On January 19, 2005, Judge William Alsup of the United States District Court ordered Thomas Spielbauer, attorney for Scott Heineman and Kurt Johnson of the Dorean Group, to pay a half dozen lenders $77,000 in attorney's fees and costs. In his order Judge Alsup found Heineman and Johnson's mortgage elimination program to be an "internet scam."

Spielbauer has appealed the sanctions order to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His former clients Heineman and Johnson, however, continue to aggressively market their program to the general public.

For more updates concerning this case or other actions involving the Dorean Group, or to receive a copy of the order, please contact Sunny Huo at ssh@severson.com.