Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Friday, August 31, 2012

 

Page 15

 

SNIPPETS (Column)

State Supreme Court to Hear Arguments in Mobile Home Case

 

The California Supreme Court will hear arguments in the long-running case of Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates, LLC v. City of Los Angeles S187243 on Wednesday at 9 a.m., according to a court statement. A petition for review was granted after the Court of Appeal reversed an order granting a petition for writ of administrative mandate, the statement added.

According to court officials, the case presents the following issues:

“(1) Do the Mello Act and the California Coastal Act apply to the conversion of a mobile home park to resident ownership in the park is located within the coastal zone. (2) Do the limits imposed by Government Code section 66427.5 on the scope of an application for conversion of such a mobile home park to resident ownership prohibit the local authority from requiring compliance with the Mello Act and the California Coastal Act when the mobile home park is located within the coastal zone?”

The court is hearing the case in San Francisco.

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris said yesterday that the final parts of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights have passed out of both legislative houses and have been sent to the governor’s desk for his signature.

“The entire Homeowner Bill of Rights legislative package will ensure fair lending and borrowing practices for California homeowners,” Harris said. “California has been the epicenter of the foreclosure crisis and this package of legislation will help affected homeowners, tenants and neighborhoods.”

Senate Bill 1474 by Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, gives the Attorney General’s Office the ability to use a statewide grand jury to investigate and indict the perpetrators of financial crimes involving homeowner victims in multiple counties.

Assembly Bill 1950, by Assemblyman Mike Davis, D-Los Angeles, extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting mortgage related crimes from one year to three years, giving the Department of Justice the ability to investigate and prosecute complex mortgage fraud crimes.

On Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk is also Assembly Bill 2610 by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, which will require purchasers of foreclosed homes to give tenants at least 90 days before starting eviction proceedings. If the tenant has a fixed-term lease, the new owner must honor the lease unless the owner demonstrates that certain exceptions intended to prevent fraudulent leases apply.

Already signed into law is Assembly Bill 2314 Assemblymember Wilmer Carter, D-Rialto, which provide additional tools to local governments and receivers to fight blight caused by proliferation of vacant homes in neighborhoods.

Two key parts of the Homeowner Bill of Rights passed out of both houses of the Legislature in June and were signed by Brown. Those bills, which came out a bicameral conference committee, provide protections for borrowers and struggling homeowners, including a restriction on dual-track foreclosures, where a lender forecloses on a borrower despite being in discussions over a loan modification to save the home. The bills also guarantee struggling homeowners a single point of contact at their lender with knowledge of their loan and direct access to decision makers.

Once signed into law, the completed Homeowner Bill of Rights will take effect on January 1, 2013.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association Domestic Violence Project will Thursday evening once again offer its volunteer training. This training will continue for six months and includes three hours of MCLE credit. Successful trainees can provide a valuable service to a vulnerable population and gain expertise in the field of family law, according to LACBA. Attorneys, legal professionals and law students are eligible to volunteer for the two 3-hour sessions per month for the six months.

No previous experience is required, according to LACBA.

According to a LACBA statement:

“DVP volunteers make a difference every day when they assist victims of domestic violence. Last year, LACBA Domestic Violence Project helped more than 9,000 persons...Volunteers interview victims on a one-on-one basis, gathering information with which to complete complicated legal documents. This allows the victims to file for restraining orders with professionally prepared Petitions.”

Speakers are expected to include Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David S. Cunningham III. Dinner will be provided.

The training will take place at LACBA’s offices on the 27th Floor of 1055 W. 7th Street. Registration begins at 5:15 p.m. Information is available by telephoning 213-627-2727.

The San Fernando Valley Bar Association notes that it will be moving its offices over the Labor Day weekend. The organization, which includes more than 2,000 members, will transfer its operations from its former Woodland Hills quarters at 21250 Califa St. to a new location at Suite 200, 5567 Reseda Blvd. in Tarzana Hills. The move is expected to be completed by Tuesday. According to an SFVBA statement:

“All other contact information remains the same.”

The Los Angeles County Association of District Attorneys (ADDA) will be sponsoring a DA Candidates’ Forum Thursday, Sept. 20.

ADDA Business Representative Tris Carpenter states: “We would like to solicit questions from ADDA members for consideration in the debate. If you have a question that you would like the candidates to answer, please keep it brief and send it to [me,] the union’s business representative.”

Carpenter stressed that due to time limitations, only questions from ADDA members will be asked at the event. But she added that the public and the media are also being invited

The moderator is expected to be LA Weekly journalist Gene Maddaus, according to Carpenter, and the forum will be held in the Japanese American National Museum at 369 East First Street in downtown Los Angeles. The contact phone number is 213-252-1313.

A Wednesday $200 per person fundraiser for Los Angeles District Attorney Candidate and Chief Deputy District Attorney Jackie Lacey was attended by some 120 persons, according to the Los Angeles Dragnet website.

The event was held at the Foundry on Melrose in Hollywood.

According to the Dragnet site:

“District Attorney Steve Cooley’s support for Lacey as ‘most qualified’ to replace him when he steps down after a record three terms as L. A.’s chief prosecutor is well known. [Wednesday night], however, he delegated the task of introducing Lacey to his daughter, Deputy District Attorney Shannon Cooley. Shannon spoke passionately about Lacey’s candidacy, and her oratory left little doubt that she has learned well from the master of the short, succinct introduction.”

 

Copyright 2012, Metropolitan News Company