Business owner wins online defamation case 

“The Internet isn’t written in pencil, Mark. It’s written in ink.”
So says Facebook creator Mark Zuck-erberg’s ex-girlfriend to him after he slams her on his blog in the movie “The Social Network.”
The Internet may be written in ink, but determining how much business bad online reviews can ink out is more complicated.
One St. Louis County [...]

Couple wins verdict against title company 

A couple who lost their investment in a home construction project won a $140,000 verdict against the title company that recorded their deed of trust.
James and Jill Clemens purchased 4 acres of land in Wentzville in 2007 and contracted Routt Homes to build a custom home upon it. The couple then transferred the property to [...]

Judge Goldman to leave 21st Circuit 

Judge Steven Goldman has been working at the Clayton Courts Building for as long as it’s been around, but he’ll be moving on come July.

The candy man can’t? 

Bissinger’s former head chocolatier has filed suit against the company in St. Louis County Circuit Court, claiming it owes him more than $73,000 in back pay and has locked him into an unenforceable non-compete agreement.

Terry Wakefield began working for Bissinger’s in August 2004, according to the May 10 petition. A one-year, post-employment non-compete was part of his employment agreement.

Investor Hayes’ Ladue property heads to auction  

One of Shaun Hayes’ multimillion-dollar Ladue properties has a date with the auction block.

Also, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has requested a certified copy of an unrelated civil lawsuit against the former bank president and real estate investor.

According to a notice that began publication April 27 in The Countian, 9 Fordyce Lane is scheduled for a foreclosure sale at 11:15 a.m. May 17 at the Courts Building in Clayton.

Goldman to leave 21st Circuit, will become ALJ 

Judge Steven Goldman has been working at the Clayton Courts Building for as long as it’s been around, but he’ll be moving on come July.

Goldman has accepted a position as an administrative law judge for the U.S. Social Security Administration, he said. His first day at the 200 N. Broadway office in St. Louis will be July 18. In the role, he will analyze medical records and witness credibility to determine eligibility for disability benefits. He said his work with malpractice and personal injury cases has prepared him for the role.

Round two for John Steffen 

Former developer John Steffen has been re-indicted on bank fraud charges.

Steffen was first indicted in July. He received more than $1.4 million in state tax credits to renovate the Metropolitan Building in the Grand Center arts district in 2007. The government said he used the credits as loan collateral but then sold most of them without telling the bank. Allegedly, he used the money to cover other projects’ expenses.

Rams reach settlement with indicted stockbroker 

The St. Louis Rams Partnership has settled with former Woodbury Financial Services stockbroker Joshua Gould and his ticket brokering business, The Sports Nook.

On appeal, police officers win again, mostly  

The trial courts were pretty much right, but the state’s Supreme Court should have a look-see.

Such was the prognosis of the Missouri Court of Appeals this week in two cases over whether St. Louis-area cities must set up frameworks for police officers to collectively bargain.

Rep. Clay was misled, Ross says 

In his first time speaking publicly about the topic, St. Louis County Presiding Judge John Ross told a U.S. Senate committee that Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., was misinformed when he wrote a letter to President Barack Obama about him.