April 26, 2016

Four attorneys who have worked within the FDN network have formed the WestNorthWest Law Alliance to handle numerous areas of law practice in the states of Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The members are:

Jeff Barnes, Esq.: Mr. Barnes has spent 28 years practicing in the area of civil litigation including business disputes, contract litigation, real estate litigation, limited partnership tax shelter syndication litigation, and appeals in State and Federal courts involving many issues including statutory construction and interpretation. He is licensed in Florida and Colorado, and is also a member of the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third, Sixth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits where he has prosecuted appeals. Mr. Barnes has worked closely with WNW attorneys Edward Levy, Elizabeth Lemoine, and Eric Hummel for over 6 years and continues to do so in the area of foreclosure defense and appeals.

Eric Hummel, Esq.:  Mr. Hummel is licensed in Montana and is also a substitute Judge for Whitefish, Columbia Falls, and Flathead County Justice courts. He practices civil litigation in state and Federal courts in Montana, and continues to work with Mr. Barnes in the area of foreclosure defense. Mr. Hummel was co-counsel with Mr. Barnes in their victory in the Supreme Court of Montana in the case of Pilgeram v. Greenpoint where they established that MERS is not the beneficiary in a Deed of Trust, which involved the construction of a Montana state statute as to what constitutes a “beneficiary” for purposes of the Small Tract Financing Act (Montana’s non-judicial foreclosure statute).

Elizabeth Lemoine, Esq.: Mrs. Lemoine is licensed in Oregon and Washington where she practices labor and employment law, business law, contract disputes, and civil litigation in state and Federal courts as well as working with Mr. Barnes in the area of foreclosure defense. She was co-counsel with Mr. Barnes in their victories in the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Oregon in the case of Niday v. GMAC Mortgage which held that MERS is not the “beneficiary” of a Deed of Trust, which case also, like the Pilgeram case in Montana, involved the construction and interpretation of non-judicial foreclosure statutes.

Edward Levy, Esq.: Mr. Levy is licensed in the State of Colorado and practices Bankruptcy law at both the consumer and commercial levels. His practice involves Chapter 7, 11, and 13 proceedings and contested and adversary proceedings and appeals including those before the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel. He also practices criminal defense in the state and Federal courts in cases involving felony, misdemeanor, white collar, and financial crimes, and also practices in the areas of debtor and creditor rights. Mr. Levy has worked with Mr. Barnes representing clients who are involved with foreclosure issues including bankruptcy matters.

WNW’s mission is to provide diligent and comprehensive representation to clients in Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Washington at the trial and appellate levels in both state and Federal courts. Inquiries may be made to [email protected] at this time. WNW will be establishing its own contact links shortly.