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Notes From The Field
November 2025
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Beware Sophisticated Scammers
Every year around the holidays, we hear the warnings about a rise in scams and how the people behind the scams have changed their tactics. It is easy to write off these warnings as valid but not worth close attention. We proceed with our daily lives, convinced that while the victims of scams have experienced a tragedy, it couldn’t happen to us. This belief is deeply rooted in the notion that we are rational beings and, therefore, incapable of falling for the seemingly obvious lies. Though we are intelligent, these scams are designed to pinpoint weaknesses in our logic by targeting our emotions and desires. Recently, one of my employees began looking for a new apartment. In her search, she came across a beautiful home being rented out for well beneath market value. Excited but wary, she contacted the individual listing the home through the website on which she found it. After a few days with no word, she presumed it was either too good to be true or had already been rented out. A day later, she received an email from the people listing the home with a long explanation about the type of tenant they were looking for and basic details about the rental. They also included an application that they were requesting every prospective tenant fill out. Knowing that good rentals are hard to find, she filled out the application quickly and emailed it back, getting a prompt response from the possible landlord. As their conversation progressed, she started to notice discrepancies in the story and odd requests like sending a security deposit without viewing the property. Uncertain, she asked for my input, and I gave her resources and encouraged her to look into the matter further. Upon her further investigation, she discovered the
owners and occupants of the home were not the individuals involved in listing the property and that they were being harassed by people who had seen the rental online. Thankfully, she had not provided any money or secure information to the person behind the fraudulent listing and was able to extract herself from that correspondence. I share this story, with her permission, as an example of how logical and intelligent people can easily fall prey to scams. This scam was not pitched to the general public as a get-rich-quick or pyramid scheme. Instead, it focused on the very human desire to find a nice home at an affordable price. Beware the scammers who paint you a picture that fulfills your dreams with no guarantees. The truth is that we are all vulnerable to these types of attacks. We all have desires, hopes, and people we care about. Those same parts connect us to our humanity and the humanity of those around us. Still, we must be careful to guard ourselves from people with ill intent who would use that same humanity against us. So, what can you do practically to protect yourself? First, I always say to trust, but verify. If something seems too good to be true, do your due diligence and research its particulars. Most fraudulent activity will fall apart with careful consideration and investigation. Second, take your time. Many scam artists apply pressure and short time limits that prevent you from thinking things over thoroughly. This also places many people into a state of stress, which can cause their logic to lose control and emotions to take over. If someone tells you that you must do this immediately, push back. When dealing with legitimate opportunities, there is nearly always enough time to review.
Last, always seek counsel from a disinterested third-party professional. If you were to buy a used car, you would take the vehicle to an outside mechanic before signing the paperwork to ensure the vehicle is in the condition the dealer is telling you it is. Similarly, if you are presented with an opportunity like my employee was, checking with a professional, in this case, me, allows you to get clear-minded guidance. An outside party is not as easily swayed by the emotional factors that impact you, and by talking with a professional, you can verify if the information they are presenting is legitimate. Ultimately, scammers hunt down individuals by luring them in with something good, isolating them, and applying pressure until they finally cave. When you remember that you are not alone and take time to receive outside counsel, you’ll be less susceptible to this type of harm. So, as we head into the holidays, beware the sophisticated scammer who preys on your emotions.
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LAWN MUNCHIES? Here’s Why Your Dog Treats Grass Like a Snack
Tummy Troubles One of the most common beliefs is that dogs eat grass to make themselves vomit when they’re feeling nauseous. While studies show that vomiting doesn’t always follow grass-eating, some dogs seem to feel better afterward. It’s like their own natural remedy (though not all dogs use it for this purpose). Nutritional Gaps Some vets suggest grass-eating may stem from a lack of fiber or certain nutrients in a dog’s diet. If your dog’s diet is lacking, their body might be nudging them to get a bit of roughage. A quick consult with your vet (or even a change in food) might do the trick. The Uncommon Possibilities Instinctual Behavior Dogs have descended from wild canines that often consumed plant matter from their prey’s stomachs. Some experts believe this behavior could be hardwired into your pet’s DNA as a throwback to those wild meals.
If you’ve ever looked out the window and spotted your dog chowing down on your lawn like it’s a salad bar, you’re not alone. This behavior, known as “pica,” is when animals eat things that aren’t typically considered food. It has puzzled dog owners for generations. But don’t worry! In most cases, it’s completely normal. The Common Culprits Paw-sonal Preference Some dogs enjoy the taste and texture of grass, especially after a fresh rain or in the early morning when it’s dewy. Grass can be cool, crisp, and oddly satisfying for your pup. Boredom or Anxiety Dogs, like people, can engage in strange habits when bored or stressed. Chewing grass could be their version of nail-biting or fidgeting. If your pup isn’t getting enough mental stimulation or exercise, they might start nibbling the lawn out of restlessness.
Parasites or Illness In rare cases, frequent grass-eating could signal a serious issue, such as intestinal parasites or an undiagnosed medical condition. If your dog is obsessed with grass and shows other symptoms, like lethargy, weight loss, or vomiting, it’s time to call the vet. Worth the Worry? Usually, no. Occasional grass-snacking is a normal part of dog life. Just make sure your lawn isn’t treated with harmful chemicals or pesticides. If it becomes excessive or other symptoms accompany it, your vet should take a look. Ultimately, dogs sometimes eat grass simply because they’re dogs … and they can!
Including Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan Holidays are a funny thing as we age and our families grow. When my kids were young, we would celebrate most Thanksgivings with my parents, who lived just down the street. The holiday was filled with the usual home-cooked meals, family gatherings, watching the Dallas Cowboys play, and giving thanks. states, one of my daughters is off at college, and while we still live close to my mom, my dad has since passed. All of this, the good, the bad, and the difficult, is part of life as my family grows and changes. Still, change is hard, and it is easy to reminisce and miss what used to be. Giving Thanks as Your Family Grows
If you find yourself in the place of creating new traditions with your family and you have the joy of being near the people you love, I encourage you to cherish this time. There is something beautiful about the new things we create from a place of love. However, if you feel grief for what was, that is no longer, embrace it. Grief is amorphous and ever-present, but it is also a manifestation of love looking for a new place to call home. I hope you are able to find joy this holiday in the old, new, and constant loves that fill your life.
Every year, we would disagree about what time to start dinner and whether or not we would eat in front of the TV while watching the game. Despite these tiffs, the holiday was often brimming with love and the joy of being together again. Though our extended family lived close by, having a special day to gather and share food created many fond memories and traditions. As time passes, the holiday has changed for me and my family. Three of my children have gotten married and live in different
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TAKE A BREAK
APPLES BASKETBALL BLACK FRIDAY
ELECTION KINDNESS LEAVES NAP PARADE PIE SCORPIO TOPAZ VETERAN
THE GREAT ONION MARKET MELTDOWN How 2 Men Peeled the System
Many Americans like to invest in the stock market, hoping to earn supplemental income or get rich. But there’s always the fear that a hedge fund or an extremely wealthy influencer could manipulate the market, allowing them to get rich off their stocks while everyone else suffers and loses money. In theory, nobody should have the power to manipulate stocks, but it still happens. One of the most extraordinary market manipulations occurred in the 1950s. In 1955, onion futures became one of the most traded commodities on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. For those unfamiliar with futures trading, someone could sell their product months down the line for the price it’s worth today, as long as someone buys the contract. For example, let’s say wheat is trading at $5.50 per bushel right now. You purchase a futures contract to lock in that price three months later. If the price rises, you still get wheat for the initial cost, or you can sell your contract for a profit. New York-based investors Sam Siegel and Vincent Kosuga realized they could get rich quickly by manipulating the surging onion market of the 1950s. They purchased 30 million pounds of onions, almost all of Chicago’s inventory, to short- sell the stock. This meant they would sell the stocks at a higher price before rebuying them when the price dipped. They knew they could profit since they owned 98% of the inventory. After flooding the market with their onions and onion futures contracts, the price per bag dropped from $2.74 to 10 cents. Farmers were furious. Many lost their livelihood, but Siegel and Kosuga made millions. While market manipulation was unethical, it wasn’t illegal back then, so the two couldn’t be punished for their actions. To ensure this never happened again, Congress passed the Onion Futures Act in 1958, which completely banned trading in onion futures. President Eisenhower signed the bill into law. To this day, onions are the only commodity in America that is explicitly banned from futures trading.
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818-369-7900 435-216-4444 FieldLawPC.com
P.O. Box 8306 La Crescenta, CA 91224 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
P.O. Box 910760 St. George, UT 84791
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Beware Sophisticated Scammers
Dog + Grass = Mystery? Not Anymore!
Giving Thanks as Your Family Grows
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Pumpkin Dump Cake
The Day Onions Crashed the Chicago Exchange Inside the Explosive Probate Battle Over Gary Coleman’s Estate
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2 WILLS, HANDWRITTEN CODICIL SPARK LEGAL WAR Gary Coleman’s Probate Drama
Gary Coleman’s death at age 42 in 2010 led to one of the most convoluted probate battles in celebrity estate history. Although he left only modest assets, the fight over his will and remains spiraled into a legal saga filled with dramatic courtroom testimony and personal revelations. Coleman had signed multiple wills: a 1999 document naming a former manager as his executor and a 2005 will naming his longtime assistant and friend, Anna Gray, as executor and sole beneficiary. Even though he divorced Shannon Price in 2008, Coleman had allegedly added a handwritten codicil in 2007, leaving everything to her. Price asserted they continued living together as husband and wife, despite the divorce, claiming a common‑law marriage under Utah law. This twist turned a probate hearing into a character trial. Price’s legal team presented
witnesses (bank officers, Coleman’s agent, and relatives) who testified that the couple filed joint taxes, shared bank accounts, and called each other husband and wife. But Anna Gray’s side countered with a strong testimony. The judge questioned whether Price had established a public reputation as a wife, a key requirement for common‑law recognition in Utah.
Anna Gray as executor and beneficiary stood as the controlling document.
So, what did Coleman actually leave behind? His estate amounted to little more than his home ($315,000), royalty payments, and possessions. The real value lay in deciding who controlled Coleman’s name, ashes, and remaining intellectual property. Adding to court records, Shannon Price was the person who authorized turning off Coleman’s life support when he fell and suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2010. Whether that gave her moral or legal standing remained hotly debated, but in probate court, she lost.
In May 2012, after three days of explosive
testimony, Judge James Taylor ruled that Price failed to show a recognized common‑law marriage with Coleman at the time of his death. This meant that the 2005 will naming
And in the end, the probate judge settled the matter: Anna Gray inherited what remained of Coleman’s estate, his ashes, and control over the disposition of his name and legacy.
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