Alabama’s New Property Protection Act: What Landowners Need to Know About Fraud, Title Protection, and Keeping Family Land Safe
By Jacy Fisher In early April 2026, Governor Kay Ivey signed the Alabama Property Protection Act into law. The Act goes into effect on October 1, 2026, and it represents one of the most significant updates Alabama has made in years to address real estate fraud and wrongful property transfers. For many families (especially families […]
The Hidden Danger of “Payable-on-Death” Accounts: Lessons from the Alabama Supreme Court
Imagine working for twenty years to ensure your children are taken care of, only for that legacy to vanish days before you pass away. This isn’t just a nightmare scenario—it was the reality in the recent Alabama Supreme Court case, Glasscock v. Glasscock. The facts of the case are startling. Truman Jr. maintained a checking […]
Acquittal in “Stand your Ground” ruling
A Clay County Judge has dismissed the manslaughter charge against LaQueta Cosby after ruling she acted in self-defense in the March 9, 2025 stabbing death of Jackie “Pee Wee” McElrath. Cosby and McElrath had a turbulent, on-and-off relationship. During a Stand Your Ground hearing held November 10, Cosby testified that the two argued earlier that night […]
“Stand your Ground” Hearing held in Timberlake Stabbing Death
A “Stand your Ground” hearing was held at the Clay County Courthouse on Monday, November 10th for LaQueta Cosby in the stabbing death of Jackie “Pee Wee” McElrath that occurred in the early morning hours of March 9, 2025 in the Timberlake Complex. Cosby and McElrath reportedly had an on and off again relationship. See […]
Former US attorney is 8th sober driver to be arrested for DUI by state trooper
The story of the trooper who arrested eight sober drivers seems less surprising when you examine the government’s own research on these tests. The data, collected over decades, shows wildly different accuracy rates depending on the study, highlighting just how subjective these tests can be. Let’s look at the original laboratory data from the National […]
Wildfire Risk Isn’t Just a California Problem: A Lesson for Alabama Local Officials
Wildfire Risk Isn’t Just a California Problem: A Lesson for Alabama The prevailing sentiment that catastrophic wildfires are a distant, West Coast issue is a dangerous misconception. As local government officials, it is imperative to understand that the same elements that fueled the tragic 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires exist right here in Alabama. This isn’t […]
Limits of Presidential Power over Local Governments
A executive order mandating the nationwide abolition of cash bail would present a stark constitutional challenge to state and local governments. By compelling local courts and sheriffs to administer a federalized standard for pre-trial detention, such an order would trample upon fundamental principles of federalism and is, therefore, an unconstitutional exercise of federal power. Justice […]
A Virginia Supreme Court’s Ruling: Cause for Concern for Alabama Broadband Utilities
The Virginia Supreme Court’s decision in Norfolk Southern Railway Co. v. Cox Communications, Inc. creates a new precedent that could pose a significant legal risk to Alabama’s Broadband Using Electric Easements Accessibility Act (§ 37-16-6). The key issue is how a constitutional takings provision can override statutory authority, a principle that applies in both states. […]
The Pennsylvania Eminent Domain Ruling That Alabama Public Utilities Can’t Afford to Ignore
The power of eminent domain is a critical tool for public utilities, enabling infrastructure projects that serve our communities. But a recent landmark ruling from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court sends a powerful message that could redefine how utilities, particularly those expanding critical services like broadband, approach land acquisition. In Wolfe v. Reading Blue Mountain & […]
A Deeper Dive into First Amendment Protection for Public Employees
In a post, just a couple of days ago, we introduced two powerful rulings from the Eighth Circuit, Melton and Naylor, that reaffirmed First Amendment protections for public employees. Today, we’re taking a deeper look at the Naylor case because it offers a critical lesson for local government leaders: just because speech is controversial does […]
