Eric Forster provides litigation support and expert witness services in real estate and mortgage litigation, and has earned a reputation as a top mortgage fraud investigator. His 25+ year experience in the industry covers the origination, processing and underwriting of residential and commercial mortgages. He is the author of "The Mortgage Applicant's Bible", and serves as a mortgage 'guru' for a New York Times subsidiary. Mr. Forster was recently appointed to serve as a special master for the Superior Court, in a criminal case involving 147 felony counts of mortgage fraud.
Services:
Mortgages and real estate finance. Real Estate industry standards and practices. Lenders/Borrowers standards and practices. Plaintiff and Defense strategies concerning breach of contract and/or fraud. Mortgage fraud litigation. Credit underwriting (commercial & residential loans); mortgage brokers' malpractice issues; conflicts of interest; commission compensation issues; Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac credit score & automated underwriting issues, RESPA/TIL (Truth in Lending) noncompliance, analyze lenders' disclosures for possible erroneous APR and loan reset information.
Background
Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:A: Doctorate (Mediation Ethics)
MBA (IT Systems)
T.DIPL (History)
Diplomate, American Board of Forensic Examiners
CA DRE Broker's License No. 00827388
FINRA (NASD-NYSE) Arbitrator No. A55740
Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
A: Board of Arbitrators, FINRA (NYSE/NASD)
Southern California Mortgage Bankers Association
Southern California Mediation Association
Beverly Hills/Los Angeles Association of Realtors
Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
A: Frequent appearances before consumer groups on matters concerning real estate and mortgages.
Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
A: No.
Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
A: 100 + as a litigation consultant.
Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
A: Standards of care, industry practices, real estate fraud, mortgage fraud,RESPA/TIL noncompliance,loan reset calculations
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
A: 50%
Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
A: 50%
Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
A: 15-16
Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
A: 06/2008
Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
A: 5+
Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
A: 5
Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
A: 11
Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
A: Litigation consulting, case evaluation and expert testimony.
Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
A: $275.00
Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
A: $275.00
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
A: $350.00
Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
A: $350.00
Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
A: $138.50/hr for travel.
