Lynn Szymoniak, Foreclosure Whistleblower, Says Bank Harassing 'The Living Hell' Out Of Her

Lynn Szymoniak, foreclosure whistleblower, says she's still being harassed by Deutsche Bank.

Lynn Szymoniak may have just won $18 million for uncovering massive, systemic foreclosure fraud. But that doesn't mean her troubles are over.

Szymoniak, a white-collar attorney who became famous last year as the whistleblower in a far-reaching foreclosure fraud case, is still enmeshed in conflict with Deutsche Bank, which foreclosed on Szymoniak's Florida home in 2008.

Deutsche Bank is now calling forth a parade of maintenance workers -- including Szymoniak's plumber, landscaper and pool repair crews -- in what Szymoniak described to the Palm Beach Post as an effort to "harass the living hell out of me."

It's been an eventful few years for Szymoniak, so here's a quick reminder of what she's been up to. In 2008, Deutsche Bank filed to foreclose on her house. Szymoniak had fallen behind on her mortgage payments, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, because medical emergencies had dented her income and her savings. Still, she thought Deutsche Bank was cutting corners in its paperwork, so she started reviewing other Florida foreclosure cases.

What Szymoniak found was that some of the country's largest banks were forging paperwork en masse -- part of the robo-signing epidemic that has clotted the country's foreclosure courts in recent years. In 2011, Szymoniak appeared on 60 Minutes to explain what she'd learned, and earlier this month she was awarded $18 million as part of the $25 billion mortgage settlement paid out by five major national banks.

Szymoniak has said that she plans to use that money to pay off her mortgage. But Deutsche Bank has nevertheless announced that it will be deposing eight companies that have worked on Szymoniak's house.

According to the PBP, Szymoniak said that the bank might be checking to make sure she used her loan for its intended purpose of home improvements. But she thinks it's more likely an attempt on the bank's part to cast suspicion on her character and run up her legal expenses.

This isn't the first time Deutsche Bank has thrown a spotlight on a peripheral figure in Szymoniak's case. Last May, the bank sued Szymoniak's son, who was in New York pursuing a graduate degree in poetry at the time, hadn't lived in Szymoniak's house since 2004, and had no meaningful connection to the property.

Comments

[Nancy Evans Figat]

10:41 AM on 04/15/2012

Lynn is correct about the foreclosure paperwork being falsified. Suffolk County NY. Secretly allowing each mortgage to be multifunded by different locations of various banks.
Doing this by using variations in both the mortgagors name and the dist.sec. blk & lot #s. To create two or three items from each property to fund.

[PerryMason]

04:32 PM on 04/13/2012

What does it take for a foreign bank to lose its license to operate in the United States?

From as late as 2001 to at least 2007, Deutsche Bank engaged in covert espionage on its critics.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Bank#Spying_scandal

The 2011 US Senate Permanent Select Committee on Investigations report on Wall Street and the Financial Crisis analyzed Deutsche Bank as a 'case study' of investment banking involvement in the mortgage bubble, CDO market, credit crunch, and recession.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsche_Bank#Housing_credit_bubble_and_CDO_market

Deutsche Bank AG (DBK) was sued by the Los Angeles city attorney for allegedly failing to maintain foreclosed properties and illegally evicting low-income tenants.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-04/deutsche-bank-sued-by-los-angeles-over-foreclosed-properties-evictions.html

Deutsche Bank Accused Of Massive Mortgage Fraud, Sued for $1 Billion By U.S. Government.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/03/deutsche-bank-mortgage-fraud_n_857105.html

[Tonio Mendoza]

03:22 PM on 04/13/2012

so much for frivolous lawsuits...

[Sableknows]

02:10 PM on 04/13/2012

If it were me, I would pay off that mortgage,and any other debts related to it. She should be able to do that easily enough on 18 million,shouldn't she? I would then move far away, and wash my hands entirely of the banking industry,spend my time volunteering and working with charities. She should still have a little money left to do that.

[Jjsedona1]

12:28 PM on 04/13/2012

What has happened to honor? Oh yes, there is no honor among thieves.

[boston 67]

11:08 PM on 04/04/2012

Do you want to show to the too big to fail who is actually in charge in this country? Do you want to decide your kids’ future or let it be in the hands of those who robbed us blind multiple times?
If you want to fight for justice and truth, stand up and join one of our next meetings or organize one of your own…We can do this together.
http://boston67.blog.com/people-vs-fraud/

[4closureNation]

04:32 PM on 05/09/2012

Such a hard time following you in twitter. Tried several times over last several times. Are you not in solidarity with other homeowners? Just curious.

[AMERICANBANKSTER]

12:02 PM on 04/01/2012

Why is Lynn paying the bank off when they cannot provide "standing' for their foreclosure claim? She is an attorney and must be aware that after 5 years, if the bank cannot prove its right to foreclose for lack of paperwork, she can file for "quiet title" and petition the court for a "Declaratory Judgement". In my opinion, this is where most unprovable foreclosures should be heading. Unfortunately, bank bribed politicians keep finding ways for the banks to stay in the game. Thank goodness the last attempt in FL by Passidomo/Rick Scott to screw over those in foreclosure was derailed by the State Senate Judicial committee.

[builderman55]

10:43 AM on 03/31/2012

Just put these two simple facts together and decide what it says about America: one of the chief causes of bankruptcy and foreclosure in America is medical expenses--so not only are millions of people facing serious medical issues and all of the trauma of that, but also fear losing their homes as a result. Is this a great country, or what? I am reminded of Thomas Jefferson's statement about the effects of slavery: "I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just." Such is life in an evolving Plutocracy--a government that devotes itself to coddling millionaires and billionaires...

[SeanN]

06:01 AM on 03/31/2012

Shysters. Do business with a credit union, which is not-for-profit, and enjoy essentially spitting in the face of the likes of Goldman and Deutsche Bank.

[stephan67]

03:34 AM on 03/31/2012

Shakespear's play ''The merchant of Venice'' is now more relevant than ever.The bankers destroyed millions of lives.

[necromancer]

08:26 PM on 03/30/2012

After reading many of the posts here. The anti bank sentiment is strong. How ever I think you fail to see the forest for the trees as it were. Lets talk about the people who run the banks, they are the one's responsible & should be held accountable.
Banks is an entity, blame less, just another word & does not give real shape or substance to those who perpetuate their unethical trade.

[SeanN]

09:12 AM on 03/31/2012

According to the US Supreme Court, a bank or other corporation is a "person." If they have the rights, like free speech, of a person, they should also take responsibility like one.

[tapeatsbill]

06:06 PM on 03/30/2012

This woman was perhaps THE main reason that "robo signing" was uncovered. She single handedly uncovered more forgeries that any other single person.

[AdLib49]

12:42 PM on 03/30/2012

This couldn't be arrogance on the part of Deutsche Bank could it? Sounds like a few angry senior managers somewhere in their mortgage department have decided they are going to try and make her miserable for exposing them and others in illegal practices. I'd be curious about the reason behind suing her son.....possible reason being , in their minds, fear works wonders, especially with Mothers and their children, adult or not.
Deutsche Bank should take the smart route, pay the fine, clean up their act and move on.

[Chris Bayne]

12:28 PM on 03/30/2012

Beware of Dish Network secretly billing your credit card without you nowing about it. Has this happened to anyone else? I was outraged when I saw Dish Network had charged my AARP Chase card without even telling me anything. I've called repeatedly, and emailed them all week without any responce. I wouldn't reccomend anyone use their services. YOu are much better off using a local provider. You can actually talk to someone face to face and it's so much better for your local community.

[cats530]

01:18 PM on 03/30/2012

Good to know. I will closely monitor them. Haven't had any problems like that so far. I don't have a choice as to another provider - rural area and they are the only game available.

[K August]

03:48 PM on 04/01/2012

Submit a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
I've been reading on these boards that they have helped a LOT of folks!

[JoAnn Kennedy]

12:27 PM on 03/30/2012

Hey Timmy Geithner what's going to come first world financial destruction, the crash of the Euro Union or 2017. ???? The new normal huh, it's the end of the world as you know it -- no more swapping debt. No takers