FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 14, 2011 #OccupyCleveland Media Coordinator: Katie Steinmuller P: 440-799-5560 Email: ktksteinmuller@gmail.com #OccupyCleveland Media Coordinator: Renee Douglas P: 216-978-5059 Email: renee_e_douglas@hotmail.com #OccupyCleveland Media Coordinator: Melissa Athens P: 323-356-5492 Email: melissaathens@mail.com

Occupy Cleveland in joint effort to stop eviction

On Thursday morning, December 15th, at 10 am, Christine and Steve Cart and their two sons, Stephen and Shaun, will be forced from their home by the Sheriffs department. Christine and her family, who live at 7234 State Route 45 in Orwell, OH, have been fighting to stay in their home since 2008. Occupy Cleveland, working in conjunction with Occupies Ashtabula and Youngstown, will take a stand with the Cart family, against the powers who wish to remove them from their home, just before the holidays. Christine Carts father bought their home in the early 1970s. Christine, her husband, and their two sons, moved in with him, when he became ill. Before he passed away in 2004, they refinanced the home, with Lehman Brothers. In December 2007, they fell two payments behind and called the mortgage servicer, Aurora Loan Services, to set up a repayment plan. She received the repayment plan in February of 2008. After attempting to pay a missed tax payment, she found that Aurora Loan Services had already taken care of it. When she attempted to submit payment to Aurora, they refused and claimed a new repayment plan would have to be drawn up. When she called in April, 2008, to inquire about the new repayment plan, they told her the house had gone into foreclosure, they could no longer speak with her and she needed to hire an attorney. With no money for an attorney, Christine did all the filings herself. After a few failed attempts, she finally found the correct paperwork, but was told by the judge that she was too late and her motions were denied. She filed a Motion of Relief in early November, 2008, to challenge the scheduled sale of her home, but the judge set the hearing date for AFTER the auction date. She repeatedly filed motions to vacate the void judgement but each was denied. I just wanted them to listen to me and they never did. It was as if Aurora, their lawyers and the judge were telling me We just need you to go away so we can have your house. Christine told an occupier on Wednesday, while discussing her efforts. The Carts home was sold to Fannie Mae, at Sheriffs auction, on November 17, 2008. Since then, Christine and her family have faced five evictions. One stay was issued when she filed a criminal complaint against Aurora, their lawyers and the presiding judge. The complaint was later dismissed. Three stays were issued due to bankruptcy filings and one is pending for Thursday, December 15th, at 10am. Christine has two appeals still pending. One is a Motion to Quiet the Title (Ashtabula County Court Case #: 2001cv330). The other is a complaint with the Office of the Comptroller of Currency. Fannie May recently called for a suspension of evictions for the holidays, starting Monday, December 19th. Fannie Mae Executive Vice President Terry Edwards was quoted as saying "The holidays are meant for families to spend time together, especially if they've gone through the stress of financial challenges and foreclosure. No family should have to give up their home during this holiday season." Occupy Cleveland, Occupy Ashtabula and Occupy Youngstown intend to occupy the Carts home for as long as it takes. Said Cleveland occupier Peter Schanz, Hard working American families havent been given a fair shake by the big banks or the legal system that is supposed to protect them. No family should be forced out onto the street just before the holidays and they should be allowed to stay in their home until their appeals are settled. We intend to stand our ground

until there is justice. On site contact: Peter Schanz 614-704-2481

www.occupycleveland.com #####