LIT COMMENTARY
We’re reviewing the attorneys who are listed on the CFPB v. Ocwen case in Florida, who are representing Ocwen. This article focuses on the background of liar lawyer Laura Stoll (Laura A. Stoll) and her unethical practices as a partner for this big law firm. She works out of the Los Angeles office.
Laura is a member of the State Bar of California and you can see the current rules for lawyer professional conduct here and all the disciplinary cases against lawyers here.
‘HOME TOWN CASES’
Mar 13, 2014
JUDGMENT by Judge John A. Kronstadt, Pursuant to agreement among the parties, the Court dismisses the above-captioned action with prejudice. The parties waive all rights to appeal, and shall bear their own attorneys fees and costs. This document shall constitute a judgment for purposes of Rule 58 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (shb)
Doc. 372 – Aug 25, 2015
MINUTE ORDER IN CHAMBERS by Judge Josephine L. Staton: ORDER (1) DISCHARGING ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE, (Doc. 368) (2) DISMISSING WITH PREJUDICE PLAINTIFF GUSTAFSON, AND (3) DISMISSING WITHOUT PREJUDICE PLAINTIFFS ZAHID FRAZ AND BUSHRA FRAZ. re: 368 . (Made JS-6. Case Terminated.) (twdb) (Entered: 08/26/2015)
Doc. 249 – Dec 1, 2014
ORDER GRANTING STIPULATION TO DISMISS PLAINTIFF TERRI KWAKE FROM THIS ACTION WITH PREJUDICE by Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, re Stipulation to Dismiss Party, 248 : Upon consideration of the Stipulation To Dismiss Plaintiff Terri Kwake From This Action With Prejudice (“Stipulation”), and good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT the Stipulation is hereby GRANTED. Plaintiff Terri Kwake and all of her claims are hereby dismissed from this action with prejudice. Each party shall bear her/its own attorneys’ fees and costs. (Made JS-6. Case Terminated.) (bm) (Entered: 12/02/2014)
Doc. 104 – Jan 5, 2017
ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE by Judge Jesus G. Bernal Re Stipulation 103 : IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT Plaintiffs claims and the above-captioned action are DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE, WITHOUT COSTS AND FEES, AND WAIVING ALL RIGHTS OF APPEAL. IT IS SO ORDERED. (ad)
Doc. 259 – Oct 8, 2019
REPORT ON THE DETERMINATION OF AN ACTION Regarding a Patent or Trademark. (Closing). (Attachments: # 1 Stipulation of Dismissal Pursuant to FRCP 41(a)(1)(A)(ii)) (jp) (Entered: 10/08/2019)
Doc. 224 – Oct 7, 2019
STIPULATION to Dismiss Case pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 41, with prejudice, filed by Plaintiff Fulfillium, Inc..(Devlin, Timothy) (Entered: 10/07/2019)
Hola Tom @goodwinlaw Here’s Laura’s page Part II. Part I is on hold as there’s data about a guy named Peter n’ we need to recover archive data. Pete’s a lawyer who was disbarred. It appears our genetic tracing strongly suggests family ties eg. matching DNA https://t.co/Ea0bQBfdXS pic.twitter.com/6zPIm2cZGn
— LawsInTexas (@lawsintexasusa) November 30, 2020
Countrywide Home Appraisal Settlement (2020)
Settlement Structure: Claims Made
Active: Closed
Closed Settlement Statement:
According to court documents, the claim submission deadline has passed. Please contact the claims administrator if you have any questions.
Case Summary:
This settlement resolves two cases against Countrywide Financial Corporation, Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. Countrywide Bank, NA, Bank of America Corporation, LandSafe, Inc., and LandSafe Appraisal Services, Inc. for invalid property appraisals. According to the complaint, when Countrywide received mortgage applications from certain persons, it ordered a property appraisal by LandSafe and charged the applicants a fee for it. However, the complaint alleges, the appraisals were not valid because they were not property prepared under the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.
Docket Number:
2:13-cv-08833-CAS-AGR, 2:16-cv-04166-CAS-AGR
Company: Countrywide Financial Corporation
Filing Deadline: January 1, 2100
Class Period: January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2008
Objection Deadline: June 15, 2020
Exclusion Deadline: June 15, 2020
Final Approval Hearing: July 13, 2020
Proof of Purchase:
You do not need to submit a claim form. Presumably company records will be used to identify class members.
Eligibility:
The Nationwide Class for this action is all residents of the US who, between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2008, obtained an appraisal from LandSafe in connection with a loan from Country wide.
The Texas Class is all residents of Texas who, between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2008, obtained an appraisal from LandSafe in connection with a loan from Country wide.
Typical Settlement Amount:
A check for a percentage of the amount paid for the appraisal fee. The estimated percentage is currently 22%, so that if the fee you were assessed was $500, you would receive $110. If the amount of the fee is unavailable or unreliable, the check will be for $25. The actual percentage used to determine the amounts of checks may be higher or lower.
Total Settlement Amount: $250,000,000 plus up to an additional $250,000,000 to administer the settlement
Class Representative Proposed Incentive Fee:
Up to $15,000.00 each
Law Firms:
Baron & Budd
Hagens Berman
Case Name: Barbara Waldrup v. Countrywide Financial Corporation; Beckie Reaster, Rebecca Murphy v. Countrywide Financial Corporation
Settlement Website: Countrywide Home Appraisal Settlement Website
Claims Administrator:
Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions, Inc.
Claims Administrator Contact Information:
Waldrup v. Countrywide Settlement
c/o Epiq
P.O. Box 3727
Portland, OR 97208-3727
1-877-835-0768
Credit; Class Action Reporter.
Doc. 114 – Sep 9, 2020
ORDER GRANTING JOINT STIPULATION 112 TO STAY ACTION PENDING RESOLUTION OF QUICKEN LOANS, LLC’S APPEAL (for arbitration) by Judge Fernando M. Olguin. *See Order for Details.* (Made JS-6. Case Terminated.) (iv) (Entered: 09/09/2020)
Doc. 11 – Jul 23, 2020
ORDER ON STIPULATION DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE 10 by Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED by this Court that the above cause of action is hereby dismissed, with prejudice. Case Terminated. Made JS-6. (iv) (Entered: 07/23/2020)
In 2018, Bet Tzedek with Irell & Manella LLP and Public Counsel, filed twin class actions lawsuits on behalf of thousands of LA County homeowners alleging financial elder abuse by two companies which with the county to operate the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which finances “green” home improvements.
The lawsuit alleges the program leaves thousands of low-income, elderly, and non-English fluent residents exposed to predatory lending practices.
Public Counsel
Major Class Actions to Protect L.A. Homeowners from PACE Loans
Los Angeles County Homeowners Allege That “Green” Loans Are Predatory
These lawsuits are about “Property Assessed Clean Energy” (PACE) loans made by the County of Los Angeles. PACE is meant to help low- and moderate-income households make home improvements that will help the environment and lower energy their costs.
The lawsuits allege that the County’s PACE program harmed many homeowners by making loans that people could not afford to repay. Instead of getting “green” homes, the plaintiffs may lose their homes to foreclosure.
The County hired two companies to implement its PACE program. Those companies are also defendants in the lawsuits: Renovate America does business under the brand name “HERO” and Renew Financial does business under the brand name “California First.”
Key documents
- The press release is available here,
- Frequently Asked Questions are available here,
- The amended complaint against the County and Renovate America (Case No. BC701810) is available here,
- The amended complaint against the County and Renew Financial (Case No. BC701809) is available here.
That’s exactly what happened to me—what should I do?
If you believe that you may be a class member, you should preserve all the documents that could support your claim. That means contracts, emails, text messages, bills and anything else relating to:
- The contractor you worked with,
- The work that was done (or not done),
- The Renovate America/HERO or Renew Financial/California First financing,
- Your property taxes, and
- Your income and debts at the time of the contract(s).
File a Claim with the County for Cancellation of PACE Taxes
The County has taken the position that you must file a claim with the County asking for cancellation of your PACE taxes, before you can ask a court to cancel your PACE taxes. You do not need to be a potential member of our class action lawsuits to ask the County to cancel your PACE taxes.
The window to file a cancellation claim with the County Assessment Appeals Board is from July 2nd to November 30th every year.
- LA County’s Assessment Appeal Application (Form AAB-100) is available here.
- The PACE Complaint form (to submit with Form AAB-100) is available here.
- An English language guide to assist you in completing and submitting the appeal is available here.
- A Spanish language guide to assist you in completing and submitting the appeal is available here.
If possible, you should also speak to an attorney. You may not be a class member, or your deadlines to file your own lawsuit may expire while these lawsuits are pending, which means you could lose your right to file an action if these lawsuits are not certified as class actions or are unsuccessful.
Even if these lawsuits are successful, you may have individual claims (such as fraud) that are not part of these class actions.
If you live in LA County and have Renovate America (“HERO”) or Renew Financial (“CalFirst”) financing from before April 1, 2018, please complete this application for services and someone from our office will contact you.
I don’t have an attorney but I want to take action.
Here are some things you can do without a lawyer:
- File a Claim with the County for Cancellation of PACE Taxes. (See above for the forms and a self-help guide).
- File a complaint with the Contractor’s State License Board. Be as specific as possible in your complaint, and send supporting documents.
- Write to your County Supervisor, and your state and federal representatives. Try to be thorough but concise.
- Write to or file a complaint with the California Attorney General and/or the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
- An English language guide to help you file a complaint with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is available here.
- A Spanish language guide to help you file a complaint with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is available here.
- File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CFPB is not currently handling PACE issues, but they are interested in it. By filing a complaint, you will send a message that they need to accept complaints about PACE.
- If you can afford to pay a lawyer, a good way to find one who knows about home improvement contracts and PACE financing is through the Los Angeles County Bar Association at (213) 243-1525 or the Beverly Hills Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (which is free if you use the online form) or you can call (310) 601-2440.
“IMPROPER SHIELDING OF EVIDENCE”
Laura Stoll Authored a Book About Shielding of Evidence and then Proceeds to be Guilty of the Same Crime, Concealing and Withholding Evidence from the Intervenor-Burkes in the Florida Case of CFPB v. Ocwen and Where She was Named Counsel for Ocwen.
“Ms. Stoll authored “We Decline to Address”: Resolving the Unanswered Questions Left by Rojas v. Superior Court to Encourage Mediation and Prevent the Improper Shielding of Evidence, 53 UCLA L. Rev. 1549 (2006).”
Is Bad Faith Conduct including Conspiracy and Perjury “Justice for All” Bet Tzedek? https://t.co/MJV3K0tY0r @Crowell_Moring @quinnemanuel @CovingtonLLP @Kirkland_Ellis @ktbslaw @ChristinaKTLA @kathrynbarger @DavidGSavage @ShayDvoretzky @jessewegman @PaulSmithCLC @JoanBiskupic https://t.co/7uCIC84UnL pic.twitter.com/HmZnL8FRCw
— LawsInTexas (@lawsintexasusa) December 2, 2020
“JUSTICE FOR ALL”
Liar Lawyer Laura A. Stoll is On Bet Tzedek’s Board, Yet She is Guilty of Unlawful Acts Against Those She Claims to Protect.
From their website, the claimed mission statement:
Hundreds of thousands of Angelenos cannot afford housing, food, or medicine – let alone an attorney.
Even though free legal aid helps ensure access to justice and basic necessities for the most vulnerable among us, there is not enough legal aid available: for every legal aid attorney in California, there are more than 8,000 eligible clients who need assistance.
Bet Tzedek is a non-profit law firm committed to addressing this challenge. We provide free, comprehensive legal assistance and representation, volunteer and court-based self-help services, and legal education to more than 40,000 people each year.
Bet Tzedek’s services keep families in their homes; secure care for those with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities; protect seniors from abuse and real estate fraud; ensure access to safe housing and legal wages; and obtain guardianships for children to stay in safe, stable homes.
In 2019, Bet Tzedek partners with the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to provide immigration legal services to undocumented children in L.A’s foster care system. In the first six months, the project sees over 290 unaccompanied immigration children.
Hey Tom, meant to ask y’all… How’s the twitter litigation going. Are all your lawyers practicing while duly authorized to do so at all times in prep. for the 2021 trial? https://t.co/ZxVF7FhHlM https://t.co/tcOjHf0o2E pic.twitter.com/eC2WXRe1q7
— LawsInTexas (@lawsintexasusa) November 28, 2020
In 2019, Bet Tzedek, In partnership with the California Low Income Consumer Coalition, successfully advocates for the passage of SB616.
Signed into law on October 8, 2019, SB 616 exempts $1,724 from the levy, ensuring that low-income Californians, in particular, will still be able to meet minimum living expenses if a debt collector levies their bank account.
This change brings California into line with 16 other states with similar exemptions. The exemption does not erase the debt, but it does prevent a debt levy from creating a situation where a person cannot access some reserve funds to pay for rent, medication, transportation or other urgent expenses and therefore falls further into debt, joblessness, and even homelessness.
David J. Schindler
Chairperson / Latham & Watkins
Mr. Schindler is an experienced and well-respected speaker and has delivered lectures and instruction throughout the world on conducting internal investigations, financial statement fraud, healthcare fraud and abuse, computer law, cybercrime, computer intrusions, and corporate compliance.
David Schindler is a partner in the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins and former Co-Chair of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice. Mr. Schindler advises clients on the defense of white collar and government investigations, healthcare fraud and abuse, intellectual property, e-commerce, business litigation, and civil litigation.
Mr. Schindler has conducted internal investigations and represented companies, Boards of Directors, and individuals in connection with trials, ancillary proceedings, and government investigations involving a wide array of criminal, quasi-criminal, and regulatory matters including:
Accounting fraud
Computer fraud and abuse
Extortion
Foreign corrupt practices
Healthcare fraud and abuse
Industrial espionage
Securities fraud
Taxation
In 2019, Bet Tzedek advocate Kim Selfon testifies before the Assembly Health Committee on how AB1088 will help elderly Californians keep Medi-Cal and home care services. The bill is signed in to law in the fall of 2019, marking an important step forward for California seniors and their caregivers.
Darrell Brown, Executive Committee Member
Darrell Brown
*Meryl K. Chae, Executive Committee Member
Skadden Arps
Geoffrey Gold, Esq., Executive Committee Member
Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP
*Luis Lainer, Executive Committee Member
Lainer Investments
*Stanley W. Levy, Executive Committee Member
WorkingNation
Linda G. Michaelson, Executive Committee Member
Sheppard Mullin
Samantha L. Millman, Executive Committee Member
Millco Investments
Erin Rotgin, Executive Committee Member
Erin Rotgin
Bennett L. Spiegel, Executive Committee Member
Hogan Lovells
Mary Ann Todd, Executive Committee Member
BDT & Co.
Ryan Yagura, Executive Committee Member
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Laura A. Stoll, 5517 Stansbury Ave, Sherman Oaks, CA, 91401 (Value $1.3m).
Board
Douglas A. Axel
Sidley Austin LLP
G. Carla Axelrod
Wells Fargo
Arthur H. Bilger
Shelter Capital Partners
Linda M. Burrow
Netflix
Michelle L. C. Carpenter
Latham & Watkins LLP
Victor De la Cruz
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP
Yousuf I. Dhamee
Paul Hastings LLP
George C. Fatheree, III
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Michael A. Firestein
Proskauer Rose LLP
Mark J. Friedman
ChromaDex
Gordon A. Greenberg
McDermott, Will & Emery
Rex S. Heinke
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Gregory D. Helmer
Helmer Friedman, LLP
Richard B. Jones
Merrill Lynch
Moez M. Kaba
Hueston Hennigan LLP
Katherine H. Ku
Jeffrey H. Kinrich, C.P.A.
Analysis Group, Inc.
Tarifa B. Laddon
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
John Ly
Liang Ly LLP
Kevin S. Marks
Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, LC
Frank E. Melton
Jackson Lewis, P.C.
Alex Menenberg
TM Financial Forensics
Kenneth S. Millman
Millco Investments
Ariel A. Neuman
Bird Marella PC
Scott Packman
Sonar Entertainment
Heather Richardson
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Paul Rosen
Crowell & Moring LLP
Paul Rosen
Crowell & Moring LLP
Robert M. Schwartz
Quinn Emanuel LLP
Daniel Shallman
Covington & Burling LLP
Aaron J. Spiwak
Southwestern Bag Company
Albert W. Stemp
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
David M. Stern
Klee Tuchin Bogdanoff & Stern LLP
Laura A. Stoll
Goodwin Procter LLP
Todd C. Toral
Jenner & Block LLP
Adam S. Umanoff
Edison International
Michael L. Wachtell
Buchalter
Leah E. Weil
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Bruce A. Wessel
Irell & Manella LLP
Sam S. Yebri
Merino Yebri LLP
* Past Chairperson
Meet Mrs. Craven, Lyin’ Lawyer, Goodwin Procter @BostonGlobe @WCVB @Harvard @BOSTON_WATER @Suffolk_Law @checkbox @MassGovernor @marty_walsh @MABizRoundtable @UMassMedical @tuftsmedicalctr @MassGov @babson @MASchoolsK12 @Mass_SBA @MassBar @NUSL @UMassAmherst pic.twitter.com/YrNODmOFh2
— LawsInTexas (@lawsintexasusa) June 1, 2020
