Florida

Mom Charged With Murder in Case of Missing Florida Toddler

Following months of investigation in a much-publicized case of a missing Florida toddler, a grand jury has indicted her mother in a first-degree murder case. Casey Anthony, 22, also was charged with aggravated child abuse, aggravated manslaughter and providing false information to law enforcement in the indictment unsealed today, reports…

Oct 14, 2008 9:37 PM CDT

Buyers Sue Florida Law Firm Over Failed Condo Project

About 25 would-be buyers in a failed Florida condominium development are suing the law firm that held their deposit money, arguing it didn’t do enough to safeguard $2.5 million of their funds. However, a lawyer for the venerable Gunster Yoakley & Stewart law firm says it did nothing wrong in…

Oct 14, 2008 4:09 PM CDT

Jailed Over Brown Lawn, 66-Year-Old Returns Home to Beautiful Yard

As a struggling 66-year-old Florida homeowner went off to begin serving an open-ended contempt sentence for having a brown lawn last week, the president of his condominium association said Joseph Prudente brought the situation on himself. But strangers showed more compassion for Prudente’s plight—even though he had indeed ignored the…

Oct 13, 2008 11:48 PM CDT

Lawrence Paul Higgins, Lawyer and Horseman, Found Murdered in Florida

A former Washington, D.C., lawyer known for his love of racehorses was found murdered at his upscale Florida home on Friday. Lawrence Paul Higgins, 61, was found that morning by a business associate who had a key to his Odessa home, in suburban Tampa, and authorities later determined that he…

Oct 13, 2008 6:07 PM CDT

Fla. School Board Lawyer May Get Nearly a Year of Paid Vacation

A Florida attorney who has contracted to provide legal services for the Miami-Dade School Board has already spent four months at home on unpaid leave. But now a divided board is hoping to give JulieAnn Rico another six months’ pay in a severance package that will conclude her contract, reports…

Oct 10, 2008 10:35 PM CDT

Speed Demons Face $1K to $5K Fine Under New Florida Law

One might think that speed demons who exceed the posted limit by 50 mph or more would be something of a rarity. But such race-car-driver wannabes apparently aren’t all that unusual, South Florida authorities found after the state legislature enacted a new law quadrupling the minimum “excessive” speeding fine to…

Oct 8, 2008 6:22 PM CDT

Despite S&L Debacle Decades Ago, Most Hard-Hit States Didn’t Amp Up Regulation

Despite the savings and loan meltdown that hit the country some 20 years ago, many states at the center of that maelstrom apparently didn’t learn the obvious lesson: Regulation is needed to keep dubious mortgage lending practices in check. Now, many of the same states that suffered the most from…

Oct 8, 2008 5:44 PM CDT

South Florida Lawyer Charged in Mortgage Fraud Case

A South Florida lawyer has been criminally charged along with two others who allegedly participated in a scheme to sell a house at a grossly inflated value to a “buyer” whose identity was stolen. Delaila Estefano, 35, was released on $75,000 bond after being charged last week with first-degree grand…

Oct 7, 2008 6:51 PM CDT

Judge Rules Trustee Lacks Authority to Sue Countrywide for Abuses

A federal bankruptcy judge in Miami has tossed a suit by the U.S. Trustee against Countrywide, ruling the agency has no authority to sanction companies for alleged bad faith conduct. Judge A. Jay Cristol said the trustee had “noble intentions” but the authority to seek punishment rests with federal prosecutors,…

Oct 6, 2008 1:55 PM CDT

As a Mom Searches for Missing Son, a Sister Wishes She Didn’t Know

Violent crime in Mexico has been much in the news lately, as efforts by authorities to combat the illegal drug industry have, at least for now, led to increased attacks on citizens and police. Among the victims are American visitors. And, for Linda LaPorte, one of those visitors was particularly…

Oct 3, 2008 12:57 AM CDT

Florida Family Files Tort Claim Over Delayed Worker’s Comp Benefits

Blinded in a workplace shooting four years ago that killed several others, 34-year-old Jamie Dolan also reportedly suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks. He has been awarded $1,300 a month in worker’s compensation benefits, plus medical expenses. But getting the latter has been a struggle, according to the…

Sep 30, 2008 6:35 PM CDT

Fla. Supreme Court Reprimands Judge for ‘Arrogant’ Conduct in Murder Case

The Florida Supreme Court has reprimanded a judge for “arrogant” behavior toward defense lawyers in a death penalty case. The court said Judge Cheryl Aleman of Broward County set unreasonable time limits for two assistant public defenders to file motions seeking to disqualify her and then threatened them with contempt…

Sep 30, 2008 11:24 AM CDT

Fla. Teen Who Copied Movie Characters is Convicted of First-Degree Murder

Rejecting an insanity defense, a Florida jury last night convicted a teenager who was 14 at the time he admittedly stabbed a middle school classmate to death of first-degree murder. Assuming that the conviction stands, Michael Hernandez, who is now 18, is expected to spend the rest of his life…

Sep 25, 2008 10:13 PM CDT

Controversial Fla. Lawyer is Disbarred; Jack Thompson Alleges ‘Enemies List’

Updated: Going beyond previous sanctions imposed on a controversial Florida lawyer, the state supreme court today has permanently disbarred Jack Thompson in agreement with a referee’s report (PDF) issued in July that said Thompson repeatedly attempted to harm his opponents’ reputations “with utter disregard to the administration of justice and…

Sep 25, 2008 8:10 PM CDT

Judge Warns PD Action Will Bring Md. Criminal Courts to ‘Grinding Halt’

The Maryland Office of Public Defender has warned state judges that starting next week it will no longer pay private lawyers to represent defendants in conflict-of-interest cases. Brian Denton, chief public defender for Prince George’s County, said in a letter that the action was being taken because of a directive…

Sep 25, 2008 4:40 PM CDT