Feds seek 14 more in obstruction case over cattle-grazing standoff near Bundy ranch

After a 2014 armed standoff that reportedly occurred between Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, some 400 armed supporters and the feds in a cattle-grazing dispute, no charges were immediately brought. But last month Bundy and four others were charged with obstruction of justice, extortion and other counts, for allegedly blocking federal…

Mar 3, 2016 2:50 PM CST

California Supreme Court permits foreclosure lawsuits over ownership of loans

A ruling from the California Supreme Court could enable lawsuits from thousands of people who may have been wrongfully foreclosed, the Los Angeles Times reported today. The court ruled unanimously Feb. 18 that foreclosed homeowner Tsvetana Yvanova of Los Angeles may amend her lawsuit with a wrongful foreclosure count based…

Mar 2, 2016 5:37 PM CST

Trump: Plaintiff shouldn’t be allowed to withdraw from Trump University lawsuit

Donald Trump has asked the judge presiding over a class action lawsuit filed by former customers of Trump University not to allow the named plaintiff to withdraw from the case. The Hollywood Reporter’s THR, Esq. blog reported Friday that the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination filed an objection with…

Mar 1, 2016 5:45 AM CST

Drought sheds light on the California’s water law deficiencies

It's a classic case of ignoring a problem until forced to face it. In the midst of a four-year drought, when the state had its lowest rainfall ever, California finally established a regulatory regime, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014, to control who gets what groundwater.

Mar 1, 2016 3:10 AM CST

Courts must decide whether new high-tech toys can also be targets

Mar 1, 2016 12:40 AM CST

March 14, 1984: The savings and loan crisis begins

On the morning of March 14, 1984, a team of federal regulators arrived at an inconspicuous strip mall in the eastern Dallas suburb of Mesquite to seize control of what had been one of the nation's fastest-growing thrift institutions, Empire Savings and Loan.

Mar 1, 2016 12:30 AM CST

Case challenging developer set-asides raises ‘important and unsettled issue,’ Thomas says

Justice Clarence Thomas said on Monday that he believes a challenge to a law requiring developers to set aside 15 percent of their units for low-income buyers raises “an important and unsettled issue under the takings clause.” Thomas nonetheless concurred (PDF) in the Supreme Court’s decision to deny cert in…

Feb 29, 2016 11:55 AM CST

Are states skimping on notice before seizing unclaimed property? Thomas and Alito raise issue

Justices Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas indicated on Monday that they may be willing to accept a case challenging the way states give notice before seizing unclaimed property. Alito concurred in the denial of certiorari in a California case raising the issue, citing its “convoluted history.” But his…

Feb 29, 2016 9:16 AM CST

Appeals court denies bid by Outlaws biker club for return of 3 forfeited leather vests

After more than a year of litigation, the Outlaws Motorcycle Club has again been rebuffed in its efforts to reclaim three black leather vests seized from members who were involved in a 2012 bar fight in Wonder Lake, Illinois. In particular, the patches on the vests are important to the…

Feb 25, 2016 1:30 PM CST

Suspect and lawman dead in gun battle sparked when sheriff’s officers tried to serve eviction notice

A political activist accused of firing a rifle at three Colorado sheriff’s deputies as they arrived Wednesday morning to serve an eviction notice at his Bailey home is dead, along with one of the lawmen, authorities said. Martin Wirth, 58, also shot the two other deputies in the gunfight, inflicting…

Feb 24, 2016 4:00 PM CST

Jury awards $183M to firefighters’ families in fatal ‘Black Sunday’ blaze; NYC owes $140M

After a decade of courtroom battle over a fatal “Black Sunday” blaze that resulted in the immediate deaths of two New York City firefighters and severely injured four others, a state-court jury on Monday awarded $183 million to five of the victims and their families. The family of the sixth…

Feb 23, 2016 4:05 PM CST

Founder of collapsed law firm to give up license

Updated: The founder and CEO of one of the largest mortgage foreclosure firms in Florida prior to its collapse last year has agreed to give up his state law license. In a petition (PDF) he filed with the Florida Supreme Court, Robert Hill Hosch, 54, acknowledged that he is accused…

Feb 23, 2016 2:00 PM CST

Three generations honored claimed oral promise of lifetime rental, but now woman, 97, faces eviction

Harry Truman was president when Marie Hatch moved into her California home and the landlord, her friend Vivian Kruse, told her she could live there until she died. When Kruse predeceased Hatch, her daughter honored that promise. And, when she passed on, so did Kruse’s granddaughter, reports the San Francisco…

Feb 22, 2016 5:00 PM CST

Los Angeles sues developer for $20M, says building was unprotected against fire caused by arson

Corrected: The city of Los Angeles filed a $20 million lawsuit Thursday against the developer of an apartment building then under construction that was burned to the ground in a massive 2014 fire. Taxi driver Dawud Abdulwali, 56, has been charged with setting the Da Vinci Apartments fire. However, the…

Feb 18, 2016 2:55 PM CST

Neighbor didn’t have standing to challenge modern house in historic district, appeals court says

A homeowner in a historic district didn’t have standing to challenge design approval of a modern home built across the street, the North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled. The appeals court opinion said Gail Wiesner didn’t have standing because she didn’t establish “special damages” that differ from those suffered…

Feb 18, 2016 10:47 AM CST