Avvo Save My House Contest Winner has Happy Ending

Working with lawyers from Leavengood & Nash, Florida family once in danger of losing home successfully negotiates loan modification to save house

Seattle, Wash — After many agonizing months facing foreclosure in Florida, the Tampa Bay area family who won free legal services in Avvo’s Save My House contest last year, can finally stop worrying: their home has been saved.

Avvo, which offers free ratings and profiles for 90 percent of licensed doctors and lawyers in the U.S., paired the Gillispie family from Port Richey with Attorney Ian Leavengood of Leavengood & Nash, a St. Petersburg firm focused on consumer law.

“Like so many cases we see in Florida, the Gillispie family was caught in the middle of a complicated system. Homeowners have legal options to fight a foreclosure notice, but doing so on their own – specifically dealing with mortgage companies, bank procedures and the courts – is extremely difficult,” said Leavengood. “After carefully reviewing their case we requested a court ordered mediation to pursue a loan modification. With consistent follow up and good communication, the loan modification was finally approved, and the Gillispie’s were no longer in danger of losing their home.”

“After winning Avvo’s Save My House contest we finally got the modification on our mortgage and our home was saved,” said Sharon and Robert Gillispie in an email to Avvo. “Thanks to Avvo and the attorneys at Leavengood & Nash we are the happiest family in Florida.”

Avvo launched the Save My House contest in Florida to educate homeowners facing foreclosure how the legal process can help them retain ownership of their most valuable asset. After reviewing hundreds of submissions from homeowners throughout Florida, Avvo narrowed it down to five finalists. Next, the Avvo user community voted, and as a result the Family of Four was selected as the winner of legal services to be covered by Avvo.

“We received many stories from Florida families in tough situations, and are pleased to work with a top-rated Avvo lawyer to save someone’s home from foreclosure,” said Mark Britton, Founder and CEO of Avvo. “In doing so, we also hope to educate homeowners of their legal rights, and let people know there are good lawyers that will fight for their case.”

About Avvo
Avvo is the largest and only free website that empowers consumers to handle their medical and legal matters with confidence.  Avvo offers free ratings and profiles for 90% of practicing lawyers and 90% of licensed MDs in the U.S. This includes the editorial Avvo Rating, patient and client reviews and peer endorsements as well as experience, background information, industry achievements and disciplinary records.  Avvo also offers a free Question and Answer forum, where consumers can ask questions and receive certified answers from certified doctors and lawyers.  Additionally, Avvo Legal Guides and Avvo Health Guides are free research tools, written as how-to articles covering everyday issues authored by certified lawyers and doctors. Founded in early 2006 and launched in 2007, Avvo is privately held, with funding from private investors, Benchmark Capital, Ignition Partners and DAG Ventures. For more information, visit www.avvo.com.

About Leavengood & Nash
Leavengood, Nash, Dauval & Boyle, P.A. is a boutique litigation firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, with satellite offices in Tampa, Clearwater, and Sarasota, Florida.  Leavengood & Nash traces its roots back to 1972 and has served consumers in the Tampa Bay Area and throughout the State of Florida for over three generations.  Leavengood & Nash specializes in consumer and commercial bankruptcies, having filed thousands of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions over the last four decades.  Leavengood & Nash also represents small businesses and individuals in Debt Settlement, Creditor Harassment, Mortgage Foreclosure Defense, Criminal & DUI, Family law & Divorce, Business Disputes & Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury & Accidents, Estate Planning & Asset Protection, and Mediation & Dispute Resolution.  For more information about the firm, its attorneys and their credentials, please visit www.LeavenLaw.com or www.FloridaBKLawyer.com or call its managing shareholder, Ian R. Leavengood, at (727) 327-3328.