EL PASO – According to the FBI, Texas is among the top ten states victimized by mortgage fraud. Mortgage fraud can be committed by a borrower or lender. But, if you're a homeowner, and you're about to unjustly lose your property, what do you do?
That's what one El Paso woman is trying to figure out. She paid her mortgage, but is still facing foreclosure. She told Newschannel 9 she's not going down without a fight.
We introduced you to Bea Huml back in February. She was then, and remains, in a desperate situation.
"They could send a Justice of the Peace [here] and they could throw my stuff out on the front lawn,” said Huml.
Huml fears that she may lose her house at any moment; if that happens, both she, and her 96-year-old mother will be homeless.
“You cannot live a normal life because if you go to a store...and I live with mom,
who's 96-years-old, am I going to come home and she's going to be out on the street? What's going to happen?” said Huml.
Huml has been fighting to keep her home since last year. She said she paid her mortgage on time every month. So, she assumed the late notices from Citibank were a mistake. But then, the bank started returning her checks; and when she contacted her lender to fix the problem, Huml said she was told what no homeowner wants to hear.
“[They said] we're going to foreclose your home. [I said], 'but, I made my payments'” said Huml.
When Huml took a closer look at the foreclosure documents, she noticed that the name "Beverly Mitrisin" appears as a substitute trustee several times. However, the same name is signed several times, with different signatures.
Huml is represented by Richard Roman. Roman says his client is a victim of robosigning. Some of the country's biggest banks have been accused of using this illegal process--- not validating signatures, to expedite foreclosures.
Roman took Huml's case and several other suspected robosigning cases to county court last month. He said he gave the court a presentation, showing how his clients are victims of robosigning.
“These documents are very, very clear evidence that they are not being done correctly and peoples' rights are being trampled on by the large banks,” said Roman.
Roman said when he gave his presentation, the defense lawyers didn't show up to court that day. But, the county judge did something that few judges in the country have done--- ordering the banks to bring their robosigners to court. She also put the homeowners' evictions on hold.
"It's the just decision, and it's a very courageous decision because it's a step forward for the citizens in El Paso County,” said Roman.
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