Trial Victory: Firm Defeats HSBC & Clarfield Okon Law Firm

On September 21, 2015, I went to trial against HSBC Bank at the Brevard County Courthouse.  Representing HSBC Bank was the Christopher Pennington of the law firm Clarfield, Okon, Solomone and Pincus, P.L.   When the trial began, counsel for the bank was quick to point out that our client had not made a mortgage payment since September of 2008.  The bank’s lawyers commented in opening statement to the effect “it has been over SEVEN YEARS since Mr. Shuster’s client has made a mortgage payment.” 

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Not being one to be pushed around by bank counsel, I responded, that the reason our clients had gone seven years without a mortgage payment was the prior servicer never offered a loan modification and the first foreclosure action filed against our client was dismissed.  I countered that the evidence would show that loan servicer failed to send a proper notice of default and the plaintiff would be unable to prove standing at the inception of the case.  Today, HSBC will lose its second foreclosure case against our client.

In this trial the notice of default was sent out in 2008 by the prior servicer, IndyMac.  The servicer who appeared at the trial for HSBC was the current loan servicer, Ocwen.  Our clients’ mortgage, like just about every mortgage, required the lender to send any notices to the borrower to the property address unless the borrower notifies the lender in writing to send all notices to some other address.  At trial, Ocwen presented the IndyMac notice of default sent in 2008 to an address other than the property address.  Ocwen did not provide the Court with a copy of any written notice from the borrower to change the notice address to an address other than the property address.  It appeared to me that Ocwen and their lawyer did not realize that the prior loan servicer sent the notice to an address that was different than the property address.  After the plaintiff rested I pointed out the plaintiff’s failure to come forward with any proof that the notice address was ever changed.  The plaintiff (HSBC) and their lawyers never knew what hit them.  They had failed to prove their case.  All they had show the court was that a notice was mailed to an address other than the address of the mortgaged property without even showing who lived at the address where the notice was sent.  While they alleged that the notice was sent certified mail they further lacked a “Green Card” to show who, if anyone, signed for the notice.

At trial the court reserved ruling.  In early October we received the attached ruling in our favor from Judge Rhoda Babb.  To read the entire judgment with our client's name redacted click here. 

About Shuster & Saben, LLC:   Foreclosure is a problem.  Feet dragging is not a solution.  If our client wants to keep their home then the our goal is to get them a great loan modification or win their case.  It has been our experience that banks make the best loan modification offers when their lawyers know that the homeowner’s counsel is ready, willing, able and PREPARED to take the case to trial.  Bank lawyers remember the small handful of foreclosure defense firms like ours the regularly beat them at trial. 

Largest Principal Reduction In Firm History!

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Old Loan Balance:       $1,310,000

New Loan Balance:     $   755,000

Firm attorney Richard Shuster has obtained the largest principal reduction in firm history and a loan modification that is likely the largest principal reduction on any Brevard County residential property.  After our client made no mortgage payments for over five years on an oceanfront property in Melbourne Beach the homeowner’s unpaid loan balance reached 1.3 million dollars.  As a result of a principal reduction loan modification agreement our client’s new loan balance has been reduced to $755,000.00.  Our client’s loan balance was reduced by over $555,000.00.  The client’s interest rate was reduced from nearly 8% to 4.1%.

Shuster & Saben, LLC defended the homeowner in this matter since 2010.  One week before a scheduled trial in the client’s foreclosure case, the loan servicer, Ocwen advised it wanted a complete financial package from our clients.  The client’s business suffered greatly during the 2008-2011 recession bus has since had a substantial recovery.  The clients did not want to provide the loan servicer with complete financials as they were worried that they might make to much to qualify. 

Fortunately, the firm had fully prepared the case for trial and was ready, willing and able to take the case to trial.   One month earlier, attorney Richard Shuster, defeated the same Plaintiff  (Deutsche Bank), the same servicer (Ocwen), and same law firm (Clarfied Okon) in a nearly identical case.  During negotiations, the loan servicer and their counsel were reminded that if the case went to trial they would probably lose this case in the same fashion that our firm defeated them the month before. 

Three days before the trial, the bank’s lawyers asked for a continuance to allow more time to evaluate our client for loan modification.  Shuster’s response was rather blunt: “Give our client a loan modification that they love or we are going to trial.”  On the day before trial bank counsel advised by E-mail that our client, without submission of any financial documentation had been approved for a principal reduction loan modification. 

A great personal injury lawyer once said that if you prepare a case for trial, you may end up with a great settlement when the insurance company knows that you are ready, willing, and able to take the case to trial.  The settlement offers are even bigger when the insurance company or its lawyers are scared to go to trial against a prepared, experienced, trial advocate.  We have found this same principle usually applies in foreclosure cases.  To see the final loan modification agreement click here.