Attorney sentenced in fake mortgage scheme
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced on Dec. 18 the sentencing of Steven Barry Ruza, 52, of Orchard Lake, former owner of Home Legal Group Inc., for one felony count of Conducting a Criminal Enterprise. Ruza was sentenced to 12 months in Oakland County Jail, followed by five years of probation by Judge Nanci Grant in Oakland County’s 6th Circuit Court. Ruza pleaded guilty to the charges of defrauding his victims with a fake mortgage assistance scheme in September.
“Criminals who take advantage of hard working men and women who want nothing more than to stay in their homes will not be tolerated,” said Schuette. “The conclusion of this case ensures another bad apple is off the street and I want to applaud my Homeowner Protection Team for their hard work on this case.”
At the time of sentencing, Ruza was ordered to pay $445,895.16 in restitution to the first 297 of his victims. Under stipulations of his plea deal, Ruza could be ordered to pay hundreds of thousands more in restitution based on the final number of victims. That count is still being determined.
His guilty plea ensures that Ruza cannot operate as an attorney or run this kind of business again in the future.
The initial payment of $262,500 will go directly to the victims. Additional restitution will be paid by the Michigan Homeowner Protection Fund, which Ruza is then required to reimburse.
State Bar to offer town hall meeting Jan. 29
The State Bar invites its members to attend, in person or virtually, a town hall meeting from 1-4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, at the Michigan Hall of Justice, 925 West Ottawa St., Lansing to learn more about why the 21st Century Practice Task Force was formed and to offer insights, ideas and concerns.
The group was created in March 2015 to make recommendations on how the State Bar can best serve the public and support lawyers’ professional development in a rapidly changing legal marketplace. Since then, more than 150 SBM members have developed more than 100 ideas to move Michigan forward toward the best possible legal future.
Members who want to attend in person or are interested in virtual participation should make a reservation by e-mailing 21ctownhall@mail.michbar.org.
New minimum wage
for state employees
Effective January 1, 2016, Michigan workers will see an increase in the minimum wage rate from $8.15 to $8.50. This new change to state law marks the second of a gradual 25 percent increase of the minimum wage resulting in $9.25 per hour by 2018. New online resources are available at www.michigan.gov/wagehour to help workers and employers understand the facts as the new rate takes effect.
On May 27, 2014, the Workforce Opportunity Wage Act, Public Act 138 of 2014 (Act 138) took immediate effect, replacing the Michigan Minimum Wage and Overtime Act (Act 154). Act 138 is enforced by the Wage and Hour Program within the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA).
Act 138 applies to employers in Michigan that have two or more employees age 16 and older.
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