More On Florida AG Suit Against South Florida Foreclosure Rescue Operator Allegedly Offering Deceptive Sale Leaseback Arrangements

In Broward County, Florida, the South Florida Sun Sentinel ran a story on foreclosure rescue operator Jack Moussa and his Florida Housing Council, who are among the targets of a civil lawsuit brought by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum for violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act:

• In interviews with the Sun-Sentinel last year, several homeowners said Moussa came into their homes and promised to help them avoid Foreclosure. Some said Moussa hurried them into signing documents, including complicated trust agreements and deeds that gave all the control of their properties to the housing council. Homeowners were often charged various fees for signing the trust agreements even though no actual services were provided, the suit said. In many cases, Moussa told homeowners that the housing council was a federally funded agency that helps homeowners in financial distress.

The story includes anectdotes from two financially strapped homeowners who did business with Moussa and who subsequently brought their own lawsuits against his companies. Florida attorney David Silverstone, who represents one of the homeowners and who has represented other homeowners in suits filed against the housing council, praised McCollum for taking the action.

For more, see State attorney general targets 3 mortgage companies (when link expires, try here or try here).

For a copy of the lawsuit and the Florida AG's allegations filed in Fort Lauderdale, see Office of the Attorney General - State of Florida v. Florida Housing Council, et al.

Go here for other posts on Florida foreclosure rescue operator Jack Moussa and the Florida Housing Council.

Go here , go here , and go here for one blogger's random thoughts on Jack Moussa.

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Some time ago, the CNN business program Open House with Gerri Willis featured a Florida couple facing foreclosure and their experience when they unwittingly signed over their home to a title-holding land trust in a deal arranged by foreclosure rescue operator Jack Moussa and his Florida Housing Council. To watch the video, see Rescue or Ripoff?