Judge Blocks Abortion Law

A federal judge has barred enforcement of a Missouri law requiring abortion clinics to upgrade their surgery facilities. U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith issued a temporary restraining order and scheduled a hearing for Sept. 10 to hear arguments on a permanent injunction, the Kansas City Star reports. The law, which…

Aug 28, 2007 2:57 PM CDT

Setbacks in Lead Paint Suits

Lead paint litigation looked promising when a Rhode Island jury last year found paint companies liable for creating a public nuisance. Since then, a series of rulings shielding paint manufacturers have changed that outlook, the National Law Journal reports. The Rhode Island action, brought by the state’s attorney general, was…

Aug 21, 2007 1:07 PM CDT

Ogletree Adds Two New Offices

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart is opening offices in St. Louis and Detroit. The move to St. Louis will make Ogletree the only national labor and employment law firm in the city, managing partner Gray Geddie told the National Law Journal. “St. Louis is a large corporate headquarters city,”…

Aug 15, 2007 11:44 AM CDT

Lawyer to Press Dead Client’s Appeal

A lawyer says he’ll keep working on an appeal for a Missouri death row inmate who died yesterday from throat cancer. The inmate, Brian Kinder, had claimed he was innocent of the rape and murder of his cousin. His lawyer, Fred Duchardt Jr., said he is waiting for laboratory tests…

Aug 9, 2007 3:02 PM CDT

St. Louis Prosecutor: Right Man Executed

Friends of Larry Griffin and death penalty opponents have been eagerly awaiting a report by the chief St. Louis prosecutor on whether Griffin was innocent of the 1980 murder for which he was executed in 1995. But now Chief Prosecutor Jennifer Joyce says the state of Missouri imposed the ultimate…

Jul 13, 2007 5:28 PM CDT

Owners Blame Cities for Bad Homes

As builders throughout the country rushed to profit in the recent construction boom, a number of homes and developments went up that were badly built or otherwise created problems. But in the resulting blame game, many homeowners are now saying municipalities large and small gave builders free rein instead of…

Jul 7, 2007 12:39 AM CDT

Law Firm Markets Product Discounts

Looking for a discount on a foot rub, your next visit to a tanning salon–or legal services? Brown & Crouppen offers them all, via its “VIP Platinum Card.” Plus, the card, sent out by the St. Louis plaintiff personal injury firm in marketing mailings, is transferable to others who might…

Jun 26, 2007 10:00 PM CDT

Did Missouri Execute an Innocent Man?

A dozen years after Larry Griffin was executed, despite his continuing proclaimations of innocence, by the state of Missouri, there are major unanswered questions about whether he was actually guilty of the 1980 drive-by shooting he was convicted of committing. After a University of Michigan law professor brought to light…

Jun 26, 2007 8:35 PM CDT

Longtime Judge Desegregated Schools,  Sat on Watergate Hearings Panel

A retired federal judge known for his role in helping to desegregate the St. Louis schools–as well as, during an earlier stint in Congress, for sitting on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate hearings–has died. William Hungate died today of complications from surgery June 6 for a brain hematoma…

Jun 23, 2007 12:21 AM CDT

St. Louis Lead-Paint Suit Fails

The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled the city of St. Louis may not sue the makers of lead paint under a market-share theory. The city needed to prove which paint manufacturers made the paint used in St. Louis homes to succeed in its suit seeking cleanup costs, the court said…

Jun 13, 2007 8:21 PM CDT

Courts Differ on Wal-Mart Suits

Courts in two states yesterday differed on workers’ quests for class action status in lawsuits against Wal-Mart.

A Missouri appeals court ruled that a class action suit could proceed after a trial judge revises definitions for subclasses, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.).

A New York court refused to certify a class in a similar suit, saying the claims should be tried individually.

Jun 13, 2007 2:37 PM CDT

PD Who Helped Partner Tie Sham Knot Seeks Legal Immigration Alternative

A St. Louis public defender who chose to break the law rather than lose the man he loves admits he made a serious mistake. But the lack of legally recognized marriage alternatives for same-sex couples is what tempted him to transgress, Eric Affholter says. Now facing criminal fraud charges for…

Jun 13, 2007 12:48 AM CDT

Lawyer Denies Role in Prosecutor Firing

A St. Louis attorney is disputing stories that he complained about lax voter fraud prosecutions, resulting in the ouster of U.S. Attorney Todd Graves of Kansas City, Mo. Thor Hearne, a Republican activist, has battled voter fraud and worked to strengthen identification requirements for voters. But he told the St.…

Jun 6, 2007 8:28 PM CDT

PD on the Defense for ‘Sham’ Marriage

A former chief public defender in St. Louis was indicted today on charges he arranged a “sham marriage” so that his boyfriend could stay in the United States. Prosecutors announced the indictment, which was reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The former PD, Eric Affholter, 40, and his live-in boyfriend…

Jun 2, 2007 1:27 AM CDT

Flying Under the Radar

These Little-Notices Legal Developments Could be Making News This Year

Jan 8, 2006 7:48 PM CST