Family Law

N.J. Supreme Court Considers Palimony for Longtime Mistress

The longtime mistress of a New York City ophthalmologist is contending their relationship—which never involved cohabitation—makes her eligible for palimony. New Jersey has allowed actions for palimony by those cohabiting with a partner in long-term relationships. The plaintiff in the new case, Helen Devaney, resided in a New Jersey apartment…

Jan 23, 2008 4:05 PM CST

Citizen-Launched Kan. Grand Juries Pursue Abortion & Porn Cases

An almost-forgotten law in Kansas that allows citizens to convene grand juries reportedly has become a tool for local conservatives to use to force prosecutors to pursue abortion and pornography cases. A citizen petition drive, for instance, impaneled a grand jury earlier this month to investigate Dr. George Tiller, who…

Jan 18, 2008 6:29 PM CST

Eddie Murphy, Wife Split After 2 Weeks, But Don’t Need Divorce

Comedian Eddie Murphy, 46, and his wife of two weeks, film producer Tracey Edmonds, 40, have decided to call it quits. However, they don’t need a divorce. Because they were married Jan. 1 on a private island near Bora Bora, and U.S. law requires a wedding on American soil to…

Jan 17, 2008 4:37 PM CST

Prominent Lawyer’s Steamy Affair Heats Up Legal Ethics Controversy

Newly publicized details of a prominent Canadian lawyer’s alleged steamy affair with a client are prompting renewed questions about whether an existing legal ethics rule concerning conflicts of interest is specific and stringent enough—as written, and as applied. George Hunter was sued in November along with his well-known law firm…

Jan 15, 2008 10:58 PM CST

Miami Court Worker Charged in Quickie Divorce Scam

A 16-year employee of the Miami-Dade clerk of courts office has been charged with using her now-former job to scam couples seeking quickie divorces. Olga Avila allegedly charged couples she met through the courts’ Self Help program $670, of which $364 represented filing fees she paid. Authorities say she filled…

Jan 15, 2008 5:11 PM CST

LGBT Legal Clinic to Open in Md.?

Lawyers in Baltimore are organizing a fledgling legal clinic for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered clients. If it gets off the ground, it reportedly will be the first LGBT clinic in the state of Maryland and one of the few in the country. Individuals working with the FreeState Law Project…

Jan 15, 2008 1:33 AM CST

Vermont Calm About Possible Same-Sex Marriage Law

Accustomed to civil unions allowing same-sex couples to form legally recognized partnerships, Vermont residents are now reportedly taking in stride a plan to put same-sex marriage on the legislative table. Part of the reason for the dialed-down debate this time around may be that no vote is planned in the…

Jan 15, 2008 1:14 AM CST

Racy Billboard Gets Lawyer New Work ... at Playboy

A controversial billboard featuring scantily clad models promoting a divorce lawyer’s Chicago matrimonial practice didn’t stay up for long. But it put attorney Corri Fetman, 44, on target for a new career at Playboy. In addition to offering advice to readers as the magazine’s “Lawyer of Love” columnist, Fetman also…

Jan 11, 2008 11:19 PM CST

Married Twins Make Case for New Adoption Law

A British peer has brought to the attention of his colleagues the case of two twins, separated at birth, who he says later met and married, unaware of their biological relationship. Although the two were granted an annulment in the highly unusual case after they discovered the truth, it highlights…

Jan 11, 2008 8:08 PM CST

Judge Orders Divorcing Blogger to Take Down Posts on Marriage

A Vermont judge has ordered a divorcing spouse to take down all his Internet postings about his wife and their marriage, surprising some First Amendment experts. The lawyer for blogger William Krasnansky contends the order by Judge Thomas Devine violates her client’s right to free speech, the New York Times…

Jan 10, 2008 5:03 PM CST

U.K. Divorce Lawyers Swamped With Calls on ‘D-Day’ Monday

British lawyers say their busiest day of the year is the Monday after New Year’s Day, and yesterday was no exception. Lawyers refer to the Monday as D-Day because so many people decide to divorce after spending holidays home with their spouse, the Washington Post reports. James Stewart, a partner…

Jan 8, 2008 8:08 PM CST

‘Sadly Predictable’ Murder By Released Prisoner in Calif. Domestic Case

It’s a sad story that’s been told before, but California prosecutors are trying to figure out how to keep it from happening again: Accused of twice taking his estranged wife to isolated locations and restraining her during November 2007—once by handcuffing her to furniture in a hotel room and another…

Jan 8, 2008 5:54 PM CST

Court Order Resolves Britney Spears Family Dispute

A three-hour argument last night over custody of Britney Spears’ two children was resolved ”peacefully by court order,” a Los Angeles police spokesman said. The lawyer for Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline, Mark Vincent Kaplan, arrived at Spears’ home around 8 p.m. yesterday evening, and the children were later turned over…

Jan 4, 2008 12:23 PM CST

Lawyers in Britney Spears Custody Case Quitting

Lawyers representing Britney Spears in her ongoing custody battle are calling it quits. The law firm Trope and Trope told a court yesterday that there has been a breakdown in communications with its famous client that makes representation impossible, according to an Associated Press story based on a filing obtained…

Jan 3, 2008 5:59 PM CST

Sperm Donor Not Liable for Child Support, Court Rules

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that a private sperm donor does not have to pay child support to a woman who promised he would have no financial obligations as a result of the arrangement. Joel McKiernan had been paying up to $1,500 a month to support twin boys born…

Jan 3, 2008 4:53 PM CST