Attorney John Hale Freeland's Legal Cases

Banking

$4,337,598.00 settlement of debt relief of $2,857,498.66 and a payment of $1,480,000.00.

Mar 22, 2017

OUTCOME: $4,337,598.00 settlement

Clients were victims of bank fraud which included the forgery of their signatures and an alleged check-kiting scheme in which the clients were unaware of at the time they were asked to execute a loan t ... o cover the losses arising from the scheme. Hale Freeland obtained the bank’s files, challenged issues related to the underlying bank loans and transactions and brought the suit which challenged the loans and sought recovery of the clients' payment of those loans. Reed Martz and Hale Freeland negotiated a settlement of the claims with the financial institution which the court approved. Each party settled for their own particular reasons and was recently approved by a federal court.

Banking

Dismissal of Montana Bank Claim and Judgment, Relieving Clients of $843,070.75 liability

Jun 03, 2016

OUTCOME: Settlement, judgement set aside

Clients were sued to collect a "loan" but was the victim of an alleged check-kiting scheme of which the clients were unaware of at the time they were asked to execute a loan to cover the losses arising ... from the scheme. Hale Freeland obtained the bank’s files, challenged issues related to the underlying bank loans and transactions. The financial institution which brought the suit denied any knowledge or participation in the scheme. Each party settled for their own particular reasons and was recently approved by a federal court.

Probate

Will contest involving a financial adviser taking advantage of an aged customer suffering from dementia

Apr 04, 2016

OUTCOME: Settled prior to trial

A World War II Veteran pilot and former "Blue Angel" Navy pilot was left to live in deplorable conditions as his health and mental capacity deteriorated. He retired from the Navy after thirty years of ... service that began when he joined the Navy during WWII as an enlisted aircraft mechanic. A "friend" who began providing “financial advice” took control of the veteran’s assets as the Veteran lost mental capacity. He had the Veteran taken to an out of town stranger to prepare a will which tried to give the Veteran's multi-million dollar estate to the “friend,” and the friend’s family. He had the Veteran sign documents so that the veteran’s remains would be controlled by his “friend” upon the Veteran’s death. The Family took action, filed a conservatorship, helped restore their uncle’s health, extending his life several years. Upon his recent death, the family ensured their uncle received full military honors onboard a United States Navy warship which committed his ashes to sea and also held a service for friends and family. The Family challenged the questionable will and the Veteran was held to have died intestate – without a will – in a resolution of the case on the week before the will contest was to be tried. Everyone was relieved to avoid what was going to be a difficult week of trial.

Trusts

Freeland Settles suit for $2,040,000.00 against trustee for trust beneficiary.

Mar 31, 2016

OUTCOME: $2,040,000 Settlement for trust beneficary

Together with a prestigious regional law firm, Hale Freeland filed suit against the trustee for taking advantage of his position as the trustee for his niece. The trust was established by a farmer for ... his only child after he was diagnosed with cancer before he died. The Father held a one-half interest in approximately 1649 acres of farmland and established the trust to ensure his Daughter would benefit from his half interest in the family farm. The Father's Brother and his Daughter's uncle promised to take care of his niece through the trust. After this Brother's death took control of the Family Farm and $491,522 his Brother left to his Daughter through a life insurance policy. The trustee failed to honor his promise to his dying Brother, used his Niece’s trust to pay his personal debts, kept all the income from the farm for himself, and concealed his activities from his Niece and her Mother. After long and protracted litigation in which the trustee attempted to avoid his responsibilities the case settled when the trustee was about to face a jury trial.

Probate

Recovers Gift Intended for Church

Dec 04, 2015

OUTCOME: Church recovers gift worth over sxx figures

Freeland Martz was retained by a church whose member passed away without notice of her death or service of commitment made in her behalf. After becoming aware of their member's passing, the church hel ... d a service for her and then engaged Freeland Martz to investigate the circumstances. The firm determined that the decedent's estate had been opened without notice to the beneficiaries of her estate. Freeland Martz entered and made an appearance to protect the interests of the church, and identified assets the decedent intended for the church and others. Freeland Martz took over control of the member's estate and recovered significant bequests. They accomplished this without divisive hearings, but by putting others on notice that the generosity of the decedent would be honored.

Banking

Dismissal of Deficiency Suit, Relieving Bank’s $ 154,830.09 Claim

Dec 02, 2015

OUTCOME: Bank's case dismissed, appeal affirmed

A regional Bank brought suit for a deficiency against clients, asserting that a foreclosure sale still left $154,830.09 owing on their mortgage. Hale Freeland obtained the bank’s files, challenged Bank ... s’ lack of diligence in serving the clients with the lawsuit, and questioned problems in the foreclosure sale concerning procedures the bank used in foreclosing the property. As a result, the Hinds County Court dismissed the deficiency suit. The bank may appeal the dismissal of suit; however, it has several hurdles to overcome in order to validate the foreclosure sale, its deficiency claim and the validity of the trustee’s deed it received at the foreclosure sale.

Bankruptcy and debt

Settles Collection, Relieves client of $1,226,299.00 Claim

Aug 28, 2015

OUTCOME: Relieves client of questionable debt

The client was sued to collect a "loan" but was the victim of an alleged check-kiting scheme of which he was unaware of at the time he was asked to execute a loan to cover the losses arising from the s ... cheme. The financial institution which brought the suit denied any knowledge or participation in the scheme. Each party settled for their own particular reasons before any court decided who was responsible for losses and was recently approved by a federal court.

John Hale Freeland's Legal Cases (17)

$4,337,598.00 settlement of debt relief of $2,857,498.66 and a payment of $1,480,000.00.

Dismissal of Montana Bank Claim and Judgment, Relieving Clients of $843,070.75 liability

Will contest involving a financial adviser taking advantage of an aged customer suffering from dementia

Freeland Settles suit for $2,040,000.00 against trustee for trust beneficiary.

Recovers Gift Intended for Church

Dismissal of Deficiency Suit, Relieving Bank’s $ 154,830.09 Claim

Settles Collection, Relieves client of $1,226,299.00 Claim