Take the Money and Run: The First Alliance Case

Susan Will, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

ABSTRACT
Small consumer finance companies, benefiting from the deregulation of the 1980s, created a niche for themselves in the home equity loan market. Accusations of deceptive practices have been levied against some of these companies. This paper explores the conditions that permitted First Alliance Corporation [a company that filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as regulators were stepping up their investigations] to victimize hundreds of poor and elderly individuals.

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Updated 05/20/2006