VaCAP Supports Shane Lanham’s Legal Fight
A fellow appraiser is in need of your assistance. Many of you may have heard of a Maryland Appraiser, Shane Lanham, the defendant in a lawsuit for a “low opinion of value based on the race of the homeowner.” Shane is counter suing the accuser for defamation as this has been a very publicized story. Let’s be clear, he is not just fighting for himself, he is fighting for each and every appraiser.
As you can imagine, Shane’s legal expenses are high and Shane has reached out for some assistance.
VaCAP is supporting Shane as he fights to clear his name and the reputation of all appraisers. Racism claims have gotten the media attention and not one story has told the appraiser side. Shane’s determination and dedication in this fight are endless. VaCAP supports Shane and all appraisers in this tiresome fight.
VaCAP will contribute a $1,000 to Shane’s GoFundMe page. We encourage every appraiser to donate what you can. You can see Shane’s story and donate on his GoFundMe page.
The Virginia Coalition of Appraiser Professionals Challenges every Appraiser organization to support Shane and his fight in matching VaCAP’s donation of $1,000.
Hello everyone,
Discovery has ended and all fact/character witnesses involved on both sides have been interviewed… next up, expert witness depositions in September and October. The Plaintiffs did not retain an expert appraisal witness to either dispute my value or support the value of the second appraisal (Dodd $750k). Instead, they retained Junia Howell. She is described on the internet as an “urban sociologist and race scholar.” If you are unfamiliar with her, you can listen to some of her testimony at an Appraisal Subcommittee hearing on appraisal bias in the link below (about minutes 28 – 35) and get a feel for her opinion of appraisers and the appraisal industry in general (spoiler alert, she does not have a high opinion of either). In the interest of being agreeable, and having nothing to hide, I provided all appraisals I have since I started my business in 2015-2016 to the Plaintiffs as they requested (this was provided before I knew Junia Howell would be involved). That information appears to have been used by Plaintiffs to pivot away from the initial complaint that claims the Dodd appraisal at $750k in January 2022 is accurate, and proves how much I undervalued the same house in June 2021; they have now turned their attention more to an analysis of my history of appraising. To rebut the study that Howell performed using those appraisals I supplied, I have retained the services of Tobias Peter of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Mr. Peter has participated in studies and analysis that addresses flaws in the methods used by the Brookings Institution to proclaim that disparities in home values between white and black owners is the result of appraiser bias. While I am thankful for Mr. Peter’s involvement, this was an unexpected but necessary expense that comes at a heavy cost. Coupled with the fact that my original codefendant LoanDepot decided to settle and move on from the case, which is forcing me to fight the accusations on my own, the expenses for my defense have increased exponentially. I want to reiterate how thankful I am for the donations I have received from all of you and given the cost to live these days I am not asking for you to donate again. However, from what I understand there are 80,000 +/- appraisers countrywide and 400+/- have donated. While my particular case has been highly publicized thanks to the interviews done by Plaintiffs, I realize that doesn’t mean every single appraiser is aware of what’s going on with me. What I am asking is to please spread the word of my fundraiser to as many people as possible, by any means necessary, and encourage them to donate as it is more important than ever that I not only meet my goal of $50k but exceed it. Again, thank you for your support and words of encouragement. I will continue to keep you posted on the progress of the process.
- VaCAP Supports Shane Lanham’s Legal Fight - September 10, 2024
- It’s Just Responsible Journalism! - February 21, 2024
- Limitations for Damages Against Appraisers - January 9, 2024
> “urban sociologist and race scholar.”
lol, a what?
Folks should look into the term “struggle session”:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struggle_session
Because that’s where this insidious bullshit is leading…
Another non profit. Formed 07/23.
IRS non profit lookup tool.
EIN# 88-3073054
https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/
https://www.juniahowell.com/
https://www.eruka.org/
https://www.eruka.org/services
https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/dl/FinalLetter_88-3073054_ERUKA_07122022_00.pdf
Dismantling white supremacy. Restoring equity. Has developed an eappraise tool and has a 5min video on the services tab site. They’re using some form of depreciated age life tool of home components to determine home value based on PDC type data collecting, w/ no mention of land value differentials or comparative market amenity. As if a homes determinate value is material and depreciation only, disregarding other influential factors. Appraisers will find the concepts quite familiar, because it’s a hypothetical type of approach using ordinary and extra ordinary assumptions. Also proposing a flat fee loan origination program based on a type of individual bond purchase for locals. These are interesting proposals, everyone should watch this five minute video. However, the realities of such a utopian concept may not stand up very well to things like online hackers, the need for legal service funding, title monitoring for fraud, the inevitable grifters whom would seek to exploit the program, corporate influences. In a surprising twist of events, we’ve actually found someone whom seeks to answer my favorite question; What exactly is wrong with lower housing prices? Quite interesting. Were those approaches and theories to be applied by a licensed appraiser under FRT (federally regulated transaction) for real world lending assignments, automatic rejection of the appraisal would be for certain. Meet your new administrative appraisal reviewer.
Their websites and the ones you shared are way too nice to be grassroots. They smell like 3rd party money…
Thank you for sharing this. Thank you Virginia coalition of appraisers. Shane needs and all the support he can get. We need to prove that these claims and stories of bias are false until proven, by peers That they are accurate. The plaintiffs choice of experts is completely irrelevant because they have little to no appraisal knowledge. Just more fluff.
it would be nice if the judge would summary judgement in Shane’s favor..and then dress down Relman Colfax for not verifying the two reports before sending Connolly out on his media tour..i’m not holding my breath..THANKS VaCAP !!!
Thank you so much!
VaCap has issued a challenge!!
EVERYONE here needs to donate what they can and then SHARE, SHARE, SHARE on all social media pages and elsewhere. I saw the pitiful Congressional hearing with Junia and Tobias Peter. Junia was crazy, she talked so fast it was like she was on speed and she has it in for Appraisers clearly YET Congressional members who wish to continue the RACE argument questioned her more. When Tobias Peter made a very valid, complete and thorough investigation into the bias argument and stated it was a FINANCIAL issue not a bias issue not one of the Congress members that clearly had it in for Appraisers asked more questions about his very valid report. They ignored him! And the AI President at the time completely threw us under the BUS as he sat next to the couple from Marin County that everyone believes like they are GOD on this issue. It was disgusting. I surely hope Tobias helps Shane’s case as he was very coherent and intelligent and stated his case with great conviction. The fact that they are not even bringing in another Appraiser to testify is very telling. Why? Because they have NO proof of bias. They are trying to put on a dog and pony show and hope it sticks! I hope Shane wins and wins big and maybe those who want to sue will BACK the HELL off.
In the interest of being agreeable, and having nothing to hide, I provided all appraisals I have since I started my business in 2015-2016 to the Plaintiffs as they requested / Oh my… Such an action is beyond the requirement of the jurisdictional exception rule. The appraiser should adamantly adhere to report confidentiality unless a judge or authorized agency orders the appraiser otherwise. Only share what is required and share no more. If there is confusion about this principal, the appraiser should cite both the judicial exception rule, and the client confidentiality rules.
Perhaps consider a new strategy; ask for the entire appraisal data set to be scraped back and the judge orders them as inadmissible evidence. The judge can force an appraiser to violate uspap with the JE rule. But can the judge also compel plaintiffs to respect the spirit of the confidentiality rules as well?
USPAP pg 17. / Law includes constitutions, legislative and court-made law, and administrative rules and ordinances. Regulations include rules or orders having legal force, issued by an administrative agency. Instructions from a client or attorney do not establish a jurisdictional exception.
“When compliance with uspap is required by law or regulation, no part of uspap can be voided by a law or regulation of a state or local jurisdiction.”
Pg 11. Ethics rule on confidentiality.
AO 60, AO 68, AO 78. /
Ask the judge to reel all of that back in, move back to the initial scope of the claim and complaint. Rule all but the initial appraisal as inadmissible evidence. Now the plaintiffs have manufactured new violations because of their unreasonable pressure applied to the appraiser. Is it now the courts responsibility to rectify this representative imbalance or declare a mistrial and allow the entire process to start over from scratch again?
Thanks VaCAP for your support in this matter for Shane Lanham.
I don’t think the majority of appraisers gets how important this case actually is to this industry. But, I must say, I’m not surprised. The profession I have loved for 40 years has no lack of selfish, “I’d sell my mom for $25”, appraisers. This guy is going way out on a limb for all of us yet the stingyness of some defies logic and fully exposes why we are in the situation we are. If every appraiser donated $5 to his war chest could potentially save their livelihood, but, no, crickets; “let somebody else bail my a$$ out”. Those who can and have not donated the cost of a grande Starbucks should be ashamed of themselves and you only have yourself to blame when the lights are turned off.
Exactly
Donated.
If appraisers will allow AMC’s to collect a $25 tech fee, we can surely support another appraiser.
Give what you can.
Please keep sharing and contributing. The more this is shared, the more hope Shane (and appraisers) have. Thanks
If anyone is so informed can someone please explain how it’s even possible for the lender to settle out and leave the appraiser hanging high and dry with these issues? Shouldn’t the lender and an amc if present be permanently tied to the appraiser until dispute resolution is achieved?
Have you ever seen the series ‘insurance wars’? About public adjusters whom represent insured home owners during disaster and claims processes when their insurers fail in their duty to provide adequate insurance coverage. aka; limiting claims coverage. They talk about total incomes of insurers and how poorly they handle claims. The public adjuster steps in as the only person actually representing the home owners best interests.
How much do appraisers collectively pay for EO insurance? An average of $750 a year per appraiser x 80,000 appraisers nationally. That’s 60,000,000 sixty million dollars income every single year EO insurers are raking to provide appraiser coverage. Why don’t they step up on this important issue, instead settling claim after claim thereby incentivizing more lawsuits to be filed?
Am I reading this correctly that an appraisers EO insurance will not even cover a single court case under current market conditions? Shouldn’t insurers raise their limits if this is the new situation?
Why isn’t the appraisers insurance company suing everybody involved which led to this? We are observing a battle of corporate giants. Home owners whom are continually steered to submit these complaints are the way in to the insurers pockets. Appraisers are merely collateral damage, innocent bystanders.
I’m sure if the funds were available the appraiser would have sued ABC and NYT ..they’re the ones that gave Connolly the platform to broadcast his unverified claim ..NYT rebroadcast the story March 24 so that may open a door due to statute of limitations that ran out after one year ….Relman Colfax which is Connolly’s law firm should be held accountable in my opinion..they didn’t even open a complaint with the state appraisal board or hud ..if they would have done just a basic opinion of the 2 reports this thing would have been stopped cold ..but no ..the story was too good and the facts didn’t matter …2 years plus and counting ..
Thanks for responding Steve. Although not specific to appraisers EO insurance, the above video still has many similarities to what appraisers may deal with. The insurance funds are available. The insurer is not covering what is needed to protect their insured. Where is the defamation from false complaints which extends additional litigation coverage limits? Every single appraiser is now effectively under insured.
At what point does this become an institutionalized process of filing complaints against appraisers and insurers risk going insolvent, leaving appraisers to deal with this as effectively uninsured? They’ve got billboards and advertising signs up; Sue the appraisers for racial discrimination! This does not sound like good faith insurance practices. I’ll give some money to this again but this is not a sustainable defense model for the rest of us.
Shane said; Through an insurance policy I carry, I have limited funds (only $100,000) to cover the costs of the lawsuit through investigation, discovery, motions, and trial. However, my understanding is that the $100,000 amount will not be enough to take this case through trial both defending myself from the false allegations and prosecuting the defamation case.
I’m very grateful that you gave not once but again ! It’s a shame that with 80,000 members the appraisers don’t have more say in the process besides having to group fund ..at this point I’m also grateful that the E&O didn’t want to settle at their first claim ..The law firm believes in this case and is fighting hard for a just ending as well as the insurance company up to their limit ..hopefully the judge will deliver a summary judgement and end this lawsuit before resources become harder to defend ..we’re praying and have our fingers crossed for a just ending ..your donations are appreciated and your support through your words of support definitely helps ..Thank you !
I too am praying for a quick resolve and a president for an end to these false claims of racism because someone simply doesn’t get their way. The lawyers are a disgusting profession that only see dollar signs and could care less about justice. This is such an important case that victory will send a strong message to those seeking a simple money grab at the expense of someone’s reputation.
I donated and sent it to our local appraisers. Hope they do the same. Thanks
I donated to Shane’s GoFundMe and shared it with my friends and family, confident that some of them will also contribute. They share my concern about the misleading “appraisal bias” narrative that has tarnished and affected us. It’s encouraging to see some large donations made in the past few days.
In the past few days thanks to all of your donations and SHARING, Shane is close just about $7,000 shy but he was a lot further from that before. So thank you all and please share, share, share. We need him to WIN!
Everyone has been great ..Thanks to all ..can’t tell you in words what your support means ..
Let’s go for $75,000!!!!
Where’s the APPRAISAL INSTITUTE??!!??
Hiding in the shadows doing their own things to benefit their board I am sure. Cindy has given so many hope, may she be able to continue her fight! If not, we need to tear AI apart, piece by piece.