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Judge Halts St. Louis Foreclosure Mediation Ordinance

(via Flickr/taberandrew)
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Foreclosure

Updated at 4:52 p.m. to correct judge's name.

A judge in St. Louis city has halted enforcement of the city's new foreclosure mediation ordinance.

Robert Dierker issued the temporary restraining order today, which prohibits any city officials from enforcing the ordinance. Dierker does take care to note that voluntary participation in mediation is still allowed.  A hearing on a preliminary injunction is scheduled for March 20.

The ordinance, which was approved in February, requires lenders to offer mediation to homeowners who are behind on their mortgages, and fines them if they do not. It's nearly identical to a measure in St. Louis County - enforcement of which has been blocked by the state Court of Appeals.

Follow Rachel Lippmann on Twitter: @rlippmann

Rachel is the justice correspondent at St. Louis Public Radio.