Legal News 01/2016
Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard loses top lawyer ahead of ethics trial
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Indicted House Speaker Mike Hubbard is losing his high-power lawyer three months ahead of his trial on ethics charges. Defense lawyer Mark White filed a motion Thursday to withdraw from Hubbard's legal team. The other ... (Jan 1, 2016, Alabama's News Leader)
Ginnie Graham: Tulsa adoption lawyer helped create 5000 families over 50 years
Former District Judge David Winslow, who worked in probate court for nearly 20 years and served as the county's presiding judge for many years, called Wade Tulsa's “premiere adoption lawyer.” He says he cannot remember Wade making a single error or ... (Jan 2, 2016, Tulsa World)
Houston lawyer makes conservative case in courtroom
Friends and critics alike said that Taylor is a sharp election-law lawyer, one of the best in the state, and a formidable opponent. They agreed Taylor is courteous in court, eloquent in his arguments and meticulous in his preparation. All marvel at his ... (Jan 2, 2016, Houston Chronicle)
Judge Gives Lawyer in Russian Money Laundering Case a Reprieve
In a case stemming from a gigantic 2007 theft from Russia's Treasury, a U.S. district court judge has given defense lawyers in a civil money-laundering case a chance to retain their role just a few days after he disqualified them. Barron's, which has ... (Jan 2, 2016, Barron's)
"Affluenza" teen Ethan Couch hires high-profile Mexican lawyer
DALLAS -- High-profile Mexican attorney Fernando Benitez will represent "affluenza" teen Ethan Couch in his fight to stay in Mexico, CBS affiliate KTVT reported. Benitez has been called a "rock star" and is the same attorney who got a U.S. Marine out ... (Jan 2, 2016, CBS News)
Bill Cosby sex attack case is political, says lawyer
"In that this matter is now being pursued in the criminal justice system, we will not comment further". He said Constand was not upset when she left. In the last 12 months, as dozens of women have come forward accusing Cosby of drugging and sexually ... (Jan 2, 2016, The Bell Ringer)
Shamed lawyer released early, suing neighbor
A former Oak Harbor attorney who stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from clients was released from prison early and jumped back into litigation — only now he's just representing himself. Douglas Saar, disbarred in 2013, filed a lawsuit in Island ... (Jan 2, 2016, Whidbey News-Times (subscription))
Affluenza teen Ethan Couch hires 'rock star' Mexican lawyer to fight deportation
A 'rock star' attorney will represent the 'affluenza' teen in his fight to stay in Mexico. High profile attorney Fernando Benitez is the same lawyer who helped free a U.S. Marine from Mexican prison where he was held for seven months last year. Ethan ... (Jan 2, 2016, Daily Mail)
Lawyer: Bethpage stabbing suspect acted in self-defense
Jeff Saint-Gerard, 28, of Bethpage, is accused of stabbing a 29-year-old man and a 16-year-old teen after attempting to hit them with his car during an argument on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. His lawyer said at his arraignment Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, that ... (Jan 2, 2016, Newsday)
CASD hires in-house lawyer
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that in addition to Shopp, PA Cyber fired: Andrew Oberg, director; Scott Antoline, finance director; Nancy Yanyanin, personnel director; and W. Timothy Barry, a lawyer with the law firm Barry and Worner, who had ... (Jan 2, 2016, Daily Local News)
Lawyer who specializes in representing men during divorce cases charged with ...
Lawyer who specializes in representing men during divorce cases charged with ... (Jan 2, 2016, New York Daily News)
Jeff Saint-Gerard of Bethpage acted in self-defense in stabbing, lawyer says
Jeff Saint-Gerard, 28, of Bethpage, is accused of stabbing a 29-year-old man and a 16-year-old after attempting to hit them with his car during an argument on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. His lawyer said at his arraignment Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, that he ... (Jan 2, 2016, Newsday)
Trump lawyer retweets claim linking Clinton aide to terror video
A lawyer for Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Saturday retweeted a claim that a top Hillary Clinton aide was behind Trump's appearance in an al-Shabaab recruiting video. ADVERTISEMENT. “Huma [Abedin] put in order 4 video the ... (Jan 2, 2016, The Hill (blog))
Disbarred Winter Park lawyer accused of embezzling more than $1.5 million
Then clients and lawyers accused her of embezzling more than $1.5 million. Earlier this year she was permanently disbarred by the Florida Supreme Court and stripped of her accountant's license by the state. The high court accused her of misconduct, ... (Jan 2, 2016, Orlando Sentinel)
Fast track from nobody to City Hall player
Two years ago, Sean T. O'Donovan was a nobody at Boston City Hall, a former Somerville alderman and a lawyer handling personal injury and drunken-driving cases from a modest office in Ball Square. But with Martin J. Walsh's election as mayor, ... (Jan 2, 2016, The Boston Globe)
'Affluenza' teen: The lawyer taking on Ethan Couch's case
He has been called a rock star because of his track record in winning cases for high profile clients. It is a label that lawyer Fernando Benitez finds amusing, but no doubt his latest client Ethan Couch will want a bit of rock star treatment to get him ... (Jan 3, 2016, BBC News)
Cosby's lawyer accuses DA
Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred, a lawyer for several of the women accusing Cosby of sexually assaulting them, but whose cases occurred too long ago to press charges, told NBC her clients are "very happy" that Cosby has been charged. "I think Andrea ... (Jan 3, 2016, Waltonian)
Holden attorney selected as a Super Lawyer
The Super Lawyer designation is a well-recognized award for legal excellence. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a multi-phase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on ... (Jan 3, 2016, Worcester Telegram)
CA affirms writs of amparo, habeas corpus for rights lawyer
THE COURT of Appeals has affirmed its decision granting protection orders to an Isabela-based human rights lawyer who claimed she was subjected to surveillance and harassment by the police and military for providing legal assistance to political ... (Jan 3, 2016, Inquirer.net)
APS Racking Up Lawyer Fees
HOWERTON SHOWS YOU WHY SOME THINK THE DISTRICT COULD SAVE MORE BY CUTTING LAWYERS OUT. REPORTER: ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS NO STRANGER TO LEGAL BATTLES. BUT WHEN IT GOES TO COURT, IT TURNS TO ... (Jan 4, 2016, KOAT Albuquerque)
Guy Ritchie 'hires a lawyer' ahead of custody fight with Madonna over son Rocco
Lawyer who reported client threats is suspended for failing to file appeal on ...
Lawyer who reported client threats is suspended for failing to file appeal on ... (Jan 4, 2016, ABA Journal)
VIDEO: Deaf-blind Harvard-trained lawyer who made waves now rides them, too
Eritrean American Haben Girma is used to pushing boundaries. She made waves as the first-ever deaf-blind graduate of Harvard Law School, and quickly joined Disability Rights Advocates after her graduation in 2013 to work for increased accessibility and ... (Jan 4, 2016, Washington Post)
Lawyer of Tennessee coach whose players are charged with raping teammate ...
Lawyer of Tennessee coach whose players are charged with raping teammate ... (Jan 4, 2016, USA TODAY High School Sports)
Madonna's Family Drama Escalates As Ex Guy Ritchie Hires A Lawyer For ...
Madonna's Family Drama Escalates As Ex Guy Ritchie Hires A Lawyer For ... (Jan 4, 2016, PerezHilton.com)
Making a Murderer's Lawyer Hero
Strang had been fascinated with Clarence Darrow, arguably the best-known American lawyer of the twentieth century, since law school, and well knew Darrow's deep ties to the Midwest: born and raised in small-town Iowa with his law practice first based ... (Jan 4, 2016, New Republic)
Lawyer who reviewed 13000 documents in two…
A lawyer doing document review work for Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan isn't entitled to overtime pay because he was using legal judgment, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams of Manhattan ruled on Dec. 30 in the case of ... (Jan 4, 2016, ABA Journal)
'Affluenza' teen's lawyer: Maybe 'months' before Ethan Couch back in US
(CNN) A lawyer for Ethan Couch, the so-called "affluenza" teen, says it could be "a couple of months" before the 18-year-old is back in the United States. Attorney Fernando Benitez told ABC News he believes the Mexican government was trying to deport ... (Jan 4, 2016, CNN)
'Affluenza' teen's lawyer: Maybe 'months' before Ethan Couch back in U.S.
(Jan. 4, 2016) — A lawyer for Ethan Couch, the so-called “affluenza” teen, says it could be “a couple of months” before the 18-year-old is back in the United States. Attorney Fernando Benitez told ABC News he believes the Mexican government was trying ... (Jan 4, 2016, Fox 59)
Guy Ritchie Hires Lawyer To Fight For Son Rocco In Nasty Custody Battle With ...
Guy Ritchie Hires Lawyer To Fight For Son Rocco In Nasty Custody Battle With ... (Jan 4, 2016, Hollywood Life)
Beijing 'silencing' outspoken rights lawyer with restrictions on suspended ...
Beijing 'silencing' outspoken rights lawyer with restrictions on suspended ... (Jan 4, 2016, South China Morning Post (subscription))
Bill Cosby's Lawyer Explains His Unsettling Mug Shot
His lawyer, Monica Pressley, went on CBS This Morning on New Year's Eve to explain why. “He's a 78-year-old blind man who they've chosen to charge, that's not a defense to a charge, that's just a fact,” Pressley said in response to whether the comedian ... (Jan 4, 2016, Vanity Fair)
China's Rights Lawyers Call For Better Treatment in 2016
30, authorities across China had detained, questioned, or otherwise sanctioned at least 316 rights lawyers, law firm employees, rights activists, and family members, the Hong Kong-based Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group said in a statement ... (Jan 4, 2016, Radio Free Asia)
Lawyer: Gas well missing valve that could have stopped fumes displacing residents
LOS ANGELES – A lawyer says a leaking natural gas well beneath a Los Angeles neighborhood lacks a working safety valve that could stop the release of fumes. Attorney Brian Panish, who represents displaced residents who are suing over the months-long ... (Jan 4, 2016, Fox News)
Above The Law's 2015 Lawyer Of The Year Contest: Nominations Needed
With 2015 squarely in the rearview mirror, we thought it would be a good time to solicit nominations for Above the Law's ninth annual LAWYER OF THE YEAR competition. This is a little later than we usually do it, but the advantage is that we won't miss ... (Jan 4, 2016, Above the Law)
Judge finds city lawyer hid evidence in Chicago police shooting, orders new trial
A top city attorney intentionally concealed crucial evidence in a civil trial over a fatal Chicago police shooting and then lied about his reasons for doing so, a federal judge ruled Monday in a scathing opinion. In overturning the jury's verdict and ... (Jan 4, 2016, Chicago Tribune)
Washington Twp. lawyer seeks Pa. Senate seat
Scott Harper, a York County attorney, is running for the 31st Pennsylvania Senatorial District as a Republican. Loading… Post to Facebook. Washington Twp. lawyer seeks Pa. Senate seat Scott Harper, a York County attorney, is running for the 31st ... (Jan 4, 2016, York Daily Record/Sunday News)
Lawyer for 'affluenza' teen says his deportation appeal in Mexico may take ...
Lawyer for 'affluenza' teen says his deportation appeal in Mexico may take ... (Jan 4, 2016, Fox News)
The Latest: Chicago Lawyer Resigns in Police Shooting Case
The city of Chicago's law department says one of its lawyers accused by a federal judge of concealing evidence in a civil case regarding a fatal police shooting has resigned. A statement from the department says Jordan Marsh submitted his resignation ... (Jan 4, 2016, ABC News)
Chicago Lawyer Resigns in Police Shooting Case After Judge Says He Concealed ...
Chicago Lawyer Resigns in Police Shooting Case After Judge Says He Concealed ... (Jan 4, 2016, NBC Chicago)
'Affluenza' Teen's Mexican Lawyer Hints at Human Rights Issues
Fugitive American teen Ethan "affluenza" Couch's newly appointed Mexican lawyer said he took the case to make sure authorities aren't gaming the system by trying to force him back to Texas without proper legal representation. "Maybe the Mexican ... (Jan 5, 2016, NBCNews.com)
Lawyer: Whitey Bulger Companion to Plead Guilty to Contempt
A lawyer says former Boston mobster James "Whitey" Bulger's (BUHL'-jurz) longtime girlfriend plans to plead guilty to a federal contempt charge. Catherine Greig (grehg) already is serving an eight-year prison term for helping Bulger avoid capture ... (Jan 5, 2016, ABC News)
Chicago lawyer accused of hiding shooting evidence resigns
CHICAGO (AP) — A top city of Chicago lawyer stepped down Monday after a federal judge accused him of hiding evidence in a fatal police shooting, the latest allegation of wrongdoing amid ongoing scrutiny of how the city deals with such cases ... (Jan 5, 2016, U.S. News & World Report)
CAIR's Lawyer Claims Pro-Israel Charities are Terrorists
But the BDS campaign against Jewish charities has reached a new level of ugliness with a lawsuit by CAIR's favorite lawyer which demands that Jewish charities be stripped of non-profit status and that the charities and their donors be potentially ... (Jan 5, 2016, FrontPage Magazine)
Chicago Lawyer Resigns After Judge Rules He Hid Evidence
A top city of Chicago lawyer stepped down after a federal judge accused him of hiding evidence in a fatal police shooting, the latest allegation of wrongdoing amid ongoing scrutiny of how the city deals with such cases. Separately, the city agency that ... (Jan 5, 2016, ABC News)
'Making A Murderer' Lawyer: Former Client's Mom ... He Sold My Son Down the River
According to the documentary, Kachinsky got his PI to force a written confession and then gave cops a heads up to question the 16-year-old without a lawyer present. We spoke with Kachinsky, who said he and his client agreed the plea was appropriate ... (Jan 5, 2016, TMZ.com)
Lawyer: Slain black man's family not happy accused South Carolina police ...
Lawyer: Slain black man's family not happy accused South Carolina police ... (Jan 5, 2016, Fox News)
Will technology create a lawyer 'jobs-pocalypse'?…
The researchers analyzed law-firm billing data for the year 2014 provided by an analytics company and came up with this “ballpark estimate”: Lawyer employment would drop slightly more than 13 percent if automation is applied to law practice. The New ... (Jan 5, 2016, ABA Journal)
Defendant OKs lawyer for 2nd sentencing hearing
BLOOMINGTON — A Florida man who represented himself during a 2011 trial agreed Monday to accept a lawyer's help for a second sentencing hearing in his marijuana trafficking case. Charles Hamilton was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2013 for ... (Jan 5, 2016, Bloomington Pantagraph)
Emanuel Administration Lawyer Accused Of Concealing Evidence In Fatal Police ...
Emanuel Administration Lawyer Accused Of Concealing Evidence In Fatal Police ... (Jan 5, 2016, News One)