Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

I focus on a variety of family law issues: divorces, custody disputes, visitation, alimony. Also, I handle grandparent visitation and adoption cases. I have been maintaining an office in Bountiful, Utah since 2000. I am a member of the Utah State Bar Family Law Section. I provide individualized solution to clients' unique problems.

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.

Jerry Salcido
Salt Lake City, UT
Partner

Phone (801) 207-8212 (Local)
(888) 337-3235 (Toll Free)
Fax (801) 207-8212
Email jerry@salcidolaw.com

Jerry Salcido is a trial and appellate lawyer who is licensed to practice law in Utah, California, and Arizona and a founding Member of Salcido Law Firm PLLC. Before founding Salcido Law Firm, Jerry practiced litigation in the San Francisco Bay Area from 2004 to 2009, including at the world's largest law firm Baker & McKenzie LLP. In doing so, Jerry gained invaluable experience in representing everyone from the local individual to the multinational Fortune 500 company. In addition to having appeared countless times before both state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels, Jerry has experience in mediation and international arbitration.

Jerry has substantial experience in representing individuals injured in various ways including car accidents, slip and falls, and through medical malpractice. Among other things, Jerry's criminal experience includes a stint with the Utah County Public Defender's office where he defended numerous individuals accused of crimes such as DUI, drug possession, and other crimes. Jerry has also provided pro bono services to disabled children and victims of domestic violence which has even included filing a brief with the United States Supreme Court on their behalf.

Along with representing individuals, Jerry has represented financial institutions, energy companies, technology companies, charitable organizations, medical companies, and a wide array of other small and large businesses in all types of litigation including contract disputes, shareholder disputes, and breaches of fiduciary duties.

Jerry strives to use his experience to protect constitutional and natural rights. In 2008, after the California Court of Appeals ruled that homeschooling is illegal without a state teaching certificate, Jerry represented California Homeschool Network in persuading the court to reverse its decision, thereby protecting the rights of the nearly three hundred thousand California children who receive their education at home. Jerry also has served on the legal team of the Homeschool Association of California for four years, and served as its legal chair.

Education:

* Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School, 2004
Juris Doctor, cum laude
* Brigham Young University, 2001
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude - History

Bar Admissions:

* California 2004
* Arizona 2008
* Utah 2008

Professional Affiliations:

* California State Bar
* Arizona State Bar
* Utah State Bar
* American Bar Association
* J. Reuben Clark Law Society

Notable Cases:

* Jonathan L. v Superior Court, 165 Cal.App.4th 1074 (2008) -- represented California Homeschool Network in the landmark case that cemented the rights of parents to homeschool their children in California.

Publications:

* Upholding Comity, The Daily Journal, April 10, 2008
* Lockeing Up Leviathan, Campaign for Liberty, May 13, 2009
* The Separation of Marriage and State, Campaign for Liberty, May 21, 2009
* The Return of America's Anathema, Campaign for Liberty, July 18, 2009
* Publik Edumacation Refermation, Campaign for Liberty, September 3, 2009
* Independence Needs Independents, Campaign for Liberty, September 23, 2009
* Obama Deserved It, Campaign for Liberty, October 10, 2009
* Save Those Bullets for the Monsters, Campaign for Liberty, November 23, 2009
* Too Kooky for the Constitution, Campaign for Liberty, November 26, 2009

Community Involvement

* Chairman, Alameda County Republican Party, 2009
* Legal Chair, HomeSchool Association of California, 2009
* Legal Team Member, HomeSchool Association of California, 2005 - 2009
* Legal Team Member, California Homeschool Network, 2008 - 2009

Awards:

* Pro bono volunteer of the year, Baker & McKenzie LLP, San Francisco/Palo Alto, 2008.

Websites:

http://www.salcidolaw.com
http://www.utahdefenders.com

Shortly after I graduated from law school, I started with a Salt Lake City firm where I represented persons who had been injured due to the carelessness or recklessness of someone else. I enjoyed what I did and took great satisfaction in helping real people, not insurance companies or corporations. I decided that this was the area of law I wanted to devote my legal career to.

I now own my own law firm, Kramer Law Group. We represent the same sorts of people I represented when I first started practicing. And I still enjoy it!

Our focus here is on personal injury law. Our cases mostly involve car accidents, motorcycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. We also handle slip and falls, dog bites, etc. And a small part of our practice is devoted to sexual harassment cases. We have experience handling cases involving brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, herniated and bulging disks, fractures, lacerations, burns, bites, etc.

We are based in Draper, Utah, which is in southern Salt Lake County. We also have an office in Utah County, located in Provo at 495 N. University. Even though our offices are in Northern Utah, we have handled, and continue to handle cases throughout the state of Utah. In Northern Utah, we represent the areas of Alpine, American Fork, Bountiful, Cedar Hills, Clinton, Cottonwood, Duchesne, Eagle Mountain, Farmington, Herriman, Highland, Holladay, Kearns, Layton, Lehi, Lindon, Magna, Murray Nephi, North Salt Lake, Ogden, Orem, Payson, Pleasant Grove, Price, Provo, Riverton, Roosevelt, Sandy, Santaquin, Saratoga Springs, South Jordan, Spainish Fork, Springville, Sugarhouse, Taylorsville, Vernal, West Jordan, and West Valley.

Throughout the state, we service:
St. George
Moab
Vernal
Price
Beaver
Nephi
Logan

If I didn't mention it above, we handle the following kinds of cases:

PERSONAL INJURY AND ACCIDENTS

* Asbestos Exposure
* Auto Accident
* Truck Semi AccidentM
* Motorcycle Accident
* Car Accident
* Pedestrian Accidents
* Dog Bite and other Animal Bites
* Back Injury
* Neck Injury
* Brain Injury
* Birth Injury
* Boating Accident
* Construction Worker Injuries
* Dangerous Product Liability
* Recalled Products
* Sexual Harassment
* Hospital Negligence
* Doctor Negligence
* Physician Negligence
* Prescription Drug Medicine
* Lead Paint Exposure
* Medical Malpractice
* Nursing Home Neglect
* Nursing Home Abuse
* Slip or Fall
* Wrongful Death
* Sexual Abuse
* Sexual Molestation

We focus on comprehensive estate planning, including matters of tax and business planning and health and financial planning.

When planning hasn't happened or has been inadequate, we handle all kinds of probate issues and probate litigation.

Family and small business oriented law firm where you can get an appointment the day you need one. Lonnie's general practice includes Estate Planning (wills & trusts), Family law (divorce, adoptions, guardianships), Business organizations (partnerships, corporations, LLC's) and wrongful injury law. Your legal issue is important, and will be handled efficiently and professionally.

Perry represents clients on a broad array of intellectual property matters. His experience includes complex patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret litigation, domain name dispute resolution, patent and trademark licensing, merger acquisitions and other technology based transactions, intellectual property due diligence, European drug regulatory litigation, and consultation regarding various foreign intellectual property matters.

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.

My law practice is dedicated to helping individuals who have been injured in an accident due to someone else's negligence. I handle cases throughout the State of Utah involving wrongful death, car accidents, slip and fall, dog bite, product liability, brain injury, etc.

Leonor has been practicing exclusively immigration law for over 15 years. She represents clients in immigration court, Citizenship & Immigration Services, the Board of Immigration Appeals and Federal Court.
Leonor has been an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) for over 15 years and has served as the Utah Chair and other executive positions. She is current the Chair of the AILA/Immigration Court Liaison Committee.

Steven L. Rinehart is a registered Utah patent attorney who prepares patents and trademarks. He obtained his J.D. from the University of Utah, and studied Computer Science, Naval Science and English as an undergraduate at BYU. Steve regularly files patents on improved mechanical devices. Steve is the founder of www.theopticon.com, a free legal file exchange for attorneys and non-attorneys.

JEFF D. RIFLEMAN, Attorney at Law, Mediator

Mr. Rifleman holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree (J.D.) from St. Mary's University School of Law of San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Rifleman completed his undergraduate work by earning his Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) in Consumer and Community Studies from the University of Utah. Additionally, Mr. Rifleman received training and certificates in Mediation and is qualified as a court appointed mediator in Texas courts, trained in peer-school mediation, family dispute/divorce mediation, domestic violence, and has volunteered time mediating small claims cases in Utah courts.

Practice Areas:
Family Law, Simple Misdemeanors, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Wills and Estates, Real Estate Law.

Admitted:
Utah Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the District of Utah
Member, Utah State Bar

Leadership:
Past President Alternative Dispute Resolution Association, St. Mary's University School of Law

Contact:
jeff.rifleman@gmail.com
801-566-1884 (office)
801-510-0503 (cell)

Areas Served:

Herriman, Bluffdale, Copperton, Bingham, West Jordan, South Jordan, Riverton, Draper, Sandy. Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Tooele, Summit, Weber and outlying counties.

Brett’s practice focuses primarily on patent procurement, and includes extensive experience with both U.S. and foreign patents. Brett has drafted and prosecuted patent applications for a wide range of technologies. Brett has experience with patent appeals, patent re-examination and reissue proceedings, patent infringement analysis, and freedom to operate analysis, as well as experience with trademark prosecution and enforcement, copyright filings, and litigation.

I'm a graduate of the University of La Verne College of Law in Ontario, CA. I practice law in Salt Lake City, Utah with a focus on immigration law. I speak English and Spanish.

Prior to opening Utah Lease Law, Dean served as in-house counsel for a national commercial real estate owner and developer, where he performed virtually all legal and pre-development responsibilities in connection with the acquisition, entitlement, development, leasing and disposition of single-tenant and shopping center projects from 1 to 40 acres in multiples states. For complete profile and services visit www.UtahLeaseAttorney.com

Mr. Carman has been practicing law in Salt Lake City, Utah for over 30 years. He has substantial experience in estate planning, tax law and business matters. He has received the highest ratings from other practicing attorneys who are familiar with his work.