Three Steps to Wealth & Financial Security
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San Diego County Bar Association: The bar went all out and supported our efforts to train and recruit attorneys to counsel homeowners in financial distress at San Diego area HOME Clinics. Thanks to Ellen Miller-Sharp, Executive Director, bar Presidents Heather Rosing, Jerrilyn Malana, and Dan Link, as well as chairs or co- chairs of the Real Property Law Section, Justin White, Houston Watson, Scott Miller, Todd Bulich (my co-chair) and Elizabeth Smith-Chavez.
San Diego County Law Library: The law library invited me to teach countless legal education classes on the housing crisis and foreclosure issues, promoting the classes to both attorneys and the community at large. The classes allowed me to meet and connect with many attorneys and homeowners. Thanks to John Adkins, Library Director, Cheryl Weeks Fry, Assistant Director, Isabel Eustaquio, attorney and continuing legal education chair, Debra Morse, attorney and branch manager, Vista, Benita Ghura, attorney and branch manager, Chula Vista, Kelly Keach, attorney, main branch, and Amanda Mongolo, paralegal main branch.
Judge Advocate General’s Corp in San Diego County: The JAG officers here referred countless active duty and retired military people to me serving in San Diego and throughout the U. S. Thanks to Harris Brumer, Director of Legal Assistance at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Mr. Brumer invited me to speak on numerous occasions at both Miramar and Camp Pendleton, introducing me to countless JAG officers over the years.
The Housing Opportunities Collaborative, sponsor of the HOME Clinics in San Diego County: The Collaborative gave me the opportunity to mentor and train area attorneys on housing and foreclosure issues, as well as counsel distressed homeowners. Thanks to San Diego attorney Myrna Pascual, founder of the HOME Clinics, and “Vino” Pajanor, Executive Director. A special thanks to attorney Shanna Welsh. Shanna was diligent in attending my classes and volunteering at almost every clinic over a number of years. In fact, she has now taken my position as liaison between the Collaborative and the county bar association. The clinics, she said, gave her the experience and confidence to start her own law practice.
North County Bar, Real Property Law Section (RPLS): The RPLS of the North County Bar in San Diego invited me on a number of occasions to speak at legal education seminars and/or to organize training sessions for attorneys on the housing crisis. As a result, I was able to meet and connect with attorneys in the north county of San Diego and assist them and their clients with housing issues. Thanks to section chairs James Lund, Joseph Stine, and Deborah Zoller.
Christian Legal Society, San Diego Chapter: A special thanks to past presidents John Yphantides, Jennifer Patrick and current president David Hallett, as well as board members Miles Lawrence, Larry Dershem, and Eric Peterson for inviting me to speak at several of their meetings on the housing crisis and related legal issues.
The City of Chula Vista: Thanks to City Attorney Glen Googins for organizing a forum on the housing crisis and inviting me to speak, thus allowing me to connect with numerous homeowners in Chula Vista, CA.
San Diego Elder Law & Advocacy: The attorneys in this office provide legal assistance to the elder population in San Diego. Thanks to supervising attorney Jaime Levine and staff attorneys Bob Martin, Karin Schumacher and Sharon Lee for inviting me to speak at their office, thus allowing me to meet and connect with their legal staff.
La Jolla Bar Association: Thanks to President Virginia Gaburo for inviting me to speak at one of their meetings, thus allowing me to connect with numerous attorneys who live and/or practice in La Jolla, CA.
The State Bar of CA: Special thanks to attorney George Hurley, member, Executive Committee, Real Property Law Section, State Bar of CA. George invited both me and Vikki to speak at the State Bar’s Annual Meeting in Monterey, CA, in September 2011, thus allowing us to meet and connect with numerous attorneys throughout CA. Joining us on the panel was San Diego tax attorney Brad Dewan.
Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Inc.: The Legal Aid Society is a committed and compassionate group of legal professionals dedicated to providing equal access to justice for the poor through aggressive, quality legal services. Special thanks to Sara Raffer Lee, pro bono program manager, senior staff attorneys Allyson Snow, Richard Steiner and lead housing attorney Bernadette Probus.
Earl Gilliam Bar Association: A special thanks to attorney Omar Passons, president- elect, who invited me on several occasions to speak at community forums concerning the housing crisis, thus giving me the opportunity to connect with homeowners in San Diego. (The Earl Gilliam Bar Association is named after San Diego’s first black federal judge, the late Earl Gilliam. As an FBI Agent, I had the honor of conducting his background investigation before he was appointed to the federal bench.)
Chicago Title, San Diego, CA: A special thanks to Fred Eckert, Assistant Vice President. Fred gives back to the community in many ways. At Chicago Title, he organized seminars on mortgage and housing crisis issues and invited me and Vikki to speak at many programs, thus allowing us to meet many homeowners in San Diego.
San Diego area law schools: Thanks to adjunct professors Duane Horning, USD, Todd Bulich, California Western, Lilys MC Coy, Director, Solo Practice Program, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and Kyle Yeage, alumni/graduate, California Western for inviting me to speak at their law schools.
National Business Institute: NBI – nbi-sems.com – is the largest provider of continuing legal education classes in the United States. Vikki, Brad Dewan, San Diego tax attorney, and I have been presenting three to four seminars each year since approximately 2008 to hundreds of attorneys and paralegals. As a result, we have connected with many legal professionals throughout the nation. A special thanks to Jonathan Cook and Julie Weinkauf. They are always a pleasure to work with. Thanks also to our colleague Brad Dewan, San Diego tax attorney. Brad initially invited us to join him and present the seminars as a panel. We have become a good team, teaching approximately twelve to fifteen NBI seminars over the last three to four years.
Lastly, we acknowledge and thank the many people in financial distress who contacted us over the years, seeking information, guidance, direction and hope. We learned a great deal from each of them.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Gary M. Laturno, Esq. – gary@landkrealty.com
B. S., University of Minnesota; J.D., Loyola University, New Orleans
Practiced law for 30 years; AV Rating Martindale Hubbell
Named to Top Lawyers in San Diego, San Diego Magazine, 2013
President & General Counsel, Laturno Kuick Realty, San Diego, California
Of Counsel, Laturno & Graves, Escondido, CA
Past Co-Chair, Real Property Law Section, San Diego County Bar Association,
Member, Real Property, Taxation and Bankruptcy Law Sections, SDCBA
Past Chair, Community Service Committee, SDCBA
Former FBI Chief of Civil Litigation, FBI HQ, Washington, D. C.
Former FBI Press Spokesman and Principal Legal Adviser, San Diego Division
Arbitrator & Mediator, American Arbitration Association
Mediator, San Diego Superior Court Mediation Panel
Investor and property manager for 25 years
Counseled over 2,000 homeowners in financial distress since 2007
Mediated foreclosure disputes with the nation’s largest mortgage lenders
Featured speaker at California and national continuing legal education seminars including the California State Bar Annual Meeting, Monterey, CA
Victoria K. Kuick, MBA – vikki@landkrealty.com
B.S., Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; MBA/Finance, Arizona State University
Vice President & CFO, Laturno Kuick Realty
Handled and/or supervised over 300 successful short sale real estate closings in San Diego
Worked in finance, financial planning and strategic business planning at Fortune 500 companies for 17 years
Substantial experience investing in both the U.S. stock market and real estate
Frequent speaker at both California and national
continuing legal-education seminars
*Statement attributed to Charles Berkley, first librarian of Congress.