loan modification

Is this what Jerry Brown wants to do to legitimate loan modification firms?

WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THE OFFICE AND CONTAINS VIOLENT IMAGES

loan modification

Jerry Brown and Cal Bar Continue Kristallnacht-style Raids and Smear Campaigns Against Modification Lawyers

The Cal Bar put out the below press release a couple of days ago and I believe there is more to this story than what the Cal Bar is saying.  Just like their cases against Green Credit Solutions and Paul Lucas, what the Cal Bar is not saying is how many total clients did these attorneys have and how many people were actually helped.

The Cal Bar is about to lose their case against Green Credit Solutions because when they confiscated all the files out of their office, they  neglected to refer these homeowners to other attorneys or giving give them legal assistance to them. Thus, leaving hundreds of homeowners without legal representation and putting them at greater risk of losing their homes.  Matter of fact, because of the Cal Bar’’s actions, some actually did.  At the hearing this week, it was revealed that the Cal Bar only had 19 legitimate complaints against Green Credit Solutions.  They claimed last year they had 900.  This out of 3500 clients GCS had signed up.

The Cal Bar, the California AG’s office and the FTC publicly tarred and feathered Paul Lucas for scamming people by raiding and ransacking his offices, confiscating files and blocking his access to his firm’s bank accounts like something out of a 1930’s gangster movie.  They even attempted to have his law license revoked.  Only problem was, he wasn’t scamming people.  The FTC and the Cal Bar lost their case because Paul Lucas could prove he successfully modified 90% of the loans he handled and he was later re-instated as a member of the California Bar.  According to Cal Bar everything is now right in the universe.  Wrong!  Thanks to the internet, Paul Lucas will be permanently labeled, “Scam Artist”

So think about all that while reading this or any press releases put out by them or Jerry Brown’s office.

San Francisco, June 02, 2010 — Continuing its effort to protect the public from lawyers who take advantage of distressed homeowners, the State Bar prosecutor’s office has secured orders of involuntary inactive enrollment for Southern California attorneys Eric Douglas Johnsonand Mark Alan Shoemaker.

Besides the two involuntary inactive enrollments, the State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel has obtained the resignations of 13 attorneys involved in loan modification misconduct since creation of the Loan Modification Task Force in April 2009.  Five loan modification trials are pending. Another 2,000 active investigations related to loan modification are being conducted.

In separate May actions, State Bar Court Judge Richard Honn ruled that the conduct of  Johnson (State Bar #224065), 55, of Los Angeles, and Shoemaker (State Bar #134828), 49, of Long Beach, pose a “substantial threat of harm” to their clients or the public, and both were ordered involuntarily enrolled as inactive members of the State Bar under Business and Professions Code 6007.

Johnson associated with several non-attorney legal organizations, lending his name and status as an attorney to a firm offering bankruptcy filing and assistance, a business handling forensic audits and loan modifications and two other loan modification companies. Honn cited cases in which homeowners were promised that their homes would not be foreclosed but the homeowners lost them anyway after having made significant payments to the non-attorney companies.

Johnson “lacked control and failed to supervise” any of the organizations with which he was associated, Honn wrote in his May 18 order. “This lack of control and failure to supervise consequently led to, among other things, the unauthorized practice of law, misrepresentations and client harm.”

Shoemaker, whose case was investigated and prosecuted with the invaluable help of the California Department of Real Estate, has owned and operated a loan modification business called Advocate for Fair Lending since 2008. Shoemaker “used Advocate and his status as an attorney to convince cash-strapped homeowners to pay him thousands of dollars in hopes of saving their homes from foreclosure,” Honn wrote in his May 28 order. Shoemaker, however, “often did little to nothing to help these clients. In fact, many of these homeowners were worse off after retaining [Shoemaker’s] services.”

The order referred to 18 examples in which Advocate clients, who signed power of attorney when they contracted with Advocate, were not helped and asked for refunds. A few did get refunds; many others did not. Some clients reported that their lenders said they had never been contacted by Advocate on their behalf. Shoemaker argued that he was merely the president of Advocate and did not represent any Advocate clients in a legal capacity.

“Advocate’s clients were also [Shoemaker’s] clients,” Honn wrote. “An attorney cannot use a power of attorney form to absolve themselves of the ethical mandates they have sworn to uphold.”

loan modification

Foreclosure scam’s mastermind gets 46 years in prison

Dana Littlefield, San Diego Union-Tribune

A man prosecutors described as the ring leader of a real estate fraud scheme that defrauded hundreds of San Diego County residents out of more than $2 million was sentenced Friday to 46 years in prison.

A jury found William Jeffrey Hutchings, 63, guilty in March of 160 felony counts including conspiracy, grand theft, rent skimming and violations of the mortgage foreclosure consultant law.

Prosecutors argued that Hutchings and other defendants convinced 400-500 victims, most of them Hispanic homeowners from San Diego and other counties, that he could keep them from losing their homes to foreclosure. The criminal enterprise lasted 21 months.

Hutchings, who represented himself in trial, contended his motives were pure and that he truly believed his foreclosure-rescue program would help, not harm the participants.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Charles Gill said during a Friday hearing that Hutchings victimized people whose financial situations made them particularly vulnerable.

The judge noted that Hutchings was warned in late 2006 by one of the victims that the program wasn’t working, but he continued to take money and transfers of title from the victims until May 2008.

“You allowed your ego as well as the financial rewards to dictate your actions until you were forcibly stopped by your arrest,” Gill said.

Deputy District Attorneys Stephen Robinson and William La Fond contended during the two-month trial that Hutchings and others led the victims to believe they could save their homes through his so-called land-grant program. They could either pay a one-time fee of $10,000 to put their property in a land grant or they could transfer their property to the defendants and rent it back through monthly payments.

Prosecutors said the transactions were illegal and the documents Hutchings filed did not prevent foreclosure. Almost all of the victims have been evicted from their homes by the time they testified in trial.

Several victims spoke to the judge in court Friday. They noted the financial and emotional pain they suffered as a result of Hutchings’ actions.

Marina Ramos told the judge she believed initially that the foreclosure-rescue program was a godsend. At the time, she was the sole provider in her household because her husband had fallen ill.

“I’m Christian,” she explained in court. “I thought that the program was actually real, so I trusted in them.”

Later, Ramos was sued by her bank.

loan modification

Jerry Brown Goes After Another Bogus Mod Company – He may actually have a real one this time!

LOS ANGELES – Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that nine men engaged in a Southern California boiler room, tricked out in high-roller style with a roulette wheel and other casino equipment, have been charged with 97 criminal counts for stealing at least $2.3 million from more than 1,500 desperate homeowners who were promised loan modifications but received no relief.
Arrested Tuesday and Wednesday night were Gregg Scott Quinn, 37, of Camarillo and Juan Pierre Washington, 40, of Winnetka, who worked as company sales managers and supervisors. They are being held at Los Angeles County Jail.

Gary Arnold Eisenberg, 71, of Westwood, a top telemarketer with the company, and Ira Itskowitz, 58, a sales manager, each spent more than five years in federal prison for previous fraud convictions and are already in federal custody for violating parole in connection with their participation in the scheme.

The four principal owners of the business, Niv Iskin, 30, of Reseda, Reviv Karpman, 38, of Tarzana, Tomer Kogman, 29, of Receda and Avraham Yechizkia, 34, of Encino; and a sales manager, Barel Iskin, 23, of Woodland Hills, are still being pursued by law enforcement.

“This company was just a boiler room, long on promises and upfront fees but short on foreclosure relief,” Brown said. “Its operators cruelly defrauded citizens trying valiantly to hang on to their homes.”

Brown’s office initiated its investigation in March 2009 in response to numerous consumer complaints against the defendants’ Canoga Park-based loan modification business, which operated as Mason Capital Group, LLC and Gretchen Fox and Associates.

When agents executed a search warrant at the office, they found a Las Vegas casino-themed sales floor complete with craps, poker and black jack tables fashioned as workstations, and a roulette wheel that top-selling telemarketers spun for cash bonuses (see photos attached).

Between January 2008 and June 2009, the four owners took in at least $2.3 million in up-front fees, which ranged from $1,000 to $5,000, from more than 1,500 homeowners throughout the country. In almost every case, no loan modifications were completed, as promised. Financial records indicate that the four owners spent hundreds of thousands on private school tuition, travel, entertainment, shopping and other personal expenses while running Mason Capital Group, LLC and Gretchen Fox and Associates.

To corral sales, the four owners used a telemarketing operation that targeted homeowners facing mortgage payment increases or foreclosure. During an initial call, the telemarketers touted the company’s team of “attorneys, forensic accounting personnel, and loan negotiators” available to negotiate reductions in interest rates, monthly payments and principal balances; their supposed 90% to 100% loan modification success rate and refund guarantee. The telemarketers then collected financial information from homeowners to determine if they “qualified” for the company’s services.

Soon after the initial call, homeowners received a follow-up call to inform them that their case had been “reviewed” and “approved.” Telemarketers closed sales by insisting the approval would expire unless homeowners acted quickly, while reminding them about the refund guarantee if promised results were not achieved.

In fact, the company completed very few loan modifications, rarely contacted lenders, failed to honor the refund guarantee, employed unlicensed “loan processors” and had no legal staff negotiating with lenders.

While homeowners waited, they were told their loan modifications, or refunds, would be voided if they tried independently to contact their lender. Many lost their homes to foreclosure as a result.

To skirt the state’s foreclosure laws, avoid paying refunds and conceal profits, the owners changed company names, claimed bankruptcy and shifted loan modification files to another business they created called, American Financial Group, LLC.

Investigators located victims in dozens of California cities, including: American Canyon, Anaheim, Antioch, Artesia, Atwater, Bakersfield, Ceres, Chico, Cotati, Cloverdale, Crestline, Delano, Elk Grove, Encino, Fountain Valley, Fremont, Fresno, Guerneville, Hanford, Hayward, Hercules, Hood, Indio, La Jolla, Lancaster, Laguna Hills, Lodi, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Manteca, Modesto, Montclair, N. Hollywood, Newhall, Newman, North Highlands, Oakdale, Oakland, Ontario, Palmdale, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, Poplar, Porterville, Redding, Richmond, Riverbank, Rodeo, Sacramento, San Jose, San Pablo, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Stanton, Stockton, Tracy, Tulare, Turlock, Union City, Upland, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Visalia, W. Sacramento and Yuba City.

Brown’s office will seek restitution for victims of this scam.

By law, all individuals and businesses offering mortgage foreclosure consulting or loan modification and foreclosure assistance services must register with Brown’s office and post a $100,000 bond. It is also illegal for loan modification consultants to charge up-front fees for their services.

Non-profit housing counselors certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provide free help to homeowners. To find a counselor in your area, call 1-800-569-4287.

If you are a homeowner who has been scammed, contact Brown’s office at 1-800-952-5225 or file a complaint online at:www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php.

Brown has sought court orders to shut down more than 30 fraudulent foreclosure relief companies and has brought criminal charges and obtained lengthy prison sentences for dozens of other deceptive loan modification consultants. For more information on Brown’s action against loan modification fraud visit: http://ag.ca.gov/loanmod.

The 97 criminal counts filed against the nine defendants, include 63 counts of grand theft, 26 counts of unlawful foreclosure consulting, 7 counts of tax evasion and 1 count of conspiracy.

The United States Postal Inspection Service assisted in the investigation.

Copies of the complaint, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, and the Arrest Warrant are attached.

loan modification

Ohio AG File Deceptive Practices Suit Against HomEq

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray today announced a lawsuit filed against Barclays Capital Real Estate dba HomEq Servicing, headquartered in New York, for issuing unfair loan modification agreements and providing inadequate, incompetent customer service to Ohioans who were at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure. HomEq is a participant in the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

According to the lawsuit filed today in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, Ohio homeowners in need of loan modifications through HomEq to save their homes from foreclosure were forced to enter into one-sided agreements. The unfair and deceptive agreements released HomEq of all liabilities and required borrowers to waive their rights to defenses and agree to pay additional fees.

Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that HomEq violated Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act (CSPA) through incompetent and inefficient customer service by failing to return consumer calls or respond to repeated inquiries, losing borrowers’ documents and failing to offer timely and affordable loss mitigation options.

“There has been ample time for loan servicers to strengthen their efforts and start making a significant difference in preventing home foreclosures,” said Cordray. “Unfortunately, many servicers have instead repeatedly chosen to aggravate the crisis through noncompliance and excuses. As I see it, for every excuse, hundreds of families become more vulnerable to losing their homes. In Ohio, we have zero tolerance for any more excuses.”

Today’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction from the continuation of unfair and deceptive loan modification practices as well as consumer restitution, civil penalties and damages.

HomEq services more than 10,000 subprime loans in Ohio and became a HAMP participant in August. According to the December Servicer Performance Report issued by the U.S. Treasury, it is one of the lowest performing servicers in terms of loan modifications initiated. 

The lawsuit against HomEq marks the third filed by Cordray against a loan servicer operating in Ohio. In July, Cordray became the first state attorney general to file a lawsuit against a servicer for CSPA violations. That lawsuit, filed against Carrington Mortgage Services, is pending in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. Carrington recently issued its third, 60-day moratorium on home foreclosures in response to the lawsuit.

On Nov. 5, 2009, Cordray filed a lawsuit against American Home Mortgage Servicing Inc. for numerous CSPA violations including issuing unfair or deceptive loan modifications to Ohioans. The case is currently pending in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.

loan modification

Nevada Attorney Files Class Action Against BofA For Violating HAMP

Gerard Ramalho, KVBC-TV

There’s more evidence the foreclosure crisis in Southern Nevada is far from over.

As more homeowners find they aren’t having any luck trying to work with their lenders, one local attorney is filing suit against one of the largest lenders of all: Bank of America.

It’s also important to remember that Bank of America took over Countrywide, which means they own a good number of loans here in the valley.

The suit was filed on behalf of homeowners facing foreclosure who say there has been no progress made with regard to negotiations with their lender. And, as the president has discussed, there are actual laws in the books requiring lenders to negotiate with homeowners.

However, throughout Southern Nevada, many insist it’s simply not happening.

“And that’s why what we’re calling for in this lawsuit,” explains attorney Matthew Q. Callister. “(It) is an automatic stay of any further Bank of America foreclosures until such time as every Southern Nevadan avails himself of his right under federal law to have that fundamental ‘good faith’ negotiation.” 

The class-action suit against Bank of America represents about 30 people so far; it alleges that the bank has failed to act in accordance with a section of the government’s Making Home Affordable program, saying the lender has “refused to evaluate loans” and “failed to suspend foreclosure proceedings.”

Callister says Bank of America accepted TARP funds and now refuses to do what was required as part of the acceptance.

Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also criticized Bank of America in a letter, suggesting that the bank’s “reputation will suffer unless more resources are directed to our state.”

The lawyer says his clients want to save their homes and are willing to work out a deal. He expects countless more Bank of America customers are in the same boat.

“We’re not demanding that everybody get, or any body gets, a principal reduction,” Callister continues. “We’re just demanding what the law requires already.”

Many of the customers’ stories are similar; they attempt to negotiate with their lenders but are passed around to different representatives. In some cases they think the negotiations are going well yet come home to find a foreclosure notice on their home.

This is an open class-action complaint. Meaning, if you feel Bank of America hasn’t acted in good faith with your loan, you can contact Matthew Q. Callister, the attorney on this case, at www.call-law.com or  702-385-3343. (See the story here)

loan modification

Anatomy Of A Failed Foreclosure Program

Just how badly is President Obama’s $75 billion foreclosure program working out? Consider these newly-released numbers: Out of every 100 homeowners who came to JPMorgan Chase for help under the program, just 15 have or will likely receive a permanent payment reduction.

What happened to the other 85? For every 100 trial plans initiated from April through September 2009 under the Home Affordable Modification Program:

• 29 borrowers did not make all required payments under their trial plan;
• 20 borrowers did not submit all documents required for underwriting;
• 31 borrowers submitted all required documents but the documents did not meet HAMP underwriting standards, due to such things as missing signatures or nonstandard formats;
• 4 borrowers were or are likely to be rejected for undisclosed reasons;
• 1 borrower will not or is not likely to get their payment lowered.

The data comes from the prepared remarks bank officials plan to make Tuesday before the House Financial Services Committee. The testimony was posted Monday on the committee’s website. (Read more)

loan modification

PMI INTRODUCES NEW VIDEO TO HELP DISTRESSED HOMEOWNERS

Navigating the U.S. Treasury’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)

Walnut Creek, CA, November 19, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — PMI Mortgage Insurance Co., (NYSE: PMI) today introduced a new video to help homeowners experiencing financial hardship understand the benefits of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and how they can take advantage of this important program. HAMP is the national loan modification program offered in the Obama Administration’s Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan which mortgage servicers are implementing broadly to bring long-term affordability to homeowners struggling to keep their homes. Navigating the Home Affordable Modification Program, one of the first videos available for homeowners, explains the benefits, eligibility requirements and types of adjustments that can be made to mortgage loans. The video also provides a realistic example of a couple’s experience before-and-after receiving a HAMP modification.

“Foreclosure prevention is critical to the U.S. housing market and the stability of communities,” said John Jelavich, head of PMI’s Homeownership Preservation Initiatives group. “Distressed homeowners who are facing the prospect of losing their home need to know that help is available for those truly interested in saving their homes. This instructional video leverages the growing popularity of internet-based video to give homeowners an overview of how HAMP works and their important role in the process.”

Navigating the Home Affordable Modification Program is divided into two parts. Part I is a basic orientation for viewers who may not have heard of HAMP, the objectives of the program, how to determine if your loan is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and how to find out if you qualify. Part II discusses the information homeowners need to provide their mortgage servicer, demonstrates how affordability is achieved through a realistic example, and the steps homeowners need to take to ensure success in modifying their loan.

Additional information about alternatives to foreclosure can be found on www.HomeSafePMI.com. Sponsored by PMI Mortgage Insurance Co., the site offers a Mortgage Options Assessment Tool that enables homeowners to organize, calculate, and produce reports on their current financial situations prior to meeting their servicer or counselors to discuss solutions to foreclosure. This free tool is available to anyone.

About PMI Mortgage Insurance Co.

The PMI Group, Inc. (NYSE: PMI), headquartered in Walnut Creek, CA provides credit enhancement solutions that expand homeownership while supporting our customers and the communities they serve. Through its wholly and partially owned subsidiaries, PMI offers residential mortgage insurance and credit enhancement products. For more information: www.pmi-us.com.

loan modification

Loan Company Goes Dormant, Hundreds Could Lose Homes

A local loan-modification company is going out of business, potentially leaving hundreds of homeowners in jeopardy of losing their homes.

 By ANA GARCIA and FRED MAMOUN, NBC News Los Angeles

Updated 8:25 AM PST, Thu, Nov 19, 200

 Hundreds of homeowners who turned to an Orange County mortgage-modification company for help may be in jeopardy themselves and don’t know it. The company appears to have shut down.

 Company insiders say they have come forward to warn the public because they’re afraid people will lose their homes. 

 Greenleaf Legal Services in Mission Viejo may bill itself as “loan-modification experts,” but during a recent visit, the place was a ghost town.

 Some offices were empty, others had stacks of client files apparently waiting to be worked on, and telephone message…

 http://www.nbclosangeles.com/around-town/real-estate/Greenleaf-Legal-Services-Mission-Viejo-Loan-Modification-70424972.html

loan modification

Special Forces Soldier Gets Scammed By “Friend” While On Tour In Iraq

I saw this story on the web.  If you can help his soldier, please do.  Remember – He puts his butt on the line so you don’t have to!

Locals come together to help out soldier who was scammed

By Sarah Cormier and Erin McClary
C & G Staff Writers

MOUNT CLEMENS — Members of the local community don’t like the way a soldier has been treated at home, and are banding together to do something about it.

When Kevin Robertson, a sergeant with the Army’s Special Forces, returned from this third tour of duty in Iraq in May 2007, he was astounded to find that many of his financial dealings were out of whack.

“He started to realize that something was really wrong. He didn’t know what had transacted,” said Elizabeth Geary, Robertson’s friend for at least 10 years.

Robertson discovered that a loan totaling $135,000 had been taken out on his home in Mount Clemens. The home was also going into foreclosure. Moreover, another home had been purchased in Robertson’s name in Florida for $340,000.

“He went to Iraq and that’s one big nightmare over there, and he comes home and it’s a worse nightmare,” said Geary.

How did it all happen?

According to Geary, one day before Robertson was deployed in November 2006, he gave power of attorney to a friend, Mark Powell, whom he had met at a gym several years ago in Sarasota, Fla.

“He had been convinced by a friend of his over in Sarasota to turn over his power of attorney,” said Geary, adding, “Kevin reluctantly did this and when Kevin came home … this man he took out two loans on this house.”

Geary lives in the house on Smith Street that Robertson owns and that Powell took the two loans out on. She said Robertson, who lives in Sarasota because that’s where the Special Forces train, had obtained the Mount Clemens home from his father, who had paid cash for the property and owed no money on it. She added that the Florida home, which Powell bought for $340,000, now appraises for $160,000.

Geary said that Robertson gave Powell no such permission to take out either loan or purchase a home.

“Kevin had no idea what this guy was going to do,” she said.

In fact, said Geary, she thinks that Powell targeted her friend from the beginning.

“There was Kevin sitting on a lot of equity, a lot of cash in the bank, he had a perfect credit score… so I think Mark befriended Kevin and I think he groomed him,” she said, adding that the day after Robertson left, Powell transferred all of the money from Robertson’s account to Powell’s wife’s.

In September 2008, Powell pled guilty to one count of false pretenses over $20,000, but the judge decided that if he paid one-third of the restitution amount within 11 months, he would be allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor. He was also sentenced to 11 months of probation and 100 hours of community service. A sentence review hearing, to make sure Powell is following the guidelines, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 5.

Neither Powell’s attorney, Julie Hlywa, or Robertson’s attorney, Robert Vickrey, returned a phone call for comment.

“It’s been a very, very heartbreaking situation,” said Geary, who said she will continue helping Robertson take care of all of the remaining legal obligations surrounding the case while he’s back in Iraq.

However, Geary isn’t the only one fighting the soldier’s battle back at home. Now that they’ve won over the Mount Clemens City Council, L’Anse Creuse High School teacher Suki VanDerMass and her Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) will attempt to help Robertson with a Battle of the Bands fundraiser Oct. 24.

The group entered City Hall with a booming drum line Oct. 5 to show council members they meant business, VanDerMaas said.

“The city of Mount Clemens decided that on ‘Make A Difference Day,’ that we were going to adopt a soldier,” she explained. “I brought Elizabeth to my SADD group, she told them (Robertson’s) story and we decided, ‘OK, we’re going to adopt him.’ But we had to get City Council on board first.”

“It’s a wonderful thing that the community is rallying around him like they are” added Geary.

When VanDerMaas, who advises the L’Anse Creuse High School’s SADD group and also teaches special education and social studies, asked her students how they wanted to help, they already had their minds made up: “They said, ‘We’re going to do a Battle of the Bands.’”

VanDerMaas ended up networking her way into a few of the city’s well-known venues and was able to secure locations for the event and band auditions.

Battle of the Bands is taking place at the Emerald Ballroom Oct. 24. Tickets are $10 for adults, and kids 10 and under get in free as long as they bring a pack of gum to donate.

VanDerMaas said Robertson told her one thing soldiers can’t get enough of in the desert is chewing gum. As a result, all the packs donated Oct. 24 will be shipped to troops overseas. Proceeds from admission costs will be donated to Robertson.

Aside from the entertainment at Battle of the Bands, concertgoers can also enter raffles to win a weekend in Boyne Mountain or a gift basket filled with service vouchers and merchandise from Mount Clemens businesses.

Local vendors will also be there selling hot dogs, and some of the proceeds will be donated toward the effort.

VanDerMaas said garage bands, kids who play in bands for local high schools, and even those who’ve graduated and just want to get up and perform will compete to benefit Robertson.

“When the economy’s bad and we’re hurting, there’s always someone that has it way worse,” VanDerMaas concluded. “And Kevin, I mean, we really got to step up.”

For details about Battle of the Bands, call Suki VanDerMaas at L’Anse Creuse High School, (586) 783-6400 ext. 2083.

You can reach Staff Writer Sarah Cormier at scormier@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1095.

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