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United States Government Accountability Office GAO Report to Congressional Requesters

GAO Report on Independent Foreclosure Reviews Exposes OCC, Fed’s Plan to Deliberately Minimize Evidence of Borrower Harm

FORECLOSURE REVIEW Lessons Learned Could Enhance Continuing Reviews and Activities under Amended Consent Orders The Government Accountability Office released their second report on the Independent Foreclosure Reviews. At...more

Financial Services Legislative And Regulatory Update -- March 11‚ 2013

In This Issue: Leading the Past Week; Legislative Branch; Executive Branch; and Upcoming Hearings. Excerpt from Leading the Past Week - As the first full week of the Federal government’s sequestration comes to a...more

CFPB on sequester list

Although the CFPB receives its funding from the Federal Reserve and not through the congressional appropriations process, it is still on the list of agencies whose funding will be cut by the sequester. According to the report...more

Too Big to Exclude; Too Much Wrongdoing to Ignore

A 2007 audit initiated by a Medicare Program Safeguard Contractor (PSC) discovered that a North Carolina provider had a high incidence of inpatient billings for patients who did not stay in the hospital overnight. The PSC's...more

Hawaii SB768: Bill for an Act relating to Internet Gaming

Hawaii SB768: Bill for an Act relating to Internet Gaming. --- "BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: [Excerpts] SECTION 1. The legislature finds that internet wagering on games of chance and...more

Business News Digest – December 2012

In this issue: - CFPB Issues Affinity Credit Card Report to Congress: How Nonprofits Can Minimize Their Legal and Tax Risk - FCPA Guidance: Déjà Vu All Over Again - Federal Ban on Government Contractor...more

Solar Power Purchase Agreements: Tips and Tricks Part 1

Solar power panels on residential rooftops are an increasingly common sight these days. But the legal mechanics behind the development and delivery of solar power to consumers can be complex. There are several alternative...more

International Entities Need to Start Collection Efforts on Business Debt Early for Best Results

International companies that do business in the U.S. will at one time or another likely encounter a situation where a U.S.-based customer defaults on its debt. In this case, it is important for the international entity to...more

New Jersey False Claims Act Is Not Retroactive

Qui tam claims by whistleblowers or relators are most commonly brought under the federal False Claims Act for 15-30% of whatever funds the Government recoups from Medicare fraud as an example. Yet, some states have legislated...more

FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL

FHFA’s Oversight of Fannie Mae’s Default-Related Legal Services

Why FHFA-OIG Did This Audit In 1997, the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae or Enterprise) established its Retained Attorney Network (RAN) to acquire default-related legal services associated with foreclosure,...more

Bankruptcy Options for When You Can't Raise Your Debt Ceiling

It is an interesting comparison to watch what is going on Washington with their attempts to raise the debt ceiling and comparing that to your own debt issues. The government has bills to pay, no money, and so it wants its...more

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES- COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) letter asking the Inspector General of the FHFA to examine “widespread allegations of abuse by...

Cummings Applauds End of “Retained Attorney Network”; Warns That Fannie and Freddie Must Ensure that Foreclosure Lawyers Follow the Law Washington, DC (Nov. 9, 2012) Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the...more

Seneca County Attorney Recovers $570,000 for Taxpayers

The office of Steven Getman Seneca County Attorney, on its own and with other agencies, collected over half a million dollars for taxpayers in 2006, according to the office’s annual report to the Seneca County Board of...more

Central NY Auto Repair Business Sued For Fraudulent Billing

Attorney General Spitzer today announced a lawsuit against a garage operator alleged to have engaged in fraudulent billing for repairs on county-owned vehicles. Spitzer thanked Steven Getman Seneca County Attorney and the...more

U.S. ex rel. Stephen Paranich v. Sorngard, Irwin Leasing Corp

Physician as Whistleblower on Notice:Unnecessary Additional Information seen by Government as Self-Motivated Desire to be...

Physician as whistleblower or relator in a qui tam claim, pursuant to the False Claims Act, responded too vigorously to a limited Government subpoena by unnecessary and intensive internal investigations viewed by the...more