In a press release last Thursday, the Attorney General’s office reported that it enjoined an out-of-state law firm from doing business in Rhode Island and ordered them to return $8,000 to a Rhode …
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In a press release last Thursday, the Attorney General’s office reported that it enjoined an out-of-state law firm from doing business in Rhode Island and ordered them to return $8,000 to a Rhode Island resident.
“After receiving a consumer complaint, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin initiated an investigation into the Litvin Law Firm for allegedly charging homeowners steep up-front fees for mortgage modification services. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined the New York-based law firm was in violation of Rhode Island’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Mortgage Foreclosure Consultant Regulation Act. In addition, it was determined the law firm was not licensed to practice in Rhode Island.”
As a result, Superior Court Associate Justice Luis Matos signed an order that requires Gennady Litvin, individually, and Litvin Law Firm, P.C, as well as its employees and agents, to be enjoined and restrained from doing business in Rhode Island as foreclosure consultants, mortgage modification providers and claiming to be foreclosure consultants or debt managers under the terms of the Mortgage Foreclosure Consultant Registration Act. The Court also prohibited its associates practicing law without a license in Rhode Island.
Consumers who contacted Freedom Legal Plans or Consumer Legal Plans paid thousands of dollars in up-front fees, the work would be farmed out to Litvin Law Firm and others. Litvin referred to itself as a “national law firm with local attorneys in your state.” Litvin was not licensed in the state of Rhode Island.
“Out-of-state attorneys who are not licensed by the Rhode Island Bar Association should not be allowed to profit from homeowners who are struggling to stay in their homes. The promise of a mortgage modification may be no more than a promise and that’s why no one should charge an up-front fee in violation of Rhode Island laws,” said Attorney General Kilmartin. “For homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage, there is free assistance from Rhode Island Housing and other HUD-certified loan counseling agencies based here in Rhode Island. There is no need to pay thousands of dollars in up-front fees to companies that promise help but provide little or no real assistance other than draining your finances.”
Under the settlement, Litvin agreed to pay more than $8,000 in restitution to the consumer and cooperate with the Attorney General for any future complaints.
Under the Mortgage Foreclosure Consultant Registration Act, it is illegal to charge any fees until consumers receive all the services they contract. There are numerous local organizations that provide free, HUD-certified counseling and mortgage modification assistance.
If you believe you have been a victim of a fraudulent mortgage modifier, contact the Consumer Protection Unit of the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General at 274-4400 or by visiting www.riag.ri.gov.
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justice1
RI ACLU Stephen Brown Notifies Warwick Minimum Housing Board Violated OMA Open Meetings Act At this meeting the chair jude plante announced there would be no electronics allowed, taping,videoing etc. I objected he related town council atty robt sgroi confirmed they could demand this or call the police if I didn't comply. I shut the tablet off. But I stated I would contact Stephen Brown RI ACLU and AG regarding this violation of open meetings act ri 4246-1. He said alright. I did, Mr Brown sent out notice they violated RI OMA . Town atty Ruggerio related shouldn't of and only Mr Sgroi apologized to me.
This was done intentionally to block me . I have had numerous problems with the clerk : annamarie marchetti and she set the attys and board in motion. The day before she told me I couldn't speak at the meeting either.
Please enter cindy cook ri in google or youtube and you will see videos of the beginning of the meeting where they violate my rights and then the audio I received from the town they made at the meeting. Plus the conditions of the cottage we rent that has numerous code violations. Worst matter is bathroom toilet floods from connector hose and underneath,floor soaked rotted,no seal causing it to move around the floor and it cannot flush. It goes to a 200 gal cesspool and the pipes are broken causing the toilet paper to get caught on them . We have to place a plastic bag across the toilet seat down go then empty it into a barrel through the window. Mayor scott avedisian ,blg dept al decorte are fully aware of this and haven't had it repaired. Alfred esposito, 83yrs old,a vet in his fla condo [not hosp] is listed as owner but his niece cindy r cook and her husband barry cook really are the owners. Uncle esposito let them put it in his name in 2003 whereas they filed bankruptcy in 2000 etc and couldn't put it in their names. Barry and cindy had a real estate business he was on east providence housing board,councilman , vp citizens bank 17yrs so the know they should never of rented this uninhabitable property especially to an elderly disabled senior and her caregiver. The water bill hasn't been paid since 2009 $2,100 , lien whereas uncle esposito co-sign for niece cindy's business which failed and they haven't paid rent on this leased land for several mos. We just moved in oct and gave them $2,250.
Here are the links to the RI ACLU Stephen Brown's letters and town atty.http://tinyurl.com/q7furx3
Sunday, February 9, 2014 Report this