Articles by Ice Legal
Contemporary negotiable instruments law developed hundreds of years ago, before every important institution of the modern financial world: incorporated banks, business corporations, developed capital markets, global monetary systems, electronic transfers, and even paper currency. It is counterintuitive that this ancient law of negotiable instruments would have any relevance to one of the world’s most sophisticated, cutting-edge tools of high finance — the pooling and securitization of mortgage loans. Yet, the courts routinely look to such law to resolve a foreclosure crisis spawned by the collapse of mortgage-backed securitization, a process which is as strained as trying to decide First Amendment issues using cases pre-dating the Constitution. It is all the more extraordinary that, just as the nation begins to awaken to “robo-signing” and other such pervasive and methodical abuses of the court systems, judges should find themselves slavishly compelled to apply a body of law shaped (and then abandoned) by the very authors of such scandals: the financial institutions.
Trial and Appellate Attorneys
We are an AV-rated trial and appellate litigation firm dedicated to practicing in the areas of personal injury, commercial and foreclosure litigation, bankruptcy, intellectual property, and criminal defense. Our exceptional team approach to our cases brings over a hundred years of combined litigation experience to bear for our clients.
Ice Legal News
Thomas Erskine Ice has been selected to the 2013 Florida Super Lawyers list.
Each year, no more than five percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.
The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.
View the digital version of 2013 Florida Super Lawyers Magazine.
 |
Ice Legal Takes on Pro Bono Trials in Manatee
Ice Legal attorneys, along with members of a local legal defense group changed the course of events for pro se homeowners in Manatee. With the assistance of Gulfcoast Legal Services, Ice Legal led the way in volunteering legal services for homeowners who appeared for foreclosure trials without representation by an attorney.
"It is difficult to jump into a case on the day of trial," said Tom Ice, the firm's founder. "But, the banks are not expecting an attorney on the other side, so they are often unprepared for any real resistance."
The attorneys worked all day long in the Manatee County courtroom staving off judgments in cases where the banks had not brought the evidence necessary to show they were entitled to foreclose or how much was owed.
Article by Ice Legal Attorney Regarding Negotiability Published in the Florida Bar Journal
Ice Legal adds a mock courtroom to its offices
Ice Legal is committed to representing their clients throughout the entire litigation process, including trial. Many clients who have represented themselves (or who have been represented by other attorneys) up to the point that the case is set for trial have come to Ice Legal to try the case. Our commitment to preparation for trial includes “practice runs” or “mock trials” which we will conduct in our own mock courtroom.
Ice Named an honoree for the South Florida Business Journal's 2012 Key Partners Awards
The South Florida Business Journal has recognized Thomas Erskine Ice as one of its "Key Partners" in South Florida. The Key Partners Awards were created to honor South Florida’s top attorneys and accountants, based on demonstrated success over the past year to 18 months.
Ice Named One of Florida's Legal Elite
The ninth edition of Florida Trend Magazine's Florida Legal Elite (2012) has recognized Thomas Erskine Ice as one of the most esteemed attorneys in Florida as chosen by his colleagues. This peer recognition program garners awards for the top two percent of lawyers practicing in the State.
Ice Legal In The News
Palm Beach County foreclosure cases put on fast forward. THE PALM BEACH POST (Kimberly Miller)
...“If the cases are undefended, they should go to trial and be disposed of quickly,” said Royal Palm Beach-based attorney Tom Ice. “But if you set 70 cases for trial in one morning, it’s prejudicial to homeowners defending their case because in five minutes you’re either not going to get a fair trial or it’s not going to happen that day.”
...A year after attorneys general signed a $25 billion settlement with the nation's largest banks accused in the robo-signing scandal, the landscape hasn't changed much for plaintiffs in Miami-Dade, said foreclosure defense attorney Thomas Ice, founder of Ice Legal in Royal Palm Beach. ... "In short, the robo-signing has not gone away, it has simply moved into the courtroom," Ice said.
Foreclosure ruling disappoints, lawyers say. SUN SENTINEL (Paul Owers)
..."If fraud is your litigation tactic, the supreme court is basically saying you can go ahead and do that," said Amanda Lundergan, a lawyer for Ice Legal.
Florida justices reject mortgage fraud penalty. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE (Bill Kaczor)