(Reuters) - Kamala Harris takes over as California's attorney general next week with dodgy bank foreclosure practices in her sights and lawsuits against major banks in her realm of possibilities.
For the up-and-coming Democratic star -- the state's first woman, South Indian and African American attorney general -- her predecessor and California Governor-elect Jerry Brown is a model to follow in cracking down on lenders.
But while Brown scored an early settlement against banks as home foreclosures mushroomed in California, other states have been more aggressive of late. Borrower activists are hoping Harris will make the most populous U.S. state a more powerful ally against the banks.
Mortgage servicers have come under fire in recent months for abuses of the foreclosure process, prompting the nation's 50 state attorneys general to coordinate an investigation of lenders such as Bank of America (BAC.N), JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Ally Financial's GMAC unit.
This month, Arizona and Nevada, two neighboring states hit very hard by foreclosures, took a more aggressive stance and filed lawsuits against Bank of America.
Harris told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday that litigation is one potential course, along with discussions with lenders.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BR3UD20101228
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