Legal News

The Texas Appraiser Licensing & Certification Board cites a win for consumers in Texas with the indictment of a former real estate appraiser trainee. Read on to find out the details surrounding the indictment.

For a second time, a judge in the U.S. Northern District Court of Illinois ruled in favor of Zillow and granted the motion to entirely dismiss the lawsuit filed against them, claiming the company’s Zestimates are appraisals.

Valuation Review contacted Zillow for its reaction to the case now being officially closed.

Read on to hear what we were told and find out what the court had to say about this case. 

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his wife Brittany, are seeking at least $9 million in damages from a San Diego jeweler following an independent appraiser’s findings of what the jewelry was worth. Read on to learn more about this filed lawsuit.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it denied a motion to dismiss filed by the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board in a case in which the FTC alleges the board is unreasonably restraining price competition for appraisal services. 

The Louisiana board claimed that the re-issuance of its rule regarding oversight and enforcement of customary and reasonable fees in the state provided enough state supervision to exempt it from antitrust scrutiny. 

The FTC ruled otherwise. Read on for the details.

How can appraisers stay out of the legal line of fire?

Valuation Review continues its conversation with Franklin Law Group attorney Craig Capilla, who shared keen legal insights appraisers should pay attention to.

Read Part II of this feature for more legal advice.

The national law firm of Baron & Budd announced that it has secured a certified plaintiff class action federal lawsuit against Countrywide Financial Corp. and its successor, Bank of America. The case accuses the bank and appraisal firm, LandSafe Inc., of conducting “sham” appraisals to boost the number of loans originated by Countrywide. Read on to learn more about this case.

How can appraisers stay out of the legal line of fire?

Valuation Review reached out to Franklin Law Group attorney Craig Capilla for some guidance appraisers can follow to remain both legal and compliant when mapping out valuation strategy.

Read on to learn what we were told.

A Bexar County, Texas jury awarded HouseCanary a $706.2 million verdict, saying that Amrock Inc. had misappropriated HouseCanary’s technology for real estate valuation and appraisal analytics.

The verdict included $235 million in damages for misappropriation and $471 million more in punitive damages.

Read on for details of the case and reaction from both sides, including news of an expected appeal.

At the Appraisal Summit & Expo in Las Vegas, LIA Administrators & Insurance Services General Counsel Peter Christensen told the audience what legal traps await appraisers and how to avoid them.

Valuation Review was in attendance to hear this legal presentation.

Read Part II of this feature for more information. 

At the Appraisal Summit & Expo in Las Vegas, LIA Administrators & Insurance Services General Counsel Peter Christensen told the audience about what legal traps await appraisers and how to avoid them.

Valuation Review was in attendance to hear this legal presentation.

Read on for a briefing.