PORTAGE – The Society of Innovators of Northwest Indiana has named state Sen. Karen Tallian as an Innovator of the Month for August.
Tallian was cited for helping “put the brakes” on rampant foreclosures by developing legislation that required a bank to notify the homeowner of the right to mediation before finalizing a foreclosure.
The legislation was the result of a client of Tallian’s in a 2009 foreclosure, but couldn’t find anyone to take with at the bank.
Tallian filed a motion with a judge and asked him to order mediation. It was a move that had never been done in Indiana but the request was granted by Judge William E. Davis. Her legislation passed in 2010 and Chief Justice Randall Shepard acknowledged her legislation in his State of the Judiciary speed. Since then, more than 1,000 attorneys have been trained in the mediation procedure.
Tallian was nominated by state Sen. Vi Simpson.
