Suing, Again
What do you want to bet that a nearly $6 million judgment against Siegfried & Jensen won't make a bit of a difference to their personal-injury business? The law firm seems to keep bouncing back and proclaiming its expertise in TV commercials. This time, a former business partner claimed in civil filings that Ned Siegfried and Mitch Jensen diverted money from the firm to other entities they owned, according to court filings and news reports. They do have a lot of "other entities." S&J averages about 2,000 pending cases and earns the partner gross revenues of more than $15 million a year, court documents from a previous case noted. Typically, contingency cases earn lawyers one-third of the award plus their other costs. It adds up, or rather subtracts down, for the client. Still, S&J spend a lot per month promoting themselves, and that must make an impression on prospective clients.
Drugs & Digs
While a Salt Lake Tribune poll found that Salt Lake City voters think downtown homelessness is a major problem, it also found that no one quite knows what to do about it. But wait—this isn't one problem. You've got homelessness, and you've got crime. Now the mayor and police are trying to clean up crime—especially drugs—in the area, and later have civilian case workers try to assess the issues of the homeless. This is a great start, although ABC 4 Utah reported that homeless-outreach teams were short-circuited by a premature police sweep. Yes, these are two problems.
Parking Plan Problems
Salt Lake City can't seem to figure out how to plan its neighborhoods, despite master plans and a professional planning staff. We won't even go into the historic district mess, but surely the city could do better at planning for neighborhood commercial districts like 9th & 9th. Not long ago, there was the big fight over a Smith's gas station. The neighborhood lost. Now a lawsuit has been filed in district court against the city, the planning department and the property owners of the former Mutual Beauty Supply, according to Michael Cohn, co-chairman of the East Liberty Park Community Council. The proposed development would erect a 35,000-square-foot, three-story building with 28 housing units, retail space and only 25 parking spaces. Again, the winners are developers and the out-of-scale developments they advance.
About The Author
Katharine Biele
A City Weekly contributor since 1992, Katharine Biele is the informed voice behind our Hits & Misses column. When not writing, you can catch her working to empower voters and defend democracy alongside the League of Women Voters.
More by Katharine Biele
-
Deseret News poll shows Donald Trump skating to another victory in Utah.
Hits & Misses
- Apr 17, 2024
-
LDS General Conference dominates local news while stories on diversity and discrimination take a back seat
Hits & Misses
- Apr 10, 2024
-
Utah's GOP Senate candidates try to out-MAGA each other in a race to the bottom.
Hits & Misses
- Apr 3, 2024
- More »
Latest in Hits & Misses
