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Lord & Lindley - Lawyers in Charlotte NC

What Is a Will Caveat?

January 2, 2020

A will caveat is a special proceeding in which parties can challenge the validity of a document purporting to be the last will and testament of the decedent.  The question to be answered is whether the purported will is valid.  As a result, admissible evidence and potential remedies are limited to a determination of that…

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Third Party Beneficiaries to Contracts

December 19, 2019

ABC Seller agrees to sell 100 widgets to XYZ Buyer for $10 per widget. This agreement creates a contract, which largely governs the rights and obligations of ABC Seller and XYZ Buyer. However, contracts such as this often impact additional entities or individuals beyond the parties themselves. For example, ABC Seller may need to contract…

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Tortious Interference With Contract

December 12, 2019

Last week, Lord & Lindley discussed the elements of tortious interference with expected inheritance, which can occur when an individual maliciously interferes with the making or revocation of a will to the detriment of the plaintiff.  This blog will address a similar but distinct tort: tortious interference with contract.   The Elements   In North…

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Tortious Interference With Expected Inheritance

December 5, 2019

North Carolina recognizes a cause of action for tortious inference with expected inheritance.  This cause of action can be confused with tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, which occurs in the context of a contract or potential contract. Conversely, tortious interference with expected inheritance occurs in the context of a will or estate, rather than…

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“Robocalls” and the First Amendment: a Legislative Update

November 21, 2019

In a recent blog post, Lord & Lindley discussed the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Ameican Association of Political Consultants, Inc. v. FCC, which addressed First Amendment questions regarding the regulation of “robocalls” related to debt collection for government-backed loans.  The United States Congress recently announced proposed legislation to combat the practice of…

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Disinherited Spouses and the Right Of Elective Share

November 14, 2019

Ric Ocasek, famed singer for The Cars, recently passed away leaving behind a will that purportedly removes his estranged wife, Paulina Porizkova, as a beneficiary of his estate.  Ocasek and Porizkova were in the process of divorcing when Ocasek died; however, the divorce was not finalized, and the two were still legally married.  Removing one’s…

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What Is the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act?

November 7, 2019

In honor of the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, this blog post will discuss the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (the “SCRA”), which provides specific protections for those in active duty military service, as well as their dependents.   The SCRA’s Specified Protections   The SCRA was enacted in 2003 and recognizes that those in active duty…

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Epic Games Employee Allegedly Leaks Epicly Secret Details About Fortnite Chapter 2

October 31, 2019

North Carolina-based Epic Games filed a lawsuit over the alleged leak of secret information related to Fortnite Chapter 2.  The company claims employee Ronald Sykes violated the terms of a non-disclosure agreement by sharing information related to the new game, including new game-play features and a virtual map of the fictional game universe, prior to…

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Do I Need to Respond to This Subpoena?

October 24, 2019

A subpoena is a very useful tool for gathering information in civil litigation.  They are also used in other contexts, such as by the United States Congress (for example, the congressional subpoena issued to Rudy Giuliani).  A civil subpoena is a document provided to an individual or entity compelling that individual or entity to do…

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Duke’s Mayonnaise Trademark Dispute

October 16, 2019

Duke’s Mayonnaise can trace its roots to 1917 in Greenville, South Carolina.  Founder Eugenia Duke developed a recipe for mayonnaise to add to sandwiches she sold to soldiers fighting in World War I.  Eventually, the sandwich shop became an independent business – the Duke Sandwich Company – and Duke’s mayonnaise continued to be produced by…

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