Court: Can officials be sued for false testimony?
Court Alerts
The Supreme Court will decide whether government officials who testify falsely while acting as a complaining witness have absolute immunity from civil lawsuits.
The high court on Monday agreed to hear an appeal from Charles Rehberg, who sent faxes criticizing the Phoebe Putney Health System, an influential Georgia hospital system. Rehberg was arrested after investigator James Paulk of the Dougherty County District Attorney's office testified to a grand jury that the accountant had harassed doctors.
Paulk, who started the investigation as a favor to hospital officials, later admitted he had no evidence and had not talked to any witnesses. The charges were dismissed.
Rehberg sued, but Paulk says he is protected by immunity because the claims took place while he was working as a government official.
Related listings
-
Court-appointed lawyer denied for torture suspect
Court Alerts 03/21/2011A judge has denied a court-appointed attorney for a Texas man accused of torturing a woman for two weeks on a device used for skinning deer.The judge said Monday during Jeffrey Allan Maxwell's initial court appearance that the 58-year-old wasn't indi...
-
Woman Charged in Maryland Yoga Shop Death Due in Court
Court Alerts 03/21/2011An employee at a yoga clothing shop in Bethesda makes her first court appearance since being charged in the death of a co-worker.Brittany Norwood was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree murder in the death of 30-year-old Jayna Murray, her c...
-
Millionaire fights Mohegan Sun over gambling debt
Court Alerts 03/18/2011A Florida millionaire accused of walking out on a $1.2 million gambling debt is fighting Mohegan Sun in court, arguing that the state judicial system cannot decide the case because the casino is run by a sovereign American Indian tribe.Jerome Powers,...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.