Category Archives: General Legal

Crime, General Legal, Opinion

Hacked, Cloned, Spoofed and Phished…

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The internet is truly the wild west of modern day society. Social media, electronic communications and instant access have made daily life easier and more painful!

Hacked= use a computer to gain unauthorized access to data in a system.

Cloned=cloning  the process of copying the contents of one computer hard drive to another disk or to an “image” file. 

Spoofed= Spoofing is a type of scam in which a criminal disguises an email address, display name, phone number, text message, or website URL to convince a target that they are interacting with a known, trusted source. Spoofing often involves changing just one letter, number, or symbol of the communication so that it looks valid at a quick glance. For example, you could receive an email that appears to be from Netflix using the fake domain name “netffix.com.”

Phishing= the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

I have been a victim twice in the last 6-months!

6 months ago my Facebook was hacked. The hacker, from exotic Thailand, began attempting to login multiple times and then managed to change the recovery email to their own. Facebook, clearly confused that I may be in Thailand, allowed my new friend access and allowed them to be me! They immediately sent 100s of friend requests and did mainly other mildly annoying things, but no real damage. Or so I thought…

It turns out what the hacker was doing was buying ads for some dumb game/virus scam. Even after I was able to recover my account I was unaware that my Thai-buddy purchased Facebook ads with my credit!

Facebook sent me a notice of how my ad campaign was going. I advised Facebook that I had no such campaign. Turns out I had 3! One active and 2 in the hopper. I was able to end the current ad and delete the future ads, with minimal actual out of pocket expense to me. When I reported this to Facebook, they stated they reviewed the campaign and it all looked legit so I could not get my money back. Whomp-whomp.

However, I was able to regain control, detach a payment source and ultimately minimize the harm. It wasn’t super easy or straight forward and I felt as if Facebook thought I was up to something as opposed to the Thai-user.

Well, this week, my email account was hacked. This time my friend traveled to Lagos, Nigeria. They began login attempts at 6 in the morning and gained access at 2 in the afternoon. Now why Outlook doesn’t think every attempt to login to my email from Nigeria isn’t suspect is beyond me. A review of “My Activity” shows numerous logins from good ‘ol Madison, Mississippi for years and then a few hours later Nigeria!

Outlook’s assumption? I must be in Nigeria and need access. And I forgot my long-in and password… The Nigerian interloper gained access for a few minutes, sent out 180 emails with an attachment that looked like a Word download of a Bed Bath and Beyond Coupon and I immediately started getting calls, texts, and emails asking “Is this legit?“

As I responded as fast I could “No!” The hacker was responding “Yes. Please download.” !!! The hacker then started deleting my sent mail so I could not warn all persons it was sent to. I was finally able to wrestle back my email and changed the credentials to a password no human can ever remember…

This hack made less sense to me, but it turns out they targeted a law firm in the hopes of getting access to the lawyer’s trust/escrow account. They failed. This time.

Just for fun, the Hacker also implemented a “Rule” within my Email that rerouted all incoming messages to a subfolder that was previously never used. It took an expert diagnosis to solve that conundrum and the explanation of why incoming messages were rerouted was so that I would quit responding to persons that it was a scam.

This was also during the Snowapocolpyse of 2024. Perfect timing.

So what are the takeaways? Have some good antivirus software on your computer. Have some good passwords that are hard to guess. Have a recovery email go somewhere that you will have access to it. Get a credit card that is exclusively for online purchases. Get a bank account, again, solely for online activity. This will not prevent any hacking, but it will minimize the damage.

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and cautions you to be careful with downloads, uploads and computer users from Thailand and Nigeria.

Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Christmas & Divorce

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These things do not go together, but are a reality for many…

Divorce situations at Christmas time add another level of stress to an already stressful time. Forced family togetherness can bring out short tempers and hard feelings. Games, one-upmanship and fake platitudes are an easy trap to fall into. So, what can you do? Don’t.

Make Christmas about something bigger than the infighting. As a person of faith, make it about that. Not super religious? Make it about maximizing the quality time you get to spend with your loved ones. Make it about a time of peace and reconciliation. If that isn’t possible due to your ex-spouse, disengage, step back and just be.

Holiday stress and depression is a real thing. It is something that needs to be handled as such.

Matthew Thompson is a divorce lawyer in Mississippi and wishes you a safe and Merry Christmas.

Appeal, Child Custody, Child Support, Crime, Divorce, General Legal, Opinion

What Can You Do When the Judge Violates the Law?

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Judges swear an oath to uphold the Constitution, to follow the law, and apply it without prejudice or bias. Most do this very difficult task with tact and professionalism. Some do not. The Code of Judicial Conduct is intended to establish standards for ethical conduct
of judges.

So what do you do when your Judge violates the law? Sometimes it’s a judgment call and not a violation of the law. In these circumstances you can file a Motion for New Trial and/or an Appeal.

But what about when the judge clearly violates the law? Can you sue the Judge? Usually, no. Judges enjoy what is known as Judicial Immunity that protects them from civil liability for violating the law. If the actions are criminal there could be penalties, but typically not for civil violations.

What else can be done? Contact Mississippi Judicial Performance. Judicial performance is an entity created by the Mississippi Constitution that seeks;

To enforce the standards of judicial conduct,
To inquire into judicial liability and conduct,
To protect the public from judicial misconduct and disabled judges, and
To protect the judiciary from unfounded allegations.


All proceedings before the Commission are of a civil nature, not criminal, as the​ purpose of the Commission is to be rehabilitative and educational as well as disciplinary.

Judicial Complaint Form

Any citizen, litigant, attorney, law enforcement official, judge, public official, or other individual who has knowledge of possible judicial misconduct may file a complaint with the Commission. Complaints may also be filed anonymously. Additionally, the Commission may file a complaint on its own motion based upon matters it learns of in other ways, such as from mass media and information obtained during the course of an investigation.

All complaints must be submitted to the Commission in writing. The Commission does not accept oral complaints. You may use a complaint form or write a letter to the Commission. A complaint form filed with the Commission should be typewritten or printed so that it is easily readable.

Matthew Thompson is an attorney in Mississippi and knows most Judges try to do it right…

General Legal, Opinion

MC Law Hits a Homerun! Hires Randy Pierce as Dean of Advancement

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MC Law has been making waves in the professional community lately. They announced a facelift coming to the Law School, new logos and marketing efforts, a new permanent Dean and now made a hire for Assistant Dean of Advancement that has turned the Mississippi legal community on its ear.

Randy Pierce, former Supreme Court Justice, Chancellor, executive director of the Mississippi Judicial College, and acclaimed author, has accepted the position of Assistant Dean of Advancement at MC Law.

Justice Pierce is no stranger to MC Law having taught hundreds of students as an Adjunct Professor.

Justice Pierce likely knows every lawyer in the state of Mississippi and will now put those relationships to work.

Justice Pierce will be in charge of strategic advancement efforts, promoting the great things happening at MC Law, responsible for engagement of public relations and spearhead fundraising campaigns; advancing the brand of the law school.

Justice Pierce’s reputation in the professional and legal community precedes him and is beyond reproach. He is mutually respected by peers, colleagues, the judiciary, the public, politicos from all sides of the aisle and even fans from all Universities in the State!

MC Law has hit a homerun with hires of late and great things are happening.

Matthew Thompson is the unabashed cheerleader for all things MC Law, a 2005 graduate, current Law Alumni president, adjunct professor and even has a brick with his name on it at the law school.

Child Custody, Divorce, General Legal, Marriage, Opinion

Sometimes You’re Just Not Ready…

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Family law is tough. It is tough to go through, deal with, and be involved in.

It can also be unfair. But wait, the Judge has to be fair, right? Yes, but the Judge’s definition of fair and yours will be different.

Also, the whole circumstance may be unfair. You can live your best life and still find yourself in the divorce attorney’s office.

The handful of times that I have seen even good results feel bad is when one party is just not ready. They did not want a divorce. They did not want to be in my office. And, they did not do anything (or any one thing) to result in needing a divorce.

These are often the hardest circumstances. The client may be right. This may all be unfair, but it nonetheless is happening.

So what do you do if you realize it’s too soon and you’re not ready? Get an experienced lawyer. Confer with experts; a counselor, a CPA or financial planner, your pastor, your trusted family and friends.

Get prepared and be intentional, even if you don’t want to.

Matthew Thompson is a child custody and divorce lawyer in Mississippi and knows when it’s too soon. However, the law doesn’t always allow for the mental processing necessary for all clients.

General Legal, Opinion

In Memoriam: Judge Tom Broome

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Judge Tom Broome has passed away after a period of hospitalization.

Judge Broome, a long-time staple of the Rankin County Youth Court.

He touched many lives while serving as a Youth Court Judge and worked daily to have a fair and just judicial system. He surrounded himself with good people and genuinely had a servant’s heart.

Broome was a graduate of MC Law and was a part of one of the most distinguished graduating classes. His career added to the prestige.

Prayers and condolences for the family and colleagues.

Matthew Thompson is a family law practitioner and enjoyed practicing in Rankin Youth Court.

General Legal, Opinion

Equitable Maxims and Principles to Live By

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Equity is about fairness, but does not require exact equality. All things being equal could very well not be fair or equitable. 22 maxims of Equity are below and while some are archaic or narrow in their application, many are relevant and applicable in today’s society and legal arenas.

1. One who seeks equity must do equity. This requires that if you are seeking relief of the Court you must have done all that was required of you by the Court Order.

2. Equity will not suffer a wrong to be without a remedy. This provides that the Court may grant relief even if there is not necessarily a clear remedy at law.

3. Equity regards as done what ought to be done. This holds that if you agree to do something then it is assumed you will have done it and done it well.

4. Equity is a sort of equality. Equity means fair, but does not = equality, hence “a sort of equality.” Think equal in opportunity, though there may not be equal outcomes.

5. Equity aids the vigilant, and not those who slumber on their rights. Equity requires you to act reasonably and diligently. You cannot wait an unreasonably long time to seek justice.

6. Equity imputes an intent to fulfill an obligation. An act consistent with a promise to act demonstrates an obligation and may well satisfy same.

7. Equity acts in personam. Equity is about the obligations of people, not objects.

8. Equity abhors a forfeiture. Fairness does not require a total loss even if you did not meet all obligations on time.

9. Equity does not require an idle gesture. Fairness does not require the Court to declare a hollow victory.

10. He who comes into equity must come with clean hands. Similar to #1, this requires that if you are seeking relief of the Court you must enter Court having not committed a violation.

11. Equity delights to do justice, and not by halves. If you are entitled to full restitution, then equity requires that you receive full restitution.

12. Equity will take jurisdiction to avoid a multiplicity of suits. Equity requires that all parties and all issues which could have been decided be decided and you are later prevented from seeking relief for the same issues.

13. Equity follows the law. An equitable result does not violate the law.

14. Equity will not assist a volunteer. This one needs explanation about a “volunteer.” In this instance it is not a do-gooder, instead it is one who received a benefit though they did not deserve it. Fairness does not require the “volunteer” be entitled to such benefit.

15. Equity will not complete an imperfect gift. A person that confers a benefit on a third party may not be relied upon if the first person did not have the right to do so in the first place.

16. Where equities are equal, the law will prevail. If both parties are equal in benefit/wrongdoing, equity does not apply.

17. Between equal equities the first in order of time shall prevail. If two persons have an equitable claim/right the person that had the claim/right first, wins.

18. Equity will not allow a statute to be used as a cloak for fraud. Fairness will not allow the presence or absence of a particular law be used for an unjust result.

19. Equity will not allow a trust to fail for want of a trustee. Merely because a Trustee is unable or unwilling to serve does not terminate a Trust.

20. Equity regards the beneficiary as the true owner. Again related to Trusts, while the Trustee may have the property or use there of, the beneficiary is the person entitled to the use or benefit thereof.

21. Equity will not allow a wrongdoer to profit by a wrong. Fairness does not provide the bad actor to win due to his bad actions.

22. Equity does not punish. Fairness restores one to where they should have been, it does not punish the wrongdoer.

Child Custody, General Legal

Children Should NOT Pay for Adult Mistakes

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We all mess up. It happens. However, when our mess up negatively affects others, merely fixing the mistake is not enough, especially when it’s a child.

Being an adult can be hard. Being a parent is hard. Being an adult that has to deal with children is hard. Making mistakes is inevitable. However, how those mistakes are dealt with is the difference between showing a true servant’s heart and being a cold, unapologetic robot.

As a parent, we have all messed up. A quick, heartfelt apology is always best. To the extent you can fix your mess up, you do it. When the correction causes more trauma, you don’t.

A child does not need to learn from an Adult’s mistake – even an honest mistake. That isn’t teaching the child a lesson. That’s actually showing adults are not accountable for their actions.

“My bad, but you suffer…”

Also, admitting your mistake is good. But the way its handled thereafter matters too. A heavy-hand is not always the best. Being respectful never goes out of style and attempts to deescalate problems is the #1 priority when dealing with these situations.

A wise man once said the referee could throw a flag on every play, wisdom is not doing so. Also, sometimes picking that flag up and waving it off is the right thing to do.

The lesson here is ultimately do the right thing. Protect the child, be honest, but don’t make that child suffer because of your mistake.

Also, it’s NEVER too late to do the right thing!

Matthew Thompson is a family law attorney in Mississippi and advises parents/adults to not make a child suffer because of your mistake.