Utah State Bar News & Announcements

HAVE YOU OR HAS SOMEONE YOU KNOW BEEN THE VICTIM OF A FORECLOSURE "RESCUE" SCHEME?

The Office of the United States Trustee would like to know if you or someone you know has been the victim of a homeowner or foreclosure "rescue" scheme. Such schemes take many forms but promise desperate homeowners the ability to avoid foreclosure by various means. Such schemes often involve:

A transfer or "sale" of the home, or a fractional interest in the home, to "investors" or others who may not even know they have received an interest in the home.

The "rescuer" promises the homeowner that the homeowner will not lose the home.

The structure may be a sale with a leaseback where the homeowner is assured of lower monthly payments.

The rescuer might secretly refinance the home to draw out and keep all cash equity.

The homeowner makes "rent" payments to the rescuer, but the rescuer keeps the payments instead of making payments to keep the home.

High fees are charged to the homeowners. The fees NEVER go toward the mortgage.

Often the homeowner is placed into bankruptcy to delay the original foreclosure or the foreclosure on the refinanced mortgage. The homeowner may not know that they have been placed into bankruptcy.

Sadly, too many homeowners only learn they have been victims of a "rescue" scheme when they are facing eviction.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of a foreclosure "rescue" scheme, please contact the Office of the United States Trustee at 405 S. Main Street, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 (801) 524-5734 or through the Bankruptcy Fraud Hotline at USTP.Bankruptcy.Fraud@usdoj.gov.

http://www.standard.net/live/business/178370

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 | No Comments [ Add Comment ]
SLC attorney to head state bar

Press Release

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah lawyers elected Salt Lake City attorney Stephen W. Owens president of the Utah State Bar which licenses, disciplines, and provides continuing legal educational programs for Utah's 10,000 resident and non-resident attorneys. The new officers and commissioners will be sworn in by Chief Justice Christine M. Durham, Utah Supreme Court, on Friday.

When I took the oath of office a year ago, the issues facing me as a new president seemed manageable and in many ways just what I was used to dealing with as a five-year member of the Bar Commission.  However, the challenges and issues presented to me, and all leaders of our profession, particularly as we had to respond to the economic crisis that presented itself in the Fall of 2008, have been serious, consistent, and profound .  There are no quick fixes. Although I have done my level best to address each challenge and issue as it arose, I am writing to you, as my colleagues, to ask you once again to join in our greater cause and to help our community address the many issues we now face. This is a time for many leaders and many volunteers. All of us need to roll up our sleeves. This is a time when you as members of the Utah State Bar need to become engaged. This is also a time to read and reflect, listen and observe, learn and understand so we can help now and in the future. To each of  you volunteers and to all who are dedicated to our legal system, and to the hallmarks of our profession, your service is  greatly appreciated. It makes a huge difference. Honorable lawyers lift up society. Thank you. And thank you for the privilege of being your president. I wish you all the best. 

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July 2009 E-News

• Utah State Bar Request for 2009-2010 Committee Assignment
  
• Mailing of Licensing Forms
  
• CLE - Ethics School July 22nd

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1. Utah State Bar Request for 2009-2010 Committee Assignment
    
   The Utah Bar Commission is soliciting new volunteers to commit time and talent to one or more of 17 different committees which participate in regulating admissions and discipline and in fostering competency, public service and high standards of professional conduct. Please consider sharing your time in the service of your profession and the public through meaningful involvement in any area of interest. If you would like to participate in a committee please download, complete, and mail in the PDF form located at www.utahbar.org/committees/UtahStateBarRequest_for_2009-10_CommitteeAssignment.pdf.
   
   
   
2. Mailing of Licensing Forms
    
   The licensing forms for 2009-2010 have been mailed. While fees are due by July 1, 2009, fees received or postmarked on or before July 31, 2009, will be processed without penalty.  If you have not yet submitted your licensing information, the fastest way to do so is to renew online by visiting www.myutahbar.org, logging in using your Casemaker access code, and then selecting to renew your license. If you do not have your access code, you may obtain it  by sending an email to onlineservices@utahbar.org and the login information will be sent to your email address of record. If you have submitted your licensing information please allow for up to three weeks for processing.
    
   It is the responsibility of each attorney to provide the Bar with current address information. Failure to notify the Bar of an address change does not relieve an attorney from paying licensing fees or late fees. Failure to make timely payment will result in an administrative suspension for non-payment after the deadline. You may check the Bar's website to see what information is on file. The site is updated weekly and is located at www.utahbar.org.
    
   If you need to update your address information, you may change it directly online at www.myutahbar.org or you may submit the changes in writing to:  Licensing, Utah State Bar, 645 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-3834. You may also submit the information by e-mail to Licensing@utahbar.org or by fax at 801-531-9537.
   
   
   
3. CLE - Ethics School July 22nd - The Utah State Bar Office of Professional Conduct will be holding its semi-annual Ethics School on Wednesday, July 22nd from 9:00 a.m. to 3:45 pm. This program will provide for 6 hours of ethics credit including 1 hour of professionalism credit or 6 hours of NLCLE credit. Lunch is included. Seating is limited so please register by visiting https://utahbar.org/cle/events/registration/ethics_school.html.  

"I have a question or comment for the Bar President"  -  President@utahbar.org

Salt Lake City, UT---The Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Commission has scheduled a meeting for August 4, 2009, to nominate a candidate to fill a vacancy that resulted when Judge Judith Billings retired Dec. 31, 2008. The commission will meet at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse, 450 South State, in the Judicial Council room.

The early portion of the meeting is scheduled for public comment about issues facing the Utah judiciary and refinements or improvements to the system. Public comments are being accepted from 11 a.m. through 11:30 a.m.

Following the public hearing, the meeting is closed to allow commission members to select a minimum of seven candidates whose names will be forwarded to the Governor’s office to consider for appointment. The nominating commission does not take testimony on individual applicants.

Individuals interested in appearing before the commission should contact the Administrative Office of the Courts at (801) 578-3800 to request an appointment.