Trials & Litigation

Walking into open garage to steal leaf blower doesn’t constitute burglary, Ohio Supreme Court says

A man who walked into a homeowner’s open garage and stole his leaf blower didn’t commit burglary because he didn’t use “force, stealth or deception” to gain entrance, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled.

May 4, 2023 11:24 AM CDT

BigLaw partner calls solicitor general’s brief ‘a hot mess’ in SCOTUS filing; was it unseemly?

Twitter critics were quick to scold a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison after he called a brief by U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar “a hot mess” in a U.S. Supreme Court filing.

May 4, 2023 10:02 AM CDT

Biden administration officials debate constitutional challenge to debt limit

Officials in the Biden administration are debating a challenge to the debt limit that is based on the 14th Amendment’s public debt clause.

May 4, 2023 8:38 AM CDT

Federal judge warns law firm that ‘judge shopping ain’t a thing here’

Plaintiffs can’t go looking for “greener judicial pasture” by dropping 213 of 218 defendants from a lawsuit and then filing a new suit against the same 213 defendants, according to a federal judge in Chicago.

May 3, 2023 3:14 PM CDT

After School Satan Club must be allowed to meet at school, federal judge says

A federal judge has ordered the Saucon Valley School District in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, to permit the After School Satan Club to meet in school facilities.

May 2, 2023 9:53 AM CDT

Top state court withdraws December opinion, rules it can’t interfere with partisan gerrymanders

The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled 5-2 Friday that challenges to partisan gerrymandering by the legislature—the process of drawing voting district lines based on political considerations—can’t be considered by the courts.

Apr 28, 2023 3:42 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: ‘State takeover’ of city policing challenged; lawyers sentenced in trip-and-fall scheme

NAACP sues over ‘state takeover’ of city policing, courts

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit challenging two state laws that “represent a state takeover of Jackson,” Mississippi, a predominantly Black…

Apr 28, 2023 2:49 PM CDT

Lawyer’s paralegal was fooled by fraudster who changed wiring instructions, suit says

A Connecticut lawyer sent part of the proceeds from a home sale to a fraudster’s bank account, rather than the bank holding the mortgage, a negligence lawsuit alleges.

Apr 27, 2023 2:14 PM CDT

What legal theory is Disney using to sue Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis?

Disney’s federal lawsuit against Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis alleges that he violated several constitutional protections by retaliating against the company for its political speech.

Apr 27, 2023 11:20 AM CDT

Gun owner who challenged ban on bump stocks wins in latest 6th Circuit decision

A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a gun owner who challenged a federal regulation that bans bump stocks—the devices that dramatically accelerate gunfire on semi-automatic rifles.

Apr 27, 2023 9:11 AM CDT

Copyright case against Ed Sheeran based on ‘an extremely common chord progression,’ law prof says

Civil rights lawyer Benjamin L. Crump told jurors in Manhattan, New York City, in opening statements Tuesday that he has “a smoking gun” showing that singer Ed Sheeran copied the Marvin Gaye song “Let’s Get It On” when he wrote “Thinking Out Loud.”

Apr 26, 2023 9:15 AM CDT

‘Bluey’ and teaching your children about the legal system

An episode of the TV show “Bluey” provided columnist Adam Banner an excellent opportunity to talk with his son about court proceedings, how you can tell when someone isn’t being honest, and the importance of telling the truth.

Apr 25, 2023 12:38 PM CDT

Georgia’s discipline process racially biased, suit claims; data on alleged disparity sought

Updated: A Black lawyer has filed a proposed class action lawsuit that accuses Georgia disciplinary officials of racial discrimination in the handling of ethics complaints.

Apr 25, 2023 10:47 AM CDT

ABA faces lawsuit over data breach

A would-be class action lawsuit has been filed against the American Bar Association for an alleged failure to safeguard members' data that was exposed in a security breach.

Apr 25, 2023 8:34 AM CDT

Alito ‘packed a lot of grievance’ in dissent as Supreme Court allows access to abortion pill—for now

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Friday to allow continued full access, for now, to the abortion medication mifepristone. But Alito spoke only for himself in a written dissent; Thomas did not indicate the reason for his dissent.

Apr 24, 2023 11:03 AM CDT