http://www.abajournal.com/news/ en Copyright 2013 2013-05-19T22:51:48-06:00 http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sex-reassignment_surgery_of_infant_in_states_care_violated_due_process_adop/ The adoptive parents of a baby born with both male and female genitalia claim the state of South Carolina violated their child’s constitutional rights by subjecting the child to sex-reassignment surgery. The child, identified as “M.C.,” was 16 months old when surgeons removed the toddler’s male genitals before the adoption,… Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Family Law, Government Law, Tort Law, Medical Malpractice, Trials & Litigation, States, South Carolina Wed, 15 May 2013 07:39:10 -0500 44188.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/town_sues_robin_hood_citizen_group_known_for_feeding_parking_meters_says_it/ A New Hampshire town has sued a group of half-a-dozen citizens known as the Robin Hooders, contending that their harassment of parking enforcement officers could force the workers to quit if a court doesn't grant relief. Although the group feeds parking meters on behalf of strangers, the Keene suit says… ABA Journal Production, Weekly Newsletter Stories, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, First Amendment, Government Law, Trials & Litigation, Evidence, States, New Hampshire Tue, 14 May 2013 16:40:29 -0500 44178.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/states_top_court_to_televise_oral_arguments_in_case_over_euthanesia_of_dog_/ The Nevada Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in July concerning a 120-pound dog that killed a toddler at a birthday party in 2012. The Rhodesian ridgeback mix, known as Onion, was surrendered by its owner to animal control authorities in Henderson after the death of Jeremiah Eskew-Skahan. However, animal… Animal Law, Appellate Practice, Government Law, Trials & Litigation, States, Nevada Tue, 14 May 2013 14:42:01 -0500 44176.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/calif._ag_sues_jp_morgan_chase_alleges_robo-signing_of_docs_in_credit-card_/ California's attorney general sued one of the nation's biggest banks on Thursday, alleging that JPMorgan Chase & Co.had engaged in widespread "robo-signing" of documents in credit card collection lawsuits. "To maintain this breakneck pace" while dealing with a glut of litigation against delinquent cardholders, the lending institution created a “debt… Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Consumer Law, Contracts, Corporate Law, Government Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Evidence, States, California Thu, 09 May 2013 17:52:20 -0500 44118.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/cahill_steps_down_in_rutgers_probe_due_to_local_counsel_conflict_is_replace/ Last month, Cahill Gordon & Reindel was hired by Rutgers University to conduct an independent review of the school's handling of the suspension and firing of former men's basketball coach Mike Rice. But on Friday, after discovering a conflict, Cahill stepped down from the representation and has been replaced by… Education Law, Entertainment & Sports Law, Government Law, Labor & Employment, Law Firms, Trials & Litigation, States, New Jersey Thu, 09 May 2013 11:50:39 -0500 44108.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/is_milquetoast_report_ducking_issues_presented_by_judicial_license_plates/ Responding to concerns that the state's judges could be getting a pass on traffic enforcement by trumpeting their status via special license plates, the New York Commission on Judicial Conduct starting looking into the issue last year. In a Tuesday report (PDF), the commission says that displaying a… Criminal Justice, Government Law, Judiciary, Legal Ethics, States, New York Thu, 09 May 2013 11:25:36 -0500 44094.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/new_law_lets_motorists_prove_insurance_via_cellphone_but_says_they_must_ass/ A new law signed by the Washington state governor Tuesday is intended to make it easier for motorists stopped for traffic offenses to provide proof of insurance by allowing them to pull up the information on their cellphones. However, those who do so assume the risk of any damage to… Criminal Justice, Government Law, Legislation & Lobbying, Trials & Litigation, Evidence Thu, 09 May 2013 10:24:51 -0500 44097.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/911_call_will_earn_800k_for_couple_bound_and_gagged_by_rogue_ex-cop/ A married couple bound and gagged in February by rogue ex-cop Christopher Dorner stands to earn $800,000 for calling 911 and describing the former Los Angeles police department employee to authorities. "Had Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds failed promptly to escape their restraints and contact law enforcement, it is likely Dorner… Administrative Law, Contracts, Criminal Justice, Government Law, States, California Wed, 08 May 2013 11:10:03 -0500 44086.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/daughter_of_delaware_courthouse_shooter_seeks_custody_of_slain_moms_3_kids/ The daughter of a man who shot two women to death at a Delaware courthouse earlier this year is seeking custody of the three daughters of one of the slain women. In Delaware, relatives usually receive preference when courts are considering the permanent guardianship of children in foster care, the… Administrative Law, Criminal Justice, Family Law, Government Law, Judiciary, Court Security, Trials & Litigation, States, Delaware Tue, 07 May 2013 12:52:05 -0500 44069.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sec_accuses_pennsylvania_capital_of_securities_fraud_ex-mayors_positive_sta/ Public officials who make positive statements about the fiscal health of their financially troubled cities are now forewarned: The assertions could result in accusations of securities fraud. The Securities and Exchange Commission cited public statements by officials with Harrisburg, Penn., in a suit accusing the city of securities fraud, report… Government Law, Securities Law Tue, 07 May 2013 09:33:43 -0500 44063.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_faces_discipline_case_for_dismissing_lawyers_speeding_ticket/ Disciplinary counsel for the Ohio Supreme Court is seeking to sanction a Franklin County Municipal Court judge for dismissing a lawyer's speeding ticket. Attorney Patrick M. Quinn had been ticketed in November 2011 for doing 81 mph in a 65-mph zone. Judge Harland H. Hale, who was being represented by… Criminal Justice, Prosecutors, Government Law, Judiciary, Legal Ethics, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, States, Ohio Fri, 03 May 2013 13:39:54 -0500 44030.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/are_digitization_and_budget_cuts_compromising_history/ Government Law, Law Libraries, Legal History, Legislation & Lobbying, Features Wed, 01 May 2013 05:30:54 -0500 43763.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/should_this_toy_be_saved/ ABA Journal Production, Weekly Newsletter Stories, Civil Procedure, Consumer Law, Government Law, Legislation & Lobbying, Tort Law, Product Liability Law, Trials & Litigation, Features Wed, 01 May 2013 05:10:10 -0500 43762.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/aclu_domestic_violence_penalized/ The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a federal lawsuit over a municipal ordinance that effectively penalizes individuals for calling police, if they are deemed to have engaged in "disorderly behavior," by pressuring landlords to evict them. Filed by Pepper Hamilton last week on behalf of Lakisha Briggs, the Philadelphia… Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice, Family Law, Government Law, Real Estate & Property Law, Trials & Litigation, States, Pennsylvania Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:29:57 -0500 43964.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_nixes_tickets_for_lack_of_evidence_as_city_and_red-light_camera_contr/ It isn't only those with trial skills, such as attorney Daniel Doty, who are getting Baltimore speeding and red-light camera tickets thrown out of court. The city plans to void approximately 6,000 tickets, amidst an ongoing dispute with the former contractor that oversaw the program, the Baltimore… Criminal Justice, Government Law, Trials & Litigation, Evidence, States, Maryland Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:30:57 -0500 43895.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/city_ordered_to_pay_50k_in_attorneys_fees_in_case_over_police_shooting/ A small city in Washington state has been ordered by a federal judge to pay $50,000 in attorney's fees to the prevailing plaintiffs in a federal civil rights suit over the fatal police shooting of their pet dog. Charles and Deirdre Wright had earlier settled with the city of Des… Animal Law, Civil Rights, Government Law, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Verdicts & Settlements, 9th Circuit Court, States, Washington Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:38:55 -0500 43893.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/u_of_texas_put_golden_handcuffs_on_law_faculty_with_help_of_213m_private_fo/ As the state attorney general continues to look into the operations of a private nonprofit foundation that helped raise money for the University of Texas Law School, details are emerging about the "golden handcuffs" that discouraged faculty from going to other institutions. Although there is nothing to indicate that any… Careers, Lawyer Pay, Government Law, Law Professors, Law Schools, States, Texas Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:02:49 -0500 43879.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/fertilizer_plant_explosion/ Updated: As responders continue searching for more survivors in the decimated remains of a Texas fertilizer plant and its surrounding neighborhood after a Wednesday night explosion, authorities have recovered 12 bodies and say more than 200 people were injured by the blast, according to the Associated Press… Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Executive Branch, Government Law, Labor & Employment, States, Texas Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:02:09 -0500 43827.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/fatal_explosion_at_texas_fertilizer_plant_does_massive_damage/ An explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant Wednesday night could be heard at least 45 miles away, causing massive damage and killing and injuring an unknown number of people in and around the small farming town of West. Officials estimate that up to 15 people have been killed, although a… Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Government Law, Labor & Employment, States, Texas Thu, 18 Apr 2013 13:46:29 -0500 43813.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyers_ask_feds_to_probe_claims_maine_governor_pressured_hearing_officers_/ A group of employment lawyers is seeking a federal investigation of the governor of Maine, citing news reports that he and other officials have pressured hearing officers to rule for the state in administrative cases about unemployment compensation benefits. In a Monday letter (PDF), the local chapter of… Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Government Law, Judiciary, Labor & Employment, Trials & Litigation, States, Maine Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:40:16 -0500 43776.abajournal.com