Famous TV doctor Mehmet Oz—better known as “Dr. Oz”—recently accused his sister, Nazlim, of forging their late father’s will and stealing millions from his estate. A 2008 will left all of Mustafa Oz’s assets to the Mustafa Oz Foundation, a United States organization, and left Dr. Oz in charge of the foundation; however, Nazlim presented a new will dated 2018 after Mustafa’s death, which Dr. Oz claims is forged. Mustafa Oz passed away in Turkey in 2019, and litigation regarding his estate subsequently commenced in Turkey. Turkish prosecutors reportedly followed some of the money to bank accounts in at least three other countries. The Turkish estate dispute is proceeding alongside a…
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A FLORIDA JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKED THE RELEASE OF FULL HOUSE STAR BOB SAGET’S DEATH INVESTIGATION RECORDS—WHAT IF HE DIED IN NORTH CAROLINA?
Famous comedian and actor Bob Saget was tragically found dead in the bed of his Ritz Carleton hotel room in Orlando, Florida, on January 9, 2021, at age 65. As America was reeling from the sudden loss of their favorite TV dad, news broke that Saget died from blunt force head trauma, likely from an accidental fall in his hotel room. As is common in celebrity death cases—particularly where the death is the result of accidental trauma, such as in the case of Kobe Bryant—Saget’s family had concerns regarding the public release of the details surrounding his death. In February, Saget’s widow and three daughters sued the Orange County Sheriff’s…
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Introducing Odyssey: North Carolina Courts’ New E-Filing System
On April 21, 2021, The Supreme Court of North Carolina adopted amendments to its General Rules of Practice for the Superior and District Courts related to the Judicial Branch’s ongoing eCourts initiative. The amendments, which will become effective May 10, 2021, pave the way for the implementation of Odyssey, a statewide electronic-filing and case-management system, to begin this summer. While the entire implementation process is expected to take approximately five years, Mecklenburg County, as an “early adopter,” is expected to begin rollout later this year. Currently, North Carolina still operates under a paper filing system; parties must print their documents and physically file them with the Court in hard-copy…
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BUNKER HILL COVERED BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION LAWSUIT
The Bunker Hill Covered Bridge is a well-known historical landmark in Claremont, North Carolina, originally built in 1895. The bridge was damaged due to excessive rain, flooding, and erosion in the area, which prompted the Historical Association of Catawba County (the “Historical Association”) to hire NHM Constructors, LLC (“NHM”) to repair the bridge. A dispute arose between the parties, NHM filed a lien on the property, and subsequently filed a lawsuit, seeking payments from the Historical Association. The Historical Association alleges NHM is not owed additional payments because the costs exceeded the budget provided in NHM’s bid. The case will largely turn on the type of contract the parties executed…
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The Buzz About Aldrin’s Competency
On June 7, 2018, Buzz Aldrin, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and the second man to walk on the moon, filed a lawsuit against two of his children, Andrew and Janice Aldrin, and his former business manager, Christina Korp. The lawsuit responds to a May 2018 Florida Court filing in which Andrew Aldrin, Janice Aldrin, and Christina Korp requested appointment as Buzz Aldrin’s legal guardians due to Buzz’s “cognitive decline” and his recent episodes of paranoia and confusion. Buzz Aldrin’s lawsuit claims Andrew Aldrin and Christina Korp took control of his “personal credit cards, bank accounts, trust money, space memorabilia, space artifacts, social media accounts, and all elements of the…
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A Beginners Guide to Arbitration – Part 1
Chipotle is currently embroiled in a multi-year wage theft lawsuit. In 2014, approximately 10,000 current and former Chipotle employees filed a class action lawsuit alleging the company failed to compensate employees for work they performed “off the clock”. The employees further claim these off the clock hours are required by Chipotle to meet company-wide labor and payroll budgets. Chipotle responded that 2,814 of the workers should be dismissed from the lawsuit because their employment contracts include a waiver or their right to join class action lawsuits and an agreement to resolve all disputes via arbitration. The United States Supreme Court issued a ruling last month which lends support to…
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The Right To Teach The Law
Charlotte’s only law school, Charlotte School of Law, closed in August 2017. The news followed multiple years of low bar passage rates and prior disciplinary actions from regulatory authorities, such as probation from the American Bar Association (“ABA”) and revocation of federally funded student loans. Even after closing its doors, Charlotte School of Law remains in the headlines in 2018. Charlotte School of Law is entangled in a number of class action lawsuits with former students who allege the school misrepresented its ABA accreditation status and bar passage rates. Additionally, former faculty members filed a lawsuit against the school for purportedly defrauding taxpayers by manipulating records to increase enrollment and…
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Harper Lee’s Estate Sues Aaron Sorkin’s Production of “To Kill a Mockingbird”: When Can Estates Sue and Be Sued?
Famed Hollywood writer, director, and producer Aaron Sorkin is on the defending end of a lawsuit brought by Harper Lee’s estate. The estate alleges that his adaptation of the Pulitzer prize-winning “To Kill a Mockingbird” strays too far in the story and the development of some key characters from the original 1960 best selling book. In case you haven’t read it (spoiler alert), “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a favorite among attorneys and the general public alike. At its heart, it is the story of a wrongfully accused African-American man in 1930s Alabama. With prominent local attorney Atticus Finch as his defense counsel, both men struggle with the prejudice and…
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The Limitations of Subpoenas: When are They Too Much?
Have you or your company ever been subpoenaed by someone and you wonder, “wait, why am I being dragged into their mess?” It seems unfair. Why should you have to take time out of your busy day to help someone else either pursue or defend their own lawsuit? Let’s face it, most people don’t want to be involved in litigation of any kind, let alone someone else’s litigation. There’s nothing to be gained and only time and money to be lost. However, a North Carolina Business Court ruling last year made clear that non-parties to the case should not be unduly burdened with subpoena requests or required to turn over…
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Five Questions About Construction Liens
Whether you are a home owner in the midst of a kitchen renovation, a business owner considering an office expansion, or otherwise involved in a construction project, it is important to understand who gets paid and when. By doing so, you may avoid a construction lien being placed on your property or, conversely, successfully use the lien statutes to ensure that you get paid for you work. What is a construction lien? Construction liens, also known as mechanic’s liens, are legal claims on real property, often used by builders, contractors, suppliers, or subcontractors who have not been paid…
