States

Prosecutor Looking into ‘Spitz’ Situation

A year ago, Eliot Spitzer was a well-known prosecutor, famous for his aggressive approach to his job as the attorney general of New York. Now the tables have been turned. Spitzer—who took office Jan. 1 as governor of New York after being elected in a landslide on a reform platform—is…

Aug 2, 2007 4:38 PM CDT

Injunction Sought for Admitted Pedophile

Jack McClellan has never even been arrested for a child sex offense, let alone convicted. But the 45-year-old California man, who appears to live largely in his car in the Santa Monica area, publicly proclaims his attraction to children, saying that he might act on it if it were legal…

Aug 2, 2007 3:37 PM CDT

Pregnancy-Bias Class Action OK’d

A federal judge has certified a class action lawsuit on behalf of female sales agents who say Novartis Pharmaceuticals discriminated against them for becoming pregnant. The class could include 4,000 to 5,000 current and former employees, the New York Times reports. David Sanford, who represents the plaintiffs, told the newspaper…

Aug 2, 2007 3:03 PM CDT

Verdict Stands Despite Lawyer-Foreman

A New Jersey judge has found that a lawyer and state senator who served on a jury did not improperly influence his fellow jurors, despite what he said in an article about his experiences. Sen. Robert Martin wrote for the New Jersey Law Journal last December about serving as a…

Aug 2, 2007 12:34 PM CDT

NY Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Runner Probe

An investigation into a runner accused of visiting hospitals to find personal injury clients has resulted in another guilty plea. New York lawyer David Sheeger of Sheeger, of Kafko, Schnitzer & Sheeger pleaded guilty to filing a false “retained statement” that failed to reveal the source of a referral, the…

Aug 2, 2007 11:06 AM CDT

Canada to Review Polygamy Ban?

In a case that could have an effect on United States law enforcement, a prominent Canadian criminal attorney serving as a special prosecutor has recommended that his country reconsider its ban on polygamy. Appointed in a British Columbia case involving a U.S.-based splinter Mormon group that has reportedly openly practiced…

Aug 1, 2007 11:47 PM CDT

1st African-American State’s Atty in CT

The first African-American to serve as a state’s attorney in Connecticut was sworn in today in Hartford. Gail P. Hardy, 44, took her oath of office and begins overseeing prosecutions in the Hartford Judicial District today, reports the Hartford Courant. She was previously a senior assistant state’s attorney for the…

Aug 1, 2007 11:32 PM CDT

Where’s Molly? New Law Aids Searchers

An Oregon man’s successful search to find the younger sister who was institutionalized decades ago, when she was not quite three years old, is making it easier for others to follow in his footsteps. It has led both to a documentary film about his quest (“Where’s Molly?”) that premiered this…

Aug 1, 2007 7:14 PM CDT

CA Museum Returns Allegedly Stolen Art

Ending a long-standing dispute over the ownership of some of the most prized art works in its collection, the J.P. Getty Museum has agreed to return to the Italian government 40 antiquities illegally excavated and exported from that country. The draft agreement is still being finalized, but will return to…

Aug 1, 2007 5:42 PM CDT

New Standard Lets Weil Sue Mayer

A private equity firm’s selection of New York City bankruptcy powerhouse Weil Gotshal & Manges to handle a $245 million claim against Chicago-based Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw probably wouldn’t have been possible in the not-so-distant past. That’s because Weil likely would have been conflicted out of representing Thomas H.…

Aug 1, 2007 4:53 PM CDT

Homes Targeted for Gang Activity

The owners of Los Angeles properties that served as a base for gang activities may be in for a rude awakening. Prosecutors are seeking to seize five properties and to force the owners of five others to clean up and control their buildings, the Los Angeles Times reports. The suits…

Aug 1, 2007 1:15 PM CDT

Erosion of Trust

Hawaii’s Bishop Estate: a cautionary tale of mismanagement at a charitable organization

Aug 1, 2007 11:57 AM CDT

IP, Going Once ... Twice

It was standing room only for business-suit types at Ocean Tomo’s Spring 2007 Live Intellectual Property Auction.

Aug 1, 2007 11:50 AM CDT

In Vitro Kids Are Beneficiaries

Two children conceived by in vitro fertilization after the death of their father are beneficiaries of trusts he created for his “issue” and “descendants,” a New York judge has ruled. Surrogate Renee Roth said it appeared the father intended that “all members of his bloodline” share in the trusts, created…

Aug 1, 2007 11:36 AM CDT

You’re NOT the Boss of Me

It’s hard to shock them in Las Vegas, but a former law clerk is managing to do just that

Aug 1, 2007 11:26 AM CDT