An interesting case is being heard in New York over the scope of protections afforded authors in the use of their work. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has sued Steven Vander Ark and RDR Books, the publisher of the Harry Potter encyclopedia for copyright infringement. Continue reading “Petrificus Totalus: Rowling Goes to Court to Stop Harry Potter Encylcopedia”
Category: Lawyering
In light of today’s story on the debate over the Virginia damage caps on tort lawsuits against the state, this prior column may be of some interest. Continue reading “Tort Reform and Legal Mythologies: Re-Examining Limits on Tort Actions and Damage Awards”
As discussed on this blog, Virginia’s $100,000 limit on tort claims against the state was one of the central reasons why families agreed to a settlement with Virginia at a relatively low figure. Now, finally, someone is seeking to change the cap which has not be raised in over a decade. Continue reading “Virginia Considers Raising the Caps on Lawsuits After Virginia Tech Settlement”
In yet another controversy over attorney-client privilege and confidentiality, two attorneys in Chicago have revealed that their former client killed a security guard in 1982 and that an innocent man, Alton Logan, has been imprisoned for almost three decades for a crime that he did not commit. Bar officials in North Carolina and Virginia have faced similar questions over the limits of confidentiality, here. Continue reading “Lawyers Reveal 26-Year-Old Secret: Innocent Man Convicted of Murder of Security Guard”
In North Carolina, the bar is faced with a difficult question over the limits of confidentiality in a case of Staples Hughes. Hughes revealed a confidential statement made by his late client, who allegedly exonerated his co-defendant, Lee Wayne Hunt in a double murder case. Continue reading “Lawyer Faces Charges After Revealing Confidential Statement of Late Client to Exonerate Inmate”
According to the New York Times, former attorney general Alberto Gonzales can’ find a job after been rebuffed by law firms who are not eager to add a name now synonymous with incompetence and blind partisanship – not to mention torture. Still, these would be some interesting “ding letters”: “Dear General Gonzales, our lawyers were very impressed with your interview and resume. However, every year our firms receives countless applications from former attorney generals . . . .” Continue reading “Firms Say No to Bush Yes Man: Alberto Gonzales Having Difficulty Finding Full-Time Job”
In an interesting twist in the judicial misconduct case against Florida First District Court of Appeal Judge Michael Allen, the Florida Supreme Court issued an order asking the Judicial Qualifications Commission to explain why it filed an ethics complaint against Allen, signaling a possible move toward dismissal in the controversy over his attacking a fellow judge in an opinion. Continue reading “Florida Supreme Court Reviews Judicial Misconduct Case Against Judge Allen”
I suppose one could expect this kind of conduct at a ride called the Mad Tea Party, but Gloria Walker, 52, is accused of “line rage” in Orlando Florida. Her trial has featured various witness, including a 10-year-old girl, who testified that she attacked Aimee Krause while waiting for her turn to ride at the “Happiest Place on Earth.” Continue reading “A Really Mad Tea Party: Disney Line Rage Case Goes on Trial”
It is the rage on the blogs: the argument that the Constitution only refers to “he” and “his” and thus does not provide for a female president — absent an amendment changing the masculine pronouns. Douglas Wallace, 80, has taken this parlor trivia to a new level by filing to block Hillary Clinton from the Nevada ballot. Continue reading “Presidential Pronouns: Is Hillary Barred From Taking Office as a Female?”
Kynesha Dhanoolal, the widow of a soldier killed in Iraq this week, has had to go to court to secure a restraining order against her mother-in-law to prevent the embalming of her husband’s body before she can harvest her husband sperm. This posthumous insemination is becoming more common with the advancement of science and the law. Continue reading “Wife and Mother Go to Court Over Dead Soldier’s Sperm”
You are only allowed to swear once in deposition — at the start and to God. This is a lesson being taught to New York mortgage company owner, Aaron Wider. Federal Trial Judge Eduardo Robreno hit Wider with a $29,323 fine for swearing 73 times in the deposition, shown in an excerpted video below. This is however not unique as the other video below from a different case indicates. Continue reading “Swear Once and Only Once So Help You God: New Yorker Fined for Swearing in Deposition”
This week, Michael Gableman celebrated a considerable victory: the first defeat of an incumbent judge in 40 years for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. His opponent Louis Butler was also the first African American on the Court. Yet, the $5 million race shows the steady trend toward high-priced campaigns to change the make-up of courts by legal and corporate interests. Continue reading “The $5 Million Judge: Wisconsin Race Sets Record in Money and Meanness”
The Supreme Court has ruling in the Dilling case where a woman sued the parents of her deceased finance for not disclosing to her that he had AIDS. The “Jane Doe” plaintiff had won $2 million in 2004, but the Supreme Court said that she had reason to question the health of Albert Dilling before they had unprotected sex. Continue reading “Illinois Supreme Court Denies Appeal Against Parents of AIDS Carrier”
The video below shows the less known, more seedy aspect of our work.
Today, I testified in the House Judiciary Committee (Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security), on the new proposed changes to the rules governing federal restitution. They are quite extreme. Continue reading “Testimony on New Federal Restitution Law”