Ohio Foreclosure Mediation Program Appears Off To Good Start

Media reports from Ohio are indicating that the foreclosure mediation program launched for several county courts last month may be of to a good start. Among those media outlets chiming in with stories are:

• The Canton Repository (editorial): Stark County's Common Pleas judges are pleased with the number of homes that their new mediation program has kept out of foreclosure since April. So are we. We're convinced that with more publicity, the program can do an even better job. Homeowners in 43 of the 84 mediations that were concluded between April 1 and June 30 were able to keep their homes. See Program is helping to avert foreclosures.

• The Cleveland Plain Dealer (editorial): Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Eileen T. Gallagher is still tweaking the program, in part because it breaks new ground. And, while the court has established a sound framework, it could do well to incorporate additional improvements. See Foreclosure mediation program is wise, but needs some adjustment.

• Cincinnati Enquirer: A judge's decision to launch a foreclosure-mediation program has saved the homes of several Clermont County families, and similar efforts are under way throughout Southwest Ohio. Judge Robert P. Ringland of Common Pleas Court began the program earlier this year because of a spike in foreclosure cases. [...] With the help of the Clermont County Bar Association, Ringland put out the call that resulted in 33 lawyers volunteering their time to help homeowners. [...] Other courts are developing foreclosure-assistance programs in Hamilton, Warren, Butler, Highland, Clinton and Brown counties, said Ginny Conlan Whitman, managing attorney for the Volunteer Lawyers Project. See Lawyers work pro bono to stave off foreclosure.

Go here for the Ohio Supreme Court's 11-Step Foreclosure Mediation Program Model.

For the local court rule applicable to home foreclosure filings adopted in Summit County, Ohio, effective June 1, 2008, see Order - In re: Certificate of Readiness For Foreclosure Actions Filed In The Court of Common Pleas - General Division.