| GMAC & Chase Halt Foreclosures
JPMorgan Chase, the third largest home loan servicer in the country, has suspended its open foreclosure cases while it examines whether defective documents may have been filed in court. Chase, which carries $1.35 trillion in mortgages nationwide,said it has discovered issues with the underlying documents in its loan foreclosure office.
"As a result, we have begun to systematically re-examine documents we have filed in current foreclosure proceedings to verify that the affidavits and other documents meet the standard of personal knowledge or review where that is required," Chase spokesman Tom Kelly said.
Shortly before the Chase move, GMAC Mortgage directed their attorneys to halt foreclosures on homeowners in 23 states including Florida, Connecticut and New York.
They stated that they may "need to take corrective action in connection with some foreclosures." Brokers were told to stop evictions, cash-for-key transactions and lockouts, regardless of occupant type, with immediate effect, according to an internal company document, addressed to GMAC preferred agents.
The company will also suspend sales of properties on which it has already foreclosed. The letter tells brokers to notify buyers that the company will extend the closing date on all sales by 30 days. Buyers will be able to cancel their agreement to purchase and get their deposit back, according to the letter.
GMAC Mortgage ranked fourth among U.S. home-loan originators in the first six months of this year, with $26 billion of mortgages, according to industry newsletter Inside Mortgage Finance. Wells Fargo & Co. ranked first, with $160 billion, and Citigroup Inc. was fifth, with $25 billion.
It is expected that additional lenders will soon follow suit in the wake of investigations by Florida's Attorney General's Office into for foreclosure law firms for allegedly forging documents, back dating notarized signatures and other related fraud.
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G&A Fall Mixer & Happy Hour
We hope you can join us all for
a mixer and happy hour this fall. October 20, 2010 5:30-7:30 Party Deck and Tiki Bar @ G&A 5720 Central Avenue St. Petersburg, FL
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| Air Travel with Your Pets
Erika Mariz
Traveling by air with a pet can be a daunting experience for both the pets and their owners. Finding the best way to get your four-legged friend from one destination to the next is very important. If certain precautions are taken, it may help minimize the number of pets that die, suffer an injury, or are lost each month on board aircrafts across the country.
First of all, the Humane Society of the United States recommends that pets not be transported by air unless absolutely necessary as there are many risks involved. The Humane Society advises that if you must transport your pet by air, then to at least travel with him in the cabin. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers similar advice. In the cargo area of an airplane, pets can face a lack of oxygen, poor ventilation, and excessive temperatures (either hot or cold). According to the U.S. Transportation Department, at least 122 dogs died aboard flights from May 2005 to May 2010. Approximately half of these dogs were short-snouted breeds that flew as cargo. Short-nosed breeds have short nasal passages that make them more vulnerable to oxygen deprivation and heat stroke.
Extreme temperatures also pose a threat for pets flying as cargo. Many commercial airlines do not fly pets in the cargo space during summer and winter months or will only allow pets in the cargo if the ground temperature is above or below a specific temperature. Although this may be inconvenient for your travel plans, these rules will help save your pets lives. You certainly do not want your pet to be freezing or having a heat stroke in the cargo area, especially with no one nearby to help.
If you must travel by air with your pet, for those with smaller pets, there are many travel options. The pet adoption website Petfinder listed this year's most pet-friendly airlines by different categories. According to Petfinder, JetBlue had the best pet-friendly amenities which included a pet carrier baggage tag, a travel "petiquette" guide, and travel points each way. For those who are budget-conscious, AirTran allows small dogs, cats, and birds to travel for $69 each way in-cabin. If you have pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, dogs, cats, these are all welcome aboard the cabin of Frontier Airlines' airplanes.
For those of us with bigger dogs, like myself, our options are limited. If you want your larger furry friend to fly in-cabin, you may want to consider Pet Airways where the pets fly in the cabin, not the cargo. Unfortunately, it is a pet-only airline so you will not be able to fly next to your four-legged friend. Nonetheless, the pets fly in a pressurized, fully lit, climate-controlled cabin and are monitored by pet attendants every fifteen minutes. However, it is important to note that the airline only flies to limited locations.
If your pet cannot travel in the cabin and Pet Airways is not an option, it is important to minimize the risks of your pet flying as cargo. Although many people feel the urge to tranquilize their pets when placing them in cargo in hopes of making the experience less traumatic, it is generally not advisable to do so. Tranquilizers relax the respiratory system and makes breathing more difficult for the animal. Before tranquilizing your pet, please consult with a licensed veterinarian to discuss the benefits versus the risks associated with tranquilizing your pet. Also, if having your pet fly in cargo, rather than placing water in your pets water bowl, fill the bowl with ice cubes. Otherwise, the water may spill while your pet's crate is being transported. With ice cubes, by the time your pet is aboard the cargo area, it will be melted and ready for your pet to drink. Furthermore, make sure that your pet has all the proper tags on its collar in case it gets out and lost. In addition, on the crate itself, write your name and contact information for both your destination and your permanent address in case your pet gets lost (unfortunately, this happens). To minimize the possibility of your pet being shipped to the wrong place, try to book direct flights. This is also decrease chances of your pet being left in the tarmac in bad weather conditions. Lastly, you may want to clip your pet's nails to help prevent the nails from getting snagged in the crate's door, holes, or other crevices.
Of course, before flying, it is always a good idea to talk to your pet's veterinarian to discuss the best way to have a safe flight for your pet.
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Tech Corner
Kevin Baker, JDL Technology Services, Inc. 
JDL Connects Your IPad & IPhone To Your Firm Network
Accessing your law firm network remotely no longer requires you to use a home computer or portable laptop. Thanks the LogMeIn's new IPad/IPhone App, LogMeIn Ignition�, the power of mobile remote access is now available on your IPad or IPhone or BOTH. The best part about it is that there is no monthly contract or access fee. LogMeIn access to one computer is FREE.
At JDL, we have recently deployed this simple remote access solution to several Tampa area attorneys and the response has been promising. Instant access to your files, trial materials and email are only some of the advantages of LogMeIn Ignition�. As part of the power behind LogMeIn, you now have the flexibility to copy/paste from one desktop to the next and print remotely.
With minimal setup time and expense, we can extend this powerful service to you.
Direct: 727-564-2735
Toll Free: 866-374-5873
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At the Movies
By: Alison Parker
Last month, I did a piece on American remakes in reign films. Since press time, I've learned about several more to add to the list (most notably, 13 Tzameti retitled as simply 13 and After the Wedding with the same title as the Danish original). However, this month, I have decided to flip the idea on its head and cover foreign remakes of American films. I touched on this idea briefly several months ago when I wrote about the Russian film 12, which is a remake of the classic American film Twelve Angry Men.
For starters, let's head to India, which puts out nearly 1300 feature films a year, and enjoys the biggest film industry in the world, including the Hindi-language Bollywood sub-industry. Many remakes of American films are contained within Bollywood, such as Hindi-language versions of Jaws, I Am Sam, The Usual Suspects, Collateral, John Q and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
A film getting modest amounts of acclaim lately is A Simple Noodle Story, which is a Chinese remake of the Coen Brothers' debut film, Blood Simple. While Frances McDormand is missing from the remake of the stellar neo-noir, the Zhang Yimou film embraces a more slapstick feel than the Coen original.
Last year, the Japanese-language film Sideways, a remake of the 2004 wine-soaked road trip, debuted to decent reviews. Generally, the update is not as dark as its American counterpart, and used actual wine connoisseurs and sommeliers instead of actors for some ancillary roles.
Humorously, and my favorite remake anecdote of all time - the Finnish remake of Die Hard exhibited a main character named Fjlord McClain. The one-word title of the Finnish version translates to "manic-depressive cowboy."
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BP's Advertising Barrage
No doubt you have seen a newspaper ad or commercial for BP recently.
BP tripled its spending on advertising in the months after the oil spill from its Gulf of Mexico well according to congressional records. BP spent $93.4 million on television, print and Internet ads from April to July, more than three times the amount in the same period a year earlier, according to Henry Waxman, a California Democrat who heads the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
The letter came in response to a request from Florida Representative Kathy Castor, who wrote, "While BP's advertising campaign is being executed like clockwork, business and state claims have languished." "BP should use a significant portion of its advertising dollars to ease the strain on Florida small businesses that rely on tourism."
BP expanded the number of markets in which it bought newspaper ads, said the letter, which also was signed by Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Bart Stupak. The company ran ads in 126 cities in 17 states this year, compared with two states and the District of Columbia in 2009.
BP spent $89.5 million on grants aimed at promoting tourism in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana after the spill, Waxman and Stupak said.
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Insurance Rate Hike
State run insurer Citizens Property Insurance Corporation has announced that it raising rates for policy holders next year. Insurance premiums for homeowners covered by Citizens will raise an average of 10.3 percent statewide next year, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, giving the state-run insurer a slightly larger increase than it had requested in August.
The new rate schedule, however, means some homeowners will actually see their premiums drop. Citizens' mobile home policies will rise by an average of 9.2 percent statewide. New rates for homeowners will take effect in 2011. Policy owners will be notified by mail.
Citizens in Florida's insurer of last resort and insured many homes in areas where private insurers ceased writing policies. ___________________________ |
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G&A News & Notes
*G&A will be serving as a mentor for two University of South Florida students in connection with the USF College of Business Corporate Mentor Program
*Alison Parker was appointed to the editorial board for the St. Petersburg Bar's Paraclete.
*St Petersburg Young Professionals recently nominated Charles Gallagher for its Entrepreneur of the Year Award in connection with "Tomorrows' Leaders Today" Luncheon.
*G&A is proud to serve as a sponsor for the City of St. Petersburg's Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Fourm in November in conjunction with the St. Petersburg Bar.
*G&A was a proud sponsor of the St. Petersburg Bar Association's Meet the Judges Lunch in September.
*G&A will co-host a reception for Keith Meyer's judicial campaign at the house of Donna and Felix Fudge on October 12.
*On September 15, Charles Gallagher spoke at the NBI seminar on Bad Faith Insurance Litigation in Florida.
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Congratulations to Keith on his victory in the primary election. His race continues with the general election on November 2, 2010.
We continue to support Keith in his bid to serve the citizens of Pinellas County as a judge. We believe that Keith would make an excellent judge and would urge you to review his credentials.
You may find out more about Keith on his website below.
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G&A is supporting Jeff Brandes in his run for the Florida House of Representatives.
We believe that Jeff would make an excellent representative and would urge you to review his credentials and consider voting for him.
You may find out more about Jeff on his website below:
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Congratulations to Trish on her victory in the primary election. Her race continues with the general election on November 2, 2010.
We continue to support Tish in her bid to serve the citizens of Pinellas County as a judge. We believe that she would make an excellent judge and would urge you to review her credentials.
You may find out more about Trish on her website below: Muscarella Site
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Mortgage Fraud
Florida is among the nation's leaders in yet another category.....mortgage fraud.
A predicate to the crisis of bad loans currently defaulting across the country was mortgage fraud in the application and underwriting of loans.
According to federal commission, Florida played a major role in the number of loans with associated fraud. The Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission opened hearings in Miami that focused on liar's loans, predatory mortgage practices and inflated home appraisals.
They concluded that the financial impact of the fraud was more severe than most have estimated, and prosecuting those responsible will be nearly impossible. It was the third of four hearings being carried out nationwide by the commission, which Congress assembled last year to investigate the causes of the global financial meltdown.
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G&A Email Directory
Erika Mariz
Joseph F. Milligan
Jason A. Cox
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About Our Firm
Gallagher & Associates Law Firm, P.A. accepts cases throughout the Tampa Bay area.
Our main practice areas include: insurance litigation (including toxic mold, sinkholes, hurricane claims and denied insurance claims), real estate & business litigation (including foreclosure defense and lender mortgage fraud), accident & injury litigation, consumer law, and employment litigation.
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The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. This email is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.
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