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Millionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein killed himself on August 10, 2019 while in prison awaiting trial for charges including federal sex trafficking. Shortly before his death, Epstein signed a pour-over will placing approximately $577 million in assets into a trust. Many believe the creation of this trust was an attempt by Epstein to shield his vast…
Read MoreRenowned author Nicholas Sparks is currently being sued by the former headmaster of the New Bern, North Carolina school founded by Sparks. Saul Benjamin alleges Sparks defamed him by telling parents of the students that Benjamin suffered from mental health problems. What is defamation, and how is it proved in court? (Benjamin also alleges…
Read MoreParty A and Party B enter into a contract. Party A will perform a service for pay from Party B. Party A performs the agreed-upon services, but Party B refuses to pay. What happens? As most of us know, Party A can sue Party B for breaching the contract. But what happens if there…
Read MoreAdam Patrick Browne’s life tragically ended on October 8, 2018. He was run over by a car driven by his former fiancée, Victoria Keaveny, after she consumed alcohol at a restaurant in Gastonia, North Carolina. Pursuant to a settlement filed under seal in Gaston County Superior Court, that restaurant will pay wrongful death proceeds to…
Read MoreYou just won a civil judgment, but the judgment debtor is in another state. How are you going to enforce it? Consider a simple example: ABC Corporation (“ABC”) forms a contract with XYZ, Inc. (“XYZ”) wherein XYZ agrees to purchase 1,000 widgets from ABC at $100 per widget and ABC agrees to deliver the widgets…
Read MoreWith the continued rise of social media platforms and the increased prevalence of smart phones, courts are presented with the conundrum of interpreting the legal import of emojis, or small digital images that express an idea without the use of alphabetical characters. The written expressions of a litigant or witness to a case provide valuable…
Read MoreWith the Fourth of July approaching, skylines and neighborhoods will be dotted with American flags. This widely known symbol of patriotism and pride can sometimes lead to legal issues. Take, for example, the 40×80-foot American flag flying above the parking lot of Gander RV (formerly Camping World) in Statesville, North Carolina. CEO Marcus Lemonis publicly…
Read MoreIn a recent decision, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals addressed the First Amendment implications of federal debt-collection automated calls. More specifically, the court analyzed the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (the “TCPA”), a law which protected such calls as an exemption to its general prohibition against calls to personal phones using an automated telephone dialing…
Read MoreWhat’s better than a cold glass of lemonade in the summer sun? With summer upon us, lemonade stands are in the news once again. Texas passed a law permitting the sale of lemonade or other nonalcoholic drinks at stands on private property. How does North Carolina handle lemonade stands? Previously discussed by Lord & Lindley,…
Read MoreA class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court with the Eastern District of North Carolina against Pyxus International, Inc. (“Pyxus”). The lawsuit focuses on those persons who acquired shares in Pyxus between June 7, 2018 and November 8, 2018, a period which coincides with steep drops in the company’s share price. …
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