Family Law

US brief backs right to gay marriage in California in ‘eight-state solution’ stance

The Obama administration has filed an amicus brief backing a right to gay marriage in California that suggests resolving the case in a way that could affect only eight states with civil unions. The administration argues that California is violating the equal protection clause by withholding the benefits of marriage…

Mar 1, 2013 12:52 PM CST

Courthouse shooter had prior run-ins with lawyers over family dispute

Thomas Matusiewicz reportedly had anger issues for years before the 68-year-old shot to death his former daughter-in-law, Christine Belford, and a female friend in the lobby of a Wilmington, Del., courthouse earlier this month. The women were there for a hearing in a long-running child-support case involving the shooter’s adult…

Feb 26, 2013 5:05 PM CST

Matrimonial lawyer made false statements in suit against ex-client’s husband, bar complaint alleges

In a disciplinary complaint filed on Valentine’s Day, the North Carolina State Bar charges a matrimonial lawyer with bringing a baseless lawsuit. After being named as a defendant in an alienation of affections complaint filed by the husband of a former client, attorney David Shawn Clark subsequently filed suit himself…

Feb 25, 2013 4:50 PM CST

Controversial judge is target of complaints; DA asks state AG to investigate

The state attorney general has been asked to look into unspecified complaints against a controversial Texas judge. Galveston County Court-at-Law Judge Christopher Dupuy “presides over one-third of the thousands of misdemeanor cases prosecuted by my office each year,” DA Jack Roady tells the Houston Chronicle, so it would be a…

Feb 22, 2013 4:00 PM CST

Million-dollar deadbeat dad, on the lam for nearly 20 years, enters guilty plea

A father of three who owed more than $1.2 million in child support has pleaded guilty to traveling across state lines and overseas to avoid paying up. Robert Sand pleaded guilty on Thursday, report the New York Times and the Associated Press. He had been featured on a “most wanted…

Feb 22, 2013 2:42 PM CST

Courthouse shooter had handwritten death warrant for lawyer who wasn’t there, authorities say

Surveillance footage obtained by the News Journal shows a man who, moments later, shot and killed two women at the county courthouse in Wilmington, Del., walking with his son in a courthouse parking lot on Feb. 11, according to authorities. An earlier Daily Journal article says the son, David Matusiewicz,…

Feb 21, 2013 7:35 PM CST

Court security is hot topic after recent litigation-related attacks

Fatal shootings at or near courthouses, law offices and an elementary school throughout the country in recent weeks and months—as well as a former Los Angeles police officer’s murderous rampage targeted at his attorney and others after what he described as an unfair firing—have focused increased attention on the security…

Feb 21, 2013 7:23 PM CST

Divorce attorney who helped client break into spouse’s home loses law license for 2 years

A New Mexico divorce attorney who made headlines after being caught on a surveillance video helping a matrimonial client break into the home of her estranged husband has had his law license suspended for two years. Raymond T. Van Arnam, 61, will also have to undergo a psychological examination before…

Feb 20, 2013 6:58 PM CST

Army sergeant may pursue custody of his daughter, living with mom in Scotland, SCOTUS rules

The fight isn’t over for U.S. Army Sgt. Jeff Chafin, who is seeking custody of his daughter, Eris, in an international dispute. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Chafin’s case is not moot, though his daughter, now 6 years old, is in Scotland with her mother pursuant to a…

Feb 19, 2013 5:28 PM CST

Couple give up custody battle over adopted toddler who court returned to father

A Utah couple have given up their fight for custody of the 21-month-old girl they adopted at birth. Jared and Kristi Frei say the ongoing legal battle over custody isn’t worth the “potential psychological damage” it could have on the child, the Salt Lake City Tribune reports. The Freis have…

Feb 15, 2013 4:13 PM CST

No more permanent alimony? State bill proposes new limits on requirements

A bill that would eliminate the concept of permanent alimony and allow people to reduce or end alimony payments when they reach retirement age is moving through Florida’s house of representatives, the Miami Herald reports. The bill also proposes that the duration of alimony be limited to 50 percent of…

Feb 14, 2013 7:16 PM CST

Woman shot in face outside court, suspect shoots at police during chase

A South Carolina man has been charged with shooting and wounding a young mother and her stepfather outside a courthouse in Chesterfield County on Wednesday. Police say 57-year-old Curtis Gorny was charged after a car chase in which he fired at officers pursuing him, report the Charlotte Observer, the Associated…

Feb 14, 2013 12:23 PM CST

Family lawyer convicted of murdering client and her young daughter

A Chicago family lawyer accused of killing a client and her 10-month-old daughter was convicted of two counts of murder Tuesday night. A jury deliberated only about four hours before finding Fredrick Goings guilty in the Cook County Circuit Court case, the Chicago Tribune reports. Goings and his client, Nova…

Feb 13, 2013 11:40 AM CST

Law firm Valentine’s Day contest offers no-cost divorce

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, a Michigan attorney is running a contest offering a no-cost divorce to the entrant who makes the best case for freebie. “We’re looking for someone truly struggling to move forward,” says Walter H. Bentley III. “Maybe someone who’s overcome some obstacle—a foreclosure, say. Maybe they’re…

Feb 12, 2013 2:46 PM CST

Dechert settles ex-associate’s ‘macho culture’ family leave case

Dechert has settled, on undisclosed terms, a former Boston financial services associate’s retaliation claim concerning the law firm’s alleged “macho culture.” Originally, Ariel Ayanna also filed a Massachusetts state-law sex-discrimination claim. In it, he contended that the firm used his alleged low billings as a pretext for terminating him in…

Feb 12, 2013 2:04 PM CST