States

Nevada High Court Rules Against Kucinich in Debate Suit

Dennis J. Kucinich has lost his legal bid to remain in yesterday’s Democratic debate. The Nevada Supreme Court ruled yesterday less than an hour before the scheduled debate, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. The court said Judge Charles Thompson of Las Vegas abused his discretion when he ruled MSNBC had…

Jan 16, 2008 11:34 AM CST

New Trial Sought After Jurors Mock Lawyer’s Heritage

A Washington state lawyer has filed a motion seeking a new trial in a medical malpractice case, saying that biased jurors mocked his Japanese heritage during closed-door deliberations and didn’t properly consider the evidence. When deliberating after the case was tried, jurors in Spokane County, in the eastern area of…

Jan 15, 2008 10:34 PM CST

Duke Rape Prosecutor’s Bankruptcy May Not End His Money Problems

The punishment continues for a disbarred North Carolina prosecutor who lost his job and his law license after pursuing a meritless rape case against three members of the Duke University men’s lacrosse team. Mike Nifong filed today for bankruptcy against creditors, including the three athletes found by the state attorney…

Jan 15, 2008 9:24 PM CST

Experts Say Design Defect Caused Minn. Bridge Collapse

Updated: Federal investigators are expected to announce today that a design defect caused the collapse of a Minneapolis bridge last summer, killing 13 and injuring more than 100 in a horrific accident that focused attention on bridge safety nationwide. As an ABAJournal.com post soon after the accident details, steel gusset…

Jan 15, 2008 8:12 PM CST

Lawyer Collects a Million Campaign Items

A New York lawyer and magazine publisher has collected more than a million items of political memorabilia. Jordan Wright started collecting at the age of 10 when he grabbed a bunch of Bobby Kennedy for President buttons. Now he his donating his massive collection to a foundation he created to…

Jan 15, 2008 7:27 PM CST

More Verrill Dana Fallout re Former Partner’s Alleged $400K Theft

The managing partner at one of Maine’s biggest and best-known law firms has resigned his post in the wake of a former partner’s alleged theft of just over $400,000 from the firm and some clients. David Warren, who is credited with leading a successful turnaround at Verrill Dana after it…

Jan 15, 2008 6:32 PM CST

Man, 61, Gets 5 Years for ‘Arborcide’

A Nevada man was sentenced yesterday to up to five years in prison for killing hundreds of trees in a suburban area near Las Vegas. Douglas Hoffman, 61, is a retired construction worker who suffers from heart, hip, back and prostate problems. He reportedly cut down more than 500 trees…

Jan 15, 2008 5:44 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

Associate Claims Houston Firm Retaliated for Reporting Racist Directive

A former associate with a Houston law firm alleges in a lawsuit that she was fired for reporting the comments of a top partner who told her not to hire any more black lawyers. The former associate, Sandra Perez Ard, is suing Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy, Texas Lawyer…

Jan 15, 2008 5:00 PM CST

Lawyer for ‘Judge Alex’ Faces Tough Time in Supreme Court

The lawyer for a TV judge “seemed stunned and weary” after a tough U.S. Supreme Court argument yesterday, his seventh appearance before the court, Legal Times reports. Eric Brunstad Jr. has developed an impressive Supreme Court practice from his offices at Bingham McCutchen in Hartford, Conn., but the justices “hammered…

Jan 15, 2008 4:40 PM CST

Motion Questions W. Va. Chief Justice’s Monte Carlo Meals With Coal CEO

A motion filed Monday seeks the disqualification of the chief justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court in a case against a coal company based on allegations he vacationed with the CEO in Monte Carlo. The motion seeking the disqualification of Justice Elliott “Spike” Maynard included photographs taken in Monte…

Jan 15, 2008 1:25 PM CST

Trial Begins Over Morgan Lewis’ Advice to Client

A lawyer for a former corporate client suing Morgan, Lewis & Bockius said in opening arguments Friday that the law firm gave bad advice about doing business in Cuba. Lawyer Marc Kasowitz told Philadelphia jurors that the law firm advised Purolite Corp. that its subsidiaries’ sales to Cuba were allowed…

Jan 15, 2008 12:05 PM CST

No Cash Awarded, But $9.5M Fee Allowed

A federal judge in New Jersey has approved $9.5 million in attorney fees in an investor suit against Schering-Plough Corp. even though no money damages were awarded. U.S. District Judge Katharine Sweeney Hayden said fees were justified because the company agreed to changes in its corporate governance, and the litigation…

Jan 15, 2008 11:44 AM 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