Calif. high court mulling release of law test data

Researcher Richard Sander has been fighting for years to obtain sensitive data collected by the administrator of California's bar examination to help him examine the effects affirmative action policies have on the performance of minority law school students.

On Thursday, the California Supreme Court will rule on the matter after an appeal court ordered the state bar to turn over the data to Sander.

Sander is a University of California, Los Angeles law professor who is seeking information on test takers' race, law schools attended, year graduated from law school, bar pass rate, law school grades and scores from standardized tests for admission to law schools.

Federal appeals court halts horse slaughterhouses

A federal appeals court on Monday temporarily halted plans by companies in New Mexico and Missouri to begin slaughtering horses, continuing on-again, off-again efforts to resume domestic equine slaughter two years after Congress lifted a ban on the practice.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver issued a temporary injunction barring the Department of Agriculture from inspecting the plants, which were gearing up to open in the coming days after a federal judge in Albuquerque on Friday dismissed a lawsuit by The Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society and other animal protection groups alleged the department failed to conduct proper environmental studies when it issued permits to the slaughterhouses.

The Humane Society filed an immediate appeal and won an emergency injunction.

"Horse slaughter is a predatory, inhumane business, and we are pleased to win another round in the courts to block killing of these animals on American soil for export to Italy and Japan," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Meanwhile, we are redoubling our efforts in Congress to secure a permanent ban on the slaughter of our horses throughout North America."

Blair Dunn, who represents Valley Meat Co. of Roswell, N.M., and Rains Natural Meats of Gallatin, Mo., emphasized the order was temporary.

Appeals court moves BP forward in settlement dispute

The April 2010 blowout of BP's Macondo well off the Louisiana coast triggered an explosion that killed 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig and led to millions of gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf. Shortly after the disaster, BP agreed to create a $20 billion compensation fund that was administered at first by the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, led by attorney Kenneth Feinberg.

BP argued that Barbier and court-appointed claims administrator Patrick Juneau misinterpreted terms of the settlement. Plaintiffs' lawyers countered that BP undervalued the settlement and underestimated how many claimants would qualify for payments.

In the panel's majority opinion, Judge Edith Brown Clement said BP has consistently argued that the settlement's complex formula for compensating businesses was intended to cover "real economic losses, not artificial losses that appear only from the timing of cash flows."

"The interests of individuals who may be reaping windfall recoveries because of an inappropriate interpretation of the Settlement Agreement and those who could never have recovered in individual suits for failure to show causation are not outweighed by the potential loss to a company and its public shareholders of hundreds of millions of dollars of unrecoverable awards," Clement wrote.

Judge Leslie Southwick wrote a concurring opinion. Judge James Dennis wrote a partial dissent, largely disagreeing with the other two.

"Because BP has not satisfied its heavy burden of showing that a change in circumstances or law warranted the modifications it sought, the district court correctly affirmed the Administrator's decision rejecting BP's argument and actions to modify the agreement," Dennis wrote.

Judge denies motions in WVU media rights laws

A judge has denied several motions to dismiss West Virginia Radio Corp.'s lawsuit over how West Virginia University awarded a media rights contract for sporting events.
Judge Thomas Evans on Monday rejected requests by WVU Board of Governors, the WVU Foundation and other parties to dismiss the lawsuit in Monongalia County Circuit Court. The motions were based on arguments that West Virginia Radio had failed to make a case for fraud and a violation of public procurement laws. Evans ruled these are important public policy matters and need to be heard.
The network wants Evans to stop WVU from finalizing a 12-year contract with North Carolina-based IMG College.
The judge also is hearing arguments on West Virginia Radio's motion to block the deal and reset the clock to June.

Hells Angel member pleads guilty in Nev. shooting

A member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang accepted a plea deal Monday, just as he and a member of a rival gang were about to go on trial for murder charges stemming from a 2011 shootout at a northern Nevada casino.

Cesar Villagrana, 38, of Gilroy, Calif., pleaded guilty in Washoe District Court to one count of battery with a deadly weapon and one count of challenge to fight with a deadly weapon resulting in death.

He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $15,000 fine at sentencing, which Judge Connie Steinheimer set for Sept. 4.

Villagrana originally faced up to life in prison on second-degree murder and other charges for shooting a Vagos member in the leg.

The surprise plea deal postponed court proceedings, but jury selection began Monday afternoon for Ernesto Gonzalez of San Francisco, the lone suspected gunman still facing charges in the Sept. 23, 2011, shooting on a busy casino floor at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/07/22/5586026/hells-angel-member-pleads-guilty.html#storylink=cpy

McDonnell Law - Social Security Disability Law Office

At McDonnell Law, our San Diego Social Security attorney is here to help you get your benefits if you are disabled and an adult and able to work. We can also help if you are a beneficiary of a person entitled to SSDI. If you are a child or an adult who does not qualify for SSDI, we can help you obtain SSI. If you are in pain or cannot function, you must seek medical help and have the doctor document your disability. The Social Security Administration requires documents that prove you are seriously ill and unable to function. If you are seeking SSI, there are strict financial limitations; you must not have income above a certain amount and must not have assets that exceed a set amount. These items can get complicated but We can help you sort through all these things and help you file a claim for the best results. Or we can help you appeal a ruling in which you were denied benefits. Just call a Social Security Lawyer located in San Diego or email and tell us your situation.

Los Angeles jeweler pleads guilty in KPMG case

The owner of a Los Angeles jewelry store pleaded guilty Monday for his role in an insider-trading case involving a former senior partner at accounting firm KPMG.
Bryan Shaw, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and was scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 16 when he faces a maximum of five years in prison.
"In this guilty plea, Mr. Shaw continued his path to fully accepting responsibility for his actions and doing the right thing," said Shaw's attorney Nathan Hochman.
Authorities said Shaw made more than $1 million in illicit profits by trading in advance of company announcements on earnings results or mergers for KPMG LLC clients, including Herbalife Lt., Skechers USA Inc. and Uggs maker Deckers Outdoor Corp.
In exchange, Shaw gave former KPMG accountant Scott London bags filled with cash, along with a $12,000 Rolex watch and jewelry for his wife, among other items, prosecutors said. The Securities and Exchange Commission, which filed civil charges in the case, estimates London received at least $50,000.

Court: Can human genes be patented?

DNA may be the building block of life, but can something taken from it also be the building block of a multimillion-dollar medical monopoly?

The Supreme Court grapples Monday with the question of whether human genes can be patented. Its ultimate answer could reshape U.S. medical research, the fight against diseases like breast and ovarian cancer and the multi-billion dollar medical and biotechnology business.

"The intellectual framework that comes out of the decision could have a significant impact on other patents - for antibiotics, vaccines, hormones, stem cells and diagnostics on infectious microbes that are found in nature," Robert Cook-Deegan, director for genome ethics, law & policy at Duke University, said in a statement.

"This could affect agricultural biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, green-tech, the use of organisms to produce alternative fuels and other applications," he said.

The nine justices' decision will also have a profound effect on American business, with billions of dollars of investment and years of research on the line. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has been awarding patents on human genes for almost 30 years.

Court to mull Arizona's immigrant harboring ban

An appeals court is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday in Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's bid to let police enforce a minor section of the state's 2010 immigration law that prohibits the harboring of illegal immigrants.
The harboring ban was in effect from late July 2010 until U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled in September that it was trumped by federal law and barred police from enforcing it. Brewer has asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Bolton's ruling.
Brewer's lawyers argue the ban doesn't conflict with federal policies, is aimed at confronting crime and that the law's opponents haven't shown they have legal standing to challenge the prohibition. The governor's attorneys also say there's no evidence that the ban has been enforced against any people or organizations represented by a coalition of civil rights groups that have challenged the law in court.
The coalition has asked the appeals court to uphold Bolton's ruling, saying the state law is trumped by a federal harboring law that leaves no room for state regulation. The coalition also argues that Bolton has repeatedly confirmed that it has standing to challenge the harboring ban.
Another federal appeals court has barred authorities from enforcing similar harboring bans in Alabama and Georgia.

Law Offices of Robert W. Jackson - Automobile Accidents

A car accident is one of the most common types of personal injuries. A car accident occurs when a road vehicle collides with another moving vehicle, a parked vehicle, pedestrian, road debris, or objects. Motor vehicle accidents can involve all types of automobiles including: everyday cars, commercial trucks, semi or tractor trailer trucks, delivery automobiles, motorcycles or passenger vans. Many times, these collisions involve multiple parties and can get complicated if you do not act quickly. The process can take long and involve weeks of investigation to find contributing factors to figure out who was at fault. Contributing factors may include but are not limited to: vehicle design, road design, driver distraction, driving while intoxicated, and driving speed.

Insurance companies may take advantage of you when they know you are in a vulnerable position. They could use what you say against you and take it out of context. Don't make the mistake of talking to an insurance company before seeking the help of a personal injury lawyer. We are able to assist you if you were injured or have lost a family member in a car accident.

http://www.jacksontriallawyers.com/index.php/california/car-accidents

Detroit mom in court in daughter's stabbing death

A 26-year-old Detroit mother of five was scheduled for her first court appearance Thursday afternoon on a murder charge in the stabbing death of her 8-year-old daughter.

Tameria Greene, who would have turned 9 on Wednesday, was found bleeding early Sunday on the floor of the family's apartment. Her mother, Semeria Greene, was arrested and her four sons were taken into protective custody.

Greene was due to be arraigned on felony murder and child abuse charges. She did not have an attorney listed in court records.

Michigan's human service director Maura Corrigan said family, friends and neighbors had complained to her agency about Greene's treatment of her five children. Corrigan said child welfare workers had tried repeatedly to remove them from Greene's care in the past two years.

Corrigan says a court denied the last request one month before Tameria's death.

Judge Frank Szymanski told The Associated Press on Thursday morning that he signed an order in November that ordered services but kept the children in the home. He said his order reflected the result of a hearing held by a referee and he had no active role in the case at that time. That's standard procedure in such cases, the judge said.