The Denver Post-
With a handful of foreclosure lawyers listening intently from the back of the courtroom, a Denver District Court judge Thursday ordered one of their colleagues to comply with a state investigation into their billing practices — after denying efforts to close the case from the public.
Judge Edward Bronfin said lawyer Robert Hopp Jr. must gather the paperwork subpoenaed by Attorney General John Suthers’ office in its investigation of lawyers specializing in foreclosures and provide it within 60 days.
Before that, Bronfin denied Hopp’s request to keep the case from the public, saying the investigation had an “overriding public interest” that superseded Hopp’s privacy rights.
Hopp had complied somewhat with attorney general subpoenas issued months ago but has held back some of the most critical documents investigators said they need to determine whether the lawyer was padding his bills, Assistant Attorney General Erik Neusch said in court.
Hopp said the investigation covers “about 10,000 files” going back at least five years.