Jarrod,

The title/settlement/search/abstract/lending/legal and real estate industry as a whole is no different than any other humanistically manipulated industry.  I believe, however, speaking on behalf of title, settlement, search and abstract, Underwriters such as First American, LandAmerica, etc., do not maintain stringent enough guidelines and leadership constraints over their agents.  Thus, when millions of dollars are wired into and out of escrow accounts, or remittance is made every sixty days from a general account using an average spread sheet, the margin of error, thus, the margin of misappropriate rises greatly!  My company, Statewide Settlement, Inc., for one, takes great pride in our moral, ethical and legal obligations to our vendors, clients, underwriters and internal staff.  I will say, in addition, there are thousands of excellent "real estate" professionals throughout NY and the country who operate just as we do.  However, as mentioned above, there are thousands who do not and as my (Papoo, Italian for Grandpa) used to say.....as long as there are human beings involved in anything, NOTHING IS SACRED!!!!.....JT