Foreclosure mills prompt more law firms being questioned

As foreclosure filings continue to knock Florida's housing crisis, more attorneys hired to process these cases, are now finding themselves defending their actions.

That's according to Palm Beach County attorney, Gerald Richman.

"They're sending letters of inquiry out to other law firms, I know of at least two and I'm sure there are more," Richman said.

Richman represents Boca Raton firm, Shapiro and Fishman, one of three firms subpoenaed by the state this summer.

Richman says he recently received calls from another Palm Beach County law firm and a Broward County firm now also being questioned.

"It's really part of a phishing expedition, but it's really what they should have been doing with our firm," he said.

According to the state Attorney General's office, these firms are being investigated for the way they handled foreclosure cases.

In a press release issued this summer, the AG's office stated, "the Attorney General's Economic Crimes Division is investigating whether improper documentation may have been created and filed with Florida courts to speed up foreclosure processes, potentially without the knowledge or consent of the homeowners involved."

Richman isn't disclosing which law firms are getting the state's most recent attention, the AG's office is also not commenting.

It's the latest development in a crisis that helped turn Florida's booming economy, bust.

While one critical question remains, who else is to blame?

Richman recently took the state to court arguing the state doesn't have the authority to investigate law firms under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

He won that battle, the state is now challenging the decision.