Escrow Holder Liability Theories An escrow holder is typically able to be held liable on theories of: breach of contract, general negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty, among others which will not be discussed herein. Talkov Law, however, does have a stable of attorneys ready to assist with any other potential theories of liability which … Read More
Receivers & Referees in Partition of Real Estate Owned by Tenants in Common and Joint Tenants When in a dispute with a co-owner of a piece of real estate, each co-owner has an absolute right to file an action to partition the property. We have posted a free form complaint to file in a partition … Read More
What is Escrow? What is an Escrow Account? Escrow disputes may arise in a real estate or business context. One typical area where escrow is used and may be the source of litigation is in the course of a purchase and sale. Escrow disputes are one of many potential issues which may arise in the … Read More
Fraudulent Transfers in Bankruptcy – Adversary Proceedings Fraudulent transfers are one type of adversary proceeding in bankruptcy in which the trustee attempts to recover property for the benefit of the creditors of the debtor’s estate. A full discussion on fraudulent transfer actions can be found on our blog post on Fraudulent Transfers in Bankruptcy. In … Read More
Debtor’s Rights in Bankruptcy to Avoid Judgment Liens Under Section 522(f)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code Debtors are likely subject to bankruptcy due to their inability to satisfy outstanding obligations to unsatisfied creditors. Bankruptcy affords a debtor protections in furtherance of the bankruptcy code‘s central goal to provide a fresh start to good faith debtors subjected … Read More
You may have recently received a letter from a trustee in a pending bankruptcy case indicating that the debtor received a discharge in the bankruptcy. You are not alone if you have no idea what this notice of discharge means. Does a notice of discharge mean that all preference (read about the two most heavily … Read More
What is the Corporate Veil? The corporate veil essentially refers to the corporate form’s ability to shield shareholder assets from creditors of the business entity. Partners in a general partnership put their personal wealth on the line to cover the partnership obligations. Other business entities, however, limit the business owner’s personal liability for business obligations … Read More
Public Figures Bear a Heavy Burden to Show Actual Malice for Defamation in California Many public figures have trouble understanding that they enjoy very limited protection from defamation. Instead, they are required to meet a heavy burden to establish actual malice, which can rarely be proven. “To show actual malice, plaintiffs must demonstrate [that the … Read More
Defamation Defense of Opinion Means that “Rhetorical Hyperbole, Vigorous Epithets, Lusty and Imaginative Expressions of Contempt” are Protected by the First Amendment Many politicians and others in the public eye are bothered by those who express opinions about them that they believe are false. Despite their disappointment, the First Amendment protects rhetorical hyperbole and imaginative … Read More
Affirmative Defenses to Breach of Contract in California Affirmative defenses for breach of contract, also known as particular defenses or performance excuses, are defenses in which evidence is introduced that, if proven by the defendant, will eliminate or mitigate liability for the defendant, even if the defendant is found to have breached the contract. An … Read More
