Tennessee AG, MALS Tag Another Upfront Fee Foreclosure Rescue Operator With Lawsuits

From the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General:

• Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper filed suit [Tuesday] to stop another Tennessee foreclosure rescue company and its principal from charging service fees to consumers and then failing to follow through with the services promised. The lawsuit filed [Tuesday] alleges violations of consumer protection laws.(1)

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• The State’s complaint, which was filed in Shelby County Chancery Court, also alleges violations of the Tennessee unauthorized practice of law statutes(2) and the Tennessee Credit Services Businesses Act.

• Memphis Area Legal Services also filed a lawsuit today in Shelby County Chancery Court against the defendants.(3)

For the AG's press release, see Attorney General Files Suit Against Tennessee Foreclosure Rescue Company, Requests Asset Freeze, Halt To Alleged Unlawful Activities.

For legal documents in this case, see:

• Lawsuit/Complaint - State of Tennessee v. Patrick and Patrick, LLC, et al.; and
• Motion for temporary injunction and asset freeze.

See also, Eyewitness News ABC24-CW30: Scammed into Foreclosure.

(1) According to the AG's press release, Attorney General Cooper on behalf of Mary Clement, director of the Division of Consumer Affairs, sued Patrick & Patrick, LLC doing business as Patrick & Patrick Loss Mitigation Services, and its principal, Denise Patrick, also known as Sondrette D. Patrick. The defendants are also doing business via the Internet at www.patrickandpatricklm.com. (Note: At some point after this story came out, the firm took down their website.

(2) Bringing charges of unauthorized practice of law against upfront fee loan modification / foreclosure rescue operators appears to be gaining steam - the Florida Attorney General reportedly made similar allegations in a recent lawsuit brought against a loan modification company. Go here and go here for other posts on issues relating to attorneys, loan modifications, and the unlicensed/unauthorized practice of law.

(3) Last month, the Tennessee Attorney General's office and Memphis Area Legal Services also filed multiple lawsuits against another upfront fee foreclosure rescue operator, according to this press release. UnauthPractOfLawKappa