Howard

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Facts

Howard was prompted by financial problems to have Veritas Law Group assist her in obtaining a loan modification of her mortgage payment to lender Seterus, Inc. Believing her loan modification had been successful, Howard began making reduced monthly payments to the lender. Months later, a Seterus, Inc. representative notified Howard that if certain documents were not received, a foreclosure sale would proceed. Howard retained Consumer Action Law Group (CALG), a consumer litigation firm. On June 19, 2015, on behalf of Howard, CALG sued Seterus, Inc. for breaching a modification agreement and proceeding with a foreclosure sale. Attorneys Lauren Rode and Yelena Gurevich (appellants) handled Howard’s case. On June 26, 2015, CALG received a letter from Seterus, Inc., stating the loan modification could proceed and the foreclosure sale would be cancelled if Howard signed and returned the enclosed documents. Howard was never made aware of the documents; she never signed and returned them to the lender. Howard’s house was sold in foreclosure. Howard did not discover the Seterus, Inc. letter until after appellants and CALG had terminated their…