The Shark pays a hefty sum for divorce
According to recently released documents, famed golfer Greg Norman paid $103 million to his former wife to end their marriage. The recent article says the divorce settlement was reached in 2007 but the details were just made public. Norman recently wed ex-tennis star Chris Evert. Let's hope he had a good prenuptial agreement this time.
Wife granted annulment when husband turned out to be a woman
Here is an story that will leave you with more questions than answers. A man and wife (or so they thought) were married for seven years before getting divorced. Then the wife looked through an old high school yearbook and discovered that her "ex-husband" was a woman in high school. The woman went back to court and was granted an annulment of the marriage. The question remains--how were they married seven years without the wife figuring out her partner was not a man? Especially since the "ex-husband" was still physically a female?
Mississippi clerk pleads guilty to embezzlement of Child Support funds
In an update to a previous blog entry, a child support clerk from Meridian, Mississippi pled guilty to embezzling funds from the Lauderdale and Clarke County Child Support Program. The clerk embezzled $216,000 from the Bank Plan which collected child support payments from noncustodial parents and transferred it to custodial parents. The clerk was sentenced to 8 years in prison. She will serve 4 years in prison followed by 4 years of probation.
New Year brings with it increase in divorce filings
Here is an interesting article which says that the New Year is a time when many couples will make the decision about whether to divorce. The decision to divorce is usually put off during the holidays but resurfaces with the passage of a New Year. If you are contemplating a divorce, make sure you have done your homework. Talk with an attorney to understand your options, read the many articles on preparing for a divorce, including the ones I've posted on this site, and if you are still undecided, seek professional help from a marriage counselor.
Mississippi testing electronic filing system for state courts
The Madison County Journal recently reported that the Madison County, Mississippi Chancery Clerk and Circuit Clerk were authorized by the Mississippi Supreme Court to test an electronic filing system similar to one currently used in Mississippi Federal Courts. The testing of the program will be over a four month period.
Chancery Clerk Arthur Johnston was quoted as saying the system might not be practical for state courts. However, having used the system myself in Federal Courts and in other state courts, I can tell you there is no reason we should not be implementing it here in Mississippi. It benefits clients, attorneys, and court personnel. I’m holding out hope Mississippi will implement the system statewide and join a majority of jurisdictions where electronic filing systems are the norm and working quite well.
Clerk to have her day in court
According to the news out of Meridian, Mississippi, Cindy Truhett, the child support clerk accused of embezzling funds from the Lauderdale and Clarke County Child Support Program, is scheduled to go to trial on November 27th in the Lauderdale County Circuit Court. Cindy Truhett is accused of writing unauthorized checks to herself over a five year period totaling more than $216,000.00.
Natchez home to tamales and margaritas gets new abode
A little off the beaten path from family law, but important news nonetheless and great news for those lovers of tamales and margaritas at the infamous Fat Mama’s in Natchez, Mississippi. The Mississippi Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the City of Natchez and Fat Mama’s to relocate Fat Mama’s from its current historic location to the corner of Canal and Washington.
The dispute arose when the United States Department of Interior designated land as a national park. The land included Fat Mama’s present location. So Fat Mama’s had to move. The city approved the new location, but some homeowners filed a lawsuit protesting its relocation and rezoning of the area. In an opinion issued this last Tuesday, the Mississippi Court of Appeals upheld the City of Natchez’s decision to approve the rezoning.
So for those of us who travel to Natchez (if you have not been, you are missing an experience), rest assured that Fat Mama’s will continue serving those tamales and margaritas and soon will be sporting a new location—hopefully one with a little more parking.
