Rhode Island

Lawyer Sues RI Chief Justice, Says He Launched Law Practice Probe in Retaliation for Court Critique

A longtime Rhode Island practitioner who is known as a politically active critic of the state’s top court has filed a federal lawsuit against its chief justice and other defendants. In it, Keven A. McKenna alleges that Chief Justice Paul Suttell and other defendants violated his constitutional rights and sought…

Dec 20, 2011 6:41 PM CST

Oops. Attorney’s ‘Staff Error’ Excuse Gets Him in More Trouble, Since He Didn’t Have Any Staff

A Rhode Island attorney has been ordered to perform 20 hours of pro bono legal work in family court guardianship matters to resolve a legal ethics case. It began with a billing dispute concerning several family court guardianship cases for children in the same family, the Rhode Island Supreme Court…

Nov 14, 2011 9:20 PM CST

Appeals Court Blocks Surrender of RI Defendant to Federal Authorities

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Rhode Island officials don’t have to surrender custody of an accused murderer to federal authorities in a dispute over the death penalty. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston held (PDF) that the federal government is bound by the terms of…

Oct 14, 2011 7:31 PM CDT

Ex-Inmate Earns Yale Law Degree, Gets Ready to Take Florida Bar Exam

A former drug dealer who used his prison time productively, getting a high-school equivalency diploma and reading prodigiously so he was ready to enroll in college after his release, has now passed another milestone. Andres Idarraga earned his law degree from Yale University last month, and is now getting ready…

Jun 16, 2011 9:44 PM CDT

Lead-Paint Plaintiffs Lawyer Confirmed for Federal Judgeship After Filibuster Fails

Updated: Senate Republicans have failed in an attempt to filibuster the judicial nomination of John “Jack” McConnell Jr., a trial lawyer opposed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. McConnell was confirmed Wednesday after 11 Republicans joined Democrats in a vote to end debate. The Associated Press and The BLT: The…

May 4, 2011 6:51 PM CDT

Citing 4-Year Vacancy, Chief Federal Judge in RI Sends Cases to Other States, Upsetting Some Parties

In a highly unusual move, the chief federal district judge in Rhode Island has sent some two dozen cases to colleagues in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. She and another judge have struggled for four years to keep up with the load as a third seat on the bench sat vacant…

Mar 7, 2011 6:40 PM CST

E-mail of Retired RI Justice Is Hacked by Scammers Seeking Cash

Hackers used the e-mail account of retired Chief Justice Frank Williams of the Rhode Island Supreme Court to make a plea for money. The e-mail claiming to be from Williams tells recipients that he was robbed while on a secret trip to England for a seminar and he now needs…

Feb 4, 2011 3:55 PM CST

Appeals Court Reinstates Uniloc Win in Microsoft Case, But Calls for New Trial re $390M Jury Award

A federal appeals court has reinstated a jury verdict against Microsoft Corp. in favor of anti-piracy software maker Uniloc USA Inc. However, a $388 million jury award to Uniloc in the patent case was “fundamentally tainted,” requiring a new trial on damages, said the U.S. Court of Appeals for the…

Jan 4, 2011 7:00 PM CST

Real Estate Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Fraud Case Over Paid-Up Home Loans

Real estate lawyer and former state lawmaker Christopher Maselli is current on mortgage payments for some $1.7 million in financing for four homes he started purchasing during the real estate boom, his lawyer says. But because he allegedly falsified documentation to obtain the loans, including two tax returns and bank…

Nov 12, 2010 12:59 AM CST

20 Law Profs Protest Defendant RI Judges’ Attempt to Oust ACLU Attorneys in Truancy Court Case

Apparently irked by a lawsuit challenging practices in Rhode Island’s truancy court on constitutional grounds, judges named as defendants sought to revoke the pro hac vice status of out-of-state lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union pursuing the case. The lawyers were unethical in making their case in public comments…

Aug 3, 2010 7:08 PM CDT

Real Estate Attorney Indicted re $1.5M in Personal Loans His Lawyer Says Are Paid Up

A Rhode Island lawmaker who has a private practice as a real estate attorney has been federally indicted on seven counts of bank fraud concerning $1.5 million in personal loans that his lawyer says are not in arrears. State Sen. Christopher Maselli, a Democrat, is accused of lying about his…

Jun 18, 2010 11:31 PM CDT

Attorney with Big Ad Budget Can Open Law Office LLC in 49th State, Court Says

In a ruling that is sure to disappoint competing firms that sought to block a national attorney known for his blockbuster advertising budget from establishing a local foothold, the Rhode Island Supreme Court today ruled that James Sokolove can form a law firm limited liability corporation there. It will be…

Jan 22, 2010 12:54 AM CST

Evicted Farmer Asks Judge to Order Bank to Care for His Animals

Forced to abandon his farm due to a mortgage foreclosure action, a Rhode Island farmer says he was assured by Wells Fargo Bank that his animals would be cared for. But after seeing strangers walk off with some animals and hearing that remaining horses and pigs apparently hadn’t received water…

Dec 9, 2009 6:23 PM CST

Lawyer Seeks Right to Advertise in R.I., a State in Which He Has No Office

Critics say that attorney James Sokolove is more about advertising than law practice. And at least one or two justices on the Rhode Island Supreme Court seemingly may agree. As Sokolove’s lawyer argued late last month that his client should be allowed to promote his Delaware-based national personal injury firm…

Oct 15, 2009 6:08 PM CDT

Defeated Wis. Justice Nominated for US Judgeship; 2 Others Get Appeals Nod

Louis Butler’s judging days may not be over. The former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice has lost two elections. The first time, he lost an election battle with Justice Diane Sykes, but was appointed to fill her state supreme court seat when she became a federal judge, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel…

Oct 7, 2009 3:34 PM CDT