Moves & Shakers Feb. 24, 2010

Schweitzer gears up for aerial event

Professional aerial jumpers will join together for Yoke's Outrageous Air Show at Schweitzer Mountain Resort.

Eyes will be skyward in the heart of the Schweitzer Village at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, as the stars of skiing join together to create celestial splendor, soaring through the sky during the show.

Eight members of Yokes Outrageous Air Team will be joined by Olympic Freestyle Gold Medalist Jean Marc Rozon and former Canadian National Freestyle Ski Team member Brad Suey, teaming up to create an astronomical aerial review, which includes such stunts as synchronized flips and flying through fire.

Both nights, the shows kick off with the Wired Energy Drink Torchlight Parade and end with after parties. The performers will be in Taps for autograph signings. Friday will feature the Corona-Captain Morgan Party while Saturday in Taps ends the event with the Crown Royal "Redneck Reunion" Costume Party.

The hour-long show is free and welcomes all ages with a snow bar, fireworks, and music in the village. For more information visit www.schweitzer.com or contact Bob Legasa at freeridepromo@msn.com.

Mortgage modification top AG complaint

Idaho consumers filed more complaints about mortgage modifications in 2009 than about any other category, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. Wasden today released his report on consumer protection activities for 2009. The attorney general also reported record collections of restitution for Idaho consumers and record civil penalties and costs collected for the state of Idaho.

As Idaho foreclosures increased by 89 percent compared to the previous year, Idaho consumers filed 353 complaints relating to mortgage modification businesses. As a result, "loan modifications," which had never previously been in the top 10, was the number one complaint category in 2009.

"We received reports of outrageous fraud," Wasden said. "Some of these operators took advantage of desperate homeowners by charging hundreds, or even thousands of dollars, in upfront fees, while taking no action to modify the mortgage."

Wasden said his Consumer Protection Division responded aggressively, pursuing several enforcement actions against deceptive loan modification companies, hiring a part-time housing counselor, publishing two free consumer handbooks and producing public service announcements to inform Idahoans that free help is available.

In addition, his staff worked with loan servicers to facilitate loan modifications, and to reverse, postpone or cancel foreclosures; investigated several hundred complaints against 10 mortgage modification and foreclosure rescue consultants; filed consumer protection lawsuits against two mortgage modification and foreclosure rescue consultants; entered into settlement agreements with three mortgage modification and foreclosure rescue consultants; and, recovered $60,935 in restitution for consumers related to mortgage modification and foreclosure rescue and other housing complaints.

Wasden noted that 2009 was a record-setting year for the attorney general's office in overall consumer protection efforts.

"Through our enforcement actions, the consumer staff recovered a record $7,431,388 in restitution for Idaho consumers last year," Wasden said. "This equates to $12.14 recovered for each taxpayer dollar appropriated for consumer operations and extends to 19 years our record of recovering more money than we receive from the general fund. We also recovered nearly $6 million in civil penalties, fees and costs, also a record."

Wasden added that those amounts do not include the nearly $31 million the state received in 2009 pursuant to the tobacco settlement negotiated between the Office of the Attorney General and tobacco manufacturers in 1998. To date, the state has received more than a quarter of a billion dollars from the tobacco settlement.

"Altogether, the 13 people in our consumer protection division brought in $44 million for Idaho consumers and the state last year, while we spent only $833,000 on consumer operations," Wasden said.

Last year, the attorney general's office received nearly 1,900 consumer complaints, an 11 percent increase. Idaho consumers reported losses of two and a quarter million dollars. The Attorney General mediated more than 1,200 of those complaints and, as a result, recovered more than $175,000 for individual Idaho consumers.

"We've had an extremely productive year, and this very small and dedicated staff has delivered tremendous results for Idaho consumers and taxpayers," Wasden said. "Although our resources are diminished by the current economic situation, I want to assure Idahoans that our efforts on their behalf will not diminish. We remain committed and dedicated to protecting consumers from fraud and protecting Idaho businesses by ensuring a level playing field in a fair and competitive marketplace."

If you have a new, relocated or expanded business, or announcement of events, promotions or awards, The Press wants to let our readers know. The service is free and items run Tuesday through Saturday. To get the word on the street on your movers and shakers, call city editor Bill Buley at 664-8176 Ext. 2016 or e-mail bbuley@cdapress.com.