A Brooklyn man claims he was forced to rap to avoid arrest, and he’s suing in federal court to recover from the NYPD. Quinshon Shingles’ lawsuit claims the aspiring hip-hop artist was at a friend’s home in 2011 when the “a crew of cops” coerced him into doing a freestyle rap for his freedom, the New York Post reports. Thankfully for Shingles, his rap was apparently freedom-worthy and the cops let him go....
During the federal shutdown, some things endure. Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these romantics from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. LOVE, American Style The LOVE Act authorizes the D.C. mayor “to issue marriage licenses and authorize officiants during a period of time when the Clerk of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia is not issuing marriage licenses because of a federal government shutdown....
Turman v. Turning Point of Cent. California, Inc., H032576, concerned a challenge to the jury verdict in favor of a defendant, in plaintiff’s suit against her former employer for gender discrimination based on disparate treatment and hostile work environment. People v. Rosas, G043158, concerned a challenge to the trial court’s entry of a new restitution fine order, on remand for resentencing of a defendant convicted of two attempted murders of a rival gang member....
In professional boxing, fighters usually start the first round by touching gloves and lightly jabbing for a few minutes. Nobody comes out swinging for the fences in the first round. It is more like a fencing match, as opponents parry to ward off blows and gauge their distance. It is a tried and true strategy to size up your competition in the first three minutes of a fight. It’s a good idea when starting a new job at a law firm, too....
Welcome to the first in what we hope to be a continuing series called “Ethical Dilemma of the Week,” in which we try to make sense out of strange P.R. quandaries that lawyers may or may not find themselves in. For our inaugural Ethical Dilemma of the Week, we ask, “How long do you have to wait before you can date a former client?” States using the ABA Model Rules have a pretty clear guideline: “A lawyer shall not have sexual relations with a client unless a consensual sexual relationship existed between them when the client-lawyer relationship commenced....
Former outfielder Otis Nixon was arrested on drug charges after a weekend traffic stop in suburban Atlanta. Deputies allegedly found two crack pipes and a few suspected crack rocks around the driver’s seat. But lo and behold, they determined Nixon wasn’t under the influence of crack cocaine or alcohol. Nixon, 54, was busted for the alleged possession of cocaine and possession of a drug-related object. But if his story holds up, he may have a viable defense....
Welcome to “First Week at the Firm,” a new FindLaw feature for beginning associates, focused on helping you navigate the transition into firm life. We hope you’ll enjoy this new series and come back regularly for more insider tips. You’ve made it to the promised land of a BigLaw job. There’s the important clients, the handsome pay, and the respect of your peers. And there’s stress. So much, never ending, unceasing stress....
The dog’s name was Tony Montana. This guy. That should’ve been the vet’s first clue that Malorie Ruiz might be more than just a concerned pet owner looking to chill her dog out on some Alpazolam, a form of Xanax. The second clue? Calling back right after getting the prescription and demanding a refill. “She called and said that she was going out of town and they dropped the drugs in the toilet or something,” Park Animal Hospital owner Rachel McGlamery told WFLA....
Berkeley Law Professor Goodwin Liu was sworn into the California Supreme Court last week, just over a month after Governor Jerry Brown nominated Liu to the bench. The speed in the state confirmation process surprised Liu, who quipped, “I never thought the words nomination and confirmation could be separated by a mere 36 days. It has been a long journey for my family and me,” to the San Jose Mercury News....
In an appeal from sanctions issued against an attorney for improperly soliciting opt-outs from a plaintiff class, the order is affirmed where the court’s post-certification duties and authority extend to circumstances involving the conditional certification of a class for settlement purposes. Read the full decision in Hernandez v. Vitamin Shoppe Indus. Inc., No. A120640. [html] Read the full decision in Hernandez v. Vitamin Shoppe Indus. Inc., No. A120640. [pdf] Appellate Information:...
A man allegedly “Tebowed” following an assault on a youth in Shenango Township, Pennsylvania. Tim Tebow and Tebowing has clearly jumped the shark as now even petty criminals are striking the pose following their crimes. The pose had been oft-copied/mocked by other athletes (just YouTube it). And the Pennsylvania perp allegedly struck the pose after he struck a teen off a riding lawn mower, reports The Smoking Gun. If you don’t know, the term “Tebowing” refers to striking a pose of bending one knee to the ground while hanging your head low and placing your closed hand on your forehead....
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Often mis-cited as the US postal creed, it could just as easily be used for the Chicago law firm of Mayer Brown. “We’re a 24-hour operation,” Bob Harris, director of public relations, told the ABA Journal reported. “Closing down has an impact on the firm’s offices around the world, because several of our administrative departments are centralized here, such as conflicts and certain aspects of accounting and [information technology]....
Trial court’s order denying Bankers Insurance Company’s motion to set aside summary judgment entered against it, discharge a forfeiture, and exonerate its bail bond is affirmed as the filing of the criminal complaint did not materially increase Bankers’ risk resulting in exoneration of the bond. Read People v. Bankers Ins. Co., No. F056891 [HTML] Read People v. Bankers Ins. Co., No. F056891 [PDF] Appellate Information Filed January 14, 2010 Judges...
The Federal Circuit decided a patent infringement suit related to a software patent and a copyright infringement suit against the US government. In Trading Techs. Int’l, Inc. v. eSpeed, Inc., No. 08-1392, the court faced several issues involving plaintiff’s patent involving software for displaying the market for a commodity traded in an electronic exchange. In affirming the judgment of the district court, the court found, inter alia, that defendants infringed the asserted claims of one of the patents-in-suit, but not willfully....
Can a veteran claim “additional disability” benefits for an injury that was not directly caused by government hospital care? The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week that he can. Viegas’ medical condition deteriorated after his fall. Prior to his fall, Viegas could sometimes walk with a walker, but since the accident he can only stand with assistance. In July 2004, Viegas filed a claim for section disability benefits under 38 U....
Pranking has been a favorite American pastime for decades, dating back to Candid Camera and Three Stooges to present-day What Would You Do? and Johnny Knoxville. It’s one thing when the pranks are staged and the victims are knowing adults. It’s an entirely different thing when the victims are your own children. Michael and Heather Martin are the parents behind the infamous, and now defunct, YouTube channels DaddyOFive and FamilyOFive. In 2017, they lost custody of two of their five children, and put on probation after pleading no contest to child neglect based on pranks they pulled on their children and broadcasted on YouTube....
No one likes to be on the receiving end of a police investigation, but sometimes you just have to learn to take your lumps. Take the New York woman who decided to strike a cop with a pink sex toy after officers responded to a domestic disturbance complaint. Officer Jonathan Pitts was escorting Lisa Anderson, 47, out of her friend’s home when she threw the unfortunate projectile at Pitts’ forehead. Anderson was then swiftly arrested....
He may play a lawyer on TV, but the WWE’s A-List is a real attorney with a real degree from Harvard Law. And he just won a case. David Otunga took a break from his usual shenanigans last week to help a man seeking unemployment benefits from the state. The pro bono case was such a success, the wrestler told TMZ he “smoked the witness during cross examination.” There is no word on whether he was wearing a suit or his usual bowtie and vest....
Criminal defense attorneys, and those with any sense of social justice: You might want to sit down before reading this. The title might be cute and give you a chuckle thinking about John Oliver’s all-dog Supreme Court, but the facts are absolutely flabbergasting and just don’t jibe with the decision. The Supreme Court of Louisiana just issued a ruling that said a criminal suspect did not invoke his right to an attorney when he requested a “lawyer dog” while being questioned by police....
Subscription services are, in the words of Mugatu, “so hot right now.” Pay a monthly fee and you can have clothes, vegetables, and toilet paper delivered right to your door. Is there anything left to be delivered to your door? Turns out there is: marijuana. A subscription service in San Francisco will personally deliver a curated selection of marijuana to you every month. But is this pot-of-the-month club even legal?...
