News. Crime Stories, Law on News and Legal Publications in January, 2012

Top Picks in News

Apple gets a break as EU antitrust watchdog launches full-blown probe into ...
9 to 5 MacJanuary 31, 2012

The implementation of this provision is defined in the Antitrust Regulation (Council Regulation No 1/2003) which can be applied by the Commission and by the national competition authorities of EU Member States.more »

Medicaid smokers' surcharge proposed by Utah Representative
eMaxHealthJanuary 31, 2012

By Robin Wulffson MD on January 31, 2012 - 1:26pm ST, GEORGE, UTAH - On January 27, Republican Representative Paul Ray proposed a bill went before the Utah House Government Operations Committee, which requested a surcharge on Medicaid, ...more »

Latest Legal and Criminal News

Administrative Law
[read all news]
Homeowner Rules Discussed At NC Public Hearing
WXII The TriadJanuary 24, 2012

Jordan mentioned requiring education of association board members on the law, licensing management firms that perform association duties and preventing foreclosures on homeowners who violate covenants. Two other public hearings, one in the east and ...more »

Health Care Law
[read all news]
Call it RomNewtObamacare
Palm Beach Post (blog)January 28, 2012

That's because the federal law, despite Mr. Romney's protests to the contrary, was based on the state law. Mr. Romney and Newt Gingrich, the front-runners heading into Florida's Republican primary on Tuesday, vowed again during Thursday night's debate ...more »

Admiralty & Maritime Law
[read all news]
Augusta-area law enforcement agencies not changing traffic stop procedures
The Augusta ChronicleJanuary 31, 2012

Two months earlier, Richmond County sheriff's Deputy James D. Paugh was shot and killed after he stopped to check on a suspicious vehicle on Bobby Jones Expressway at Gordon Highway. Area departments say every traffic call is unique and, therefore, ...more »

Immigration Law
[read all news]
Western Growers supports Arizona immigration accord
The PackerJanuary 31, 2012

Western Growers and the Arizona Farm Bureau have backed an attempt at creating immigrant-friendly policies in Arizona. Joining a coalition called the Arizona Accord, the immigration reform effort supports focusing law enforcement resources on criminal ...more »

Industrial Development Law
[read all news]
Misclassification of Employees Gets More Expensive
Corporate CounselJanuary 4, 2012

Whether plaintiffs' attorneys also may bring suit on behalf of a group of "aggrieved" contract workers as a "private attorney general" action based on California's Private Attorney General Act (Labor Code §2698 et seq.) remains to be seen. ...more »

Alternate Dispute Resolution
[read all news]
Exclusive: Government to pilot mediation scheme to curb 'complex' tribunal process
HRmagazine.co.ukJanuary 23, 2012

"Mediation offers an informal method of dispute resolution and can be used at the point when problems first arise in the workplace. For both employers and employees it can mean avoiding the need for formal discipline and grievance procedures. ...more »

Insurance Litigation
[read all news]
Bipartisan House group kills 'bad faith' bill
Orlando SentinelJanuary 26, 2012

During a trial, the policyholder then could be found liable for money above the limits of the insurance policy. If the policyholder or the injured person thinks the insurance company failed to properly settle the case, a bad-faith lawsuit could result ...more »

Animal Law
[read all news]
Animal deaths catches Forest Officers off-guard
IBNLive.comJanuary 30, 2012

As per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, any incidents involving Schedule-1 animals should be booked by the Forest Department and the offender should be remanded in custody. No private justice is permitted by the officials.more »

Intellectual Property
[read all news]
Motorola files new suit against Apple
InfoWorldJanuary 25, 2012

The merger agreement between Google and Motorola stipulates that Motorola not assert any new intellectual property actions without an agreement in writing by Google. That means Google must have expressly authorized Motorola to pursue this new case, ...more »

Asbestos Litigation
[read all news]
Asbestos Victims in Libby Finally Seeing Settlement with Montana
Asbestos.comJanuary 31, 2012

More than a decade after first filing a lawsuit against the state for a failure to warn them of the danger, the first batch of asbestos plaintiffs in Libby, Montana have begun receiving their portion of a $43 million settlement.more »

Labor & Employment Law
[read all news]
Search under way for general counsel
Penn State LiveJanuary 16, 2012

... affecting compliance with federal and state laws and regulations; prepare and review legal documents, including contracts and licensing agreements; and collaborate with the University's Risk Management Office and the Affirmative Action Office. ...more »

LaHood defends airline price rules in speech to aviation industry
The Hill (blog)January 31, 2012

By Keith Laing - 01/31/12 02:11 PM ET Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood defended the Department of Transportation's rules for airline price advertisements Tuesday in the face of what could have been a turbulent audience of aviation industry officials ...more »

Landlord & Tenant Law
[read all news]
Lease ended on discordant note
Independent OnlineJanuary 31, 2012

(6) The security deposit, being an amount equal to one month's rental, would be refunded to the tenant with accrued interest or utilised by the landlord, as the case may be, in terms of the relevant provisions of the Rental Housing Act 50 of 1999 ...more »

Bankruptcy Law
[read all news]
Hedge fund paying $9M; won't be prosecuted
Sacramento BeeJanuary 23, 2012

The settlement with Diamondback "appropriately sanctions the misconduct while giving due credit to Diamondback for its substantial assistance in the government's investigation," George Canellos, director of the SEC's regional office in New York, ...more »

Litigation
[read all news]
EFI Wins Favorable Verdict in Patent Litigation Filed by Durst
What They ThinkJanuary 8, 2012

Electronics For Imaging, Inc. (Nasdaq:EFII), a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced victory in a long-running patent lawsuit in Germany brought by Durst Fototechnik Digital Technology GmbH against EFI. ...more »

Business Law
[read all news]
Complying With Brazil's Consumer Protecting Code
JD Supra (press release)January 31, 2012

ADVERTISING The CPC covers prohibitions against false advertising and omitting relevant consumer information, in addition to regulating the way suppliers convey information to consumers. It imposes significant penalties for noncompliance.more »

Military Law & Military Benefits
[read all news]
Discharge documents critical to benefits, difficult to change
Clarksville Leaf ChronicleJanuary 31, 2012

General under Honorable Conditions: Not eligible for GI Bill education benefits, but are eligible for most other benefits. Under Other than Honorable Conditions: Not eligible to wear the military uniform; to receive burial rights and honors; ...more »

Computer & Internet Related Crimes
[read all news]
Global Cyber Regulations Needed to Combat Attacks, Study Finds
BloombergJanuary 30, 2012

... up global Internet crime rings. An FBI investigation dubbed “Operation Ghost Click” ended Nov. 9 with criminal charges against six Estonians and a Russian for operating a Web fraud infecting more than 4 million computers in at least 100 countries, ...more »

Personal Injury
[read all news]
The Reason For The Rise In Florida Auto Accident Insurance Fraud
InjuryBoard.comJanuary 27, 2012

The cause of the problem is well known: Florida's Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP) laws give an automatic $10000.00 in medical care to each and every person involved in an auto accident in Florida, even if they are at fault.more »

Constitutional Law & Civil Rights
[read all news]
Sen. Lee to Testify at Hearing on Illegal Non-Recess Appointments
Heritage.org (blog)January 31, 2012

A handful of constitutional law experts are slated to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee tomorrow about President Obama's four unconstitutional non-recess appointments. The witnesses include Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), ...more »

Professional Malpractice
[read all news]
Heidelberg elected to the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
Mississippi Press (blog)January 23, 2012

"The FDCC is a significant legal association." Heidelberg is a lifelong resident of Pascagoula. He has practiced law in Pascagoula since his admission to the Mississippi Bar in January 1978. Heidelberg represents several Mississippi governmental ...more »

Consumer Protection
[read all news]
More power for consumer courts
Moneylife Personal Finance site and magazineJanuary 31, 2012

The government has proposed amendments to the Consumer Protection Act, 1986. Non-compliance with the orders of the consumer forums could attract a fine of Rs500 or 1.5% of the penalty amount. The orders of consumer courts will have the force of a ...more »

Real Estate Law
[read all news]
Funds investing in commercial real estate have good year
USA TODAYJanuary 5, 2012

Real estate funds invest in commercial real estate and generally don't invest in physical property. They buy and sell shares of real estate investment trusts (REITs), which invest in malls, apartments, office buildings and hotels. By law, a REIT has to ...more »

Accenture to Expand Analytics Capabilities with Acquisition of Neo Metrics ...
EON: Enhanced Online News (press release)January 25, 2012

The acquisition will enable Accenture to further develop advanced analytical models across all industries and business functions including sophisticated models and techniques for pricing optimization, quality management, fraud management and demand ...more »

Sports Law
[read all news]
Woodbury seeks change in law to fund sports center
Minneapolis Star TribuneJanuary 29, 2012

Woodbury took a big step toward a new recreational facility last week, approving architectural and construction firms for the rebuilding of the popular but aging Bielenberg Sports Center. The building is now a cloth "bubble" at the end of its lifespan.more »

Criminal Defense
[read all news]
Lawyer hired by Rep. DeWeese to testify as defense opens its case in Pa ...
The RepublicJanuary 30, 2012

A lawyer hired by state Rep. Bill DeWeese in the early stages of a state criminal probe is scheduled to testify as the defense opens its case in DeWeese's corruption trial. William Chadwick was scheduled to take the witness stand Monday as the trial ...more »

Green gas, good intent and Kyle Orton
ESPNJanuary 6, 2012

In a document filed in the US Tax Court, a forum specializing in tax disputes, an IRS attorney said the agency expected that "other witnesses may similarly invoke their Fifth Amendment privileges." In the early stages of the IRS investigation, ...more »

New year is full of new laws
TheReporter.comJanuary 1, 2012

Jerry Brown in October, is aimed at ending the discrimination faced by many caught in a cycle of poor credit as a result of unemployment, further preventing them from finding a job. Still, there are some exceptions to the law, including positions ...more »

Trusts & Estate Planning
[read all news]
How to Register Your New Business Name
MashableJanuary 23, 2012

This should include common law and county registrars. You can find affordable online services to simplify this task for you by performing a comprehensive search into state and local databases. When you incorporate or form an LLC for your new business, ...more »

Environmental Law
[read all news]
House Has Full Agenda for February
ABC News (blog)January 31, 2012

“Because the Senate-passed two-month extension has become law, it cannot serve as the Senate 'position' in a formal conference committee.” “We'll see what alternatives that the Republicans put on the table. We're putting our alternative on the table, ...more »

Wills & Probate
[read all news]
63% of Britons have no will
IBB Solicitors (blog)January 30, 2012

The research shows many people deploy a head in the sand approach to wills.” For advice on issues relating to wills, trusts, probate and tax and estate planning, contact our specialist team, call us on 01494 790007 or email enquiries@ibblaw.co.uk.more »

Family Law
[read all news]
Dodd-Frank deadline looms for family offices
InvestmentNewsJanuary 29, 2012

By Andrew Osterland Investment banks and brokerage firms aren't the only ones scrambling to prepare for the post-Dodd-Frank Act regulatory environment. Family offices, which provide investment management and other financial services to ultrawealthy ...more »

Workers Compensation
[read all news]
MILLER v. WORKERS' COMPENSATION APPEAL BOARD
Leagle.comJanuary 20, 2012

Henry Miller petitions this Court for review of the order of the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board (Board) which affirmed the order of a Workers' Compensation Judge (WCJ) denying Miller's Petition to Review Compensation Benefit Offset.more »

Archive

Legal and Criminal News in 2013
Legal and Criminal News in 2012
Legal and Criminal News in 2011
Jose E Gallego Jr.Attorney at LawPRACTICE AREA: Insurance Litigation, Litigation, Animal Law
Douglas P MahoneyAttorney at LawPRACTICE AREA: Personal Injury, Professional Malpractice, Criminal Defense, Constitutional Law & Civil Rights, Litigation, Animal Law
Joseph G WalshAttorney at LawPRACTICE AREA: Personal Injury, Professional Malpractice, Criminal Defense, Business Law, Insurance Litigation, Alternate Dispute Resolution, Litigation, Animal Law
Rheanne D FalknerAttorney at LawPRACTICE AREA: Personal Injury, Professional Malpractice, Landlord & Tenant Law, Asbestos Litigation, Contracts, Constitutional Law & Civil Rights, Animal Law