My sense of anger at consumers who are just sitting on the sidelines and turning homes over to banks has reached a boiling point.  Just this week alone I’ve had to sit in courtrooms silently, trying desperately to restrain myself when I want to stand up and scream

DAMMNIT, THAT BANK HAS ZERO CASE AND THAT FAMILY SHOULD NOT LOSE THE HOME!

But the homeowner did absolutely nothing to protect themselves. Many didn’t file anything when they were served….years and years ago.  Some filed pro se pleadings that do not protect them.  Others hired attorneys…and perhaps those attorneys did not do the best job.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF CONSUMERS DO NOT HIRE COMPETENT ATTORNEYS TO DEFEND THEM

And this failure, this unforgivable failure is the worst thing by far that is happening in courtrooms today.  This failure is especially damming in an area like the Tampa Bay area where the entire judicial system…especially in Pinellas County is working desperately hard to make sure that Due Process and rights of all individuals are respected.  I take great exception to any consumer who takes pot shots or who lodges criticism at the judges or court officials who are, by and large, fulfilling their sacred responsibility to ensure justice is done.  In my experience…and in the experience of the good consumer justice lawyers who work in this system, we know that rights are respected and consumers are protected.

And that’s what makes me angry.  I’m angry because I know that if a consumer merely took the time, put forth the effort to hire a good foreclosure defense attorney, they would, in all likelihood, come away with very real respect for the judges, the lawyers and the court system that exists to protect them.

The lawyers that practice good consumer defense serve not just our clients, but our communities. We serve not just clients, but the courts and we show consumers those highest aspirational values that all lawyers who respect the Oath of Admission to the Florida Bar.

I honor that code, but more than that, I’m going to go one step further here. I hear the complaints that consumers do not have the ability to pay for competent legal counsel and so I’m going to respond to this problem.  For at least until the end of the 2013,

My office is going to take on the representation of one family in Pinellas County for free. No Charge. No Cost.

FREE FORECLOSURE DEFENSE!

The fine print is I will give this to a family that truly has no ability to pay and it will be limited to my standard retainer agreement, but otherwise, I am offering the same foreclosure defense that I offer to all clients to a family that does not have the ability to pay.

Share this post and email me directly if you feel you qualify, weidnerlaw@yahoo.com