Evidence

Casey Anthony Guilty of Providing False Info, Acquitted of First-Degree Murder and Manslaughter

After deliberating for 10 hours, a Florida jury has reached a verdict in the first-degree murder case of Casey Anthony, who was accused of killing her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in 2008. She was acquitted of first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter and aggravated child abuse, but found guilty of multiple counts of…

Jul 5, 2011 6:13 PM CDT

Man Gets Protective Order for Self and Puggle During Family Estate Dispute re Autographed Baseballs

During his lifetime, Chicago White Sox investor Larry Pogofsky was the proud owner of a collection of autographed baseballs worth as much as $25,000 each. His ambition was to collect one signed by every Hall of Famer, reports the Chicago Tribune. Now, after his death at age 64, the collection…

Jul 5, 2011 5:40 PM CDT

New York AG Probes Life Insurers’ Efforts to Find Beneficiaries

The New York attorney general is investigating whether nine companies are trying hard enough to find beneficiaries of life insurance policies after the holder dies. If a case results, an unidentified source tells Bloomberg, the office of AG Eric Schneiderman could invoke the Martin Act, which doesn’t require proof of…

Jul 5, 2011 5:05 PM CDT

Lawyer’s New Client in Murder One Case Allegedly Killed a Former Client

A Minnesota criminal defense lawyer is now representing, in a first-degree murder case, a man who is accused of killing a former client of the attorney. This kind of situation can raise some complicated ethical issues, experts tell the Star Tribune. But there is no clear conflict of interest, because…

Jul 5, 2011 4:45 PM CDT

Experts Will Tell You a Lot in Depositions if You Ask the Right Questions

Mike Pirelli spotted Angus going into the First Federal Soup and Sandwich Shop and followed him in. “Angus,” he said, pulling a chair up to the table, “did you get a chance to read my deposition?” “Yes,” said Angus. “I did.” “That’s great!” said Mike. “I really appreciate it. That’s…

Jul 1, 2011 7:40 AM CDT

DNA on Discarded Clothing and Facebook Photo of Bank Robbery Suspect Lead Police to Her

DNA testing on discarded clothing at the scene of a bank robbery in Texas has led to the arrest of a suspect in that robbery and two others. Jazzmyne Dunlap, 21, has been charged with robbing a bank in Arlington last October. She is a suspect in two other bank…

Jun 29, 2011 9:02 PM CDT

Did Security Cameras Capture Strauss-Kahn’s Lunch with Daughter?

Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s demeanor during a lunch with his daughter after an alleged attack on a hotel maid could become important evidence in the case against him. The former chief of the International Monetary Fund spent about 90 minutes eating with his daughter at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, the New…

Jun 27, 2011 12:58 PM CDT

E-Discovery Malpractice Is More Common Than Perceived, LeClairRyan Partner Says

Lawyers beware: the pitfalls of e-discovery may be more complicated than many litigators—even experienced partners—expect or are prepared to handle. “In short, this is a complex, high-risk task that requires specialized skills and experience. It is not something one does once a year and gets good at,” LeClairRyan partner Dennis…

Jun 24, 2011 7:19 PM CDT

Facebook Friend Request to Exec of Represented Corp. May Violate Ex Parte Rule, Opinion Says

A lawyer who sends a Facebook friend request to executives of a corporation he or she knows is represented by counsel in a litigation matter is violating a legal ethics rule against ex parte communications with parties, the San Diego County Bar Ethics Committee held in an advisory ethics opinion…

Jun 24, 2011 12:34 AM CDT

DLA Piper Ordered to Turn Over MLB Material to Roger Clemens Despite Asserted Work Product Privilege

Despite an asserted work product privilege, DLA Piper has been ordered by a federal judge to turn over to famed pitcher Roger Clemens some of its investigative material from a probe about the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, reports Bloomberg. Law firm notes and memos about statements…

Jun 23, 2011 5:18 PM CDT

Attorney-Client Privilege Protects Law Firm from Shareholder Derivative Suit, Appellate Court Rules

Upholding a San Diego Superior Court dismissal of a shareholder derivative suit against a law firm, a state appeals court agreed that the litigation against the law firm, which served as outside counsel to the closely held corporation, Brion Reilly Inc., was precluded by attorney-client privilege, the Metropolitan News-Enterprise reports.…

Jun 21, 2011 6:41 PM CDT

Newest Justices Join Majority, Side with Police in Exclusionary Rule Case

The 7-2 lineup in a Supreme Court opinion today siding with the prosecution in an exclusionary rule case is raising some eyebrows. Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were part of a majority decision holding that evidence may be used at trial when it is obtained in a search conducted…

Jun 16, 2011 3:59 PM CDT

11th Circuit OKs 28-Year Term for Phil Hill in $110M Mortgage Fraud; 2 Lawyers Also Convicted

Saying that lies upon lies underpinning a massive mortgage fraud had devastated Atlanta’s housing market, a federal appeals court yesterday upheld the conviction and 28-year prison term imposed upon its ringleader. Phillip Hill, 54, appropriately got more time than other defendants involved in the scheme, because he orchestrated it, the…

Jun 15, 2011 8:52 PM CDT

Testifying in Sex-Crime Case, Witness, 15, Has Canine at Hand for Comfort

As a 15-year-old girl testified yesterday in a sexual assault trial in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., she had a calming influence right at her feet. Largely invisible to the jury, an 11-year-old golden retriever named Rose who has been trained as a therapy dog was available for a comforting pat, reports the…

Jun 14, 2011 6:42 PM CDT

Criminal Defense Lawyer Whose Tip Led to OSU Football Coach’s Resignation Faces Related Ethics Case

A criminal defense attorney whose emailed tip about potential college football player misconduct led to the resignation of Ohio State’s coach is now in hot water himself, according to the Associated Press and the Columbus Dispatch. In emailing coach Jim Tressel in April about possible NCAA violations by his players,…

Jun 13, 2011 6:44 PM CDT