Recent Updates
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Mo. Court Hears Challenge to Malpractice Limits
Legal News Center 01/15/2010Missouri's top judges questioned on Thursday whether a 2005 law limiting medical malpractice lawsuits is being wrongly applied to people retroactively and is discriminating against the spouses of those injured.Attorneys for patients argued to the sta...
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Appeals Court Overturns Kickapoo Casino Conviction
Legal News Center 01/07/2010A federal appeals court has overturned the embezzlement convictions of a former tribal manager and members of his family who allegedly stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from Texas' first legal casino.The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orlea...
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Court tosses Washington voting ban for felons
Legal News Center 01/06/2010A federal appeals court overturned Washington state's ban on voting by convicted felons Tuesday in a ruling that could extend ballots to prisoners in other states where studies showed racial bias in the criminal justice system.In a 2-1 decision, the ...
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New Illinois laws for 2010 include no texting while driving
Legal News Center 01/02/2010Take your thumbs off the keypad and put your hands on the wheel -- it's now illegal to text-message while driving.A state law that takes effect Friday also bans checking e-mail, updating Facebook and Web surfing while driving, though using your phone...
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Legal fees mount in Madoff liquidation
Legal News Center 12/30/2009A court-appointed trustee and a Manhattan law firm working to unravel Bernard Madoff's massive fraud have rung up another $22.1 million in legals fees. A judge approved the payment Thursday in federal bankruptcy court in Manhattan. It follows initial...
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Fla. judges, lawyers must 'unfriend' on Facebook
Legal News Center 12/28/2009Florida's judges and lawyers should no longer "friend" each other on Facebook, the popular social networking site, according to a ruling from the state's Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee.At least one South Florida judge warned her pals with a Faceb...
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Man gets 2 1/2 years in sale of gun that shot McNair
Legal News Center 12/18/2009A convicted murderer who pleaded guilty to selling the gun used to kill ex-NFL quarterback Steve McNair has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.Thirty-three-year-old Adrian Gilliam, of nearby La Vergne, was sentenced Friday in U.S. District Court...
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Vt. court eyes value of love of man's best friend
Legal News Center 12/17/2009Vermont's highest court is being asked to decide what a dog's love is worth.The state Supreme Court on Thursday began hearing a case that started in July 2003, when Denis and Sarah Scheele, who were visiting relatives, let their mixed-breed dog wande...
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Fla. judges, lawyers must 'unfriend' on Facebook
Legal News Center 12/15/2009Florida's judges and lawyers should no longer "friend" each other on Facebook, the popular social networking site, according to a ruling from the state's Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee.At least one South Florida judge warned her pals with a Faceb...
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Supreme court won't revive gun lawsuit
Legal News Center 12/14/2009The Supreme Court has turned away a new challenge to a 2005 law that gives gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits by shooting victims.The justices on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Hector Adames Jr. to revive his lawsuit against the Beretta ...
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Justices making new push to abolish elected judges
Legal News Center 12/11/2009An old debate about whether judges should be elected or appointed is heating up again.Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and several state Supreme Court justices are planning a nationwide push during next year's state legislative sessio...
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Burglars hit offices of Blagojevich's legal team
Legal News Center 12/09/2009Burglars broke into the offices occupied by two members of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's legal defense team overnight and stole eight computers and a safe, police said Friday.The break-in occurred at the South Side offices of veteran Chicago criminal...