AZ Legal Considerations

Speed Cameras

2008-12-08T15:13:00.001-08:00

As speed cameras increase on the highways and at intersections, people are growing more upset.

"Cameras catch more speeders; public opposition intensifies"
by Lindsey Collom - The Arizona Republic

It seems like you can't drive anywhere these days without being under the watchful lens of a speed or red-light enforcement camera.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety's cameras snapped more than 40,000 speeders on Valley freeways within the first two months of a speed-enforcement camera program that began Sept. 26.

DPS' cameras - about 60 so far - are the latest crop of automated traffic-enforcement devices to hit Arizona. Valley cities including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Peoria and Avondale use cameras to cite drivers for running red lights and speeding. Some are also zeroing in on illegal turns.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Misdemeanor Defense Attorney

Serious Wrongful Death Lawsuit

2008-12-04T15:52:00.000-08:00

A Scottsdale man was killed last year during a high-speed chase. The police were not pursuing him, he just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The lawsuit brought names AZ DPS, MCSO, and Chandler PD. The EV Tribune has the story:

"Family of crash victim files suit"
Mike Sakal, Tribune

The family of a man who was killed in police pursuit involving three Valley law-enforcement agencies has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming the chase was unnecessary.

The suit against the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the Chandler Police Department comes near the first anniversary of the death of Alex Ahmad, 24, of Scottsdale.

The lawsuit was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court on Wednesday, according to attorney Richard Treon, representing the Ahmad family.

Read Full Article East Valley Tribune

Posted by Criminal Defense Attorney Phoenix

City of Chandler Legal Developments

2008-11-17T09:48:00.000-08:00

"Chandler hands lawmaker case to Scottsdale"
Associated Press

Chandler's city attorney has handed the theft and tampering case against a state lawmaker to the Scottsdale city prosecutor.

Chandler officials said a conflict exists because state Senator John Huppenthal was once a Chandler city councilman and part of his legislative district falls in Chandler.

Chandler police want Huppenthal prosecuted on misdemeanor counts of tampering and theft of a political sign on Election Day.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Injury and Accident Lawyer

Law Symposium

2008-10-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

For anyone interested, there's a construction law symposium coming up in Phoenix. AZ Central has the details:

"Business briefs: Construction law symposium"

The city's Community and Economic Development Department, Small Business Division, will host a construction law symposium from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Phoenix School of Law, 4041 N. Central Ave., Room 300.

For full details click here on AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Accident Lawyers Arizona

Investigation of Mexican Consulate

2008-10-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

Maricopa County Law Enforcement and County Attorney are investigating the Mexican consulate for issues relating to immigration. Phoenix Business Journal has the story:

"County Attorney questions Mexican Consulate financial help for arrested workers"
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas wants to know why the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix has given money to nine waterpark workers arrested for alleged document fraud and immigration violations.

Thomas said the Mexican Consulate put $100 in the jailhouse accounts of the nine workers, who were employed at Golfland Entertainment Inc.’s Waterworld waterpark in northwest Phoenix.

Read Full Article Phoenix Business Journal

Posted by Phoenix Bike Accident Attorney

Serial Shooter Trial

2008-10-22T13:41:00.000-07:00

One good rule for any attorney (or any person in the courtroom for that matter) is don't upset the judge. East Valley Tribune has an interesting story:

"Defense attorney scolded in Serial Shooter trial"
Nick R. Martin, Tribune

He rolled his eyes. He flailed his arms. He yelled. He cursed. He did everything but spit. Defense attorney Ken Everett did his best Tuesday to try to discredit a key witness in the case against his client, Serial Shooter suspect Dale Hausner.

Follow the trial live via blog or Twitter

In the end, the full-throated attack on witness John Kane appeared only to agitate the one man no attorney wants to upset - the judge.

Read Full Article East Valley Tribune

Posted by Phoenix Injury and Accident Lawyers

Immigration Debate may reach Supreme Court

2008-10-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Supreme Court could take on a case concerning criminal intent in identity theft by immigrants. The potential question is do undocumented migrants using Social Security Numbers have to "knowingly" take a real person's number. The Washington Post has this interesting story:

"Justices May Take Immigration Cases"
By Jerry Markon, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, October 19, 2008

As hundreds of immigration agents raided a kosher meatpacking plant in rural Iowa in May, prosecutors summoned defense lawyers to the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids.

Their message was blunt: The illegal immigrants arrested must plead guilty to lesser counts or face indictment on charges of aggravated identity theft and possible mandatory two-year prison terms.

"It was a hammer over everyone's head," said Dan Vondra, a lawyer who represented several of the 302 immigrants who quickly took the deal. "For these people, two years in federal prison was unbearable."

Read Full Article Washington Post

Posted by Phoenix Arizona Accident Lawyers

Renzi Legal Battle

2008-10-17T09:37:00.000-07:00

Representative Rick Renzi is facing extortion charges, among other things. I'm sure many of you have heard about this. Renzi's legal team is arguing an interesting separation of powers concept. AZ Central article has the story:

"FBI wiretapped Renzi; lawyers challenge legality"
by Dennis Wagner - Oct. 17, 2008, The Arizona Republic

U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi was wiretapped by one of his former aides during a federal investigation into a land deal that led to the third-term Arizona congressman's indictment on extortion and other charges.

The role of that congressional staffer and others is disclosed in a motion filed by Renzi's attorneys, who seek to have much of the government's evidence thrown out because they say the FBI violated constitutional shields protecting lawmakers from interference in their official actions.

The U.S. District Court motion says Joanne Keene, Renzi's former legislative director, cooperated with the FBI by secretly recording phone conversations with her ex-boss concerning the land transaction.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Abogado Phoenix Lesion Personal

Supreme Court after the Election

2008-10-14T10:41:00.000-07:00

Once again, many groups are trying to figure out how either Presidential candidate will affect the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court. As most know, predicting the Supreme Court is nearly impossible at times. Law.com has a good article:

"Can McCain or Obama Turn the Supreme Court?"
Tony Mauro, Legal Times, October 14, 2008

Slowly but surely, the Supreme Court is creeping into the presidential election debate, with accessories included.

The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights is offering palm cards for voters telling them how important this election will be to the future of the Court.

"If public schools in your community decide to adopt an integrated educational program, it may be considered unconstitutional. That's the power of the Supreme Court," the card warns.

Read Full Article Law.com

Posted by Car Accident Lawyer Phoenix Arizona

Free Speech Battle

2008-10-10T09:45:00.000-07:00

Communities all over the country try to put restrictions on adult-oriented businesses, but everyone must not infringe on free speech rights. Arizona is no exception, and a recent state supreme court ruling has opened the debate again. Essentially the supremes ruled that a Maricopa County trial court should "re-examine" a law that restricts adult shop hours. Phoenix Business Journal has the latest:

"Supreme Court opens door for added sex shop hours"
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a Phoenix trial court should take another look at the legality of a state law that restricts the hours of adult and sexually oriented businesses.

Read Full Article Phoenix Business Journal

Posted by Phoenix DUI and Traffic Lawyer

South Phoenix

2008-10-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

I don't know if anyone remembers, but a couple months ago Honeywell Inc. settled with the state to pay millions in fines and environmental clean-up. The state was alleging the company had been violating environmental laws for a couple decades. From all of this, South Phoenix has been fighting to get a piece of the settlement money to fund clean-up efforts in their area. They seem to have succeeded. Check out this Arizona Republic story:

"South Phoenix to get money from hazardous-waste" suit
The Arizona Republic

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has reached an agreement with south Phoenix residents, legislators and other officials who were upset that money recently received in a major hazardous-waste settlement wasn't being funneled to their neighborhoods.

Under the compromise announced Wednesday, the state will launch a new project - using grant money - to address air pollution across South Phoenix. The exact boundaries of the project have not been identified but could stretch across a wide area between Van Buren Street, 75th Avenue, Baseline Road and 48th Street.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury and Negligence Lawyers

Flagstaff Fee Challenge

2008-10-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

A group has challenged a Flagstaff "transaction fee" for pawnshops. The group has gathered signatures, and they want a referendum. The city wants the revenue for funding police work, and the local group says it discriminates against Native Americans. AZ Daily Sun has the story:

"Pawn shops want referendum on new fee"
By J. FERGUSON, Sun Staff Reporter

A local group led by pawn shop executives has collected more than 1,900 signatures in an attempt to put the recently passed $2 pawn transaction fee before city voters sometime next year.

The number of collected signatures exceeds the 1,253 signatures needed to put the issue on a future ballot, yet the signatures have yet to be verified. City and county officials will spend the next few weeks verifying the petition's signatures. Greg Geile, the chief operations officer for the two Superpawn locations in Flagstaff as well as five other locations in Arizona, said the ordinance passed by the Flagstaff City Council places a heavy burden on his customers.

Read Full Article Arizona Daily Sun

Posted by Phoenix Arizona Divorce Lawyer

License Plates

2008-10-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

An Arizona pro-life or anti-abortion (whatever term you prefer) group had sought license plates with a message of "Choose Life". The 9th Circuit ruling in favor of the group was upheld by the Supreme Court, as they regarded any restriction as not content-neutral for free speech considerations. East Valley Tribune has the latest:

"Supreme Court OKs anti-abortion license plate"
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday wiped out the last legal hurdle for anti-abortion groups to get their own special state license plates.

'Choose Life' license plates due out soon

Without comment, the high court upheld a unanimous decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which concluded that the state License Plate Commission illegally denied the request by Arizona Life Coalition to issue a plate with the message "Choose Life."

Read Full Article East Valley Tribune

Posted by Phoenix Criminal Defense Lawyer

Medicare

2008-10-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

The federal government is now requiring that certain hospital mistakes are to be paid for by the doctor/hospital. Medicare will no longer make any payments in these situations. Now, doctors and hospitals aren't just legally liable for in negligence to the family, but they also must pay their own costs for mistakes on Medicare patients. AZ Central has the latest:

"Hospitals to pay for own surgical mistakes"
by Ken Alltucker, The Arizona Republic

Hospitals will no longer be rewarded for leaving a sponge in a patient's chest during heart surgery or accidentally infecting a patient during a weight-loss operation.

This month, the federal government rolled out a new program that withholds some payments from hospitals that want to bill Medicare for the costs of correcting their own mistakes.

Medicare, the government insurance program for the elderly and disabled, has named 10 hospital-acquired conditions that are "reasonably preventable" and should not end up costing the government money to put right. Some examples include a second surgery required to remove an object, such as a sponge or a medical tool, left in a patient during an initial surgery or improper catheter use that triggers a urinary-tract infection.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Product Liability Attorney

Maricopa County Jails

2008-10-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

The jail system in Maricopa County has received a fair amount of lawsuits from inmates over the years. Apparently they just lost their accreditation from the federal government concerning health standards. AZ Star has an interesting story, and points out that this could have serious implications on lawsuits:

"Maricopa County jails lose federal health accreditation"
Associated Press

PHOENIX — Maricopa County jails are no longer accredited by a national health commission because the facilities failed to meet federal standards for care and county officials provided incorrect information to the accrediting agency, officials said.

The National Commission on Correctional Health Care sent Maricopa County administrators a letter late last week notifying them the group was pulling its accreditation of the county's jail system.

Read Full Article AZ Star

Posted by Phoenix Serious Injury Lawyer

Eminent Domain

2008-10-01T12:25:00.000-07:00

For anyone who is into land use and zoning law, East Valley Tribune has an interesting story:

"Scottsdale may seize easement behind houses"
Ari Cohn, Tribune

Margo Cibella for years has allowed the public to use a privately owned alleyway behind her north Scottsdale home to access Mescal Park.

But after what she claimed were trail users who set her hay on fire, trashed her property and threatened to beat her dog to death, Cibella said she has had enough.

About three weeks ago, Cibella and her husband, Ron, closed the gates to their portion of the 16-foot-wide utility easement behind their house along 68th Place north of Cholla Street, where they have lived for about 30 years.

Read Full Article East Valley Tribune

Posted by Phoenix Arizona Bankruptcy Attorney

Federal

2008-09-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Remember the fiasco with former AG, Alberto Gonzales, and his policies. Well a prosecutor has been appointed in the case. I think some of the firings actually affected the Arizona U.S. Attorney Offices, but I'm not 100%. Law.com has the article:

"Mukasey Appoints Special Prosecutor to Investigate U.S. Attorney Firings"

Joe Palazzolo, Legal Times
September 30, 2008

Attorney General Michael Mukasey has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate the firings of several U.S. Attorneys in 2006, as a report released Monday by Justice Department watchdogs found "significant evidence" that several of the attorneys fired in 2006 were let go for partisan or political reasons (pdf). The report recommended the appointment of a prosecutor with subpoena powers to continue the investigation.

Top department officials had said the firings were performance-related, but the report, by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine and Office of Professional Responsibility Director H. Marshall Jarrett, found otherwise. It also describes the department's top two officials at the time, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, as "remarkably unengaged" in the firing process and cites both for making "inconsistent, misleading and inaccurate" public statements about the firings.

Read Full Article Law.com

Posted by Phoenix Medical Malpractice Attorney

Great legal site

2008-09-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. "Jurist" is a really great legal news and research site through the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. I imagine a lot of you already know about it, but just in case. Check out Jurist. Enjoy and keep following the legal news!

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer Arizona

Various laws going into effect

2008-09-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

Apparently today is the begins the "effective date" from all those laws passed in the AZ Legislature's past term. AZ Central has the story:

"Hundreds of changes to state law take effect today"

by Scott Wong, The Arizona Republic

As of today, it's illegal to sell puppies and other animals along Arizona roads. The state mine inspector can now fill deadly abandoned mines with cement, glass and other donated debris. And fight rules have been relaxed in cage-fighting events, guaranteeing fans more gore.

They are among hundreds of changes to state law that take effect today, the 90th day after the end of the legislative session, referred to by policy wonks as the "general effective date."

The state now will begin enforcing most of the 315 bills Gov. Janet Napolitano signed into law this year. But others, including a bill requiring new fees for off-road vehicles and another that increases penalties for driving a vehicle or boat under the influence, won't become effective until Jan. 1.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Premise Liability Lawyers

AZ Supreme Court ruling on energy

2008-09-25T09:29:00.000-07:00

AZ Supreme Court is not going to block the energy mandate requiring a certain percentage of energy to be based on alternative sources. The challenger plans to refile in a different court. East Valley Tribune has the story:

Court refuses to block renewable energy mandate

Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services

The state's highest court refused Tuesday to overturn a requirement on utilities to generate at least 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2025.

Without comment, the Arizona Supreme Court refused to hear arguments by the Goldwater Institute that the Arizona Corporation Commission exceeded its constitutional authority in imposing the mandate. The lawsuit challenged not only the requirement but the legality of the surcharge that utilities are passing along to their customers.

Read Full Article East Valley Tribune

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury Attorney

Worker lawsuit

2008-09-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

The housing collapse in AZ has definitely caused some repurcussions in the legal world here. A large group of workers is demanding payment for years of overtime with no compensation. This lawsuit implicates parties in 4 different states. It was filed in federal so we'll see what happens. AZ Central has the story:

"Contractor owes workers millions, lawsuit alleges"

by J. Craig Anderson - Sept. 24, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit say a large contractor and its subsidiaries owe construction workers in Arizona, California and Nevada millions of dollars in unpaid wages for work they performed during the housing boom.

A complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court against a California contracting company whose subsidiaries include Scottsdale-based SelectBuild Construction Inc. alleges that the plaintiffs, all current or former construction workers, put in long hours for years without receiving any overtime pay.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers

Speed Camera Challenge

2008-09-23T09:48:00.000-07:00

The lawsuits finally came against those speed cameras they have all over the Valley and the state. The local governments in the state will likely gather some serious legal ammo for this case, because of the obvious revenue it generates. I have heard that some places around the country are actually getting rid of the cameras, because people stopped speeding, but the government isn't making money. AZ Business Gazette on AZ Central has the story:

"Lawsuit questions legality of speed cameras"
by Howard Fischer - Sept. 18, 2008 12:00 AM
Capitol Media Services

Thousands of Arizona motorists might be able to ignore their photo-enforcement tickets if a new lawsuit is successful - and people who already paid fines based on the roadside cameras may be able to get their money back.

Legal papers filed in Maricopa County Superior Court contend that some of the speed violations recorded by Redflex Traffic Systems before the first week in August are illegal. That is because the company, which operates speed-enforcement cameras for the Department of Public Safety and several Arizona municipalities, was operating radar guns that had not been cleared for use in the United States.

The case when James Tavernetti filed suit claiming that he is not legally bound to pay a ticket issued by the Town of Paradise Valley in June after a mobile photo-radar unit operated by Redflex clocked him speeding.

Read Full Article AZ Business Gazette

Posted by Phoenix Accident and Injury Attorneys

Stressful Times

2008-09-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

The way things are now, it seems like economic difficulty is having an impact on everyone. Law.com has a good article for managing stress at the moment.

"How to Keep Healthy at Work"
Jim Thornton, The American Lawyer
September 22, 2008

I just started my second year of law school, my debt load is smothering and I'm worried sick about the future of the economy. Law firms say they're still hiring, but it's hard to believe them in the current environment. I'm so stressed over my career prospects I can't think straight.

As one philosopher so nicely summed up the human condition: "Things are going to get unbelievably worse and never get better."

I think he was joking. Alas, for the vast legion of us feeling lily-livered about our livelihoods, the line between absurd hyperbole and irrefutable logic isn't always clear.

Read Full Article Law.com

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys

Short-sale ban

2008-09-19T09:22:00.000-07:00

SEC is taking action to stave off a mass financial disaster. We'll see what happens:

"SEC Adopts Rules Against Naked Short-Selling"

By Marcy Gordon
Associated Press

WASHINGTON
Federal regulators on Wednesday took measures aimed at reining in aggressive forms of short-selling that were blamed in part for the demise of Lehman Brothers and which some feared could be used against other vulnerable companies in a turbulent market.

The Securities and Exchange Commission adopted rules it said would provide permanent protections against abusive "naked" short-selling. Unlike the SEC's temporary emergency ban this summer covering naked short-selling in the stocks of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and 17 large investment banks, the new rules apply to trading in the broader market.

Read Full Article Lexis One

Posted by Phoenix Injury and Accident Lawyer

More blogs

2008-09-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

Check out some of our other blogs and comment:

Mexico News

AZ Immigration News

National and World Considerations

Important News for Arizona

Employer Sanctions Law

2008-09-18T09:50:00.000-07:00

The employer sanctions law in AZ was technically upheld by the Ninth Circuit. However, there was no bright line rule espoused, and there was an obvious indication of lack of real controversy as a constitutional matter. Looks like this could still go either way.

"Ninth Circuit upholds Arizona employer sanctions law"
Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

A federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld a nine-month-old Arizona law to punish businesses that hire illegal immigrants.

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a U.S. District Court ruling Wednesday upholding the state's Legal Arizona Workers Act. The law suspends or revokes the business licenses of employers caught knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

Read Full Article Phoenix Business Journal

Posted by Phoenix Arizona DUI Attorneys

Baggy pants insanity

2008-09-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

Sure enough, this was too hard to pass up. A judge has ruled that a municipal law punishing pants worn too low cannot be constitutional. Wonder if the city attorney's office in this Florida city plan to file an appeal??

"Fla. judge rules saggy pants law unconstitutional"
Associated Press

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. - A judge has decided a law banning sagging pants in this town is unconstitutional after a teenager spent a night in jail on accusations he exposed too much underwear.

Read Full Article AZ Central

Posted by Phoenix Construction Site Accident Lawyer

Troubled economy

2008-09-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street mess is having a national impact the legal community, including Arizona. Best of luck to everybody out there after reading the article.

"Work, Jobs Drying Up for Firms in Wake of Wall Street Mess, Says Orrick Lawyer"

Posted by Brian Baxter

The fate of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch has everyone speculating about the state of the U.S. financial sector, especially Am Law 200 lawyers.

We checked in with Alan Pomerantz, partner in charge of the New York real estate practice group at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and a former chair of the global property and finance practice group at Weil, Gotshal & Manges for 11 years, to talk about how law firms will be affected by the current economic crisis.

Read Full Article American Lawyer

Posted by Phoenix Wrongful Death Lawyer

"Sex offender admits posing as 7th grader"

2008-09-11T16:07:00.000-07:00

Very public trial in AZ is making it on CNN:

PHOENIX, Arizona (AP) -- A sex offender who posed as a 12-year-old boy to enroll in Arizona schools has pleaded guilty to seven criminal charges, two stemming from the charade he pulled for two years, and will go to prison for more than 70 years, a prosecutor said.

Authorities didn't find any victims of sexual abuse at the schools 30-year-old Neil Havens Rodreick II attended. But when Rodreick's ruse was discovered in January 2007, they found an extensive collection of child pornography at his home.

Rodreick had originally faced 28 counts, but pleaded guilty to only a quarter of them Friday in Yavapai County Superior Court in northern Arizona, according to a plea agreement document.

Read Full Article CNN

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyers

"Insurers don't have to pay injured workers' spouses"

2008-09-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Found an important ruling for Arizona on azcentral.com

By Howard Fischer - Sept. 4, 2008 12:00 AM
Capitol Media Services

A state court has ruled that workers-compensation insurance does not have to reimburse spouses of injured workers for special care they provide.

The Arizona Court of Appeals rejected arguments by Sabino Carbajal that his wife should be paid for the "attendant care" she provides when he does not have a nurse at his house. Carbajal, who is partially paralyzed as a result of an industrial accident, said there are things he cannot do for himself that require the help of his wife.

But the plea was rebuffed by Judge Patricia Orozco, who wrote the court's majority opinion.

Read Full AZcentral Article Arizona Business Gazette

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys

"Executions drop in '07 as states rethink death penalty"

2008-09-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A day after New Jersey banned executions, newly released figures show that capital punishment dropped this year to a 13-year low.

Forty-two people have been put to death this year, according to the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), a Washington-based group that opposes the practice. That figure is down 57 percent from what it was in 1999, when 98 inmates were executed.

Next year's figures are expected to drop further. The Supreme Court is to hold oral arguments January 7 about whether lethal injection protocols in 36 of the 37 states with the death penalty are constitutional.

Read Full Article CNN

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys

"Judge Upholds $185 Million Award in Wal-Mart Class Action"

2008-09-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Amaris Elliott-Engel
The Legal Intelligencer
September 4, 2008

A Philadelphia judge has affirmed a $185 million award against retail titan Wal-Mart in a class action alleging underpayment of Wal-Mart employees as part of an opinion written for an appeal now pending with the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Common Pleas Judge Mark I. Bernstein's opinion under Pennsylvania Rule of Appellate Procedure 1925(a) said the appeals court should affirm a jury verdict finding over 186,000 current and former Pennsylvania Wal-Mart employees were not properly compensated for off-the-clock work and missed rest breaks between March 19, 1998, and May 1, 2006.

The jury found that Wal-Mart employees were owed $1,462,910.35 in damages for off-the-clock work and $27,715,964 for rest break violations between March 19, 1998, and Dec. 31, 2001, and $1,031,430 for off-the-clock work and $48,258,111 for rest break violations between Jan. 1, 2002, and May 1, 2006, Bernstein wrote in his opinion from Wednesday...

Read Full Article Law.com Legal News

Posted by Phoenix DUI Attorney

Starting Up

2008-09-04T10:07:00.001-07:00

Hello everyone,

I started this blog to put forth relevant information for the legal community in Arizona. Much of the posts will concern important news articles that are important. We also hope to include observations on what is happening here in the state.

Posted by Phoenix Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys