• Attorneys for U.S. Sen. Rand Paul say the Republican lawmaker's political views should be off limits at his forthcoming civil trial against his neighbor. The attorneys say his political beliefs could "alienate" potential jurors who don't share his views. The senator's legal team filed a motion asking a Kentucky judge to exclude any references to Paul's political views and the condition of his yard. The civil trial stems from a 2017 attack when Paul was tackled by neighbor Rene Boucher while doing yard work. Boucher pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress. Paul sued Boucher, and the trial will determine damages Paul can receive. Paul is seeking up to $500,000 in compensatory damages and up to $1 million in punitive damages in his lawsuit. Boucher's attorney, Matt Baker, agrees Paul's political views are irrelevant. But he says the condition of Paul's yard is what the case has "always been about." Boucher has said the senator repeatedly stacked debris near their property line in Bowling Green, Ky. He testified at a recent deposition that he tried to approach Paul two or three times about it, but each time Paul turned around and walked back into his house. Boucher said he eventually "lost his temper" and attacked the senator. He also testified that he discussed the condition of Paul's yard with the local homeowners' association president and a board member. But Paul's attorneys noted that Boucher never filed a written complaint with the associatiuon. A hearing on the motion by Paul's lawyers is next week before Special Judge Tyler Gill.
• Louisiana property once owned by Dukes of Hazzard star and country singer John Schneider has been auctioned off. WBRZ-TV reports the expansive Livingston Parish property was auctioned off by the sheriff's office Wednesday. A private citizen bought it for $385,000. Court documents say Schneider owed nearly $250,000. The Livingston Parish sheriff's office seized the property in Holden, La., housing John Schneider Studios in November after the actor defaulted on his mortgage. The studio's website said the land included two houses, a baseball field, sound stages and other features. First Guaranty Bank sued Schneider in October over unpaid mortgage payments, and a judge ordered the property seized. Schneider told the station this week that he hoped the property would be bought by someone who plans to maintain its independent movie studio.
A Section on 01/19/2019