Thursday, April 18, 2013

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.

Monday, April 8, 2013

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.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

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

Thursday, January 3, 2013

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.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Court refuses to block Okla. execution

The Supreme Court has refused to halt the execution of an Oklahoma inmate who claims he is mentally incompetent and ineligible for the death penalty.

The justices said in an order Tuesday that they will not grant a stay of execution to 56-year-old Garry Thomas Allen, who is set to die by lethal injection Tuesday evening at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

Allen was convicted in the shooting death of his fiancée outside a children's day care in Oklahoma City in 1986.

Allen's attorneys had argued that he was incompetent when he entered a guilty plea in the case and that his mental condition has continued to deteriorate. Appellate courts have rejected those claims.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Eugene DUI Lawyer

Drinking and driving has become a stigma and can ruin your professional reputation, as well as your reputation amongst your friends and family. However, even with many people agreeing that driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana, the statistics showing the number of accidents each year say otherwise. The frequent occurrences of drunk driving show the negligence of citizens, making Oregon's DUII (Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants) one of the strictest in the country. Residents should be aware that Oregon state's driving while intoxicated laws one of the toughest, making DUII charges extremely serious offenses. If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence, you’ll want to have an experienced Eugene DUI lawyer on your side to ensure you make the best possible decisions throughout your case.

A conviction for DUII, also known as DUI or DWI, can have numerous consequences, including:

    Jail time, minimum two days
    Large fines, minimum $1,000
    Community service, minimum 80 hours
    Alcohol education classes
    Loss of license or driving privileges
    Installation of an interlock device on your vehicle

Some consequences of driving under the influence, such as losing driving privileges, can create a major obstacle in your everyday life. In addition to losing driving previleges, after a DUII arrest, you can risk the losing your license both criminally and civilly through the court and through the DMV. A DMV hearing is used to determine whether you will keep or lose your license, regardless of whether or not you are convicted.  Long term consequences of a DUII conviction can include difficulty obtaining employment, maintaining professional licenses, and qualifying for financial aid for schools.  In addition, those offenders that are professional motor vehicle operators may lose their commercial driver’s license and be completely out of work.

If you are facing DUII charges, don't delay any longer and act now. call MJM Law Office, P.C. to speak with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Eugene, Oregon. Contact us online at http://www.mjmlawoffice.com/criminal-law/duii-dui-dwi-offenses or call 541-505-9872 to schedule a consultation.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Fed. appeals court denies ex-Ill. governor appeal

A federal appellate court in Chicago has denied an appeal filed by imprisoned former Illinois Gov. George Ryan.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released a 16-page ruling on Monday denying the 78-year-old Republican's appeal.

A ruling in his favor could have led to Ryan's release from an Indiana prison. It was widely seen as his last chance to get out of prison early.

Ryan is nearing the end of a 6 1/2-year sentence. He's due to be released in mid-2013.

The U.S. Supreme Court in April ordered the appeals court to revisit Ryan's arguments to overturn his conviction.

Last year, the lower court rejected arguments that the 2006 convictions should be tossed because prosecutors never proved Ryan took a bribe.