IndyMac/One West Locks Woman Out During Blizzard-ILLEGALLY!

On Tuesday night, Dec. 8, in a freezing blizzard, Leslie Parks returned from her job to find that IndyMac/One West had changed the locks to her home (3749 Park Ave. in Minneapolis).

Locking Leslie Parks out of her home is illegal. In fact it is beyond illegal, given the struggle that Leslie Parks is waging to keep her home. It is a cynical breach of what all assumed were good faith negotiations on the part of IndyMac/One West.

After the start of national call-in week to IndyMac officials, IndyMac informed Leslie, in writing, on Nov. 25 that they were rescinding both the foreclosure and the sheriffs sale. According to Ms. Parks, “I got an email from IndyMac stating, and I quote, ‘In an effort to work with you and your mother and come to a resolution, we have started the process of rescinding the Trustee's Sale which took place on May 29, 2009.’

They go on to say, and again I quote, ‘You expressed concern that at the end of the redemption period (on Monday November 30, 2009) you and your mother will be evicted from the property. Rest assured, that will not take place due to the rescission of the foreclosure sale.’”

On Monday, Nov. 30, the Parks family and advocates had a phone conference with IndyMac to renew negotiations for the home. But today, 8 days later, IndyMac locked Leslie out.

Lynnette Malles, of Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, said, “This an outrage; a criminal act. We will do everything in our power to see that IndyMac pays for this.” The Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout and the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign are putting out an action alert to call IndyMac about this situation.

Bailout lawyers also point out that even IF IndyMac had not come to the table, the next step would be a notice to come to court for eviction proceedings. In no case should the locks be changed. “They did the same thing in May of this year - changed the locks illegally. We had to take them to court and fine them, and we will do it again,” said Deb Konechne, of the Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout.