backgrounds, have volunteered their time and services to assist these homeowners in what is a very stressful and confusing time." 

              Earlier this month, Attorney General Coakley announced the formation of a pro bono attorneys group as part of a multi-faceted plan to address the current foreclosure crisis in Massachusetts.  Under the leadership of Carol Kenner, the former Chief Judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the First Circuit Court of Appeals, who is currently serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Attorney General's Public Protection and Advocacy Bureau, the Attorney General’s Office organized last week's two-day training for local attorneys who have volunteered to assist those facing foreclosure and in need of legal services or representation.  The Attorney General's Office worked with a number of organizations to organize this initiative, including the Boston Bar Foundation, which funded the training, the National Consumer Law Center, which spearheaded the training; the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association; the Boston Bar Association; the Legal Advocacy and Resource Center; the Massachusetts Bar Association; the Bar Associations of Worcester, Hampshire, Hamden, and Berkshire Counties; and several local minority bar associations. 

              Following the training, the BBA will establish a referral hotline for individuals and families in need of such services to connect with volunteer attorneys.  The referral hotline should be in place by within the next several weeks. 

              The first day of the training session, held at the Attorney General's Office in Boston, provided an overview of the Massachusetts foreclosure law and processes, and discussed negotiation of pre-foreclosure workout agreements.  Trainers at the first day of the training session included Odette Williamson, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center and a former Assistant Attorney General in the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office; and Andrea Bopp Stark, a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Alliance of Northeast Massachusetts.

              The second day of the training session, held at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education Auditorium in Boston, focused on litigation tactics relative to foreclosures, consumer claims and defenses, and reviewing loan documents.  Trainers included Gary Klein, of Roddy, Klein, & Ryan, a nationally recognized expert on consumer law and consumer education; Roger Bertling, of the Hale & Dorr Legal Services Center at Harvard Law School; Elizabeth Renuart, of the National Consumer Law Center; Carolyn Bankowski, a Chapter 13 Trustee for the Eastern Division of Massachusetts; and Pamela Kogut, an Assistant Attorney General in Attorney General Coakley's Consumer Protection Division. 

              In addition to the establishment of this referral hotline, the Attorney General's plan also includes emergency regulations under the Consumer Protection Act (Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93A) to address the problem of so-called foreclosure rescue schemes, which have plagued the Commonwealth amid the current foreclosure crisis, as well as possible further amendments to current mortgage broker and mortgage lender regulations which would address widespread unfair and deceptive tactics used by some in the mortgage lending and brokering business, and is soliciting written comments from industry leaders, consumer advocates, and the public.

              Attorneys who are interested in volunteering their services for this project should contact Boston Bar Association at (617) 778-1934.  Attorneys are still needed from areas of Massachusetts beyond the greater Boston area.

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