Category Archives: Opinion

The Fallout Continues…and there is more to come. Ashley Madison won’t Stop.

08/26/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

One more post on Ashley Madison and then I am taking a break from the subject.

You can read about the Ashley Madison hack here and what it means and doesn’t mean here.

What is still developing are the ramifications from the hack and the disclosure of private information.

It’s been reported that there have been suicides due to person’s private information being leaked. There have been public admissions of using the site and being the “biggest hypocrite ever.” There have been public denials that the person listed did not create the account or use the account, well maybe they did create it, but it was for curiosity’s sake only. There have also been outright denials of accessing the site and that an impostor created the account. This did happen, by the way.

There is actually a law in Mississippi which makes it illegal to impersonate another real person online with the intent to threaten, harm, intimidate or defraud another. The fake accounts may well be actionable if it impersonated a real person.

The other concerning part is that the Impact Team, the hackers responsible for the leak, have indicated they have the content of private messages and pictures shared through the site. There may be more fallout to come.

Matthew Thompson is a Divorce Lawyer in Mississippi and warns you that this story has “legs” and other body parts too!

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Crime, divorce, General Legal, Opinion

AshleyMadison; The Naked Truth.

08/24/2015 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

The List has been leaked. The names have been scoured. More than a few were familiar to you…

AshleyMadison is all the talk, but your name being on the list is not a conviction, at least not yet. It does not even mean you used it.

The site is supposedly anonymous. Meaning anyone could enter a User Name (not their real name), use a Prepaid Gift Card and a dummy (or generic) email address. Reports indicate some did just that. However, some most certainly did not.

Also, just because you were on the list did not mean you had an affair. It means that perhaps you wanted to, intended to, or wanted to have some chat time with a fictional woman. The man to woman ratio makes it highly unlikely that those users of the site were “successful.”

It also means that some of those listed in all likelihood had affairs and spent money doing so. In some instances, it’s being reported, thousands of dollars were spent. This is trouble for several reasons. 1) It is circumstantial evidence of an affair, certainly inclination (or infatuation), and 2) spending money on a girlfriend, or boyfriend, is Marital Waste.

It is at best just embarrassing and at worst indicative of family problems in the past and probably some more to come.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and recommends that if you are on the list it’s time to make that call.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Crime, divorce, Opinion

Hillary Clinton is Right About One Thing.

08/21/2015 BowTieLawyer 3 Comments

You’ve got Mail. No you don’t…

Hillary Clinton is always in the news. Lately, it is not for anything positive. Clinton is battling accusations of improperly using a private email server and email for she and her staff AND using same for sending and receiving classified information.

Clinton knew it was improper and took extraordinary steps to wipe as much of the proof of this as she could. Clinton”wiped her server clean” and permanently deleted all e-mails from the personal server.

Doing this is bad advice if you are Secretary of State, subject to pending litigation, or are aware of a Subpoena Duces Tecum requesting said information.

However, it is great advice if you are a lying cheater. Deleting emails, wiping a server is just smart if there is incriminating evidence in said emails and on said server. In fact, it’s dumb to not delete and wipe. It sets yourself up to be held accountable for your actions. It could prove that you have lied under oath. It could lead to all types of legal ramifications, monetary penalties and potentially cost you your freedom.

This week alone we have learned that one should destroy their cell phone, a la Tom Brady, NOT have an account with AshleyMadison (or, if you do, have a fake account) and one should have a private email server, and when convenient delete those emails and wipe the server!

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and is advising his clients if you are contemplating any of the above that your first visit should be to a good Criminal Defense Attorney and the next visit should be to your Priest.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Why Ashley Madison’s Data Dump May Lead to Your Son Getting Dumped

08/20/2015 BowTieLawyer 3 Comments

“Life is short. Have an affair.^®” is the tag line that greets you at AshleyMadison.com.

However, a recent hack of AshleyMadison’s data servers may make your life even shorter. Approximately 32 million users worldwide had their data hacked, including, names, email addresses and credit card information.

A group called the Impact Team demanded that the owner’s of AshleyMadison, and another site, remove their sites or be faced with having “secure” customer information released to the masses.

The Impact Team reportedly object to AshleyMadison’s moral turpitude and fraudulent business practices. One example was that for an additional fee AshleyMadison promised to completely remove your online presence with them, which they did not follow through on.

The fall out is still in its earliest stages. Reviews of the logins and emails show a number of seemingly fake names and email addresses created for shenanigans, but credit card numbers may show otherwise.

The Impact Team’s response was “We have explained the fraud, deceit, and stupidity of ALM and their members. Now everyone gets to see their data…. Keep in mind the site is a scam with thousands of fake female profiles. See ashley madison fake profile lawsuit; 90-95% of actual users are male. Chances are your man signed up on the world’s biggest affair site, but never had one. He just tried to. If that distinction matters.”

AshleyMadison responded “This event is not an act of hacktivism, it is an act of criminality. It is an illegal action against the individual members of AshleyMadison.com, as well as any freethinking people who choose to engage in fully lawful online activities…The criminal, or criminals, involved in this act have appointed themselves as the moral judge, juror, and executioner, seeing fit to impose a personal notion of virtue on all of society. We will not sit idly by and allow these thieves to force their personal ideology on citizens around the world.”

The takeaway is that your online information is not as safe as you think it is and when a third-party has it others can get it.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and is advising his clients to not have affairs.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Crime, divorce, General Legal, Opinion

Tom Brady, “Tom”foolery & his Cell Phone;Divorce Attorneys Should Take a Play from Brady’s Playbook

08/19/2015 BowTieLawyer 3 Comments

Tom Brady is a Patriot and a pioneer in legal advice and he doesn’t even know it!

By now you are well aware of the fracas that is now known as DeflateGate. Tom Brady did or did not have something to do with under inflated footballs in an NFL playoff game. There is now, literally, a Federal law suit about it. He has been punished by the league, but avows his innocence.

But, what is the best piece of legal advice ever learned from Tom Brady?

Destroy your cell phone.

Tom Brady destroyed his cell phone. You see, he upgraded to a new phone and stated that his practice is to destroy his old one. To protect against identity theft, I’m sure. He did this in the midst of the NFL’s investigation, but prior to formal legal proceedings being filed.(Disregard that he did not do so with prior phone upgrades.)

Had there been pending formal legal proceedings there could have been some issues with “destruction of evidence,” but without legal proceedings pending, upgrading his hardware and destroying the old, worn out device was just smart.

Sure, it may create the appearance of “Tom”foolery, but it does NOT allow said malfeasance to be confirmed.

So, you ask why else would he destroy his cell phone if there were NOT incriminating texts on it?

5. He had embarrassing text messages, such as Gisele calling him her “Brady-Boo.”

4. He expressed remorse about being an NFL Quarterback over his true dream of being a dancer.

3. He was critical of Belichick’s hoodie.

2. There were naked pictures of he and Gisele in nothing but Patriot’s Helmets and there was no way that wasn’t getting “leaked” if turned over.

1. There were incriminating text messages on it.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and is advising his clients to take a play from Tom Brady’s playbook, if legal to do so.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000

Opinion

Mississippi! Spread the Word

08/07/2015 BowTieLawyer 1 Comment

I love my home state. I love Mississippi.

As a state, we have had some negative press of late. Our flag is behind the times and not representative of over half of our population (I’m including all races in this calculation, btw). We are considered one of the least educated, poorest and most corrupt states. We are good at being bad and bad at being good in the categories that matter, it seems.

However, we are also one of the most generous state’s per capita. We have a history of phenomenal athletes, authors, artists and musicians. We have amazing chefs, foodies and cuisine. We have a lot to be proud of. We also have the potential to be better. We know our problems. We know they cannot be solved overnight, but we also know there is a solution.

Time, hard work, commitment to change, to educate, to build infrastructure and to drive forward exists in the generations that are and will be the leaders of Mississippi.

Mississippi,

Here’s a pat on the back. You do somethings really well!

Also, to anyone not in Mississippi, as Public Service Announcement; Mississippi has electricity, running water, indoor plumbing, books, shoes and air conditioning and we have had these luxuries/necessities of life for decades!

Matthew Thompson is a Family law attorney in Mississippi and is proud #Hail from the Hospitality State.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

Bow Tie, General Legal, Opinion

Mississippi Bar Convention; Lawyers, Judges & Court Personnel, Oh My

07/14/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

The Mississippi Bar Convention is the annual meeting of the State Bar (of which all practicing lawyers in Mississippi are members) and an opportunity for Lawyers to earn Continuing Legal Education hours.

Great Presentation by Randy Kessler of Atlanta to the MS Bar Family Law Section. You know him from Real Housewives of Atlanta and Nancy Grace! Great guy too!

The Bar’s mission is to protect the public by promoting competency, professionalism and ethics in the practice of law and the judicial system. Membership in the Mississippi Bar is compulsory for all practicing lawyers in Mississippi.

The Bar Convention is a time where lawyers, judges and Court personnel meet, greet, learn and socialize in a relaxed atmosphere. The various practice areas have presentations, seminars and speakers to talk about the recent trends and hot issues. The Bar and various Sections and Committees install their new officers, as the gable is passed.

Legal Pioneers, professionals and those with distinguished achievements are honored and recognized.

Cham Trotter receiving the Ole Miss Law Alumni of the Year at the Mississippi Bar Convention.

It’s fun for the family too!

Matthew Thompson is proud to be a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and a member of the Mississippi Bar.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms

General Legal, Marriage, Opinion

Take Care of What You Have!

07/09/2015 BowTieLawyer Leave a comment

What should be your life’s mission? This is often asked and has lead to much angst. But life’s real mission is to take care of what you have.

So what does that mean? Take care of yourself; your body, mind and spirit. Take care of your family; your spouse, children and relatives. Take care of your property; your house, cars and stuff. Take care of your financial well being; your job, your assets and debts.

A great example is when someone has a great house and doesn’t take care of it. This is most people’s single biggest asset, but when you ignore needed maintenance, delay routine upkeep and attempt to hide issues rather than have them repaired properly, you are ultimately only hurting yourself. Paying a little along the way prevents you from paying a lot later.

Great advice for relationships too. Investing along the way. Taking your time, getting to know one another and doing routine maintenance will help avoid paying a lot later; like a visit to my office.

Matthew Thompson is a Family Law Attorney in Mississippi and hopes you don’t have to call him, but if you do, please do.

Follow the blog: #BowTieLawyer Visit the website: #Thompson Law Firm You may also contact Matthew with your family law matter or question at (601) 850-8000 or Matthew@bowtielawyer.ms