Florida Law Firm to Pay $2 Million Penalty in Foreclosure Cases

A Florida law firm must pay $2 million to settle state charges of alleged improprieties in its prosecution of foreclosure cases.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the settlement against attorney Marshall C. Watson and his law firm, one of the largest foreclosure firms in Florida. It's the first settlement stemming from numerous investigations into Florida foreclosure law firms, she said.

“We are aggressively investigating these law firms in order to protect the interests of everyone involved in foreclosure proceedings. Homeowners, lending institutions and the courts deserve to know that the law is being followed and all documentation is true and accurate,” Bondi said. “Anything short of total assurance of complete accuracy during such serious situations is unacceptable.”

This grant program provides for the funding of Legal Aid attorney positions throughout Florida specifically devoted to the representation of low-income individuals facing foreclosure actions. 
The investigations into the practices of several other Florida law firms are continuing, Bondi said.