The Courier
NEWS
Shop Local for Christmas
This weekend begins the opportunity to find local treasures for the season of gift giving. The Gooding Holiday Craft Show will be held at North Valley Academy (906 Main Street) this Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 to 4. Admission is a canned/boxed food item or winter coat to be donated to Helping Hearts and Hands. Next weekend, the Craft Bazaar in Fairfield will be held and the American Legion Hall (Camas Avenue East) on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 to 5. While you are searching for the purfect gift, be sure to enjoy the various Tree Lighting celebrations, including the parade in Gooding this Saturday. And remember... there are always those who need a little help this time of year. Donate to your local food bank, or find a Toys-For-Tots box and help make Christmas special.
Court Order Against Debt Settlement Company
Idaho Department of Finance Press Release Debt settlement is the practice of engaging or offering to engage in the business of providing counseling or other services (negotiating a reduction of debt in exchange for payment) to debtors in the management of their debts. Last month, Ada County District Judge Lynn Norton has issued a decision on an order issued by the Director of the Department of Finance against Wall & Associates, Inc. (Wall), a Virginia corporation. The Director’s final order, issued April 30, 2022, found Wall liable for participating in unlicensed debt settlement activity in violation of the Idaho Collection Agency Act (the Act) and ordered Wall to give back a total of $271,987.50 in fees charged to Idaho tax debtors, pay a civil penalty of $162,000, and reimburse $42,016.60 in the Department’s attorney fees. Judge Norton issued a sixty-two-page opinion that analyzed and affirmed all aspects of the Director’s final order against Wall, plus ordered Wall to pay additional attorney fees to the Department. The Department brought the initial administrative enforcement action against Wall in December 2019, after receiving consumer complaints regarding the company’s tax debt settlement practices, which involved claiming to be able to help Idaho tax debtors settle and greatly reduce their debts with the IRS and the Idaho Tax Commission. Through the investigation of the complaints, the Department determined Wall required a license under the Act to engage in debt settlement activity with Idaho consumers. The Department also uncovered various troubling business practices, which were eventually detailed in the Director’s final order. Patricia Perkins, Director of the Idaho Department of Finance, stated, “I appreciate the decision of the Fourth Judicial District Court, as well as the investigative efforts of my staff and legal counsel. I am pleased that restitution orders have been put in place in favor of the consumers continued on page 7... in this case.” By regulating debt settlement businesses...
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
November 29, 2023
Vol 47 Num 48
Applicants For Lincoln County Magistrate Judge
The Fifth Judicial District Magistrates Commission will be meeting to review attorney applicants for the position of Lincoln County Magistrate to replace the Honorable Brendan Ash, who was appointed as the Camas County Magistrate, effective January 02, 2024. Seven (7) applications have been received for the position of Lincoln County Magistrate, according to Shelli Tubbs, Fifth District Trial Court Administrator. The applicants and their current positions, in alphabetical order are: Carl I. Dillman Twin Falls, Idaho Civil Chief Deputy Prosecutor, Gooding County Lee J. Fisher Glenns Ferry, Idaho Chief Deputy Prosecutor, Elmore County Cheri L. Hicks Bellevue, Idaho Deputy Public Defender, Blaine County Bryan V. Norton Meridian, Idaho Attorney at Law, Borton-Lakey Law & Policy Adam J. Ondo Twin Falls, Idaho Civil Deputy Public Defender, Twin Falls County Michael J. Seib Jerome, Idaho Deputy Prosecutor, Jerome County Justin R. Walter Idaho Falls, Idaho Attorney at Law, Hall Angell & Associates, LLP
Questionnaires for public comment may be obtained from the Trial Court Administrator’s office, Twin Falls County Courthouse, 425 Shoshone Street N., Twin Falls, ID (208) 736-4085, online at www.5thjudicialdistrict.com/, and at the Lincoln County District Court, 103 South Birch Street, Shoshone, ID. Comments must be returned to the Trial Court Administrator’s Office, P.O. Box 126, Twin Falls, ID 83303-0126, no later than December 15th, 2023.