In Rupp v. Moffo, LeBaron & Jensen defended the rights of a single mom against the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee who was trying to stick her with a debt that she did not owe. See Summary below. Stephen W. RUPP, Trustee, Appellee, v. Angie MOFFO, Appellant. Case No. 20130377. Decided: August 14, 2015 Angie Moffo lived rent free for eight years in a home owned by her brother-in-law, Doug Rich. After Rich filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the appointed bankruptcy trustee, Stephen Rupp, filed suit against Moffo for back rent under Utah’s Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, asserting that Rich had defrauded his creditors by allowing Moffo to live in the house rent free after he became insolvent. The district court concluded that Moffo was the recipient of a fraudulent transfer and entered a $34,200 judgment against Moffo. The Supreme Court vacated the judgment entered against Moffo, holding that Rich did not transfer an asset to Moffo within the scope of the Act because the home was fully encumbered by a mortgage, and any rents were not the property of Rich. Remanded with instructions to enter summary judgment in favor of Moffo.

DMV.org states that 9 people in the United States die daily due to accidents caused by distracted driving. Driving is dangerous enough without the multitude of distractions available to people at any time. Most states have outlawed cell phone use while driving, due to the exorbitant amount of accidents caused by cell phone use. Although cell phones are the first thing we think of when we think about distracted driving, they are not the only causes.

Causes of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving consists of anything that diverts your attention from the road. Even reading billboard advertisements or playing road trip games can distract the driver. Here are some of the most common causes of distracted driving:

• Eating or drinking while driving
• Messing with the stereo or GPS
• Talking or texting on a cell phone
• Talking with passengers in the car
• Putting on makeup while driving

Any non-driving activity can serve as a distraction, which can endanger both you and others on the road. Take care to avoid distracted driving, drowsy driving, and especially drunk driving. There can be severe consequences for causing an accident due to your own inattention or negligence.

Just because a device is hands-free, or even installed by the manufacturer, does not make it safe to operate while driving. Your whole concentration should be on the road the entire time while operating a vehicle. If you’ve been the victim of an accident caused by distracted driving, you should seek legal counsel to pursue a case.

Make sure to always watch for other vehicles and stay clear of situations that might lead to an accident. Defensive driving is the best way to prevent accidents, but it isn’t always enough. If you need superior legal representation in a personal injury case, contact LeBaron & Jensen today!