Legal News

Appraisers try to avoid the courtroom, but sometimes it can be unavoidable. In fact, appraisers should never assume they won’t be called to the stand to deliver testimony.

Valuation Review hosted the webinar “How to be an Expert Witness” featuring two veterans from the legal industry who shared helpful tips for appraisers called to be witnesses.

Read on for a brief summary and find out how you can order your copy of the webinar.

Metro-West Appraisal Co., LLC reached a settlement in the company’s civil complaint against Sun Point Appraisals, Inc. and its’ principal, Paul Johnson. Read on to learn more about the agreement.

The Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board (LREAB), according to appraisal attorney Peter Christensen, is seeking to have an appraisal fee price-fixing case heard by the Supreme Court.

Christensen, who outlined specific details of the potential legal move by LREAB in a recent article, shared some of his findings and thoughts with Valuation Review.

Read on to learn more about this case.

Attorney Peter Christensen, owner of Christensen Law Firm, addressed an Illinois bill (HB 5862) to amend the state’s appraiser and real estate licensing acts to address discrimination.

Valuation Review reached out to Christensen, who shared key points of his article, including, that complaints alleging unlawful discrimination are emerging in the courts and before regulators in relation to appraisals.

Read on to find out more of what Christensen shared with us.

How can appraisers prepare for court appearances?

Valuation Review gets more legal insight for appraisers on the witness stand. Franklin Law Group attorney Craig Capilla shares his thoughts about what appraisers should keep in mind when being called as a witness.

Read on for more helpful tips.

Are appraisers prepared to take the witness stand?

At the 2020 American Society of Appraisers International virtual conference, litigation in valuation was a hot topic discussed, including distinguishing between credibility and liability.

Read on to find out more.

How can appraisers protect themselves during these difficult times?

Attorney Peter Christensen outlines specific market issues affected by COVID-19 that appraisers need to pay attention to for claims made during the pandemic.

Read on to learn more.

Attorney Peter Christensen addressed liability issues appraisers need to be aware of as assignments move forward during the country’s pandemic conditions.

What should concern appraisers?

Read on to find out what Valuation Review learned from his presentation at the virtual Valuation 20/20 conference.

It took nearly a year, but the industry-changing lawsuit that sister publication The Title Report first reported has been filed, as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officially sued Townstone Financial for violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

Townstone Financial is being charged with making statements during marketing ventures, including weekly radio shows and podcasts, that illegally discouraged prospective African-American applicants from applying to Townstone for mortgage loans, leading to violations of ECOA and redlining rules.

Read on for more.

Amrock, formerly Title Source, applauded the Texas Fourth Court of Appeals’ ruling that reversed the trial court’s decision and ordered a new trial in its case against HouseCanary.

This, according to a statement provided by Amrock.

Read on to learn more and hear from Amrock’s legal representation.