The Luzerne County (PA) judicial corruption case continues as a stomach-turner.  The two former judges facing federal criminal charges for what has become known as a “kids for cash” scam have been granted partial immunity in a civil suit filed by a class of juveniles claiming their rights were violated.  The intellectual argument made is valid, but after recently reading about the string of bureaucrats who pointed the finger everywhere else but at themselves (Post #1, Post #2)  in recognizing the corruption that was underway, this partial immunity grant gives some sense of being another accountability dodge.  Although it doesn’t involve probate or other estate issues, we’ll continue following this case as judicial integrity (or the lack thereof) is certainly an important component of Involuntary Redistribution of Assets (IRA) cases.

A story from U.K.’s News of the World indicates that Michael Jackson’s nephew Taj, son of Jackson brother Tito, will become involved in administration of the estate.  Billed as an “exclusive,” we’ll watch to see if other media outlets provide confirmation of this development.

Edward Graziano is now reported to have a foreclosure of his house pending.  Graziano is the father of John Graziano, the man critically injured in August 2007 while riding in a car driven by Hulk Hogan son Nick Bollea.  A civil suit is pending in that matter.  Meanwhile, the elder Graziano is currently at the Pinellas County Jail on charges of hiring a hit man to kill his estranged wife, the mother of John Graziano.  Court documents allege that Graziano believed the death of his wife could better position him to receive or control (via a guardianship) any money awarded through the pending civil lawsuit on his son’s behalf.   This case is discussed in a column Murder becoming an inheritance fast-track?