Jonathan L. Drewes founded Drewes Law, PLLC in in Minneapolis, in 2008, where he manages a small team of attorneys and legal assistants helping homeowners facing foreclosure and various clients in other real estate matters. Mr. Drewes focuses his practice on civil litigation: the art of motion practice and presenting legal arguments in the courtroom. He has extensive experience rescinding foreclosures in state and federal courts in Minnesota. Mr. Drewes' April 2013 win at the Minnesota Supreme Court, the first homeowner win in front of Minnesota's high court since the Great Depression, demonstrates his commitment to seeking justice through the court system for homeowners and consumers who otherwise might not have a voice. He is a board-certified real property specialist through the Minnesota State Bar Association and is admitted to Minnesota state and federal courts, as well as Illinois and Washington state courts. Mr. Drewes earned his J.D. degree, with honors, from the University of Minnesota's Law School and his bachelor's degree, with honors, from Vanderbilt University, with three full majors in economics, Spanish and history.
John C. Ruddy is a managing member in the firm Ruddy & Petersen Law Group, LLC in Aurora, Illinois. He concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation concerning real estate, bankruptcy reorganization, commercial matters, eminent domain and consumer disputes. Mr. Ruddy has been in practice since 1977. He advises and represents the firm's clients on real estate foreclosure proceedings, including the implementation of sheriff's sales. Mr. Ruddy also advises and represents loan borrowers on defenses and counterclaims, to mortgage foreclosure proceedings including the Fair Credit Agreements Act, Real Estate Settlement Protections Act, Truth in Lending Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Illinois Consumer Fraud Act. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Denver and his J.D. degree from University of Illinois, Chicago. Mr. Ruddy has been the chairperson of the Commercial Banking and Bankruptcy Committee of the Kane County Bar Association from 1994 to the present, and is a former bankruptcy trustee.
James W. Sandy is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer with McGlinchey Stafford PLLC, who represents individuals, small businesses, and Fortune 500 companies in all aspects of civil and commercial litigation. Financial services companies of varying sizes have engaged Mr. Sandy based on his significant experience handling complex class action disputes in state and federal courts, in matters with financial exposure reaching seven figures. His primary focus is on assisting and advising national mortgage servicing companies, auto finance companies, banks, and small businesses in cases involving federal and state regulatory matters, arbitrations, consumer complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and state and federal lawsuits. Mr. Sandy regularly defends lawsuits brought under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and other state UDAAP laws, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), and Truth in Lending Act (TILA) in both state and federal courts. He also assists mortgage and auto finance clients with compliance matters, including protecting consumer data and privacy, as well as navigating the various complicated state regulatory regimes at play in the financial services context. Mr. Sandy is an experienced appellate advocate, having handled more than 80 appellate matters. He has delivered oral arguments before all 12 state appellate courts in Ohio, as well as before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Sandy also advises clients on general corporate and business matters including entity formation, corporate governance, and vendor and service agreements.
Richard J. Sykora is an attorney with Manley Deas Kochalski LLC in the Cleveland office. He advocates for mortgage loan servicers, banks, and others in complex real estate actions, alleged violations of state and federal statutes, and asset recovery. Mr. Sykora works under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and other state UDAAP laws, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and Truth in Lending Act (TILA). He has experience handling cases from inception through trial. Mr. Sykora is a member of the Cleveland Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association. He earned his B.S. degree from Hilbert College and his J.D. degree from University of Akron School of Law.
Faculty Course Information