Minnesota State Court Of Appeals Upholds $861,000 Judgment Stemming From Larry Maxwell Mortgage Fraud Case...

Contributed photo, 1564 Hillside Ave. N., one of the
addresses involved in the fraud, blog post by John Hoff

Click here to read the opinion by the Minnesota State Court of Appeals.

On March 17, a day inextricably associated with the color green, the Minnesota State Court of Appeals ruled plaintiff John Foster and his wife Melony Michaels were entitled to a judgment of $861,000 (more or less) stemming from the illegal use of John Foster's identity to facilitate a mortgage fraud...

The key issue in the appeal was whether notary public Janie Coates was acting as the agent of First USA Title when she notarized documents that turned out to be fraudulent without knowledge of the fraud in question. The Court of Appeals ruled Coates was indeed the agent of First USA Title.

The pot of gold at the end of the mortgage fraud rainbow is not yet in the hands of these identity theft victims, however. More litigation seems likely. Of course, every time Foster and Michaels win, the attorney fees just keep getting added to the grand total. There is every indication the courts will continue to rule strongly for these victims who have become a sort of nationwide poster couple for identity fraud.

If the defendants were smart, they'd just cut a check and cut their losses.