Evidence

DOJ Labels Autism Claims ‘Junk Science’

A Justice Department official said claims that a vaccine additive causes autism are junk science, in opening arguments before a vaccine court yesterday. “Unfortunately, after five years, you’ll find a signal lack of support for their contentions,” said Vincent J. Matanoski, an assistant director in the department’s civil division. The…

Jun 12, 2007 4:29 PM CDT

‘That’s Him!—Or Is It?’

Despite Study Upon Study, Police Lineups Are Still an Inexact Science

Jun 11, 2007 11:07 PM CDT

Civil Case Leads to Murder Charge

For years, Mary Miller thought she knew who had murdered her son, Jesse: his father. Chicago police agreed. But there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Leroy Alexander with the 2002 crime, which took place at his home – until now. Mary Miller sued her estranged husband in civil court over…

Jun 11, 2007 6:31 PM CDT

PI Attacks Search Warrant

The legal team for private investigator Anthony Pellicano is citing new evidence in an effort to block admission of evidence found in a search of his office. Lawyers contend an FBI agent concealed evidence and lied about it to obtain a search warrant, according to the Los Angeles Times. The…

Jun 7, 2007 5:59 PM CDT

Motion Claims 35,000 Documents Withheld

A pending motion for sanctions claims chip maker Qualcomm failed to turn over more than 35,000 discovery documents in a patent infringement case. Qualcomm had sued rival semiconductor maker Broadcom for infringing two Qualcomm patents for video compression, but lost at trial four months ago. In court papers filed late…

Jun 7, 2007 12:35 PM CDT

Murder Case Based on DNA Database Find

A man identified as a murder suspect through a national DNA database is on trial in Fairfax County, Va., for a murder committed almost 19 years ago. Alfredo R. Prieto was on California’s death row for a rape and murder when a match was found between his DNA and that…

Jun 6, 2007 7:06 PM CDT

Pal Tipped Plaintiff Attorney about ‘Flea’

One question remained unanswered – until today – about “Flea,” the once-anonymous physician whose biting blogging about his ongoing medical malpractice case recently led to a Perry Mason moment at his Boston trial. How did the plaintiff lawyer learn that the defendant doctor might have authored the blog? Another lawyer…

Jun 4, 2007 9:37 PM CDT

Best Buy Lawyer Says He Altered Documents

An outside attorney defending Best Buy in a consumer class action has admitted he altered discovery documents in the case, prompting his law firm to file a withdrawal motion. Timothy Block reported his actions to the Minnesota Board of Professional Responsibility and is on medical leave for stress and depression,…

Jun 4, 2007 1:42 PM CDT

Execution for Tex. Woman in Baby Case?

An unusual execution of a woman may be about to take place in Texas. If so, it would be only the 12th in the entire country since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1977. Well over 1,000 men have been executed during that time. Cathy Lynn Henderson,…

May 31, 2007 12:33 AM CDT

ME Disputes Suicide Theory in Spector Trial

A Los Angeles medical examiner said bruises on the wrist of actress Lana Clarkson and the position of her purse on her shoulder indicate her death was not a suicide. Record producer Phil Spector is on trial for allegedly murdering Clarkson at his mansion. His lawyers contend she shot herself…

May 30, 2007 5:35 PM CDT

Evidence of Abuse Frees Calif. Woman

A California woman initially convicted of murdering her abusive husband was released yesterday after serving 16 years in prison, in the first of perhaps dozens of such cases that could be retried under a 2002 state law that attempts to redress past injustices. Hudie Joyce Walker, now 65, said her…

May 30, 2007 5:15 PM CDT

Terrorist Informants’ Role Questioned

Defense lawyers and friends of some accused terrorists are focusing on informants, saying they exploited and entrapped defendants for money. Those kinds of accusations have taken a toll on the informant who helped convict Shahawar Matin Siraj, a Pakistani immigrant accused of conspiracy to bomb a New York subway station,…

May 29, 2007 3:37 PM CDT

N.Y. Gov. Wants Expansive DNA Collection

Those who are convicted of any misdemeanor in New York would have to submit DNA for a criminal database, under a plan by the state’s governor. Few states have such an expansive DNA collection law, according to the New York Times. It would apply to misdemeanors such as harassment and…

May 14, 2007 1:27 PM CDT

Psychologist Settles BTK Tape Suit

A psychologist hired to interview the BTK killer has agreed to pay $30,000 to settle charges he profited from a videotape of Dennis Rader’s comments. After the tape ended up on Dateline NBC, the state of Kansas sued Massachusetts psychologist Robert Mendoza, along with an associate and their company, Cambridge…

May 11, 2007 4:37 PM CDT

PET Scan Scrutinized in Fashion Writer’s Trial

The defense in the sex abuse trial of former fashion writer Peter Braunstein called a psychiatrist to testify and showed slides of the defendant’s brain. The psychiatrist pointed to blue colors in a PET scan of mostly red, orange and yellow, and said they were evidence of schizophrenia, according to…

May 11, 2007 2:46 PM CDT