Legal Opinion
In Re First Escrow, Inc.
Supreme Court of Missouri
Decided October 27, 1992No. 72686, 72688PublishedCited by 18 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
PRICE, Judge.
We are asked to decide whether real estate closing or settlement services provided by two escrow companies constitute the unauthorized practice of law.1 In Hulse v. Criger, 363 Mo. 26, 247 S.W.2d 855 (1952), the Court addressed this question as it applied to real estate brokers. It was noted in Hulse that:
The duty of this Court is not to protect the Bar from competition but to protect the public from being advised or represented in legal matters by incompetent or unreliable persons.
Id. 247 S.W.2d at 857-8. In accordance with this principle, we now hold that escrow companies may…
2Cases cited48 opinions
- Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc.Supreme Court of the United States · 1992
- Sperry v. Florida Ex Rel. Florida BarSupreme Court of the United States · 1963
- Bowers v. Transamerica Title InsuranceWashington Supreme Court · 1983
- Lowell Bar Ass'n v. LoebMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1943
- Land Title Abstract & Trust Co. v. DworkenOhio Supreme Court · 1934
43 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by18 opinions
- Bonnie Hargis v. Access Capital Funding, LLCCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · 2012
- Hargis v. JLB Corp.Supreme Court of Missouri · 2011
- Carpenter v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc.Supreme Court of Missouri · 2008
- Robert McKeage v. TMBC, LLCCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · 2017
- Eisel v. Midwest BankCentreSupreme Court of Missouri · 2007
13 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.