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Sign of the Times
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| January 19, 2019 | © 2024
No. 1,604
How Casa San Jose and its Volunteer Rapid Response Lawyers can be a force for Justice and Mercy.
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| January 7, 2019 | © 2024
No. 1,603
Casa San Jose volunteer attorney Mary Nell Cummings relates the following story how its Rapid Response Team made a huge difference to a family in need. This account has been edited to protect lawyer-client confidentiality.
Sunday Morning Homily: Stupid is not the Opposite of Smart.
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| January 6, 2019 | © 2024
No. 1,602
Every Sunday morning I read an email newsletter from Farnam Street by Shane Parrish, which is bubbling with intriguing observations about life, the human mind and things you would usually never think about. I recommend it. You can find it at newsletter@farnamstreetblog.com
Today Shane has been having a multi-part conversation with Adam Robinson, an investment guru, the latest installment being about how not to be stupid.
Stupidity, as Robinson sees it, has nothing to do with your IQ. It is the the failure to take note of (and act upon) something obvious. Like leaving something extremely valuable behind in an Uber. Yo Yo Ma, who is probably a genius, left a cello worth millions in the trunk of one.
While intelligence is very difficult to modify, we can avoid stupidity by being thoughtful. Take time to be aware of what is going on around you. When you think about needing to take something with you — like important papers, do something about it at the time you think about it. Pack your briefcase the night before and put it in front of the door. Get gas when you notice that the gage is on empty, not when you are rushing someplace because you are late.
Robinson says to beware of rushing. Take the time (even when late) to assess the situation. The time you lose is not worth leaving behind an unreplaceable object that you need.
Robinson says to beware of information overload. That means not practicing multitasking. If you need to do multiple tasks, make yourself a note and then do the most important one first.
All this seems pretty basic, but we all fall victim to our own stupidity. So be aware of your surroundings. Keep your objectives in mind. Do what’s necessary as soon as you can. Do one thing at a time. And don’t be stupid.
CLT
Contact Box — Give me a name and phone number
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| January 4, 2019 | © 2024
TO THE PERSON WHO LEFT ME A MESSAGE IN THE CONTACT BOX:
Please send me a name and telephone number and I will contact you. I cannot reply through the contact box.
CLT
The Stereotype of the Predatory Lawyer is Unfair, but Durable.
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| January 3, 2019 | © 2024
No. 1,600
Pennsylvania Enacts Fast-track Foreclosure For Vacant and Abandoned Properties.
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| January 2, 2019 | © 2024
No. 1,599
Image: lattimes.com
The Governor has signed legislation that expedites the foreclosure of vacant and abandoned property, to become effective in 120 days. The statute, known as HB 653 of 2018, establishes procedures that enable a creditor to request the municipal code officer or the court to certify that a property is vacant and/or abandoned, accelerating the foreclosure process.
Here is a link to the text of the amended statute. And here is a link to an article on the new legislation appearing in DS News, a newsletter for mortgage services.
More about this later.
CLT
Using the Contact Box
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| January 2, 2019 | © 2024
No. 1,598
Image: bookcovercafe.com
If you ask me a question in the contact box, give me your name and telephone number. I have received a number of questions this past year that I would have been happy to answer, but there is no way to reply to the questioner.
Your name and phone number will not be posted in the blog or used for any purpose but to answer your question. However, if you request that I reply by posting the answer, I’ll consider it.
You can also ask a question directed specifically to me through AVVO. I will answer those questions through the secure link provided by AVVO or by telephone.
Happy New Year!
CLT
Landlord May Be Liable Under Fair Housing Act For Passively Enabling Harassment By Other Tenants.
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| December 30, 2018 | © 2024
No. 1,597
MARSHA WETZEL v. GLEN ST. ANDREW LIVING COMMUNITY, LLC et al., 901 F.3d 856 (7th Cir, 2018).
“Within months of her arrival at Glen St. Andrew Living Community (“St. Andrew”), Marsha Wetzel faced a torrent of physical and verbal abuse from other residents because she is openly lesbian. Time and again, she implored St. Andrew’s staff to help her. The staff’s response was to limit her use of facilities and build a case for her eviction.
Wetzel sued St. Andrew, alleging that it failed to provide her with non‐discriminatory housing and that it retaliated against her because of her complaints, each in violation of the Fair Housing Act (FHA or Act), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3619. St. Andrew insists that the Act affords Wetzel no recourse, because it imposes liability only on those who act with discriminatory animus, an allegation Wetzel had not expressly made of any defendant. The district court agreed and dismissed Wetzel’s suit. We read the FHA more broadly. Not only does it create liability when a landlord intentionally discriminates against a tenant based on a protected characteristic; it also creates liability against a landlord that has actual notice of tenant‐on‐tenant harassment based on a protected status, yet chooses not to take any reasonable steps within its control to stop that harassment. We therefore reverse the district court’s grant of St. Andrew’s motion to dismiss and remand for further proceedings.”
This case in the 7th Circuit is one to watch as it heads back to the District Court to build a record. The actions of the landlord, which operates a facility that appears to be a personal care residence, are not depicted as neutral in the case summary, based upon the complaint. The court recognized that the facts that emerge at trial may be different. The question whether the landlord can ignore complaints of discriminatory conduct by other tenants is not answered because the landlord is portrayed as complicit in the violations.
CLT
Christmas Greetings!
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| December 27, 2018 | © 2024
No. 1,596
A paralegal in another state, where civil process is served by individuals, revealed that every year they have a request to serve domestic relations pleadings on Christmas morning for the reason, supposedly, that the other party will be sure to be at home with the children. But, of course, the real reason is to spoil the holiday. All the worst to such people on Christmas and to their grinch lawyers if they carry out the plot.
If I were the judge and such behavior came to my attention in a case under my supervision, I would sanction the evil-hearted client and the lawyer to spend part of Christmas Day serving dinner (not subpoenas) at a soup kitchen.
CLT
Learning as an Accomplishment
Posted by Cliff Tuttle| December 17, 2018 | © 2024
No. 1,595
Yesterday and today, while preparing a seminar presentation, I learned several things that are important for me to know as a lawyer.
Accomplishments are not only measured in work done. Learning something useful is can be a major accomplishment. This can be accomplished by reading or any other form of communication. You can even learn things from family and friends, provided you are willing to listen. Patience, asking questions and considering the answers are necessary components.
CLT
Welcome
CLIFF TUTTLE has been a Pennsylvania lawyer for over 45 years and (inter alia) is a real estate litigator and legal writer. The posts in this blog are intended to provide general information about legal topics of interest to lawyers and consumers with a Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania focus. However, this information does not constitute legal advice and there is no lawyer-client relationship created when you read this blog. You are encouraged to leave comments but be aware that posted comments can be read by others. If you wish to contact me in privacy, please use the Contact Form located immediately below this message. I will reply promptly and in strict confidence.
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