The trial of former Bear Stearns hedge fund managers Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tannin begins today in Brooklyn, as reported by Bloomberg. A jury will be selected today. Cioffi and Tannin are charged with allegedly causing losses of $1.4 billion to investors by misleading investors regarding the health of two Bear Stearns hedge funds, the […]
READ MOREBuying Guns for Friends
Many people buy things at stores for their friends and/or relatives everyday, however the Supreme Court has now decided in Abramski v. United States that you cannot go to a licensed gun dealer and pick up a gun for a friend. More importantly to Bruce Abramski of Virginia, you cannot lie on the form that […]
READ MOREBrother’s DNA Leads to Charges in 1990s Two Long Island Murders
Timothy Bittrolff’s DNA lead to the arrest of his brother, John Bittroff, a 48 year old construction worker from Manorville, being held without bail in connection with two Long Island murder cases dating back to the 1990’s. John Bittrolff was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two women whose bodies were […]
READ MOREWhen Can You Get a New York Criminal Conviction Sealed
If you have ever been convicted of a crime in New York, you know that it may be more difficult to find employment or get government assistance or housing. However, there may be some options for you such as getting your criminal conviction sealed. Requirements to Get Case Sealed In order to qualify to get […]
READ MOREThe Case of Christie Steiner
When Richard developed lung cancer from exposure to asbestos while on the job, neither he or his wife, Christie, thought their case would make it to the Supreme Court. The Steiners filed a lawsuit citing personal injury against the Volkswagen Group of America, Ford Motor Company and others. Volkswagen moved early in the hearings to […]
READ MOREStand Your Ground/Defense of Justification Laws
According to recent findings from the ABA National Task Force on Stand Your Ground Laws, the task force found that states which have some type of stand your ground law have an increase of 8% in homicide rates and that these laws are biased towards racial minorities. There also appears to be widespread confusion among […]
READ MORECelebrities and DUI
Driving under the Influence (DUI) is one the most serious and potentially life-threatening offence. Different terms are in place for DUI in different jurisdictions. These include Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Operating While Intoxicated (OWOI) and Operating a Motor Vehicle Intoxicated (OMVI). In the eyes of the law, they are all one and the same thing […]
READ MOREEconomic Crime Penalties Under Consideration for Revision
The U.S. Sentencing Commission is considering revising the fairness of economic crime penalties while working with Congress to reduce the severity of minimum mandatory penalties. While defense attorneys are recommending reduced sentences for white collar crimes, some judges are critical of the sentencing guidelines believing they are too low for certain economic crimes. Right now, […]
READ MOREDeferred Prosecution Agreements: A View From the Trenches and a Proposal for Reform
Deferred and nonprosecution agreements are the Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) new weapons of choice for “reforming” corporations.1 Rather than risk the severe collateral consequences that accompany an indictment and conviction,2 companies now are offered the opportunity to cooperate, pay massive fines, commit to elaborate undertakings, and remain under probation-like supervision for some period of time […]
READ MOREDeath Penalty Splits Senate
Two state senators from southeast Iowa are hoping a death penalty amendment won’t stop lawmakers from passing a tougher sex offender bill this year. State Sens. Tom Courtney, D–Burlington, and Gene Fraise, D–Fort Madison, are hoping lawmakers will vote on the sex offender bill without getting caught up in politics over getting the death penalty […]
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