SBISD Check Washing Scams, Restaurant Leasing Fraud & New FinCEN Real Estate Reporting

This week on the Weekly Docket, join Phil and Chris as they break down the massive check-washing scandal hitting SBISD taxpayers and the legal liability of banks under the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). They explain the critical 30-day window for reporting altered checks and how to request provisional credit when your funds are stolen. The guys also analyze a fraudulent inducement claim related to a commercial lease, where a tenant was tricked into a "second generation" restaurant lease only to find $100,000 in unpermitted code violations. Finally, learn about the new FinCEN reporting requirements for all-cash residential real estate deals closing after March 1, 2026, and the "reporting cascade" that dictates who is responsible for filing.