Koster
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed three separate lawsuits on Wednesday against individuals and their companies for allegedly misleading consumers with mortgage-modification schemes.
Heartland Loss Mitigation LLC and owner Colleen Kelly, Mader Law Group LLC and owner Eric Mader, and CAPLAW, P.A. and owner Jim Caplan were named as defendants in the three lawsuits. The companies allegedly engaged in multiple unfair or deceptive practices.
"Today's lawsuits continue my office's efforts to help Missouri homeowners who are trying to keep their homes as they work their way out of tough situations," Koster said. "Companies that mislead consumers trying to save their homes from foreclosure should stay out of Missouri."
The defendants allegedly: Engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Missouri, failed to place legally required notifications of homeowners' rights in contracts between defendants and homeowners, persuaded consumers to stop mortgage payments to their lenders by promising successful loan modifications, failed to refund consumers for loan-modification services not received, failed to provide the loan-modification services paid for by consumers, and required and received advance payment for loan-modification services.
The lawsuits are a part of Koster's continuing effort to protect consumers from businesses that advertise and offer illegal mortgage-modification services.