A federal curt found that Marilyn Monroe was a New Yorker when she died in 1962. This means her estate which has earned more than 30 million dollars licensing her image can not control the licensing. Product makers may be free to use her image without paying licensing fees to…
City of Key West v. Knowles, 948 So.2d 58 (Fla. 3 DCA January 10, 2007) A surviving spouse sued the city of Key West, Florida claiming she was deprived of her property interest in her husband’s buried remains without due process in violation of 42 U.S.C. 1983. The Court found…
Chames v. Demavo, 32 Fla. L. Weekly S820 CR. Sup. Ct. December 20, 2007 An attorney owed fees from his clients under a retainer agreement attempted to enforce a lien against the homestead of the clients. The retainer agreement had expressly waived the parties’ constitutional homestead protection against claims of…
I am currently in Shanghai China for the next 5 days and then heading to Osaka and Tokyo for 3 nights each. I am planning to keep posting new issues to my blog while I am gone. In addition, I will be responding to emails and will be available over…
Graham v. Florida Dept of Children and Families (Graham II), 970 So.2d 438 (Fla. 4th DCA December 5, 2007) This is the continuing saga of the battle between Luke and Laurence over their mother Betty, who DCF had determined was in need of guardianship after determining “Luke is the son…
Nebraska has joined the growing list of states in which we have a relationship with a lawyer who is familiar with the (NFA) National Firearms Act’s requirements relating to the formation of trusts to purchase Title II Firearms (sold by Class 3 SOT dealers). These include silencers, short barrel rifles,…
Indiana has joined the growing list of states in which we have a relationship with a lawyer who is familiar with the (NFA) National Firearms Act’s requirements relating to the formation of trusts to purchase Title II Firearms (sold by Class 3 SOT dealers). These include silencers, short barrel rifles,…
Miller v. Goodall, 958 So. 2d 952 (Fla. 4th DCA April 25, 2007) A daughter filed a petition to determine her mother’s incapacity and be appointed as guardian. The ward’s sister (daughter’s aunt) also filed a petition seeking to be appointed as plenary guardian. The court denied the sister’s petition…
Gurfinkel v. Marmor, 32 Fla. L. Weekly D2931 (Fla. 3rd DCA December 12, 2007) The decedent’s trust beneficiaries challenged a pre-death “amendment” executed by the decedent’s spouse as attorney in fact pursuant to a valid Durable Power of Attorney . The amendment “deleted” the trust’s primary asset stock in a…
Bryan v.Dethlefs, 959 So. 2d 314 (FIa. 3d DCA May 16, 2007) The decedent’s trust stated, “Upon my death, the then balance of principal and accumulated income remaining in the trust fund shall be distributed to my grandson, Robert R. Bizzell, if he is living at the time of distribution.”…