Watson Law Firm Taps Former Florida Chief Circuit Judge

""The Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson, P.A."":http://www.marshallwatson.com, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based provider of legal services to mortgage lenders and servicers, recently announced that former Broward Chief Circuit Judge Victor Tobin has joined the firm as general counsel.
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According to a statement from the firm, Tobin will oversee the attorneys and ensure best practices are followed and foreclosure procedures are enhanced.

The Law Offices of Marshall C. Watson reached a settlement with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in March stemming from an investigation into alleged improprieties in the prosecution of foreclosure cases throughout the state.

The firm agreed to pay $2 million and impose certain requirements for the way it handles foreclosure cases.

Bondi said the Marshall Watson firm fully cooperated with the investigation from the start. Half of the settlement

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amount went to a state grant that provides legal representation to low-income homeowners facing foreclosure actions.

""Judge Tobin has served Broward County honorably over the last 15 years and has a stellar reputation in the legal community,"" said Marshall C. Watson, the firm's president and CEO. ""We are very confident his skills and insight will benefit our clients.""

As chief circuit judge, Tobin managed approximately 350 employees and 89 judges. He created and implemented a foreclosure division resulting in the transfer of more than 50,000 pending cases from the Circuit Civil Division to three designated departments.

Tobin has received numerous honors including the 2010 Judge of the Year Award by the Margate Association of Condominiums and the 2009 University Of Miami School Of Law Alumni Association's Achievement Award. The Broward County Commission recognized him for outstanding public service in June 2011.

""I had a strong desire to return to private practice once my term concluded,"" Tobin said. ""The firm established best practices and procedures policies and I will ensure it is followed and advanced. Additionally, I will be able to apply my overall knowledge of the judicial process to advance the firm's goals.""

Tobin is a member of the Broward County Bar Association and the Florida Bar, and is a frequent guest lecturer on foreclosure topics. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami.