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A law firm and its affiliated title agency moved to dismiss a third-party suit from the owner of New Orleans property, arguing that the owner’s claims are barred by res judicata. The owner was unable to develop the property as planned after third parties won a suit against it, enforcing a 1985 zoning ordinance. The owner had filed suit against the title company and/or law firm three previous times. Read on for more details.

After her property was foreclosed upon and sold at a sheriff’s sale, the former owner of Philadelphia property went about the procedure to receive the excess proceeds from the sale. When she got the proceeds, the attached breakdown of costs included a charge for a title insurance policy. She filed a class action complaint against the sheriff, alleging that the sheriff imposed procedures not required by state rule on her and other foreclosed upon homeowners. Read on for more details.

The Texas Legislature has adopted a bill to amend its statute relating to the privacy of personal identifying information and breach notifications and created the Texas Privacy Protection Advisory Council. Read on for more details.

The Michigan Legislature is considering a bill that would amend the Revised Judicature Act to require a notice of foreclosure by advertisement to include certain new information. Read on for more details.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation regarding hearings concerning title insurance rates and other matters relating to regulating the business of title insurance. The bill goes into effect Sept. 1. Read on for more details.

A north Illinois suburban businessman has been indicted on bank fraud and identity theft charges for allegedly fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in mortgage and vehicle loans and using stolen identities to secure credit from financial institutions. Read on for more details.

The Connecticut General Assembly has passed a bill to prohibit anyone other than attorneys from representing the legal interests of parties to real estate closings concerning real property in the state and prohibit mortgage lenders from inducing or requiring prospective mortgagors to use preferred attorneys or law firms to represent the mortgagors in proposed mortgage loan transactions concerning real property in Connecticut. Read on for more details.

The president of a company that purchased property in Houston filed a guarantee agreement promising to be responsible for his company’s obligation under the note if his company defaulted. The company defaulted and a superior lienholder foreclosed on the property. The lender’s title insurer, as the lender’s subrogee, sued the company president as guarantor of the loan. After the title insurer successfully moved for summary judgment, the company president appealed. Read on for the appellate court’s decision.

A lender filed suit against several parties, seeking to quiet title and reform a deed conveying real property on the grounds of mutual mistake when the agent of the buyer mistakenly was identified as the grantee on the deed rather that the buyer. Read on for more details.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed legislation amending the state’s Title Insurer’s Act by changing provisions relating to limitations of powers. Read on for more details.