Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Abraham Bates is a foreclosure-defense attorney practicing in Utah. Based out of Salt Lake City, his practice covers the entire state of Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California, and he is the Managing Partner of a law firm with attorneys licensed in the states of Nevada, Arizona and California. Abe is a committed defender of the rights of homeowners and he strongly believes that homeownership - including having equity in your home - is fundamental to the fabric of democracy and American society.

As Managing Partner of Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Legal Defense Advocates, Abe manages a team of over 30 attorneys, housing paralegals, forensic loan auditors, loan modification staff, and others who share his commitment to hold the Big Banks accountable for their unconscionable, predatory lending behavior - lending behavior that is directly responsible for the foreclosure crisis, economic depression and 10% unemployment rate that we as citizens and homeowners currently face. Many of the committed staff which Abe manages formerly worked for what he calls "the dark side," meaning employees of foreclosure service agents of the Big Banks and attorneys and mortgage lenders who made hundreds of millions of dollars of sub-prime loans before the collapse of the housing market. Now that these staff members have "seen the light" and recognize the problems with the lenders and servicers for whom they previously worked, they are incredibly useful tools to the Firm's foreclosure-defense practice given their intimate knowledge of the dirty tricks, deceptive practices, concealment, fraud and other bad acts perpetrated by the Big Banks (and the 400+ failed sub-prime lenders whose loans the Big Banks purchased with tax-payer (TARP) money) and the servicers who foreclose upon homeowners based on fraudulently executed (robo-signature) documents and false sworn testimony regarding possession of a homeowner's "wet-ink" mortgage promissory note.

Wasatch Advocates, the Utah-focused foreclosure-defense practice which Abe manages, has filed over 100 cases in the last six months in defense of the rights of homeowners in foreclosures. He has won numerous victories after evidentiary hearings and achieved settlements whereby homeowners get principal reductions and affordable fixed interest rates instead of the predatory sub-prime mortgages which they previously faced. For homeowners who want to move out of their homes, Abe has secured deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure, credit repair, and favorable short sale approval terms (along with credit repair), enabling the homeowner to walk away from their home without the consequences of a foreclosure. Abe is also spearheading an effort in the 2011 Utah legislative session to enact mandatory foreclosure-mediation laws which would requires the banks and securitized trusts to send a representative authorized to execute a loan modification, short sale approval, or deed-in-lieu, before any foreclosure of a home in Utah can occur. The local and national media frequently call on Abe for comment on MERS, the foreclosure crisis, and solutions to the national foreclosure crisis "Prof Says Banks Undermined the System (SLTRIB)."

Abe is also a long-time friend and colleague of Associate Dean Christopher Peterson at the University of Utah College of Law. Dean Peterson is the leading expert in the country on the issue of MERS and, while not formally associated as an attorney of the firm, provides valuable insight and assistance with Abe's efforts to defend homeowners facing foreclosure. Additionally, Dean Peterson serves as an Expert Witness on a number of the cases which Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Legal Defense Advocates prosecutes in defense of homeowners facing foreclosure.

LITIGATION VICTORIES

Abe secured the first-ever ruling on the merits against the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS") in Utah after an evidentiary hearing for a preliminary injunction within hours of the homeowner's foreclosure sale. Abe also secured the first-ever injunction in a foreclosure case awarded by Chief Judge Tena Campbell of the United States District Court in Utah against Provident Funding, based on Provident's negligent misrepresentations, bad faith and unfair dealing in servicing the homeowner's loan. Abe has also won a handful of "free and clear" (Quiet Title) judgments on behalf of homeowners, although this strategy is not a primary focus of Homeowner Legal Defense Advocate's efforts. Abe is currently involved in several state-wide class actions designed to bring down foreclosure-rescue scams, is involved in planning a national class-action lawsuit against MERS and the Big Banks, and is appealing two non-judicial foreclosure cases to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and to the Utah Supreme Court.

OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE

Abe is a strong believer that everybody should have access to an aggressive and empathetic foreclosure-defense attorney and has built Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Legal Defense Advocates with a team of staff dedicated and committed to keeping clients updated on the status of their litigation while simultaneously making efforts to ease the anxiety and trauma that comes with the foreclosure process. He believes that you have a right to know exactly what is going on in your case, your available legal and non-legal remedies, your chances of success, and what it will cost you to prosecute your claims against the Big Banks. The Firm offers free consultations and advice as a matter of course, and provides documents at no charge which homeowners can use on their own to preserve their rights and prevent negative credit reporting prior to a foreclosure. Wasatch Advocates and Homeowner Defense Legal Advocates want to ensure that every homeowner understands the process, the timelines, the defenses available, and the legal and non-legal remedies a homeowner may take on their own, or with the assistance of a foreclosure-defense attorney, to stave off foreclosure.

EARLY CAREER

Prior to law school, Abe worked for two powerful and well-connected members of the United States House Of Representatives in Washington, D.C. Abe then returned to his home in Utah, where he worked as a chemical addiction counselor. Abe also helped start several high-technology companies in the mid- to late-1990s. Each of these experiences has enabled Abe to build Homeowner Defense Legal Advocates, a regional law firm committed to defending homeowners facing foreclosure in four out of the five "hardest hit" states in the country (Nevada, Arizona, California, and Utah), whether through driving legislative action, training his staff to empathize with homeowners who face the emotional and psychological trauma that is a natural consequence of the prospect of losing the family home, and by using the Internet to educate homeowners nationwide of their rights both and prior to foreclosure.

Saunders Law is a small, boutique law firm located in Park City, Utah. At Saunders Law, we are committed to pursuing innovative, creative, and progressive approaches to solve your legal issues and problems. We offer services in business and contract law, landlord/tenant law, and DUI defense. As a small firm, we are able to provide exceptional and professional representation to our clients without losing a personal connection.

Bearnson & Caldwell, LLC was formed in 2011 by Brad H. Bearnson and Wayne K. Caldwell. Brad & Wayne created their firm to focus their efforts on practice areas directly aimed at serving their clients and their clients' specific needs. Bearnson & Caldwell, LLC serves clientele in the practice areas of Personal Injury, Criminal Law, Family Law, Social Security & Disability, Estate Planning, Business Law, Tax Law, Medical Malpractice, Labor & Employment, Real Estate Law and Litigation.

Geniel M. Ashcraft, Esq. has nearly eight years of experience as an estate, tax, and business planning attorney and has helped hundreds of clients complete their estates. Ms. Ashcraft is known for her service, attention to detail, and down to earth manner. Ms. Ashcraft mainly conducts her business through house calls. Her clients find they appreciate the convenience, her easy-to-understand approach, and personal attention.

Geniel started her law practice in July of 2002. Geniel is admitted to practice in both Washington and Utah. She is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western Washington District and the United States District Court of Utah. She is an active member of the Washington and Utah Bar Associations.

In addition to providing service to her own clients, she has worked alongside several investment firms and banks providing their clients with estate planning assistance. She has also spoken at many seminars on estate planning.

She received her Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2001.

I have practiced in Park City, Utah for 15 years, always maintaining strong relationships with colleagues and professionals in the courts and community.

Aggressive, strategic and experienced legal representation. Aviation, product liability, construction, contract and personal injury litigation.

Bankruptcy Attorney. We file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. Free Consultation.

We are a debt relief agency under the United States Bankruptcy Code. We help people file for bankruptcy relief.

Over 30 years experience in Estate Planning, Business Law and Company Formation, Asset Protection, Elder Law, Real Estate and Tax Planning.

Former Managing Partner at large Salt Lake City law firm.
Rated AV, the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell the pre-eminent lawyer ratings service.
Featured in Top 100 Utah Lawyers, Utah Business Magazine.
Law Practice with significant management experience in law, business and real estate.
Complex and simple estate planning, company formation, large and small business ventures and transactions, real estate transactions,1031 exchange transactions, business advising, and asset protection.
Frequent speaker at conferences on business, trust, estate planning and tax planning workshops and seminars.
Managed the largest private brownfield redevelopment and environmental remediation site in the country (former Geneva Steel near Provo, Utah) for nearly 5 years until returned to law practice.

Jared Pearson is a licensed Utah litigation attorney. Before coming to Salcido Law Firm Jared practiced law in both Salt Lake and Utah County and represented companies and individuals in a number of matters, including family law, contract disputes, personal injury, real estate transactions, criminal prosecution, and bankruptcy.

Jared is an experienced bankruptcy attorney that has handled many Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. Jared has the knowledge and resources to handle any consumer bankruptcy case from start to finish and has the experience to foresee specific issues based on the unique circumstances of any given case and the best way to overcome potential obstacles. Jared is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA).

In addition, Jared's knowledge and experience in other avenues of law, from family law to criminal defense, allows him to offer his clients representation in a wide range of legal matters. Jared takes pride in the fact that most of his cases stem from client referrals or repeat business.

Jared is committed to giving back to the community and he offers bro bono services to those in need on a case by case basis. Jared has handled bankruptcies, divorces, contract disputes, business formations, and many other cases on a pro bono basis.