Thursday, November 8, 2012

Jordan court postpones verdict of ex-spy chief

A Jordanian criminal court says it has postponed a verdict in the case of a powerful former intelligence chief on trial for alleged embezzlement of public funds, money laundering and abuse of office.

Presiding judge Nashaat Akhras told Mohammed al-Dahabi in court Sunday that his verdict will be pronounced Nov. 11, without giving a reason.

Al-Dahabi ran the General Intelligence Department between 2005 and 2008.

He faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted.

He was arrested in February, when inspectors from the Central Bank of Jordan suspected transactions worth millions of dollars had gone through his bank account.

The rare case against such a high profile official is meant to show Jordan's seriousness in efforts to tackle graft and corruption — a demand voiced in recent street protests.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Palm Beach Construction Law Attorney

Palm Beach Construction Law is a firm combining construction and the law. Our Principal is both a Board Certified Construction Attorney and a Florida Licensed Professional Engineer. Attorney Heitman knows the language of the construction jobsite and can bring his knowledge to the boardroom and the courtroom. His experience in both fields gives him an advantage to handle your case with the highest quality and efficiency.

We hold our standards very high and our work is plumb, square and level.
When we say plumb, that means we will be straightforward with you. There is no beating around the bush and we will evaluate your case and tell you where you are legally, which will help you make better decisions for the future of your business. When we say square, it means we will do whatever it takes to protect our client's legal rights whether is it is resolving your construction disputes or assiting you in drafting your contracts. Lastly, when we say level it means that our law firm will treat all clients with the same high quality legal representation.

Heitman Law Firm, PL is a reliable and professional construction law firm. With many years of experience in the field, Attorney Heitman will give you the client service of the highest quality and efficiency. To contact him for a consultation, call (561) 249-2879 and visit them on the web at http://www.palmbeachconstructionlaw.org/disputes-contracts

Monday, August 6, 2012

New DC drunken driving law to take effect

A new law that toughens penalties for drunken driving in the nation's capital takes effect Wednesday, but the city's police department still is not using breath tests on suspected drunken drivers more than a year after the tests were suspended.

The new law, which was approved by the D.C. Council and signed by Mayor Vincent Gray earlier this summer. It doubles mandatory minimum jail terms for people with blood-alcohol concentrations of .20 percent or higher and establishes a blood-alcohol limit of .04 percent for commercial drivers, including taxi drivers.

The law also establishes new oversight for the district's breath-testing program. But there's still no timetable to the resumption of breath tests, which D.C. police stopped using in February 2011 in the wake of revelations that their breath-testing devices had produced inaccurate results. Police have been using urine and blood tests instead.

A year earlier, District of Columbia officials had notified defense lawyers about nearly 400 drunken-driving convictions that relied, at least party, on inaccurately calibrated blood-alcohol tests.

More than two dozen people sued the district over convictions based on those flawed tests, and the district Attorney General's office said Tuesday that all the outstanding lawsuits had been settled. The district paid a total of $136,000 to 17 plaintiffs, with individuals receiving between $2,000 and $42,000, said Jeffrey Rhodes, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Indianapolis Family Law Firm - Riley Bennett & Egloff, LLP

Divorce is a legal proceeding within the court to formally dissolve a marriage between a couple. Divorce terminates a marital union, allowing the two people to pursue a new life personally and legally. As the most precious asset of any marriage, the best interests of the children should be of primary importance in any divorce proceeding. We strive to provide our clients with representation that will not only protect their rights, but also advance their best intentions for their children.

Among life’s most joyful occasions is to welcome a child into a family. Our attorneys can assist you with the legal process involved in adopting a child, whether it be an independent adoption or through an agency. Where adoption is not an option, our attorneys can also assist with alternatives, including guardianships.

With a team of business and family law attorneys, Riley Bennett & Egloff Law is capable of handling complex divorce and other family law matters on behalf of their clients. They devote individualized attention and personal service to each separate case and take time to listen to client concerns. Their attorneys have the experience need to find creative solutions to fit their client's individual needs. See www.rbelaw.com for more information.

New York SEC Attorneys - Herskovits Law

Employment claims brought by securities industry participants involve issues unique to the securities industry.  Having represented broker-dealers and registered representatives, we have substantial experience with both sides of these disputes and have prosecuted or defended claims for Form U5 expungement, unpaid deferred compensation (including Restricted Stock Units), enforcement of employee forgivable loans (EFL), broker-dealer raiding, unpaid bonuses or commissions, and wrongful termination. 

Over the past five years, Robert Herskovits has successfully prosecuted a significant number of EFL cases brought on behalf of Jefferies & Company, Inc. and smaller broker-dealers.  As a small law firm, we remain free from many of the conflicts associated with larger firms, and have defended a multitude of EFL cases brought by various broker-dealers.  When defending an EFL case, we structure a defense designed to achieve a resolution with a significant discount to the Note's unpaid balance.

Herskovits Law has expertise in both prosecuting and defending claims for securities industry participants involved in issues in the securities industry. Having represented numerous employees, their reputation for effective advocacy by advancing their clients' interests from the outset of each case has been acknowledged in the New York Securities Industry. See www.herskovitslaw.com.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Court: Reinstate Ohio suit alleging Duke kickbacks

A federal appeals court on Monday ordered reinstatement of a lawsuit that accuses Duke Energy Corp. of paying kickbacks to big Cincinnati-area companies to win their support for a 2004 electricity rate increase.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati reversed a federal judge's 2009 decision and reinstated the 2008 antitrust lawsuit filed on behalf of some Ohio businesses and individuals who bills rose.
The district court judge had concluded that federal courts lacked jurisdiction over the case and that the Ohio Public Utilities Commission, which approved the rate increase, had exclusive jurisdiction over state-law claims.
The three-judge appeals panel, however, said in its unanimous ruling that the lower court was incorrect and that "no circumstances exist here that would deprive the district court of jurisdiction over plaintiffs' state-law claims."
The lawsuit claims that, in 2004, the utility known then as Cinergy Corp. paid off large corporate customers who opposed the rate increase request. The lawsuit alleges that the opposition ended after the companies signed rebate deals with Duke.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Man pleads not guilty in Ohio in Navy charity scam

A recently captured fugitive suspected of running a scam that collected up to $100 million in donations for U.S. Navy veterans pleaded not guilty Tuesday to state charges, and a judge wary that he might disappear again ordered him kept locked up.
The man calls himself Bobby Thompson, though authorities don't believe that's his name but have been unable to identify him otherwise.
The man was arrested last week in Portland, Ore., by U.S. marshals after nearly two years as a fugitive.
Authorities believe he defrauded donors of up to $100 million in 41 states since 2001, including $2 million in Ohio. A fraction of the money has been found.
Authorities say Thompson's Tampa, Fla.-based charity, known as the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, made a few sporadic contributions that benefited veterans, but public records show the man behind it contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to political candidates around the country.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Court: Online bookseller owes New Mexico sales tax

A nationally known online bookseller must pay more than a half million dollars in taxes for books, music and movies bought by customers in New Mexico, the state Court of Appeals has ruled in a dispute over the state's power to tax corporate chains and Internet shopping.

The court's decision came Wednesday in a case involving an out-of-state online business, Barnes&nobles.com, LLC, which was part of the corporate family of bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc.

The online retailer was assessed gross receipts taxes in 2006 of $534,563 for sales from 1998 to 2005. The company protested and a state agency hearing officer agreed with the company that it wasn't required to collect and pay the tax because it had no presence in the state or what is known as a "substantial nexus" with New Mexico.

The online retailer was organized under Delaware laws and it had no employees or offices in the state. However, a separate Barnes and Noble company operates three bookstores in New Mexico, with the first of those started in Albuquerque in 1996 and the most recent in Las Cruces in 2003

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Md. high court to hear same-sex divorce case

Maryland's highest court is poised to hear arguments in a precedent-setting case involving two women who married in California but were denied a divorce in Maryland, a state that does not currently allow same-sex weddings.

The Court of Appeals of Maryland in Annapolis is set to hear arguments Friday from lawyers for the lesbian couple seeking to end their marriage. A Maryland judge declined to grant their divorce in 2010, concluding that the women's marriage isn't valid under Maryland law.

But lawyers for the women disagree, saying the state should recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere even though it doesn't allow same-sex weddings at this time. They say that as a result, the state should allow the couple to divorce.

The high court's ultimate decision may have limited effect since same-sex weddings, and by extension divorces, are set to start in the state in January 2013 under a law passed this year. But opponents of the new law are seeking to overturn it in a potential voter referendum.

Meanwhile, judges in Maryland are inconsistent about granting divorces for gay couples who married in another state. Lawyers involved in Friday's case say they believe judges have granted about a half a dozen divorces for gay couples, but their clients, Jessica Port and Virginia Anne Cowan, and at least one other couple were recently denied that.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

French court rules genocide law unconstitutional

France's Constitutional Council ruled Tuesday that a French law concerning the mass killings of Armenians a century ago violates the country's constitution.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had personally backed the law, immediately said he would ask the government to prepare a new bill taking into account the council's ruling.

The law passed by France's parliament in December makes it a crime to deny that the killings of some 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 constituted genocide. The council ruled the law would violate freedom of expression and speech, which are guaranteed by the French constitution.

Turkey, which says there was no systematic campaign against Armenians, has strongly opposed the French law.

The head of a French Armenian organization, meanwhile, sharply criticized the ruling, saying it was the result of Turkish lobbying.

Relations between France and Turkey have suffered since the law's passage, with Turkey suspending its military and economic cooperation with France after the lower house approval of the measure in December. The French Senate gave the law the green light in late January.

Indianapolis Business & Corporate Law Firm

Entity Selection & Formation
There are many important decisions to be made by an emerging business, each of which come with potential pitfalls that be damaging to the business and its owners in the absence of proper legal guidance. Our attorneys can help you with these issues, steering you clear of the problems while helping you select the type of entity which best serves your business interests and goals. From drafting the formation documents to stock issuance to agreements between co-owners, our Firm’s skilled business attorneys can help you establish a solid legal foundation for your business’s future.

Contract Drafting & Negotiation
Beyond the formation of business entities, our Firm acts as a corporate counsel for many of its business clients, including the negotiation, drafting and review of our client’s contracts, ranging in size from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars. With just a few hours’ time, our review of contracts before they are signed can help our clients avoid paying for hundreds of hours of attorney time in litigation once a contract dispute arises.

Riley Bennett & Egloff Law is a Business & Corporate law firm that offers an all-inclusive range of legal services for their business clients and is capable of handling the various issues any business can face. Based in Indianapolis, their attorneys have expertise in entity selection and formation, contract drafting and negotiation, and mergers and acquisitions. Their experience can help you establish a solid legal foundation for your business's future. See www.rbelaw.com.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

American Bar Association Honors Philadelphia Firms

Every month, All Things Legal likes to recognize some of the work done by attorneys and law firms throughout the country that have stuck out in the news. We read to relay back for our opinions on our blog. Today, we are honored to announce the recognition of some Philadelphia law firms. See more below for their recognition and information.

The American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Representation Project will acknowledge Philadelphia law firms Reed Smith LLP and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP’s role in ground-breaking, pro bono litigation of capital punishment appeals with an Exceptional Service Award on Wednesday, Sept.22, 2010 in Houston.  
“There is no greater responsibility for an attorney than to defend a person whose life is at risk,” said ABA President Stephen N. Zack. “These firms are courageous, passionate and skilled advocates who are deeply committed to core principles of justice like due process and fairness, despite the demands of these cases.  They represent the best of our profession and make us proud.”  
Drinker Biddle & Reath partner and death penalty expert Lawrence Fox will accept the award at the 24th Anniversary and Volunteer Recognition Event in Houston, TX.  Fox is a renowned contributor to systemic defense reform.  He is recognized for his amicus filings, which were cited by New York University law professor Anthony Amsterdam in his letter nominating the firm for the award; for standards-writing; and as an expert witness.
Reed Smith attorneys Christopher Walters and David Kochman will accept the award on behalf of their firm.  Reed Smith was nominated by the Southern Center for Human Rights and Equal Justice Initiative, which cited the firm’s leadership in four death row cases in Alabama in 2008.  Each of the four men were only weeks away from losing appeal rights due to lack of legal representation; and the death sentence in each case was imposed by a trial judge who overrode the jury’s decision to impose life without parole.
With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

Gallop, Johnson & Neuman IP Practice Expanding

Another law firm expansion! Congratulations to Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C law firm for the continual expansion and we wish many successes to come! Read further on their story.

The Intellectual Property Practice Group at Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C., is assembling a formidable team of legal talent with new attorneys Donald R. Holland, Ph.D., and William E. Lahey, two experienced, highly-regarded patent attorneys who have joined the firm.
 
Dr. Holland and Mr. Lahey are the first of several prominent IP attorneys the firm is currently adding to its IP practice to address new business in matters of high technology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and related litigation.
 
“While many law firms and their IP groups are stagnating in the current economy, we are expanding,” says Kenneth Solomon, Chair of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman’s IP Practice Group. “This is not a matter of merely adding capacity,” says Solomon. “This would not have been possible just a few years ago – the talent was just not available.  We are fortunate to add some of the most experienced, well-regarded patent attorneys in the St. Louis region,” he added.  
 
Dr. Holland, who earned a Ph.D. in cell physiology and biochemistry in addition to a law degree, has nearly 20 years of patent law experience in biotech, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences. He has focused his practice on patent preparation and prosecution and on opinion work including patentability opinions, clearance opinions and due diligence opinions.  Dr. Holland also has extensive experience in international and foreign patent prosecution, and in Hatch-Waxman opinion work.  Before becoming a patent attorney, Dr. Holland headed a pharmaceutical discovery research lab for many years.
 
Mr. Lahey has been an intellectual property attorney and “first chair” litigator for 35 years. He has handled cases involving biotechnology, computer sciences, electrical systems, fibers, mining safety, mechanical and other technologies. In addition, he has testified as an expert witness on patent law; conducted licensing negotiations for intellectual property rights; and rendered legal opinions on validity infringement and enforceability of intellectual property rights. He has conducted due diligence analysis for corporate mergers and acquisitions, and handled many patent application prosecution matters including ex-parte and inter-parties practices before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
 
“In today’s technology-driven, patent-sensitive business environment, our clients require more intellectual property services to address a full range of legal issues,” Solomon observes. “Don and Bill are very experienced, very well-known and much respected in business, scientific, engineering and legal communities.”

Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C., a full service law firm of 80 attorneys, has provided legal services to clients in diverse industries since its founding in 1976 and is one of the largest law firms in St. Louis. The firm also has offices in Washington, D.C. The firm serves public corporations; privately-held companies; entrepreneurs and start-up enterprises; individuals and families; trustees and trust beneficiaries; charities; and non-profit entities. The firm’s offices are located at 101 South Hanley Road, Suite 1700, in Clayton, Missouri, and at 1350 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 850, in Washington D.C.
For more information about Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, please contact Lois A. LaDriere at 314.615.6000 or visit the website www.gjn.com.   Media contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.

Law firms Orrick, Akin Gump consider union

Law firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is in merger talks with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.
Representatives from both firms characterized the talks as “preliminary.”
A deal would result in a unified law firm with about 1,740 attorneys around the world.
San Francisco-based Orrick had revenue of $847.5 million last year compared to Akin’s $719 million.
Large scale mergers between law firms have become the norm as they seek the most profitable work generated by multinational companies that are investing, selling, acquiring and suing. Some notable big deals include Hogan & Hartson uniting with Lovells and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal’s combination with Denton Wilde Sapte.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/09/27/daily32.html

Armstrong Teasdale Joins AmerenUE’s Pure Power Program

Armstrong Teasdale LLP is supporting the development of new renewable energy sources by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through AmerenUE’s Pure Power program.
Armstrong Teasdale’s commitment to this voluntary program will help prevent approximately 132,996 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), a leading greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere each year. This is equal to the CO2 reduction provided by taking 12 cars off the road for a year.
Pure Power is UE’s voluntary renewable energy program and the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2008 New Green Power Program of the Year Award Winner. It gives residential customers the option to add an extra 1.5 cents/kilowatthour to their monthly bills, offsetting up to 100 percent of their energy usage with clean, renewable energy. Commercial and industrial customers, like Armstrong Teasdale, participate by buying “blocks” of Pure Power, paying an additional $15 a month for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours used.
Pure Power funds are then used to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates from Green-e Energy-certified wind farms and other types of renewable energy projects. In 2009, 100 percent of the RECs purchased for the Pure Power program came from Missouri wind farms. This is projected to be true again in 2010.
Armstrong Teasdale’s level of participation makes it a UE Pure Power Leader--a designation reserved for companies, governments or other large users of electricity who agree to offset at least 3 percent of their energy usage through Pure Power purchases. This purchase also counts toward the City of Clayton’s effort to become the first EPA Green Power Community in the state of Missouri.
About Armstrong Teasdale LLP: Armstrong Teasdale LLP, with nearly 250 lawyers in offices across the U.S. and China, has a demonstrable track record of delivering sophisticated legal advice and exceptional service to a dynamic client base. Whether an issue is local or global, practice area specific or industry related, Armstrong Teasdale provides each client with an invaluable combination of legal resources and practical advice in nearly every area of law. For more information, please visit www.armstrongteasdale.com.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

NY firm buys RI's WLNE-TV for $4 million

A Bronxville, N.Y.-based broadcasting company is buying a struggling affiliate of the ABC broadcast network in Rhode Island for $4 million.
A Superior Court judge in Providence approved the bid by Citadel Communications LLC to buy WLNE-TV on Tuesday because it was the only bidder that had struck an affiliation agreement with ABC. The station's expired affiliate agreement had been extended to April 1.
Court-appointed receiver Matthew McGowan says the deal with ABC was decisive because ABC could yank its signal. Three bidders who had not reached a deal with ABC were required to put the money upfront and competitively bid for the station, but they declined to do so.
Global paid $14 million for WLNE-TV in 2007. The firm went into receivership in 2010. Owner Kevin O'Brien did not respond to a call for comment.