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Mine Officials Site Safety Concerns in Mine Disaster
Published on 07/23/2010 -
Officials of the Mine Safety and Health Administration are claiming that negligence and ineptitude attributed to the Upper Big Branch mine tragedy that occurred on April 5th.The mine explosion occurred in Montcoal, West Virginia, and resulted in 29 deaths. This tragedy is the worst mine disaster in 30 years.
Mine officials from the MSHA claim that mine operator Massey Energy Company put profits before safety, and that this lax approach to safety substantially contributed to the blast.
The disaster has resulted in multiple civil suits and investigations and a congressional probe in conjunction with the Mine Safety and Health Administration investigation. Criminal wrongdoing charges could very well be filed against the Massey Energy Company.
Massey is ardently contenting the findings of the MSHA and has launched an aggressive public relations campaign, maintaining that they were not at fault.
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Woman Files Slip and Fall Suit in Louisiana
Published on 12/22/2011
Fifty-five-year-old Sandra Harrell has filed a slip-and-fall lawsuit against Dollar Tree, Inc., charging that the chain’s negligence caused her to slip and fall. The in... Read more
Constitutionality of DUI Law Challenged
Published on 12/20/2011
Donald Day, a Florida DUI attorney, has challenged his state’s use of breathalyzer tests as evidence in DUI cases. ... Read more
Bankruptcy Filings Down in October
Published on 12/19/2011
The American Bankruptcy Institute and National Bankruptcy Research Center released personal bankruptcy filing n... Read more
Police Caught in Gun Smuggling Operation
Published on 12/13/2011
Eight New York police officers and one corrections officer from ... Read more
Taxes and Immigration in GOP Primary Race
Published on 12/09/2011
While no candidate has yet established himself as a solid frontrunner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, the major issues of the campaign are already evident. S... Read more
Group Proposes Yearlong Divorce
Published on 12/08/2011
The Institute for American Values has proposed modifications to divorce laws in the U.S. that would requ... Read more
New Patent Laws
Published on 12/07/2011
A measure signed into law by President Obama last month is expected to significantly change the face of the U.S. ... Read more
ICE Officer Smuggling Marijuana
Published on 12/05/2011
The Associated Press reported this week that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deport... Read more
Despite Criticisms Private Prisons Boom
Published on 12/02/2011
After conviction in a criminal defense trial, it’s common in the U.S. for a judge ... Read more
Millionaire Tax Law Proposed in Senate
Published on 11/30/2011
The Associated Press reports that Senate Democrats have proposed a so-called “millionaire tax” to help pay for the Obama Administration’s proposed jobs bill. If enacted, the law w... Read more
Undercover Plot Nabs Wanted Criminals
Published on 11/28/2011
Elaborate Undercover Plot Nabs Wanted Criminals Reports of undercover police work yielding ... Read more
A Proactive Approach to Divorce
Published on 11/21/2011
A Proactive Approach to Divorce CNN.com reports that a new law proposed in Mexico City, Mexico, could change the face of marriage and ... Read more
Landlord Tenant Disputes Heat Up
Published on 11/16/2011
Landlord & Tenant Disputes Heat Up ... Read more
Felony Expungement Gets Prosecutor Fired
Published on 11/11/2011
Felony Expungement Work Gets Prosecutor Fired ... Read more
Consumer Credit Dropping
Published on 11/07/2011
Consumer Credit Dropping, Banks Offer More ... Read more
Judge OKs Parts Toughest Immigration Law
Published on 11/03/2011
Judge OKs Parts of the Nation’s Toughest Immigration Law A federal judge in ... Read more
SAT Cheating Scandal
Published on 10/27/2011
SAT Cheating Scandal: 7 Students Facing Charges Most of the news these days regarding problems faced by college students focuses on the risi... Read more
Washington Husband Loses Custody
Published on 10/26/2011
Washington Husband of Missing Mother Loses Custody Reports from the Seattle Times note that ... Read more
Drug Overdose Deaths
Published on 10/25/2011
Drug Overdose Deaths Outpace Auto Accident Deaths in U.S. A recent report from ABC News notes that drug overdose deaths in the United States... Read more
Medical Bills Affect Criminal Cases
Published on 10/19/2011
Medical Bills Affect Criminal Cases Bankruptcy filing statistics in the U.S.... Read more
Divorce Stress May Cause Female Hair Loss
Published on 10/18/2011
Study: Stress from Divorce May Cause Female Hair Loss Plastic surgeons recently completed two studies of hair loss in men and women and disc... Read more
Unemployment Claims Rise Employee Rights Challenged
Published on 10/13/2011
Unemployment Claims Rise, Employee Rights Challenged The Labor Department announced this week that first-time unemployment benefits claims r... Read more
Foreclosure Filing Notices Up One Third August
Published on 10/12/2011
Foreclosure-Filing Notices Up by One-Third in August Real estate data tracker RealtyTrac Inc. released foreclosure numbers for August this w... Read more
Georgia Child Support Jailings
Published on 10/12/2011
Child Support Jailings Compared to Debtors’ Prisons The Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR), a group that advocates for underrepresented communities in the U.S. ... Read more
Detroit Foreclosure Loophole Raises Controversy
Published on 10/03/2011
Detroit Foreclosure Loophole Raises Controversy about Tax Evasion A recent report on DetNews.com highlights a troubling problem plaguing the Detroit housing market. ... Read more
2011 Federal Felony Convictions
Published on 09/30/2011
Report: Majority of Federal Felony Convictions Went to Hispanics this Year Earlier this month, the U.S. Sentencing Commission released a report indicating that more ... Read more
French Divorce Case
Published on 09/26/2011
French Divorce Case: Husband Pays for Lack of Intercourse A divorce case recently concluded in Aix-en-Provence, France, has drawn attention from various media outlet... Read more
Controversies in DUI Penalties
Published on 09/22/2011
New DUI Laws Highlight Controversies Washington and Alabama are both implementing new DUI laws in the coming months. But in both states, reaction to the laws from la... Read more
Criminal Defense Lawyer Quits Mid Case
Published on 09/19/2011
What Happens When a Criminal Defense Lawyer Quits Mid-Case? News outlets are reporting that a criminal defense lawyer representing Levi Aron, a man charged with kill... Read more
Michigan Eases Record Expungement
Published on 09/16/2011
Michigan Law Eases Process of Criminal Record Expungement According to sources, a new Michigan law makes it slightly easier for those with multiple criminal offenses... Read more
Childhood Obesity Affect Child Custody
Published on 09/14/2011
Could Childhood Obesity Affect Child Custody? A new publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that childhood obesity should play a dete... Read more
More Controversy over DUI Checkpoints
Published on 09/12/2011
More Controversy over DUI Checkpoints DUI checkpoints - designated stations where police officers pull over random drivers to check for sobriety - have raised contro... Read more
State Immigration Laws Overstep Bounds
Published on 09/08/2011
State Immigration Laws Overstep Bounds Nikki Haley, South Carolina's governor, recently signed a law that amps up anti-immigration efforts in the state. T... Read more
Casey Anthony Murder Trial
Published on 09/08/2011
Casey Anthony Murder Trial Sparks Push for New Legislation Since the acquittal of Casey Anthony, the Florida woman accused of killing her three-year-old daughter, se... Read more
Child Custody Woes for Halle Berry
Published on 08/31/2011
Child Custody Woes for Halle Berry Oscar winner Halle Berry went to court this week to file a complaint that her daughter's father violated the terms of their custod... Read more
Lady Gaga Charity Donations Lawsuit
Published on 07/11/2011
Lawsuit: Lady Gaga Kept Some Charity Donations After headlining a relief concert for the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Lady Gaga is report... Read more
California Ban on Violent Video Games Declared Illegal
Published on 07/08/2011
California Ban on Violent Video Games Declared Illegal A California law that banned the sale of violent video games to children has been struck down by the U.S. Supr... Read more
Medical Marijuana Arrests in Montana
Published on 07/08/2011
Medical Marijuana Arrests in Montana Last week, three men were arrested in Montana as part of reported statewide raids of medical marijuana facilities. Though medica... Read more
Drama at Casey Anthony Murder Trial
Published on 07/06/2011
More Drama at the Casey Anthony Murder Trial The murder trial of Casey Anthony, the 25-year-old woman charged with killing her two-year-old daughter in 2008, has ent... Read more
After Legalizing Gay Divorce NY Okays Gay Marriage
Published on 07/01/2011
After Legalizing Gay Divorce, NY Okays Gay Marriage June was a big month for civil rights activists: on the 24th, New York state passed a law legalizing same-sex mar... Read more
Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge Alleges Colleague Choked Her
Published on 06/30/2011
A Chokehold on Justice? Wisconsin Supreme Court Judge Alleges Colleague Choked Her Justice may be blind, but it has good enough aim to get other justices into a chok... Read more
Brand New Legal Controversy Disciplining Children
Published on 06/25/2011
Brand-Spanking-New Legal Controversy on Disciplining Children Texas judge Jose Longoria sentenced Rosalina Gonzalez to five years' probation for something that's not... Read more
Supreme Court: Wal-Mart 'Too Big to Sue'
Published on 06/25/2011
Supreme Court: Wal-Mart "Too Big to Sue" The U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week that a class-action gender discrimination case against retail giant Wal-Mart cannot g... Read more
Schwarzenegger Hires Divorce Attorney
Published on 06/20/2011
Arnold Schwarzenegger has hired divorce lawyer Robert Kaufman to handle his divorce procedure with wife Maria Shriver. The Terminator actor's attorney has already been in contact with Shriver's legal... Read more
More Time Granted in Borders Bankruptcy Case
Published on 06/15/2011
Borders Group Inc. has been given more time to control its own bankruptcy case after a lawyer representing the company said they hope to sell most or all of the stores by the end of the month. While ... Read more
Facebook Postings Barred in Personal Injury Case
Published on 05/20/2011
In Piccolo v. Paterson, Judge Albert J. Cepparulo denied the motion from the defendants requesting access to the photos of plaintiff Sara Piccolo that she posted of herself on the social networking si... Read more
New Divorce Rules to Shield Kids Proposed
Published on 05/18/2011
Judges in a northern Indiana county are proposing new rules aimed to shield kids from the negative impact a hostile divorce can create. The new standards will require divorcing couples to attempt to ... Read more
New Bankruptcy Warning for American Apparel
Published on 04/13/2011
American Apparel, a retail store with 273 locations and approximately 12,000 employees, is running the risk of filing for bankruptcy. According to their financial statement, ''2010 was an extremel... Read more
New Estate Law Legislation Enacted by Congress
Published on 01/12/2011
As of December 2010, US Congress was able to enact a new estate tax law for 2011 and 2012, which would set the per person exemption at $5 million, and place the top tax rate at 35 percent as part of t... Read more
Divorce Rates Increase as Economy Improves
Published on 12/06/2010
The number of unhappy couples seeking divorce in the US has increased as the economy improves and stabilizes. Prior to the economic upswing, couples considering divorce held off on finaliz... Read more
Case Challenges Sex-Based Citizenship Requirements
Published on 11/10/2010
The United States Supreme Court heard the case of Flores-Villar v. United States today, which could change sex-based citizenship laws. Ruben Flores-Villar was born in Mexico to an American fa... Read more
Stanford v. Roche Could Set Precedent for Patents
Published on 11/10/2010
The United States Supreme Court has agreed to review the patent infringement case Stanford v. Roche. This case could alter how patents are awarded when created using federal grants. The cas... Read more
Online Sales Tax Case Continues
Published on 11/05/2010
The legality of the New York state online sales tax will be challenged again by Amazon.com and Overstock.com. An appeals court reinstated a lawsuit filed by these companies that alleges that... Read more
Man Sentenced to Life for Schoolyard Shootings
Published on 11/05/2010
A New Jersey man was sentenced to life in prison for killing three college students on a playground in Newark on Thursday. Melvin Jovel admitted committing the crime and pled guilty in a tria... Read more
Ft. Hood Shooting Testimony Continues
Published on 10/19/2010
The trial of Nidal Hasan continued today as the prosecution presented nine more witnesses in their case against the former Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 at Fort Hood Army base. This... Read more
Man Impersonating a Police Officer Arrested for DUI
Published on 10/15/2010
Florida police arrested a man in Boca Raton for DUI and impersonating a police officer last Thursday. Andrew Novotak, of Delray Beach, was driving a white Crown Victoria with flashing lights ... Read more
Tribune Company Bankruptcy Discussions Deteriorate
Published on 08/23/2010
The Chicago based media conglomerate Tribune Company continues to have problems with its bankruptcy case. The company, which owns the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, and many other media entities,... Read more
Wrongful Death Suit May Result from Mine Accident
Published on 08/13/2010
Wrongful death claims may be filed because of the Thursday Nevada mining accident which officials fear has caused the death of two missing miners. Barrick Gold Corporation owns the Meikle min... Read more
Gay Marriage Could Resume Next Week in California
Published on 08/13/2010
The federal judge who historically lifted Proposition 8 has ruled that California gay marriages can resume as early as next week. On August 4th, US District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ... Read more
President Signs Immigration Bill
Published on 08/13/2010
President Obama has signed a $600 million dollar border security plan that will send troops and supplies to the Mexican border. This immigration bill was passed by the House and Senate earli... Read more
AstraZeneca Settles Seroquel Lawsuits for $198 Million
Published on 08/10/2010
Drug manufacturer AstraZeneca PLC has paid $198 million dollars to settle multiple US lawsuits regarding the drug Seroquel. The company has paid this money in order to settle 17,500 lawsuits ... Read more
BP to Create $20 Billion Fund for Oil Spill Victims
Published on 08/10/2010
BP announced that it will create a $20 billion dollar fund for victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill on Monday. The Department of Justice and BP announced that they have finished negotiatio... Read more
Small Town Proposes Arizona Style Immigration Law
Published on 08/03/2010
A small town in South Carolina has stirred up emotions which by proposing a law that requires employers to check the immigration status of workers and requires home or apartment renters to prove their... Read more
Lawsuit Accusing Sheriff of Stunning Children Settles
Published on 08/03/2010
A lawsuit in which an Illinois Sheriff was accused of using a stun gun on three children at an emergency youth shelter has settled for $750,000, according to case documents. David Bowers and ... Read more
Toyota Recalls Even More Vehicles
Published on 07/30/2010
Toyota is recalling 412,000 Avalons and Lexuses because of steering problems. This recall will bring the total number of vehicles that have been recently recalled by Toyota to nearly 9 millio... Read more
Texas Mother to Plead Guilty of Starving Children
Published on 07/30/2010
A Texas mother is to plead guilty of starving her three children in a Dallas hotel bathroom. Abneris Santiago is reportedly going to plead guilty to charges that she attempted to starve her c... Read more
Congress Changes Crack Cocaine Sentencing
Published on 07/29/2010
Congress approved a bill that will reduce the mandatory sentences for crack cocaine offenders on Wednesday. This bill addresses the disparity in sentencing guidelines between the possession o... Read more
Hundreds of Lawsuits Filed Against BP
Published on 07/29/2010
At least 250 class action lawsuits have been filed against BP resulting from the disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Although the leaking oil may have been stopped, the legal ramification... Read more
Mother Arrested for DUI After Daughter Calls Police
Published on 07/28/2010
A New York woman was arrested for a DUI after her 12 year-old daughter called 9-1-1 to report that her mother had been drinking and driving. The 49 year-old Jamie Hicks was arrested after her... Read more
Cincinnati Police Officer Kills Pedestrian
Published on 07/28/2010
The Ohio State Patrol is investigating the death of a woman who was killed after being hit by a police cruiser in Cincinnati. Authorities say that a police officer was patrolling the Washingt... Read more
American Safety Razor Company Files for Bankruptcy
Published on 07/28/2010
The American Safety Razor Company voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today in US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. An agreement has been met in which the first lien holders of... Read more
Judge Blocks Arizona Immigration Law
Published on 07/28/2010
A federal judge has prevented parts of the controversial new Arizona immigration law from going into effect. US District Court Judge Susan Bolton issued a preliminary injunction against four... Read more
Facebook Used for Evidence in Divorces
Published on 07/27/2010
Information posted to social networking websites is being used in divorce proceedings. According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 81% of its members have used, or have converse... Read more
D.C. Permits Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Published on 07/27/2010
Medical marijuana is now legal in the District of Columbia as Congress declined to overrule the City Council bill. The medical marijuana bill had been passed by the council in May, and Congre... Read more
Grim Sleeper Arraignment Hearing Postponed
Published on 07/27/2010
The alleged serial killer had been scheduled to be arraigned today, but now the hearing has been rescheduled for August 23rd. A 57 year-old car mechanic from South Los Angeles named Lonnie Fr... Read more
Researchers Study Medical Device Related Injuries in Children
Published on 07/27/2010
More than 70,000 teens and children visit the emergency room each year because of injuries related to medical devises according to researchers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. About ... Read more
Mine Officials Site Safety Concerns in Mine Disaster
Published on 07/23/2010
Officials of the Mine Safety and Health Administration are claiming that negligence and ineptitude attributed to the Upper Big Branch mine tragedy that occurred on April 5th. The mine explosi... Read more
Couple Locked in International Custody Dispute
Published on 07/23/2010
A dramatic international child custody dispute is ongoing between a mother who wants to bring her daughter back to Arizona and a father who wants to keep their child in Bahrain. Yazmin Maribe... Read more
Wealthy Individuals Urge Congress to Reinstate Estate Tax
Published on 07/23/2010
Tax law is receiving a bit more national attention as several well-known, and very wealthy, individuals recently urged Congress to retroactively reinstate the national estate tax. Former Tre... Read more
Judge to Hear Arizona Immigration Law Case
Published on 07/22/2010
Arguments as to whether the contentious new Arizona immigration law is legal will be heard by a federal judge on Thursday. The new law allows police offices to question the immigration status... Read more
Sharing Plan Approved in Toyota Litigation
Published on 07/20/2010
A federal judge has approved an information sharing plan in the litigation involving defective Toyota vehicles. Attorneys for the plaintiffs and defense council for the automaker will now b... Read more
Blagojevich to Take Witness Stand in His Corruption Trial
Published on 07/19/2010
Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is expected to take the witness stand in his corruption trial this week. Prosecutors allege that Blagojevich committed a political crime spree incl... Read more
Georgia Weakens Sex Offender Laws
Published on 07/19/2010
The state of Georgia has made its sex offender laws less severe. These laws were previously considered among the toughest in the entire country. The old laws had been continually challenge... Read more
DUI Instructions Must Be Translated, Rules New Jersey Court
Published on 07/16/2010
The New Jersey Supreme Court has passed a ruling requiring that DUI suspects must be given breathalyzer information in a language that they can understand. Non-English speaking drivers mus... Read more
eBay Sued Over PayPal Technology
Published on 07/16/2010
Ecommerce giant eBay faces patent infringement allegations over the use of PayPal, Bill Me Later, Shopping.com, and StubHub. The lawsuit was filed in US District Court in Delaware by XRT ... Read more
California Troops Headed to Border
Published on 07/16/2010
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has sent members of the California National Guard to the Mexican border to assist the federal government in deterring illegal drug trafficking and immigration. ... Read more
Ford and Chrysler Recall Over 55,000 Vehicle
Published on 07/14/2010
In the wake of the massive Toyota Motors recall, Ford and Chrysler have announced that they will recall more than 55,000 vehicles. Ford is recalling 33,700 Transit Connect commercial vans... Read more
Miranda Rights Case an Important Supreme Court Decision
Published on 07/13/2010
As the Supreme Court term comes to an end, the ruling in a Miranda rights case will prove to be an important criminal law decision. In the early June 5-4 ruling, the Court ruled that suspects must... Read more
European Union Votes for Binational Divorce
Published on 07/13/2010
The European Union has voted to simplify divorce proceedings in 14 countries for couples of different nationalities. As a result of this historic vote, couples will now be able to choose which law... Read more
Lohan Convicted in Latest Celebrity DUI Proceeding
Published on 07/13/2010
A true testament to the fact that they can affect anyone, celebrity DUIs are seemingly ubiquitous. The latest DUI celebrity scandal involves actress Lindsay Lohan who has been sentenced t... Read more
Bankruptcy Might Be Option for BP
Published on 07/12/2010
Although experts say unlikely, BP may be forced to file for bankruptcy if the number of liability lawsuits continue to rise. BP has $260 billion in assets but may still be at risk because... Read more
Washington Mutual Bankruptcy Hearing Delayed
Published on 07/09/2010
The Washington Mutual Chapter 11 bankruptcy hearing continues to be delayed as reorganization discussions between attorneys for the Banks holding company and creditors have been postponed. ... Read more
Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against Arizona Immigration Law
Published on 07/06/2010
The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the state of Arizona alleging that the states controversial new immigration law violates the Constitution. The new law, which ... Read more
Florida Supreme Court Rules that Fishermen Can Sue For Economic Loss
Published on 07/05/2010
The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that fishermen are entitled to damages for economic loss caused by a negligent pollution spill even if they do not own the property that was directly damaged. T... Read more
New York Legislature Passes No-Fault Divorce Law
Published on 07/05/2010
The New York state Assembly voted in favor of a no-fault divorce law last Thursday. The Assembly passed the law, which had already been passed in the state Senate, 113 to 19. New York is... Read more
Bankruptcy Protection Required By More Americans
Published on 07/02/2010
Although the number of bankruptcies being filed may reach an all time high this year, there is significant concern that only a fraction of Americans who should seek bankruptcy are actually filing.... Read more
Supreme Court Expands Patent Protections
Published on 06/30/2010
In one of its more substantial recent rulings with respect to intellectual property, the Supreme Court has afforded greater patent protection to inventors. In the highly anticipated Bilsk... Read more
