Attorneys in foreclosure case return to court [Baltimore]
Lawyers for Kwaku Atta Poku, a Columbia taxi owner who lost his townhouse to foreclosure and eviction through no fault of his own, are back in court seeking help for him.
They asked the Maryland Court of Appeals to rule whether it was right for the Court of Special Appeals to dismiss Atta Poku’s case on a technical issue rather than for substance. In addition, they want the Howard County Circuit Court to award Atta Poku the proceeds from the sale of his home as well as punitive damages.
Meanwhile, Atta Poku and his wife and three young children are facing the possible loss of their rented townhouse when the lease expires late next month. The friend who obtained it for them because of Atta Poku’s ruined credit rating fears that his own credit might be endangered if the situation goes on too long. Also, the two-bedroom townhouse is too small for the family of five.
“I’m not allowed to be there with that many children. I’ve run out of money,” said Atta Poku, 55, adding that the family has tried to keep quiet to avoid more trouble. When they were evicted last year, he took his wife, Beatrice, and children, Kofi, 4, Afua, 3, and Amma, 1, to area hotels until they found new lodgings.