LJN Newsletters

A complete listing of this month's contents.

If Cervantes were to say today, 'An honest man's word is as good as his bond' (Don Quixote, Book IV, Ch. 34), both knowledgeable real estate professionals and their counsel would probably respond, 'except for real property transactions.' While in many areas of the law, unwritten agreements are more readily enforced, it remains accepted as axiomatic that under the principles of the statute of frauds, only a 'writing' will create obligations in connection with real property interests.

Recent rulings of interest to you and your practice.

Normally, the death of a military retiree terminates all pension payments. The Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is an annuity that allows retired military members from both active duty and the reserves to provide continued income to specified beneficiaries when the retiree dies. The SBP is funded by premium payments from the retiree's paycheck and reduces the amount of the Disposable Retired Pay. With it, the designated survivor receives a lifetime annuity of up to 55% of the retired member's pay. In addition to spouses and former spouses, coverage is also available for a child, so long as the child is from the marriage of the service member and the former spouse.

The growing popularity of therapy for everything from marriage troubles to drinking problems has the mental health care community paranoid about lawsuits. Legal and health care experts say that therapists today face a greater risk of being sued than ever before, particularly given the 55% divorce rate and the breakdown of the family. …

Would-be adoptive parents generally look for a child they think will fit comfortably into their families. The child that will make the 'best fit' is not the same for each family, so potential adoptive parents want a say in who will become a part of their lives. In order to make these choices, those considering adoption usually ask about ' and are told ' any available information on the social and health histories of the child and of his or her family. When this information is withheld, a claim for 'wrongful adoption' may follow.

Recent rulings you need to know.

Recent happenings of interest to you and your practice.