Family Law

Brown Gets Probation and ‘Labor’ in Rihanna Case, Reportedly Goes Clubbing

Just hours after a Los Angeles judge yesterday sentenced Chris Brown to five years of probation for assaulting his ex-girlfriend and fellow pop star, Rihanna, the 20-year-old singer was reportedly enjoying himself at a local club. In addition to the probation term, Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg also sentenced Brown…

Aug 26, 2009 11:16 PM CDT

GC Violated Divorce Decree, Owes Ex, But Beats Contempt Rap

The former general counsel of LoJack Corp. violated a divorce decree when he failed to pay his ex-wife her share of the money he earned in 2006 from exercising stock options in the anti-auto theft company, the Appeals Court of Massachusetts has ruled. But although Thomas Wooters must now pay…

Aug 21, 2009 10:33 PM CDT

Former Child Actor, Repped by Allred, Has Standing to Sue ‘Octomom,’ Judge Rules

A former child actor who now works as an advocate for other children in the entertainment industry can proceed with a lawsuit seeking a guardian to protect the children of Nadya Suleman, aka the “Octomom,” a California judge ruled today as he denied Suleman’s motion to dismiss. Attorney Jeff Czech,…

Aug 21, 2009 10:07 PM CDT

Runaway Christian Teen Who Says She Fears ‘Honor’ Killing Sparks Court Protest

Updated: Supporters of a 17-year-old runaway gathered in and around a central Florida courthouse today in anticipation of a hearing this afternoon at which an Orlando juvenile court judge is expected to decide whether to send Rifqa Bary back home to Ohio. Bary says she took a bus to Florida…

Aug 21, 2009 7:48 PM CDT

ABA Group Launches Pro Bono Website on Domestic Violence

The ABA Commission on Domestic Violence this week announced the first national online directory of resources for attorneys seeking to help victims on a pro bono basis. The new website includes a directory of national programs and the types of services they provide. It also points volunteer attorneys to pro…

Aug 21, 2009 12:06 AM CDT

Why Ted Olson Agreed to Fight for Gay Marriage

Theodore Olson is known as a conservative former solicitor general who defended U.S. terrorism policies and helped put George W. Bush in the White House through his U.S. Supreme Court advocacy in the case over disputed election results. Those credentials had some gay-rights supporters fearing that Olson had taken on…

Aug 19, 2009 12:35 PM CDT

Divorce Lawyer Pleads No Contest in Client Sexual Battery Case

A California divorce lawyer has pleaded no contest to four felony counts of sexual battery and one felony count of attempted sexual contact. The plea deal is expected to result in a prison sentence of no more than 18 months followed by five years of probation for attorney Gary Michael…

Aug 17, 2009 11:28 PM CDT

Paralegal Seeks Damages from Ex-Partner for Death of Chihuahua

Under traditional legal standards, a pet owner entitled to damages over the death of an animal gets only what it would cost to buy another pet from a breeder. But there has been pressure in recent years to recognize that a pet isn’t just property and has a unique emotional…

Aug 17, 2009 9:02 PM CDT

Judge to Appoint Guardian Ad Litem for Jackson’s 3 Children

Following news of a $60 million deal to make a feature-length film of hundreds of hours of Michael Jackson concert rehearsal footage, a Los Angeles judge said today that he will appoint a guardian ad litem to oversee the financial affairs of the deceased pop singer’s three children. Superior Court…

Aug 11, 2009 12:02 AM CDT

Promoter’s Insurance Against Jackson Concert No-Show Excluded Illegal Drugs

As Michael Jackson geared up earlier this summer for a series of planned London concerts, a $17.5 million Lloyd’s policy insured promoter AEG Live against his non-appearance “resulting from accident.” But it also contains a provision excluding “any loss directly or indirectly arising out of, contributed to, by or resulting…

Aug 7, 2009 5:02 PM CDT

Video Takeoff of Dancing 1L Imagines Divorce Court Boogie

There’s a new take on the YouTube video of a dance down the wedding aisle by a future law student and his wife. Future Hamline University 1L Kevin Heinz and his bride, Jill Peterson, became a YouTube sensation with a video showing their wedding procession to the song “Forever.” Now…

Aug 7, 2009 2:48 PM CDT

4th Cir. Upholds Jury Verdict for McGuireWoods in FMLA Case

An attorney working as a legal secretary at McGuireWoods lost at trial and has now lost again on appeal in a case alleging that the law firm retaliated against her for asserting her right to take family medical leave to care for her ailing mother and libeled her after she…

Aug 6, 2009 11:31 PM CDT

UK to Install CCTVs in Private Homes to Monitor 20,000 ‘Sin Bins’

Reportedly far ahead of the United States in developing a network of closed-circuit television cameras with which to keep an eye on the activities of misbehaving citizens, the United Kingdom is now upping the ante even further. The government plans to install CCTVs in at least 20,000 private homes to…

Aug 4, 2009 7:20 PM CDT

Gay Marriage Measure Passes House Without Debate #ABAChicago

Corrected: The ABA policy-making House of Delegates passed by an overwhelming voice vote a resolution calling on Congress to repeal a section of the Defense of Marriage Act that denies federal marital benefits and protections to lawfully married same-sex couples. Despite the controversial nature of same-sex marriage, no one spoke…

Aug 3, 2009 8:47 PM CDT

Worth the Effort?

When the American Law Institute published its long-awaited proposals for sweeping changes in divorce law in 2002, they were met with great fanfare. One academic predicted the proposals would be a “resounding success,” while the New York Times said they would likely have a “major impact” on the development of…

Aug 2, 2009 2:40 AM CDT