Cuyahoga (Ohio) conceals (thousands in) foreclosure backlog

[UpInArms]

http://www.cleveland.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/113740386680571.xml&coll=2

A North Collinwood woman's complaint to the Ohio Supreme Court may prompt Cuyahoga County to quit hiding thousands of drawn-out foreclosure cases from the glare of critics.

Foreclosures vanish from judges' case lists while they are in the hands of magistrates and don't return until the magistrates send them to the judges for final rulings. The practice, said to have started during the Depression, conceals the protracted handling of cases, the numbers of which have surged in recent years.

As of last week, almost 40 percent of Cuyahoga County's 12,755 backlogged foreclosures had dragged out beyond the Ohio Supreme Court's 12-month standard. But reports filed with the high court show only the cases at the judges' fingertips. A report for 2004, the most recent year available, counts only 12 Cuyahoga County cases more than 12 months old.

<snip>

"I think they got used to doing things how they wanted to do them," Russo said. "They had no accountability, no one overseeing them. I think we failed as a court. We should have micromanaged it."

...more...

[roguevalley]

1. This is hideous and only the start.

[lovuian]

2. Breakdown of system ...its falling apart...

more and more people are touched ...

[ellenfl]

3. oops! there goes ohio's home ownership numbers. eom

[Demeter]

4. But, But, But Everything is Hunky-Dory in Ohio!

That's why they all voted for Bush--twice! That's why they are so red (in the face, maybe?).

I don't get it.

[Drum]

5. I agree with the outrage,

and feel it's doubly worse when I think of the unfortunate people whose homes are foreclosed in this polarized economic climate.

Yes, vindication against those Hunkydorians and stat-flouters in the GOP...but, sadly, I think they're more immune from the real avalanche-on-the-poorer that this foretells.

[saigon68]

7. The wedge issues caused many poor people to vote for the Rethugs

Imagine some girl getting an abortion because she was raped?

Imagine 2 guys kissing-- disgusting

</sarcasm>

[donsu]

8. they didn't vote for smirk twice - the voting machines did the voting

nt

[f-bush]

6. Typical sneaky shit

as usual because it hurts the little guy and favors the rich, nothing will get done about it. The only way this country is going to change is if we have a serious revolution. Time to start dumping some "Tea"