C. Florida Judge Spanks Two Foreclosure Mill Chiefs, Revokes Phone Privileges Over Lack Of Diligence In Prosecuting Cases, Using Unprepared Lawyers

In St. Petersburg, Florida, The Tampa Tribune reports:

• St. Petersburg foreclosure court judge Pamela Campbell is fed up with foreclosure law firms' errors and missed hearings. So today, she ordered the heads of two major law firms that handle foreclosures on behalf of banks to show up in her Pinellas County courtroom to explain themselves. It didn't matter that they're based in Ft. Lauderdale.
• Roy Diaz, Of Smith, Hiatt & Diaz and Marshall Watson, of the firm Marshall C. Watson both appeared before Judge Campbell, who asked them about problematic foreclosure documentation and reports of their firm sending homeowners to the wrong courthouse. "Go to your basic roots of when you were in law school," she said, chastising the lawyers.

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• The judge wanted to know why some cases were languishing and blamed the attorneys for not paying better attention. Campbell said she called them to court because she's tired of them blocking off time for cases, then sending unprepared junior lawyers.

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• Judge Campbell's verdict: She revoked phone privileges for both firms that allowed them to appear in court by phone. In other words, the South Florida firms will have to send a lawyer in person to present cases from now on.

For the story, see Judge chastises foreclosure law firm chiefs.