In September, the Florida Supreme Court ordered a review of the effectiveness of the mandatory Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program (commonly referred to as the "RMFM Program"). The program has not fully accomplished its goal of helping homeowners find alternatives to foreclosure and decreasing the foreclosure caseload in Florida courts. The Florida Supreme Court ordered the program in December 2009.
The Supreme Court Administrative Order signed on Monday, September 26, 2011 appointed five judges and one court administrator to evaluate the success of the program and recommend whether the program should be continued, changed, or eliminated altogether.
Judge Burton Conner of the 4th District Court of Appeal and who served on the Task Force that recommended program back in 2009, was one of the five judges chosen to re-evaluate the program. According to Judge Conner, just like anything new, the program has experienced growing pains, but he is hopeful banks will progressively see the advantage of going to mediation. "There has been institutional resistance because it is such a new tool. With anything new it takes a while to figure out how it works and how you can benefit." The committee has until October 21, 2011 to submit its recommendation of the program to the Florida Supreme Court.
Throughout Florida, only 3.6% of all cases referred to the mediation program, over the course of 1 year, ended with a written agreement. Of the homeowners who actually participated in the program, there was a 25% success rate statewide. Alternatives to foreclosure contained in written agreements included loan modifications, deed-in-lieus, and short sales.
If you are facing a Florida Foreclosure Lawsuit, contact a Jacksonville Foreclosure Defense Lawyer or a Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyer today to determine what foreclosure defenses and options may be available to you.
