Dec 3, 2007 6:48 pm US/Eastern
Md.'s Highest Court To Hear Appeal In Foreclosure
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) ―
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Maryland's highest court is scheduled Monday to hear a case that could change how lower courts handle foreclosure cases.
The Maryland Court Of Appeals is asked to decide a case that experts say could have a widespread impact on how some foreclosures in the state are handled.
Pat Warren reports, the case revolves around a Howard County man who claims his house was stolen from him.
Foreclosures have become a dominant issue in the housing market.
While some are losing their homes because they've fallen behind in payments, Kwaku Atta Poku lost his Howard County home when refinancing, the company failed to pay off his mortgage, and he couldn't prove he didn't owe.
The lower court ruled in favor of the mortgage company. Maryland's highest court is now deciding if the process was fair.
"Because of the technicality, there's no justice, and I don't get justice. I want my house back. I want my house back. They ripped me off, and the Lord knows they ripped me off," said Atta Poku.
The Court Of Appeals is one arena. Governor O'Malley put foreclosures on the front burner.
A taskforce recommending the state increase protection for home owners, ensure the integrity of the industry, strengthen law and enforcement against fraud, and improve Maryland's foreclosure process.
Meanwhile, the Atta Poku case could change how lower courts handle foreclosure cases.
"It's a very important case for that reason because we want anyone in his situation to have the law reflect that they do have the right to go after the people who wrongfully foreclosed," said Peter Holland from the Holland Law Firm.
"If they did it to me, they will be doing it to other citizens like me, and I'm an American citizen, and they shouldn't do this to anybody.
If the judges here in this country believe in justice and they want to give to the people of this great country, they should give me my house back," said Atta Poku.
That may not happen, but this case could be a turning point.
For home owners seeking assistance or information, the HOPE hotline number is 1-877-462-7555.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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