Vermont AG joins multi-state group looking into foreclosure "robo-signing"

The following statement is being issued today by Vermont Attorney General William H Sorrell and the Mortgage Foreclosure Multistate Group:
"It has recently come to light that a number of mortgage loan servicers have
submitted affidavits or signed other documents in support of either a
judicial or non-judicial foreclosure that appear to have procedural defects.
In particular, it appears affidavits and other documents have been signed by
persons who did not have personal knowledge of the facts asserted in the
documents. In addition, it appears that many affidavits were signed outside
of the presence of a notary public, contrary to state law. This process of
signing documents without confirming their accuracy has come to be
known as "robo-signing." We believe such a process may constitute a
deceptive act and/or an unfair practice or otherwise violate state laws.
In order to handle this issue in the most efficient and consistent manner
possible, the states have formed a bi-partisan multistate group to address
issues common to a large number of states. The group is comprised of both
state Attorneys General and the state bank and mortgage regulators.
"Currently 49 state Attorneys General have joined this coordinated
multistate effort. State bank and mortgage regulators are participating both
individually and through their Multistate Mortgage Committee, which
represents mortgage regulators from all 50 states. Through this process, the
states will attempt to speak with one voice to the greatest extent possible.
"At the end of this statement is a list of the participating states.
Our multistate group has begun inquiring whether or not individual
mortgage servicers have improperly submitted affidavits or other
documents in support of foreclosures in our states. The facts uncovered in
our review will dictate the scope of our inquiry.
"The Executive Committee
is comprised of the following Attorneys General Offices: Arizona,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, New York, North
Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Washington; and the following state banking
regulators: Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation,
New York State Banking Department, and the Pennsylvania Department of
Banking."
Source: Vermont AG. 10.12.2010.
Participating Attorneys General
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii Department of the Attorney General / Hawaii Office of Consumer Protection
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Participating State Bank and Mortgage Regulators
Arizona Department of Financial Institutions
Arkansas Securities Department
Connecticut Department of Banking
D.C. Department of Insurance Securities and Banking
Florida Office of Financial Regulation
Idaho Department of Finance
Illinois Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation
Indiana Department of Financial Institutions
Iowa Division of Banking
Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions
Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection
Maine Bureau of Financial Institutions
Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation
Division of Banks, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Michigan Office of Financial & Insurance Regulation
Minnesota Department of Commerce
Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance
Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions
Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance
Nevada Financial Institutions Division and Mortgage Lending Division
New Hampshire Banking Department
New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance - Office of Consumer Finance
New York State Banking Department
North Carolina Commissioner of Banks
North Dakota Department of Financial Institutions
Ohio Division of Financial Institutions
Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services - Division of Finance
and Corporate Securities
Pennsylvania Department of Banking
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation - Division of Banking
South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs Tennessee Department of
Financial Institutions Texas Department of Banking
Texas Finance Commission and Consumer Credit Commissioner Vermont
Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care
Administration
Washington State Department of Financial Institutions
West Virginia Division of Banking Wisconsin
Department of Banking Wyoming Division of Banking