Domestic Relations

Client escapes sanction for lawyer’s refusal to appear on camera in Zoom deposition

A client won’t have to pay a sanction of nearly $10,000 for his lawyer’s refusal to appear on camera during a remote deposition, a California appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Jan 25, 2024 12:01 PM CST

Could generative AI help break down language barriers plaguing the Indian justice system?

Updated: To overcome the language barriers in a region where the official language the courts use is English, Kishore Kommi, a police officer and a former data scientist, is making use of Jugalbandi, an open-source multilingual chatbot using generative artificial intelligence.

Jan 22, 2024 8:34 AM CST

Poll: Which ABA Journal magazine cover from 2023 was your favorite?

We covered a wide array of diverse, in-depth and hard-hitting legal topics at the ABA Journal in 2023.

Dec 18, 2023 8:40 AM CST

Private criminal defense lawyers failed to show up for their cases more often than defendants, Philly study finds

Some lawyers are less reliable than defendants when it comes to showing up in court, according to a study of criminal cases in Philadelphia courts during a 10-year span.

Dec 6, 2023 4:12 PM CST

Navigating family law cases requires an abundance of one thing: respect

My 40-plus years litigation practice in the Toronto area consisted of a moderate amount of family, aka matrimonial, cases. In spite of this area being emotionally charged, I think that I was able to maintain a reasonable degree of sanity. Reasonable.

Dec 4, 2023 2:58 PM CST

Trying to kill ex-husband with hatchet violates separation agreement’s covenant of good faith, state appeals court says

Updated: A husband does not have to make continued payments to his ex-wife under a separation agreement after she tried to kill him with a hatchet, the Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled.

Nov 27, 2023 8:42 AM CST

Bank robber who became Georgetown Law prof faces new criminal charges

Shon Hopwood is well known for the story of how he turned his life around after becoming a skilled jailhouse lawyer while in prison for bank robbery. But he faces new legal troubles after he was charged with two misdemeanor counts of assaulting his wife.

Oct 23, 2023 9:44 AM CDT

Former Cohen Milstein partner pleads guilty to child-porn possession

A former partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography after his arrest as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Oct 5, 2023 10:45 AM CDT

Who’s at fault when engagement ends? Appeals court considers issue in suit for return of $70K ring

A man who called off his engagement is entitled to the return of a $70,000-plus engagement ring and a wedding band, the Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled in a 2-1 decision.

Sep 14, 2023 10:48 AM CDT

Charge of attempted strangulation precedes general counsel’s ouster

The general counsel of pet medication and wellness company PetIQ has been fired “without cause” after he was charged with trying to strangle his wife.

Sep 7, 2023 12:52 PM CDT

Ex-BigLaw partner shown in tirade videos sues influencer for allegedly destroying his career

A former Greenberg Traurig partner has sued a social media influencer for allegedly posting “false, defamatory and misleading videos” that sought to depict him as an abusive father and spouse.

Sep 7, 2023 12:08 PM CDT

‘Bad boy’ postnup clause can be enforced in Maryland, top state court says

Maryland public policy allows enforcement of a $7 million “bad boy” postnuptial clause that penalizes a spouse for adultery, the Maryland Supreme Court has ruled.

Aug 31, 2023 11:11 AM CDT

Was slap that left mark child abuse? Suspended judge who sought to hide son’s act didn’t think so

A judge in Wayne County, Michigan, has been censured and suspended for six months without pay for hiding evidence that her son had physically abused one of her grandsons.

Aug 4, 2023 9:04 AM CDT

Free litigation training for attorneys who represent domestic violence survivors is available through the ABA

The ABA Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence Trial Skills Institute helps attorneys who represent survivors of domestic violence improve their advocacy and litigation skills. Participants act as counsel for a party in a hypothetical case involving domestic violence and develop theory, opening statements, closing arguments, direct examinations and cross-examinations.

Jul 19, 2023 8:09 AM CDT

SCOTUS will decide whether subjects of domestic-violence restraining orders can be banned from gun ownership

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide the constitutionality of a federal law that bans gun ownership by people subject to domestic-violence restraining orders.

Jul 5, 2023 11:31 AM CDT