Court allows hearings in Nevada abortion case

The Nevada Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a request to block a judge's hearings into the health risks of a mentally impaired woman's pregnancy.

The court's unanimous ruling allowed Washoe County District Judge Egan Walker to resume the evidentiary hearings Tuesday morning in a case that has drawn the attention of national anti-abortion groups.

The 32-year-old woman's parental guardians asked the court Friday to halt the hearings, saying Walker lacks the authority to terminate the pregnancy of their daughter, who has the mental capacity of a 6-year-old.

They claim they have exclusive authority over her health care decisions, and they want their daughter to carry the baby to term in line with their Catholic religious beliefs.

But the high court sided with Walker, saying he has the authority to monitor the woman's welfare and hold the hearings.

Justices noted the guardians failed to file an annual report regarding their daughter's condition and their performance of duties as required by state law. They also said the court obtained information about concerns over the woman's medical condition.

"The purpose of the evidentiary hearings at this time is merely to obtain information in order to make well-reasoned and informed decisions regarding the ward's medical care," justices wrote. "Under these circumstances, we conclude that the district court has not exceeded its jurisdiction or arbitrarily or capriciously exercised its discretion."

Attorney Jason Guinasso, who represents the guardians, was tied up in Tuesday's hearing and unavailable for immediate comment, according to his secretary.

Guinasso has said he's aware of only one similar case in the country. It involved a Massachusetts judge who ordered a mentally ill 31-year-old woman to have an abortion and to be sterilized against her wishes. The state Appeals Court overturned the decision Jan. 17.

The Nevada couple said that while the pregnancy poses health risks to their daughter and the baby, medical experts back them in their decision to continue the pregnancy. The woman suffers from epilepsy and is on medication.

MJM Law Office Property Crime Lawyer

Property crimes involve the taking of money or property, and often result from times of financial stress.  Crimes in this category are addressed by Chapter 164 of Oregon Revised Statutes and include theft, shoplifting, embezzlement, fraud, forgery, computer crimes, mail crimes, money laundering, burglary, trespass, arson, vandalism and criminal mischief.

These are understandable events in today’s difficult economic climate.  Maybe you wrote a bad check at a time that you were desperate, or borrowed some money that you planned to pay back. Maybe you did worse.  Whatever the case, you need to proactively work to protect your rights and future against damaging criminal charges.  There may be alternatives to a criminal record, and we can help you pursue them.

If you are charged with a property crime, you could be facing a large prison sentence, significant fines and other consequences.  Sometimes, reductions in the seriousness of the crime can be negotiated.  If you are not guilty, you need a strong advocate to fight for the truth.  We listen to the specifics of each client’s unique situation, and develop an optimum strategy through the legal system, whether it be a plea agreement or taking your case to trial.

If you are facing property crime charges call MJM Law Office, P.C. to speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Eugene, Oregon.

Contact Us online or call 541-505-9872 to schedule a consultation or visit us on the web for more information http://www.mjmlawoffice.com/criminal-law/property-crimes

Pettler&Miller LLP - Estate Planning

An estate plan is not only for the elderly. People are often mistaken, but regardless of age or size of an estate, it is recommended to start estate planning as soon as possible. Our experienced estate planning attorneys will assist you throughout the process. We also provide useful tools that enable you to manage and transfer assets easier upon your death or incapacity.

Our experience of almost 40 years have given us the efficiency in creating estate planning documents granting you all the wishes you want, minimizing taxes, and providing effective management tools in any case you become incapacitated or have an unexpected death.

All documents are created working closely with the client to ensure that the estate plan includes all desires of the planner. We have a simple goal of making the management of assets as quickly, economically, and stress-free as possible.

We are here to help. Contact our Torrance office for a free initial consultation. We are glad to answer any questions or concerns regarding your estate planning.

Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorneys - Maier Gutierrez Ayon, PLLC

If you or a family member has been in an accident, we can help.  If one of your employees was involved in an accident and your company is facing a lawsuit, we can help.

We have a track record of successfully litigating personal injury and product liability cases for our clients.  We have significant experience with these types of cases, ranging from quick, favorable resolutions to taking cases all the way through trial and appeal.

Maier Gutierrez Ayon PLLC concentrates on personal injury and wrongful death. The group combines experience and sophistication in liability litigation law and can handle all aspects for their clients. Their significant experience with these type of cases range from quick, favorable resolutions to taking cases all the way through trial and appeal. Visit www.mgalaw.com for more information.

Florida Construction Law Attorney - Heitman Law Firm, PL.

Our law firm follows the same rules handling your case that you use on the jobsite to build your projects. Our work is Plumb Square and Level.  When we say plumb, we mean that we are straight up with you. We evaluate your case and tell you where you stand legally, allowing you to make sound business decisions. Square means that we don’t cut corners in protecting our Client’s legal rights whether in drafting your contracts or handling your construction disputes.

By quality, we mean degree of excellence. Heitman Law Firm practices construction law.  Mr. Heitman is an expert in construction law, board certified by the Florida Bar.  He is a member of an elite group of board certified construction attorneys.  In addition, Mr. Heitman is a Florida Licensed Professional Engineer, with years of experience building real world construction projects. As such, the Firm is extremely well qualified to render its clients high quality legal representation.

Heitman Law Firm has the background, training, and experience to handle every aspect of a construction project. With years of experience, Mr. Heitman has successfully drafted and negotiated multi-million dollar construction contracts and is committed to resolving construction claims on behalf of his clients. Visit www.palmbeachconstructionlaw.org for more information.

Jaguars' Blackmon appears in court on DUI count

Jacksonville Jaguars first-round draft pick Justin Blackmon appeared in an Oklahoma courtroom Monday for the first time since his weekend arrest for suspicion of drunken driving.
The former Oklahoma State star wide receiver's attorney entered a not guilty plea for him to a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence. Blackmon was allowed to remain free on $1,000 bond.
Police arrested Blackmon during a traffic stop in Stillwater early Sunday after a breath test allegedly showed his blood alcohol content to be three times the legal limit.
Blackmon left the courtroom surrounded by friends. His attorney, Cheryl Ramsey, declined to comment.
The Jaguars selected Blackmon fifth overall in April's draft. A team spokesman said Sunday that the Jaguars were trying to learn more about the arrest and had no comment.
Blackmon has not yet signed with the Jaguars, and it was not immediately known how the charge might impact negotiations.
Blackmon is Jacksonville's fourth first-round draft pick since 2000 to face problems after being selected. The team has tried for nearly a decade to find a suitable replacement for its best receiving tandem ever, Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell.

Man guilty of misdemeanor in NY parking-punch case

A man who punched a woman in the face over a parking spot was convicted Tuesday of a misdemeanor assault charge but cleared of a more serious felony in his second trial over a clash that left her brain-damaged.

Oscar Fuller, 36, could face up to a year in jail at a June 18 sentencing. Still, he felt vindicated by his acquittal on the felony assault charge, defense lawyer Thomas Kenniff said after the verdict.

"My client feels like he had his day in court and he stood by his innocence," Kenniff said.

Six months after a previous jury deadlocked, another panel deliberated for about a day before deciding a case that stood out as an extreme even for a city known for space crunches and competitiveness.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. called it shameful that "a petty argument over a parking space could escalate into physical violence." The Los Angeles Times called the case an illustration of "the weightiness of New York City's parking woes."

Court proceedings begin in Cyprus fatal blast

Court proceedings began in Cyprus Monday into last year's explosion of confiscated Iranian gunpowder that killed 13 people and triggered a political crisis that damaged the presidency of Dimitris Christofias.

Eight people face charges of manslaughter and negligence causing death, including ex-Foreign Affairs Minister Markos Kyprianou and ex-Defense Minister Costas Papacostas. The manslaughter charge carries a maximum life in prison.

Both men resigned in the wake of the July 11 blast that nearly ruined the island's largest power station and touched off weeks of street protests over what many saw as his government's botched handling of the affair.

Kyprianou and Papacostas appeared in a Larnaca courtroom alongside all the co-accused that included senior National Guard and Fire Department officers, except former National Guard Chief Petros Tsalikides, a Greek national.

The court approved a state prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant against Tsalikides and postponed all proceedings until May 18. All the accused were released on €150,000 ($198,000) bail.

Police officers had to restrain some victims' relatives from charging the accused's vehicles as they arrived at the courts complex. One black-clad man shouted "murderers" while being held back by police.

Kyprianou had previously said that he believed the case to be a politically motivated witch hunt aimed at finding scapegoats for the disaster.

Ex-Tyco CEO loses parole bid in New York

Former Tyco CEO L. Dennis Kozlowski on Thursday lost a bid to get out of the prison where he's serving time in one of the corporate world's most notorious fraud cases, with parole officials calling his role in the $100-million-plus scheme a "glaring violation" of shareholders' trust.

"Your discretionary release, at this time, would thus not be compatible with the welfare of society at large, and would tend to deprecate the seriousness of the instant offenses and undermine respect for the law," the state Parole Board wrote in its decision.

Kozlowski is "deeply disappointed," said his lawyer, Alan Lewis.

"Respectfully, he does not agree that his parole would compromise public safety," Lewis said in a statement issued by his office.

The Manhattan district attorney's office opposed parole for Kozlowski but had no further comment Thursday.

The decision leaves Kozlowski, 65, behind bars until at least September 2013, when he can try for parole again.

Kozlowski and former Tyco International Ltd. chief financial officer Mark Swartz were convicted in 2005 of fraud and larceny in a case that came to symbolize corporate greed, at least for its moment.

Sidley Austin LLP Expands Project Finance Practice

Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Timothy J. Moran will join the firm as a partner in the project finance practice in Washington, D.C. Mr. Moran's practice focuses on infrastructure project development and finance, where he represents lenders, project sponsors and developers in the development, financing, acquisition and sale of infrastructure projects located in North America, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Mr. Moran's projects include alternative energy (wind, solar and biomass), coal and natural gas-fired facilities, natural gas storage facilities, LNG projects and natural gas pipelines.

"Tim's level of experience in project finance will be instrumental as we continue to expand the firm's ability to represent clients on what are certainly going to be important undertakings in the global economy," said Carter G. Phillips, Managing Partner of the Washington, D.C. office of Sidley, and a member of the firm's Management Committee. "He has a highly respected and very dynamic project finance practice that fits perfectly with the firm's significant expansion of its energy practice, as well as our enhancement of project finance capabilities. Tim's practice will be a wonderful complement to our newly established Houston office."

"Sidley provides an ideal opportunity for me to grow my practice on an international platform that is already successful but very well equipped for new opportunities," said Mr. Moran. "I look forward to working with the project finance team in Washington, New York, Houston and Los Angeles, as well as Sidley's highly regarded energy and environmental lawyers in Washington and Houston."

Mr. Moran represents lenders in construction and term financings and equity investors in private placements and tax-based equity investments. Mr. Moran is currently representing both developers and lenders in the structuring and financing of wind, solar and mid-stream oil and gas projects, to be located in the U.S., Latin America and Canada.

With respect to developers, Mr. Moran has represented both large and small sponsors in the development and financing of infrastructure projects throughout North America, Central America, South America, China and numerous countries in Europe and Africa. He has also represented developers in connection with bids on more than 90 major power facilities, acquisitions of individual and portfolios of power facilities, and of gas storage facilities and pipelines. Mr. Moran has also represented developers and lenders in asset sales, as well as whole and partial sales of interests in energy-related companies.

House acts against high court on eminent domain

The House sought Tuesday to undercut a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that gives state and local governments eminent domain authority to seize private property for economic development projects.

Sponsors of the bill, which passed by a voice vote, said it was needed because the 5-4 high court ruling skewed constitutional intentions that eminent domain apply only to land for public use projects.

That ruling, said bill cosponsor Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., justified "the government's taking of private property and giving it to a private business for use in the interest of creating a more lucrative tax base." As a result, he said, the "government's power of eminent domain has become almost limitless, providing citizens with few means to protect their property."

His legislation would withhold for two years all federal development aid to states or locales that take private property for economic development. It also bars the federal government from using eminent domain for economic development purposes and gives private property owners the right to take legal action if provisions of the legislation are violated.

Gibson Dunn Opens in Hong Kong with Focus on Litigation

Today we are featuring exciting news circulating with announcements of law firms . A small law firm from the United States has gone international and relocated to the big city of Hong Kong. Our team is excited for the future of your law firm and look forward to hearing updates.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has opened an office in Hong Kong with two attorneys leading the effort. Kelly Austin has joined the firm as a partner from General Electric Co., where she was Asia compliance and litigation counsel. The firm also is relocating partner Joseph Barbeau to Hong Kong from its Palo Alto office.
Austin has been based in Hong Kong since 2001. She previously advised GE's Asian business units on government investigations, compliance matters, and litigation. Her mandate now is to launch a practice focused on litigation and regulatory compliance in the region for her new firm.
Gibson Dunn's decision to open in Hong Kong with such a practice reflects the growing belief among international firms that litigation groups in Asia are set to take off. Over the past few weeks, Latham & Watkins launched a Hong Kong litigation practice and top Australian firm Mallesons Stephen Jacques recruited a senior Clifford Chance litigation partner to its Hong Kong office.

Check back with us for future updates on Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher!

New law firm opens in Dayton

Our blogs like to feature new attorneys and start-up firms. Today our focus moves to Dayton where Walters & Wasylyna, LLC just opened.Read more for a little background information on their law firm commitment and goals for the legal industry. Visit them on their page or leave us a comment!

A new law firm, Walters & Wasylyna, LLC, is opening in Dayton, which will focus on intellectual property cases, according to an Aug. 2 statement by the legal group.
The new firm is a joint endeavor by attorneys Lindsay M. Walters and Victor J. Wasylyna, who both earned their law degrees from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
Walters is a litigation attorney who specializes in business and trademark disputes in both federal courts and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Wasylyna, who has practiced both in the U.S. and internationally, has experience in numerous aspects of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. Before joining forces with Walters, Wasylyna studied chemical engineering and practiced with Thompson Hine LLP.

Armstrong Teasdale Adds Three New Associates

Armstrong Teasdale LLP announces the arrival of associates Irina Sandler, Lauren Ashley Smith, and Adam R. Wuller.
“The subtle shift in the economy has brought about additional business and afforded us the opportunity to add talent,” said Michael A. Chivell, Armstrong Teasdale’s managing partner. “As we position Armstrong Teasdale as a premier firm in this region, we’ll continue to place a premium on attracting exceptional attorneys in key practice areas.”
Former legal counsel at the affiliate of Emerson Electric in Moscow, Irina Sandler joins the firm’s International practice group and will focus on international trade, import and export controls, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and antitrust compliance. She earned her LL.M. in Intellectual Property and Technology Law from Washington University School of Law, was an Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Program Fellow at the University of Illinois College of Law, and received her Degree in Law from Russian Law Academy of the Russian Ministry of Justice.
Lauren Ashley Smith, a recent law school graduate, is a member of the firm’s Public Finance and Real Estate, and Financial Services practice groups. Drawing on her research and scholarship in land use, and state and local government law, she will focus on public/private real estate development and municipal finance. Additionally, Smith will assist lenders and other creditors seeking to maximize their recovery against debtors in litigation, liquidation, reorganization, and bankruptcy including all aspects of post-judgment collection efforts. She earned her J.D. from Washington University School of Law and her B.A. from Marquette University.
Adam R. Wuller, also a recent graduate, is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and joins the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group. The majority of his work will involve the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in a wide range of technical disciplines, including mechanical and medical devices. Wuller received his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and his B.S. in engineering physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
About Armstrong Teasdale: 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.

Law firm earns top recognition throughout S.C.

Turner Padget Graham & Laney, P.A. announced Wednesday the firm’s inclusion in the inaugural Best Law Firms list, published by U.S. News & World Report in conjunction with Best Lawyers. Turner Padget is recognized as the top firm in 16 practice areas throughout the state, and is noted in eight additional categories among other top law firms in South Carolina. Inclusion on the U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms list signals a combination of excellence and breadth of experience. The full list is available today at www.usnews.com/bestlawfirms. 
Turner Padget is recognized in the following categories:
Florence
•    Tier One Rankings:
o    Alternative Dispute Resolution
o    Criminal Defense: White-Collar
o    Trusts and Estates Law
•    Tier Two Ranking:
o    Tax Law
Charleston
•    Tier One Rankings:
o    Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
o    Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
•    Tier Two Rankings:
o    General Commercial Litigation
o    Real Estate Law
Columbia
•    Tier One Rankings:
o    Alternative Dispute Resolution
o    Banking and Finance Law
o    Insurance Law
o    Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
o    Municipal Law
o    Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
o    Real Estate Law
o    Trusts and Estates Law
o    Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
•    Tier Two Rankings:
o    Construction Law
o    Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
o    Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
•    Tier Three Ranking:
o    General Commercial Litigation
Greenville
•    Tier One Rankings:
o    Alternative Dispute Resolution
o    Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
•    Tier Two Ranking:
o    Intellectual Property law
The inaugural Best Law Firms list showcases over 8,000 law firms ranked in one or more of 81 practice areas. Major clients and leading lawyers were asked to rate the law firms they consider best in their practice areas. Ultimately, 9,514 clients – including every Fortune 100 company and over half of Fortune 1000 companies – provided 194,370 firm practice area evaluations. These survey responses were combined with more than 3.1 million evaluations of individual lawyers previously collected by Best Lawyers. Data regarding the number of clients a firm serves, combined with information on billing ranges, pro bono commitment, diversity and other objective data were integrated to develop the final list. 
About the U.S. News Media Group
The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes the monthly U.S. News & World Report magazine, the digital-only U.S. News Weekly magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. The U.S. News Media Group’s signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its “America’s Best” series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans, and more.
About Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.  For over a quarter century, the company has helped lawyers and clients find legal counsel in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are excerpted in a wide range of general interest, business and legal publications worldwide, reaching an audience of more than 17 million readers.
About Turner Padget
Founded in 1929, Turner Padget is one of South Carolina’s largest law firms with 91 attorneys and five offices in Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville and Myrtle Beach. The firm provides clients in many industries with quality legal services in areas such as arbitration and mediation, business entity planning and organization, business litigation, construction and environmental litigation, employment and labor law, estate and tax planning, insurance coverage analysis and litigation, intellectual property, personal injury defense litigation, products liability, professional liability, real estate transactions, trucking and transportation, and workers’ compensation. For more information, visit www.turnerpadget.com. 

Patrick to nominate justice to Mass. high court

Gov. Deval Patrick is set to make his latest pick to the state’s highest court.
The governor has scheduled a Monday afternoon news conference at the Statehouse to nominate an associate justice to the Supreme Judicial Court. If confirmed, the person chosen would succeed Judith Cowin, who in January announced plans to retire after 11 years on the high court.
This will be the fourth associate justice that Patrick has selected to the SJC, meaning that he will now have personally selected a majority of the justices on the seven-member court, the oldest continuously serving court in the Western Hemisphere.
Patrick also elevated Roderick Ireland to chief justice of the SJC following the retirement last year of Margaret Marshall.