Last New Visitor Canada Visited January 27, 2011 |  | |
Thursday, January 27, 2011
11-01-27 Welcome Canada - Last New Visitor! // Bienvenido Canada - Visitante Mas Reciente! // 欢迎加拿大- 最后的新访问者！
11-01-27 US child appeals against being tried for murder as an adult // EE.UU.: El niño es juzgado como adulto por asesinato // 美国：儿童是因谋杀罪受审作为成人
US child appeals against being tried for murder as an adult
Jordan Brown, who was 11 when he allegedly killed his father's pregnant fiancee, could face life sentence with no parole
The following clarification was printed in the Guardian's Corrections and clarifications column, Thursday 27 January 2010
The report about a 13-year-old boy who shot and killed his father's fiancee in Pennsylvania described him as using "his own hunting rifle, a shotgun designed specifically for children". According to court documents the weapon used was a 20-gauge shotgun, which is not a rifle
Lawyers for a child in Pennsylvania who was 11 when he allegedly shot and killed his father's pregnant fiancee attempted today to persuade an appeals court not to try him as an adult under America's harsh system of juvenile justice.
Unless the lawyers for Jordan Brown who is now aged 13, can convince the judges to change tack, he will be tried in adult court and if convicted will serve an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole. He would become the youngest child in US history to be sentenced to be incarcerated forever.
The US is the only country where juveniles are serving life imprisonment without parole under the so-called "life means life" policy. Only the US and Somalia have refused to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which rules out life sentences with no chance of release for crimes committed before the age of 18.
Brown is accused of having killed Kenzie Houk, in February 2009 at her home in the countryside about 35 miles north-west of Pittsburgh. According to the prosecution, Brown shot her through the back of the head as she slept in her bedroom.
He is then alleged to have got on the school bus and gone to his elementary school as usual.
Houk, 26, was just two weeks away from her due date and her unborn child, who would have been called Christopher, died too. Brown has been charged with two counts of homicide.
Brown allegedly carried out the killing using his own hunting rifle, a shotgun designed specifically for children. The prosecution alleges that the killing was premeditated and they found residue from the gun on Brown's shoulder.
When he was first presented to court Brown was made to wear shackles around his wrists and ankles.
Human rights campaigners are protesting the treatment of Brown as an adult. Amnesty International said the move would be a violation of international law. "It is shocking that anyone this young could face life imprisonment without parole, let alone in a country which labels itself as a progressive force for human rights," said Susan Lee, head of the campaign's Americas operation.
The Sentencing Project, a Washington-based campaign, said no other country had juveniles serving life without parole. "That leads to only two conclusions: either kids in the US are far more violent than those in the rest of the world, or the US has developed uniquely harsh sentences."
At a federal level, the US penal system has been inching towards a more lenient approach to juvenile crime. In 2005 the US supreme court abolished the death penalty for under-18s.
Then last May it ruled that juveniles could not be subjected to life without parole for any crime other than homicide.
But that still leaves about 2,400 prisoners facing permanent imprisonment for homicides committed when they were children.
Pennsylvania, where all juveniles are automatically treated as adults unless a judge decides otherwise, heads the league table of 44 states that hand out the sentence, with about 450 cases.
Houk's death has divided the two families involved in their response to Brown's judicial treatment. The boy's father, Chris Brown, protests his son's innocence and says he has no idea what could await him.
"Try to explain to a 12-year-old what the rest of your life means. It's incomprehensible for him," he told ABC News last year.
The victim's mother, Deborah Houk, has pushed for the toughest sentence for the boy. "I can't stand this 'Oh, he's 11,' 'Oh, his clothes don't fit him,'" she told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review soon after her daughter's death. "He knew what he was doing. He killed my baby."
11-01-27 Dexia Holding v Countrywide and the Sub-prime Crisis - the Scope of the Fraud May Begin to Unfold //Crisis de las hipotecas de alto riesgo - el alcance del fraude puede comenzar a desarrollarse // 次贷危机-的欺诈范围可能开始展开
Dexia Holdings v Countrywide: The Scope of the Fraud on the People, on the US Congress, and on the International Community May Begin to Unfold
The complaint signals a break of ranks in the tight formation of banks, attorneys, judges, and regulators, and rebellion by northeastern states against fraud epidemic that was spawned in the southwest. "Corruption of the courts and the legal profession" is at the crux of the fraud.
Los Angeles, January 27 - upon review of the complaint in Dexia Holdings Inc et al v Countrywide Financial Corp et al,[[i]] it appears that the scope of the fraud on the People, on the US Congress, and on the international community, which is at the foundation of the financial crisis, may finally begin to unfold. The complaint exposes the essence of the criminality by large financial institutions such as Countrywide and BofA, and the scope of cover-up and deception by US government officers and agencies over the past decade.
The complaint was filed in the State of New York Court in Manhattan. The courts of the northeastern states, Massachusetts, New York, appear as a ray of hope. Removal of the complaint to the US District Court in Manhattan is likely to lead to conduct, similar to that which was seen last year in litigation of SEC v BAC under Judge Jed Rakoff, alleged as Fraud on the Court. [[ii]]
The public must perform its civic duty and closely monitor the conduct of the litigation.
Core allegations of 'massive fraud'
The complaint focuses on two aspects of the "massive fraud" and recklessness in the Los Angeles County, California, based Countrywide Financial Corporation:
� Fraud on the US treasury through a decade-long reckless underwriting of government-backed sub-prime loans;
� Fraud in funding the US-backed loans while failing to secure real property titles as collaterals;
� Fraud on other financial institutions through securitization of the resulting mortgages as high-grade investments.
Parts of the 'massive fraud' in underwriting and securitization are left out of the complaint
The complaint leaves out some key aspects of the fraud in underwriting and securitization:
a. At least since 2004, Countrywide engaged not only in the reckless underwriting of sub-prime loans, but also in the funding of sub-prime loans with no underwriting at all. US law enforcement and Banking Regulators were fully cognizant, but routinely refused to enforce the law. Later they told the US Congress and the People that there was no evidence of criminality at Countrywide.
b. The evidence shows large-scale fraud in the implementation of invalid electronic underwriting and document archiving systems at Countrywide and later at BofA. Therefore, the holders of the securities are left with no valid records, and the US with no valid data for risk assessment and risk reduction.
Other parts of the 'massive fraud' are left unmentioned, since they are not germane to the complaint
Other critical aspects of the fiasco are external to the causes of the complaint, but essential for understanding the causes of the current crisis and the likely future of the complaint :
� Under the Clinton administration banking deregulation was initiated, which was promoted by some prominent members of the rotating White House economic teams over the past two decades. It was continued in full force under the Bush administration.
� At the end of the Bush administration, when sub-prime lenders started to collapse, senior US officers coerced the Countrywide-BofA and Merrill Lynch-BofA mergers through alleged criminality. [[iii]]
� In recent years, fraud has become a routine in foreclosure proceedings, resulting in dispossession and looting of the home-owning US middle-class; it was conducted as a joint venture of banks, attorneys, and judges from coast to coast, with law enforcement non-existent. [[iv]]
"Corruption of the courts and the legal profession and discrimination by law enforcement" [[v]] are central to the crisis:
Law enforcement, the courts, and the legal profession are at the heart of the betrayal. Their part in the financial crisis is probably the least reported part of the crisis:
� In the decade prior to its collapse, alleged racketeering in the courts by the Legal Department of Countrywide, headed by then Chief Legal Officer Sandor Samuels (today - BofA Associate General Counsel) in collusion with large national law firms, such as Bryan Cave, LLP, was commonplace. Such conduct continues to this date by BofA.
In the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California, alleged racketeering was documented, in collusion with California judges, including, but not limited to, Jacqueline Connor, John Segal, Terry Friedman, Gerald Rosenberg, Patricia Collins, Lisa Hart-Cole, and in the US District Court in Los Angeles - US Judge Virginia Phillips, and US Magistrate Carla Woehrle, and former President of the LA Bar Association David Pasternak. Fraud expert, FBI veteran who was decorated by US Congress, US Attorney General, and FBI Director provided opinion of fraud in the case. Regardless, FBI and US DOJ refuse to this date to enforce the law in LA, even after Congressional Inquiries. [[vi],[vii],[viii]]
� In January 2008, the collapse of Countrywide was not caused by the failure of its loan portfolios. Instead, it was caused by news reports of conduct of attorneys on behalf of Countrywide in the US Court in Pennsylvania - the introduction as evidence of fraudulent computerized banking records ("recreated letters"). [[ix]]
� In March 2008, detailed evidence of the routine methods of Fraud on the Court by the Countrywide "legal team" was provided by the US Texas Court: appearances of outside attorneys, who were not authorized as Counsel of Record, with "no communications with client" clause. [[x]]
� In December 2008, central to the alleged criminality in the Merrill Lynch-BofA merger was the ouster on BofA General Counsel Timothy Mayopoulos, and his replacement by Brian Moynihan (today - BofA President), who at the time had no significant experience in the practice of the law. A series of investigations of the matter led nowhere. However, the evidence shows that Mayopoulos attempted to comply with the law, and that within 24 hours after Moynihan's appointment, alleged racketeering by the BofA "legal team" was resumed. [v,vi,vii]
� In late 2010, the use of fraudulent "robo-signatures" by banks in foreclosure proceeding was reported. [[xi]] It was not the high volume, which required the use of "robo-signatures" for generating fraudulent banking records in foreclosure proceedings. There simply were no valid banking records. The evidence in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide is likely to dwell on that point.
� In late 2010, Circuit Judge Jack Schramm Cox, Martin County, Florida, blocked efforts by the Florida Attorney General to investigate fraud by law firms in foreclosure proceedings. Of note, federal agencies failed to intervene. [[xii]] The ongoing wave of fraud in foreclosure proceedings across the US was not likely to take place, had attorneys not known that judges were going to accept fraudulent banking records as evidence, and that the risk of any law enforcement action was null.
� In 2009-10, Judge Jed Rakoff and Clerk Ruby Krajick, US District Court, Southern District of NY, Manhattan, colluded in alleged Fraud on the Court in SEC v BAC, a widely report case, which was meant to create the false appearance of effective banking regulation. [ii]
The tight linkage between judicial corruption and corruption of financial institutions is possibly the least reported part of the current crisis. California State Judge Terry Friedman, US Judge Virginia Phillips, and US Magistrate Carla Woehrle refused to provide statements on the record that they did not receive financial benefits from Countrywide or BofA.
Through such conduct in the courts, financial institutions and their executives were effectively vested in indemnity for both past and future criminality. [[xiii]]
Through it all, US banking regulators and law enforcement have repeatedly provided the US Congress and the People sworn testimonies that no criminality could be found in sub-prime lenders, and that the crisis was the outcome of changing market conditions. We have also been falsely told that banking regulation has been "shored up".
Although not directly linked to the banking crisis and fraud in the courts, Citizens United v FEC in the Supreme Court of the United States was the ultimate expression of this trend - a Robber Baron Rival Era under the stamp of legitimacy by the courts. [[xiv]]
The crisis was spawned in southwest, the northeast state courts provide a ray of hope
Already in the early 2000s, FBI reports distinguished Los Angeles County, California, home of Countrywide as "the epicenter of the epidemic of real estate and mortgage fraud, which is a high national priority to fight". The evidence shows that synergy between the Los Angeles Superior Court and Countrywide was integral to the distinction.
In contrast, the state courts and law enforcement in Massachusetts and New York may be the key for corrective actions:
� In April 2009 then New York state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued a letter to the US Senate as summary of his investigation into the Merrill Lynch-BofA merger. [iii] It described what analysts called a "criminal conspiracy" and "bigger than Watergate", involving Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, former BofA President Ken Lewis, and others. Cuomo proceeded to prosecute the case in the State of New York Court.
Perhaps most telling was the fact that Cuomo did not send his findings in a confidential memo to the FBI and US Attorney Office, but instead - in an open letter to the US Congress.
� Earlier this month a ruling was issued under US Bank v Antonio Ibanez in the Massachusetts Supreme Court, which may put an end to fraud in foreclosure proceedings in the courts in that state, or even void thousands of previously executed foreclosures. [[xv]]
� Now comes the filing of the complaint in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide in the Supreme Court New York. The ruling in US Bank v Antonio Ibanez was possibly part of the motivation for the filing of Dexia Holdings v Countrywide, since voiding of the fraudulent banking records leaves the investors in Countrywide�s securities with nothing at all.
The complaint in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide amounts to breaking of the ranks in the so-far tight formation of banks, judges, law-firms, and regulators. It pits Plaintiffs, mostly from New York, against Defendants, mostly from Los Angeles County, California. It also spills the beans on the false explanations for the crisis, which have been provided to the People of the US and the international community through numerous hearings, investigations, and court proceedings in recent years.
What next?
The Robber Baron Era of the late 19th century took several decades to undo. Today news and documents spread in incomparable speed. Leaks of BofA records are expected soon as well. Today's international arena, and US standing in it, are also incomparable to those of the previous century.
As a result, both the People of the US and the international community may soon be able to appreciate the scope of the fraud. It is claimed to be historically unprecedented, both in its dollar volume and in demonstrating the collapse of the frameworks of government in a "western democracy":
1) Honest discussion and reform of the state and US judiciary should start with no further delay.
Official FBI policy was stated in 2008 as follows: "FBI will pursue all allegations of judicial corruption vigorously, as public corruption violations are among the most serious of all criminal conduct and can tear at the fabric of a democratic society".
2) In view of the new evidence that is likely to emerge in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide, all past sworn testimonies by senior US officers from FBI, US Department of Justice, SEC, Office of the Controller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Reserve before US Congress should be carefully re-examined.
The public should be informed regarding the magnitude of the deception by such agencies.
3) The US government should enforce e-government laws and regulations on electronic banking systems.
The US Congress enacted laws, presidential directives were issued, regulations were promulgated, and systems were implemented for authentication and validation of e-government in the Executive Branch. The Basel Accords on international banking, likewise, require validation of electronic banking systems. Regardless, both underwriting and funding of sub-prime loans are conducted through invalid, unauthenticated systems.
An honest and courageous New York state judge can make a difference in this matter. On the other hand, removal of the case to the US District Court, Manhattan, may result in litigation of the kind that was seen in SEC v BAC last year, alleged as Fraud on the Court.
Therefore, the public should perform its civic duties and carefully scrutinize the conduct of all parties and particularly, conduct of the courts, in litigation of Dexia Holdings v Countrywide.
LINKS
[i] 11-01-24 Complaint in Dexia Holdings Inc et al v. Countrywide Financial Corp et al (650185/2011) New York State Supreme Court, New York County
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47636064/
[ii] 11-01-10 Request for investigation/impeachment proceedings, in re: US Judge JED RAKOFF and Clerk RUBY KRAJICK, US District Court, Southern District of New York, Conduct of Securities and Exchange Committee v Bank of America Corporation (1:09-cv-06829) s
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46616530/
[iii] 09-04-23 RE: SEC v BAC (1:09-cv-06829) State of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Letter to US Congress and analysts' responses:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/41079990/
[iv]10-10-08 a) AP - Bank of America Issues Nationwide Moratorium on Foreclosures, b) CNBC - Foreclosure Primer
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40470701/
[v] 10-04-19 Human Rights Alert (NG0) submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2010 Review (UPR) of Human Rights in the United States as incorporated into the UPR staff report with reference to "corruption of the courts and the legal profession"
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38566837/
[vi]10-05-05 Countrywide Bank of America NYSE BAC and its President Brian Moynihan Compilation of Records Evidence of Racketeering
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30975368/
[vii] 10-05-05 Chairs of US Congress Committees of the Judiciary and Banking Are Requested to Join Senator Feinstein's Inquiries on Comptroller of the Currency
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30979882/
[viii]10-07-06 Complaint Filed with US Attorney Office Los Angeles Against Moynihan Bank of America [NYSE:BAC] Bryan Cave LLP Alleging Racketeering
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33971099/
[ix] 08-01-08 Case of Borrower Diane Sharon Hills (01-22574) in the US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Countrywide's three "recreated letters", transcript, and news reports:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25003494/
[x] 08-03-05 Case of Borrower William Parsley (05-90374), Dkt #248: Judge Jeff Bohm's Memorandum Opinion, rebuking Countrywide's litigation practices, Countrywide's false outside counsel scheme - appearances by counsel who are not Counsel of Record, with "no communications with clients" clause:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25001966/
[xi] 10-09-22 Robo-Signatures - the latest computer fraud in US banking and courts
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47677150/
[xii] 10-12-29 Florida: Corruption of the Courts and the Legal Profession - with Impunity! State of Florida Attorney General v Fishman & Shapiro, LLP (4DI0-4526)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46028390/
[xiii] The Los Angeles Superior Court went as far as issuing a false "Indemnity Agreement" for Old Republic International, for what was later opined as Real Estate Fraud.
10-08-22 Samaan v Zernik (SC087400) - Complaint against former Judge Patricia Collins, Judge Lisa Hart-Cole, Attorney David Pasternak, Old Republic International [NYSE:ORI] and others - for public corruption and racketeering by judges, financial institutions, and large law-firms in pretense proceedings at the Court.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/36266839/
[xiv] 10-11-06 Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, 130 S.Ct. 876 (2010) a landmark decision in ushering in a Robber Baron Revival Era.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/41364083/
[xv] 11-01-07 An End in Sight to Fraud on the Courts by US Financial Institutions? a) Massachusetts Supreme Court Ruling Has Potential to Void Thousands of Foreclosures - WashPost; b) US Bank v Antonio Ibanez in the Massachusetts Supreme Court - January 7, 2011 Ruling
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46913092/
____
Human Rights Alert is dedicated to discovering, archiving, and disseminating evidence of Human Rights violations by the justice systems of the State of California and the United States in Los Angeles County, California, and beyond. Human Rights Alert focuses on the unique role of computerized case management systems in the precipitous deterioration of the integrity of the justice system in the United States.
http://twitter.com/inproperinla
http://www.scribd.com/Human_Rights_Alert
http://inproperinla.blogspot.com/
http://human-rights-alert.blogspot.com/
http://www.liveleak.com/user/jz12345
http://www.examiner.com/x-38742-LA-Business-Headlines-Examiner
_____________________________
WHAT DID THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES?
* "On July 26, 2010, Laurence Tribe, Senior Counsel for the United States Department of Justice, Access to Justice Initiative, delivered an important speech to the Conference of Chief Justices, challenging them to halt the disintegration of our state justice systems before they become indistinguishable from courts of third world nations."
Prof Laurence Tribe, Harvard Law School (2010), per National Defender Leadership Institute
http://www.nlada.net/library/article/national_dojspeechto%20chiefjustice07-26-2010_gideonalert
_____________________________
WHAT DID THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA?
* "Innocent people remain in prison"
* "...the LA Superior Court and the DA office, the two other parts of the justice system that the Blue Panel Report recommends must be investigated relative to the integrity of the system, have not produced any response that we know of..."
LAPD Blue Ribbon Review Panel Report (2006)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/24902306/
* "...judges tried and sentenced a staggering number of people for crimes they did not commit."
Prof David Burcham, Dean, Loyola Law School, LA (2001)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/29043589/
* "This is conduct associated with the most repressive dictators and police states... and judges must share responsibility when innocent people are convicted."
Prof Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, Irvine Law School (2001)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/274339
_____________________________
WHAT DID THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL STAFF REPORT SAY ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA?
* "...corruption of the courts and the legal profession and discrimination by law enforcement in California."
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38566837/
The complaint signals a break of ranks in the tight formation of banks, attorneys, judges, and regulators, and rebellion by northeastern states against fraud epidemic that was spawned in the southwest. "Corruption of the courts and the legal profession" is at the crux of the fraud.
Los Angeles, January 27 - upon review of the complaint in Dexia Holdings Inc et al v Countrywide Financial Corp et al,[[i]] it appears that the scope of the fraud on the People, on the US Congress, and on the international community, which is at the foundation of the financial crisis, may finally begin to unfold. The complaint exposes the essence of the criminality by large financial institutions such as Countrywide and BofA, and the scope of cover-up and deception by US government officers and agencies over the past decade.
The complaint was filed in the State of New York Court in Manhattan. The courts of the northeastern states, Massachusetts, New York, appear as a ray of hope. Removal of the complaint to the US District Court in Manhattan is likely to lead to conduct, similar to that which was seen last year in litigation of SEC v BAC under Judge Jed Rakoff, alleged as Fraud on the Court. [[ii]]
The public must perform its civic duty and closely monitor the conduct of the litigation.
Core allegations of 'massive fraud'
The complaint focuses on two aspects of the "massive fraud" and recklessness in the Los Angeles County, California, based Countrywide Financial Corporation:
� Fraud on the US treasury through a decade-long reckless underwriting of government-backed sub-prime loans;
� Fraud in funding the US-backed loans while failing to secure real property titles as collaterals;
� Fraud on other financial institutions through securitization of the resulting mortgages as high-grade investments.
Parts of the 'massive fraud' in underwriting and securitization are left out of the complaint
The complaint leaves out some key aspects of the fraud in underwriting and securitization:
a. At least since 2004, Countrywide engaged not only in the reckless underwriting of sub-prime loans, but also in the funding of sub-prime loans with no underwriting at all. US law enforcement and Banking Regulators were fully cognizant, but routinely refused to enforce the law. Later they told the US Congress and the People that there was no evidence of criminality at Countrywide.
b. The evidence shows large-scale fraud in the implementation of invalid electronic underwriting and document archiving systems at Countrywide and later at BofA. Therefore, the holders of the securities are left with no valid records, and the US with no valid data for risk assessment and risk reduction.
Other parts of the 'massive fraud' are left unmentioned, since they are not germane to the complaint
Other critical aspects of the fiasco are external to the causes of the complaint, but essential for understanding the causes of the current crisis and the likely future of the complaint :
� Under the Clinton administration banking deregulation was initiated, which was promoted by some prominent members of the rotating White House economic teams over the past two decades. It was continued in full force under the Bush administration.
� At the end of the Bush administration, when sub-prime lenders started to collapse, senior US officers coerced the Countrywide-BofA and Merrill Lynch-BofA mergers through alleged criminality. [[iii]]
� In recent years, fraud has become a routine in foreclosure proceedings, resulting in dispossession and looting of the home-owning US middle-class; it was conducted as a joint venture of banks, attorneys, and judges from coast to coast, with law enforcement non-existent. [[iv]]
"Corruption of the courts and the legal profession and discrimination by law enforcement" [[v]] are central to the crisis:
Law enforcement, the courts, and the legal profession are at the heart of the betrayal. Their part in the financial crisis is probably the least reported part of the crisis:
� In the decade prior to its collapse, alleged racketeering in the courts by the Legal Department of Countrywide, headed by then Chief Legal Officer Sandor Samuels (today - BofA Associate General Counsel) in collusion with large national law firms, such as Bryan Cave, LLP, was commonplace. Such conduct continues to this date by BofA.
In the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, California, alleged racketeering was documented, in collusion with California judges, including, but not limited to, Jacqueline Connor, John Segal, Terry Friedman, Gerald Rosenberg, Patricia Collins, Lisa Hart-Cole, and in the US District Court in Los Angeles - US Judge Virginia Phillips, and US Magistrate Carla Woehrle, and former President of the LA Bar Association David Pasternak. Fraud expert, FBI veteran who was decorated by US Congress, US Attorney General, and FBI Director provided opinion of fraud in the case. Regardless, FBI and US DOJ refuse to this date to enforce the law in LA, even after Congressional Inquiries. [[vi],[vii],[viii]]
� In January 2008, the collapse of Countrywide was not caused by the failure of its loan portfolios. Instead, it was caused by news reports of conduct of attorneys on behalf of Countrywide in the US Court in Pennsylvania - the introduction as evidence of fraudulent computerized banking records ("recreated letters"). [[ix]]
� In March 2008, detailed evidence of the routine methods of Fraud on the Court by the Countrywide "legal team" was provided by the US Texas Court: appearances of outside attorneys, who were not authorized as Counsel of Record, with "no communications with client" clause. [[x]]
� In December 2008, central to the alleged criminality in the Merrill Lynch-BofA merger was the ouster on BofA General Counsel Timothy Mayopoulos, and his replacement by Brian Moynihan (today - BofA President), who at the time had no significant experience in the practice of the law. A series of investigations of the matter led nowhere. However, the evidence shows that Mayopoulos attempted to comply with the law, and that within 24 hours after Moynihan's appointment, alleged racketeering by the BofA "legal team" was resumed. [v,vi,vii]
� In late 2010, the use of fraudulent "robo-signatures" by banks in foreclosure proceeding was reported. [[xi]] It was not the high volume, which required the use of "robo-signatures" for generating fraudulent banking records in foreclosure proceedings. There simply were no valid banking records. The evidence in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide is likely to dwell on that point.
� In late 2010, Circuit Judge Jack Schramm Cox, Martin County, Florida, blocked efforts by the Florida Attorney General to investigate fraud by law firms in foreclosure proceedings. Of note, federal agencies failed to intervene. [[xii]] The ongoing wave of fraud in foreclosure proceedings across the US was not likely to take place, had attorneys not known that judges were going to accept fraudulent banking records as evidence, and that the risk of any law enforcement action was null.
� In 2009-10, Judge Jed Rakoff and Clerk Ruby Krajick, US District Court, Southern District of NY, Manhattan, colluded in alleged Fraud on the Court in SEC v BAC, a widely report case, which was meant to create the false appearance of effective banking regulation. [ii]
The tight linkage between judicial corruption and corruption of financial institutions is possibly the least reported part of the current crisis. California State Judge Terry Friedman, US Judge Virginia Phillips, and US Magistrate Carla Woehrle refused to provide statements on the record that they did not receive financial benefits from Countrywide or BofA.
Through such conduct in the courts, financial institutions and their executives were effectively vested in indemnity for both past and future criminality. [[xiii]]
Through it all, US banking regulators and law enforcement have repeatedly provided the US Congress and the People sworn testimonies that no criminality could be found in sub-prime lenders, and that the crisis was the outcome of changing market conditions. We have also been falsely told that banking regulation has been "shored up".
Although not directly linked to the banking crisis and fraud in the courts, Citizens United v FEC in the Supreme Court of the United States was the ultimate expression of this trend - a Robber Baron Rival Era under the stamp of legitimacy by the courts. [[xiv]]
The crisis was spawned in southwest, the northeast state courts provide a ray of hope
Already in the early 2000s, FBI reports distinguished Los Angeles County, California, home of Countrywide as "the epicenter of the epidemic of real estate and mortgage fraud, which is a high national priority to fight". The evidence shows that synergy between the Los Angeles Superior Court and Countrywide was integral to the distinction.
In contrast, the state courts and law enforcement in Massachusetts and New York may be the key for corrective actions:
� In April 2009 then New York state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued a letter to the US Senate as summary of his investigation into the Merrill Lynch-BofA merger. [iii] It described what analysts called a "criminal conspiracy" and "bigger than Watergate", involving Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, former BofA President Ken Lewis, and others. Cuomo proceeded to prosecute the case in the State of New York Court.
Perhaps most telling was the fact that Cuomo did not send his findings in a confidential memo to the FBI and US Attorney Office, but instead - in an open letter to the US Congress.
� Earlier this month a ruling was issued under US Bank v Antonio Ibanez in the Massachusetts Supreme Court, which may put an end to fraud in foreclosure proceedings in the courts in that state, or even void thousands of previously executed foreclosures. [[xv]]
� Now comes the filing of the complaint in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide in the Supreme Court New York. The ruling in US Bank v Antonio Ibanez was possibly part of the motivation for the filing of Dexia Holdings v Countrywide, since voiding of the fraudulent banking records leaves the investors in Countrywide�s securities with nothing at all.
The complaint in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide amounts to breaking of the ranks in the so-far tight formation of banks, judges, law-firms, and regulators. It pits Plaintiffs, mostly from New York, against Defendants, mostly from Los Angeles County, California. It also spills the beans on the false explanations for the crisis, which have been provided to the People of the US and the international community through numerous hearings, investigations, and court proceedings in recent years.
What next?
The Robber Baron Era of the late 19th century took several decades to undo. Today news and documents spread in incomparable speed. Leaks of BofA records are expected soon as well. Today's international arena, and US standing in it, are also incomparable to those of the previous century.
As a result, both the People of the US and the international community may soon be able to appreciate the scope of the fraud. It is claimed to be historically unprecedented, both in its dollar volume and in demonstrating the collapse of the frameworks of government in a "western democracy":
1) Honest discussion and reform of the state and US judiciary should start with no further delay.
Official FBI policy was stated in 2008 as follows: "FBI will pursue all allegations of judicial corruption vigorously, as public corruption violations are among the most serious of all criminal conduct and can tear at the fabric of a democratic society".
2) In view of the new evidence that is likely to emerge in Dexia Holdings v Countrywide, all past sworn testimonies by senior US officers from FBI, US Department of Justice, SEC, Office of the Controller of the Currency, Office of Thrift Supervision, Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Reserve before US Congress should be carefully re-examined.
The public should be informed regarding the magnitude of the deception by such agencies.
3) The US government should enforce e-government laws and regulations on electronic banking systems.
The US Congress enacted laws, presidential directives were issued, regulations were promulgated, and systems were implemented for authentication and validation of e-government in the Executive Branch. The Basel Accords on international banking, likewise, require validation of electronic banking systems. Regardless, both underwriting and funding of sub-prime loans are conducted through invalid, unauthenticated systems.
An honest and courageous New York state judge can make a difference in this matter. On the other hand, removal of the case to the US District Court, Manhattan, may result in litigation of the kind that was seen in SEC v BAC last year, alleged as Fraud on the Court.
Therefore, the public should perform its civic duties and carefully scrutinize the conduct of all parties and particularly, conduct of the courts, in litigation of Dexia Holdings v Countrywide.
LINKS
[i] 11-01-24 Complaint in Dexia Holdings Inc et al v. Countrywide Financial Corp et al (650185/2011) New York State Supreme Court, New York County
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47636064/
[ii] 11-01-10 Request for investigation/impeachment proceedings, in re: US Judge JED RAKOFF and Clerk RUBY KRAJICK, US District Court, Southern District of New York, Conduct of Securities and Exchange Committee v Bank of America Corporation (1:09-cv-06829) s
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46616530/
[iii] 09-04-23 RE: SEC v BAC (1:09-cv-06829) State of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Letter to US Congress and analysts' responses:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/41079990/
[iv]10-10-08 a) AP - Bank of America Issues Nationwide Moratorium on Foreclosures, b) CNBC - Foreclosure Primer
http://www.scribd.com/doc/40470701/
[v] 10-04-19 Human Rights Alert (NG0) submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2010 Review (UPR) of Human Rights in the United States as incorporated into the UPR staff report with reference to "corruption of the courts and the legal profession"
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38566837/
[vi]10-05-05 Countrywide Bank of America NYSE BAC and its President Brian Moynihan Compilation of Records Evidence of Racketeering
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30975368/
[vii] 10-05-05 Chairs of US Congress Committees of the Judiciary and Banking Are Requested to Join Senator Feinstein's Inquiries on Comptroller of the Currency
http://www.scribd.com/doc/30979882/
[viii]10-07-06 Complaint Filed with US Attorney Office Los Angeles Against Moynihan Bank of America [NYSE:BAC] Bryan Cave LLP Alleging Racketeering
http://www.scribd.com/doc/33971099/
[ix] 08-01-08 Case of Borrower Diane Sharon Hills (01-22574) in the US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania: Countrywide's three "recreated letters", transcript, and news reports:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25003494/
[x] 08-03-05 Case of Borrower William Parsley (05-90374), Dkt #248: Judge Jeff Bohm's Memorandum Opinion, rebuking Countrywide's litigation practices, Countrywide's false outside counsel scheme - appearances by counsel who are not Counsel of Record, with "no communications with clients" clause:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/25001966/
[xi] 10-09-22 Robo-Signatures - the latest computer fraud in US banking and courts
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47677150/
[xii] 10-12-29 Florida: Corruption of the Courts and the Legal Profession - with Impunity! State of Florida Attorney General v Fishman & Shapiro, LLP (4DI0-4526)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46028390/
[xiii] The Los Angeles Superior Court went as far as issuing a false "Indemnity Agreement" for Old Republic International, for what was later opined as Real Estate Fraud.
10-08-22 Samaan v Zernik (SC087400) - Complaint against former Judge Patricia Collins, Judge Lisa Hart-Cole, Attorney David Pasternak, Old Republic International [NYSE:ORI] and others - for public corruption and racketeering by judges, financial institutions, and large law-firms in pretense proceedings at the Court.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/36266839/
[xiv] 10-11-06 Citizens United v Federal Election Commission, 130 S.Ct. 876 (2010) a landmark decision in ushering in a Robber Baron Revival Era.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/41364083/
[xv] 11-01-07 An End in Sight to Fraud on the Courts by US Financial Institutions? a) Massachusetts Supreme Court Ruling Has Potential to Void Thousands of Foreclosures - WashPost; b) US Bank v Antonio Ibanez in the Massachusetts Supreme Court - January 7, 2011 Ruling
http://www.scribd.com/doc/46913092/
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Human Rights Alert is dedicated to discovering, archiving, and disseminating evidence of Human Rights violations by the justice systems of the State of California and the United States in Los Angeles County, California, and beyond. Human Rights Alert focuses on the unique role of computerized case management systems in the precipitous deterioration of the integrity of the justice system in the United States.
http://twitter.com/inproperinla
http://www.scribd.com/Human_Rights_Alert
http://inproperinla.blogspot.com/
http://human-rights-alert.blogspot.com/
http://www.liveleak.com/user/jz12345
http://www.examiner.com/x-38742-LA-Business-Headlines-Examiner
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WHAT DID THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES?
* "On July 26, 2010, Laurence Tribe, Senior Counsel for the United States Department of Justice, Access to Justice Initiative, delivered an important speech to the Conference of Chief Justices, challenging them to halt the disintegration of our state justice systems before they become indistinguishable from courts of third world nations."
Prof Laurence Tribe, Harvard Law School (2010), per National Defender Leadership Institute
http://www.nlada.net/library/article/national_dojspeechto%20chiefjustice07-26-2010_gideonalert
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WHAT DID THE EXPERTS SAY ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA?
* "Innocent people remain in prison"
* "...the LA Superior Court and the DA office, the two other parts of the justice system that the Blue Panel Report recommends must be investigated relative to the integrity of the system, have not produced any response that we know of..."
LAPD Blue Ribbon Review Panel Report (2006)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/24902306/
* "...judges tried and sentenced a staggering number of people for crimes they did not commit."
Prof David Burcham, Dean, Loyola Law School, LA (2001)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/29043589/
* "This is conduct associated with the most repressive dictators and police states... and judges must share responsibility when innocent people are convicted."
Prof Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, Irvine Law School (2001)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/274339
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WHAT DID THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL STAFF REPORT SAY ABOUT THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA?
* "...corruption of the courts and the legal profession and discrimination by law enforcement in California."
http://www.scribd.com/doc/38566837/
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