Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Evans case moves closer to trial

See Evans Case page in Special Coverage section on right side of page for a collection of all posts on the Evans case. Several posts have audio recordings of the hearings

The Evans case reaches a new phase: The Battle of the Experts. G&B Investments filed suit against the Evans Brothers, Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company, and Old Republic seeking damages for losses suffered in the Evans case.

G&B filed suit against the Evans brothers, various Evans-owned companies, Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company, and MVT's parent company, Old Republic. G&B owned 105 acres of land on Hwy 463 in Madison. G&B sold the land to the Evans brothers in 2008 for $16 million. The Evans brothers made a $5 million down payment and G&B provided owner financing for the rest of the land. What G&B did not know is that the week before the closing, the Evans brothers obtained the down payment through mortgage fraud (The documents related to the transactions were not filed at the courthouse until after the G&B closing took place.). The Evans brothers represented to M&F, Bank of Forest, and Heritage Bank using phony title certificates it indeed owned the land and borrowed $5 million on land they did not even own. The brothers then turned around and used the money as the down payment. See earlier post. The brothers used 77 acres of the land as collateral for the deed of trust they issued to G&B. G&B argues since Mississippi Valley Title allegedly insured a portion of the 105 acre tract for 200%, it should have known wrongdoing was taking place. G&B asked for punitive damages as well as other forms of relief. G&B had foreclosed on the 77 acres used as collateral but the foreclosure was put on hold by the bankruptcy trustee. The three banks are also seeking recovery from the Evans Brothers, Mississippi Valley Title, and Old Republic for damages suffered in the alleged fraud surrounding this transaction.

G&B's lawsuit will go to trial in February. Judge Olack issued discovery deadlines for December and made it clear he was going to trial in Feburary. G&B filed a report (see below) by its expert, Mr. George Pierson, Esq. Mr. Pierson has practiced in Louisiana since 1976 and is a past President of the Louisiana Land Title Association. The Bank of Forest also designated him as its expert.

Mr. Pierson focused on the duty a title insurance company has to monitor, audit, and supervise its approved attorneys and agents. Mr. Pierson states the standard practice should be auditing the files of said attorneys and agents on a regular basis and inspecting escrow accounts. Mr. Pierson argues if such policies and procedures had been followed by Mississippi Valley Title, "the wrongful activities and ongoing fraudulent schemes carried out by Charles Evans would have been discovered and he would have been removed as an Approved Attorney prior to the transactions" involving G&B's land. Mr. Pierson also zeroed in on the fact Charles and Chris Evans are brothers: "Mississippi Valley Title and/or Old Republic failed to have reasonably prudent underwriting policies that would have allowed them to timely detect and discover the ongoing fraudulent and various fraudulent schemes of its approved attorney, Charles Evans. this would include a general prohibition against approved attorneys working on transactions whereby the approved attorney or a close family relation has a financial interest in the transaction." JJ pointed out in an earlier post Charles Evans submitted a dozen title endorsement applications to Mississippi Valley Title containing the signatures of both Charles and Chris Evans.

Mississippi Valley Title and Old Republic stated their experts would be James Bruce Davis of Arlington, Virginia and local appraiser Van Duncan. A report was provided to all parties but there is not a copy of it in the public file. Charles Evans filed his own designation of expert:Harvey Little, MAI. Judge Olack will hold a hearing on December 21 at 10:00 on several motions.









4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The third expert listed for Evans is an atty named Shows. What's the story on him?

Anonymous said...

Shows is an attorney in Flowood. His firm does a lot of real estate work. He has a great reputation as being an "i" dotter and "t" crosser. It appears from his website he is very experienced in real estate in Mississippi. You can google him and go to his website. His name is John Shows.

Kingfish said...

Thanks. I'd noticed Shows Powell reading my site for months. Now I know why. :-)

Anonymous said...

John Howard Shows!?!?!

I like John and he is a competent lawyer, but I'm very surprised that he is going to be a title insurance fraud expert. Wonder what the Evans group is up to with this selection?

Who are all the other experts?


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.