Virgin Islands Law Blog

Obama Administration Announces $20.2 M in Housing Funds for Virgin Islands

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:50:56 -0400

As part of the Obama Administration's effort to create jobs and ease pressures on the housing market, the U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced $20.2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to spur the development of...

Territory's National Banks Subject to Virgin Islands Law

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:48:00 -0400

On June 29, 2009, the United States Supreme Court decided Cuomo v. Clearing House Association which invalidated, by a vote of 5 to 4, a regulation issued by the Comptroller of the Currency that broadly preempted the states and territories...

Habitat Virgin Islands Dedicates First Home

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 18:56:08 -0400

Even in the sweltering Sunday morning heat, a cool breeze blew through the eight open windows of the living room at No. 4 Adele Gade, rustling the trees in the garden and fanning the sweaty brows of the small group...

TBA Attorney Proposes "Taxicab Riders Bill of Rights"

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:42:15 -0400

Tom Bolt, Managing Attorney of Tom Bolt & Associates, P.C., and General Counsel for the USVI Hotel & Tourism Association, during the General Meeting of the Association on Wednesday at the Emerald Beach Hotel proposed that the VI Taxicab Commission...

Governor Sets Dates for 2006 Property Tax Payments and Appeals

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:55:48 -0400

Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. has signed an Executive Order which sets the dates for payment, delinquency, and appeal of 2006 U.S. Virgin Islands real property taxes. Governor deJongh's Executive Order states that the Tax Assessor has determined that all...

VI Leaders Join Governor on Road to Family Economic Success

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:50:29 -0400

"The Road to Family Economic Success" was the call to action at Governor John P. de Jongh's Summit on Poverty and Economic Opportunity which was convened at the Carambola Resort on St. Croix on Friday, May 8th. The Summit was...

Virgin Islands Law Firm Announces ASSERT

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:00:25 -0400

Tom Bolt & Associates, PC, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands' leading full-service law firms, has announced that it has formed a Asset Stabilization and Strategic Economic Response Team (ASSERT) to assist its clients in addressing business challenges posed by...

Supreme Court Concurs with TBA Attorney Argument on Abatement

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:07:06 -0400

Attorney Paula D. Norkaitis, Senior Litigation Counsel in the Tom Bolt & Associates, P.C. Litigation Practice Group, recently was successful in arguing a case for the principle of abatement with regard to criminal convictions in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Norkaitis...

CZM Supports Friends of Mandahl Position; Denies Application

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:06:07 -0400

The St. Thomas Coastal Zone Management Committee agreed with the position of the Friends of Mandahl Thursday evening disapproving a proposal for a large-scale marina and housing development in Estate Mandahl to cheers and applause from the public. The Friends...

Economic Stimulus Offers New Tax Breaks for Homebuyers

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:04:17 -0400

The recently enacted economic-stimulus law contains a number of provisions but hidden within the legislation is an unusually attractive new tax break for many homebuyers -- if they can only figure out how it works. The new law sweetens a...

Stimulus Legislation Provides Tax Relief For Certain Debt Restructurings

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:08:16 -0400

One of the most significant tax provisions contained in the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 might prove helpful to certain taxpayers looking to restructure their balance sheets. A debtor generally recognizes income from the cancellation of...

Hearing Officers Supports Revocation of Barker Licenses

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:50:30 -0400

A hearing officer on Thursday ruled that the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs had the right to fine two companies and revoke their solicitors' licenses for doing sidewalk promotions in downtown Charlotte Amalie. In August, Caribbean Fun Stay and...

Territory Receives $570,662 in HUD Grants for the Homeless

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:45:56 -0400

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday awarded the Territory $570,662 in grants to help the homeless, marking the first time in recent years that the Virgin Islands has secured all available funding under HUD's Continuum of...

Territorial Advocate Addresses National Homeless Commission

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:34:16 -0400

Tom Bolt, Chair of the Virgin Islands Continuum of Care on Homelessness, addressed the American Bar Association's Commission on Homelessness and Poverty at its Midyear Meeting earlier today in Boston, Massachusetts. Bolt noted that the current economic situation would continue...

Merchants Commercial Bank Refuses Fed Bailout

tbolt@vilaw.com (Tom Bolt) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:00:02 -0400

St. Thomas based Merchants Commercial Bank has refused a $1.2 million investment from the U.S. Treasury, saying the bailout money was not needed and involved a commitment to rules that could be changed down the road. The bank’s board of...