Dustin A. Zacks, attorney, writes new Paper on attorney misconduct

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Click here for Dustin Zacks' latest paper on the misconduct of some foreclosure firms that popped up during the mortgage crisis and their highly questionable and unethical practices. The report is interesting and provocative beginning like a "thriller." As many of you know, Dustin was appointed to our Planning & Zoning board by last year's commission and he previously "ran" for mayor of Lake Worth.

The Paper, entitled, Robo-Litigation, points out the shady practices, the over-billing, the conflicts of interest and bad dealings made by some foreclosure firms with the Florida Bar and the Florida Supreme Court doing little, if anything, to keep the system honest or come down strong on those involved in unprofessional practices. One of these lawyers became wealthy by over a hundred million dollars. Many analysts, including conservatives such a Republican Senator Marco Rubio, have stated that the housing crisis was "created by reckless government policies.”

"The recent housing crisis increased demand for attorneys to process foreclosures through state courts. This increase in demand was coupled with a desire for the fastest and cheapest legal services available. As a result, large foreclosure firms designed to handle an enormous number of foreclosure cases quickly and inexpensively evolved and flourished. During their ascendancy, these firms consistently generated complaints about their conduct, including questions about their ethical decision-making and about the veracity of the pleadings and documents they filed. Scholarly literature on the housing crisis, however, is largely devoid of commentary on ethical issues related to increased foreclosures."

He concludes that the foreclosure crises was the perfect storm that bred robotic attorney practices resulting in "severely troubling ethical lapses."