A North Palm Beach law firm accused of sending false and misleading advertisements to homeowners across the nation was placed into receivership and had its accounts frozen by regulators.
Hoffman Law Group was hit with a joint lawsuit filed by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Attorney and firm owner Marc Hoffman and business managers Michael Harper and Benn Wilcox were also named in the complaint.
The lawsuit alleges that Hoffman Law got millions of dollars from homeowners, according to the South Florida Business Journal. The firm would solicit distressed property owners and offer debt forgiveness, mortgage modifications and cash if they participated in lawsuits filed against lenders.
“Florida’s distressed homeowners should not have to worry about being swindled by scammers who hide behind law firms to try to avoid the MARS rule,” Bondi said in a written statement. “I appreciate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s partnership in this effort to protect Florida’s homeowners.” [South Florida Business Journal] — Eric Kalis