Episode 30 - Judge Annette Rizzo Artwork

What the M

Do you ever wonder who is behind the scenes collecting and processing all those monthly mortgage payments throughout the entire country? In the world of residential mortgages, the mortgage servicing industry is a critical but not always visible player in the lending and home ownership process. Unveiling how mortgage servicers manage the residential homeownership industry is the concept behind “What the M,” a new podcast that discusses the complex issues facing default services and the path forward for the mortgage industry and homeowners alike. The industry is comprised of more than 160 mortgage servicers representing more than 80% of the outstanding principal balances on mortgages in the U.S. Without the involvement of these vital mortgage servicers, obtaining and maintaining a home mortgage as we know it would not exist.“‘What the M’ features industry movers and shakers discussing the challenges faced by mortgage servicers, law firms and the American homeowner,” said Stephen Hladik, one of the co-hosts for the podcast and chair of the Advisory Council of the Legal League 100. “We will discuss trends in the economy, regulatory oversight, changes in the law, changes in technology and a myriad of other factors affecting the industry.”Hladik and co-host Kent McPhail are experienced attorneys with multistate practices in the default servicing industry. Both have decades of experience representing secured creditors; however, each host brings his own unique perspective to the podcast. McPhail hails from the Deep South (think boiled peanuts and shrimp & grits), while Hladik hails from the Northeast (think cheesesteaks and scrapple). “With this Yin and Yang, we hope to bring an entertaining and informative approach to the industry and those who make it hum,” McPhail said.Episodes of “What the M” begin airing mid-September and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.

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What the M

Episode 30 - Judge Annette Rizzo

February 16, 2024 • Kent D. McPhail and Stephen M. Hladik • Season 2 • Episode 30

It’s that time again… for a new episode of What the M!

This week, Kent and Steve are honored to bring you an interview with the Honorable Annette M. Rizzo. Judge Rizzo was gracious enough to drop by to discuss mortgage foreclosure mediation programs, how the model was developed for courts, the success rates seen by these programs, and how the model program spread throughout the United States.

Judge Rizzo served as a Judge in the First Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 16 years, with the majority of that time spent in the Civil Major Jury Trial Program. Prior to her tenure on the bench, she worked in both the public and private sectors. Her many roles included litigating at the oldest continuous law firm in the United States, serving as Senior Counsel at a global insurance firm, and serving as an Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia.

In 2008, Judge Rizzo developed the Philadelphia Court’s Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program. This program, which continues to thrive today, is a pioneering achievement that brings together homeowners, lenders, attorneys, and housing counselors in an effort to keep city residents in their homes. The program has been a model for similar programs in Pennsylvania and in other jurisdictions and six other states.

Judge Rizzo has since testified about the Program before TARP, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the U.S. House of Representatives. She continues to speak nationally about the program at trainings for the judiciary, mortgage finance companies, public interest entities, lender servicers, and government agencies including the Federal Reserve, FTC, FDIC, CFPB, the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, NeighborWorks America and many others. Internationally, our guest participated in a European Union Conference and CLE program in Italy regarding the merits of Alternative Dispute Resolution, the Foreclosure Diversion Program, and international mediation systems.

At the invitation of Philadelphia’s City Council in 2020, our guest joined a creative team that developed an innovative Eviction Prevention & Diversion Program modeled after the successful Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program. In her spare time, our guest serves as an Adjunct Professor for the Temple University School of Law State Court Clinical Program, which she developed in 2007.

Welcome to the podcast, Judge Rizzo!

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What The M is hosted by Kent McPhail and Stephen Hladik, and produced and edited by Sarah Noel Sheffield.

People on this episode

Kent D. McPhail

Co-host

Stephen M. Hladik

Co-host