New York AG Reaches $4 Million Settlement With Foreclosure Mill

``New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced an agreement with Steven J. Baum PC, Pillar Processing LLC, Steven J. Baum, and Brian Kumiega, requiring them to pay $4 million to New York State in penalties, costs and fees, which will be used in part for programs that offer assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure or victims of predatory lending practices. The agreement stems from abuses in their foreclosure-related legal work. Baum, founding partnwer of Steven J. Baum PC, and Managing Partner Brian Kumiega also agreed to not represent lenders or servicers in new foreclosure-related cases for a period of two years. Until ceasing most of its operations on or about Dec. 31, 2011, the Baum Firm was the largest foreclosure firm in New York State. ''