
The Steven J. Baum P.C. foreclosure firm was a major player in the New York foreclosure market.
In 2010, the firm was involved in over 40% of foreclosure filings in the state.
The firm's operations came under scrutiny due to allegations of improper foreclosure practices.
It was reported that the firm had filed over 20,000 foreclosure actions in 2010 alone.
Steven J. Baum P.C. Closure
The Steven J. Baum P.C. law firm closed its doors in 2011, after being subject to various investigations and fines for its foreclosure practices.
The firm had been New York's largest foreclosure firm, employing around 70 employees, including 22 on Long Island.
The firm's closure was largely due to the loss of business from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which had been referring cases to the firm.
The Baum firm agreed to pay a $2 million penalty and change its practices to resolve a probe of faulty foreclosure filings.
The firm's closure was a result of the robo-signing scandal and the subsequent investigations it spawned.
The Baum firm's rapid downfall commenced with the initiation of investigations into its practices and the subsequent decisions by Fannie and Freddie to quit sending new referrals.
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Business Flee
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dropped Steven J. Baum P.C. from their lists of law firms eligible to handle foreclosures.
Bank of America and Ally Financial Inc. also stopped using the firm, which agreed to pay the United States $2 million and change its practices to resolve a probe of faulty foreclosure filings.
The firm lost a significant amount of business, leading to its closure.
Steven J. Baum PC has about 67 full- and part-time employees at its headquarters in Amherst, New York, and 22 full- and part-time employees at its Westbury, New York, office on Long Island.
The firm's rapid downfall commenced with the initiation of investigations into its practices and the subsequent decisions by Fannie and Freddie to quit sending new referrals.
Law Offices of David J. Stern, another large foreclosure firm, ceased foreclosure work in Florida after losing business from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and home-loan servicers.
The Baum firm's closure is a result of its loss of business from major clients, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
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Impact on Clients
The closure of Steven J. Baum P.C. had a significant impact on clients. Many homeowners were left in limbo, unsure of what to do next.
The firm's decision to close without notice meant that some clients had to scramble to find new representation. This was especially challenging for those who were already facing foreclosure.
The New York State Department of Financial Services imposed a $1.5 million fine on the firm for engaging in "unfair and deceptive" practices. This fine was a result of the firm's aggressive foreclosure tactics.
As a result of the fine, the firm was forced to pay back millions of dollars to clients who had been overcharged. This was a small victory for those who had been affected by the firm's actions.
The closure of the firm also led to a significant increase in the workload for other attorneys in the area. This was because many of the firm's clients had to be reassigned to new lawyers.
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New York Foreclosure Firm Closes
Steven J. Baum P.C., New York's largest foreclosure firm, is closing its doors. The firm employed approximately 70 employees, with about 22 on Long Island. It was involved in more than 17,000 foreclosure proceedings throughout New York State last year. The firm brought approximately 1/3 of all foreclosures that took place in New York State.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently advised the Steven J. Baum, P.C. that they can no longer represent them with regard to government sponsored foreclosures. This decision likely contributed to the firm's closure. The law firm was fined two million dollars for errors involved in court filings and foreclosure proceedings.
The firm was referred to as a foreclosure mill, which is a term used to describe firms that handle a large volume of foreclosure cases. Mr. Baum responded to this criticism by stating foreclosure attorneys are "an easy target for criticism." The firm's tactics, including "robo-signing" of documents, have been criticized.
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The firm's closure is a result of losing business from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The two mortgage-finance companies dropped the Baum firm from their lists of law firms eligible to handle foreclosures. Home-loan servicers, including Bank of America and Ally Financial, also stopped using the firm.
The firm agreed to pay the Department of Justice $2 million and change its practices to resolve a probe of faulty foreclosure filings. This agreement concluded an investigation into whether the firm filed misleading pleadings, affidavits, and mortgage assignments in courts.
Foreclosure Law Firm News
Steven J. Baum P.C., the largest foreclosure law firm in New York, is closing its doors shortly. The firm, headquartered in Amherst, New York, employs approximately 70 employees, with approximately 22 employees on Long Island.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently advised the Steven J. Baum, P.C. that they can no longer represent them with regard to government sponsored foreclosures. This decision was made after the firm was fined two million dollars for errors involved in court filings and foreclosure proceedings.
The law firm was involved in more than 17,000 foreclosure proceedings throughout the State of New York last year, and brought approximately 1/3 of all the foreclosures that took place in New York State. This is a significant number, considering the firm's relatively small size.
The firm has been subject to a variety of investigations concerning its foreclosure practices, and was recently fined two million dollars for errors involved in court filings and foreclosure proceedings. This fine is a clear indication of the firm's mistakes and lack of attention to detail.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's decision to stop referring new cases to the firm has led to a rapid downfall of the business. Over the past two weeks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both quit referring new cases to the firm, and Bank of America and Ally Financial Inc. also stopped using the firm.
The Baum firm agreed to pay the Department of Justice $2 million and change its practices to resolve a probe of faulty foreclosure filings. This agreement concluded an investigation into whether the firm filed misleading pleadings, affidavits and mortgage assignments in courts.
The firm has about 67 full- and part-time employees at its headquarters in Amherst, New York, just north of Buffalo, and 22 full- and part-time employees at its Westbury, New York, office on Long Island. This is a significant number of employees who will be affected by the firm's closure.
The firm has attracted lawsuits and fines for its actions during the housing crisis, including being accused of overcharging, filing false documents and representing parties on both sides of a mortgage transfer. This is a clear indication of the firm's questionable practices.
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