Baltimore Judge Denies Title/Escrow Company Dismissal Request In State AG's Foreclosure Rescue Suit

In Baltimore, Maryland, WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter Barry Simms reports that a request filed by Laurel-based Cornerstone Title and Escrow to dismiss it from a foreclosure rescue lawsuit filed by Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler was denied yesterday by Judge Martin Welch. An excerpt from the story:

• In July, homeowner Claretta Taylor told I-Team reporter Barry Simms about her struggle to keep her home. "I've become leery of people. I don't trust people now, especially when it comes to my finances. I scrutinize everybody," Taylor said. Taylor said that a television ad by Michael K. Lewis promised hope, so she signed up for his MKL financial diet. After scrutinizing the deals given to Taylor and about nine other homeowners facing foreclosure, Assistant Attorney General Scott Bailey filed a complaint in October.

• The complaint accused Lewis, his brother, Ernest, and other members of his so-called African-American Business Network of stripping the equity from the properties and charging numerous undisclosed fees. The attorney general's office said it believes Cornerstone Title and Escrow, based in Laurel, is involved in the foreclosure rescue scheme. "Each of the defendants played a role in the scheme. They should be held liable for that," Bailey said.

For more, see Company Tries To Get Out Of Foreclosure Scheme Case.

Go here for other posts on Maryland foreclosure rescue operator Michael K. Lewis.

For the Maryland AG's warning on foreclosure rescue, see Foreclosure Scams: Don’t Fall Prey to a Foreclosure Shark!

Go here for a list of Maryland organizations that provide foreclosure counseling to consumers in every region of the state.