Legal News

Valuation Review continues its examination of the legal war between Amrock, formerly Title Source, and HouseCanary.

The case is based on evidence of an alleged fraudulent scheme.

Read Part II of this story to learn more about this case.

The courtroom war between Amrock, formerly Title Source, and HouseCanary is far from over.

A motion for a new trial was filed by Amrock in the Bexar County, Texas, state court back on Nov. 13, 2018, based on new evidence of an alleged fraudulent scheme.

Valuation Review obtained HouseCanary’s response to Amrock filing this motion with the court and will have subsequent interviews with legal representatives from both sides. Read on to learn more.

At the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) request, a federal district court in Maryland issued an order.

This order was to temporarily shut down what the commission says is the largest overseas real estate investment scam it has targeted.

Read on to learn more about this scheme, and what the FTC had to say.

Orange County Property Appraiser (OCPA) Rick Singh is facing allegations filed by two former employees of the OCPA office, claiming their rights were violated under Florida’s Public Sector Whistleblower’s Act.

The employees allege that Singh manipulated appraisals for friends, brought strippers to the office and sexually harassed both of them.

Read on to learn more about this case.

A court has entered judgment in favor of HouseCanary in its claims for trade secret misappropriation, fraud and breach of contract against Amrock, formerly known as Title Source.

Earlier this year, after seven weeks of trial with extensive presentation of evidence, a jury awarded HouseCanary more than $706 million in actual and punitive damages for Title Source's willful misappropriation of trade secrets and other claims.

Read on to learn more about this case and where things legally move from here.

Appraisers constantly are seeking ways to better their businesses. The key to achieving that, though, might be making the decision to specify one’s area of expertise.

The legal side of appraising, according to Steve Crosson, national practice leader of the Integra Litigation Practice Group of Integra Realty Resources, and a co-founder of Crosson-Dannis, Inc., is an under-served area of the appraisal profession where opportunities can be found.

Valuation Review spoke with Crosson about how one can thrive in this area.

An Orange County property appraiser filed an appeal in a July 2018 ruling on the property tax assessment for The Yacht and Beach Club at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Judge Thomas Turner determined that the market value for the property should be reduced by nearly 40 percent to $209 million, and that $1.2 million should be returned to the entertainment giant.

Read on for more details in this case.

At the 2018 Appraisal Institute (AI) conference in Nashville, former AI president and current litigation appraiser M. Lance Coyle addressed the audience on several legal maneuvers.

Coyle told appraisers what they should be aware of when on assignment. Valuation Review was in attendance and continues its story on Coyle’s presentation.

Read Part II to find out more information.

The American Society of Appraisers has filed an amicus brief in connection with the appeal of an employee stock ownership plan case.

The brief outlined what it says are the district court’s appraisal-related errors and dangerous precedent set by the opinion, according to the filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Read on for more details of this case.

The dispute between HouseCanary and Amrock, formerly known as Title Source, over trade secrets, fraud and breach of contract is continuing.

The dispute continued even after a March jury decision awarded HouseCanary a $706.2 million verdict.

Read on to learn more.