Ga. Lawyer Ordered to Pay $10K Legal Bill In Contentious Municipal Case

In the latest chapter in a contentious litigation saga over a commercial building dispute, a Georgia lawyer has been ordered to pay $10,000 in legal fees for the city of Marietta. Richard Capriola is the seventh attorney to represent Waleed Jaraysi in the hard-fought battle over a partially completed multi-story…

Nov 26, 2012 5:00 PM CST

Forfeiture Complaint Accuses Michigan Justice of Defrauding Bank in Short Sale Transaction

The federal government is seeking forfeiture of a Michigan justice’s Florida home in a civil complaint that claims she defrauded a bank in a short sale transaction. Justice Diane Hathaway and her husband, lawyer Michael Kingsley, are accused of transferring the Florida property to Kingsley’s daughter to facilitate the short…

Nov 21, 2012 1:05 PM CST

After Goodwill Worker Finds $14K in Box of Xmas Decorations, Competing Claims Wind Up in Court

A Missouri judge had to decide between competing claims for a cash stash found in a box of Christmas decorations donated to a Goodwill store in St. Louis County. But although at least 15 people vied for the $14,505 turned in by the honest thrift store worker who found the…

Nov 20, 2012 11:30 PM CST

Zoning Law Changes Allow for Backyard Cottages; Some House Parents or Grown Children

Real estate listings have long touted in-law apartments for aging parents, but there’s a new option available in many cities. Zoning law changes are paving the way for backyard cottages that can house parents or grown children, the Associated Press reports. The dwellings are being built for other purposes as…

Nov 16, 2012 11:30 AM CST

Accused Squatter Testifies He Was Just Following the Law of Adverse Possession

A Texas man accused of squatting in a $405,000 Arlington home testified Tuesday that he was following the law of adverse possession. David Cooper testified that he learned about the concept at the law library at Southern Methodist University, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Cooper told jurors he put his…

Nov 14, 2012 3:53 PM CST

You Gotta Fight for the Right to Tattoo

Nov 1, 2012 9:10 AM CDT

Likely Hurricane Sandy Coverage Issues Include Extent of Flood Exclusion, Multiple Causation, Mold

Although losses this week from Hurricane Sandy, which hit the Northeast hardest, are still being calculated, it appears that they will likely dwarf the billions racked up by Hurricane Irene, according to the Financial Times. But as individuals and businesses deal with the latest storm damage, many may also have…

Oct 30, 2012 9:43 PM CDT

Judge Says Obese Dachshund (77 Pounds!) Stays with Vet Tech, Nixes Dachshund Rescue Custody Bid

After a two-hour hearing, a judge in Portland, Ore., has nixed a dog rescue organization’s bid to take custody of a grossly overweight dachshund known as Obie, who once tipped the scales at 77 pounds, roughly double his ideal weight. Obie reportedly lost 15 pounds under the care of a…

Oct 30, 2012 6:41 PM CDT

DOJ Alleges B of A, Countrywide Defrauded Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; Seeks $1 Billion in Damages

The Justice Department announced Wednesday a mortgage fraud lawsuit filed against Bank of America, alleging that the corporation engaged in a scheme to defraud federal loan programs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. According to a press release from Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York,…

Oct 24, 2012 5:25 PM CDT

BigLaw Firm Hired to Vet Company Gave It Thumbs-Up—Without Noting Suits It Had Filed Against CEO

Hired in 2010 by a Florida city to check out a private company, in connection with a potential film school project in collaboration with Florida State University, a BigLaw firm gave West Palm Beach a glowing report about Digital Domain Media Group. Later that year, the city deeded a parcel…

Oct 16, 2012 6:30 PM CDT

Consumer Bureau Drafts Rules on Reverse Mortgages as New Abuses Are Alleged

Consumer advocates are reporting abuses in reverse mortgages that parallel risky lending practices that prevailed before the financial downturn. Reverse mortgages are intended to help keep seniors in their homes, the New York Times reports. The homeowners borrow money against the value of their homes, with no need to pay…

Oct 16, 2012 11:00 AM CDT

Co-Op Boards in New York Are Turning Down Sales Because of Low Prices

House hunters may not be able to get a bargain if they are buying a co-op in New York City, and the reason is not due to market conditions. Co-op boards are increasingly turning down sales when the price is too low, and court decisions have upheld the practice as…

Oct 16, 2012 10:30 AM CDT

Legal Representation Pays Off for Landowners Along US-Mexico Border Fence

Some 400 owners of residential and commercial property in Texas and some other states, are affected by an ongoing plan to build a 670-mile fence along the Mexican border. Initial offers for their land were just a starting point, according to U.S. government officials. But for those who lack the…

Oct 15, 2012 9:43 PM CDT

ACLU Suit Accuses Morgan Stanley of Encouraging Predatory Loans

The American Civil Liberties Union claims in a lawsuit that Morgan Stanley encouraged predatory loans when it lent money to the New Century Financial Corp. The would-be class action suit claims Morgan Stanley encouraged New Century to make risky loans with high costs that disproportionately targeted African American borrowers, report…

Oct 15, 2012 3:19 PM CDT

‘Lettuce’ Case: Does $150K Veggie Garden Cash Stash Go to Finder, Neighbor or Robbery Victim?

An unemployed carpenter who alerted authorities last year to a $150,000 cash stash in the vegetable garden of his suburban Chicago home is getting a courtroom education on found property law. Two other claimants have come forward to vie for a court ruling awarding them ownership of the “lettuce,” and…

Oct 12, 2012 5:55 PM CDT