Some Seniors Look To Pro Bono Attorneys To Undo Damage Done In Real Estate Scams

A recent article in Newsday recounts two stories in downstate New York of elderly victims of real estate scams who have sought help from local attorneys working on a pro bono basis to recover some of what they have been swindled out of.

In a Nassau County case involving a foreclosure rescue scam:

• Attorneys Douglas Good and Jennifer Hillman of the Uniondale firm Ruskin Moscou Faltischek worked pro bono to arrange a settlement for [homeowner Priscila] Nano in which she eventually got back most of the value of her home. Additionally, the "mortgage broker" who scammed Nano has been told by the courts to pay her a $3.5 million judgment, although he has few documented assets.

In a Queens County case involving alleged deed thefts of two homes through forgery from an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer's:

• Artee McKoy, 94, had two homes stolen "out from under him," according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown (see Queens County DA's news release). [... The two suspects] are charged with multiple counts of grand larceny totaling $800,000 and are out on bail.

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• Ann Goldweber, director of the Elder Law Clinic at St. John's University School of Law, is working for convictions in McKoy's case and to have McKoy's finances made whole again. "Our position is he should get back title to both homes and not be responsible for paying back the mortgage, which is held by HSBC. Anything McKoy signed should be voided because of his lack of competency," said Goldweber.

For the story, see Seniors, be wary of scam artists who target you.